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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNewsletter of the Altacal Audubon Society - June-July 2018 .t � 4 \ !fid �4 G ; NEWSLETTER OF THE ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties of Northern California JUNE . JULY 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 IS HELD ON THE SECOND MONDAY AND IN JULY AND AUGUST THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS. Grebe It 2017—Continued ry s 2018 Dawn Garcia and Steve Overlock F � i x i r P , t w ,G m Western Grebe on crest in tubs at the Afterbay Source:Unknow(let us know if it is yours) n April, Altacal hosted the 2017 Achernophorus Grebe annual documented, so that is good nesting success. We continue to meeting with Redbud Audubon and Audubon CA, and information work with CA Department of Water Resources (DWR) and CA from our partner-in-grebes Plumas Audubon.We shared the grebe Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), conducting Afterbay breeding success 2017 at the Thermalito Afterbay and Clear Lake, surveys. Altacal's treasurer Cris Cline joined them on each of the and plans for continued monitoring through 2020. The Afterbay nine surveys and at times using the mud buddy boat purchased by grebes were not inspired to breed last year, maybe because of Altacal, to survey shallow nest coves.Thank you! high winter water levels and/or low prey base (fish). However, Continues on page 4 out of 20 nesting attempts in a new nesting area, IS young were ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Ins ide 23oard of Directors Table Mountain Wildflowers and Birds Hike P. 6 President STEVE OVERLOCK (530) 828-0966 step hen overlook'@sbcglobal.net Vice President KEN SOBON , °1 (530)592-3350 '. ksobon@thermal'ito.org Secretary CRIS CLINE cclinel028@gmail.com Treasurer VACANT Birds and Blooms Hike in Oroville Membership CATHY CARTER Alone. the Feather River P. (530)342-9152 scarab4ever(Pgmail.com Publications/ CARLA RESNICK Newsletter (530) 343-6929 a carlaphoto@gmall.com Publicity/ WAYLAND AUGUR Web Site (530) 519-4724 wba@acm.org . Field Trips MATT FORSTER Girls in Ocean Science Conference P. 8 (619') 347-2269 findforster@yahoo.com Sanctuary I KEN SOBON Lands/Refuge (530) 592-3350 �,�s `�' r;.. ksobonCtherrnalito.org Conservation SCOTT HUBER Co-chair (530) 321-5579 ,a wmscotthuber@grnaiLcorn ,r Education VACANT Programs JENNIFER PATTEN F; (530) 345-9356 jpchico@sbcglobal.not And More.... Sac NWR VACANT Bookstore Director.- KATHRYN HOOD Board Meetings at-Large (530) 321-2852 5:15p•m. verdant44@gmail.com 2nd Wednesday of each month Director- DAWN ( ARCI'A Altacal Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival Office at-Large (530) 513-1785 635 Flume Street, Chico avifan59Cgmail.com AltacalAudubon Members are welcome to attend Director- MARY MUCHOWSKI at-Large (530)228-0625 ..— mmuohowski earthIink.net Direotor- MARILYN GAMETTE Altacal Audubon Emeritus The next time you shop online,set your shopping cart to Amazon Smile, and support Altacal Audubon with your purchase. 2 A Couple Updates a Solar nks: Here is the latest on the status of the MBTA, Ten Distinguished From the President Senators have stood up to keep the MBTA intact: Incidental Steve Overlock and intentional deaths of birds must remain illegal.This 100-year Steve Overlockold 00-year- old Act is credited with saving the Wood Duck and the Snowy Plover from extinction. The rollbacks to the MBTA that the legislature is considering now could leave 950 species of birds, including common birds we see in our backyards, 'left with fewer or no protections', if you have not already, please consider going to the Audubon Action Center and,well, 'take action', it's a matter of life,or potential extinction. Stateside, Altacal Audubon Society has followed California Audubon's lead in supporting a YES vote on Prop 68 (California Clean Water and Safe Parks Act) on the June 5th ballot. It is a large bill with an even larger agenda but it is a Conservation Bill. It will put in place stakeholders to encourage the support of wildlife and their habitats and it will promote efforts for healthy water for all of Californians for many generations