November-December 2007 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

8/8/2019 November-December 2007 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

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Pomona Valley Audubon Societywww.pomonavalleyaudubon.org

A publication of

November/December 2007 A chapt f th Natinal Audun Sity vlu 47, N. 2

In thIs Issue...

Bird Banding in the Yukon Territory ...............................Pg. 1

Christmas Bird Count ......................................................Pg. 3

Snowy Plover Recovery ...................................................Pg. 5

South Texas Trip ...............................................................Pg. 6

2007 Annual Report .........................................................Pg. 8

Field Trips ..............................................................Pgs. 9 & 10

Announcements .............................................................Pg. 11

Upcoming Programs ......................................................Pg. 12 (Cont'd. on page 4)

Bird Banding in the Yukon Territoryby Pat Higbie

White Throated Sparrow

One of the highlights of our trip this year to Yukon Territory and Alaska

was visiting the Albert Creek Birdbanding Station, a joint effort of

Environment Yukon and the Yukon Bird Club, near Watson Lake, YT.

Weather permitting, it is open from the end of March to the beginning of

June for spring migration. We spent a couple hours there each day, May

28 to June 1.

Albert Creek Birdbanding Station is on an oxbow of the Upper Liard River.

It is a beautiful wetlands area with spruce, alder, birch, and aspen trees…anideal setting for mist nets. Master birder Jukka Jantunen, his father Pietra

(who was visiting from Finland), and helpers, Julie, and Lynne welcomed

us, and encouraged us to observe, as well as bird the area. Julie and Lynne

were in charge of checking the mist nests every half hour. Jukka explained

that trapped birds are taken from the mist nets, put into cloth sacks, and

hung at the banding table with numbered clothespins, designating the

trapping area. Pietra records the information, as Jukka bands, measures

wing length, weight, and sex of the birds found. This spring, Jukka was

taking two tail feathers from the birds for radio isotope testing to determine

where they wintered. The cloth bags sacks are only used once, then washed,

so diseases aren’t spread.

Every morning we visited was crisp and clear. The calls of the

White Throated Sparrow, and melodic song of the Northern

Waterthrush were enchanting. Alder Flycatchers were calling

out “free beer”, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was tapping

loudly on a tall tree stump, alerting it’s mate to his whereabouts.

On our rst day, we saw an immature bald eagle perched in a

spruce snag, Barrows Goldeneyes, gliding in the pond, and a

Spotted Sandpiper pecking along the bank. White Throated

Yukon Territory



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: Darrell Mc Invale, Pauline Michael Margaret

Thomas, David Todd, Ariana Wagoner

Chino Hills: Gerald Blakley, Olga DeLatorre,Jeraldine Madden

Claremont: Gretchen Augustyn, Mr and Mrs

Morton Beckner, Gena Fulmer, Elizabeth Koerner,

Betty Mc Clellan, Alice Oglesby, Laura Perry,

Diane Turner, Suzanne Thompson, Cara Wingert

Covina: Resa Charles,Marjorie Naylor

Diamond Bar: Jayrill Nutt, Savithri Sundaresan

La Verne: Robert Hoover, Tracy Taylor

Norco: Mila Del Castillo, Michele Kluge,

Audra LopezOntario: Jose Ayala, Lloyd Byron,

Catharine Heathcock, Cathy Roode

Pomona: Nisreen Azar, Nancy Baker,

Phyllis Feddersen, Virginia Herd

Walnut: Rhonda Ellis

West Covina: James Joyce, Adrianne Metzger,

Michael Miller

Owl Talons by Richard Moore

As a beginning birder and a resident of Pilgrim Place, Claremont, I learned the

difference between a Western Scrub-Jay and a Blue Jay and so I wrote an article for

the newsletter at Pilgrim Place about the many species of jays found in the United

States. No one paid any attention and continued to call the Scrub-Jay a Blue Jay,

but (don’t laugh) I became known as “the bird man.”

