June 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

8/8/2019 June 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

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parking lot at Indian Fisheries. If you choose, just meet at the Indian Fisheries parking area at 6:30 p.m.We will walk through the riparian forest and out to the river, listening for Yellow-billed Cuckoo . At theriver, we will watch for Lesser Nighthawks flying above their gravel-bar nesting area. Yellow-billedCuckoos are always a long-shot bird to find. No promises of finding one, though we did have luck lasttime we tried. Of course, there will be lots of other great birds there. One hour of walking on trails andgravel bar. Bring binoculars, sturdy shoes, and bug repellent. We will bird until dusk, then return to thePark n Ride area. Call Phil Johnson at 570-7139 for more information.

June 8-17 - Nome, Denali, Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska Altacal Charter Trip (FULL)Trip Leaders: Scott Huber (Altacal Director - Owner, BigBirders Birding Tours) and ace birder, LiamHuber

Altacal Audubon Society has developed a reputation for great field trips such as last springs trip toPanama. This summer we head to the Great White North to bird Nome and Denali as well asAnchorage and Fairbanks. For more information on this exciting trip (and others) check out theitinerary http://bigbirders.com/tour_calendars.htm

Bluethroat Photo by Scott Huber

June 6, Saturday Upper Bidwell Park Neotropicals for BeginnersTrip Leader: Steve King

Take a casual walk along the creekside and adjacent woodlands in search of birdsthat breed 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 newlyconstructed parking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8 a.m. and walk until about 11:30a.m. (2-3 miles). For more information, contact Steve at 342-6715.

Seasonal Creek near the Shooting Range

June 19, 20 and 21, Friday-Sunday - Willow Lake

Trip Leader: Gaylord Grams

Come and enjoy Willow Lake, situated just outside LassenVolcanic National Park . Its a natural lake (kayaks arewelcome) that features a floating bog (a fen) in a narrowvalley-like setting. Piliated Woodpeckers nest in, and arecommon to the area; other birds include White-headed andBlack-backed Woodpeckers , Sandhill Cranes , WesternTanagers , Evening Grosbeaks and a variety of warblers.

A View of Willow Lake
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo/lifehistoryhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/544/overview/Lesser_Nighthawk.aspxhttp://bigbirders.com/tour_calendars.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bluethroat/idhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.phphttp://www.nps.gov/lavohttp://www.nps.gov/lavohttp://www.nps.gov/lavohttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.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/Evening_Grosbeak.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Evening_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/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.nps.gov/lavohttp://www.nps.gov/lavohttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.phphttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bluethroat/idhttp://bigbirders.com/tour_calendars.htmhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/544/overview/Lesser_Nighthawk.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo/lifehistory


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We will camp on the edge of the lake - only a pit toilet is provided - and hike to the Terminal Geyser,Boiling Lake, and perhaps up to Little Willow Lake and bird the area along Willow Creek. Come forpart of or the entire weekend. Contact Gaylord at 530-872-0739 for more information, directions andmeeting places.

June 27-28, Lassen Volcanic National Park Trip Leader: Bill Oliver, Wintu Audubon

We enjoyed the birding and camping at the Lost Creek Group Campground last year so much that we

are planning a repeat. This time we have invited the Altacal Audubon Society as well as the RedwoodRegion Audubon Society to join us. Folks can either camp at Lost Creek or drive up for either or bothdays. Campers and day trippers will meet at the Redding Convention Center at 7:30 Saturday morning.We will bird Manzanita Lake and vicinity, meeting the Altacal and Redwood Region folks at noon at theLost Creek Group Camp. Last year a Pileated Woodpecker shared our campsite and Black-backedWoodpeckers were close by. Lost Creek has primitive facilitiespit toilets and no electricity, butpotable water is available. Day trippers for Sunday, June 28, will meet at the campground at 8:30 a.m.

Lassen Peak Reflected in Manzanita Lake, MorningPhoto by Q.T. Luong

July 9-14, Thursday-Tuesday - Yosemite National ParkTrip Leaders: Gaylord Grams and Mike Fisher

Join us for all or part of this six-day trip toone of our most beloved national parks,Yosemite. We will car pool to the park onThursday and spend the first three nights atYosemite Creek Campground. Locatedabout 20 miles NE of Crane Flat off Tioga

Half Dome Yosemite National Park

Road, Yosemite Creek Campground is in a spectacular part of the park. Friday we will take the 10.5

mile round-trip hike to the edge of Yosemite Falls for the top-of-the-world views looking down onwondrous Yosemite Valley. Saturday we will hike in the other direction up the creek amid LodgepolePines, with Red Firs and White Pines along the shaded slopes. Birds and bears should be plentiful.Early Sunday morning we will move approximately 20 miles further east to Tuolumne Meadows. Wewill camp here for two nights birding and hiking some of the trails along the Tuolumne River. As thereare no reservation campgrounds some adjustments might have to be made. Anyone planning to go mustcontact Gaylord or Mike to get details and final plans. Spaces are limited. Participants do not have tostay the whole six days but could join us for just a part of the trip if they choose. Contact Gaylord [email protected] , 530-872-0739 or Mike at [email protected] , 530-624-4777.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/id


