CHIRP-­N-­CHATTER

                     The Newsletter of the Wintu Audubon Society Chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Shasta and eastern portions of Trinity County, California

November Activities

General Meeting Tuesday, November 12 @ 7:00 pm Mitigation and Monitoring Challenges of Avian and Bat Mortality at Hatchet Ridge Wind Farm Bruce Webb, Staff Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Retired, will talk about the negotiated mitigation framework for special status species, the Technical Advisory Committee's guidance of mitigation choices, and mortality monitoring which is concluding this year.

Field Trips

Learn about City’s Revegetation Program Terry Hanson of the Redding Parks and Recreation Department will meet with interested Audubon members to discuss the city's revegetation program--brush removal, tree trimming, and timing of habitat alteration. We will meet at Turtle Bay East (a walk along 44 over the river from Turtle Bay) at 11am on November 9th, right after our Second Saturday Birdwalks. All are welcome to come learn and give input on the Parks and Rec programs that affect local birds and birding.

2nd Saturday Bird Walk---November 9 @ 8:00 am We will return to Turtle Bay and Kutras Lake for the fall and winter seasons. A great cross-section of raptors,

waterfowl, gulls, and winter resident passerines can be seen close up with usually a surprise or to on this ½-day walk. We will assemble in the parking area behind the monolith at Turtle Bay. This walk with Connie Word is open to the public and all birding skill levels are welcome.

Local Weekday Bird Walk---Clover Creek Preserve, Thursday, November 21 @ 8:00 am This wildlife preserve within the city offers a large permanent pond, a creek, park-like open oak woodlands and abundant open space with vernal pools. Therefore, species not common in the urban area will be seen, possibilities include Western Meadowlark, Western Bluebird, Say's Phoebe and Lark Sparrow in the uplands; and Marsh Wren, numerous duck species and other waterfowl in the ponds and wetlands. Last year, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs put in an appearance. Once a rarity, the Great-tailed Grackle has taken up residence in the cattail and reed rims around the ponds. In the same area, Black-crowned Night Herons roost during the day. Meet your leader Linda Aldrich in the parking lot off of Shasta View Boulevard at 8:00 am for this half-day trip.

WINTU A.S. CHAPTER MEETINGS ARE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7:00 PM at the United Way, 2280 Benton Drive, Redding.

BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7:00 PM also at the United Way meeting room. All members are urged to attend to contribute information and new ideas.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

November 12: Bruce Webb: Mitigation and Monitoring Challenges of Avian and Bat Mortality at Hatchet Ridge Wind Farm

December 10: Bill & Katherine Camp: A Kenyan Wildife Adventure

November / December 2013  

Our Youth/Beginner Bird Walks will continue through the fall. Bring your family and friends to the Turtle Bay Monolith on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 9-11 am. Audubon can provide binoculars and field guides. Call Dan Greaney, 276-9693 with questions or for more information.

Battle Creek State Wildlife Area, Saturday, November 23, @ 8:00 am The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has restored riparian habitat along Battle Creek and maintains trails in this wild life area adjacent to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery. A trail runs along Battle Creek to ponds and surrounding marsh all the way to the Hatchery. During this 1/2 –day trip we expect to see a good variety of winter passerines, Bald Eagles, rails and ducks. Assemble in the parking lot on the south side of the Redding Convention Center. Wear sturdy shoes. Trails are brushed for the most part but pocket gophers have made the ground uneven. Frank and Darliss Sanderson will lead.

December Activities General Meeting Tuesday, December 10 @ 7:00 pm A Kenyan Wildlife Adventure Bill and Catherine Camp, Wintu Audubon Society members, will present pictures from their January 2013 journey to Kenya, East Africa. They will share their experiences of the birds and animals from the slopes of Mount Kenya, the arid Samburu Reserve on the edge of northern Kenya, Lake Nakuru (home to enormous flocks of flamingo), to the Maasai Mara or Serengeti plain.

