April 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

8/8/2019 April 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

1/21

1

Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their habitats through

education, research and environmental activities.

Program Meetings for the general community are normally held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., atthe Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St. In December the meeting is held on the second Monday and in July

and August there are no Program Meetings.

April Program - Tim Manolis PresentsDragonflies of Butte CountyMonday, April 21, 2008, 6:30, Chico Creek Nature Center

Bidwell Park is an excellent place to view a wide variety of dragonflies anddamselflies (Family Odonata). Of about 108 species in this group known tooccur in California, 66 species are found in Butte County and at least 45 of thesehave been recorded in Bidwell Park. A few Sonoran Zone species - DesertFiretail, Neon Skimmer - reach the northern limits of their ranges in BidwellPark. The first list of species found in the park dates back to June 14-15 1914,published in Clarence H. Kennedy's pioneering 1917 paper on California dragonflies. Kennedy alsopublished lists for the Feather River near Oroville and nearby Table Mountain. There are some

interesting differences between Kennedy's list for the park and the current occupants. Familar Bluetand Widow Skimmer are now common in the park, but were not reported by Kennedy. Both of thesespecies are common inhabitants of artificial ponds, lakes and irrigation canals, and can tolerate pollutedwaters. They have apparently spread into northern California in recent decades as a result of humanactivity. Fortunately, no species seem to have disappeared from the park since Kennedy's day.

Tim Manolis association with Altacal goes back to 1970, when he came to finish his BA degree atChico State (He had lived as a child for a few years in Chico in the 1950s when his father was headcoach of the Chico State football and track teams). Tim was a student at Chico State from 1970-74, atwhich time he was actively involved in Altacal as Field Trip Chair, writer of the seasonal observationscolumn, etc. He and Bruce Webb produced the firstAnnotated Checklist of the Birds of Butte Countyfor Altacal in 1974, and that publication and revisions of it served as the basis of subsequent bird lists

produced by Altacal. After graduating from Chico State, he received an MS from Purdue University anda PhD from the University of Colorado. He is currently a self-employed writer, artist and illustrator. Inthe past, Tim worked for the Animal Protection Institute of America and California Department of Fishand Game, as well as being an independent biological consultant. He is a Past President of bothWestern Field Ornithologists and the Central Valley Bird Club.

White-tailed KiteApril/May, 2008
http://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/park-overview.phphttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/DesertFiretail.htmlhttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/DesertFiretail.htmlhttp://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/arthropods/neonskimmer.htmlhttp://www.odonataforum.com/membergallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=1&pos=-48http://www.cirrusimage.com/dragonfly_widow_skimmer.htmhttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoTDM.htmlhttp://www.wfo-cbrc.org/http://www.cvbirds.org/http://www.cvbirds.org/http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/http://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoTDM.htmlhttp://www.cirrusimage.com/dragonfly_widow_skimmer.htmhttp://www.odonataforum.com/membergallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=1&pos=-48http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/arthropods/neonskimmer.htmlhttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/DesertFiretail.htmlhttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/DesertFiretail.htmlhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/park-overview.phphttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenter


2/21

2

May Program Bird-watching from Sea Level to 10,000 Feet in a Day - Bruce Webb

Monday May 19, 2008, 6:30, Chico Creek Nature Center

Back by Popular Demand - Exactly 35 Years Later

Not many places on the planet offer such a remarkable change in elevation as the small state ofColimain western Mexico. Situated on the coast between the major citiesof Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, Colima is known to have 487recorded bird species, comparable to 45% of the birds of theContinental United States. From coastal mangroves to the pineforests atop Volcan de Fuego and nearby Nevado de Colima (13,450ft) it is possible to see some remarkable birds and butterflies. Bruce

Webb will present us with bird-watching sights andsounds from Colima and other western Mexico birding hotspots.

Volcan de Fuego

Bruce, a former Chico State student and Altacal officer during in the 1970s, now lives in Granite Bay,CA, and is married to Dr. Jeanne Conry whom he met while they were students in Chico. Bruce askedfor the May program date to be labeled "back by popular demand" (he gave a presentation on owls at theMay 1973 Altacal meeting, exactly 35 years ago). Expect to see photos and hear some recordings ofowls and many other endemic birds of Mexico.

Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips

All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate.

April 6, Sunday Teichert Pond: Eyesore or Eye Candy? Trip Leader: Scott Huber- An eyesore? A pit? Invasive vegetation? Mosquitos and algae? Teichert Pond is all of these BUTthetenacity of wildlife and the lure of an isolated wetland amid the bustle of a growing community makesTeichert pond a magnet for bird species! While well never know how many and which species lost theirhomes when the pit was created, we do know that a number of riparian-dependent species, and others,now call the ponds home.

Join Teichert fan, Scott Huber, in finding the good (birds) inthis forgotten gravel project. Although early for migratingwarblers, Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped and Black-

throated Gray are all possible in March. Sparrows,towhees and thrushes are all winter residents of the denseundergrowth. Raptors are drawn here too with Red-shouldered Hawk likely and Osprey and Great HornedOwl seen here occasionally. Good looks at Wood Duck,Canada Goose,

Red-shouldered Hawk at Teichert PondPhoto by Scott Huber
http://www.tomzap.com/colima.htmlhttp://www.gomanzanillo.com/old_articles/volcano/index.htmhttp://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=50http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canada_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canada_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=50http://www.gomanzanillo.com/old_articles/volcano/index.htmhttp://www.tomzap.com/colima.html


3/21

3

Belted Kingfisher and Common Moorhenare hoped for. Eurasian Wigeon, Soraand Virginia Railhave been seen here on rare occasions. Meet at the Chico Park n Ride at 8 a.m., then carpool over tothe limited parking area. This is a short (3-4 hour), easy walk. Bring binoculars and water. Rain willcancel this trip. Please call Scott Huber at 321-5579 or email: [email protected] for moreinformation.

April 20, Sunday Butte Creek Ecological Preserve Trip Leader: DawnGarcia - Join Dawn at the Park-n-Ride at 8:00 a.m. We will carpool to the ButteCreek Ecological Preserve and walk most of the 0.9 mile site. There are lots ofrocks and some areas that are heavily vegetated with thorny blackberries throughnarrow trails. Birds should be visible and very audible on this date withmigrants still coming through and summer breeders establishing territories.Bring snacks, water, sunscreen and binoculars of course!

Some BCEP Habitat

Contact Dawn Garcia: [email protected] or (530) 513-1785. Anyone coming from Paradise cancarpool down the hill with Dawn. Rain cancels.April 27, Sunday Upper Bidwell Park Trip Leader: Phil Johnson

Take a casual walk along the creek-side and adjacent woodlands in search of birds thatbreed in Upper Park. No experience necessary. Just bring your binoculars, a field

guide if you have one, hiking shoes, water and snacks. Meet at the newly constructedparking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8:30 a.m. and walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3miles). For more information, contact Phil Johnson at 570-7139.