to come. It has support from both Parties possibly because, to paraphrase from CA Audubon webpage, 'funding for vital conservation programs like these have run out in recent years'. We encourage you to Photo by S, King support Proposition 68. Locally, we are very pleased to support a conservation effort involving solar energy. Alternative Energy Systems (AES) will provide a discount to anyone who purchases a rooftoo solar unit frorn AES and mentions they learned about AES solar 41""IN i SUNPOWER" from Altacal Audubon.Altacal 11 Intl as the, referrer will also be U, N,nsidenlial rwgnona� 2017 Dr,,Aki of the Year compensated. We see this as a win for the Birds, a win for the consumer, and a win for Altacal. It is hoped that as You shop around for the best fit for your solar needs you will consider this generous and beneficial offer. Please contact any Board member or Alternative Energy Systems for more information. A big thanks to all who responded to Altacal's Annual Membership Renewal letter. So far we have received nearly $5000.00 in membership renewals. This will go a long way to keep Altacal promoting and supporting our mission statement and the issues you find critical. Photo by S. King 3 Grebe It , Continued Surveyscontinued from 1 DWR Grebe counts for the�2��ratlt��artla erl�ra 2013-�'0 ,z, Survey Young productivity Year Nurnber of adultscounted produced Your /adult' 2003 1.56 too 0}.64 2004 225 6 0.03 20)0)5 319 230 01.72 20016 295 97 01.32 2017 33 0 0. 2008 3010 35 01.11 2009 3664 191 01.52 20101 452* 262 01.57 2011 5201 182 01.35 20112 425* 132 01.31 20113 425 164 01.39 20114 525 too 01.19 2015 5014 95 01.15 2016 426** 73 OA7 20117 2012 ° 01.017 average of six production surveys average of two production. surveys Average since 20013 average of matte production surveys 0.32 Just as important as collecting data,the public.are becoming more on the lake peaking in late July and early August. Hundreds of aware of the Grebes and their amazing behaviors from courtship nests in the channels were still active when last checked on 18 to floating nests to babies carried on backs. Our Board Members August; no colonies were present in the lake on 15 September. and Altacal Members continued our grebe outreach to schools, at The breeding,season was more prolonged than in previous years, community talks and boothing events, with more than 4 months of continuous breeding at Anderson We will continue to work with DWR and DFW,conducting Afterbay Marsh. surveys for at least two more years. A brood survey by motorboat at the end of the 'breeding season, In comparison, Clear Lake which always has more grebes on 15 September, recorded 4,560 adult grebes, of which 80,8°6° than the Afterbay, reported their most successful nesting since were Western Grebes (n = 1,443)„ 42.1% were Clark's Grebes monitoringin 2012! A summa was (n= 931) and 2,186 were unidentified. We counted 599 juvenile (Redbsummary provided by Floyd Hayes grebes within the transect area, of which 59,3% were Western impressive! From Hloyd:Audubon) who monitors the grebe dynamics. It's quite Grebes (n= 355) and 40.7% were Clark's Grebes (n= 244). Our mpres ratio of 0.25 juveniles per adult(0.25 for Western Grebes,0.26 for "We estimated a total of 5„075 nests in 11 colonies,of which 70.0% Clark's Grebes) was our highest, greatly exceeding our previous were attended by Western Grebes and 30.0% by Clark's Grebes high ratio of 0,16 in 2014.” (n = 249 nests). Most of the nests (86.8%) were in channels of Interestingly, both lakes had high water elevations, but for Clear either the northern tributaries of Clear Lake (43,4%„ n = 2,205) or the outlet of Clear Lake (43.3%;: n = 2,198), with only 13.2% Laker that made for the best nesting habitat in the shallower in Clear 'Lake In= 672.). Nearly all of the nests were shore nests channels, not the open water of the lake. Far The Afterbay, higher (99.7°/x; n=5,062); the remaining were open water nests (0.3°6°; waters hindered pondweed from emerging to the surface until n= 13) placed up to 150 m from shore, later in the season.This would only impact grebes from nesting in the more open water, and unlikely impacted the bulrush patches. Nesting began much earlier than in the previous seven breeding Grebes in the Afterbay have nested in both pondweed and bulrush, seasons. The first chick was observed on 6 May, indicating that but more recently have used mostly bulrush, which undoubtedly egg laying began prior to 13 April. The timing of nesting activity provides more protection from predators, wake and wind. On a varied among colonies, with the southwestern colonaes peaking small tour of the historical breeding coves and bulrush patches in May, the northernmost colonies peaking in June, and colonies on April 29, 2018, no nests were observed. It's still early though! 