Field Trips 2nd Saturday Bird Walk---December 14 @ 8:00 am Turtle Bay and Kutras Lake is our usual location for the fall and winter seasons. A great cross-section of raptors, waterfowl, gulls, and winter resident passerines can be seen close up with usually a surprise or to on this ½-day walk. We will assemble in the parking area behind the monolith at Turtle Bay. This walk with Connie Word is open to the public and all birding skill levels are welcome. It’s Christmas Bird Count Time Again. Here are the Counts in the Local Area

(Counts are conducted rain or shine. Compilers appreciate being notified if you plan to attend so they can assign sectors and notify the restaurant.

Fall River Christmas Bird Count—Saturday, December 14 @ 7:00 am

Participants will meet at the Fall River Hotel in Fall River Mills for a family-style breakfast and assignments. From Redding, take Hwy. 299E for approximately 75 miles. After crossing the Fall River, take the second right and look for the hotel on the right. Every year, some birders

spend the night at this quaint hotel (Phone: 530-336-5550) and avoid the early morning drive. Eastern Shasta County birders are especially invited to participate. After the count, dinner and compilation will be in Redding at a location to be announced. RSVP to Bob Yutzy (boby@c-zone.net) so the hotel can be given the number they will be serving for breakfast.

Anderson Christmas Bird Count—Friday, December 20 @ 7:00 am

This very successful count features Anderson River Park and much surrounding public land with ample opportunities for walking. Meet at the amphitheatre parking lot in Anderson River Park for assignments and location of the dinner and compilation. Contact Rob Santry (rsantry@snowcrest.net) for further information.

Red Bluff Christmas Bird Count---Sunday, December 22 @ 7:30 am

This long-running count has resumed under the able leadership of Karen Scheuermann (karens@gmail.com). It features a long frontage along the Sacramento River, rugged foothills and rangelands. Assemble at the Holiday Market, 460 Antelope Blvd, Red Bluff, for assignments. Dinner and compilation will be announced there.

Redding Christmas Bird Count—Friday, December, 27 @ 7:00 am

We have compiled 36 years of continuous records from this grand daddy of the local counts which began in 1976 in its current location. Assignments will be given in front of the main entrance to the Redding Convention Center. We will assemble at dusk at a local restaurant (location to be announced). For further information contact Bill Oliver at 530-941-7741 or wwoliver9@gmail.com

2013-2014 OFFICERS, COMMITTEE CHAIRS & DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE

OFFICERS PRESIDENT—Esther Cox 474-4379 VICE-PRESIDENT—Vacant TREASURER—Connie Word 245-0846 RECORDING SECRETARY—Shelley Cerasaro 242-8888 CORRESPONDING SECRETARY--Beatrice Currie 243-3955

COMMITTEE CHAIRS PROGRAMS--Linda Aldrich 223-5341 EDUCATION—Dan Greaney 276-9693 and Don Goodykoontz 474-1655 CONSERVATION--Claudia Lyons Yerion 241-7156 and Janet Wall 547-1189 NEWSLETTER--Bill Oliver 941-7741 WEBMASTER--Larry Jordan 472-3131 MEMBERSHIP—George Horn 244-0581 PUBLICITY—Frank and Darliss Sanderson 242-8770

DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Ken Bachman, Ray Bruun, Jeanette and Harvey Carroll

Trip Reports

2nd Saturday Bird Walk at Shasta College---September 14 Seven birders braved a very warm morning birding the normal route, but in reverse reports Connie Word. Vaux Swifts and a Warbling Vireo were identified by Gary Stacey. He also found a Western Tanager. Other finds included Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers and a Willow Flycatcher. A total of 40 birds were seen. Anderson River Park---September 28 Eleven birders enjoyed a wonderful morning with good weather, good companions and good birds not much more one could ask for. Although the warbler and tanager numbers were somewhat down from two weeks ago there were yellow birds to be seen, however waterfowl for the most part were a No Show! Frank and Darliss Sanderson compiled a total of 55 species including 6 warblers and Western Tanagers. If you have never birded or if you haven’t been there for awhile Anderson River Park is a GREAT birding locale, easy walking, good trails, and you can always count on seeing good birds.

