February 2010 California Condor Newsletter - Ventura Audubon Society

8/8/2019 February 2010 California Condor Newsletter - Ventura Audubon Society

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FEBRUARY PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair FEBRUARY PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair FEBRUARY PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair FEBRUARY PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair

Tuesday February 9th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura Tuesday February 9th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura Tuesday February 9th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura Tuesday February 9th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura

Kim Stroud, Ojai Raptor Center Kim Stroud, Ojai Raptor Center Kim Stroud, Ojai Raptor Center Kim Stroud, Ojai Raptor Center

Kim Stroud, Director of the Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) has been working with raptors in rehabilitation since 1992.She is employed full-time at Patagonia in Ventura, and volunteers much of the remainder of her hours taking care of and teaching about raptors. This is always a very popular program, and we encourage you to bring children andgrandchildren to see these wonderful creatures up close and personal.

Through ORC’s Wildlife Education Program, Kim and her volunteer staff travel to schools and other organizations toshow how birds of prey are an important element in the chain of life. As all things are interconnected, teaching aboutraptors and other wildlife in our community means teaching about environmental and ecological concerns and ex-plaining what individuals can do to help.

This past year, ORC has taken in 1,350 birds. Kim will give a short presentation on the new Rehabilitation Facilityfollowing the introduction of her live, non-releasable ambassador raptors (hawks, falcons, owls, and maybe a sur-prise bird!).

CALIFORNIA CONDO CALIFORNIA CONDO CALIFORNIA CONDO CALIFORNIA CONDOR RR R The The The The

Ventura Audubon Society FEBRUARY 2010 Volume 30 Number 6 A Chapter of the National Audubon www.VenturaAudubonSociety.org

On another note, an effort is underway to qualify a ballotinitiative for the November 2010 statewide ballot thatwould provide a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding for state parks. The ballot measure would estab-lish the State Parks and Conservation Trust Fund byadding an annual $18 surcharge to the vehicle licensefees we pay.

California’s state parks are falling apart because of chronic underfunding. Budget cuts are causing them tofall even farther behind in needed maintenance and re-

pairs – a backlog of more than $1 billion already exists.In return for the $18 per vehicle fee, we would have freeaccess to all state parks.

Audubon California has joined with other conservationorganizations to support the effort. More than 700,000valid signatures are required to qualify the proposal for the ballot. Audubon California has committed to securing200,000 of those signatures. Petitions will be available atVentura Audubon meetings. Find out more about theproposal and, if you are a registered voter, sign the peti-tion. If you would like to be more involved, you may helpcirculate petitions to gather the needed signatures. Con-tact me or any Board member.

CALL NOTES CALL NOTES CALL NOTES CALL NOTES ...Bruce Schoppe, President ...Bruce Schoppe, President ...Bruce Schoppe, President ...Bruce Schoppe, President

The Great Backyard Bird Count is another citizenscience effort sponsored jointly by Audubon and TheCornell Lab of Ornithology. Each year, it is an opportu-nity for tens of thousands of people to spend time innature, learn about birds in the area and help create asnapshot of bird populations in the U.S. and Canada. Itis open to birdwatchers of all ages and skill levels. Lastyear, 93,600 checklists were turned in online and themost frequently spotted species was the snow goose!

For our part, Ventura Audubon will combine the GBBCwith a beginners bird walk at Lake Casitas on February13th, 2010. Lead by Allen Bertke, it should provide anopportunity to see a great number of local species.The folks in that sector found 91 species during theChristmas Bird Count.

Birders may also participate individually in their ownbackyard or at a park submitting the checklists directlyat www.birdcount.org. Just be sure you do so betweenthe 12th and 15th of February 2010.



BIRD OF THE MONTH BIRD OF THE MONTH BIRD OF THE MONTH BIRD OF THE MONTH – –– – FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY 2010

Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA

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February is still a good month to seek out wintering birds in Ventura County, but some of our resident species are al-ready singing and establishing territories. One of the species that starts breeding early is the California Thrasher.

