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Downy Woodpecker
19 Dec 1999 at Ione |
 Amador
County is a small, thin slice of the Sierra Nevada, created in 1854
from northern third of pre-existing Calaveras County, but the creation
of Alpine County shortly thereafter limited its eastern border to the Sierran
crest. All this was during the California Gold Rush when the population
of the Sierra foothills peaked. Today there are development pressures in
the foothills but much of the forested montane slopes remain untouched.
Amador County stretches from valley grassland edge to alpine peaks. Most
recent birding has been at its western edge where reservoirs, small lakes,
and ponds (including 'sewer ponds' at Ione) attract waterfowl in season
that are otherwise rare in this narrow county.
County birding statistics and links are on Joe Morlan's site. |
| For Amador County the only photo I have to date is a Downy Woodpecker, taken across the street from the Ione wastewater ponds. I ended up rather liking the shot, though, because of all the reddish stems surrounding the little guy. |
| All photos & text © 2006 Don Roberson; all rights reserved. |
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