Youth/Beginner Bird Walks at Turtle Bay Reported by Dan Greaney

September 14 A party of three strolled the Turtle Bay Loop on a pleasant Saturday morning, all awash in yellow from the cottonwood leaves, occasional tanagers, and a torrent of warblers. Anna's hummingbirds patrolled high in and around the cottonwoods. A single hand-sized Mallard duckling stood doughtily with several adults, the males coming out of eclipse plumage. But the warblers WOW! Flitting through the riverside foliage thick as Meiss Lake mosquitoes--well, maybe not that thick, but I conservatively estimated 80 Yellow Warblers, ten Orange-crowned Warblers, and we also spotted three Nashville Warblers. How many yellow feathers is that? Complete list can be found: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15170797

Separately, in a Friday visit to Roberta Winchell's fourth grade classroom, the students watched crows cluster in a cottonwood, identified a soaring Red-tailed Hawk, came to recognize Turkey Vultures by the silver on their wings, and could enjoy seeing the rarity of a vulture wing-flap.

Smaller birds were spotted at two o'clock in the blue oak, and then all over the tree, but we didn't get as far as identifying the Warbling Vireo or others. Perhaps on a future visit.

October 12 On a beautiful fall day six youths and seven adults enjoyed Turtle Bay. Some highlights were an American Crow burying acorns, a Rock Pigeon apparently ingesting grit, a hunting Great Egret, flycatching Cedar Waxwings, great looks at Downy and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, an ongoing kettle of Turkey Vultures, dabbling Mallards kicking their feet in the air, and the smooth feathering of a Gadwall in the scope. We spotted only three duck species, and are betting on, say, six more for next month.

Clear Creek Wastewater Ponds NOW OPEN!

Now after 5 years (seems like a lot longer) of modernization the Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Ponds are now open for visitors! Wintu President Esther Cox, Officers Bill Oliver and George Horn and Board Member Ken Bachman met on site with Plant personnel on October 7 to learn how to visit the treatment ponds. Engineer Ryan Bailey, Plant Manager Troy Mitchell and Laboratory Technician Danny Webster were very welcoming. Danny Webster is a birder, wants to be active in Wintu Audubon and volunteered to notify us of interesting birds on the ponds. Here is what they learned:

Metz Road now has two automobile gates one at the junction of Metz and Eastside Roads and a second one just before the parking area for the old administration building. Both gates are open during working hours of 7:00 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week. Visitors are requested to sign in and out on a sheet now located in the old administration building but soon to be moved to the new administrative building outside the second gate. Access to the ponds is through a small pedestrian gate on the left just outside the second gate. Make sure to close the gate upon entering and exiting to prevent cattle in the adjoining pasture from escaping. Follow the path to the left through the old parking area and down the hill to the ponds. The 10 ponds are arranged as before.

Check out our new website for the latest Wintu

Audubon Society news, birding information

membership and renewal applications, tee shirt

purchases and more.

http://www.wintuaudubon.org

www.wintuaudubon.org

Please Note: Wintu Audubon Society assumes no responsibility for injuries, personal or otherwise, incurred while attending society- sponsored activities and will not be held liable for accidents. You attend at your own risk. A responsible adult must accompany minors on all outings. Rain cancels all activities except Christmas Bird Counts.

WINTU  AUDUBON  SOCIETY                                                                        November/December  2013  P.O.  BOX  994533  REDDING,  CA  96099-­4533                                                

 

Pectoral Sandpipers are Amazingly Common Migrants this Year

This one was photographed by Larry Jordan, Wintu Audubon Society Webmaster, at a horse pasture on Lone Tree Road, southeast of Anderson. As many as seven were also seen there

as well as one at the now open Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Ponds