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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNewsletter of the Altacal Audubon Society - Feb-March 2018 i 1,6edX "te all t NEWSLETTER OF THE ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon 'society serving Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties of Northern California FEBRUARY/MARCH 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, 1968 E.8TH ST CHICO, IN DECEMBER THE PROGRAM 1S HELD ON THE SECOND MONDAY AND IN,JULY AND AUGUST THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2€ 18 :30 P.M. MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 ° 6:30 P.M. CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER Winter v t Requirements and Use Eagles, r by the Western urr i l in the Northern Sacramento t ld Presented by John Lewis ohn sent 5 days in Homer, Presented by Michelle Ocken Alaska photo urrowing Owls, a California Bird Species of Special Concern, graphing Bald Ea IME can be found in the northern Sacramento Valle By j NSV ear files at the Homer jy round. The NSV supports a large number of wintering Burrowing Spit,a long narrow Owls„ however winter habitat is often overlooked when studying landform jutting habitat requirements of migratory species. This presentation will out into Kachemak focus on the different habitat types utilized by these owls during Bay. Most of his days were domi- the winter monthsnated by snowfall,and talk about Some1111 Located on the Bald Eagle in Homer Alaska, of the conservation southern part of photo by JT Lewis challenges inherent the Kenai Penin- in protecting winter- sula, Horner is also known as the Halibut Capital of the world; ing habitat. however, not so in the winter, where the large attraction were, Burrowing Owl photo by Michelle Ocken and to some extent still is,the Bald Eagles.One of the greatest Michelle Ocken is a reason for the large accumulation of eagles in the winter, was graduate student at CSU, Chico where she is working on her Mas- the winter feeding by Jean Keene,the"Eagle Lady,. John will ter"s degree in biology while studying Western Burrowing Owls. tell a little history of the feeding of the wild bald eagles and She is the founder and President of the Chico State Birding Club share his photos from his trip. and is a member of Altacal Audubon Society. She also volunteers Jahn",9T"Luis is an avid local and..county birder,and an Old throughout the year banding Northern Saw-whet Owls and pas- School Altacal Audubon member. serines. ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY from the President 23oardof Directors by Steve Overlock and Cathy Carter, Memberships President STEVE OVERLOCK 530 828-0966 stephenoverlock @sbcglobal.net MEMBERSHIPS Vice President KEN SOBON 530 592-3350 Friendly rerninder, March is nearly here and ksobon@thermalito.org Athat is when we send out our once a year Secretary CRIS CLINE cclineI028@grnaiLcorn membership request, We have received a num- Treasurer VACANT ber of renewals via the web page and we thank Membership CATHY CARTER 530 342-9152 you very Much. 'Those are very welcomed indeed scarab4ever@giiiail.com and if you inadvertently receive the mailer, please Publications CARLA RESNICK Newsletter 530.343-6929 disregard. carlaresnick@comcast.riet Publicity WAYLAND AUGUR Thank you in advance for he&ping to advance our Web Site 519-4724 wba@acm.org Birds and their habitats; especially in these times Field Trips MATT FORSTER when so much good has already been undone. 619 347-2269, findforster(��yahoo.com Sanctuary KEN SOBON At the National Aud u bon Webpage there is an amazing Lands/Refuge 530 592-3350 interactive map of what opening drilling in the Arctic ksobon(�Pthermalito.org Conservation SCOTT HUiBER Refuge could look like: https://tinyLirl.com/y84dqvlx. Co-chair 530-321-5579 wmscotthuber@grnail.coni It shows the whole truth the effects of drilling would Education VACANT cause. Programs JENNIFER PATTEN 345-9356 jpchico@sbcglobal.net Sac NWR VACANT Bookstore Director- KATHRYN HOOD at-Large 321-2852 verdant44@gmail.com Director- DAWN GARCIA at-Large 530 513-1785 avifan59C&gmail.com Director- MARY MUICHOWSKI BOARD MEETINGS at-Large 530-228-0625 5:15 