4 U��i P M1 i P4 G 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 scheduled field trips are a great way to experience a variety of birding areas, with an experienced trip leader. Occasionally "Pop-up" Birding Field Trips, that aren't listed here, will be posted on the Altacal Facebook Page (https://www.facebook. comlaitacalaudubon/) and the Altacal Audubon webpage (http://www.altacal.org). Saturday,June 2, 2018 - 7:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. 99/32) at 6 am. Bring plenty of water, a lunch and mosquito spray. BUTTE COUNTY HIGH ELEVATION BIRDING Last year we had a rattlesnake on the trail! Trip Leaders: Ross Schaefer and Matt Forster Contact: Ross Schaefer: rschaeferl @mail.csuchico.edu or We'll be getting a special tour of a less traveled portion of Matt Forster: findforster@zyahoo.com, 619-347-2269 for more Butte and Colby Meadows. Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot information and interest in joining. (closest to Hwy 99) at 7:00am, caravan up to the Butte Meadows Snowrnobile Park,and walk in to Colby Meadows. We'll be looking July 15-Sunday for Northern Goshawk, White-headed Woodpecker, Pacific Wren, HIGH ELEVATION BIRD SEARCH Townsend's Solitaire,and Mountain Chickadee. Next,we'll head to Trip Leaders: Ross Schaefer and Matt Forster Cold Springs! Pack a lunch and bring plenty of water! We should Enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon exploring Butte Meadows and be back by Spm, but you can go and come as you please if you surrounding high elevations. Birds of interest will be Black-backed would like to drive your own car. Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Contact: Ross Schaefer: rschaeferl(LDmail.csuchico.edu or Gray Jay,Mountain Chickadee,and multiple species of flycatchers. Matt Forster: f i ndforste r @yahoo.com, 619-347-2269 for more There will also be a chance to see Mountain Quail, American information and interest in joining. Dipper, and Sooty Grouse along the way. We'll meet at the Chico Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, 2018 •7:00 a.m Park and Ride, west lot (Hwy99/32) at lam. Please pack a lunch PLASKETT MEADOWS CA MPOUT as we won't be heading back to Chico until 3-4pm, Trip Leaders: Mary Muchowski and Matt Forster Contact: Ross Schaefer: rschaeferl@m,ail.csuchico.edu or Joln us for a weekend of camping and birding as we head to Matt Forster: findforster@yahoo.com, 619-347-2269 for more Plaskett Meadows in Glenn County! There should be excellent information and interest in joining. high elevation birding and we'll even take a ride around at night Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 27-29, 2018 to do some owling. Bring your tent and sleeping gear, food, water, CAMP-,OUT AT LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK and whatever else you like to take camping with you!Meet at Chico Trip Leader:Jennifer Patten Park & Ride west lot (closest to Hwy 99) at 7:00am on Saturday By early May most of our spring migrants have arrived from Central and we'll caravan to Plaskett Meadows and bird along the way. We have enjoyed the birding and camping at the Lost Creek Group Contact: Mary Muchowski: mmuchowski9earthlink.corn or Campground in Lassen VNP over the years and we'll be doing Matt Forster: findforster@yahoo.com, 619-347-2269 for more it again with the Wintu, Redbud and Redwood Region Audubon information. Chapters joining us. Group Camp Site #4 and 45 has been Sunday, June 24, 2018 - 7:00 a.m.