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July 25, Saturday - Rio Vista Yellow-Billed Cuckoo SearchTrip Leader: Scott Huber

A bird walk co-sponsored by Altacal and the Sacramento RiverPreservation Trust . Recent research by Chico State grad student,Jessi Hammond, indicated that the Rio Vista Unit of theSacramento National Wildlife Refuge held eight Yellow-Billed

Cuckoos in 2007 and 2008 including a breeding pair. Join usfor an early morning search for these hard-to-find birds. We'll beatthe mid-summer heat and hope to hear Cuckoos vocalizing earlyby departing the Chico Park n Ride (lot closest to Hwy 99) at 6a.m. Bring bug juice and light clothing. For more informationcontact Scott at (530) 321-5579 or [email protected]

August 2, Sunday - Butte MeadowsTrip Leader: Skip Augur

Meet at the Park n Ride at 8:00 a.m. (the lot closest to Hwy. 99) and caravan to the ButteMeadows/Jonesville areas to look for warblers and other montaine species . Light hiking and

carpooling. Bring a sack lunch. We will bird until about 3:00 p.m. and then return to Chico. For moreinformation, contact Skip Augur at 530-5 19 -4724.

August 8, Saturday - Brokeoff Mountain Hike in Lassen National ParkTrip Leader: Steve King

Are you ready to spend all day in thesplendor of the Cascade Mountains andone of the least-visited National Parks inthe country? That is what the Brokeoff mountain trail located in the LassenNational Forest offers you. Starting atabout 6,000 thousand feet you begin yourhike through moist forest, wetlands andopen-water ponds where you willhear/see Mountain Chickadees ,Chestnut-backed Chickadees , Red-breasted Nuthatches , and othermountain species like ClarksNutcracker . Wonder where the Dark-eyed Juncos and MacGillivraysWarblers go?

Raina King, Dawn Garcia and Steve King Last Summer at the Summitof Brokeoff Mountain with Mt. Lassen in the Background

They should be visible as should American Dipper at the lower lake. Sooty (formerly Blue) Grouse are also often seen along the trail as well as Olive-sided Flycatchers . We will break out into subalpinehabitat full of shrubs and stunted trees until we climb to the treeless summit. A lot of habitat change fornot much altitude. But, you must be prepared for a strenuous all-day hike with a gradual elevationchange from 6,600 to 9,200 feet (approx. 3,000 foot climb). The journey and lunch at the summit areworth the effort! Wear sturdy hiking boots and layers; bring lots of water, lunch, sunscreen, bug juice, acamera and, of course binoculars. For more info on this great hike see:
http://www.sacrivertrust.org/http://www.sacrivertrust.org/http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/MacGillivrays_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/MacGillivrays_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/MacGillivrays_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Dipper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sooty_Grouse/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Olive-sided_Flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sooty_Grouse/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Dipper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/MacGillivrays_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/MacGillivrays_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-breasted_Nuthatch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Chickadee/idmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo.htmlhttp://www.sacrivertrust.org/http://www.sacrivertrust.org/


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http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_brokeoff_mountain.htm

We will meet at the Park n Ride off highway 32 closest to highway 99 at 6:45 a.m. and be on the roadto Lassen park by 7:00 and at the trail head by 8:30. The trailhead is just outside the park but a $10 feeper car is still required. Season passes to the park are available a half-mile beyond at the park entrancefor $25. As always, bad weather cancels.

Contact Steve King ( [email protected] 342-6715)for more details.

Conservation CornerDawn Garcia, Conservation Chairperson

Keeping Cats Indoors - Helping Birds, Wildlife and Cats

As birders we love to celebrate spring with the birdsongs and courtship behavior of our migratory andresident friends and the fledglings that will come from this yearseffort. However, adult birds face many challenges trying to get thekids out of the nest. The nestling phase is the most vulnerable time fora bird, dealing with potential competition from Brown-headedCowbirds, ecto-parasites like mites and lice, their own siblings in times

of food shortage, native predatory snakes, birds and mammals and non-native predators such as introduced rats and cats. Cats are consideredsuper-predators; there are many more cats then natural nativepredators (such as bobcats) and they have a high reproductive rate,birthing up to several litters per year.

California Quail Family

Millions of free-roaming domestic cats and feral cats kill hundreds of millionsof birds and other wildlife a year. Cats are excellent hunters and even a well-fedfriend often kills wildlife due to its predatory instincts. Nave fledgling birds areparticularly vulnerable.