P.M. mmuchowski@earthlink.net 2nd Wednesday of each month Director- MARILYN GAMETTE Altacal Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival Office Emeritus 635 Flume Street, Chico Altacal Audubon Members are welcome to attend 2 OUR BIRD ATTRACTING Conservation Corner ARE THREATENED by Scott Huber, Conservation Chair nyone who's gone out to look for birds in California knows that oak trees are a magnet for avian species.According to 1Wiiliam Van Dersal, in his Journal of Wildlife Management ar- ticle entitled Utilization of Oaks by Birds and Mammals"...with respect to the utilization of woody plants by wildlife...oaks were found to surpass the records for most other genera of woody plants. Some part or another of an oak plant is now known to be r eaten by 180 different kinds of birds and mammals...", It is therefore alarming to wildlife enthusiasts and advocates that � 1 Butte County is in the process of drafting an Oak''Woodland Mit- igation Ordinance, which would modify the 2006 Butte County Oak Management Plan by allowing payment of in lieu fees for � taking of oak woodlands by developers. These fees would pri- Photo: Hermit Thrush in Blue leak by Liam Huber marily pay third parties for conservation easements to protect oak woodlands not necessarily in Butte County. Also, con- slightly faster than this in some locations, even at the best version of oak woodlands to grassland for livestock grazing by site, it took an average of ten years for a tree to grow each clearcutting oaks for firewood would not be discouraged by this inch in thickness." This potentially means that we wouldbe Draft ordinance, giving up groves of mature blue oaks(and the numerous bird The concept of mitigating the'take'or removal of oak woodlands, species who use them), in exchange for baby trees that won't means that we would be trading existing stands of oaks in the make suitable nesting or foraging habitat for decades, locations where they naturally occur in Butte County, for other Folks seeking to influence the formulation of the mitigation lands with some habitat value which may or may not be good for ordinance can sign up to be notified of public opportunities by oak trees. Conceivably, the mitigation would require the plant- contacting Pete Calarco,Assistant Planning Director,to be on ing of replacement oak trees on these properties. But our blue his list of stakeholders for consideration of future DRAFTS, oaks grow incredibly slow:the University of California Oak Man- email: P alarco @ buttecounty.net or phone:530,538.21675. agement Website states that "The age analysis showed that, in general, blue oaks grow very slowly.On average,trees that were Next opportunity for formal public influence is another public inches in diameter were 100 years old. Although growth was workshop before the Planning Commission in Feb. or March. harles Cornell, Mike Fisher and Mary Muchowski visited the Packer r � , Unit and saw 45 species, including golden-crowned kinglets, wood ducks, a bald eagle and an orange-crowned warbler that was foraging in the sapsucker holes on a pine tree. r,�r/F�N,'1`ll. i 9 �i "l1�/Y9//r!✓elra l� 11 r y y dr r '� p�� y{�CYdi �,,�,'i�G<T� �'J �/�%���ll�/�P�✓rr I Irl i , /, tir �( r Great Blue Heron at the Packer Unit 3 }range-crowned Warbler at the Packer Unit UPCOMING All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate. Birdtng Tr�"Ps Check the Altacal Facebook page for updates. Thursday,. February 8, 2018 Saturday, March 3, 2018 CHICO WTP—OXIDATION PONDS SUTTER COUNTY BIRDING Trip Leader: Matt Forster Trip Leader: Matt Forster Limited to 20 people. We will get a personal and up-close view Join us in Sutter County as we peruse the diverse landscape of of the winter waterfowl migration at the Oxidation Ponds Wildlife Sutter County in search for low and mid-elevation birds. We will Sanctuary at the Water Treatment Plant,west of Chico.The walk start by driving the back roads that hug the Sutter Buttes and also is under 2 miles and about 3 hours. For shorter, you can walk out bird some other hot spot areas that have turned up an array of to the viewing blind.The walk is flat and pretty easy going. waterfowl, raptors, and woodpeckers. Meet at the