— 1:00 p.m. reserved for the nights of Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28. THERMALITO AFTERBAY KAYAKING People can either camp at Lost Creek or drive up for either or Trip Leader: Matt Forster both Saturday and Sunday. Campers can arrive at the campsite Join LIS for a sun soaked trip to the Thermalitc,Afterbay. We'll be at a time of their choosing on Friday afternoon, We will bird putting in at the Wilbur Rd. boat ramp and kayak around Larkin Manzanita Lake, Hat Creek, Summit Peak areas and the Cove and adjacent coves and water. Our target bird will be the rest of the itinerary is open and will depend on the interests Least Bittern,but we'll be sure to see Clark's and Western Grebes, of-the participants. Day trippers will meet at the camp site at Great-tailed Grackles, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Common 8:30am. Lost Creek has primitive facilities—pit toilets and no Loon. Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and water for the electricity, but potable water is available. Group size is limited. trip!There are two kayaks that Altacal will let someone borrow, so Contact:Jennifer Patten, 321-6185 or jpchico@sbcglobal.net. please contact me if you would like to join. Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot(closest to Hwy 99) at 7:00am,caravan to Wilbur Rd. Friday, Saturday and Sunday,August 3-5, 2018 boat ramp. We should be done by 1 pm. CAMPING AT JUNIPER LAKE Contact: Matt Forster: f i ndforster@ yahoo,com,619-347-2269 for Trip Leaders: Gaylord Grams and Joseph Oneil more information. Join us at Juniper Lake for a fun-filled weekend hiking, camping, July 8- Sunday and birding.We'll be hiking Mt. Harkness on Saturday and it's sure FEATHER FALLS to turn up some great high elevation birds. Community dinners Trip Leader: Ross Schaefer and Matt Forster on Friday and Saturday night so make sure to bring enough Feather Falls Loop Trail is a 7,6 mile moderately trafficked loop food and make sure to bring enough water. Please show up on trail located near Oroville that features a beautiful waterfall. At Friday afternoon/evening or even Saturday. Most likely we'll grab the falls, we'll be able to see the splendid Black Swifts as they a site around the first sites near the Iron Ranger and information sore throughout the skies. Along the trail we will be looking for board. We'll be camping at 6,700 feet so bring warm evening Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Canyon Wrens, Pacific Wrens, clothes. If you'd like to bring a kayak, you can. Target birds will Golden- crowned Kinglets, Band-tailed Pigeons and many more be Sooty Grouse, Warblers and Black-backed Woodpeckers. mid-elevation birds. Because this trail can get pretty hot during the Contact: Gaylord Grams, gg2canoe@yahoo.com or Joseph summer days,we'll leave the Chico Park& Ride on west lot (Hwy Oneil,josephoneit@earthling.net to reserve your spot! 5 Table Mountain Wildflowers and Birds Hike, March 17, 2018 by Mary Muchowski, Director at Large, Trip Leader Uespite the threat of rain, nine of us loaded up our rain gear Oust in case) and headed up to Table Mtn. On the drive up, along Durham-Pentz Rd,some of our group saw a flock of about 40 Long- Billed Curlews foraging in the grasslands. Diego Bustamante and his father Rudy met us up at the parking lot, and before everybody got there, Diego already had heard and seen three Lawrence's Goldfinches and a couple of Brown-headed Cowbirds. While there were riot too many birds up on Table Mtn, we did get some very dose and great looks at a couple of singing Rock Wrens and some beautiful Lark Sparrows! It turned out to be a wonderful day with lots of pretty, blooming wildflowers along the hike out to Phantom Falls. We saw a flock of American: Pipits, numerous and scattered Horned Larks,Savannah Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks, Diego's young, competent ears were the only ones that picked up a Canyon Wren at the Phantom Falls overlook. The usual suspects spotted flying over the plateau included a Liaqr Northern Harrier,Red-tailed Hawks,Turkey Vultures,American Kestrels and Common Ravens. One unusual bird flying over and calling was a Greater Yellowlegs! Some of the group got good looks at the Say's Phoebe perched on a fencepost for