Seasonal Creek near the Shooting Range

May 3, Saturday Paradise Flume Trail- Trip Leader: Dawn Garcia - An adventuresome hike abovethe west branch of the Feather River in Paradise. This 2-5- mile hike will be on the gently sloping flumetrail, in many cases walking along narrow wooden planks and metal grates above the flume. Beautifulviews of the Feather River, up to several hundred feet below, require birders with good balance and nofear of heights. To access the site we need to carpool in high clearance (4-wheel drive suggested)

vehicles. This time of year should be birdy with residents and spring migrants including Nashville,Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned and Townsend's Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeaks,Western Tanagersand Lazuli Buntings. I've had singing Winter Wrensand American Dippersandhave flushedMountain Quail. Watch out for California Newts and Yellow-legged Frogs. Bringbinoculars, lunch, water and your cameras. We may take a short hike down to the river. Carpooling issuggested to the meeting place at 8:30 a.m., Holiday Market parking off Skyway in Paradise. ContactDawn Garcia at (530) 872-2165 or [email protected].

May 11, Sunday Pine Creek Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge ComplexTripLeader: Jennifer PattenCome bird a recently opened public trail through the 564-acre PineCreek Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

Complex. This site is located directly east of Hamilton City and justsouth of Highway 32 and is owned by the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService. The property has 31 acres of fallow, 228 acres of restorednative grass, and 33 acres of existing riparian habitat. The existingriparian habitat consists mostly of cottonwood riparian forest, withsome riparian scrub and herbland cover. Bring your binoculars, birdfield guide book and water. Rain cancels. Meet at the Chico Park n Ride (lot closest to freeway) at 8:00a.m. Well be back around 12:30 p.m. Contact Jennifer Patten, field trip leader, for moreinformation, 345-9356, [email protected].
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Moorhen.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sora.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Virginia_Rail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Virginia_Rail.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nashville_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Townsends_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Grosbeak.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lazuli_Bunting.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Winter_Wren_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Dipper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Dipper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Quail.htmlhttp://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/tari-tor.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.muscosa.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48mailto:[email protected]://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.muscosa.htmlhttp://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/tari-tor.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Dipper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Winter_Wren_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lazuli_Bunting.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Grosbeak.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Townsends_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nashville_Warbler.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Virginia_Rail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sora.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Moorhen.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.html


4/21

4

May 22-26, Thursday-Monday, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Princeton, Oregon TripLeaders: Mike Fisher and Jennifer Patten - Make plans to join us for a long Memorial Day weekend inOregon at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, one of thepremier birding hot spots of the west. Malheur is well known asa great spot for eastern migrants that include Chestnut-sidedWarbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-Eyed Vireo,Northern Waterthrush and American Redstart. We will visitmarshy Malheur Lake, one of the finest waterfowl refuges in the

United States. Additionally, if time permits we will explore theneighboring Steens Mountain, a majestic tilted fault block.Wewill camp at one of the campgrounds outside of the refuge. Ifyou are considering going, please call field trip leaders MikeFisher 530-624-4777 or Jennifer Patten 530-345-9356 for moreinformation and to coordinate camping and drivingarrangements.

May 31, Saturday Butte College Wildlife Refuge Trip Leaders: Mike Williams and Scott Huber -Over one hundred fifty species have been recorded on the Butte College Wildlife Refuge to date - andthey want to add to that list! We'll visit the nature trail located along the riparian area of Clear Creekand see how the Acorn Woodpeckers are faring after lots of changes to the standing granaries thiswinter. Then we'll walk the trails through the blue oak/savannah community and look and listen forbreeding and nesting birds.

The weather may be warm and the walking moderately strenuous. Please dress appropriately for sun,bugs, ankle support and the possibility of snakes. Meet at the Park n Ride nearest Hwy 99 at 7:30 a.m.and bring binoculars and water. We will return at approximately 1:00 p.m. For more information pleasecall Scott Huber @ 321-5579.

June 8, Sunday Upper Bidwell Park Trip Leader: Phil Johnson - Take a casual walk along thecreekside and adjacent woodlands in search of birds that breed in Upper Park. Noexperience necessary. Just bring your binoculars, a field guide if you have one, hikingshoes, water and snacks. Meet at the newly constructed parking lot by Horseshoe Lake

at 8:30 a.m. and walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles). For more information,contact Phil Johnson at 570-7139.

Seasonal Creek near the Shooting Range

What Makes the Annas go SPEEK?

Tim Manolis

[Those of you who attended the Snow Goose Festivals Gathering of Wings banquet heard Tim Manolis delightfulintroduction of the Keynote Speaker, Kenn Kaufman. Tims early contributions to Altacal helped make it what it is today. Apartial biography can be found at: http://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoTDM.html Ed.]

It is a loud, explosive noise somewhere between a snap, crackle and pop that seems to emanate fromthin air. Those who recognize its source a male Annas Hummingbird will instantly scan the skyaround them, looking for a small speck of a bird mounting slowly upward to a height of 20-40 meters (60-120 feet) in preparation for its next dive display. From the top of its rise, the male hummer stoopsstraight for the ground at speeds of up to 20 meters/second (45 miles/hour), pulling up sharply within ameter or two of the object of its attention (usually another hummingbird), emitting its startling SPEEK atthe foot of the dive. The male hummingbird typically orients his iridescent gorget and crown featherstowards the sun so as to be seen to full effect at the climatic moment. At close range it is a breathtakingexperience, as if a small clap of thunder and lightening has charged the air.
http://www.fws.gov/malheurhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chestnut-sided_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chestnut-sided_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-and-white_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-eyed_Vireo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Waterthrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Redstart.htmlhttp://www.butte.edu/information/public/wildlifehttp://www.butte.edu/information/public/wildlifehttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Acorn_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.phphttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoTDM.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Annas_Hummingbird_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Annas_Hummingbird_dtl.htmlhttp://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoTDM.htmlhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.phphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Acorn_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.butte.edu/information/public/wildlifehttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Redstart.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Waterthrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-eyed_Vireo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-and-white_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chestnut-sided_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chestnut-sided_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/malheur


5/21

5

But what produces the loud SPEEK? In describing the display in the Condor in 1920, Richard Huntwrote of this amazing sound being . . . louder and more violent than one would expect from a bird ofthe hummer size. Considerable speculation has swirled around this topic. Some have considered it avocalization; others have argued it must be a mechanical sound produced by the rapid rush of air acrosswing or tail feathers.

In the late 1930s, Tom Rodgers, then associated with the Museum ofVertebrate Zoology (MVZ) at Berkeley, conducted some experiments todetermine which if any feathers might be responsible for the SPEEK. Hisresearch zeroed in on the outer tail feather of the adult male, which is stiff,somewhat arched, and narrower than the other tail feathers. In a paperpublished in the Condor in 1940, he wrote:

Then, in an effort to duplicate the conditions at the bottom of the dive, Iattached an outer tail feather to a slender strip of bamboo. By whipping thisthrough the air a note was produced, which was almost identical with that

Tom Rodgers

produced by the bird. No other feathers produced this note. This experiment was demonstrated beforethe Cooper Club at its annual meeting in Fresno, on April 16, 1938.