The California Thrasher is a medium-sized, long-tailed songbird. It has dark brown upperparts, buff-brown underparts, awhitish throat, vague eyebrow, dark mustache, and long, decurved black bill. It is similar looking to Crissal and Le-Conte’s Thrashers, but neither of those species inhabits Ventura County. The only species that it can be confused withlocally is the California Towhee, which is similarly colored and patterned, but has a shorter, stubby bill. Its song is a se-ries of deep, rich, slow phrases, like the songs of other mimids. Calls are a chuck and quip.

California Thrashers are common, but difficult to see as they spend most of their time on the ground in dense growthincluding chaparral, streamside thickets, coastal sage scrub, and shrubby areas in parks and suburbs. They are oftenseen walking or running on the ground with their tail held high. They rake their long, curved bills sideways through leaflitter and probe in the soil for beetles, ants, wasps, and spiders. Their diet is also composed of seeds and berries takenfrom bushes or the ground. Males and females are most easily seen when they are singing from the tops of shrubs orlow trees. Residents of lowlands and foothills, they rarely wander into higher mountains.

The species is nearly endemic to California. Its range is limited to the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, and the CoastRanges from just south of the Oregon border to northern Baja California, Mexico. It is a strictly permanent resident andrarely wanders even a short distance from breeding areas.

In Ventura County, California Thrashers occur nearly everywhere the habitats mentioned above are present. They arecommon in the extensive chaparral and coastal sage scrub in the Santa Monica Mountains (e.g., La Jolla and SycamoreCanyons, Circle X Ranch, and Satwiwa) and Transverse Ranges (e.g., Rose Valley, Cuyama Valley, and Highway 33above Ojai). They are easiest found in late winter and early spring when they sing from exposed perches and can oftenbe coaxed into view at other times by “pishing.” The easiest place to find them locally is in the streamside thickets andchaparral around the campground at Big Sycamore Canyon, but they are also readily found in the hills surrounding Ven-tura, Ojai, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks.

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)



F E BRU AR Y F I E L D T R I P F E BR U AR Y F I E L D T R I P F E BR U AR Y F I E L D T R I P F E BR U AR Y F I E L D T R I P S SS S . . .Judy Dugan . . .Judy Dugan . . .Judy Dugan . . .Judy Dugan

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Beginners are welcome on all field trips. Light drizzledoes not necessarily cancel trips, but heavier rainwill. If in doubt, please call the trip leader.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 9:00-12 a.m. Restoration Work Day,Santa Paula. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area RestorationProgram. Come at 8:00 for birding! Leader: SandyHedrick (370-0478). Long pants and boots or closedshoes are required. Directions: Take Hwy 126 to SantaPaula, 10th St. Exit. Go left under freeway, right on Har-vard, right on 12th, cross S.C. River Bridge. Go 3.7 milesto 20395 S. Mountain Rd. Turn left onto the dirt road &follow it to the end (approx. ½ mile).

Saturday, Feb. 13, 8:30–10:30 a.m. Beginners’ Walk/Backyard Bird Count, Lake Casitas. Leader: AllenBertke (640-9037). The Beginners’ Walk will be com-bined with the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Countsponsored by the National Audubon Society & CornellLaboratory. Directions: Take Hwy 33 to Hwy 50, turnleft and follow signs to the lake or take Hwy 33, exit Ca-sitas Vista Rd. Turn right and go under freeway pastFoster Park to 1st right, Santa Anna Rd. Follow to thegate. Meet outside the gate. Parking is limited. Wehope to see many birds including Clark’s & WesternGrebes, Osprey & sapsuckers. Remember to bring bin-oculars.

Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m. Ventura County GamePreserve. Leader: Reed Smith (652-0706). Always avery special trip! We will see ducks, peeps, ibis, raptors,

and more. We cannot drive the grounds so there will beconsiderable walking. Directions: Take Casper Rd.south from Hueneme Rd. (between Saviers Rd. andHwy.1). Follow the left curve to the barn/house buildingsand park on the road outside the buildings. Another group will also be there so car pool with friends and arriveearly. Please bring scopes.

