May-June 2009 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

8/8/2019 May-June 2009 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

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Pomona Valley Audubon Societywww.pomonavalleyaudubon.org

A publication of

MAY/JUNE 2009 A Chapter of the National Audubon Society Volume 48, No. 5

In thIs Issue...

Time to Visit Bolsa Chica .........................................Pg. 1

Audubon "Stop Poaching" Drive ............................Pg. 4

Silent Auction ...........................................................Pg. 4

PVAS Membership Directory ...................................Pg. 4

Field Trips .................................................................. Pg. 5

Sites for Birders........................................................Pg. 6

Announcements .......................................................Pg. 7

Annual Potluck .........................................................Pg. 8

by Dan Guthrie

Cont'd on page 2

Time to Visit

Bolsa ChicaWhen I was a kid growing up on Long Island Isaw most of the eastern shorebirds and waterfowl

(I still am missing an Atlantic Pufn!) but I only

saw them in winter or during migration. It wasnt

until the 1980s that I went to Alaska in the summer

and nally saw what breeding plumages of birds

looked like. Every plumage was bright, fresh and so

different from what I was used to. You might expectblack-bellied plover to look different, to actually have

a black belly. But even species like least sandpiper

and western sandpiper had put on brilliant colors, no

longer drab gray but bright almost orangey brown.

My favorite was the ruddy turnstone. Ive seen

this bird in Australia, Madagascar, Costa Rica and

here, but in each place

it was pretty drab.

Not so in Alaska. The

colors really come out as

fresh and exciting.

I mention all this as it is now the time when you can

see these birds in their summer plumages right herein southern California! Breeding season is short in

Alaska and these species do not wait to get north

before putting on bright plumages. In addition

Bonapartes gulls are beginning to have black

heads, loons are beginning to look like the pictures

in the book and eared grebes actually have ears!

When I prepare bird identication talks and look at


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Welcome New MembersWe extend a warm welcome to all new members. Subscribers to Audubon Magazine from our area are

automatically enrolled in our chapter and receive the Chaparral Naturalist at no additional charge. You are

welcome to all our events.

Chino: William Howard

Claremont: Paul Cummings, Patricia ODonnellDiamond Bar: Robert GordonEtiwanda: Rebecca WatfordGlendora: Renus Vanzee

Montclair: Henry Vysma

Pomona: Jeff James. Michele Ritchie

Rancho Cucamonga: Charles Nagy

Upland: Barbara Collins, Evelyn Tessier

Walnut: Juana Serrano, Toni Woodral

West Covina: Joy Nell Cain, Helen Martinez

Cont'd. from page 1

Time To VisitBolsa Chica

Google images on line, its hard

to find pictures of these birdsas we usually see them. All the

photographers take pictures of

the brilliant summer plumages

( and often only males!). So to

see these birds at their best, and

not spend a lot of money going

to Alaska or northern Canada,

take a trip to Bolsa Chica or

even Malibu Lagoon. Until thebeginning of May you should be

able to see these northern nesters

in their best summer plumage.


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Items Needed

for JuneSilent AuctionWe are currently accepting donations

for the silent auction that will be

held at our annual Potluck Dinner

on Friday, June 5. Donated items are

often bird watching or nature related,

but they dont have to be. In the past

we have auctioned such items as birdbooks, bird houses, bird prints, duck

decoys and decorative items. Last

year, thanks to the generosity of our

members, over $400 was raised at

this event.

Come and enjoy the delicious food

brought by our members, and bid on

the items of your choice. Its a fun

evening, and we hope to see many

of you there.

If you have something to donate,

please call Karlene Campo at 909-

627-8191 to arrange for pick-up

before the June meeting.

Let's put a Stop toPoaching in California

The arrest late last year

of a Gilroy hunter with

more than 300 dead birds

in his possession many

of them protected

species called

a t t e n t i o n t o

an a l a r mi ng

threat to birds

and wildlife in

California: poaching.

While one would like to think

that this was an isolated case, it was

actually part of a larger trend that prompted

the California Department of Fish and Game to

call 2008 The year of extreme poaching. Overall, poaching

violations more than doubled from 2003 to 2007, and this

upswing of violence has been hardest on our migratory

birds.

Californias dedicated wardens do courageous work with limited

resources to combat poaching, but our weak poaching laws do

not match their efforts. Regardless of the scale of the carnage,poaching is almost never treated as a felony under state law,

and only rarely under federal law. Poachers know that if they

get caught, theyll get little more than a slap on the wrist.