The mystery would appear to have been solved, and in the decades that followed most (but not all)accounts of the display in the literature and field guides alluded to Toms interpretation of how thecurious sound was made.

But in 1979, a note in the Condor by Luis Baptista and Margaret Matsui claimed that analysis ofsonograms of the dive display suggested that the SPEEK was . . . mostly, if not entirely, vocal inorigin. In yet another paper in the Condor in 1982, Gary Stiles countered this claim, citing Tomsearlier experiments and reported observations of Annas Hummingbird males which lacked the outer tailfeathers due to molt or age failing to produce a SPEEK note in their displays. Stiles also harked back tothe sentiments expressed by Hunt, saying that . . .the note seems too loud in relation to the size of thesyrinx and airsac system of a hummingbird. Doubt had been cast on the theory of a mechanical sourcefor the SPEEK, however, and so the controversy continued.

In 1993, the Cooper Ornithological Society held its annual meeting in Sacramento, and I helpedpersuade Tom Rodgers, who had been my early ornithological mentor at Chico State, to attend themeeting and to reprise his performance with the tail-feather whip at a poster session. As I recall, it tooksome time and effort to produce a new version of the original device, but he finally succeeded indeveloping a bamboo whip that worked fairly well. Luis Baptista was also in attendance at that meetingand stopped by to talk with Tom and view the display. As I remember it, he was intrigued but notentirely convinced by Toms demonstration and still felt there was a vocal component to the SPEEKnote.

All in all, Tom had a great time at the 1993 COS meeting. He had not presented a paper at anornithological meeting in many years, and it was a great opportunity for him to see some old friends. I

especially recall the mutual joy he and Barbara De Wolfe, who had also been a graduate student atBerkeley when Tom was there, evinced when they had the chance to reminisce about the old days withJoseph Grinnell and Alden Miller at the MVZ. Tom passed away a few years later, in 1996, but I knowhe was as glad as I was that he had been able to make the 1993 event.

Now comes word of Toms complete vindication, and I only wish he were here to see it. In a recentpaper, two researchers, Chris Clarke and Teresa Feo appropriately enough, from the MVZ -- havedemonstrated with video footage and experimental tests that the outer tail feathers are definitely thesource of the loud SPEEK! You can read all about it, and even hear a SPEEK note, at the following website:
http://mvz.berkeley.edu/http://mvz.berkeley.edu/http://mvz.berkeley.edu/http://mvz.berkeley.edu/


6/21

6

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7216230.stm.

Though Tom is not here to appreciate this news, I think all of us who are the beneficiaries of hiscommitment to Altacal Audubon Society and to conservation efforts and environmental education innorthern California can take advantage of this opportunity to raise a figurative glass in toasting hismemory Heres one for you, Tom!

AviFact

In 1827-28, the Italian surgeon Dr. Paolo Botta, while in what is nowCalifornia on a three-year, round-the-world voyage on a French tradingvessel, added an Annas Hummingbird (Calypte anna) to his naturalhistory collection (Natural history collecting was popular among upper-class Europeans at the time). When he returned to France he gave thespecimen to Victor Massena, Duke of Rivoli and Prince of Essling who, inturn, showed them to his naturalist friend, Rene Primavere Lesson. Lessonnamed the type specimen after his friend Massenas wife, Anna, becausehe appreciated their making the collection available to visiting naturalists.John James Audubon, while pursuing funding from Massena and hisfriends for the publication of his Birds of America, described Anna as a

beautiful young woman, not more than twenty, extremely graceful andpolite.

In 1846, Massena sold his collection of 12,500 birds to Dr. T.B. Wilsonwho presented it to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.Among the many type specimens thus made available to American ornithologists was AnnasHummingbird. Today, Annas is the most common hummingbird in California, and the only one foundhere in the winter.

AviQuiz

What other Hummingbird did Lesson name after a woman? (answer on page 16)

From the Nominating Committee

(Mike Fisher, Kathryn Hood, Scott Huber and Phil Johnson)

Altacal Board of Directors Elections

In the February/March 2008 issue of the White-tailed Kite (WTK) we asked that nominations for theElective Offices of the Altacal Audubon Society be sent to one of the members ofthe Nominating Committee and that those nominated would be announced in theApril/May issue of the WTK. The Nominating Committee received onenomination, Scott Huber for President. The existing elected officers chose to

have their names put forward for another two-year term. Because there was littleresponse from the membership, the Board of Directors (BOD), at their Februarymeeting, changed the Bylaws of the Society to better match the needs of themembers and the election requirements of the Society. The previous Bylaws wouldhave required the Vice-Presidents to give up their positions with no members nominated to fill thepositions. The current, changed, relevant section reads The elected officers shall serve two-year terms.They may serve longer if the Board so recommends and they are re-elected by the members. At theJune meeting, members may still put forth nominations before voting. The slate of nominations forelected office that the Nominating Committee approved is: President Phil Johnson or Scott Huber; Co-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7216230.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7216230.stm


7/21

7

Vice-Presidents: Mike Fisher and Jennifer Patten; Secretary Kathryn Hood; Treasurer John Oswald.Elections will be held in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society. With the exception of the office ofPresident, nominees presented by the Nominating Committee shall be elected by a majority voice voteof the membership present at the June meeting. Since there is more than one person running forPresident, there will be a written ballot with the winner being the nominee who receives the highestvote.

Northern California Audubon Chapter Leaders Conference

On the weekend of February 22-24 Altacal hosted a meeting at the Chico Grange Hall of representativesfrom California Audubon and the Wintu, Plumas, Redwood Region, Mendocino Coast, Redbud, andPeregrine Audubon chapters from Northern California. The attendees met for dinner at the SierraNevada Brewery on Friday evening. The bird walks on early Saturday and Sunday were met with rainbut the heart of the conference, the proceedings on Saturday, went very well. Each of the groups spoketo conservation issues and priorities in its sphere of influence and speakers from California Audubonpresented a State-wide view of issues and goals. Included in the discussions and presentations were apolicy program update and legislative priorities discussion by Dan Taylor, Public Policy Director,Audubon California; an Important Bird Areas (IBA) program update and mapping review by AndreaJones, Important Bird Areas Coordinator, Audubon California; a presentation by Gary Langham, BirdConservation Director, Audubon California, on impacts of climate change on California birddistributions, a study underway by Audubon CA; and a talk on the Klamath Settlement Package by RonCole, Manager, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex. Mac McCormick provided anevening program on Birds of the Sierras and the group practiced its ID expertise. Everyone thought itwas a worthwhile, interesting conference, a lot of fun and hoped for more like it in the future. Thefollowing photos were taken by Don and Colleen Shephard from the Mendocino Coast AudubonSociety.