Park and Ride at Meet at the Oxidation Pond main entrance parking area at Spm. 9arn(closest to Hwy.99).We will then carpool to Bring lunch,water Afternoon keeps,the sun at our back. We should be back to the and walking shoes! We will plan on being back to Chico around lot by 6 pm. To get to the Oxidation Ponds, go west on W 5th St Spm. frorn Flwy 32 in Chico. Follow W 5th St, which becomes Chico Contact: Matt Forster, findforster(?Pyahoo.corn. 619-347-2269. River Rd, for 3.9 miles. Enter the main entrance, where we will have to sign in and enter through the new entrance. Saturday, March 17,2018 Bring binoculars, spotting scopes, water, walking shoes and TABLE MOUNTAIN BIRD AND FLOWER WALK proper clothing for the expected weather conditions. There is a Trip Leader: Matt Forster chemical toilet on the way out to the viewing area. Rain cancels. Meet at Chico Park& Ride off Hwy 32 (closest to Hwy 99) at gam. Contact: Matt Forster,findforsterL@yahoo.com. 619-347-2269. We'll be scouring beautiful Table Mountain to view wildlife and wild- flowers!Hawks, Falcons, Horned Larks and other low range moun- Saturday,, February 10, 2018 tain birds.We'll also get beautiful looks of blooming wildflowers and BLACK BUTTE LAKE AND TEHAMA COUNTY Canyon and Rock Wrens from the waterfalls! Bring lunch, water Trip Leader: Matt Forster and walking shoes! Join us in birding Black Butte Lake and the,surrounding Tehama Contact: Matt Forster, findforster@Pyahoo,com. 619-347-2269. County areas. We'll be scoping for gulls, raptors, and other inter- esting birds that can be found here and the surrounding areas. Saturday,April 7, 2018 We may even run into some Greater Roadrunners that have be LLANO SECO seen in more frequency this past year! Meet at the Park and 'Trip Leader: Matt Forster Ride at gam (closest to Hwy. 99). We will then carpool to Bring We will meet at the parking lot of Llano Seco and view waterfowl lunch, water and walking shoes! We will plan on lasing back to a plenty from the first platform, then travel along the short walk- ing Spm. trail to the second platform. We will be in search of waterfowl Contact: Matt Forster,findforster@yahoo.com. 619-347-2269. including, Green-winged, Cinnamon, and Blue-winged Teal, Ring- necked duck, Bufflehead, grebes and the return of some great Saturday, February 24, 2018 shorebirds, The Llano Seco Refuge is also a proven wintering GRAY LODGE WILDLIFE AREA ground to Sandhiil Crane, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. Please Trip Leader:Skip Augur bring water, snacks, and binoculars. There is a restroom at the location. Rain cancels. Meet at the parking lot at 1 0arn. Might be a little early for spring migrants but there will be plen- ty to see with the permanent residents. Meet at the Park and Ride at 10am (closest to Hwy, 99). We will then carpool to the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. All visitors will need to purchase a Lands Pass, prior to visiting the area. You can purchase a Day Pass or Annual Pass here: https://www.wildllfe.ca.gov/Licensing/ Lands-Pass. Birding around the Refuge and the auto loop will take roughly 4 hours, We plan on being back to Chico by Spm. All birders and nature lovers are welcome, especially those just learning about birds or wanting to learn about the birds of the Pacific Flyway. Bring binoculars, lunch,water, and a snack. Contact: Skip Augur,wba@,acm.com, 4 7 y, b Mar Muchowsk Compiler OROVILLE CHRISTMAS COUNTS he Chico GBG was held on Saturday, December 16th, and al- though it was clear,the winds(according to the weather station: sustained winds of 17-29 mph with gusts up to 39 mph) kept most a of the birds down,We ended up with only about 90 species(with a few count week species),which is one of the lowest of all time!We also had a miscommunication between the manager of the Chico Wastewater Treatment plant and the employee who was working that Saturday, as a result, our team was not let in, That alone re- duced e duced the number of species quite a bit. The only out-of-the-ordi- nary bird was a male western tanager seen by.Jennifer Patten and Cathy Canker. However,it was still a great,day of counting birds and we had a great time compiling the numbers at Round Table.Thank . you to the 23 participants for braving those biting winds! GreenHeron at California Park,Chico CBC by Mary Muchowski �i4✓r ;. 