So what is the solution? Keep cats indoors, under supervision or on a leash whileyou enjoy the yard together, or build an outdoor enclosure for your pet to enjoy theout-of-doors. Ive seen many of these enclosures adorned with dangling kitty toys,carpeted platforms, hammocks, and views of bird feeders. Some are connected towindows or kitty-doors so cats have indoor and outdoor access whenever theyplease. Clever! Google cat enclosures and you will find many images of manyhappy cats and resources to buy an enclosure or build your own! Also, check out

the Humane Societies enclosures at: http://hsus.petfulfillment.com/index.php?shop=cat The AmericanBird Conservancy has a well-developed Cats Indoors! Campaign(http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/ ) complete with tips on helping you keep your catinside and links to how or where to buy outdoor enclosures. The National Audubon Society supportsthis program and advocates responsible ownership of all pets ( http://www.audubon.org/bird/cat/ ).Other supporters include the American Ornithologists' Union, American Association of WildlifeVeterinarians, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Association of StatePublic Health Veterinarians, Inc., and the Cooper Ornithological Society. The American VeterinaryMedical Association recommends that cats remain indoors for the health and safety of the cat. Indoorcats typically have a much longer lifespan then their free-roaming friends. Outdoor cats are exposed tocars, dogs, mean people, other cats, parasites, and disease. Although it is not an issue here yet, domesticcats in Germany and Austria have contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus, presumably from feedingon infected birds. Keeping an indoor cat will help protect all of our wildlife, furred, scaled andfeathered, and your keep your cat healthier too.
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_brokeoff_mountain.htmmailto:[email protected]://hsus.petfulfillment.com/index.php?shop=cathttp://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/catshttp://www.audubon.org/bird/cat/http://www.audubon.org/bird/cat/http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/catshttp://hsus.petfulfillment.com/index.php?shop=catmailto:[email protected]://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_brokeoff_mountain.htm


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Our California State Bird

The Audubon Society selected the Valley Quail as an appropriate symbol of Californiaand recommended its official adoption to the California Legislature. The act went intoeffect on August 14, 1931. The species is, of course, what today we commonly referto as California Quail . It has also been called Crested Quail, Topknot Quail and, asJohn James Audubon named it, Californian Partridge.

Heres some of what Audubon had to say about it, and how he depicted it, in the 1840First Octavo Edition of his Birds of America .

Family CALIFORNIAN PARTRIDGE. Genus ORTIX CALIFORNICA , Lath.

This beautiful species was discovered in the course of the voyage of LA PEROUSE, and figured in theatlas accompanying the account of that unfortunate expedition, but without any other notice respectingits habits or distribution, than an intimation of its having been found abundant in the plains and thicketsof California, where it formed large flocks. MR. TOWNSEND has lately sent me a beautiful specimenof the male, which he procured on the 6th of March, 1837, near Santa Barbara in California. I have toregret, however, that he has not furnished me with any account of its habits. MR. NUTTALL, inspeaking to me of this bird, informed me that it is very gentle or confident, so as to be in a great measureregardless of the approach of man, that its manners resemble those of our Common or VirginianPartridge, and that the males in spring are seen perched on low bushes, where they utter their love-notesin the same emphatic manner as the species just mentioned

Did You Know?

The topknot looks like a single feather, but it is actually a cluster of six overlapping plumes - and,

More Than You Wanted to Know

The California Quail digests vegetation with the help of protozoans in its intestine. Chicks acquire theprotozoans by pecking at the feces of adults - and finally,

It Takes a Village?

Several California Quail broods may mix after hatching and are attended by all of the parents of thosebroods. Adults that engage in communal brooding live longer than adults that do not.

One question, though - Why couldnt we have chosen a good, California-type interpretation of theCalifornia Quail assembly or rally call such as Los-GA-tos, Los-GA-tos or Ar-CA-ta, Ar-CA-tainstead of Chi-CA-go, Chi-CA-go?

[See the following web sites for the source of some of the above information - Editor]http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.html

http://audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/F31.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/F31_G1.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/F31_G1.htmlhttp://audubon.org/bird/BoA/F31.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.html


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Altacal Contributions to the Community

Bird Banding as a Science and Conservation Tool Captures Young Audiences

Dawn Garcia - Conservation Chair

The outreach team, Mike Fisher , Steve King , MichelleOcken , Julie Nelson and I, conducted classroom and field

trip visits to four different classrooms at three schools.The program was funded by Audubon California andincludes elements of a standards-based math and sciencecurriculum for 4 th graders. Putting our heads together andusing existing educational bird activities, Mela Garcia , anAltacal Audubon Society (AAS) member and 4 th gradeteacher, and I developed a fun-filled and informativecurriculum to turn kids into avian scientists - or at leastbird fans!