Education

The Chico State Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) is one of two collegechapters, the other being the Humboldt State Chapter. The Chico Chapter got started in the fall of 2007with the help of Jeremey Ashe (CSU, Chico student and President), Raymond "Jay' Bogiatto (CSU,Chico faculty and Advisor), and Carina Port (former CWA education coordinator). The chapter is madeup of students, non-students and faculty. Its main goal is to be involved with and promote CWA wetlandconservation and hunter-related activities. The Chapter has also held a waterfowl wing-ID workshop andplans to do another in the spring of 2008.
http://www.calwaterfowl.org/http://www.calwaterfowl.org/


8/21

8

Recently, the chapter took part in a Wood Duck-box clean-up day at Rancho Esquon near Durham.Members teamed up with kids and cleaned more than 40 Wood Duck boxes. While out in the fieldcleaning the boxes, chapter members taught the kids about the birds they saw and about the owl pelletsthat were in the boxes. Among the birds seen were Bald Eagle,Ring-necked Pheasant, White-facedIbis,Sandhill Crane, and a large number ofducks. Chapter members and the kids also learned how toplant willow tree clippings and ended up planting 100 willow trees in the club nursery.

The California WaterfowlAssociation (CWA) wasfounded in 1945 to influencehunting regulations andgovernment activities thataffect waterfowl. Theorganization has always hadthe philosophy that huntershave been the most importantforce in conserving waterfowland wetlands. For that reasontheir mission is thepreservation, protection, andenhancement of Californias

Chapter President, Jeremey Ashe, Tyler Gullickand Girls from the Community Youth Center (CYC)

waterfowl resources, wetlands, and associated hunting heritage. They carry out this mission throughtheir Mallard, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck, geese, and heritage programs. Since 1992, CWA andpartnering agencies have completed over 500 projects affecting more than 300,000 acres statewide.CWA coordinates the most extensive volunteer nest box program in the nation, hatching more than30,000 ducklings each year. Besides the waterfowl- and wetland-related programs, CWA tries topromote conservation to youngsters as well as hunting safety and ethics through youth hunting camps.

The local chapter of CWA is as much concerned with educating children to the wonders of nature andabout putting more wetlands on the ground as it is in promoting safe and ethical hunting of waterfowl.

Conservation Corner

Dawn Garcia, Conservation Chair

Report Bank Swallow Sightings!

Bank Swallows are in! Please don't forget to report your Bank Swallowsightings, particularly those that are observed at areas other than theSacramento River (the reach between Red Bluff to Colusa [RM 244 and144] is surveyed annually). To report your observations go to our websitehttp://www.altacal.org/and scroll down near the bottom of the page. Oremail Dawn at [email protected].

Photo by Arthur Morris
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Pheasant_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Pheasant_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mallard.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bank_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.altacal.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.altacal.org/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bank_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mallard.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Pheasant_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.html


9/21

9

M & T Gravel Mine - No Gravel Mine on River Road

The Butte County Board of Supervisors voted against the proposed M & T Gravel Mine on River Road.Altacal Audubon members contributed to this wonderful success. We led a field trip to the site, wroteletters and made phone calls, showed up at the supervisors meetings to lend support and spoke againstthe mine because of the impacts it would have on listed species and habitats. This shows the power ofthe people. We can, and did, make a difference. Thank you all for your efforts!

We must, however, continue to let our representatives know that wildlife is important to all of us.Although the supervisors cited evidence regarding road maintenance costs and traffic, air quality, andsafety issues, they did not mention wildlife or listed species as a reason to vote against the mine. Thisindicates a need for education regarding the esthetic and ecological value our native flora and faunaprovide.

Altacal Audubon Action Alerts

Please consider joining our Altacal Action Alerts. You will receive select and timely emails regardingcurrent state or local issues that we are supporting or fighting, given a brief history of the issue, andcontact information for emailing, writing letters or calling the appropriate responsible person. To addyour name to our list, contact our Membership Chair, Carolyn Short: [email protected]

Save our State Parks (SOS)

Endangered Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, Tehama County

Please join us as we support Audubon California and many other organizations in a campaign to SaveOur State Parks (SOS). Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed to close 48 or our State Parks andremove lifeguards from 16 state beaches. Collectively, these parks host more than 24 million visitorseach year; more than 30 % of visitors for the entire 278 state park system! Removing lifeguards fromthe shores of Californias state beaches could be a significant public safety issue.

Several of the parks scheduled for closure are listed as Important Bird Areas and any major changes ofmanagement in these parks will impact numerous environmental values. Locally, Woodson Bridge SatePark in Corning, Tehama County, is slated for closure. The parks amenities include camping andboating on the Sacramento River and riparian forest habitat for hiking and nature refection. Please makeyour concerns known.

As an individual you can sign an online letter which will automatically be sent to your Assemblymanand Senator based on your address. Go to:

http://ga3.org/campaign/KeepStateParksOpen

For the main SOS website visit: http://www.savestateparks.org/joinus/

To view proposed park closures:http://www.calparks.org/act-now/proposed-park-closures-map.html
mailto:[email protected]://ga3.org/campaign/KeepStateParksOpenhttp://www.savestateparks.org/joinus/http://www.calparks.org/act-now/proposed-park-closures-map.htmlhttp://www.calparks.org/act-now/proposed-park-closures-map.htmlhttp://www.savestateparks.org/joinus/http://ga3.org/campaign/KeepStateParksOpenmailto:[email protected]


10/21

10

Global Warming Tip

If every household in America replaced just one roll of virgin toilet paper with one recycledpostconsumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would still be standing. Demand it in your local storesand supermarkets! - The Solution is Youby Laurie David

Sister Society (Cape Cod Bird Club) News

Following are some mid-March sightings by members of our Sister Society, the Cape Cod Bird Club:

American Oystercatchers, those loud and colorful clowns of our beaches, are beginning their returnfrom their wintering grounds in the southeastern states, with four spotted on Nantucket in the last fewdays. Keep an eye (and ear) out here on the Cape. A possible Great Egret, another early bird for thedate, was reported from Harwich this week as well.

A flock of 12 Bohemian Waxwings was reported from High Head in Truro this weekend, and inEastham a Tundra Swan was reported from the First Encounter marsh, plus a Canvasback and a

For Woodson Bridge, contactAssemblyman Doug LaMalfa:0Hhttp://republican.assembly.ca.gov/members/a2/index.aspxOr:Redding District Office

2865 Churn Creek Rd,Suite BRedding, CA 96002Phone: (530) 223-6300Fax: (530) 223-6737
http://massbird.org/ccbchttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Oystercatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bohemian_Waxwing.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bohemian_Waxwing.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Oystercatcher.htmlhttp://massbird.org/ccbc


11/21

11

Eurasian Wigeon on nearby Herring Pond. A Northern Shrikeand three Seaside Sparrowswere atFort Hill in Eastham.