So one day early in October I was aroused from my bed by the ringing of thedoorbell because someone had discovered a Great Horned Owl in the street beside

the curb in front of my house. Since the bird seemed rather helpless I went into the

house to get a box. When the phone rang another person alerted me to the presence

of the owl. Coming back to the front yard still in my pj’s I found the owl staring at

another person on the sidewalk. I got in back of the owl picked it up and placed

it in the open box. I covered the box with cloth, got dressed, and took the bird

to Wild Wings in San Dimas. Judy answered the door, looked at the bird, and

immediately went to get her thick leather gloves. This should have been a

signal to me, but when the bird fell to its side I reached down to straighten

it. Bad move! The bird reached out and sunk its sharp talons into both of

my hands. Ouch! Judy suggested that if I would toss the bird up high it

would let go. No success! So one by one we pried each talon out of my

hand.

With those thick gloves Judy took the owl away while I reached for a paper towel to wipe the blood from my hands. With the

application of alcohol to the wounds I was free to return home. In the evening I was given a tetanus shot and a prescription

for an antibiotic. Upon examination the owl had no visible injuries but its pupils were dilated and did not change in the

sunlight, indicating that the bird might have been struck by a passing car.

So now I am denitely more aware of the strength of an owl’s feet and the sharpness of its talons!


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The Christmas Bird Count is coming up fast. It will be held on Saturday, December 15th, the rst Saturday of the ofcia

Count period. So please, mark your calendars for the third Saturday in December.

The very rst Christmas Bird Count was held on Christmas Day, 1900. It has been held every year since, making this the

108th Count. PVAS held their rst CBC in 1972, making this the 36th year of our involvement. The primary objective

of the Christmas Bird Count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere

The count also has signicant value for conservation purposes.

Let us know if you are willing to help out with any of the teams. A list of teams will be available at the December membership

meeting. And remember that we can use your help in a number of ways. The teams cover only a small percentage of the

circle. They cover all the important parts or hot spots, but much of the circle is not visited at all, especially the more urban

areas. We are always looking for volunteers to do their back yards, their city block, their neighborhood, the local park down

the street. We are looking for people who will volunteer for the whole day, for half of the day, or just one hour.

If you are willing to help out with this very important project, let us know. Hand me a note at the monthly meeting; send

me a note by mail (Neil Gilbert, 183 E. Miramar Ave., Claremont, CA 91711); or (preferred) send an e-mail to: Neil

[email protected]

Changes at Glen Helen

by Dan Guthrie

Several changes have occurred and are occurring at

Glen Helen Regional Park. Money is nally being

spent on the park beyond regular maintenance. The

Renaissance Faire is gone, and the area on the north

side of the park that the fair occupied has been turned

into grassy park area, complete with picnic tables and

parking. When last out there, this area hosted lots

of bluebirds and sparrows. Perhaps we should put a bluebird trail there! What was once the ‘wild’ area

along with the boardwalk that passed through it and

has been impassible for years has been completely

removed. It looks like most of this area is being turned

into grassy park, with a small stream remaining

running through it. It re mains to be seen whether

any vegetation will remain along the stream. The

trees in the park are still regularly visited by migrant

and wintering birds.

A Reminder

Unused medications

should not be discarded

down the drain because

sewage systems cannot

remove these medications from

water that is released into lakes, streams, rivers, and

the ocean where they have adverse effects upon sh,other aquatic animals and consequently birds and

mammals. Store unused medicine in a safe place and

then take them to a local Household Hazardous Waste

Collection site.

- Richard Moore, Conservation Chair


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Yukon Territory(Cont'd. from page 1)

Sparrows were feeding at the seed scattered on the ground.

Among the birds banded these ve days were Wilson’s, Yellow, Blackpoll,

Tennessee, Orange Crowned Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, and American

Redstarts. Other birds were White Throated Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrows,

Purple Finch, and on the 30th, a Gray Cheeked Thrush (my 624th life bird).

Jukka held it up for Rod to video this special nd.