Dawn and Students Looking at a Wren

Many of our materials, including photos and overhead materials, were put together by AAS memberSteve King . Our partners are Kids and Creeks who coordinates the schools, schedules, transportationand runs two of the field stations, and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) staff who fundKids and Creeks and help with all field activities. AAS also donated funds to get two additional schoolsup to the reserve that would not have been able to attend due to lack of transportation. The schoolsselected for our fledgling program were Four Winds, Forest Ranch, Chico Country Day and Park View.

In class we discuss how banding and point counts (a standardized monitoring protocol using auditoryand visual detections) are used as monitoring tools, how to turn banding data into graphs, show fieldmarks and beak adaptations of 3-4 backyard birds (i.e., Spotted Towhee , Western Scrub-Jay , AnnasHummingbird ), and end with the bird song game that we developed where the kids learn the songs of species weve just introduced them to. We ask the students to describe the songs and tell them toremember their descriptions. Responses include someone is being choked for the Scrub-Jay, while theAnnas hummer sounds like a bug flying into a bug zapper. Finally, we take them out so they can flaptheir wings and work off some energy. We spread ourselves out, hold up the bird photos, play theirsongs and have the kids run to the bird photo that is related to the song being played.

In the field, our collaborators, Kids and Creeks and the BCCER reserve staff, conduct and escortstudents through three field stations 1) food webs and how to use binoculars 2) a nature hike withteachings about wildlife habitat, food sources, niches, etc, and 3) the bird-banding-site station wherestudents go on a net run and watch us process birds. Based on smiles, stories and rapt attention to a birdin the hand as shown in the photos, we know we are making an impression on the students. Teacherfeedback will strengthen our program and we hope to retain more funding to continue our outreach

efforts.

Michelle Ocken Watches Student Releasing Bird
http://kidsandcreeks.org/nodes/aboutus/index.htmhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Scrub-Jay/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Scrub-Jay/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/lifehistoryhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://kidsandcreeks.org/nodes/aboutus/index.htm


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Audubon Magazine Photography Awards

Got the Shutter Bug? Want to try for some national recognition and prizes as you photograph birds inyour back yard, in Bidwell Park or on the trail? Well, Audubon magazine is launching the 2009Audubon Magazine Photography Awards: Birds in Focus, created to celebrate the beauty and diversityof birdlife through the art of photography, and to honor the exceptional work of talented professional,amateur and youth photographers from all over the U.S. Send them some of your photos. Why not? Itcould be lots of fun!

Audubon will be accepting submissions online until July 15 in three categories: Professional, Amateur,and Youth. Photographers are encouraged to reveal a new angle or perspective in their work. Think creatively, advises Audubons design director Kevin Fisher, one of the judges. Originality and dramarank high at Audubon. Include tight shots, such as close-ups of eyes, feathers. We welcome uncommonperspectives.Prizes include:

Journey to Perus Tambopata National Reserve (Inkaterra Amazonica Lodge) An ultimate birding safari to Australias Top End, the Northern Territory 14-day Tropical Rivers and Rainforest cruise through South America (Travel Dynamics

International) Opportunity to travel to Honduras with Audubon wildlife photographer Roy Toft as your

photographer/guide (Roy Toft Photo Safaris and Pico Bonito Lodge) A Nikon D80 digital SLR camera, 18-55mm NIKKOR VR lens, and a set of Nikon EDG 8x32

binoculars

Submissions: Accepted May 15 - July 15, 2009. Up to 10 images per entrant. For details, visitwww.AudubonMagazinePhotoAwards.com
http://www.audubonmagazinephotoawards.com/http://www.audubonmagazinephotoawards.com/


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Photographic Musings

Rex Burress

I trust all you photographing camera enthusiasts have had your cameras outtaking some more irresistible new season wildflowers and blossom-blessedlandscapes. It seems each new year the flower photographer is at it again, takingwhat youve taken before, but it seems we never enough and never get it quitecompletely right. We hope for a different light condition, or a better position, thatwill contribute to the perfect picture.

In the process, one tends to learn a little more nature lore and maybe add a fewnew names. Most importantly, the pursuit gets you out there looking, enjoying thebeauty side of earth, and challenging your compositional eye. To walk with aphotographic purpose enhances any excursion whether it be in flower fields oramid city structures. You can walk through a community watching for light and

shadow arrangements, or splashes of color, or contrast of large and small; old and new.

The Oakland Camera Club once had delightful field trips in junk yards, with a prize for top judged junk picture. Some people think it rather quaint to see a group of grown, presumably sane citizens, laden withgadget bags and tripods, aiming the camera at twisted metal, rusty machines, or cluttered gears in thequest of pictures. The trick was, as it is for many things, including insects and flowers, to put on macrolenses and pick out a portion of a subject. The same goes for fairs, parades, and crowds - put on a 70-200zoom and select segments of color and form. Otherwise, youll be lost in the clutter.