Birds noted during a stroll at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary included a Hoary Redpoll, threeGreen-winged Teal, four overwintering Black-bellied Plovers, 200Dunlin, 15 Northern Bobwhites,30 Horned Larks, and 40 Common Redpolls.

At the Crane Wildlife Management Area in Falmouth there was a Northern Shrike, a NorthernHarrier, eight Eastern Bluebirds, and an Eastern Meadowlark. Elsewhere in the Falmouth area,

birders once again noted what are probably some of the most frequently counted individual ducks in theworld, among which were three Wood Ducks, a Eurasian Wigeon, 37 American Wigeon, fiveCanvasbacks, four Redheads, 164Greater Scaups, 17 Ruddy Ducks, two Pied-billed Grebes, plussix Turkey Vultures, two Red-shouldered Hawks, four American Coots, and two BeltedKingfishers.

Spotted Turtleswere active in the Orleans/Brewster area as early as March 2, and aPainted Turtlespent a day basking at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary last week. On rainy March eight Four-toed Salamanderswere active on Old County Road in Wellfleet and in Eastham there were juvenileGreen Frogs and North American Bullfrogs, as well as Spotted Salamanders, all crossing roads.Thirty Spotted Salamanders were also noted in a breeding pond in Mass Audubon's Ashumet HollyWildlife Sanctuary in East Falmouth.

Scattered salmonella outbreaks are being reported among feeder birds around the state, with CommonRedpolls among the casualties noted. If you see clearly sick birds at your feeders - they often appearsluggish and ruffled - take down your feeders until the sick birds leave and put them up after soakingthem in a 1:10 bleach/water solution.

Hawks in the Wind

Rex Burress

On an overcast day, there was aRed-tailed Hawksitting in the top of a small oak on the hill above theAfterbay, surveying its domain in the dim light. Not everyday is a good dayfor soaring birds, especially one like the January 4th, 2008, windstorm.They need calmer fields so they can spot the mouse from their aerialviewpoints, and things like rain, wind, and fog forces them to perch.

I wonder what the Red-tail - and especially the vultures along the river -did on that "hurricane" day when 60 m.p.h. gusts could toss a buoyant birdaround like a rag. They certainly would face the wind to keep their feathersflat, and cling tightly to a tree limb, and the wind came up in the night so theywould be plunged into survival in the dark. Sparrows would crouch in thethickets, but the larger birds of prey were sorely stressed out in the open.

Red-tailed Hawk

While mankind hovers in the protection of a house, hoping the electrical power doesnt fall to brokentrees and wires, the wild bird is out there in the teeth of the gale, protected by a delicate coat of feathers,struggling to survive. In the Midwest and snow country where temperatures might plummet, thechallenge of survival is exceedingly greater. You always marvel after a Missouri blizzard and ice storm,to see the Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Juncos emerge unscathed when the storm passes, vocalizing theirsignal of life as they search for food. They did it by slinking into the densest cover and hanging on,while the Great Horned Owl probably went into a tree cavity.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shrike.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shrike.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Wellfleet/index.phphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hoary_Redpoll.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green-winged_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-bellied_Plover.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dunlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Bobwhite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Horned_Lark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Redpoll.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shrike.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Meadowlark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Redhead.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Scaup.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Scaup.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruddy_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pied-billed_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/turtles/Spotted_turtle/index.htm&2http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/turtles/Spotted_turtle/index.htm&2http://songstar.org/critters/eastern_painted_turtle01.htmlhttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Wellfleet/index.phphttp://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0210http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0210http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0210http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_clamitans.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_catesbeiana.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_catesbeiana.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_catesbeiana.htmlhttp://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/salamanders/SpottedSalamander.htmlhttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ashumet_Holly/index.phphttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ashumet_Holly/index.phphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Cardinal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dark-eyed_Junco.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue_Jay.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Cardinal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ashumet_Holly/index.phphttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Ashumet_Holly/index.phphttp://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/salamanders/SpottedSalamander.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_catesbeiana.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_clamitans.htmlhttp://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0210http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=AR0210http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Wellfleet/index.phphttp://songstar.org/critters/eastern_painted_turtle01.htmlhttp://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/turtles/Spotted_turtle/index.htm&2http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pied-billed_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruddy_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Scaup.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Redhead.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Meadowlark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shrike.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Redpoll.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Horned_Lark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Bobwhite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dunlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-bellied_Plover.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green-winged_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hoary_Redpoll.htmlhttp://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Wellfleet/index.phphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shrike.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.html


12/21

12

But for the Red-tailed Hawk and other birds of prey, caught in a dark, rainy windstorm, it is a matter ofhanging on until the wind subsides, which might be a whole day.

Down by the riverside, I was watching the vultures starting to roost in the giant eucalyptus behind theVeterans Building, and I wondered how they managed when the wind hit. They have weak graspingpowers, and those top limbs they prefer are very flexible, prone to bend and sometimes break in a strongwind. Did the vultures disperse to the ground or low trees? No one was there to check it out.

Out in the Gray Lodge marshes, the waterfowl must have had a time, too, exposed in the flat expansebuffered only by spindly tule and cattails, while the waves must have been unsettling. There are a lot ofhawks there, but plenty of cottonwood to help. It must have been a restless night for the pheasantscrouched in the grass where all the vegetation whipped about as if a predator was closing in. They couldonly hope the dancing shadows were merely bushes. Even the coyote was probably holed up in somecave or recess.

Did the beaver along the river retreat to a bank den, or stick around to see if the wind would finish offthe cottonwood they had been gnawing on? Not many care to make wildlife observations in a windstormwhen their own safety is being attacked. Sometimes there is mutual cooperation in times of emergency,as when my rock-hound friend once told me about sharing a cave with a porcupine in a storm. There wasno objection from either one!

"...The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; he watches from his mountain walls,

And like a thunderbolt he falls..."

Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle"

Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports

February 17, Sunday Butte Basin/Llano Seco Trip Leader: SkipAugur - Half-a-dozen birders met for an initially cool day that laterturned to shirtsleeve weather. We spent several hours at Llano Secowhere we had great looks at Eurasian Wigeonand Redheadas well asthe more common waterfowl. A pair ofBald Eagles was in the area,

and a Prairie Falcon made a flyover at the far viewing platform. AnAmerican Bittern also put in a brief appearance. American Pipitsappeared to want to sit up in the trees, which seemed a bit odd.

Butte Basin Habitat

Continuing down Road Z we found a few more species - Common Moorhen, Wood Duck, and Ring-necked Duck. We then headed over to Howard Slough where we added a few more species such asSharp-shinned Hawk, Mourning Dove, Long-billed Curlew, and White-faced Ibis. After, we headedback to Chico with a brief stop on Aguas Frias road where we added White-tailed Kite, Bewick'sWren, and Bushtits. Nancy Nelson was kind enough to track the species counted for the GreatBackyard Bird Count.