Audubon California working with supporters from both sides

of the aisle, as well as a growing array of conservation and

hunting organizations, wardens, and law enforcement has

begun an aggressive campaign in Sacramento to put a stop

to this before it does irreversible damage. Were currently

backing Assembly Bill 708, authored by Assembly MemberJared Huffman, which creates tough penalties for poaching.

You can help put a stop to poaching in California by signing our

online petition calling on the State Legislature to enact tough

penalties for violators. Let them know how much you care about

California's birds and wildlife. Go to www.audubonaction.

org/campaign/poaching_petition and fill out the online

petion.


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PVAS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Dear Pomona Valley Audubon Member,

Pomona Valley Audubon is our local chapter o the Audubon Society with the Chaparral Naturalistas our bimonthly newsletter. Our last directory was published over fve years ago and we once againneed to update our inormation. You may have flled out a orm or National Audubon, however, PVAS

may not have your current phone number or email address and, it's possible contact inormation hasprobably changed or many o you. To acilitate our update, we ask that you please fll out the ollowingorm. We promise that the inormation below is strictly confdential and will not be sold or used by anyorganization other than PVAS. We will print a directory or distribution to members but will not makethe directory available on the internet. I you don't wish to submit your inormation, please be assured

you will still remain an Audubon member and will still continue to receive all Audubon mailings.

Thank you,Mike Klein, Webmaster

Please mail to: Pomona Valley Audubon or email:

c/o Mike Klein [email protected]

112 Harvard Avenue #262

Claremont, CA 91711

Please share the following information:Member Name: _________________________________________ Home Phone: _____________________

Additional Name: _______________________________________ Work Phone: _____________________

Street Address: ________________________________________ Cell Phone: ______________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________________________________________________

Our newsletter is now on our website at www.pomonavalleyaudubon.org. Please let us know how you preer to

receive The Chaparral Naturalist. Please keep in mind, sending the newsletter electronically saves both money

and trees!I would like to receive the newsletter via:

o U.S. Mail o Electronic ormat (via email) o Both U.S. mail and electronic

Suggestions/Comments: __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

I am interested in:

o Submitting an article or the newsletter o Submitting photos or newsletter/calendar

o Leading feld trips o Giving a presentation o Becoming a board member


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Field Trips

Sunday, May 3, 2009Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. through June)

bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens.Bring binoculars if you have them. Adults and childrenwelcome. The walk is at and slow and takes about twohours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry gate (north

end of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 N.College Ave.) Leader: Fraser Pemberton 909-624-

6451. There will be an entrance fee of $8 per adult

(less for seniors and children).

Wednesday, May 6, 2009Big Morongo Nature Preserve

A half day trip to this wonderful oasis. Meet atMemorial Park at 7:00 a.m. Leader: Dan Gregory

909-944-2259.

Saturday, May 16, 2009Galileo Hill and the Northern DesertAnother good trip for migrants. Meet at 6:00 a.m.

at Memorial Park and bring a lunch. Leader: Dan

Guthrie 909-607-2836.

Saturday, May 23, 2009Grassy Hollow Visitor CenterWe are leading a public hike for birds at this nature

center above Wrightwood. A great opportunity to seemountain birds, and owers. Meet at Memorial parkat 6:30 a.m. for a half day trip. Leader: Dan Guthrie

909-607-2836.

Sunday, May 24, 2009Bonelli Park Bird WalkMeet at 8:00 a.m. at the Bonelli Park headquarters on

Via Verde near the 57 freeway for our monthly walk(4th Sunday, about 2 hours) at Bonelli Park. Leader tobe announced.

Sunday, June 7, 2009Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. through June)bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens.Bring binoculars if you have them. Adults and children

welcome. The walk is at and slow and takes about twohours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry gate (north

end of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 NCollege Ave.) Leader: Fraser Pemberton 909-624-

6451. There will be an entrance fee of $8 per adult

(less for seniors and children).

Wednesday, June 10, 2009Carbon Canyon Regional ParkMid week trip for nesting species of the oak woodland

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Memorial Park. Leader: Dan

Gregory 909-944-2259.

Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7, 2009Big Bear Weekend

Join us for this two-day trip for mountain speciesSaturday we'll explore meadows, visit Bluff Lakeand the Champion Lodgepole Pine. Sunday visit theSugarloaf Woodland Trail, Arrastre Creek, then head

for home via Hwy. 38 with a stop or two in the SanGorgonio Wilderness. Target species include Lincoln'sand Fox Sparrows, Calliope Hummingbird, Green TailedTowhee, warblers, and maybe Hepatic Tanager or IndigoBunting. Lodging is on your own, but day trippers arealso welcome. Bring a lunch both days. Saturday meet

at 6:00 a.m. at Memorial Park or 7:30 a.m. at Aspen Glen

Picnic Area (Hwy 18, right on Tulip Lane) Sunday meet7:30 a.m. at Big Bear High School, 351 Maple Lane (offHwy. 18 just before Hwy. 38) Call if you plan to attend

Leader: Pam Kling 909-240-7604.