us. Western Bluebirds were flying back and forth from the oak trees to the grasslands, and Anna's Hummingbirds were visiting the flowers for nectar. Some of the beautiful wildflowers included Purple Owl's Clover Phantom Falls (a brilliantly pink/purple flower), purple lupines, yellow goldfields, orange Foothill and Frying Pan Poppies, yellow Hog Fennel, and stunning Canyon Larkspur (which you had to lean over the cliff edge by Phantom Falls overlook to see), Ali in all, it was a great day to take a hike for wildflower viewing and bird watching!Thanks to all the participants for being such troopers! Lark Sparrow Rock wren ,A', np ; J5 Altacal group with Trip Leader Mary Muchowski, at Phantom Falls Purple Owl's Clover Canyon Larkspur 6 Birds and Blooms Hike in Oroville Along the Feather River April 21, 2018 by Dawn Garcia, Director at Large, Trip Leader We hiked and we hiked, 5.5 miles along the Dan Beebe trail up to the 727'Sycamore Hill peak and down along the Brad Freeman trail through the infamous train tunnel, which sidles the Feather River. Seven of us; Liz, Ross, Paul and Sue, and Ruth from Chico, and Diane and me from Oroville. It's a beautiful and quiet trail; we only passed two dog walkers and a group of six equestrians on a Saturday morning, Blooms were fabulous dominated by Ithuriel's spear, twining brodiaea, fairy lanterns, Ali blue dicks,white and blue lupine,and Indian paintbrush. Dudleya bloomed on rocks and steep faces. Sticky monkey flower was starting to pop. And of course there,were the birds!We documented 65 species including FOS (for me) Wilson's warbler, black-throated gray warbler, warbling vireo and dusky flycatcher. Other main singers were o,range-crowned warbler, Hutton's vireo, Pacific-sloped flycatcher, spotted towhee, house and Bewick's wren, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Raptors included adult bald eagle, and osprey on a nest, Cooper's hawk, Red- shouldered and red-tailed hawks and American kestrel. We spotted Forster's terns, American white pelican and white- throated swift overhead. The Feather River highlights were green and great-blue heron, common mergansers,and a pair of wood ducks and hooded mergansers. One of our favorite sighting was a tiny shrew(maybe Trowbridge?) wondering along the trail and then disappearing into the grass. aryvuorPgN A! Traindisaster:https://www,youtube.com/watcli?v=hJ8UmSKJfFO Sycamore Hill: httpsJHgoo.gl/maps/FKR36WvAxdv Fun Ways to Support Our Science Community AItacal recently had the pleasure of supporting two wonderful by Melinda evil science events. In February, Altacal was one of several local businesses and organizations which provided awards to students who participated the annual Chico Science Fair. 700 students participated, exhibiting their scientific explorations and discoveries, The nils ranged from kindergarteners to those in twelfth grade. Using the Scientific Method, the students answered many questions. Their experiments ranged from: what tools make the best bubbles,to a multi-year study of the impact of neonicotinoids (systemic insecticides) on bees. The Science Fair organizers provided thorough rubric feedback to every participant, to enhance the learning experience, The goal of the event, as always,was to encourage a love of science. N Then on a beautiful, sunny spring day, Ntacal participated in the April 14th March for Science on the Chico State campus. Altacal's booth at the Chico Science Fair Our booth offerd a hands-on, habitat building exercise. We encouraged childeren to create habitat features for local species into a 'felt'garden. It was fun to discover surprising garden connections with the kids as they learned that brush piles can be nesting spots IOU for quail, or that a dead log provides habitat for beneficial insects. or There were, activities for science lovers of ail ages. Many of the .