NorthernWaterthrush

This was Jukka, Pietra, and Lynne’s last day at the station. Ted Murphy, another master birdbander would be here tomorrow

We thanked them for their hospitality, and sharing their knowledge with us. Ted and Julie manned the station on the las

two days, and it was very busy for them. The outstanding bird on the 31st was a Cape May Warbler, which Ted held up for

pictures before releasing it. It is such a thrill to see these birds close up, and in their breeding plumage! On June 1, we mee

Cameron Eckhart , while birding the road near the station. Cameron wrote the Yukon section of the Alaska bird book. He

is a biologist with Environment Yukon in Whitehorse, YT, and gave us many good tips on birding in the Yukon.

Soon it was time to leave. Again, we thanked everyone for the enjoyable experience. They asked us to encourage other

birders to visit. The Watson Lake Visitor Centre has information and directions to the Albert Creek Birdbanding Station

or you can look them up on the web at www.tc.gov.yk.ca/131.html

Rates of Environmental Changeby Dan Guthrie

The movie “Day after Tomorrow” was a ctional story about a coming ice age that enveloped the northern Hemisphere

with great rapidity. We tend to think of environmental changes as occurring slowly, on the order of centuries. All

discussion of global warming speaks in terms of temperature changes taking perhaps a hundred years, and of the

oceans level rising in fractions of inches per decade. However, scientists also are learning about “tipping points” a

phenomenon when slight changes can have a major effect. Here are two such tipping points that we should worry

about.

Arctic Ocean. During the last ice age, the Arctic Ocean was open water. As such, much evaporation occurred which,

because of prevailing wind patterns increased snowfall to the south which resulted in the continental ice sheet that

covered all of Canada and much of the northern United States. The summer ice cover of the Arctic Ocean is at its

point in thousands of years, thanks to global warming. If it continues to recede, this could have a dramatic effect on

weather patterns.

Arctic Tundra The land surrounding the Arctic Ocean is tundra. In the summer to top one or two feet melt and

become ‘mushy’ hard to walk on and perpetually damp. Below these top feet the tundra remains frozen (permafrost).

Now, in much of Alaska and other northern regions, the permafrost is defrosting to unprecedented depths. This means

that roads and buildings, built on what was once a solid base, are now on a sea of mush and slowly sinking. Moreimportantly, the frozen tundra consists of plant material that, because of the cold climate, has never been digested

by bacteria. This plant material, accumulated over thousands of years, is probably the greatest reservoir of carbon

on the planet, carbon that will be released by bacterial digestion as it warms. A slight rise in temperature thus can

result in a massive release of carbon dioxide and methane, products of bacterial digestion. This release could have

a much greater and more rapid effect than all the releases of carbon dioxide by power plants.

Global warming has its greatest effect on the Arctic, an area with the fewest people, many of whom are native tribes

with little political power. We need not worry about the future of polar bears. Although these changes may cause a

great population decline in their native habitat, polar bears will continue to survive, at least in zoos. However, the

changes that affect polar bears can come back to bite us as well.



Federal wildlife ofcials have come up with a road map

for boosting populations of the imperiled Western Snowy

Plover, a tiny sparrowlike bird that builds nests at several

North County beaches and lagoons. The U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service’s recovery plan, released earlier this week,

sets a goal of doubling the current number of adult bird

species living along the Southern California cost -- in

San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties -- to at least

500.

And it aims to rebuild the entire Pacic Coast population

in California, Oregon and Washington to 3,000, up from

2,000 today.

Al Donner, a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman in

Sacramento, said by telephone Tuesday that the new plan

relies heavily on the cooperative efforts of federal, state and

local agencies, military bases such as Camp Pendleton, and

volunteers from a variety of community groups. Donner

said the plan is, by denition, a voluntary document and it

does not impose new restrictions on coastal recreation and

development. Environmental groups criticized the 292-page

blueprint, saying it falls well short of what is needed to help

the tiny shorebird make a comeback. “This is an extinction

plan, not a recovery plan,” said Kieran Suckling, policy

director for the Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson,

Ariz. Suckling said the federal agency set the bar too low.

