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BREEDING BIRD RECORDS FOR LAKE MERCED
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:  1997, 1998, 1999

DANIEL P. MURPHY

The Golden Gate Audubon Society
July 19, 1999.

This study is based on a summary of data collected at Lake Merced, San Francisco, California between February, 1997 and July 1999, by the author.  These are the months during which breeding activity is most evident in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The study is ongoing and is designed to gather baseline data on avian uses of Lake Merced and the surrounding areas.

Lake Merced is the largest fresh water coastal lake and wetland between the Point Reyes Peninsula in northern Marin County and Pescadero Marsh in southern San Mateo County.  It, together with the adjoining Fort Funston unit of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, form the only significant natural coastal habitat remaining in San Francisco.  The lake provides a critical wintering site for thousands of birds, a resting and feeding site for spring and fall migrants and a nesting site or primary feeding site for about 48 species.  It provides a secondary feeding and resting site for 8 or more species which do not nest at the lake, but depend upon it during the nesting season of February through July.  13 additional species are discussed as possible breeding species which were not recorded, or for which records were so few as to suggest they did not use the lake during the nesting season, yet they remain possible nesting species.  The present study is solely a survey of breeding bird records gathered from notes of visits to 12 site plots during the first three years of the study.

There is ongoing political pressure for various actions at the lake.  These include ignoring it, adding as much as 10 feet of water to it, construction of piers and other facilities, removing the marsh, and altering use patterns.  A primary goal of this study is to provide one element of scientific data which will be a basis of knowledge about the lake's ecosystem, and which will help shape any and all political actions in terms of development or use which take
place at Lake Merced.

The author wishes to express his thanks to Craig and Martha Spriggs for providing information about the B1 heronry for 1998 and the N2 heronry for 1999.  Thanks too are due to Mark Eaton and John Plummer for reviewing the study.

Overview of this survey

27 visits were made between Feb. 6 and July 30, 1997.  Area S1 wasn't identified and visited until 2/17/97.  Area S3a was determined to be inaccessible due to vegetation cover and the presence of toilet paper and fecal matter on the trail and shrubs and was dropped at the end of 1997.  A nearby location, Area S3, was identified and added in 1998.  Area B2 was identified and observations began on 5/17.   Refer to the accompanying map (to be provided) for each site location.  All N locations are in the vicinity of the Sunset Circle at the north end of the lake.  All S locations are in the vicinity of the concrete bridge at the south end of the lake.  All B locations are in the vicinity of the Boathouse and picnic area on Harding Road.  Following is an accounting of the number of visits to each site:

1997:  N1-21, N2-20, N3-20, N4-19, N5-19, S1-16, S2-17, S3a-7, B1-13, B2-4,  B3-11; total 27 visits.

1998:  N1-19, N2-18, N3-18, N4-12, N5-12, S1-19, S2-18, S3-12, B1-9, B2-10, B3-11 total 26 visits.

1999:  N1-10, N2-11, N3-10, N4-7, N5-7, S1-13, S2-15, S3-11, B1-10, B2-8, B3-8; total 19 visits.

This is an alphabetical listing of the bird species sighted at Lake Merced.  Click on any of these and you will see when and where they were sighted.

Allen's Hummingbird
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Kestrel
American Robin
Anna's Hummingbird
Band-tailed Pigeon
Bank Swallow
Barn Owl
Barn Swallow
Belted Kingfisher
Bewick's Wren
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Black Phoebe
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown Creeper
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bushtit
California Quail
California Towhee
Caspian Tern
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cliff Swallow
Common Raven
Common Yellowthroat
Cooper's Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Great Horned Owl
Green Heron
House Finch
House Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Osprey
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Peregrine Falcon
Pied-billed Grebe
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Red Crossbill
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Dove
Ruddy Duck
Scrub Jay
Song Sparrow
Swainson's Thrush
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Virginia Rail
Warbling Vireo
Western Gull
Western Wood Pewee
White-crowned Sparrow
Wilson's Warbler
Wrentit

The following listing provides species identification, when and where sighted, and supplemental information intended to assist planning for habitat protection.