Sunday, Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m. Camino Real Park.Leader: Raeann Koerner (701-1919). NOTE DIREC-TIONS – Meet outside the park. In Ventura take Tele-

February 12-15, 2010

graph Road toward Ventura College. Across from VCturn onto Estates, take a right on Aurora, go to the grassbeltway across from the mobile home park. Park closestto the last house in the residential tract. We will start

birding along the barranca and go into the park. A varietyof birds can be found here including warblers, juncos &raptors.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 4-7 San Diego Birding FestivalMarch 7 – Hedrick RanchMarch 20 – Meher Mount – OjaiMarch 27 – Beginners’ Walk – Fillmore Fish Hatchery/

Lake PiruApril 24/25 – Kern River Preserve Weekend –

For information on lodging, e-mail or callJudy 642-0842/[email protected]



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SAVE OUR SHORE ...Reed Smith SAVE OUR SHORE ...Reed Smith SAVE OUR SHORE ...Reed Smith SAVE OUR SHORE ...Reed Smith

Ventura Audubon has been awarded a grant through Audubon California for a project to involve local children. Thechildren in our local schools will be given information on protecting valueable shore habitat and be asked to create apicture depicting beach birds and habitat. We hope to have an art show with all the children's art work in it at a localvenue with a judging panel. Some of the pictures will be chosen to be made into signs. These will then be posted atlocal beaches to educate the public and give added protection to shorebirds.

We can use volunteers with this project. If you are interested in working with the kids and us please call Jane Spiller at

(805)646-0815 or Reed Smith at (805)652-0706

(seen on 2 or fewer counts in the last ten years): White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Bald Eagle, Zone-tailedHawk (count week), Vermilion Flycatcher, NorthernRough-winged Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Black-and-whiteWarbler and Rufous-crowned Sparrow.

We had record high counts for seven species: HornedGrebe (24), Black-vented Shearwater (380), Willet (162),

Greater Roadrunner (7), Costa’s Hummingbird (5), Al-len’s Hummingbird (16) and Acorn Woodpecker (343).

On the negative side, we missed three species we com-monly find: Ring-necked Duck, Wilson’s Warbler andTree Swallow. And we nearly missed two species thatare normally abundant on our count: Least Sandpiper (5) and American Pipit (2).

A detailed summary of the count can be found on theVentura Audubon webpage at VenturaAudubon.org.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the day such asuccess.

2009 VENTURA AUDUBON 2009 VENTURA AUDUBON 2009 VENTURA AUDUBON 2009 VENTURA AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

…Karl Krause, Compiler …Karl Krause, Compiler …Karl Krause, Compiler …Karl Krause, Compiler

On January 2, 2010, the Ventura Audubon Society con-ducted its 30th Christmas Count. It was a beautiful day –perhaps too beautiful. A total of 118 counters recorded

176 species of bird and 20,751 individual birds. Duringthe count week (3 days on either side of the count day),5 additional species were seen. From my perspective,here are the highlights, and some disappointments, of the count.

We recorded our first count observations of two species – both at Lake Casitas. One was the Mute Swan thathas been seen throughout December. The other wasthe Black Vulture that has been hanging around SantaBarbara County and Ventura County since fall. TheBlack Vulture was found on Monday of count week. Inaddition, we recorded our first count observation of aPink-sided Junco – a subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco.We saw 11 other species that are rare for our count

NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD continued from P5

Continuing birds from earlier this winter included the Red-necked Grebe (13 Dec) and 4 Black Oystercatchers (26Dec) at Marina Park, the Zone-tailed Hawk in Santa Paula through 14 Dec, the male Vermilion Flycatcher at theOlivas Park Golf Course which was joined by a female on 25 Dec (MT), the Sage Thrasher at the end of Casper Roadthrough 12 Jan, the Clapper Rail at the end of Arnold Road through 20 Jan, the Vermilion Flycatcher at the SantaPaula Cemetery through 4 Jan, and 5 Lewis’s Woodpeckers and 6-10 Mountain Bluebirds at Canada Larga through25 Dec.