He maintained that reaching a population of 3,000 will not

ensure the bird avoids extinction. Audubon California, a

statewide environmental group that has long monitored the

plight of the bird, charged that the plan relies too heavily on

the efforts of volunteers. “We are long past the point with

this species where cooperation and volunteerism alone can

make a difference,” said Glenn Olson, executive director

of Audubon California. Federal officials defended the

population target and the strategy for hitting it. Donner

said it is patterned after a successful one that has helped

populations of a cousin, the piping plover, make a comeback

along the East Coast. Donner said that, in the absence of a

plan, volunteer efforts already have helped boost the West

Coast population from 1,500 -- at the time the Western

Recovery Plan Touted for Plover By Dave Downey

Staff Writer, North County Times

North County Lagoon Could Play

Key Role in Tiny Shorebird’s Comeback

Snowy Plover was

declared threatened in

1993 -- to 2,000. Donner

stressed that the bird, unlike

many imperiled animals,

doesn’t live in the backwoods. On the contrary, it lives on

the very beaches that millions of Californians ock to for

swimming, surng and sunbathing. “Plovers are in the thick

of people, where people want to play and recreate,” said JaneHendron, spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service in

Carlsbad. And Hendron said adult plovers lay their eggs and

raise their young just as recreation enthusiasts begin to head

for the beach in spring. Because of the largely unavoidable

conflicts with beachgoers, federal officials say they are

counting on the volunteer community groups to guide

people and their dogs away from nests by posting signs and

temporary fences. Ofcials say they do not have the luxury

of creating large reserves that are closed to the public. Andy

Mauro, conservation chairman for Buena Vista Audubon

Society, said that developing plans for the restoration of North County’s Buena Vista Lagoon could create a rare such

reserve. He said that one of the restoration options being

studied would return Buena Vista to its original status as

a coastal salt marsh lagoon. That could create islands that

provide nesting areas protected from people and dogs. “We

see that as sort of a bright light for the Western Snowy Plover

in San Diego County,” Mauro said, adding that the plan could

be nalized by the middle of 2008. Jim Watkins, plover

recovery coordinator for the wildlife service in Northern

California, said the agency currently estimates San Diego

County’s bird population at 191 and Southern California’stotal at 238. Hendron said plovers build nests at the Tijuana

River estuary, Silver Strand, Naval Air Station North Island,

South Mission Beach, South Carlsbad State Beach, San

Elijo Lagoon and at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County,

and at Bolsa Chica State Beach, Salt Creek Beach and Seal

Beach Naval Weapons Station in Orange County. Phil

Unitt, curator of birds and mammals at the San Diego

Natural History Museum, said the highest concentration

5

(Cont'd. on page 6)



of plovers in the region is at Camp Pendleton, with most

nests being made at the mouth of the Santa Margarita

River. Eric Kershner, wildlife management branch head

for Camp Pendleton, said biologists counted 80 plovers

on the base this year, down from about 120 last year andin 2005. The tiny plover grows to 6 inches long. It has a

white belly and a pale brown to gray back and head that

matches the color of beach sand. And it has a black bill

and a few black marks. “They nest on the ground out in

the open,” Unitt said. “They are masters of camouage.

Their eggs match the sand colors very well, with a few

black speckles in them.” Consequently, Hendron said, it is

easy to step on them by accident. “When Western Snowy

Plovers are born, they are tiny cotton balls with toothpick

legs,” Hendron said. “They’re cute. They’re adorable.

But they are very vulnerable when they first hatch.”-- Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611,

Ext. 2623, or [email protected].

South Texas atChristmas Anyone?

Southernmost Texas boasts a collection o specialty birds (Chachalaca, Green

Jay, Great Kiskadee, Mexican Crow, Long-billed Thrasher, Pauraque, Hook-billed

Kite) and occaisional rarities rom Mexico. Also, the wintering population o

Whooping Cranes is on view not too ar to the north along the coast. We

are looking at the dates December 28 through January 5, which should give

us 6 ull days o birding. We plan to visit the major birding sites in the area,

plus chase any rarities. We may even participate in a Christmas Census! Direct

fights are available rom LAX to McAllen and we plan to stay at the Best

Western Rose Garden Inn and Suites in town. Contact Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836 or Pam Kling at 909-596-7604. For more inormation on south Texas

birding, visit Texas Audubon at www.audubon.org/chapter/tx/tx and the

Rio Grande Valley Audubon at www.riograndedeltaaudubon.org. We have a

limited number o participants. Don’t get let out.

