News about Animals

Animal disaster preparedness–mean anything to you?

It is not something new but it is something that people forget about. Me, I was obsessed over it for a long time.

In the aftermath of the Japan earthquake, people are disturbed. And they should be, but that concern should be turned into action not panic.

When I first wrote, Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals I had no idea I’d get so proactive in preparedness. (See my credential area) When the 6.8 earthquake hit my town, I was ready–and thus began my adventures in that field.

I began giving away the educational animal disaster guide and have updated it over and over again through the years.

In fact, my plans were to update it this year and start selling it-but people can download for free by simply signing onto my list (form to the left).

I’ve watched the awareness on this issue grow from its infancy to the point where national attention became a reality (PETS Pet Evacuation Transportation Standards Act) but it still is not a coordinated effort.

My research looked into the behavior of animals prior to quakes (seismic sentries) and I’ve been quoted about it in a lot of places. (Including in the book, The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes. Below is a recent video you might find of interest.)

It is a topic that cycles through every time there is a disaster. Remember? Not too long ago it was the BP Oil Spill and in Disaster Diaries I wrote about some of the animal disaster rescue efforts and shared links.

Now we have another big issue a little further away but the reality is that it has global implications.

Predictions come and go too. Some are right but most are wrong.

Now you should be prepared but you should not be giving your pet iodine–read this UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine release on this issue.

Take some time to read some of my past works on this topic but for peace of mind, do everyone a favor and do some preparedness.

You see, if something is going to happen, it will. There is not much you can do about it–but you can prepare–so get out and do so since it is just plain common sense and will save everyone a lot of grief in the event of a disaster striking nearby.

You can also take a gander at the table of contents of my animal disaster guide and then go download it.

Japan Animal Rescue/Donation Links (Facebook Discussion)
Animal Disaster Rescue Links (National Groups)
High Tech Animal Disaster Preparedness Tips
California Earthquake Pet Preparedness Tips
Pet Earthquake Safety Tips
Animal Disaster Predictions
Seismic Sentries

Photo Credits: FEMA

Blog Posted March 17, 2011 at 3:52 pm

Capistrano Swallows

The annual swallows return to Capistrano is a popular event, and as a native of southern California, I’ve been fortunate to have witnessed the arrival of the swallows of Capistrano more than once. I say fortunate because over the past few years the avian visitors have gone missing–and the swallows have actually headed for the hills.

The famed swallows of Capistrano have relocated to less urbanized areas and are showing up in the San Bernardino Mountains (Big Bear Lake) while others have taken up residence at other areas around southern California including the Vellano Country Club in Chino Hills. Only a few can be found under freeway overpasses not too far away from the San Juan Capistrano Mission.

san juan capistrano swallows

Just why the swallows migration has changed is up for speculation.

Locals and visitors alike have celebrated the annual migration of the swallows for as long as some of us can remember, and it is disappointing to those who show up for the Swallows Day Parade only to find the avian ambassadors missing.

The annual swallow migration has received a lot of attention over the years. For instance, Leon Rene’s 1939 hit, When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano song lyrics are a tribute to the long migration.

The amazing journey takes the swallows over 12,000 miles round-trip. They abandon their winter haven in Goya, Corrientes, Argentina and travel to southern California, arriving on St Joseph’s Day (March 19th) and then begin the return trip to Argentina on the Day of San Juan (October 23rd).

Some people mistakenly confuse sparrows with the swallows who migrate to Capistrano, but it is actually a species of cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) that migrates.

It used to be that scouts arrived a few days prior to the main flock who would arrive in large numbers shortly after. The swallows are known for their energetic movements and their jug-shaped nests of mud and clay. Upon arrival, they quickly rebuild the mud nests clinging under the eves of buildings in the area and begin rearing their young.

Centuries ago the San Juan Capistrano Mission padres noticed that the swallows returned consistently on St. Joseph’s Day. The tradition of celebrating the swallows return to Capistrano began then and people would arrive from around the world to officially welcome the birds back. Today the people still come but just why the birds no longer do remains a mystery.

At one time, the Mission also offered the highest, most protected perches in the area but it seems that construction and other changes have made the location less attractive to the birds. Another influencing factor may be that the California mission once provided an abundant food source (insects) but as the insect population decreased due to urbanization and the continued development of the area, most birds seem to have relocated.

To try and sort out just why the swallow migration changed, the Mission called upon Charles R. Brown, an ornithologist from the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma,to see if they could find ways to attract the swallows back to the area–but it doesn’t look promising.

So for now, I enjoy the birds from my perch above the lake near Big Bear. You can enjoy them too if you decide to try and see them near their arrival date in their new locations.

In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy these two short videos from other regions in California where these winged travelers can now be found.