-Al Methodrrrprrs rAdu '16trodlu Other booths offered fun, hands-on science activities. Speechesri; rah W,V were g�ven and, of course, there was a march through town. The event was designed as a call to support scientific research and evidence-based policies. Investigating Neonicotinoids booth at the Chico Science Fair 7 Girls in Ocean Science Conference March 2018 by Dawn Garcia, Director at Large Earlier this year, I was visiting my mom in Dana Point, southern My presentation in the ship's galley was a cozy venue to share California, and walking in the Dana Point Harbor when this our work; that AAS had been awarded a grant to monitor the sign, "Girls in Ocean Science Conference"caught my eye. breeding population of grebes on the Thermalito Afterbay, because 1,1104111, of the impact that oil spills had on grebes and other birds in the P®RIU1,911,11, Pacific Ocean. I told that many of the grebes spend the winter on 71I. the ocean, and then fly to inland lakes to nest. I explained that oil companies were required to give some funds to the conservation for birds impacted by spills,and to be aware that new drilling on the Pacific was being proposed. HELP PROIECT I took this opportunity to ask if I could represent Altacal Audubon OUR WILDLIFE AT Society to discuss ocean birds, Happily, I was invited and presented INE T 'Ar.111 AFHERMALITO TERDAY our Acehn7ophorous(Western and Clark's) grebe work in Orovifle and how ft relates to the Pacific Ocean population of grebes. The women scientists were diverse in their research, presenting ocean chemistry and processes, tide pool physics and animals, macro invertebrates, and marine mammals. Our grebe work was an PLEASE DISPOSE Of fir excellent compliment! FISHING LIKE AND TRASH PROPERLY Six scientists were stationed in the Institute's lab, which included the outside tide pools. One of our signs at the Afterbay and Title slide for my presentation One of the favorite At the same time I spoke about plastic and fishing line as another research subjects human-caused impact to grebes and other water birds was a red octopus brought in by Dr For the field portion we moved to the bow, the girls paired up;one Jennifer Hofmeister of with binoculars and one with a clipboard and data sheet I created the Scripps Institution with typical birds we might see. The captau,n navigated to a bait of Oceanography. dock where the feathered freeloaders loafed for the afternoon and She described fished off the deck.We hardly needed binoculars but it was a good the cephalopods' lesson to examine close up field marks like the incredibie bill of the intelligence and brown pelican and the wispy whiskers and Nue eyes of the Brant's natural history, cormorant. living in kelp forests and predating on .......................... crustaceans and Red Octopus brought in by Dr. Jenny mollusks in tide pools. Hofmeister "Jenny" allowed some handling of the octopus, but near the end of the conference lie o 40"K bit one of the assistants, showing his intolerance of the all day airy t ni r, event! Dr. Hofmeister has an incredibly fun website too: httpJ/ jennyhof mei ster.corn/research-octopus/ I was stationed on the Institute's research ship the Sea Explorer captained by marine mammal expert Mike Bursk and marine mammal scientist, Dr. Stelle from the University of Redlands. Four groups of 20 girls rotated through in two half day sessions. The rnammals,did not disappoint:we had great views of two fin whales with blows as tall as a man.These second-largest mammals (after the blue whale)are typically further out at sea, it was a spectacular Source:Internet sight!A pod of four gray whales, bottlenose dolphins and California We tallied the individuals on and around the dock and submitted sea lions topped off the mammal portion of the day. our checklist to Ebird so the girls could understand the value of accurate data and citizen science. One of our sister Chapters, Sea Birds at sea included brown pelicans, double-crested and and Sage Audubon, tent us 10 pairs of binoculars to use for this Brandt's cormorants, red-breasted m,ergansers, a blurry flyby event, thank you! sooty shearwater, and, a raft of western and Clark's grebes— perfect! continues- 8 Tricolored I it iConservation "car ThreatenedSpecies by Scott Huber, Conservation Chair f Racal Audubon Society volunteers have been participating in Tricolored Blackbird Surveys for a number of years in an effort to help biologists determine their rate of population decline. Those surveys, along with similar efforts throughout the state