Don't miss this wonderul opportunity...

Call today!

Snowy Plover Recovery (Cont'd. from page 5)

2008PVASDesk

Calendars Available

Soon!

Stay tuned... PVAS Desk calendars will be available soon

- make sure you get yours! This calendar makes a great gift

and money raised will help fund our Audubon Adventures

program and other worthy outreach programs. Calendarswill be available for purchase at meetings, local businesses

or by calling Pam Kling at 909-596-7604.

Pomona Valley Audubon 2008 Calendar

January 2008

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 1 4 15 1 6 17 1 8 19

2 0 21 2 2 23 2 4 25 2 6

27 28 2 9 3 0 31

Gambel’sQuail



N ovember

Sunday, November 4 – Beginner’s Bird Walk,Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Tuesday, November 6 – Baldy Village and Vicinity,

Half day trip. Leader: Dan Guthrie

Tuesday, November 13 – Bolsa Chica Preserve.

Leader: TBA

Sunday, November 25 – Bonelli Park Monthy Hike.

Leader: Rod Higbie

D ecember

Sunday, December 2 – Beginner’s Bird Walk,

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

Wednesday, December 12 – Bonelli Park Pre-

Christmas Trip. Leaders: Strangs

Thursday, December 13 – Claremont Parks Pre-

Christmas Trip. Leader: Dan Guthrie

Saturday, December 15 – Annual Christmas Census

Sunday, December 23 – Bonelli Park Monthy Hike.

Leader: Rod Higbie

J aNuary

Sunday, January 6 – Beginner’s Bird Walk, Rancho

Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 8 a.m.

Wednesday, January 16 – Prado County Park.

Leader: Dan Gregory

Sunday, January 27 – Bonelli Park Bird Walk.

Leader: Rod Higbie, 8 a.m.

F ebruary

Sunday, February 3 – Beginner’s Bird Walk

– Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 8 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday, February 9 & 10 – Salton Sea

Weekend – Dan Guthrie

Wednesday, February 13 – Santa Fe Dam

7 a.m. departure from Claremont Memorial Park

Sunday, February 24 – Bonelli Park Bird Walk.


PVAS FALL/WINTER/SPRINg FIELd TRIPS 2007-08

m arch

Sunday, March 2 – Beginner’s Bird Walk, Rancho


Wednesday, March 12 – L.A. County Arboretum

7:30 a.m. Leader: Dan Gregory

Saturday, March 22 - Lake Perris, San Jacinto

Preserve. 7 a.m. Leader: TBA

Sunday, March 23 – Bonelli Park Bird Walk.


a pril

Sunday, April 6 – Beginner’s Bird Walk, Rancho


Wednesday, April 9 – The Living Desert Zoo &

Gardens. Leader: 7 a.m.

Sunday, April 27 – Bonelli Park Bird Walk. Leader:

Rod Higbie, 8 a.m.

Wednesday, April 30 – Big Morongo Nature

Preserve. Leader: Dan Gregory 7 a.m.

departure from Claremont Memorial Park

m ay

Sunday, May 4 – Beginner’s Bird Walk – Rancho

Santa Ana Botanic Garden 8 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday, May 17-18 – Kern River Valley

and Butterbredt Springs. Leader: Dan Guthrie.

Saturday, May 24 – San Gabriel Mountains. 7 a.m.Leader: TBA

Sunday, May 25 – Bonelli Park Bird Walk. Leader:

Rod Higbie, 8 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 morning. Bonelli Park trips meet at

park headquarters on Via Verde, just off the 57

freeway.

