Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon
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THE
SENTINEL always for the community VOl 20, nO 12
Look inside
for this Activity Guide
East Bay Regional Park District Regional in Nature Activity Guide
December 2015
www.valleysentinel.com
SPOTLIGHT
Mustangs take championships in two separate divisions
Front row (L-R). Bella O’Rielly, Abby Page, Liliana Golchehreh, Sophie Brading, Gabi Cochran, Lauren Barry, Sydney Guastucci Back Row (L-R) Grace “Chili” Hostelley, Hailey Eggiman, Paul Hostelley, Grace Olsen, Jacey Dossola, Aldo Dossola, Hanna Brading, Romina Coleman, Doug Olsen, Grace Chang The Dominating Dolphins capped a fantastic season to win the Dick King U-14 Girls White+ League Championship.
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The Christmas season officially arrived in Alamo Sunday, November 22. Hundreds of parents and children gathered in the Andrew H. Young park to visit Santa and see the Alamo Tree lit up for the Holiday Season. The Rotary Club of Alamo welcomed everyone with 10 gallons of hot cocoa and 5 gallons of cider on hand Pictured is the Schneider family with son Joseph and daughter Jacqueline posing with Santa.
Anna’s Hummingbird males can dive 50mph to impress By James Hale
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), our elegant little gem of the bird world, has benefitted from its relationship with humans. In the early 20th century, they bred only in northern Baja California and southern California. Researchers Dave DeSante and TL George state that Anna’s Hummingbird populations in California as a whole increased 50% in the 20th century, mostly due to ornamental, horticultural gardens and flowers. Bird feeders have augmented their populations in residential areas as well. The combination of bird feeders and winter blooming exotic, urban and suburban plantings have allowed large numbers of birds to subsist through winters that potentially may be quite lean. Anna’s Hummingbird has expanded its breeding range
greatly, along the Pacific coast all the way to south coastal Alaska. Anna’s Hummingbird is one of our earliest nesting birds in Contra Costa County, with some nesting as early as December. This species was named after Anna Massena, Dutchess of Rivoli. Anna’s Hummingbird is a medium-sized stocky hummingbird that is about four inches long. The iridescent bronze-green back, green flanks, and pale grey chest and belly are characteristic. Adult males have striking iridescent crimson-red crowns, throats, and gorgets (throat bibs). Anna’s is the only North American hummingbird with a red crown. Females and juvenile males have a dull green crown, a grey throat
with or without some red iridescence, and a rounded tail with white tips on the outer feathers. The red iridescence may appear to look dull brown or gray without direct sunlight. Both sexes have dark, slightly forked tails. Anna’s, like other hummingbirds, have long slender bills adapted for reaching deep into tubular flowers where they feed on nectar using a long extendable tongue. The bill is disproportionately short compared to other hummingbirds. While collecting nectar, hummingbirds also assist in plant pollination. Anna’s Hummingbirds consume small insects and arthropods caught in flight or gleaned
This month’s Special Sections:
Holiday Gift Giving pages 6-7 Senior Living pages 8 - 9
from vegetation, and occasionally tree sap. Flying insects are captured with their beaks open very wide to increase success rate. With wingbeats varying from 10 to 80 beats per minute, Anna’s Hummingbird is capable of hovering, flying backwards, and speeds up to 25 miles per hour. In order to maintain their 105 to 109 degree body heat, and their 50 to 1360 heartbeats per minute, Anna’s See HUMMINGBIRD page 4