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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWhite-tailed Kite - Altacal Audubon Society Newsletter 5� } i rf� �,,, .1 F, Ce ire "O�w�LZ` at NEMLETTER OF THE ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties of Northern California FEBRUARY I MARCH 2016 ALTACAL Programs Programs for the general community are normally held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.,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. "--hruary Marc, TU Monday, February 15, 2016 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2416 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature Center Chico Creek Nature Center The Surprising Benefit of WILDFIRES Birds, Ancient Palaces, Temples Wildlife Nurseries & Mosques of INDIA Presented by CHRISTY SHERR Presented by CAROLANDERSON ast year Carol Anderson ` everely burned conifer Y wi had an invitation to vis!t �� ) �{ S forests are one of theL � s ' 'r s most productive and critical a friend in India and hap- r habitats for California birds pily packed her binoculars, ` and wildlife, comparable camera and a copy of the or better than even late- Princeton field guide, Birds succession or"old growth" of India.Although the friend Ej interest in birds, tch- had no j forest.Large, dense pa � g es of standing dead trees she experienced new birds are preferred by a host of from purple sunbirds to plants, insects, mammals, Indian Hornbills at every and birds such as Black-backed Woodpeckers and Spotted Owls. stop. These stops included Surprisingly,that includes even many of our most threatened and Delhi, Chandigarh (capital endangered species. Come find out more about why so many of the Punjab and Haryana), species of wildlife choose burned areas to raise their young. Jaipur(the pink city of Raja- sthan),in Uttarakhand at the Christy Sherr is a retired National and State Park Ranger, cur- Rajaji wildlife refuge and holy city of Rishikesh. rently working as a field biologist and Education Coordinator for the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute. She is a past Not only did she see new birds in many of the parks and back president of the Sierra Foothills Audubon Chapter,and is proud yards,she saw ancient palaces,Hindu temples,Sikh gurdwaras, that her ten year old daughter became a birder in a burned forest! Jain temples, some of the earliest mosques in India and many christysherr@johnmuirproject.org www.johnmuirproject.org wonderful colorful people. Elephant at Amber Fort by Carol Anderson Christy and daughter walk in burned forest by Maya Khosla ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY -M-arCh (continued from page l.) Caro!Anderson taught at Oroville High for 27 years.Although BOL�YdO f Directors her initial degree was biology there were a lot of years of math President STEVE OVERLOCK and physical science. 530 828-0966 In 2012 when she re- stephenoverlock@sbcgloba1.net F '' tired, she returned to � I€ Vice President KEN SOBON r her interest in biology 530 592-3350 and the natural world, ksobon@the rmalito.or " '` �- 9 became a birder and Secretary VACANT _; joined Altacal. Treasurer/ LEANN MCCONNELL Finance 530 893-4703 g leannmc2006@sbcglobal.net Membership CATHY CARTER 530 342-9152 scarab4ever@gmail.com Publications/ DENISE DEVINE Newsletter 530 345-8444 BIRDS AND BEANS dsrdevine@hotmail.com BEST COFFEE FOR BIRDS, PEOPLE, THE PLANET Publicity/ WAYLAND AUGUR Dto oyou like ourcertified shade-grown coffee.Would you like Web Site 519-4724 continue to see it sold at program meetings and special wba@acm.org events? If so, we need you! Unless someone takes over the Field Trips MATT FORSTER ordering, marketing, selling and tracking of our coffee sales, 619 347-2269 we,who enjoy this delicious coffee,will have to order it online findforster@yahoo.com and pay shipping costs.Currently shipping costs are covered. Sanctuary/ KEN SOBON This could be a fun hobby for you. Please let LeAnn or Steve Lands/Refuge 530 592-3350 know if this interests you. leannmc2006@sbcglobal.net. ksobon @ the rmalito.org Conservation DAWN GARCIA Co-chair 872-2165 GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT avifan59@gmail.com FEBRUARY 12- 15, 201$ Education VACANT BBC was the first online citizen-science project to collect ProgramsJENNIFER PATTEN Gdata on wild birds online and to display results in near real- 345-9356 time.Since it started 18 years ago,more than 100,000 people jpchico@sbcglobal.net of all ages and walks of life have joined the 4-day count each Sac NWR LEANN MCCONNELL February to create an annual snapshot of the winter distribution Bookstore 530 893-4703 and abundance of birds. In 2015, GBBC participants in more I can n mc2006 @ s bcg lobal.net than 100 countries counted 5,090 species of birds on more than 147,000 checklists! Find out how! http://gbbc.birdcount.org/ Director- KATHRYN HOOD at-Large 321-2852 verdant44@gmail.com Director- MARILYN GAMETTE BOARD MEETINGS at-Large 343-3154 5:15 m. gamettec@aol.com 2nd Wednesday of each month Director- DEREK DUNN Altacal Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival Office at-Large 414 698-3851 635 Flume Street, Chico derekwdunn@gmaii.com Altacal Audubon Members are welcome to attend 2. from the President BY STEVE OVERLOCK P With Spring fast approaching and as we anxiously await our first of V V season sightings,we bid a fond farewell to the Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese as they journey back north.And as they leave it's worthy to offer a congratulations to all the wonderful nature lovers who helped with the 14th ANNUAL SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL.From Altacal's own