Pied-billed Grebe  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  open water;  marsh: bulrush
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  adult with young, adult feeding young, fledglings
NOTE:  Pied-billed Grebes nest in the bulrush marsh in most shallow areas in numbers < 25.

Double-crested Cormorant  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  open water;  piers, bulrush, eucalyptus, snags,
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N5, S2, S3, B3
Nesting:  1997:  Colony B1;  18 active nests in eucalyptus north of police pistol range, nests with young
              1998, Colony B1:  30
              1999, Colony B1:  58 active nests; nests with young
              1999, Colony N2:  in eucalyptus grove north of Harding Drive about
              3/4 miles north of the colony by the police pistol range.  6 active
              nests,  adult feeding young, nests with young

Green Heron  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;  marsh:  bulrush, smartweed, willow
Areas:  1997:  N1 (2), N3 (1), N5 (1), S1 (1), S2 (3), B3 (1)
            1998:  N1 (3 im), N2 (1), N3 (1), N4 (1), S1 (1), S2 (1), S3 (1), B2 (1),
            1999:  N1 (3), N4 (1), S1 (1), S2 (1, 2im), S3 (1)
             (numbers in brackets refer to the maximum number of birds seen in
             each area)
Nesting:  calling, adult with young, immature
NOTE:  It is very difficult to accurately assess the number of breeding pairs
at Lake Merced.  It is likely there are 10 to 25 pairs on the lake.

Great Blue Heron  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush, smartweed,  cattail
              upland:  eucalyptus, pine, pier rip rap, beach;
Areas:   N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, B1, B2, B3
Nesting:
1997:  Colony B1;  in eucalyptus grove north of police pistol range.
          4 nests,  3 occupied, 3 nests with young.
1998:  Colony B1;  2 nests occupied with 2 young each.
1999:  Colony B1;   3 nests occupied, 2 with young, 1 abandoned?
1999:  Colony N2;  in eucalyptus grove north of Harding Drive about 3/4
          miles north of the colony by the police pistol range.  2 nests, 2 nests
          with 5 young.

Mallard  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  open water;  marsh: bulrush, cattail, smartweed, willow
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N5, S1, S2, S3, B3
Nesting:  pair, displaying, fledglings
NOTE:  It is difficult to assess the number of nesting Mallards on the lake.
It is likely there are about 15 pairs.  Birds from the zoo and Golden Gate
Park seem to use the lake as well, swelling the numbers of summering Mallards
to 200+ birds.

domestic duck/Mallard  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  open water, beach
Areas:  S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  fledglings

Ruddy Duck  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  open water, bulrush
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  pair;  no evidence of nesting, but present throughout the nesting season.
They remain a probable breeding species.
NOTE:  There were about 5 male Ruddy Ducks which appeared to be on
territories.  They do nest locally and it is likely they successfully breed
from time to time at Lake Merced.

Cooper's Hawk  1999
Habitat:  aerial;  conifers at Harding Golf Course
Areas:  N5, N3
Nesting:
NOTE:  There are recent records for this species nesting at Fort Funston and
in Golden Gate Park.  The presence of this species through much of the
breeding season is a good indication it nests in the area, probably at the
north eastern part of Harding Park.

Red-shouldered Hawk  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat: aerial;  uplands:  cypress, eucalyptus, wire,
Areas:  N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:  calling, displaying, adult with young, fledgling
NOTE:  Though no nests were found, it is highly probable this species nests
around the lake and in all wooded areas nearby.  Six nests were reported from
the San Francisco Zoo during recent years.

Red-tailed Hawk 1997, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;
Areas:  S1, S2, N5
Nesting:  calling, pair.  Red-tails probably nest at Harding Golf Course, the
Olympic Club or San Francisco Zoo.  Red-tails could be expected to use the
uplands around the lake as part of a hunting territory.

American Coot  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  Open water:  Marsh: bulrush, beach, pier
Area:  N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  pair, adult with young, carrying food, feeding young
NOTE:  About 15 pairs nest per year.

Mourning Dove  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;  upland: willow, ground, weeds, albezia, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S2, S3a, B1, B2, B3
Nesting:  calling, pair
NOTE:  Numbers are low during the breeding season.  It is likely Mourning
Doves breed around the lake.  Nests have been found at Fort Funston and are
frequently found in San Francisco parks and gardens.

