Peter Larramendy
Written by Yosephina Peters | Photos by Larry ParkerPETER LARRAMENDY WITH A HAWK SKIN ON SULPHUR MOUNTAIN
“Get ready to run.”
A stuffed juvenile Cooper’s Hawk sits in the clearing at the edge of a barren branch. Peter Larramendy, the conservation biologist, sets a recording box with the hawk’s call down, ready to be played.
“We don’t want the birds to associate us with the hawk, so that’s why we have to book it once we’re ready.”
Larramendy presses the mp3 player and closes the box before we sprint to our observation log.
“Now we sit and listen.”
The air smells sweet of black sage. It’s 7 o’clock in the morning, the cool mist of the marine layer standing just above the Topa Topa mountains. We are out in Rice Canyon in the Ventura River Preserve, past Meiners Oaks. The trailhead begins down South Rice Road a couple of hundred yards past the horse stalls on El Roblar.
Larramendy makes this daily trek to conduct surveys for the Smithsonian, focusing on avian populations and their responses to predators. Institutions like the Smithsonian contracts the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, where Larramendy leads this project, to gather data needed for conservation programs on the Channel Islands of California.
Accipiter cooperii
The trail to the observation spot demands my focus. My shoes get wet from crossing the river, stumbling over stones as I try to keep up. Soon, the path transforms into an oak grove where benches sprout alongside the trail dedicated to the many families in the area who donated to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, the non-profit organization that manages the preserve. We head off the trail before encroaching on a clearing, where Larramendy stops to take note of the sounds coming from around us.
Spinus psaltria
“That finch is something I’m looking for…Oh, that woodpecker you hear is also something I want to know more about…”
I’m amazed at how Larramendy can pinpoint the different calls of the birds within the oak trees. Their harmonies overlap, like the rush and bustle of Times Square, the bird’s own hub of informational exchange.
This first 30-minute survey is to gather data on the reactions of nearby birds to a predator like Cooper’s Hawk or California Scrub Jay. With a press of a button, the call of the hawk fills the air, and Larramendy swiftly returns to our observation log. We sit in anticipation, listening attentively to the surrounding soundscape. Larramendy lists the types of birds needed for research with the Smithsonian: the goldfinch, the scrub jay, the woodpecker, etc. Although other species exist in the area, these birds live both on the Channel Islands and the mainland of Southern California. This data will be used comparatively to data gathered on the Channel Islands, conducted by Larramendy and his team a couple of years back.
As an endemic species to Santa Cruz Island, the Island Scrub Jay plays an essential role in the spreading of oak tree populations. “Caching,” as it’s formally called, describes the process of jays burying seeds to store food, who later forget where they bury said seeds and instead support the process of growing new oak trees. Although scrub jays have a pretty stable population on the Santa Cruz Islands, the Smithsonian is pushing to introduce them to the other Channel Islands to strengthen their gene pool. Larramendy expresses his concerns about introducing these species to other islands.
Aphelocoma californica
“Yes, the scrub jay is very important to the cycle of oak populations, but scrub jays are also predators that prey on other bird species’ eggs and chicks, so we want to be sure those other species still have their evolutionary fear of the jays before we introduce them on the islands.”
TAXIDERMY SCRUB JAY
To ensure successful reintroduction, Larramendy and his team evaluate whether the resident bird populations on Santa Rosa Island still retain their evolutionary fear of Scrub Jays. Taxidermy jays are strategically placed to observe the reactions of the other species, and the results from over a hundred experiments are so far encouraging. The birds have exhibited altered behaviors near nests, suggesting they have retained the biological ability to recognize scrub jays as predators.
This collaborative study with the Smithsonian began in 2021, building upon the scientific literature exploring the concept of reintroducing scrub jays since the early 2000s. By monitoring the interactions and responses of Santa Rosa’s bird species, Larramendy and his team were making strides in understanding the potential outcomes of such reintroduction efforts.
Larramendy’s dedication to avian research extends beyond his work with the Smithsonian.
“These birds were decimated during the Spanish coming in and ranching in the area, essentially removing all of their habitat. Due to such a small population, the scrub jays became susceptible to diseases like the West Nile Virus. The Smithsonian wants to increase the scrub jay population so they have a better chance at fighting these viruses,” Larramendy explains.
This raises interesting questions about the Conservation movement and how humans positively intervene with wildlife. For Larramendy, that’s why data collection is so important.
“I want to make sure that I have all the available information, so I can make the best decisions for the whole ecosystem.”
As an Ojai native, Larramendy’s education and free time were often spent in nature. “I had many mentors that pushed me into the realm of biology,” which is how he found his place on the Channel Islands. After graduating from Prescott College with a BA in Environmental Studies and spending some time rehabbing wildlife in Wisconsin, Larramendy landed an internship working with researchers on the Channel Islands and found he had a unique awareness of bird calls.
“I don’t really know where it comes from, but I’ve always been interested in birds and how they communicate.” Recognizing and parsing out the different calls has always been an easy task for Larramendy and something which led him to the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ).
As a biologist at WFVZ, Larramendy plays a vital role in updating the taxonomy of their vast collection of eggs and “skins” (taxidermy). Tasked with transitioning from an outdated 1970s system to the Clements Checklist, a global bird taxonomy, Larramendy meticulously works through different families, ensuring accurate classification and documentation.
WFVZ, contracted by the National Park Service, also entrusts Larramendy with monitoring and collecting data on birds residing in the Channel Islands and Ventura County. The long-term effects of ranching and remnant populations of rabbits, cats, and pigs on various islands pose challenges to bird populations. Larramendy spends extensive time on the Channel Islands, immersing himself in the natural rhythms of these unique ecosystems, conducting land bird monitoring from March to June each year.
Larramendy’s passion for birds and the natural world was kindled during his childhood in Ojai. Surrounded by the awe-inspiring landscapes of Topa Topa, Miramonte, Matilija, and Nordhoff, he developed a deep affinity for the outdoors. Guided by a mentor who nurtured his interest in biology, Larramendy’s fascination with birds soared, with the American Kestrel being the first species to captivate him.
As Larramendy and I sit in the Ventura River Preserve, surrounded by nature’s symphony, it is evident that his passion for avian research and Conservation runs deep. Through his work with the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology and collaborations with the Smithsonian and National Park Service, Larramendy illuminates the interconnectedness of ecosystems, shedding light on the delicate balance between predator and prey and contributing to the understanding of how we can protect and restore our natural heritage.
See Where Peter Works
The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo
Bird photos are from Wikimedia Commons, Bird sounds are from Xeno-Canto