7

Prado Regional ParkField Trip Report - October 2

by Dan Guthrie

Ten of us made the trip to nearby Prado Park for a morning of birding. We Found 52 species, the highlights being 2

male and one female vermillion ycatcher, a couple of white-faced ibis, and many yellow and black-throated grey

warblers. We also observed what I think is the result of “hanky panky” in the bird world. A small all white goose

that I thought was a Ross’s turned out to be something else. It had no black wing tips and did have a faint darker area around its eye, just like a nearby Egyptian goose. My suspicion is that this is the offspring of a cross between

the Egyptian goose and the resident full- blooded Ross’s Goose, which we also saw there nearby. I no longer feel

sorry for the Ross's Goose spending the summer as the only member of his species there. Apparently he (or she)

found a way to relieve loneliness.



Pomona Valley Audubon Society Pomona Valley Audubon SocietyIncome & Expenses Assets & Liabilities

07/01/06 through 06/30/07 As of 06/30/07

12 Months BalanceEnded As of

Category Description 6/30/07 Category Description 6/30/07INCOME ASSETS

Recycling Income 736$ Cash in Bank 25,607$Birdathon (Net) 5,141 Inventory - NAS Chapter Share 2,721 TOTAL ASSETS 25,607$

Wild Wings Support 1,059 Village Venture 516 Other Fundraising 869 Other Income 645 LIABILITIES & NET WORTH

DESIGNATED FUNDSTOTAL INCOME 11,687$ Memorial Funds 733$

TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS 733$OPERATING EXPENSES

Insurance 1,221$ TOTAL LIABILITIES 733$Meeting Expenses 1,568 Newsletter Expenses 4,676 AVAILABLE FUNDS 24,874$

Postage 184

Miscellaneous 161

7,810$

CONTRIBUTIONS MADE - 2007PROGRAM EXPENSES

Contributions 300$ PROGRAMWild Wings Program 3,264 Wild Wings of California 3,264$Special Projects 808 Audubon Adventures (Education) 91

Cal Audubon - Debs Park 300 4,372$ Tri-colored Blackbird Project 1,230

Bluebird Trail Project 738 TOTAL EXPENSES 12,182$ Bird Check Lists 70

TOTAL INCOME & EXPENSES (494)$ 5,693$

Annual Report to the Members of PVASPresented below is a summary of the income and expenses of Pomona Valley Audubon Society for the Period July 1

2006 through June 30, 2007.

On the right is a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Society as of the end of our scal year, June 30, 2005.

Below that is a breakdown of the contributions made to various conservation programs and other causes throughout

the State.



Field Trips

Saturday, October, 27, 2007Village VentureCome visit our booth at the Claremont

Street Faire!

Saturday-Sunday,October 27-28, 2007Morro Bay WeekendField TripMeet at the base of Morro Rock in

Morro Bay at 8 a.m. for a weekend

of birding to the north. We will do

coastal birding on Saturday and on Sunday bird down the

coast at Oceano and other areas. Leader: Dan Guthrie:

909-607-2836

Sunday, October 28,2007Bonelli ParkMonthly HikeJoin our monthly walk (4 th

Sunday, about 2 hours) at

Bonelli Park. Meet at the

Bonelli Park headquarters on

Via Verde near the 57 freeway

at 8 a.m. Leader: Rod Higbie

Sunday, November 4, 2007Beginner’s Bird Walk,Rancho 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 two hours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry

gate (north end of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd.1500 N. College Ave.) Leaders: Fraser Pemberton

909-624-6451.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007Santa Fe Dam, Half day Trip

Meet at Memorial Park at 7:30 am for a half

day trip to Irwindale for wintering ducks,

ycatchers and sparrows. Leader: Dan

Guthrie 909-607-2836

Wednesday, November 14, 2007Mt. Baldy Village and VicinityA visit to our local mountains for wintering and residen

species. Meet at Memorial park at 7:30 a.m.. Leader:

Dan Gregory 909-944-2259.