have prompted the California.State Department of Fish and Wildlife to increase protections for the species by officially listing them as a Threatened Species effective April 2018. Tricolored Blackbird populations have dropped 55 percent over the past decade, in the 1930s there were millions of the birds in the state. Today there are fewer than 178,000. The birds nest in huge colonies — picture 20,000 birds filling the sky. They prefer wetlands, but often make grain fields Wyke home because of habitat loss and r climate change. That's a problem for farmers who use the crops for feed. One colony of lots of birds altogether can lose their reproductive output if a Tricolored Blackbird photo by Liam Huber field is harvested that they are nesting in. In a report by Ezra David Romero on those same types of protections are being Capitol Public Radio, Samantha Arthur undercut. In response to the listing, dairy owners with Audubon California is quoted as are actively working with Audubon saying "It's never good news to see Thank you to all of those Altacal members and the USDA's natural Resources a species go on the list, but this is an who have volunteered their time to help Conservation Service to allow the birds opportunity to bring folks together to with this effort. With listing comes greater to nest where they want, if they choose address the threats,"Arthur adds. "We're protection and hopefully a reversal of the a farmer's field, funds are available for seeing California really step up to protect current population trend for this unique replacement feed. its wildlife, when on the national level species. Girls i rce Conference continued Ebird checklist Great Egret 1 Luna Point Harbor, Orange, California, OS Snowy Egret 3 �f Alar 17,2018 101:00 AM- 12:00 PM Osprey 1 perched on The Pilgrim, Protocol:Traveling tall ship 1.9 mile(s) California Gull 3 Comments: Ebird lust for the Girls in Ocean gull sp. 5 Science conference at the Ocean Institute, Flock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4 We were on the Sea Explorer counting birds American Crow 5 from the Institute to a bait dock in the harbor ,,��ah�a/fit, 11 species(-r1 other taxa) View this checklist online at https://ebii,d.org/view/checklist/ Red-breasted Merganser 4 544325515 Brandt's Cormorant 4 This report was generated ' Double-crested Cormorant 7 automatically by eBird v3 , Brown Pelican 8 (httpafebird.org) " Great Blue Heron 2 Source:Internet 9 REDouD, Fwwe, LNE Rwvcm THE AR0J_Nff, ' ZPAMS, Over the past six years, Redbud Audubon Altacal became interested because Becki had watched volunteer Robert Patton has built and installed from her lakeside home a distressed Canada goose, 21 fishing lune recycle bins at shoreline public parks crippled by tangled fishing line wrapped around the and popular fishing resorts around Clear Lake; legs. The geese could take only one or two steps at a, By removing discarded fishing line from the lake time because both legs were bound together, and the or shoreline, this recycling effort protects birds line was deeply inibedded. Becki contacted CA Fish and wildlife from injury or death caused by tangled Wildlife and then worked with the warden to cut off as monofilament fishing line. much of the line as they could. They treated the Each bin costs about $80 for the PVC pipe and wounds and released the goose back into the lake. other materials and the $1,680 expense for Becki continued to monitor the goose. It likely has 2:1 bins came from Redbud's -Grebe Conservation some nerve damage in its legs, bort it appeared to be Project, lunched by flue .uckenbaek Council. doing well, eating normally, and is mobile. Redbud volunteers first recognized the need f � for these bras when 'tlucy attendeda grebe project meeting where they witnessed frenaq rlaore a YIV "fui Western Grebe struggling unsuccessfully to free itself from discarded line caught in its Gill and foot. p���, �;. a recycle Because rshrra lune rs not baode 'ra a'� e t c how Tiedbud has helped Altacal Audubon h bins have a .additi<anal value beyond protecting Chico to build six fishing life recycle bins that wildlife, Volunteers empty the loins, and the Altacal will install to protect wildlife at California fishing line is � ,w collected and mailed Park Lake. In early January, Altacal members to a manufacturer Dr. Becki Brunelli and Dawn Garcia drove to f, � �w Rob Patton's home in f:uceme, Over 'four hours, in the Midwest that incorporates it Rob worked with thein to build six biros. into new plastic products. Since ' Redbud started this '~„ project, Rob Patton / w has sent 20 pounds i of fishing line to be 18uquzlannitaanarra re-nirrr:lufeucturecl. 