Citation for website used

Eaton Canyon Natural Area. Eaton Canyon Nature Center. 8 Jun. 1999. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.

Lists of Animals

We didn't see many animals during our observation time at Eaton Canyon. There were two Western Whiptail lizards spotted about 2 meters away and an unrecognizable bird that flew overhead. There was poop on a piece of bark next to the log  that we were sitting on that looked like it either belonged to a squirrel or a rabbit or some kind of rodent. Some signs of animal life but only 3 animals actually seen.

Bird's Eye View Drawing

Bird's Eye View picture represents a 25 meter radius around our initial observation point, marked by red star, from Eaton Canyon  trip, October 29th, 2012.

List of Plants

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius)
Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora)
White Alder tree (Alnus rhombifolia)
Dodder (Cuscuta spp.)
Scale-broom (Lepidospartum squamatum)
Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)
Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora)

All that plants that were seen were dry or dead except the oak trees.  There was a large umber of oak trees  and various weeds and grasses surrounding our observation point. Plants were minimal and little to none of them were actually green and alive-looking.

Site Description- Eaton Canyon

Eaton Canyon
Chaparral Habitat
About 50 meters in diameter

There was a plenty going on in our area. We sat on a log at the center that was seemed to be a Coast Live Oak. The log had been eaten out by termites and had lost most of its bark. About 5 meters to the west of the log was an old rusty pipe. It was clearly broken and looked like it hadn't been used for quite some time. On the contrary, there was a new pipe that was in-use to our north-west. Crossing right in front of the log to the north was a trail that led up further north into the canyon and up a hill to the east. To the south of the log was a flat clearing that was surrounded by Coast Live Oak and Sycamore trees. The log was surrounded on every side by huge amounts of smell dead shrubs that range in variety, height, and life (more or less dried up or green). Some of the plants included Horseweed (Conyza canadensis), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius), Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora), a White Alder tree (Alnus rhombifolia), some dead Dodder (Cuscuta spp.), Scale-broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and many more that were unrecognizable because they were dried up. We did not see much wildlife except for two Western Whiptail Lizards (Cnemidophorus tigris) and a few unrecognizable birds that flew overhead. There was a small animal burrow about 10 meters to the north of the log that was currently uninhabited but appeared to have been a previous home for some species of rodent. It was about one meter by one meter and the opening was only big enough for a human hand to fit through. Two meters south of the there was a small, white feather on the ground that looked like it had belonged to a seagull or some kind of white bird. Directly next to the log was a pile of scat that seemed to have come from either a squirrel, gopher, or mouse (California Ground Squirrel, Botta's Pocket Gopher, or California Pocket Mouse). The main feeling of the overall area is dry, rocky, and practically lifeless.

Observation Log - Patrick Madden

Observation Log - Patrick Madden

Observations take place between 1118 and 1145 on October 28th, 2012. We took our observations from a log across the riverbed form the Eaton Canyon Nature Center.

1118: - Temperature was 29˚C, weather was clear and sunny and there were little to no winds. 

- Small, dry river bed 40 meters to our west

- Dead leaves from near by Coast Live Oak scatter the ground

- Minimal visible animal life. Birds can be clearly heard from all directions. Several caved in animal burrows scatter the ground and side of hill to the east.

- Broken, rusty pipe 3 meters to south-west. Larger, intact pipe 15 meters to north-east. 

- Several Oak trees in all directs except direct west. 

- Noticeable hum of cars to the south

1128: - Found scat that appears to be from a California Ground Squirrel next to log 

- Discovered animal shelter built on the base of a dead tree using branches 20 meters to the north-west

- Bird chirping continues 

- No noticeable change in weather or temperature. 

1138: - Lizard appears on rock 1 meter to north. 

- Birds chirping silences. Only sound is the cars to south

- No noticeable change in weather or temperature

1148: - End of observations

- No mammals or Birds were seen, but there was plenty of evidence left by mammals and birds could be clearly heard.

- Weather did not change

          - Temperature did not noticeably change

Observation Log Lauren Rewers

Eaton Canyon Observations

Date: October 28, 2012
Time: 1118-1148
Weather: Sunny; blue/clear skies; 29.4 C

1118 (start)-
Not really much going on. There are many coast live oak trees, dead shrubs, and grass around my observation point. A wide variety of trees and bushes. Most of them are dead. I hear lots of birds and insects chirping although I have not seen any of them yet.

1128-
Found an old, rusty pipe next to the log I'm sitting on. Doesn't look like it has been used in a while. It is really long with some parts sticking up not connected to anything. Some sort of squirrel or rodent scat on a piece of bark right next to me. They are small pellets that looked dried out.

1138-
Saw a lizard on a rock about 1 meter away. Does not seem affected that Patrick or I are close by. It is brown colored with spots all over it. All I am hearing now is the freeway/busy street on the south side of Eaton Canyon.

1148(end)-
Overall, there was not much change in environment. Only saw a lizard and a few birds fly by. Most shrubs were dry or dead. They stayed clumped together around the path. Oak trees are the dominant type of tree in this area.