Oak Woodlands
Oaks are among the most majestic and prominent trees in California and for many, they optimize the sunny, rolling lowlands of the state. Oaks are regionally diverse and a number of species and subspecies are found in a variety of habitats in the park. Oaks hybridize freely, so even experts can get confused about which species they are looking at.
Some oaks are evergreen and some are deciduous, and acorn production typically occurs every year on some species such as valley oak and blue oak, while acorns take two years on species like black oak and interior live oak. Nearly 10,000 acres (4,047 ha) of oak woodlands cover the foothills and lower-elevation mountain slopes below 2,500 feet (762 m) in Whiskeytown. Mixed oak woodlands are composed of black oak, canyon live oak, and interior live oak, with the amount of each type of oak varying from area to area.
Although oak woodlands are often mixed, in some instances a single species dominates. Black oak woodlands can be found on the north-facing slopes up Whiskey Creek, along Muletown Road, and at the Dry Creek Group campground. These black oak woodlands often have poison oak in the understory. The shrubbier subspecies of Oregon oak grows in distinct patches along South Shore Drive.
Large evergreen canyon live oaks are found on north-facing slopes and in canyon bottoms. The Brandy Creek picnic area has an excellent example of these oaks. Common native shrubs are toyon, manzanita, wild roses, redbud, and ceanothus such as deerbrush and buckbrush.
Wildflowers to enjoy include wild dandelion, Indian paintbrush, Indian warrior, penstemon, California Indian pink, iris, monkeyflowers, California poppy, milkweeds, columbine, woolly sunflower, lupine, mule ears, brodiaea, and yarrow.
Many wild critters are dependent on acorns for survival. After early spring rains, ensatina salamanders can be found in the leaf litter. Also, after significant winter rain, the diversity of lichens, bryophytes, and fungi such as turkeytail can be astounding.
Bird species that are commonly found include Hutton’s vireos, orange-crowned, warblers, lesser goldfinches, western scrub jay, oak titmouse, house finches, house wrens, redtailed hawks, band-tailed pigeons, wild turkey, California quail, spotted towhees, Bewick’s wrens, black phoebes, common bushtits, wrentits, acorn woodpeckers, and Nuttall’s woodpeckers.