I have a successful photographer friend in Quincy, Joe Willis, who seeks out the angle of pictures to getgood ones. He said his clothes show the dirt of wiggling around grass-root jungles in search of craneflies, Calochortus, and creepy crawlers. Not everyone is so inclined, but a good lens and tripod willhelp to snoop on nature and junkyards. Angle is nearly everything.

In the same sense, you may go back to choice spots you have known, and find them completelychanged. Vegetation shifts around and may reappear in an even better location, and in thisindustrial/construction/agricultural age, many old landmarks are simply bulldozed to obscurity.

Old buildings, old orchards, old farmhouses, and windmills may no longer be there, making yourprevious photos potentially of historic value. Be alert to things you can depict or record for futurereference. Just like we would never have known what dinosaurs were if their remnants hadnt beenpreserved in stone books of petrification. Some landmarks and crafted creations would be unknown if not for artists, writers, and photographers. Creative photography is good, but equally commendable ispreservative photography! Even family snapshots have a value in history.

I imagine many of you will be selecting your best images and sizing them up with other possibilities.Juggling your pictures for competition is part of the fun of participating, but even your best-laid schemesmay fall short when stacked against other entries. Thats the way it is. We may try, but we never attainperfection. It is a rare picture that will garner the approval of a battery of judges. Personal whims comein the way, so know youre in the same crowd as the rest of us, but the ideal is to enjoy the game of discovery anyway...anyway you can. "Yes! We can!" Constant effort will reap constant benefits!


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Sister Society (Cape Cod Bird Club) News

Just as we enjoyed our Pacific Flyway migratory birds in April and May, our Sister Society membersenjoyed their Atlantic Flyway counterparts. Some of the birds seen at the Beech Forest and Foss Woodsin Provincetown included an Eastern Kingbird , a Fish Crow , 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers , 2 BrownThrashers , a Warbling Vireo , 5 Blue-headed Vireos , a Blackburnian Warbler , a NashvilleWarbler , 45 Yellow-rumped Warblers , a Black-throated Green Warbler , and 2 Pine Siskins .

These migrant land birds were complemented by some nice seabirds at nearby Herring Cove, such asone Caspian Tern , 2 Common Terns , 40 Iceland Gulls , 12 Lesser Black-backed gulls , 2 GlaucousGulls , a "Nelson's" Gull , 225 Laughing Gulls , and 2000 Herring Gulls .

A birder out on Stellwagen Bank noted a Parasitic Jaeger , 2 Razorbills , and 4 Black-leggedKittiwakes . For landlubbers, an impressive whale and dolphin show was to be had from Provincetownbeaches with dozens of Humpback , Fin , Minke , and Right Whales noted, along with hundreds of dolphins.

Miscellaneous sightings included flocks of 30 White-winged Crossbills at Crane Wildlife Management

Area in Falmouth plus 4 more in Mashpee, a Little Blue Heron also in Mashpee, a White-crownedSparrow and an Indigo Bunting in Wellfleet, and a Nashville Warbler , a Northern Parula , a YellowWarbler , a Black-and-white Warbler , and several Orchard Orioles at Wellfleet Bay WildlifeSanctuary.

Some early Northern Water Snakes , Pickerel Frogs , and at least one Diamondback Terrapin werereported along with the more typical early spring herptiles, such as Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs .

Take Your Birding to the Next Level with Inside Birding

Chris Wood and Jessie Barry from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are inviting you to go out withthemin a new free series of web videos, Inside Birding .

Jessie and Chris share their tips, tools, and techniques for identifying birds with confidencewhetheryoure new to birding or seeking to hone your skills. In the first four episodes, learn the secrets of thefour keys to bird identification. Join Chris and Jessie in the field as they practice using size and shape to identify common birds. Learn how to use color pattern and behavior for critical clues about a birdsidentity. And travel with Chris and Jessie to the swamps of Florida as they explain the importance of habitat when youre looking for birds.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fish_Crow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-headed_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blackburnian_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Green_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/caspian_tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Iceland_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Black-backed_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/idhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jggilbert/3164151611http://www.flickr.com/photos/jggilbert/3164151611http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Laughing_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Herring_Gull/idhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/445/articles/introductionhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Razorbill/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-legged_Kittiwake/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-legged_Kittiwake/idhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/finwhl.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/MinkeWhale.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/RightWhale.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Little_Blue_Heron/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Indigo_Bunting/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Parula/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orchard_Oriole/idhttp://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/N_water_snake/index.htm&2http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0031http://www.dtwg.org/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0014http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0014http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wood_frog.htmhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birds.cornell.edu%2fNetCommunity%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d1270&srcid=7478&srctid=1&erid=879411http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birds.cornell.edu%2fNetCommunity%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d1270&srcid=7478&srctid=1&erid=879411http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wood_frog.htmhttp://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0014http://www.dtwg.org/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0031http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/N_water_snake/index.htm&2http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orchard_Oriole/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Parula/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Indigo_Bunting/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Little_Blue_Heron/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/RightWhale.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/MinkeWhale.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/finwhl.htmhttp://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-legged_Kittiwake/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-legged_Kittiwake/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Razorbill/idhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/445/articles/introductionhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Herring_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Laughing_Gull/idhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/jggilbert/3164151611http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Glaucous_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Black-backed_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Iceland_Gull/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/caspian_tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Siskin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Green_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nashville_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blackburnian_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-headed_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fish_Crow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Kingbird/id