Program Chair and SGF Coordinator,Jennifer Patten,and her assistant,Kathy Trevino to all the trip leaders, presenters, Steering Committee Members and helpers. What a great event,year in and year out and what a remarkable group of birders who freely,generously offer their time and talents for all of us.THANK YOU. Altacal continues a search to fill the TREASURER'S position which will be vacated in March. The primary duties involve tracking the budget and pre- paring a budget report to present at the monthly board meetings. The Treasurer picks up the mail, disburses it accordingly, makes deposits, and pays any bills received.A knowledge of Quick Books Pro is desired, but can be taught. You will forward to our CPA the fiscal year end data for tax filing. LeAnn,our current treasurer,will stay on and continue to be the liaison with the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Bookstore.Please contact LeAnn or myself if you would simply like to hear more.It is a great group of folks serving our local community in an invaluable and rewarding way.It's an important position which can be adapted to your schedule.THANK YOU for considering. Also, would like to extend a big thank you to Mary Muchowski and Gaylord Grams for hosting and compiling the Chico and Oroville Christmas Bird Counts, respectively.These are fun and educational but even more importantly,the data is used in planning and advocating conservation efforts for Birds everywhere.THANK YOU Mary and Gaylord and all who participated. [[ 3�- �s, , ;• Vii;- POWW ♦ 'M.yt .t5�. f above-Northern Pygmy Owl Chico CBC,Dec 19,2015 by Carter Moore heft-Lisa Winslow,Bonnie Morgan, Kathy Trevino,Upper Bidwell Park Chico CBC, Dec 19,2015 by Jon Aull 3. UPCOMING Girding rrs All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate. February 20, Saturday GIRDING UPPER BIDWELL PARK Trip Leader: Steve Overlock Burrowing Owl,Oroville CBC,Jan 3,2015 by Mary Muchowski This will be an easy 3 mile walk in Upper Bidwell Park. Might be a f� , little early for spring migrants but there will be plenty to see with the c Lris tmas permanent residents. Meet at Parking Lot E,just past the gun club RESULTSBIRD COUNT and then walk up to Day Camp.All birders and nature lovers are welcome, especially those just learning about birds or wanting to December 19, 2015 learn about the birds of Bidwell Park.Bring binoculars(some will be CHICO CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT available to borrow),water,and a snack.Contact Steve Overlock at 530 828-0966 or stephenoverlock@sbcglobal.net COMPILER: Mary Muchowski Thirty-one people volunteered their time to count birds far the annual Chico Christmas Bird Count.We had a bit of rain in February28, Sunday the morning hours, but the sky gradually cleared up after noon. GENETIC RESOURCE&CONSERVATION CENTER This group of birders counted 130 species and 22,474 individual ANIS OXIDATION PONDS birds!This year, instead of Varied Thrushes(had a bunch of last year).one group got 40 Red Crossbills at the Genetic Resource Trip Leaders: Mary Muchowski and Matt Forster Center,along with 10 Red-breasted Nuthatches.Diego,Bruce, Meet at Chico Park & Ride at &30am (closest to Hwy 99). We'll Leslie and Cris got an out-of-season Wilson's Warbler and a take a leisurely stroll around the Genetic Resource Center to see Ferruginous Hawk in the east of Durham area!The Upper Park what high elevation birds might still be around,then out to the Chico north folks got a White-throated Sparrow and 215 Western Wastewater Treatment Plant to look for ducks,geese,rails,bitterns, Bluebirds. Mary Wrysinski and I got an Osprey fly-over and a and shorebirds.Wear sturdy footwear(Oxi Ponds might be muddy). single Eurasian Wigeon at the Oxidation Ponds.We also got 2 We should be back to the Park&Ride by 12:30 pm. Rain cancels. Cattle Egrets foraging in a field behind Durham High School with Contact Mary (mmuchowski@earthlink.net or 228-0625) or Matt a colony of Ring-billed Gulls.In another nearby field,there were (findforster@yahoo.com)for more information. over 200 Killdeer!Victor, Ruth and Steve got a Black-chinned Hummingbird and 8 Lewis's Woodpeckers in the east of Cohasset section.Thanks to all the hardy volunteers who spent the whole day counting birds for the Audubon Society's longest March 19-20, Sat-Sun running citizen science effort(116 years)!Once again,SPECIAL FT.BRAGG thanks to the troopers that had the wet walking routes Trip Leaders: Mary Muchowski and Matt Forster We'll bird the coast looking for sea ducks(scoters,grebes,mergan- January 3, 2016 sers,harlequin ducks?)gulls,and shorebirds.We'll camp or stay in OROVILLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT a hotel on Saturday night.There are also trails around lakes and in COMPILER: Gaylord Grams wooded habitat.March is also whale-watching time!Bring binocularsO n a cold and clear day we had 28 participants.The waterfowl and scopes if you have them.Wear lots of layers forvarying weather. numbers were very good. Plus 13 raptor species, which Contact Mary (mmuchowski@earthlink.net or 228-0625) or Matt included Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks, Peregrine (findforster@yahoo.com) for more information. RSVP required by and Prairie Falcons....and thanks to the Afterbay group a Short- March 5! Rain cancels. eared Owl.....the total species count was 137. 