1 The fishing line r _ m Al recycle burns are a practical V4 gay fuer Audubon chapters to protect lords and wildlife wherever f fishing 1s a popular �o+ � r"ecr"eational activity. 10, Local Chapter --- Membership Application Aeasejoin us! ALTACAL YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP r"U ICl0..7 i:71;DN1 U4',i(4i.) ALTACALAUDUBON 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 AwLTACAL ACTIVITIES organization with a local chapter membership. 100%of member- ship dues 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 focus on birds and bird CHICO CREEK NATURE CENTER habitats;membership programs with media presentations on birds Sponsor of the City of Chico and related topics;a bi-monthly newsletter,the White-tailed Kite; OXIDATION PONDS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY website wvww.altacal.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 on our YOUTH through to the hitt-taLCedXite SCHOLARSHIPS and ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Articles for publication should be sent to Carla Resnick Advocating for BIRDS and WILDLIFE by email to carlaphotoggmail.com 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 PROJECTS articles and photos for the White-tailed Kite—Carla, Editor. lesser Californiam. A $30 l n Basic ] $40 1l Household $15 rmer carr n Student/Low Income aCarn pm,nne 1 $50 i'Sponsor sloo falcon Sustaining ..`i $—.-- Soar Higher with Additional Donation Name Address City __........___d___.. _..........__... State __®_... Zip Phone _ _.......m..........__-... _ email ....._._____ Save Paper! Send me an email only New Member [ ] Renewal Gift email me Altacal in Action Alerts I would be interested in volunteering to help ! Cash {J Check Date IMPORTANT: Membership in Altacal Audubon Society does nkat include membership in the National Audubon Society.We encourage you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbying efforts. To join the National Audubon Society contact them at their website www.audubon.org/ Please make check payable to ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Mail to AAS, P.O. BOX 3671, CHtICO, CA 95927-3671 ALTACALAUDUBON SOCIETY, INC Requested I " 1), Non-Profit Organization POST OFFICE BOX 3671 In-home Dq0Vry'('(TuN I CHICO, CA 95927-3671 5/31-6/2 U.S. Postage 3-Day Win PAIDPermit No. 86 0P,ov1u.E,cALif0RNL,$ Ch,ico, Calif 95927 Do you have a birding story to share? Check out our Membership page on how to submit articles. Issue Due Date August/Sept July I CURRENT RESIDENT Oct/Nov Sept 1 Dec/Jan Nov 1 Feb/Mar Jan 1 April/May Mar 1 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS June/July May I 2S COUNTY CENTER DR. OROVILLE, CA 95965 "ALCAL TA ALTACAL CAMP-OUT Camp-out at Lassen Volcanic National Park -White-taiced Xite FRIDAY, SATURDAY& June/July 2018 S U N DAY, J U LY 27-29 DATES TO REMEMBER Birding and camping at the Lost Creek Group Campground in June 2 Butte County High Elevation Birding Lassen VNR June 9-10 Plaskett Meadows Campout June 13 Aftacal Audubon Board Meeting We will bird Manzanita Lake, Flat Creek, Summit Peak areas and June 24 Thermalito Afterbay Kayaking the rest of the itinerary is open and will depend on the interests July 8 Feather Falls of the participants. July 11 Altacal Audubon Board Meeting Seep 5 for details July 15 High Elevation Bird Search Mt Lassen at Manzanita Lake July 27-29 Camp-out at Lassen Volcanic National Park Photo by Mary Wrysinski Aug 3-5 Camping at Juniper Lake For updated information check the AOtacal website altacal.org Mid To, promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their habitats through PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER education, research and environmental activities.