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After watching the videos, explore the rest of the newly redesigned All About Birds website. Its packedwith stunning images and information about every aspect of birding. Enhance your bird knowledge byvisiting Cornell Labs popular Bird Guide, with more than 500 species profiles, new photo ID tools, coolfacts, sounds, and video. Peruse the Living Bird section for articles about travel, science, andconservation. Practice using the four keys to identification or sharpen your knowledge about Songs andCalls in the Building Skills section. Check out the Multimedia Theater to watch videos about birds fromthe Arctic, coasts, and grasslandsor learn more about attracting birds right to your own yard.

Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports

April 4, Saturday Table Mountain Team Leader: Gaylord Grams

The Table Mountain trip started off with a bang when aHooded Oriole showed himself to the entire group at theSpring Valley School. Later, up the Cherokee Road, aGreen Heron was content to stay out in the open for all tosee. Once we got to Table Mountain, Lark Sparrows dominated with song and abundance. The wildflowers wererich, especially the full heads of Owl Clover , the red CanyonDelphinium at Fern Falls, and the lupine and poppies on ourway to Coal Canyon. Newts and the Pacific Chorus Frog were observed in the small creeks. There was an Osprey flyover and hundreds of Cliff Swallows entertained us at our
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lunch stop at Coal Canyon Falls. By the end of the day we had seen 45 species of birds, as well as a nicevariety of herpetofauna and flowers.

April 25, Saturday Butte Creek Ecological Preserve Trip leader Dawn Garcia

Eleven new and regular Altacal field-trippers had a musical day at the Butte Creek EcologicalPreserve (BCEP). Migrants and residents were singing loud and clear - many showing themselves to allwho wanted to see. We had several excellent looks at the relatively newly arrived Yellow-breasted

Chats , Warbling Vireos and Black-headed Grosbeaks . We watched cavity explorers - the HouseWrens , Oak Titmice , Nuttalls Woodpeckers and Violet-green Swallows in the snags and a largenumber of Cliff Swallows nesting across the river on the cliff face.

One member, Hal, pointed out a nesting Acorn Woodpecker , seeminglyhaving as much interest in us as we had in viewing a pair of Tree Swallowsonly 10-15 feet away and at eye-level. She calmly watched us, almost like shewelcomed the odd distraction while she incubated. The normally elusiveBewicks Wren sang in full view and high atop a snag. Lesser and AmericanGoldfinches were singing and performing flight displays and chases. We hadglimpses of Wilsons and Orange-crowned Warblers and a last-minutePacific-slope Flycatcher. A lovely day! Visit the BCEP online:http://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/

Mama Acorn WoodpeckerEyeballing the Group

May 10, Sunday Pine Creek Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Complex Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten

The bird walk out to the Pine Creek Unit honoringInternational Migratory Bird Day and Mothers Daywas awesome! Twenty people showed up on abeautiful spring morning to hike the paths, roads, and

levees in search of the spring migrants that show upthis time of year to find a mate, nest, and raise theiryoung. These migrants find all they need in food,shelter and water among the cottonwoods, willows,sycamores, restored native grasses, and native scrubsin this ten-plus year restoration site on theSacramento River. Our target birds were aplenty, likeBlack-headed Grosbeaks , Bullocks Orioles ,Western Kingbirds , and Ash-throated Flycatchers . In the warbler column we saw Yellow , Wilsons ,Black-throated Gray , and heard Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-breasted Chat .

We also had quick looks at two birds that have colors hard to describe, the Lazuli Bunting and Western

Tanager . For raptors, we saw Osprey , Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier and of course, TurkeyVultures .Also sighted were Western Bluebirds , Nuttalls and Downy Woodpeckers , a Warbling Vireo ,Western Wood-Pewee , Killdeer , Bewicks and House Wrens , Lesser and American Goldfinches andthe always present Wild Turkey on the gravel road. Some of us stayed to hike out to the rivers edge tosee the Bank Swallows , and coming back toward our car, we saw a Lawrences Goldfinch amongLesser Goldfinches feeding on the fiddleneck. In all, 49 bird species were seen or heard on this gloriousday!
http://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Grosbeak/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Oak_Titmouse/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-green_Swallow/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/acorn_woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orange-crowned_Warbler/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orange-crowned_Warbler/lifehistoryhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Grosbeak/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Kingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ash-throated_Flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Yellowthroat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/lazuli_bunting/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Wood-Pewee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bank_swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lawrences_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lawrences_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bank_swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Wood-Pewee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Bluebird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Tanager/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/lazuli_bunting/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Yellowthroat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ash-throated_Flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Kingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Grosbeak/idhttp://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.csuchico.edu/bcep/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Orange-crowned_Warbler/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Warbler/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/acorn_woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-green_Swallow/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Oak_Titmouse/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Grosbeak/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/lifehistoryhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcep


