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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNewsletter of the Altacal Audubon Society - April-May 2018 lowh aiCedXite NEWSLETTER OF THE ALTACALAUDUBuON SOCVETY Chapter of the National Audubon society serving Butte„ Glenn, and Teharna Counties of Northern California APRIL° MAY 2018 ALTACAL PROGRAMS PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY ARE NORMALLY HELD ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6.30 PM.,AT THE CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER, 1968E. 6TH ST CHICO. IN DECEMBER THE PROGRAM PS HELD ON THE SECOND MONDAY AND IN JULY AND AUGUST THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS. -Ayrd MONDAY, APRIL. 16, 2018 ° '6:30 P.M. CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER South Africa Birds is Presented by Bruce Deuel ome join Bruce and Kathy Deuel as they revisit their fall 2014 trip to South Africa with Rockjumper Tours. We'll visit Johannesburg and vicinity, the famous Kruger National 'Park, the southeast coast, and the highlands, including the Drakensburg Mountains and Sani Pass,where we spend a little time in the inde- pendent nde pendent nation of Lesotho. Then it's off to the west in Gape Prov- ince for a gook at entirely different country. Bruce will show you many of the 430 birds and aimost 50 marnmals(including all of the Big Five) and reptiles they saw, and some great scenery. Bruce began birding in high school and has been at it now for 57 Photo by Brace Deuel years. Since 1973 the Sacramento Valley has been his home. He um 4� and Kathy have birded all over the United States and on every �. (, . continent. He has served on the boards of directors of Western Field Ornithologists and the Central Valley Bird Club. He was a regional editor for the publication North American Birds and is still the sub-regional editor for 6 Sacramento Valley counties. He also acts as eBird reviewer for the same 6 counties, now with help in Butte County from Michael Rogner. He has a B.S. (Wildlife Mgmt) from Humboldt State and an M.S, (Wildlife Biology) from the Uni- versity of Arizona. He worked almost 40 years as a biologist and environmental scientist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Photo by Bruce Deuelthe California Department of Fish and Game (now Wildlife). Altacal Audubon's Annual Potluck ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY In May Btit rdof Directors MONDAY, MAY 21, 6:30 RM., CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER President STEVE OVERLOCK 530 828-0966 Itacal Audubon's annual potluck dinner will now be stephenoverlock@sbcglobal.net Aheld in May. Vice President KEN SOBON Come join us and celebrate friendships and our common love 530 592-3350 ksoibon@thermalito.org for birds and the natural world at our annual potluck dinner, Secretary CRIS CLINE Monday, May 21, 6:30 p.m. at Chico Creek Nature Center. ccline1028@gmail.com Well have a chance to visit with old friends and new ones, talk Treasurer VACANT about birds and birding and share stories of recent and future Membership CATHY CARTER 530 342-9152 adventures and travels. It's been another remarkable year for scarab4everggmaiLcom Altacal Audubon and this will be our last chance to get together Publications CARLA RESNICK as a group until our next programin September. Remember Newsletter 530-343-6929 carlaresnick@comcast.net there are no programs in June, July and August so you don't Publicity WAYLAND AUGUR want to miss this one. Bring a dish to share, a beverage for Web Site 519-4724 yourself or to share, a plate and fork, and a chair if you like, wba@acm.org Field Trips MATT FORSTER See you there! 619 347-2269 findforster@yahoo.com Sanctuary KEN SOBO�N Lands/Refuge 530 592-3350 ksobon @ thermali to,org Conservation SCOTT HUBER Co-chair 530-321-5579 wmscotthuber@gmail'.com Education VACANT Programs JENNIFER PATTEN 345-9356 jpchico@sbcglobal.net Sac NWR VACANT Bookstore Altacals 2012 Potluck Attendees Director- KATHRYN HOOD at-Large 321-2852 verdant44@gmail.com Director- DAWN GARCIA ..... ........ at-Large 530 513-1785 avifan59@gmaii.com Board Meetings Director MARY MUCHOWSKI 5:15 p.m, at-Large 530-228-0625 2nd Wednesday of each month mmuohowski@earthlink.net Altacal Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival Office Director- MARILYN GAMETTE 635 Flume Street, Chico Emeritus Altacal Audubon Members are welcome to attend 2 Plants r Birds by Melinda.Teves, Certified Neighborhood Habitat Program Project Coordinator s Spring approaches and everything is in bloorn„ wildlife responds... and so can we! Now is a great time to plant some of our delightful Native Califor- nia plants. Native plants have evolved alongside our local birds ; and wildlife for thousands of years, are suited to our climate (` " and drought conditions, and provide ideal food and shelter for wildlife. Floral Native Nursery,as well