Anna's Hummingbird  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  willow, cypress, bottlebrush, weeds, ghorst?, snag, albezia,
blackberry, lupine, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, N2, N4, N5, B1, B2, B3
Nesting:  display, carrying nesting material, fledgling
NOTE:  This species probably nests in numbers far larger than suggested by
this study.

Allen's Hummingbird  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial: upland:  willow, coyote bush, aerial, albezia, cypress, mustard,
radish, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, N2, N4, N5, S1, S3, B1, B2
Nesting:  displaying
NOTE:  This species probably nests in numbers far larger than suggested by
this study.

Downy Woodpecker  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;  upland: cypress, eucalyptus, willow
Areas:  N1, N2, N5, S3a, B2
Nesting:  drumming
NOTE:  This species probably nests in numbers far larger than suggested by
this study.

Olive-sided Flycatcher  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  Harding Park: mature conifers
Area:  N1, N3, N5, S2
Nesting:  calling, singing
NOTE:  The N1 and N3 records probably represent a single nesting site located
in mature conifers on the edge of Harding Park.  The N5 record is far enough
east to possibly represent a second nesting site.  The habitat is appropriate
for this species and it is likely it nests there.

Black Phoebe  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush, smartweed, post;  upland:  willow, blackberry,
eucalyptus,
Area:  N1, N2, N4, N5, S1, S2, B1, B2, S3
Nesting:  display, singing, nest under pier, fledglings
NOTE:  It is probable 5+/- nest at the lake each year.

Warbling Vireo  1997, 1999
Habitat:  upland: Monterey cypress, willow, eucalyptus
Area:  N1, N2, N3, N5
Nesting:  singing
NOTE:  It is probable fewer than 5 pairs nest at the lake per year.

Scrub Jay  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  willow, pine, deciduous tree, ground, pier, cypress
Area:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3a, S3
Nesting: calling, pair, fledgling
NOTE:  It is likely 10 or fewer pairs nest per year.

Common Raven  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;  ground, beach, light pole
Area:  N1, N3, N5, S1, S2, S3, B1
Nesting:  calling, adults with young.
NOTE:  They are known to nest in tall trees elsewhere in San Francisco.  It is
probable no fewer than 3 pairs utilize parts of the lake for feeding.  Nests
were probably located near the north east corner of Harding Golf Course, the
Boathouse, and east of the concrete foot bridge at the south end of the lake.

Tree Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3a, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:  displaying, immature
NOTE:  Numbers vary so much for Tree Swallow, it would not be surprising if
over 100 pairs nest near the lake each year.  There are loose nesting colonies
in the eucalyptus just west of the Sunset Circle and in the conifers around
the 17th hole on Harding Golf Course.  They certainly nest elsewhere around
the lake.

Violet-green Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3, B3
Nesting:  immature, present through breeding season
NOTE:  It is probable10 or more pairs nest around the lake.

Bank Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S3a, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:
NOTE:  The only major colony of Bank Swallows on the central California coast
is located at Ft. Funston about .25 miles west.  Insects over the lake and
marsh are the primary source of food for the colony of 100+/- pairs of birds.

Cliff Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial, concrete bridge
Area:  N1, N2, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3a, S3, B1
Nesting:  1997:  49 active nests on concrete bridge
              1998:  38 nests on concrete bridge
              1999:  38 nests on concrete bridge
NOTE:  Besides the colony on the concrete bridge at the south end of the lake,
birds from other colonies depend on the lake as a source of food.  In the past
a large colony resided on the walls of the library at San Francisco State
University.  It is likely they nest elsewhere in the area.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;
Areas:  N2, N3, S1, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  There are probably fewer than 10 pairs per year nesting in the
vicinity.  They are known to nest in sand bluffs near the Bank Swallow colony
at Ft. Funston.  Insects over the lake and marsh are their primary source of food.

Barn Swallow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  aerial
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:
NOTE:  The survey indicates there are about 10 pairs present through breeding
season.  Though evidence of nesting was not found, it is certain they nest in
the area.  A pair was found roosting beneath foot bridge on the North Lake.