Sunday, November 25, 2007Bonelli Park Monthly Hike

Join our monthly walk (4th Sunday, about 2 hours) at

Bonelli Park. Meet at the Bonelli Park headquarters

on Via Verde

near the 57 freeway

at 8 a.m. Leader:

Rod Higbie

Sunday,December 2,2007

Beginner’s Bird Walk,Rancho 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 two hours. Meet at 8:00 a.m.

at the front entry gate (north end of College Ave.

north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 N. College Ave.) Leaders:Fraser Pemberton 909-624-6451.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007Bonelli Park Pre-Christmas TripMeet at the Picnic Valley area on Via Verde at 8 a.m. for a

half day pre-Christmas count search for rarities. Leaders

Bruce and Nancy Strang 626-339 6984

Thursday, Deceember 13, 2007Claremont Parks Pre-Christmas Trip

Meet at Memorial Park at 7 a.m. for a half

day search of our local area, including

Moreno Ponds and various cemeteries

Leader Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836

Saturday, December 15, 2007Annual Christmas CensusSee page 3 of this issue for additional

information.



Field Trips

Sunday, December 23, 2007Bonelli Park Monthly HikeJoin our monthly walk (4th Sunday, about 2 hours) at

Bonelli Park. Meet at the Bonelli Park headquarters on

Via Verde near the 57 freeway at 8 a.m. Leader: RodHigbie

Sunday, January 6, 2008Beginner’s Bird Walk, Rancho Santa AnaBotanic 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 two

hours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry gate (north end

of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 N. CollegeAve.) Leaders: Fraser Pemberton (909 624 6451).

Wednesday, January16, 2007Prado County Park

Half day trip for wintering hawks and water birds.

Meet at Memorial park at 7:30 am. Leader: Dan

Gregory 909-944-2259

Wings Over Willcox

January 17-20, 2008

Wilcox, Arizona

WINGS OVER WILLCOX (WOW) combines adventure,

entertainment and education to provide a un-flled weekend

o birding pleasure or the novice, expert or curious. Birding

tours seek sandhill cranes, hawks and owls, sparrows,

Southwest and montane specialties. Other tours include

geology, history, ghost towns, working ranch, mining, botany,

photography, archeology, anthropology and irrigated arming,

Free seminars ocus on birds, bats, reptiles, insects, mammals

and asteroids.

For more inormation or to register call 800-200-2272 or visit

their website at www.wingsoverwillcox.com.

20th Annual Festival of the Cranes

Socorro - NM

November 13-18, 2007

Explore and celebrate the Middle Rio Grande Valley during the

20th Annual Festival o the Cranes. Workshops, tours, lectures

feld trips and demonstrations on wildlie, birding, history

plants, and other topics. Wildlie Art show and exhibit tent open

on the weekend.

Contact: Friends o the Bosque del Apache National Wildlie

Reuge, P.O. Box 340, San Antonio, NM 87832 505-835-1828

or visit www.riendsothebosque.org



PVAS OFFICERS 2007-2008

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.909-607-2836Volunteers.Open!...Publications.Neil.Gilbert.909-626-0334Publicity.Shirley.Harris.909-982-9727Door.Prizes.Karlene.Campo. 909-627-8191Hospitality.Gloria.Slosberg.909-626-4754.Website.Open!..

CHAPARRAL NATURALIST

Editor.Pam.Kling.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

Subscriptions.to.the.newsletter.are.available.for.$10.per.year.to.non-members..Make checkspayable to PVAS and mail to W. M. KeckScience Center, 925 N. Mills Ave., Claremont,CA 91711.

Name__________________________________________

Address________________________________________

City, State, Zip___________________________________Chapter Code: Pomona Valley Audubon CO8, 7XCHYou may also join National Audubon via our website at:

http://www.ca.audubon.org/chapters.html/

11

National Audubon MembershipAnnual membership in the National Audubon Society is$30 per year. New membership dues are $20. Membersreceive the Audubon Magazine and Chaparral Naturalist newsletter. Renewals of membership are computerized by National Audubon and should not be sent to PVAS. How-ever, a new membership may be sent directly to PVAS.