as some of our other won- derful on derful local nurseries provide plenty of attractive choices. For anyone looking for sorne help and/or inspiration, Butte lip County Master Gardeners at https://goo.gUbR5rEj has posted their Spring schedule for fun and fascinating gat-den classes. Viewing the demonstration gardens out at Patrick l=unch or visit- ing the Gateway's backyard native pollinator garden can also be � very helpful. By next month, many of the plants will be blooming. Flack-churned hummingbird They are carefully labeled so that it's easy to pick out favorites, photo by John Lewis Some of the top choices in our area for large, evergreen shrubs include:coffeeberry,toyon,and hollyleaf cherry(all of which prop vide berries for birds). �u Some of the low-growing flowering favorites for sunny spots in- clude California Fuchsia(which provides essential late blooming flowers), Penstemon, and Manzanita—a hummingbird favorite, AU the information you need to change your yard into a Bird friendly habitat can be found on Altacal"s website under the Cer- tified Neighborhood Habitat Program,Join the more than 300 � local rne,mberswho now provide lasting Bird habitat in their yards, � �a http://www.altacal.org/neighborhood-habitat-certification-pro- gram/ We are really making a difference! Natural landscaping for bird habitat 3 UPCOMING All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Birding Trips Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate. Altacal Audbuon's cheduled field trips are a great way to experience a variety of birding areas, with an experienced trip leader. Occa- sionally "Pop-up" Birding Field Trips, that aren't listed here, will be posted on the Altacal Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/ altacalaudubonC and the Altacal Audubon webpage (hftp://www.altacal.org). Saturday,April 7,2018 - 10:010 a.m. Saturday,April 28,2018 - 7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LLANO SECO VIEWING PLATFORM SPRING BIRD SONG HIKE Trip Leader: Matt Forster Trip Leader: Scott Huber We will meet at the parking lot of Llano Seco and view waterfowl By early May most of our spring rnigrants have arrived from Central a plenty from the first platform,then travel along the short walking and South America,and they are exuberantly proclaiming their viril- trail to the second platform. We will be in search of waterfowl in- fty!This is the finest time of year to savor the beauty of their songs cluding, Green-winged, Cinnamon, and Blue-winged Teal, Ring- and learn the keys to identifying them by their voices. Join bird necked duck, Bufflehead, grebes and the return of some great song connoisseur Scott Huber on a leisurely amble amidst nature's shorebirds. The Llano Seco Refuge is also a proven wintering symphony. ground to Sandhill Crane, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret, Please Contact: Scott Huber, wmscotthuber(&-gmail.com bring water, snacks, and binoculars. There is a restroom at the location. Rain cancels. Meet at the parking lot at 10:00 a.m. Sunday,April 29, 2018 - 9:00 a.m. -2 p.m. Contact: Matt Forster,findforster@yahoo.com. 619-347-2269, KAYAKING ON THE THERMALITO AFTERBAY Trip Leader.Gaylord Gram Sunday,April 15,2018 -9:00 a.m-Noon Join us on a leisurely kayaking trip on the beautiful Thermalito Af- BIRDS&TREES WALK-CSU!C BUTTE CREEK ECOLOGICAL Join We'll be in search of Western and Clark's Grebes, Least Bit- PRESERVE tern, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorant, and Yellow-headed Black- Trip Leaders:Joseph O'Neil and Jon Aull bird. Launching off Wilbur Road south (gravel road) at 9:00 a.m. We'll explore the native trees, shrubs and spring migrant birds of There is plenty of parking,shade,and easy access to put in the kay- Butte Creek.This is a 2-3 mile intermediate hike along the creek, aks.We'll be out on the water for 4-5 hours,so bring your sunscreen, over some logs, and down to the pond. Green Heron, Wood lunch,and plenty of water! Ducks,Yellow-breasted Chats, Hairy Woodpecker and Cooper's Contact: Gaylord Grams, gg2canoe@yahoo,com. Hawks have been some of the many species seen here. Bea- vers, otters and jumping salmon may also be seen. Bring sturdy Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 10;00 a.m. shoes/boots,water,and snacks for 3-hour hike. Meet at the park- SLACKER SATURDAY: SACRAMENTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE ing lot of the preserve at 8:00 a.m., on Honey Run Road about 3 REFUGE(GLENN COUNTY) miles off the Skyway,just past 1182. Trip Leader:Skip Augur Contact: Joseph O'Neil at josephoneil@earthlink.net or Get ready for a neotropical migrant and shorebird extravaganza! Jon Aull at aulljon(-Whotmail.com. Meet at Chico Park & Ride-closest to Hwy 99-at 10:00 a.m. Saturday,April 21, 2018- 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. We'll then carpool to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in Glenn County.All birders and nature lovers are welcome, especial- BLOOMS AND BIRDS HIKE-OROVILLE TRAILS ly those just learning about birds. Bring binoculars, lunch, water, Trip Leader: Dawn Garcia and a snack. We'll take a leisurely and moderately strenuous hike 3-5 miles, Contact: Skip Augur, at wba(Pacm.org. on the Dan Beebe trail and then loop back on the Brad Freeman trail along the Feather River and through the historical tunnel. Sunday, May 20, 2018 - 8:00 a.m.