Wrentit  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  Upland:  willow
Area:  N5
Nesting:  singing
NOTE:  Only a single individual was heard at this site.  There is no other
evidence of nesting since the early 1960's.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush;
              upland:  willow, pine, eucalyptus, cypress, albezia, hemlock;
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, B1, B2, S1, S3
Nesting:  singing, pair, displaying, carrying nesting material, carrying fecal
sack, adults with young
NOTE:  It is probable they nest at all the sites listed above and at all
appropriate sites around the lake and in the surrounding woodlands.

Bushtit  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  willow, poison hemlock
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N5, S3a, S3, B2
Nesting:  singing, carrying nesting material, adults with young
NOTE:  It is probable Bushtits nest in numbers far greater than the numbers
suggested by this study.

Pygmy Nuthatch  1999
Habitat:  cypress, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, B2
Nesting:
NOTE:  It is probable Pygmy Nuthatch nests in virtually every sizable conifer
grove in the open space around Lake Merced.  Nests were found at Harding Park
during the study period.

Bewick's Wren  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  cypress, eucalyptus
Area:  N4, N5
Nesting:  singing.
NOTE:  Birds are on territory and rearing young annually at Fort Funston.
There are probably about 10 pairs in the area.

Marsh Wren  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh: bulrush, willow;  uplands:  albezia, myoporum
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3a, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:  singing, nest building, carrying nesting material, at nest, carrying
fecal sack, adult with young.
NOTE:  It is hard to assess the numbers of Marsh Wrens nesting on the lake.
The study areas probably account for 20 to 25 pairs.  There is no place I
stopped on the lake's edge where I could not hear 3 or 4 pairs singing during
April and May.  It is probable 100 to 200 pairs nest in the marsh around the
lake each year.

American Robin  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  uplands: cypress, willow, blackberry, weeds, albezia, eucalyptus;
              marsh:  pier
Area:  N1, N3, N4, N5, S3, B1, B2
Nesting:  pair, singing, fledgling
NOTE:  Since the survey areas were not sited to assess Robin numbers they
appear to be in far fewer numbers than they are.  They are common nesting
birds in all nearby woodlands.  Blackberries and insects near the lake are a
critical part of the post fledging diet for this species.

European Starling  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  willow, grass, wire
Area:  N1, N2, N3, S3, B1, B3
Nesting: adult with young
NOTE:  Starlings nest in cavities everywhere around the lake.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  willow
Area:  N2, N5, B3
Nesting:  singing, pair
NOTE:  Surprisingly absent during this study.  It may be their numbers are
down.  They should be nesting in willow groves around the lake and in
appropriate habitat at Fort Funston.

Wilson's Warbler  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  willow, oak, cypress
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S1, B2
Nesting:  singing, display, juvenile
NOTE:  The survey accounted for 5 or fewer nesting pairs per year.  A pair
probably nests in each major willow grove on the lake.

Common Yellowthroat  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush, smartweed, willow;  upland:  willow, albezia
Areas:  N1, N3, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3, B1, B2
Nesting:  singing, feeding young cowbird
NOTE:  This federally listed species was recorded at 3 sites in addition to
those mentioned above.  Though in no year did the survey record birds at all
sites, it is probable Common Yellowthroats nest in significant numbers in the
marsh zone around the lake.  An educated guess would place the number of
nesting pairs at 20 to 50 pairs.

California Towhee  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush;  upland:  lupine, weeds, albezia, willow, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, B1, B2,
Nesting:  pair, calling, carrying food
NOTE:  This ground feeding and tree nesting species probably nests on the
edges of all the golf courses in the area, as well as Fort Funston and the zoo.

Song Sparrow   1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  willow, albezia, mustard, weeds, shrubs, lupine,
                            blackberry, fennel, poison hemlock, cypress, bee plant,
                            acacia;
              marsh:  bulrush, willow, smartweed,
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, S1, S3a, S3, B2, B3
Nesting:  singing, displaying, carrying fecal sack, carrying food, feeding
young,  fledglings
NOTE:  One of the most common nesting species of the marsh zone.