Sunday, July 5, 2009Wrightwood AreaA great time of year to observe fledgling mountainbirds. Plan to stop at Blue Ridge Campground, GrassyHollow, and perhaps Valyermo and Bob's Gap. Meet atMemorial Park at 6:00 a.m. and bring a lunch. Leader

Pam Kling 909-240-7604.

Saturday, August 15, 2009Wrightwood AreaA trip to the Wrightwood area for early fall migrants

Meet at Memorial Park at 6:00 a.m. and bring a lunch

Leader: Pam Kling 909-240-7604.


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PVAS Summer field triPS 2009

May

Sunday, May 3 - Beginners Bird Walk - RanchoSanta Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, May 6 - Big Morongo Nature Preserve.Dan Gregory, 7:00 a.m.

Saturday, May 16 - Galileo Hill and the northerndesert. Dan Guthrie, 6:00 a.m.

Saturday, May 23 - Grassy HollowDan Guthrie, 6:30 a.m.

Sunday, May 24 - Bonelli Park Bird Walk. Leader tobe announced, 8 a.m.

June

Sunday, June 7 - Beginners Bird Walk - RanchoSanta Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, June 10 - Carbon Canyon RegionalPark. Dan Gregory, 7:30 a.m.

Saturday/Sunday, June 6 & 7 - Big Bear Weekend.Pam Kling, 6:00 a.m.

July

Sunday, July 5 - Wrightwood Area. Pam Kling, 6:00a.m.

august

Saturday, August 15 - Wrightwood Area. PamKling, 6:00 a.m.

One day and half day trips start at Memorial Park,

Indian Hill Blvd at 10th Street, Claremont. Weekend

trips usually meet at the destination on Saturday,urday

morning. Bonelli Park trips meet at park headquarters

on Via Verde, just off the 57 freeway. It is recommended

for all trips to bring a snack and plenty of water, lunch

if recommended.

Useful Web Sites for Birders

Check them out - who knows you might enjoy one ortwo o these!

A simple "Birds and Climate Change Quiz" http://

www.audubon.org/bird/bacc/quiz.php Birding at Home or help with your backyard, bird

eeders, and the Together Green Action Center:http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/

Healthy Yard Pledge: http://web1.audubon.org/at_home/pledge/

Keeping Cats Indoors (brochure by American BirdConservancy: http://home.hiwaay.net/~keiper/indoors.htm

My Yard eBird (to store your observations): http://www.birds.cornell.edu/MyYardCounts/copy_o_

instructions (This site is easier than eBird, butyou frst must register with eBird. Go to the siteand you will receive a link to register.)

Audubon Birdscapes (Hea lthy Yards andNeighborhoods or People and Birds): http://blog.audubon.org/cs/blogs/birdscapes/

Owens Lake IBA SPRING BIG DAY, Saturday, April18, 2009: http://esaudubon.org/owens_lake/deault.htm

Lesson Plans or Various Grade Levels onEnvironmental Issues: http://www.sierraclub.org/John_Muir_Exhibit/rameindex.html?http://www.sierraclub.org/John_Muir_Exhibit/lessons/science/index.html

Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Caliornia: http://www.ca.audubon.org/iba This site providesinormation concern IBAs in Caliornia with anumber o options including regional maps. Clickon a map to enlarge it.

Audubon State o the Birds, 2009: http://www.stateothebirds.org/ (Begins with a great video.)

by Dick Moore


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PVAS OffiCerS 2008-2009

President.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Vice-President.Bruce.Strang. 626-339-6984Secretary.Pam.Kling.909-596-7604.Treasurer.Neil.Gilbert. 909-626-0334.Board.Member..Nancy.Strang. 626-339-6984Board.Member.Dick.Moore. 909-626-1127.Board.Member.Pat.Higbie. 909-599-6526.Board.Member.Rod.Higbie. 909-599-6526

COmmittee CHAirS

Conservation.Dick.Moore. 909-626-1127Education.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Field.Trips.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Membership.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Publications.Neil.Gilbert.909-626-0334Publicity.Shirley.Harris.909-982-9727Door.Prizes.Karlene.Campo. 909-627-8191Hospitality.Gloria.Slosberg.909-626-4754.Website.Mike.Klein.909-625-5510.