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April Program - Monday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterCentral Valley Winter Raptor Survey Zach Smith

Last year Zach Smith and Ed Pandolfino approached Altacal to ask forour support for an independent research project involving a multi-yearCentral Valley Winter Raptor Survey. Among the reasons given for sucha project were: High raptor abundance and diversity indicate that theCentral Valley of California is an important wintering area for many

raptor species; From 1999-2006 six of twelve highest Christmas BirdCount open country raptor totals came from the California Central Valley;Increasing urbanization, conversion of grasslands and agriculture as wellas human population growth all mean less habitat for raptors; Presentlythere is little quantitative information on habitat association of winteringraptors in the Central Valley. Altacal agreed to support this research withboth a monetary donation and member participation in the surveys. Atour April program meeting Zach Smith returned to Chico to give a reporton the findings to date.

Swainsons Hawk Mother and Chick Photo by George Robertson

Zach began by describing the study objectives. The main objective was to assess species richness,diversity, abundance, and habitat associations of open-country raptors in the Central Valley duringwinter. To associate each raptor seen with a habitat type a detailed assessment of each route had to bedone. Each half mile of habitat was described as one of 17 habitat types. When a bird was counted itsposition was noted which could then be associated with a specific habitat type. Zach then detailed thesurvey protocol including driving routes, times, frequency, limits and the like. He explained that in thewinters of 2007 and 2008 volunteers drove nineteen survey routes in the Central Valley from ShastaCounty in the north to Kings County in the south. In year one; 65 surveys were undertaken involving563 hours of observations and 6630 raptors were counted. In year two; 63 surveys were undertakeninvolving 533 hours of operations and 6483 raptors were counted. The five most plentiful speciessighted were Red-tailed Hawk , American Kestrel , Loggerhead Shrike (not a raptor but included in

the survey), Northern Harrier , and Turkey Vulture . Other not as commonly seen raptors includedMerlin , Rough-legged Hawk , Ferruginous Hawk , White-tailed Kite , Red-shouldered Hawk ,Prairie Falcon and Bald Eagle . Less common but still seen were Coopers Hawk , Swainsons Hawk ,Burrowing Owl and Golden Eagle .

Even though it is early in the survey and only a limited amount of data has be analyzed there are somethings that are becoming clear. Certain habitats are important to wintering raptors in the Central Valley.These include Wetland, Grassland, Pasture, Alfalfa and Rice. Continued monitoring will hopefullystrengthen the associations found thus far. Zach is hopeful that the survey will continue for at leastanother year and then be repeated every 5 to 10 years. This would provide an ongoing data base thatwould become more meaningful as time goes on. It is possible raptors may be used as an umbrella

species to promote conservation of threatened habitats to the benefit of multiple species.

Opportunities and Events

June 19-21, Friday-Sunday - Eighth Annual MonoBasin Bird Chautauqua, Lee Vining, CA

Three days of evening presentations, seminars, field trips,music, and great birding! All proceeds support continuingresearch in the Mono Basin. The Bird Chatauquas
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Prairie_Falcon/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Prairie_Falcon/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden_Eagle/lifehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauquahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauquahttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden_Eagle/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Prairie_Falcon/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Merlin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/id


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mission: To enhance appreciation and understanding of the Mono Basin's diverse and abundant birdlife and to educate the public about this area's value to birds and people.

The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua - not your ordinary bird festival!

For more information, check the web site at: http://www.birdchautauqua.org/ or contact Mono LakeCommittee, P.O. Box 29, Lee Vining, CA 93541 (760) 647-6595.

Sightings(If you have any interesting sightings in your yard, on the way to work, or in the Butte, Glenn or Tehama counties area in general in June or

July you can send them to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected] by July 1 st for possible inclusion in the next newsletter.)

April 10 Liam and Scott Huber showed Tim Ruckle a Townsends Solitaire in their Forest Ranchneighborhood. It was a life bird for Tim.

April 19 Steve King had a White-throated Sparrow in his back yard in Chico a lifer! Heres aphoto he took:

May 8 While kayaking, Warren Patten saw a female Wood Duck and nine ducklings. It was on BigChico creek at Big Chico Creek access off River Road. He also saw an Osprey flying low over thecreek to a tree to eat a fish it had caught.