March 8, Saturday, What Might Be Lost? Birding the Potential Sites Reservoir Project and EastPark Reservoir Trip Leader: Scott Huber

A sunny, spring March day in the western foothills of Colusa and Glenncounties makes one wonder why anyone would live anywhere else. Therolling hills were bright green and the oaks were just starting to leaf out.Set against this background we pondered the question of the proposedSites Reservoir. As with any water storage facility in California there ismuch controversy. Our goal was to get a better sense of what type ofhabitat and birds would be affected by this project. What we found is thatthe 14,000-acre impoundment would inundate grasslands, pasture and dry-
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Redhead.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Redhead.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Prairie_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Prairie_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Bittern.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Moorhen_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sharp-shinned_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Long-billed_Curlew.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-tailed_Kite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-tailed_Kite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-faced_Ibis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Long-billed_Curlew.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sharp-shinned_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Moorhen_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Bittern.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Prairie_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Redhead.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Wigeon.html


13/21

13

land wheat fields. This habitat supports (among others) many sparrow species,American Pipit, Says Phoebe, Burrowing

Rufous-crowned SparrowPhoto by Scott Huber

Owl, and Wilsons Snipe and provides great foraging habitat for a number of raptors some of whichare species of special concern. In the narrow canyon that would be dammed we found Rock Wrens andhad close-up looks at a striking Rufous-crowned Sparrow. From the area that the reservoir wouldcover we watched three Golden Eaglescavorting above the ridgeline.

We visited a real-life example just to the west. East Park Reservoir is another flooded valley in thewestern foothills. Bird diversity on the water was not high but we were able to pick out a Clarks Grebefrom among the more numerous Western Grebeson the lake. The blue oak woodlands surrounding thelake held some pleasant surprises like Peregrine Falcon, Lewiss Woodpecker, Purple Finch andWestern Bluebird. In the nearby cattle pastures we were treated to nice views of TricoloredBlackbirds alongside Red-winged Blackbirds and Brewers Blackbirds. A flock ofWild Turkeys onthe back side of Black Butte Reservoir was a nice end to a beautiful and educational day.

March 9, Sunday Genetic Resource (Tree Improvement) Center Trip Leader: Skip Augur

Five birders braved the Daylight Savings Time change to beat the crowds ofcanines to the Tree Improvement Center. We enjoyed a beautiful morning with

Flowering Shrubs Along the Comanche Trail

lots of our common birds, including great views of aBushtit in the scope (an interesting challenge). Ourlocals are starting to make their spring calls (the trill of the Spotted Towhee, for example, as opposed

the the more commonly heard "meow" call). Tree Swallows seemed a bit more common than they hadover the winter as well. A number of our winter visitors were still present, including White- andGolden-crowned Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Less-common birdsseen included Purple Finch and Red-breasted Sapsucker.

Opportunities and Events

SFSU Sierra Nevada Field Campus
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Burrowing_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Burrowing_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wilsons_Snipe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rock_Wren_dtl.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/605/_/Rufous-crowned_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Clarks_Grebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Clarks_Grebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lewiss_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Purple_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Bluebird.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brewers_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wild_Turkey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tree_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Purple_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-breasted_Sapsucker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-breasted_Sapsucker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Purple_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tree_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wild_Turkey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brewers_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Purple_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lewiss_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Clarks_Grebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/605/_/Rufous-crowned_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rock_Wren_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wilsons_Snipe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Burrowing_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Burrowing_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.html


14/21

14

The San Francisco State Universitys Sierra Nevada Field Campus has a new web site that providesinformation on summer courses to be taught as well as a downloadable Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley birdchecklist. Among the courses taught are:

Bird Identification by Song

Cornell Lab of Ornithologys Bird Sound Recording Workshop

Birds of the Sierra Nevada

Drawing Master Class: Birds and Their Habitat

April 17-21, 2008, Arcata, CA Godwit Days Spring Migration FestivalExtraordinary birding opportunities await you at the 13th annualGodwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival. Californias NorthCoast offers towering redwoods, rocky ocean coasts, wild rivervalleys, expansive mudflats of Humboldt Bay, and the world-renowned Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, where 271species of birds have been sighted. Held at the peak of springmigration, shorebirds abound and special opportunities are

planned to see many other species, including Marbled Murrelet,Spotted Owl, and Snowy Plover. The area offers a wide array ofhabitats and species for observation and enjoyment. The selectionof nearly 100 small group field trips, lectures, workshops,boating excursions, and community activities are led byexperienced local guides. Special pre- and post-festival birdingtrips are available that can extend your enjoyment to a full week.

2008 Poster Art by Joan Dunning

One can watch Marbled Murrelets, have face-to-face encounters with Spotted Owls, and take small boattours of Humboldt Bay to view migrant shorebirds at their peak. The Keynote Speaker will be AndrewFarnsworth, PhD student, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, who studies flight calls of migrating birds. E-

mail: [email protected]. Call toll-free at 800-908-WING or (707) 826-7050. Mailingaddress: P.O. Box 4978 Arcata, CA 95518.

April 25-27 Tricolored Blackbird Survey -Volunteers are needed for the 2008 Tricolored Blackbird Survey coordinated by AudubonCalifornia in collaboration with the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service. This citizen-based,statewide survey provides critical information fordetermining the status of Tricolored Blackbirdpopulations in California and is critical inconservation strategies to protect this species. Thecolony locations and numbers of TricoloredBlackbirds change from year to year, making it

Tricolored Blackbird

impossible to track without the help of volunteers across the state. The survey will take place over onefull day that is convenient for you between April 25 and 27. Additional days of survey following thiswill also be welcomed and of great value. If you are interested in participating, please contact RoddKelsey (530) 795-0660 or [email protected].
http://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/index.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/index.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Bird_Checklist.pdfhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Bird_Checklist.pdfhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_BirdSong.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/macaulaylibrary/Contribute/soundRecordingWorkshop.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_BirdsoftheSierra.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_Master_Drawing_Class.htmlhttp://www.godwitdays.com/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Marbled_Murrelet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snowy_Plover.htmlmailto:[email protected]://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://audubon2.org/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=205mailto:rkelsey%40audubon.orgmailto:rkelsey%40audubon.orghttp://audubon2.org/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=205http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/overview/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snowy_Plover.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Marbled_Murrelet.htmlhttp://www.godwitdays.com/http://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_Master_Drawing_Class.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_BirdsoftheSierra.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/macaulaylibrary/Contribute/soundRecordingWorkshop.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Course_BirdSong.htmlhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Bird_Checklist.pdfhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/Bird_Checklist.pdfhttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/index.html


15/21

15

April 26-27, 2008, Clear Lake State Park, Kelseyville, CA - Heron Festival

The Heron Festival is a celebration of the Great Blue Herons returning to theirnesting sites around Clear Lake. Activities include pontoon boat rides to view theheronry and guided kayak trips to view birds on Kelsey Creek. Informative andinteresting nature presentations are held at Clear Lake State Park along withinformative booths, children's activities, and a Wildflower Brunch. Guided birdwalks are available. Contact:Redbud Audubon Societyor call 1.800.525.3743