CHAPArrAl NAturAliSt

Editor.Pam.Kling.909-596-7604

TheChaparral Naturalist.is.published.bimonthly,.except.July.and.August.by.the.Pomona.Valley.Audubon.Society..Copy.deadline.is.the.last.Thursday.of.the.month..Articles.may.be.reprinted.without.permission,.but.please.give.credit.to.the.author.and.the.Chaparral Naturalist.We.encourage.members.to.submit.articles.and.photos.by.email.at.pamtone@verizon.net..Acceptable.le formats are jpg, Word and Excel.

Subscriptions.to.the.newsletter.are.available.for.$10.per.year.to.non-members..Make checkspayable to PVAS and mail to W. M. Keck

Science Center, 925 N. Mills Ave., Claremont,CA 91711.

Name_____________________________________________________ Telephone_____________________________

Address___________________________________________________ Mobile____________________________

City, State, Zip__________________________________________________________

Email_______________________________________________________________________________________

7

National Audubon Membership / Membership Information Update

Annual membership in the National Audubon Society is $30 per year. New membership dues are $20. Members receive the Audubon

Magazine and Chaparral Naturalist newsletter. Renewals o membership are computerized by National Audubon and should not be sent

to PVAS. However, a new membership may be sent directly to PVAS. Checks should be made payable to National Audubon Society.

Mail payment with membership orm below and mail to: PVAS, W. M. Keck Science Center, 925 N. Mills Ave., Claremont, CA

91711. (Please note chapter code CO8, 7XCH on your check.)

Inormation such as mailing address, email address and telephone numbers are used or sending email notifcations, electronic versionso the newsletter, and are published in our membership directory. Membership inormation may be updated by flling out this orm and

turning it in to any board member. This inormation will be distributed only to members and will not be sold to other organizations.

oYes, please send me the Chaparall Naturalist electronically. oDo not publish my inormation in the chapter directory.

In MemoriamWilliam K. Anderson

May 11,1933 - April 29, 2009Bill Anderson, long time member of PVAS died doing oneof the things he loved most, riding his bicycle. A 46 yearresident of Claremont, he spent his professional years as a

teacher. During the Korean War, Bill served our countryin the U.S. Army. In retirement, he pursued and sharedactivities that brought him pleasure: birding, bicycle riding,playing tennis, and swimming. President of the ClaremontSenior Bicycle Group, he'd often stop on rides in Bonellito point out birds,ie, the Painted Redstart or a Sapsucker.

Bill always arrived early for PVAS meetings in order tosee the bird ID's. Bird walks in Bonelli, RSABG, as wellas week-day and week-end birding trips were among hisfavorite things to do.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene. He issurvived by his constant companion, Dorothy Elwell,his children, Joy, Julie, Jeffrey,and James as well as threegrandchildren and one great-grandchild. Donations canbe made to PVAS or the Claremont Senior Bicycle Groupin his memory. The essence of this ne man was to livelife to the fullest, and enjoy his friends and family. We

will miss his presence.


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PVAS Annual Potluck Dinner

PomonaValleyAudubonSociety W.M.KeckScienceCenter 925NorthMillsAvenue Claremont,CA91711

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Monthly meetings are held in Bauer Forum of Claremont McKenna College. Evenings begin with a bird identicationsession at 7:00 p.m., followed by refreshments, a short business meeting, and our evening program.

Join us for our annual Potluck on Friday, June

5, 2009. It will be held at the Alexander Hughes

Community Center at 1700 Danbury Rd., Claremont.

(Danbury Rd. is off of Scripps Dr., between Towne Ave.

and Indian Hill Blvd. Take the Towne Ave.exit fromthe 210 Freeway and go south to Scripps then east toDanbury.)

Admission will be $5 at the door.

Our evening will feature a Silent Auction, the annual

Election of Officers, the presentation of the 2009Flock Leader Award and the now famous Members

Powerpoint Photo Show. If you would like to make apresentation, contact Dan Guthrie, 909-607-2836 (10to 20 images per person)

6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Happy Hour

The Silent Auction begins. Enjoy appetizers, wine, beer,soft drinks, coffee and tea while making your bids.

7:00 to 7:45 p.m. Potluck Dinner

7:45 Meeting and Program

The Silent Auction

ends and the winners

will be announced at

the end of the meeting.

(Those lucky winningbidders should pay for and pick up their

t r e a s u r e s

before leaving)

Please bring a favorite dish that

serves 8, the necessary serving utensilsand your own plates and dining utensils. Beverages

will be provided.

Last names beginning with:

A D Desserts

E J Salads

K Q Appetizers (by 5:30pm, please)

R Z Side & Main Dishes

If you have items of a birding or nature interest youdlike to donate for Silent Auction, please contact KarleneCampo at 909-627-8191.

See you there!

May-June 2009 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

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