A late report, but notable was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that flew into a window at the Ojai Water Treatment Plant on 5Oct (DH). The bird was stunned, but later released on 6 Oct.

Thank you to those who reported sightings during the last month. If you have any questions about local birds or have agood one to report, call or e-mail David Pereksta at [email protected] or 659-5740.

Observers: Denny and Lynn Allen, Sue Alvarez, Jeff Cartier, Becky Donahue, Jeff Gilligan, Jesse Grantham, Rick andPat Farris, Linda Frazier, Linnea Hall, Mary Hansen, David Harter, Lauren Harter, Jean Van Hulzen, Penny Johnson,Karl Krause, Bill and Carol Langford, Matthew Page, David Pereksta, Kay Regester, Elizabeth Rinnander, David Roine,Adam Searcy, Roger Swanson, Bob Tallyn, Michael Tiffany, Stephanie Tiffany, David Vander Pluym.



...David Pereksta ...David Pereksta ...David Pereksta ...David Pereksta NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD NOTES FROM THE FIELD

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Jan (KK), a Zone-tailed Hawk on 10 Jan (DR & BD),and continuing Lewis’s Woodpeckers through 8 Jan.

Waterfowl were widely reported over the last month. TheSaticoy Spreading Ponds had 13 Ross’s Geese on 20Dec (JC) with 11 continuing through 26 Dec. Other spe-cies of note there included 21 Cackling Geese and 77Common Mergansers on 26 Dec (DP & PJ), and aSnow Goose 8-9 Jan and four Greater White-frontedGeese on 9 Jan (BL & CL). The gravel pits east of River-Park in Oxnard had 7 Greater White-fronted Geese and13 Common Mergansers on 26 Dec (DP). A Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, and HoodedMerganser were at Rancho Simi Park on 18 Dec (LH, AS& DVP). Geese at the Olivas Park Golf Course includeda Brant 24-25 Dec (DP) and seven Greater White-fronted Geese, a Snow Goose, and five CacklingGeese 24 Dec – 8 Jan (DP). Wood Ducks were re-ported from the Ojai Meadows Preserve 7-8 Jan (BT) andLake Sherwood on 7 Jan (MH).

Camino Real Park produced a number of interesting pas-serines including a Nashville Warbler on 13 Dec (EW &KW) and a Wilson’s Warbler , probable hybrid(Baltimore x Bullock’s) oriole, two Bullock’s Orioles,

and a Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco on 24 Dec(DVP & LH). Other passerines of note in the county in-cluded two Yellow Warblers at Pleasant Valley Park inCamarillo on 30 Dec (AS & OJ) and one at Point Muguon 1 Jan (TM & DP), three Slate-colored Dark-eyedJuncos at Ivy Lawn Cemetery on 26 Dec (LH & DVP),and four Lawrence’s Goldfinches at the Santa PaulaCemetery on 4 Jan (JC).

Other notable sightings over the last month included 40Short-tailed Shearwaters feeding offshore in a largemixed flock south of Ventura in early January (JGi), aFerruginous Hawk in Ojai on 20 Dec (BT) and another

along Highway 33 near the Avenue Water TreatmentPlant on 27 Dec (KR et al), a Prairie Falcon near theOlivas Park Golf Course on 8 Jan (DP), a Black Skim-mer at Marina Park on 13 Dec (KR), and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Oak Park in Simi Valley on 29 Dec(MP).

...continued on Page 4

The Ventura CBC tallied 177 species on 2 Jan. Thecount recorded many continuing birds and a number of newly discovered ones. Other than birds mentioned else-where in this column, a Cackling Goose was at the OjaiWater Treatment Plant (M & ST, & KR), a Bald Eagle was at Lake Casitas (DR, BD, & LF), and a Dark-eyed(Pink-sided) Junco was in Ojai (JG). A Vermilion Fly-catcher continued at Olivas Park Golf Course and aNorthern Rough-winged Swallow there provided a firstcount record (SA et al). Single Mountain Chickadees were recorded at Arroyo Verde Park and in Ojai. CaminoReal Park had two Black-throated Gray Warblers and aWestern Tanager (EW & MP), and the continuing BrownCreeper , Hermit Warbler , Black-and-white Warbler ,and Bullock’s Oriole. Sightings offshore included over 300 Black-vented Shearwaters, 1 Pomarine Jaeger ,and 2 Parasitic Jaegers (DP).