April 27, Sunday, California Native Plant Society Garden Tour sponsored by Mt. Lassen Chapter,

CNPS, 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Residential native gardens, one public garden and one nurseryDonation $8 adults (children free with adult)Tickets available after April 1, 2008 at the following nurseries:Mendon's.........ParadiseFloral Native......ChicoLittle Red Hen....ChicoPlant Barn.........Chico

and Lyon's Books in Chico

Tickets may be purchased at the Chico Creek Nature Centerafter 10 a.m. on the day of the tour(rain or shine)Information: 530-893-2886

April 30-May 6, Weldon/Kernville, Kern Co., CA -Kern River ValleySpring Nature Festival, This festival is centered on the Kern River Valleyand Southern Sierra Nevada and includes Southern San Joaquin Valleybirding trips. Of interest to Central Valley birders are some central valleytrips including trips to Kern National Wildlife Refuge and Bakersfield

birding hotspots (Spotted Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Hart Park).

There are thirty field trip options this year, many of them offered all sevendays. There are numerous half-day field trips offered Saturday and Sunday.In addition to all of last year's offerings, among new offerings for theupcoming festival are additional owling destinations, Little Lake/OwensLake trips, and Frog Spring/Kelso Creek Sanctuary trips. For moreinformation contact:

Woodpeckers of the KernRiver Valley and SouthernSierra NevadaBob Barnes, Field Trips Chair, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CAKern River Valley Spring Nature FestivalP: 760-382-1260E: bbarnes@lightspeed,net

Alison Sheehey, Festival Chair & Webmaster, Weldon, Kern County, CAKern River Valley Spring Nature FestivalP: 760-378-2029
http://www.heronfestival.org/default.asphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.redbudaudubon.org/http://kern.audubon.org/bioregion.htmhttp://kern.audubon.org/bioregion.htmhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/266/_/Spotted_Dove.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/266/_/Spotted_Dove.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/956/overview/Rose-ringed_Parakeet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/956/overview/Rose-ringed_Parakeet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/266/_/Spotted_Dove.aspxhttp://kern.audubon.org/bioregion.htmhttp://kern.audubon.org/bioregion.htmhttp://www.redbudaudubon.org/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.heronfestival.org/default.asp


16/21

16

May 10, Saturday International Migratory Bird Day,

Check the Sacramento River Preservation trust web site for updated information.

AviQuiz Answer

Lesson also named the Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) after his wife, Clemence.

February Program - Dr. Jeff Price -Potential Impacts of Climate Change on BiodiversityTuesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. at the Chico City Council Chambers

Dr. Jeff Price on Global Warming... Weve Got Two Years, Folks!

We were privileged to have CSUC Professor, Dr. Jeff Price, speak

about global warming to an eager crowd on February 26 at the CityCouncil Chambers. Dr. Price is a co-recipient of the 2007 NobelPeace Prize for his work on the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) Reports. It was shocking to hear once again howglobal warming is affecting us and the animal populations aroundus. It is clearly the most dangerous environmental threat of ourlifetime. According to Dr. Price, scientific opinion on globalwarming suggests that we have only a couple short years to get ouract together as a nation and drastically reduce our carbon emissions.The alternative is too costly and destructive to imagine.

John Flicker, President of the National Audubon Society, stated,

The IPCC Report makes it clear that voluntary measures have hadno effect. The worlds best scientists are telling us that it will takeserious changes backed by the force of law if we want to minimize

Dr. Jeff PricePhoto courtesy of Public Affairs

and Publication, CSUC

the risk to people and wildlife. Audubon has declared their #1 priority to be the passing of federalglobal warming legislation and #2, to protect birds from the impacts of global warming.
http://www.birdday.org/http://www.sacrivertrust.org/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue-throated_Hummingbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue-throated_Hummingbird.htmlhttp://www.sacrivertrust.org/http://www.birdday.org/


17/21

17

California will see differences in the abundance and distribution of birds. For example, as climatechanges due to various predictions of global warming we may lose some of our species to morenortherly latitudes and higher elevations. These include some our common species such as HuttonsVireo, a year round resident. The following figure shows the current Breeding Bird Distribution of theHuttons Vireo (Figure 1). Other birds we will likely miss are: Dusky Flycatcher, MacGillivraysWarbler, Savannah Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and Pine Siskin. Conversely we will see anexpansion in the ranges ofVermilion Flycatcher(Figure 2), Phainopepla and Bronzed Cowbird.

How You Can Help

Figure 2. Vermilion Flycatcherdistribution based on Breeding BirdSurvey data (upper map) and thespecies distribution predicted after acertain increase in CO2 levels (lowermap). Figure used with permission.

Figure 1. Huttons Vireo distribution based on Breeding Bird Survey data (upper

map) and the species distribution predicted after a certain increase in CO2 levels(lower map). Figure used with permission.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Huttons_Vireo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Huttons_Vireo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dusky_Flycatcher_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/MacGillivrays_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/MacGillivrays_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Savannah_Sparrow_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Savannah_Sparrow_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Vermilion_Flycatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Vermilion_Flycatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Phainopepla.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bronzed_Cowbird_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bronzed_Cowbird_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Phainopepla.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Vermilion_Flycatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Savannah_Sparrow_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/MacGillivrays_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/MacGillivrays_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dusky_Flycatcher_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Huttons_Vireo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Huttons_Vireo.html


18/21

18

How You Can Help

1. Contact your legislators regarding ALL global warming legislation! Northern California needs to beproperly represented in votes that involve the protection of our environment and our wildlife. Whetheryou send an email, phone the local office or call the switchboard in Washington, please make your voiceheard! The most effective way to represent this cause is to arrange a meeting with our Congressman andencourage responsible support of global warming legislation.

Wally HergerChico Office - 893-8363 (M-F, 8:30-5:30)Washington DC - 202-225-3076 (M-F, 8:30-6:00)Fax: 202-226-0852

2. Do all you can personally to conserve, reduce, re-use and recycle. There are numerous sources forhow you can best contribute at home, at work and in your community. Please do all you can!Audubon.org is an informative, user-friendly site with current global warming information and tips onhow you can help.

March Program The Owls of Bidwell Park with Scott Torricelli

Monday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center

Scott Torricelli, popular naturalist and local teacher, gave a fascinating talk on owls to agroup of more than forty people, ten of whom were children. Initially, many of the audienceparticipated in telling about recent sightings of birds in their yards and neighborhoods. Scott

Barn Owl

then spoke about owls and used a stuffed Great Horned Owl, a set of wing feathers and an owl skull to

illustrate aspects of owls such as their quiet flight and their keen eyesight and hearing. When it becamedark enough outside, Scott took the group on a walk in Bidwell Park near the Chico Creek NatureCenter. Right away, Scott and a few others spotted an owl in flight as the group was gathering for thewalk. They later found and dissected an owl pellet and hear a pair ofBarn Owls. In all, it was aprogram especially nice for children. Even one of the free raffle items, a beautifully illustrated calendar,was won by Sophie, one of the children in the audience.