White-crowned Sparrow  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  uplands:  willow, weeds, lupine, coyotebush, acacia, coast sage,
                             wild radish, ground, eucalyptus marsh:  smartweed
Areas:  N1, N2, N4, N5, S1, S2, S3a
Nesting:  singing, pair, carrying nesting material, feeding young, feeding
young cowbird
NOTE:  Though impacted by development around the lake, White-crowned Sparrows
continue to nest in undeveloped and restored areas of the lake's upland zone
where native shrubs and exotic weeds dominated the vegetation.

Brewer's Blackbird  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush;  upland:  willow, albezia, cypress, ground, beach,
grass, parking lot, pier, pipe, ice plant
Areas:  N1, N3, S1, S2, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:  adult with young, fledglings
NOTE:  Brewer's Blackbird nests in loose colonies in trees throughout this
part of San Francisco.  They feed around the lake during the nesting season
and feed newly fledged young there.  This survey does not provide adequate
coverage to estimate their numbers.

Brown-headed Cowbird  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  uplands:  cypress, eucalyptus, weeds, willow, beach, pier, pole,
wire, ground; marsh:  bulrush
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, S1, S2, S3a, S3, B1, B3
Nesting:  singing, pair, displaying, fledgling (White-crowned Sparrow),
(Brown-headed Cowbird)
NOTE:  This nest parasite is attracted to sites where people feed pigeons and
other birds.  It is abundant around the lake and probably parasitizes nests of
most songbirds which nest there.

Red-winged Blackbird  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  willow, bulrush;  upland:  willow, cypress, lawn
Areas:  N3, S1, S2, S3, B3
Nesting:  singing, displaying, feeding young
NOTE:  Small colonies seem to have had reproductive success at the south end
of the lake and near the Boathouse.  It is doubtful more than 20 pairs attempt
nesting each year.  The overwhelming number of Marsh Wrens is most likely the
cause for this nesting failure.

Purple Finch  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  cypress, eucalyptus, willow
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N5, S1, S3a
Nesting:  singing, carrying food
NOTE:  There were fewer than 5 pairs in each of the years the survey was
carried out.

House Finch  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  willow, eucalyptus, cypress, deciduous tree, poison
hemlock, mustard, fennel, weeds, albezia, coyotebush, lupine, myoporum
Areas:  N1, N2, N4, N5, S2, B1, B2, B3
Nesting:  singing, feeding young
NOTE:  They breed in trees through this section of San Francisco.  By the end
of the nesting season there are probably hundreds of House Finches around Lake Merced.

Red Crossbill  1997, 1999
Habitat:  aerial;  uplands:  cypress
Areas:  N1, N5, S1
Nesting:  calling.
NOTE:  No evidence of nesting, but they are known to nest locally in mature
conifers during all months of the year depending on the cone crop.  This
irruptive species has been in very low numbers during the 3 years this survey
was taken.

Pine Siskin  1997, 1998
Habitat:  fennel, cypress, willow, eucalyptus
Area:  N2, N3, N4, S1, S3
Nesting:  juvenile  NOTE:  probably nested in conifers on a nearby golf
course.
NOTE:  Numers of this irruptive species have been very low during the 3 years
this survey was taken.  They are likely to nest in all forested areas in this
section of San Francisco.

American Goldfinch  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  poison hemlock, albezia, willow, cypress
Areas:  N2, N4, N5, S2, B1
Nesting:  pair, display
NOTE:  Goldfinches are among our latest nesters.  It is likely they are only
starting their nesting cycle when this survey ended.

House Sparrow  1997, 1999
Habitat:  upland:  albezia, myoporum eucalyptus, fennel, grass, ground;
marsh, bulrush
Area:  S2, B1, B2, B3
Nesting:  present, carrying food, adult with immatures
NOTE:  There are surprisingly few House Sparrows at Lake Merced.

The following species do not breed at the lake, but are present through the
nesting season.  Some may be non breeding birds, others may be feeding at the
lake and returning to nesting sites nearby, off shore, or even in Marin,
Alameda or San Mateo counties.