Peregrinations

Late April/Early May Mike Fisher, Randall Peterson andTim Ruckle birded Southeast Arizona and saw a BlueMockingbird at the Slaughter Ranch near Douglas. This was justthe fifth accepted record for this species in North America. Theyalso heard (many times) the call of the Sinaloa Wren at thePatagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. This is a potential first recordof the appearance of this species in the American BirdingAssociation area (North America).

Blue Mockingbird Photo by Ken Kertell

The wren was Mikes 500 th ABA-area bird! Randall, upon leaving Arizona, hada Big Year count somewhere in the 400s very respectable for this time of year.Tim had nine lifers on the trip. The last Tim saw of his birding buddies theywere heading to Big Bend National Park in Texas to hike (11 miles round-trip)to see Colima Warblers .

Sinaloa WrenPhoto by Brad Carlson
http://www.birdchautauqua.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Townsends_Solitaire_dtl.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/idhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1109/_/target.aspxhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1109/_/target.aspxhttp://www.azfo.org/gallery/Sinaloa_Wren_Patagonia_Brown_20080825.htmlhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1063/_/target.aspxhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1063/_/target.aspxhttp://www.azfo.org/gallery/Sinaloa_Wren_Patagonia_Brown_20080825.htmlhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1109/_/target.aspxhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/1109/_/target.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/osprey/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-throated_Sparrow/idhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Townsends_Solitaire_dtl.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.birdchautauqua.org/


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Whoa! Hold the Presses! Mike reports that after Tim left, he and Randall saw a Gray Vireo , a Black-chinned Sparrow and Colima Warblers in the Chisos Mountains in Texas. The next day they went tothe Rio Grand Village area and found a Common Black-Hawk on a nest. On the way home Mikedetoured to the Salton Sea and found a Yellow-footed Gull . The next day he stopped in Kern Countyand found a LeConte's Thrasher . A very special trip!

May 11 - Levi Bateman (Chico State Birding Club) who was near Ventura for Santa Barbara firepurposes, drove into the mountains north of Fillmore, and saw his first California Condors , two adultsand one juvenile, circling above the hills.

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 1st of the month prior to the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May,

Jul, Sep and Nov 1st) - [email protected] Thanks, Editor)

Newsletter Contributors

Thanks to all of you who contribute regularly by sending in items, articles and photos, and specialthanks to Denise Devine who does the widely appreciated layout design of the paper version of theWhite-tailed Kite Tim Ruckle, Editor

Altacal Board of Directors

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

Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected] Kathryn Hood 342-9112/[email protected] John Oswald 342-1651/[email protected] Carolyn Short 345-4224/[email protected] Finance Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected]/ Tim Ruckle 566-9693/[email protected]/Web Site Wayland Augur 530-519-4724/[email protected] Trips Nancy Nelson 345-0580/[email protected], Lands Ruth Kennedy 899-9631/[email protected] and RefugeConservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/ [email protected] Education Scott Huber 321-5579/Scott@ [email protected] Directors-at-Large John Merz 345-4050/[email protected]

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

Board meetings are held at 5:15 p.m. on the 2 nd Wednesday of each month. The usual meeting place isthe Altacal Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. The public iswelcome to attend.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Vireo/lifehistoryhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/270/_/Black-chinned_Sparrow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/270/_/Black-chinned_Sparrow.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1063/_/Colima_Warbler.aspxhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/441/_/target.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1061/overview/Yellow-footed_Gull.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Le_Contes_Thrasher/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/idmailto:345-4224/[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:824-0253/[email protected]:824-0253/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Le_Contes_Thrasher/lifehistoryhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1061/overview/Yellow-footed_Gull.aspxhttp://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/441/_/target.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1063/_/Colima_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/270/_/Black-chinned_Sparrow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/270/_/Black-chinned_Sparrow.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Vireo/lifehistory


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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 withno 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 Preserve near 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/Retired $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 onlyE-mail me Altacal Action AlertsI 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.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://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/


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Dates to Remember

June 5, Friday - Search for Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Lesser Nighthawk Indian FisheryJune 6, Saturday Field Trip - Upper Bidwell Park Neotropicals for BeginnersJune 8-17 - Nome, Denali, Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska Altacal Charter Trip (FULL)June 19, 20 and 21, Friday-Sunday- Field Trip - Willow LakeJune 19-21, Friday-Sunday - Eighth Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua, Lee Vining, CAJune 27-28, Lassen Volcanic National Park June 29, Monday - Members Potluck - 6 p.m., Chico Creek Nature CenterJuly 25, Saturday - Rio Vista Yellow-Billed Cuckoo SearchAugust 2, Sunday - Butte MeadowsAugust 8, Saturday - Brokeoff Mountain Hike in Lassen National Park
http://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.phphttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/explore-bidwell-park/upper-park.php

June 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

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Transcript of June 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society