About Arana Gulch
Arana Gulch is a 67.7-acre designated greenbelt on the Santa Cruz east side, that contains coastal terrace prairie grasslands, oak/bay woodlands, riparian corridors, fresh and brackish wetlands, and Hagemann and Arana Creeks. Notice that the photo shows Arana Gulch whole, before paved routes for bicyclists were built on the greenbelt. |
Habitat
The Arana Gulch Greenbelt habitat contains threatened and endangered species, such as the Santa Cruz tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia), a federally-listed threatened species and a state-listed endangered species. All of the Arana Gulch Greenbelt is designated Critical Habitat for the Santa Cruz tarplant and is a City of Santa Cruz declared Open Space.
In addition to the Santa Cruz tarplant, Arana Gulch is home to many other plant species, including:
Photos by Jean Brocklebank
Photos by Steve Gerow
Photos by Michael A. Lewis
A birder's observations of April 26, 2022 as reported to the Monterey Bay Bird e-list
The weather was beautiful and the bird activity was high. The highlight of the morning was a singing CASSIN'S VIREO, a great bird for central Santa Cruz generally and the 2nd-3rd eBird record for Arana Gulch (2 reports in fall of 2013). A beautiful male WESTERN TANAGER, my first of the year, also made an appearance.
Signs of breeding activity were also seen. A fledgling NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was begging from its parent and demonstrating decent flight skills. This is at least about 2 weeks earlier than expected for this species to be at that stage of fledging. A CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE was fiercely defending a tree cavity from a curious squirrel. A BARN SWALLOW was flying over with nesting material.
Many common species were singing beautifully and often. BEWICK'S WREN, SONG SPARROW, WILSON'S WARBLER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, HOUSE FINCH, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK were all heard repeatedly. It was also a four-swallow morning with BARN, CLIFF, VIOLET-GREEN, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW all present.
The weather was beautiful and the bird activity was high. The highlight of the morning was a singing CASSIN'S VIREO, a great bird for central Santa Cruz generally and the 2nd-3rd eBird record for Arana Gulch (2 reports in fall of 2013). A beautiful male WESTERN TANAGER, my first of the year, also made an appearance.
Signs of breeding activity were also seen. A fledgling NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was begging from its parent and demonstrating decent flight skills. This is at least about 2 weeks earlier than expected for this species to be at that stage of fledging. A CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE was fiercely defending a tree cavity from a curious squirrel. A BARN SWALLOW was flying over with nesting material.
Many common species were singing beautifully and often. BEWICK'S WREN, SONG SPARROW, WILSON'S WARBLER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, HOUSE FINCH, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK were all heard repeatedly. It was also a four-swallow morning with BARN, CLIFF, VIOLET-GREEN, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW all present.
A birder's inventory on the morning of July 20, 2018
- WESTERN BLUEBIRD family still intact and hanging out together, all were perching and foraging around the water trough in the second enclosed area.
- Several BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, juveniles, and a couple were trying to sing.
- Lots of LESSER GOLDFINCHES and HOUSE FINCHES, looked like family groups.
- CLIFF SWALLOWS and BARN SWALLOWS
- PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, calling
- CALIFORNIA TOWHEE chick being fed by its parent
- NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, carrying food.
- STELLER'S JAY juvenile being fed by parent
For a complete list of species that inhabit Arana Gulch, click HERE.
History
Originally part of the Mexican-Era land grant "Rancho Del Encenlatios", Arana Gulch was named after Juan Arana who lived in Live Oak in the mid-1800s. His was one of the first ranchos in the Santa Cruz area. Much of the western boundary is formed by a 6.5 acre private holding which, in its entirety, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Click HERE for historical pictures of Arana Gulch. |
Arana Gulch Tour Pamphlet
by Norman Poitevin
Click to enlarge