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  marsh:  bulrush, willow;  upland: willow, pine, eucalyptus
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, S1, B1, B3
Nesting:  carrying nesting material.  This single observation on 5/17/98, is
not sufficient evidence of nesting.  These are probably non breeding birds.
It should be noted that was the case with other colonial species at the lake
for a number of years prior to establishment of the Double-crested Cormorant
and Great Blue Heron colonies in 1997.

Osprey  1997, 1999
Habitat:  aerial, eucalyptus;
Areas:  N1, N2, N4, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:  no evidence of nesting but present throughout the breeding season

American Kestrel  1999
Habitat:  pine
Area:  N5
Nesting:
NOTE:  This species has nested near the lake during recent years.  There was
only a single record during the course of this study.

Peregrine Falcon  1999
Habitat:  aerial
Area:  B2
Nesting
NOTE:  This July 15 record indicates Peregrine Falcon may feed at the lake
during the breeding season.

Virginia Rail  1997, 1998
Habitat:  bulrush marsh;
Area:  S1
Nesting:  no evidence of nesting but present as late as April 13

Western Gull  1997
Habitat:  aerial;  open water;   piers, snags, pole, roof, grass, ground
Areas:  N1, N2, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:
NOTE:  This species does not nest at the lake, but it does nest on coastal
islands in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.  The lake is used as a
resting site, a source of fresh water and probably a secondary feeding site.

Caspian Tern  1997
Habitat:  aerial, open water
Areas:  N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, S2, B1, B3
Nesting:
NOTE:  Though they nest in San Francisco Bay, they are regular visitors during
the breeding season, probably feeding on fish.

Rock Dove  1997, 1998, 1999
Habitat:  wires, ground, beach, lawn
Areas:  S2, B1, B3
Nesting:
NOTE:  Not known to nest at the lake, but 200-300 are present at S2 daily
where people feed them.  25+/- are present at B1 & B3.

The following species have appropriate habitat for nesting or are known to
nest in the area, but there were few or no observations during the study period:

Band-tailed Pigeon  1998
Habitat:  aerial
Area:  N4
Nesting:
NOTE:  Only one record of a fly-over.

Barn Owl
No records, but they are said to be present at the maintenance area in Harding Park.

Great Horned Owl
No records, but they are regularly reported on golf courses and at S3.

California Quail:  extirpated at Lake Merced.
Habitat:  Fort Funston vegetation restoration areas which are inaccessible to
dogs and people.
Nesting:  Birds are on territory and rearing young annually.
NOTE:  There is no indication California Quail nest at Lake Merced  They have
been extirpated during the last 8+/- years.

Belted Kingfisher  1998
Habitat:
Area:  S3
Nesting:  calling
NOTE:  This April 17, record, was the only one during the breeding season.
Belted Kingfisher is extirpated as a breeding species.

Western Wood Pewee  1998
Habitat:  willow
Area:  N3
Nesting:
NOTE:  This single June 7, record was the only one during the breeding season.
 It seems late for a migrant, but it remains a likely late migrant.  Other
birds were seen and heard at Ft. Funston and other San Francisco sites earlier
in the year.  It remains a possible, but unlikely breeding species.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher:
NOTE:  No records.  Marginal nesting habitat is present around the lake and in
the vicinity.

American Crow  1997
Habitat:  aerial
Nesting:  observed flying over.
NOTE:  They are known to nest elsewhere in San Francisco.

Brown Creeper
NOTE:  There were no records in the study areas, but it is certain they nest
in woodlands of the golf courses, at Fort Funston and at the zoo.

Swainson's Thrush  1998
Habitat:  eucalyptus
Area:  N2
Nesting:  singing
NOTE:  Only a single record.

Northern Mockingbird
NOTE:  Though there are no records for Lake Merced, and it is almost certain
they do not breed there, they do nest in nearby neighborhoods and at the zoo.

Dark-eyed Junco
NOTE:  It is surprising there were no records of for this species during the 3
years of the survey.  They nest elsewhere in southwestern San Francisco in
areas which are more wooded than the survey sites.

Lesser Goldfinch
NOTE:  This late nesting species was not present during the survey.  It is
doubtful that it nests at or near the lake, but habitat suggests it might.