4 i �I, r ":,a , y,.wu / i! ����0���Jl��r i� ��� �/�/`�rr'��y/�� /!��/'r!� ;Z� y i "w;Y�"i➢�! 4*dd�r7iu r �' ri i fir!(1/ � � �/rrf �r/ r r J��/al? r ��r�. I u � ran !i rr/d r r �` � r r ~R•u �' ��ri,�iy�/a„h// �, %�d ��'/����V/'✓t` �//o//l/il!� ,, � �✓ �r .fid, ��d�y rr / r r ,/i0 /�/,e, cr i///r rr d. a r � rw Phil above Salmon Hole, Diego at California Park„ Chico CBC byAndyTomaselli Chico CBC by Mary Muchowski We had GREAT weather for the Oroville CBG, which was held on December 38th and we observed 120 species! The avasun- common common birds of the day were reed crossbills found by the new birder in town, Ross Schaefer. We got Break news coverage from Action News Now, the Chico Enterprise-Recordand the OroviHe Mercury-Register as two crews came out to hang out with Mary Muchowski, Skip Augur and Jim Thomas. The reporters were hap- py a ,; �I(r /!rJ✓/� i%1 ;`'ll rrr/% g p p py to see bald eagles and tundra swansfair!y close Lip as they flow right over our heads.. too quick to eta Dad shot with the Damara 9 ( cl g g though), Thanks again to Gaylord Grams for organizing this count and all the participants! Canada Geese on forebay, CJroville CBC by Mary Muchowski 5 BRODIFACOUM A DEATH SENTENCE FOR RODENTS, RAPTORS, WILDLIFE AND PETS by Jamie Acker Bainbridge island, WA0 . n July 1 2416 1 banded a recently fledged female barred owl (Stfix varia). She was one of two nestlings from a well-estab- lished pair near Port Madison, on Bainbridge Island, WA and was part of my ongoing 20+year study of barred owls. I research their breeding success, mate fidelity, territorysize diet longevity, and dispersion. Young owls have a high mortality rate, so after I band them" i rarely hear of them again, and if I do,it is because one has been reported dead, usually from a vehicular collision. This bird proved no exception, except that the cause of death was a new one for me; Brodifacoum. Because the bird was banded, I was �aP contacted by the USDA Forest Service in Corvallis, OR where a necropsy had been performed at Oregon State University. Expo- 1k,.P. sure to the rodenticide Brodifacoum was identified, and appeared Jamie Acker banding an owl to be the cause of death; hemorrhage was observed in several major organs.The owl was otherwise in good condition, and there Please, help put out the word that rodenticides kill more than ro- were no significant injuries or trauma apparent that might have re- dents. Safe alternatives include single-and multiple-entrance snap sulted in mortality. traps and electrocuting traps. For more information about safer alternatives to rodenticides, google '"Raptors Are the Solution"and Young barred owls typically disperse from their natal area in Au- "The Hungry Owl Project."" Also see Audubon's online magazine gust, and this bird was no different. However, what was unusual article "Poisons Used to Kill Rodents Have Safer Alternatives„ a was the distance she flew. Her body was discovered in Mapleton, second generation of ultra-potent rodenticides creates ,first-class Oregon,on November 0, 2417, some 260+miles from where I had crisis for people, pets,: and wildlife,"(Jan-Feb 2413). banded her. She was 16 months old, and would have nested this spring. ABOUT TliETI Jamie Acker is a member of Kitsap Audubon in Washington. We Brodifacoum (d-CON is one of many trade names) is highly lethal began banding and installing telemetry on Marred owls on Bain- to mammals and birds, and extremely lethal to fish. it is commonly bridge )eland in 2000. He updates me with their population treads sold and purchased by home owners,businesses and farmers who and individual stories. When he emailed me the account of this are concerned with rodent problems.As an anticoagulant poison;a young owl, I invited him to share it to our newsletter. There are poisoned animal will suffer progressively worsening internal bleed many indiscriminate victims to rat poison including at feast two ing, leading to shock, loss of consciousness, and eventually death. mates of New 'York City's famed. Ped-tailed hawk, Pale Male. You It has one of the highest risks to secondary poisoning to birds and' can.....see his documentary on YouTube,`.