Sightings

(If you have any interesting sightings in your yard, on the way to work, or in the Butte, Glenn or Tehama counties area ingeneral in April, May or June you can send them to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected] by March 7 for possible

inclusion in the next newsletter.)

March 8 Dawn Garcia had a male Rufous Hummingbird at her feeder in Paradise and on March 13,a male Rufous Hummingbird and a flock ofPine Siskins at her feeders on the same day! Also on -while walking on the flume trail (Paradise), she had four singing, male Orange-crowned Warblers andtwo counter-singing Canyon Wrens. The Sierra Fawn Lilieswere making quite a display on exposedslopes. One week later they were mostly senesced but other wild flowers were blooming and wrens andorange-crowns continued to sing.

March 17 - Liam Huber spotted a large flock ofCedar Waxwingsin the trees at the stoplight at 20thand Hwy 99.
http://northvalley.net/naturehttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barn_Owl.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rufous_Hummingbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canyon_Wren.htmlhttp://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-kwid=8311+3292+1958+0063&one=Thttp://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-kwid=8311+3292+1958+0063&one=Thttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cedar_Waxwing.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cedar_Waxwing.htmlhttp://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-kwid=8311+3292+1958+0063&one=Thttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canyon_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rufous_Hummingbird.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barn_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://northvalley.net/nature


19/21

19

March 19 Dawn Garcia and Julie Nelson, while running in Upper Bidwell Park to their favoriteBlack Rail /Peregrine Falcon site at Bear Hole, heard the Black Rail right at the gate - 10 feet fromthem in a single large willow. They walked slowly up on the berm and actually got a glimpse of thelittle rail which scurried like a tightly-wound wind up toy under the low branches. Dawn saw blackand rufous and Julie saw white and black. They figured that those observations taken together gavethem a pretty good first Black Rail visual!

March 21 Jackson Shedd and Mela Garcia saw their first Swainson's Hawks of the year along I-5near the turn-off to Lodi in San Joaquin Co.

Peregrinations

[Peregrinations reports on birds seen on trips outside the Butte/Glenn/Tehama counties area except for those sponsored bythe Altacal Audubon Society or other local birding groups - Ed]

March 18 -Scott Huber and son, Liam, saw a pair ofRuffs at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area thatappeared to be male and female. They were in the area previously described on CVBirds. They also sawa Merlin perched on a snag above the first pond on the right. Later the same day, in Morro Bay, they

saw a femaleSummer Tanager, and on March 21, viewed LeConte's Thrashers within 20' in KernCounty.

Submission of Articles

(Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor asMicrosoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 7th of the month prior to the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May,

Jul, Sep and Nov 7th) - [email protected] Thanks, Ed.)

Altacal Board of Directors

President Phil Johnson 570-7139/[email protected] Jennifer Patten 345-9356/[email protected] Fisher 624-4777/[email protected]

Secretary Kathryn Hood 342-9112/[email protected] John Oswald 342-1651/[email protected] Carolyn Short 345-4224/[email protected] Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected]/ Tim Ruckle 566-9693/[email protected]/Web Site Wayland Augur 893-9222/[email protected] Trips Scott Huber 321-5579/[email protected], Lands Ruth Kennedy 899-9631/[email protected] RefugeConservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/[email protected]

Education vacantDirectors-at-Large John Merz 345-4050/[email protected]

Jackson Shedd 342-5144/[email protected] Gamette 343-3154/[email protected] Tinker 824-0253/[email protected]

Board meetings are held at 5:15 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The usual meeting place is the Altacal AudubonSociety/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. The public is welcome to attend.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Rail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Swainsons_Hawk.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/503/_/Ruff.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Merlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Summer_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Summer_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/556/overview/Le_Contes_Thrasher.aspxmailto:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]://identify.whatbird.com/obj/556/overview/Le_Contes_Thrasher.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Summer_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Merlin.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/503/_/Ruff.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Swainsons_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Rail.html


20/21

20

Local Chapter Membership Application

Please join us! Your membership will help Altacal Audubon Society (AAS) continue its important work.Altacal is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. In addition, it is a separately incorporated non-profit organization. With a local chapter membership, 100% of your membership dues goes to supportlocal projects and activities. AAS is an all-volunteer organization that conducts all of its programs with

no paid staff. We offer regularly scheduled field trips focused on birds and bird habitats, our ownwebsite, www.altacal.org/, a bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly membership meetingswhich include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural history-related topics, andadvocacy to protect and conserve local habitats as well as special projects and programs. Other AASactivities include:

sponsoring and participating in the annual Snow Goose Festival

sponsoring and participating in the annual Endangered Species Faire

founding and providing continued support to the Chico Creek Nature Center

owning and managing the Arneberg Sanctuary as a wildlife habitat and research area

helping to monitor the bird populations at the Del Rio Wildland Preservenear the Sacramento

River paying to maintain public access and a wildlife viewing blind at the Chico Oxidation Ponds

leading annual Christmas Bird Counts in Chico and Oroville for the past 51 years

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Welcome to the Altacal Audubon Society! Please indicate your choice of membership options:

$20 Basic Membership $10 Low Income/Student $35 Family

$50 Sponsor $100 Sustaining $500 Patron $1000 Benefactor

Payment method: Cash Check Date: ______________

Important: Membership in Altacal Audubon does not include membership in the National AudubonSociety. We encourage you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbyingefforts. To join the National Audubon Society contact them at their website www.audubon.org/

Name: Phone: (_____) _______________

Address: _________________________________ E-mail Address: ____________________________

City: ________________State: ____ Zip Code: _______

Save paper! Send me an e-mail version only Notify me by E-mail about upcoming programs and events I would be interested in volunteering to help

Please make checks payable to Altacal Audubon Society, and mail to: AAS, P.O. Box 3671, Chico,CA 95927
http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/


21/21

Dates to Remember

Apr 6, Sunday Teichert Pond, Park n Ride, 8 a.m., Scott HuberApril 17-21, Thursday-Monday, Godwit Days, ArcataApril 21, Monday April AAS Program, CCNC, 6:30 p.m., Tim Manolis, DragonfliesApril 20, Sunday Butte Creek Ecological Preserve, Park n Ride, 8 a.m., Dawn GarciaApr 25-27 Tricolored Blackbird SurveyApril 26-27, Heron Festival, Clear Lake State Park, Kelseyville, CA

April 27, Sunday Upper Bidwell Park, Horseshoe Lake, 8:30 a.m., Phil JohnsonApril 27, Sunday, California Native Plant Society Garden Tour sponsored by Mt. Lassen Chapter,CNPS, 10:30 a.m-3:00 p.m.

April 30-May 6, Ke

April 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

Documents

Transcript of April 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society