Make checks payable to National Audubon Society. Mailpayment with membership form below and mail to PVAS,W. M. Keck Science Center, 925 North Mills Avenue,Claremont, CA 91711. (Please note chapter code number,CO8, 7XCH on your check.)

11th Annual

Central Valley Birding SymposiumStockton, California

November 15-18, 2007

The annual CVBS has truly come of age as the event

enters its 2nd decade. Whether you’re planning to come

for the 11th time or the rst time, your presence will be a perfect t! And what’s going to be special about this year’s

event? Well, for the rst time in 10 years we’re switching

venues!! This year’s CVBS will be held at the brand new

Stockton Sheraton in the totally renovated downtown

waterfront right on the San Joaquin River!

Keynote speakers will be old friend Joe Morlan and

newcomer Laura Erickson who will enchant us with a

program on owls. We will have the usual assortment of

great classes/workshops suitable for beginners to the hard-

core, and we’re so very happy that crowd favorite Jon

Dunn will be back after a two year hiatus. So join us!

For more information or to register online, visit our website

at www.cvbs.org

Morro Bay, a GloballyImportant Bird Area, is locatedhalfwy between Los Angelesand San Francisco on the PacicFlyway. Morro Coast Audubon

Society always ranks in thetop five for the AudubonChristmas Bird Count and

over 200 species are usually sighted during the Festivalweekend.

Aside from a variety of eld trips and seminars, highlightsinclude a welcome reception, and special keynote speakersBrian Sullivan and Dr. Kevin Padian.

Winter Bird Festival brochures, online registration andinformation regarding lodging, camping and local facilitiesare available from the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerceat 805-772-4467 or 800-231-0592 or on the Festival websiteat www.morrobaybirdfestival.org.

Friday, January 18 - Monday, January 21, 2008



Membership Meetings

P o m o n a V a l l e y A u d u b o n S o c i e t y W . M . K e c k S c i e n c e C e n t e r 9 2 5 N o r t h M i l l s A v e n u e C l a r e m o n t , C A 9 1 7 1 1

yppyg,4,,

R e t u r n S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d

w w w . p o m o n a v a l l e y a u d u b o n . o r g

N O N - P R O F I T O R G .

U . S . P O S T A G E

P A I D C L A R E M O N T , C A .

P E R M I T N O . 2 4 0

New

Date!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Pamela Kling and Suzanne Chappell

"Birding North Dakota"

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Kathy Keane

"Galapagos Wildlife"Biologist and ornithologistKathy Keane traveled in October

2003 to the Galapagos Islands and spent 15 days on a 100-ft

yacht visiting the various islands, including Tower Islandin the north, which most visitors to the Galapagos don’t

get to see due to its distance from the other islands. She

photographed the boobies, albatross, marine iguanas, giant

tortoises and Darwin’s nches and will share some of her

photographs in this wonderful power-point presentation.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Tim Anderson

"Los Cerritos Wetlands"This is an area ear where the San Gabriel River enters Long

Beach Harbor. The Los Cerritos Wetlands Trust is trying to

save this area and restore it and Tim will show us its wildife

values and discuss the campaign for its preservation. You

might check a Los Angeles Times article at www.latimes

com/news/local/la-me-marshes29jul29,0,1814334.story?col

and the Cerritos Wetlands webpage www.lcwlandtrust

org/news.htm for more information.

Meetings are held in Bauer Forum of Claremont

McKenna College. Evenings begin with a bird

identification session at 7:00 p.m., followed by

refreshments, a short business meeting, and our

evening program.

Several members

of our chapter

signed on for SylviaGallagher's course

on the Sparrows

of North America

held this last winter.

Four even went so

far as to travel to

North Dakota in

late June in search of sparrows and other northern prarie

specialties. Our Naturalist Editor, Pam Kling, and past

Board Member/Bird Class Instructor, Suzanne Chappell,

will present a program about this trip. It will be illustrated by Pam’s superb photos.

November-December 2007 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

Documents

Transcript of November-December 2007 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society