`The Legend of Pale Malr;."> mammaNs so the predators that prey on rodents are at risk, as are http;JJfreo.fu 111engthmovie.onii nelplay.php?moviet91649158=AL pet dogs and cats. 6 Local C14i­mpter Membership Application Aease Join ! 1_ L YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP ALTACAL AUDUBON 'SOCIETY CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK. Racal Audubon Society (AAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society.AAS is a separately incorporated non-profit OTHER ALTACAL ACTIVITIES organization with a for°ul chapter membership. 100% of rnember- ship clues goes to support local projects and activities.AAS is an Major sponsor, participant and fiscal agent for the annual all-volunteer organization that conducts all of its programs with SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL unpaid staff. Founder and ongoing supporter of the We offer regularly schedUled"field trips that fooa,is on birds and bird CHIC O CREEK NATURE CENTER habitats;membership programs with media presentations on birds Sponsor of the City of Chico and related topic 7;ra bi-monthly newsletter„the White-tailed Kite; OXIDATION PONDS WILDLIFE'�SANCTUARY website www.alta.cal.org/;and advocacy to protect and conserve Leading annual CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS local habitats as well as:special projects and programs. in Chico and Oroville for over 55 years Submission of Articles Focusing oil Our YOUTH through to the Edits- -a.1Ced Rite SCHOLARSHIPS and ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Articles for publication should be sent to Carla Resnick Advocating for BIRDS and WILDLIFE by email to c;arlaresnickLe comcast.net when they are threatened on the first of the month, prior to the next issue. Conducting surveys and participating in THANKS to all of You who contribute regularly by sending in reports, AVIAN RESEARCH PROJECT'S articles and photos for the WhRte-tailed Kite---Carla„ Editor. SOCIETYALTACAL AUDUBON MEMBERSHIPL TI . $25 'Basic $35 Family $15 Student/Low Income $50 Sponsors $191 Sustaining $ Additional Donation Name Address City State Zip Phone email Save Paper! Send me an email only F-1 New Member F7, Renewal Sift email erne Altacal in Action Alerts I would be interested in volunteering to help Gash ] Check Date IMPORTANT: Membership in Altacal Audubon Society does not include membership in the National Audubon Society.We encourage you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbying efforts. To join the National Audubon Society contact them at their website www.audubon.org/ Please make check payable to ALTACAL AU'DU'BON SOCIETY Mail to AAS, RC . SOX 3571, CHICO, CA 95927-3671 ALTACALAU:DUBON SOCIETY, INC Requested BUTTI, In-home Delivery Non-Profit Organization POST OFFICE BOX 3671 ADKM'S'PATION 1/30-2/1 2018 U.S. Postage CHICO, CA 95927-3671 JAN 0183-Day Window PAID 3 0 2 Permit No. 86 OROVILLE,C,6120XMIA Chico, Calif 95927 Do you have a birding story to share? Check out our Membership page on how to submit articles. Issue Due Date April/May Mar 1 CURRENT RESIDENT June/July May I August/Sept July 1 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Oct/Nov Sept 1 Dec/Jan Nov1 25 COUNTY CENTER DR. Feb/Mar Jan 1 OROVILLE, CA 95965 CAL AudUtN)tl FIC&A H—H ALTACAL PROGRAMS White-taiCedXite FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 yr DATES TO REMEMBER Feb 8 0xidafion Ponds Feb 10 Black Butte Lake and Tehama County Feb 14 Altacal Audubon Board Meeting Feb "19 Program:Winter Habitat February 19 March 19 Feb 24 Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Winter Habitat Eagles of Homer Requirements and Use by Alaska Mar 3 Sutter County Birding the Western Burrowing Mar 14 Altacal Audubon Board Meeting Owl in the Northern Sacramento Valley, CA Mar 17 Table Mountain Bird and Flower Walk Mar 19 Program: Eagles of Homer Alaska For updated information check the Altacal website ALTACAL altacal.org Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER protection of native birds and their habitats through education, research and environmental activities.