-Noon We may catch glimpses of Phainopepla,and see other trail spe- TUSCAN LOOP, OLD HUMBOLDT RD& GENETIC RESOURCE cialties like Rock Wren and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Sneak CENTER up on Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, Osprey and River Trip Leader: Mary Muchowski Otters on the River side. Bring sunscreen, hats, water, lunch, Meet at Park and Ride-Eastern Lot-at 8:00 a.m. We'll head up binoculars. Meeting place TBD. to the Tuscan Loop to try for California Thrasher, and Wrentit,then Contact: Dawn Garcia, 530-513-1785 or avifan59@gmail.com. cruise down Old Humboldt Rd. to see if we can find Phainopepla and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Migrants should be coming back and we should see and hear plenty of them at the Genetic Re- source Center. We should be done by noon. Rain cancels. Contact:Mary Muchowski,530-228-0625,mmuchowski@eailhiink.net 4 Digging r Burrowing OwlsConservation Corner on February 10th 2018 former Altacal Conservation Chair by Scott Huber, Conservation Chair Dawn Garcia and current Conservation Chair Scott Hu- ber joined Larry Jordan and other members of Wintu Audubon to replace eight existing artificial burrowing owl burrows at the Tuscan Preserve just north of Chico. The original eight artificial burrowsi ;,�, ayc, i were placed at the Presence in Febru- 4, ary of 2010 when only one owl was Vp� ori , seen peering out r; vi from the natural cave at the preserve. In the �'�' spring of 2011, two owls were ob- served, at the Preserve but no offspring were seen until the summer of 2015 when six young were spot- ted on the property. The Tuscan Preserve Burrowing Owls have produced at least four offspring every year since then. h' We hope the addition of another 16 artificial burrows, creat- , ! ed with the help of several volunteers in 2016 and 2017, will eventually lead to the existence of a permanent, stable colony at this location. The existing underground nesting chambers were made from 5 gallon buckets, accessible to the owls by way of app, 8 feet of a 4"plastic conduit'tunnel'.The purpose of replacing exist- ing burrows was twofold: 1. To check the condition of the buckets for use, nesting material (grasses, etc.) and evidence of prey base (re- gurgitated bones). 2. To install roomier, repurposed `valve boxes'with new and improved 'clean-out pipes'for inserting cameras into the nest and the possible vacuuming out of debris. 5n a The existing buckets were clearly getting regular use andr numerous rodent bones (likely voles) were found at the tun- nel entrances. After hours of challenging excavation, the old j buckets were removed and the holes were expanded to ac- commodate the larger boxes.. Thank you to Larry Jordan and Wintu Audubon for their con- tinued commitment to this project here in Altacal's backyard. With luck we hope to see an increase in the north valley bur- rowing owl population. T d ,ro�k l ALTACALAUDUBON SOCIETY, INCRequested ,WOko:104 POST OFFICE BOX 3671 In-home Delivery rDkAl Non-Profit Organization CHICO, CA 959'27-3671 3/30-4/1 2018 U.S. Postage 3-Day Window PAID Permit No. 86 cttt Chico, Calif 95927 Do you have a birding story to share? Check out our Membership page on how to submit articles, Issue Due Date June/July May 1 CURRENT RESIDENT August/Sept July 1 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Oct/Nov Sept 1 Dec/Jan Nov 1 25 COUNTY CENTER DR. Feb/Mar Jan 1 OROVILLE, CA 9S965 April/May Mar 1 ' 'e the Date a At_JACAL A'1� AUTACAL. Audubon'S Annival Potluck White-taiCe dXite April/May 2018 ALTACAL PROGRARAS DATES TO REMEMBER April 7 Field Trip: Llano Seco Viewing Platform April 15 Field Trip: Birds&Trees Walk April 11 Altacal Audubon Board Meeting April 16 Program: South African Birds and Beasts April 21 Field Trip: Blooms and Birds Hike April 28 Field Trip:Spring Bird Song Hike April 29 Field Trip: Kayaking on Thermalito Afterbay May 5 Field Trip:Slacker Saturday: April 16, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge South Africa Birds and Beasts May 9 Altacal Audubon Board Meeting May 20 Field Trip:Tuscan Loop, Old Humboldt Rd Genetic Resource Center May 21 Altacal Audubon's Annual Potluck ALTACAL For updated information check the Altacal website altacal.org Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their habitats through! PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER education, research and environmental activities.