The Thousand Oaks CBC was held on 3 Jan. The pre-liminary total is 183 species including many highlights.Over 130 species were found at Point Mugu including 63Brant, 23 Blue-winged Teal, 2 Black Scoters, a White-winged Scoter , 2 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, a Ferruginous Hawk, 5 Clap-per Rails, 13 Red Knots, a Burrowing Owl, 2 Vermil-

ion Flycatchers, 3 (minimum) Tricolored Blackbirds,and 9 Yellow-headed Blackbirds (TM, DP &MSM). However, the best bird there was a first countyrecord Lesser Black-backed Gull (TM). A Swainson'sHawk was there 2 days before the count, but it did notshow on count day (TM & DP). A Red-necked Grebe was found south of Deer Creek Road; Pomarine andParasitic Jaegers, Common Murre, and RhinocerosAuklet were seen offshore; and nearly 9,000 Black-vented Shearwaters were attracted to the squid boatfleet off of Leo Carrillo (AS & OJ). Notable birds in theThousand Oaks area included a Burrowing Owl (D andLA) and California Gnatcatcher (RS) at Cal Lutheran,

Red-naped Sapsucker at Las Robles Golf Course (R &PF), and several Lewis's Woodpeckers near the en-trance to Lake Sherwood (MH). A Prairie Falcon (ER)and three Common Moorhens (LH) were found on theOxnard Plain.

After disappearing for several weeks, the Black Vulture was seen at Lake Casitas 4-9 Jan (JVH) and in Ojai on12 Jan (JG). Other notable birds at Lake Casitas in-cluded a White-throated Sparrow 4-7 Jan (JVH), Awhite goose that was possibly a Ross’s/Snow hybrid on 5



AUDUBON ADVENTURES AUDUBON ADVENTURES AUDUBON ADVENTURES AUDUBON ADVENTURES ...Susan Bee ...Susan Bee ...Susan Bee ...Susan Bee

The VAS Board sends heartfelt thanksto Robert and Delores Cathcart for their generous contribution to AudubonAdventures. The Cathcarts have beencontributors for many years and the

Board, along with the school children who receive thisenvironmental education program, are very grateful.

I am happy to report that we have succeeded in fund-ing the entire program for this year. Many thanks toeveryone who helped us achieve this goal!

Non-profit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidOxnard, CA 93030

PERMIT NUMBER 382

VENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY VENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY VENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY VENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. Box 24198Ventura, CA 93002

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY BOARD BOARD BOARD BOARD MEETIN MEETIN MEETIN MEETING GG G

The Tuesday, February 2nd Board of Directors meeting willbe held at the home of Jim & Janice Susha, 2207 Eas-tridge Court, Oxnard. Any VAS member is welcome. Call(805) 642-1585 for information.

VAS OFFICERS AND CHAIRS VAS OFFICERS AND CHAIRS VAS OFFICERS AND CHAIRS VAS OFFICERS AND CHAIRS

President

Vice-PresidentSecretaryTreasurer ConservationNewsletter MembershipField TripsPublicity/EducationScience/Webmaster Programs

At Large

658-2396

658-2396643-3353643-2408484-8415642-1585642-0842640-0779652-0706983-3929

983-3929646-3867649-1132

484-8415643-5825

Bruce Schoppe

Joyce SchoppeJan LewisonSandy HedrickDee PressArt MarshallJudy DuganSusan BeeReed SmithJanice Susha

Jim SushaJack GilloolyJeff Goldberg

Marianne Slaughter Nancy Schorsch

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

February 2010 California Condor Newsletter - Ventura Audubon Society

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