4. Get to know YOUR FISFSERVI DLIFE SERVICE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES! by LIZ BELO-REX, Visitor Services Assistant o4 OF Till unting has been an integral part of conservation since California is taking a legislative approach to address the issue of the early 1900s, The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, lead ammunition. In 2013,Assembly Sill 711 was passed which passed in 1934 and commonly known as the Duck Stamp Act, requires the use of nonlead ammunition for all hunting anywhere raises millions of dollars annually for the Migratory Bird Conser- in California.As of July 1,2415, regulations to phase-in this law vation Fund. The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, or the have been implemented,and the law will be in full effect by July Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937, put an excise tax on all firearm 1, 2019. and ammunition purchases. This tax money goes straight to- At the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex,since July wards things such as research, surveys, and management of 1, 2015, nonlead ammunition has been required for the take of wildlife and/or habitat.These acts have raised billions of dollars any game species.This is part of the three phase implerrienta- for conservation since their creation. tion of California's nonlead ammunition law. Phase one began However, while hunting has raised funds for game species and on July 1, 2015, which requires the use of nonlead ammuni- greatly helped manage their populations, it has also been det- tion when taking all wildlife on state wildlife areas and ecologi- rimental to many species. Lead ammunition in particular has cal reserves. Phase 2, effective July 1, 2016, requires nonlead contributed to past population declines in waterfowl and upland shot when taking upland game birds with a shotgun, except for game bird species.Lead was also a major factor in putting some dove, quail, snipe, and any game birds taken on licensed game species on the Endangered Species List.The previously endan- bird clubs. Phase two also requires that nonlead shot be used gored bald eagle was negatively impacted by lead ammunition, when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals, and California condors are still dramatically affected by lead in furbearing mammals, nongame mammals, nongame birds, and their environment. any wildlife for depredation purposes.The final phase, effective July 1, 2019, will require nonlead ammunition for the taking of Lead shot for waterfowl hunting has been nationally banned by any wildlife anywhere in California. law since the early 1990s. Ingestion of.lead shot by waterfowl and bald eagles caused lead poisoning and death, which moti- Since the nationwide ban on lead shot for waterfowl hunting in vated the passing of this law. However, lead slugs or solid lead 1991, many bird populations have rebounded significantly.As of bullets still remain a hazard in the environment. Lead fragments the year 2000, one survey estimated that the ban on lead shot from these slugs still affect the California condor.These massive reduced lead poisoning deaths of Mississippi Flyway mallards birds ingest lead fragments present in carcasses left behind af- by 64%,while overall ingestion of toxic pellets declined by 78% ter hunters clean the animals they harvest.The ingested lead is in the first 5 seasons of the lead shot ban. In 2007, the bald ground up in the condor's gizzard, and enters the bloodstream, eagle was removed from the endangered species list, and the causing lead poisoning. Even with the ban on lead ammunition recovery of the California condor from the brink of near extinc- within the condor's known range, 45-95%of condors each year tion in the early 1990s has been a huge success story. Now only are positive for lead exposure.The question now remains:what continued monitoring and research will tell if current programs is California doing about this harmful pollutant in our environ- in California are succeeding in further reducing incidents of lead ment? poisoning in wild California condor populations. 5. AUDUBON'SBobcat Ranch by BY LORNA CUNKLE 0 r` y n Saturday, After leaving Bobcat Ranch, two of us crossed Highway 128 to December 5, walk along Putah Creek, which runs year-round from Lake Ber- 2015, 1 was doubly ryessa into Lake Solano. There we saw a gorgeous and very lucky: clear weather healthy looking bobcat, who had come down to the creek for a and a lottery win. In a drink of water.A short drive back toward Winters took us to Lake California Department Solano, where we saw numerous waterfowl, including herons, of Fish and Wildlife egrets,wood ducks,the common goldeneye,buff leheads,shovel- (CDFW) lottery, I had won two permits for entry into Bobcat ers, and many kinds of ducks and geese. We were amused by Ranch, a 6,800-acre property Audubon acquired in 2007. And what appeared to be a territorial fight in a large oak tree between although it rained the day before and the day after, our entry two steller's jays and two squirrels (the squirrels lost). Several day was clear. Bobcat Ranch is located in Solano County,about very tame peacocks, both gorgeous males and the more drab seven miles east of Winters on Highway 128.This working ranch females,wandered around the lake's picnic area. includes blue oak woodlands, annual wetlands, chaparral, and grasslands where cattle share space with preservation-oriented Another trip up Highway 128 is warranted because two other sites research and restoration projects.The area's blue oaks function promise good birding:Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve,a Univer- sity of California reserve twelve miles east of Winters,closed this fall due to a 2015 fire but scheduled to reopen in May 2016;and Only five people were given two permits each for birding on one of Monticello Dam on Lake Berryessa, one mile east of Stebbins only five different days during the fall of 2015 as part of CDFW's Cold Canyon.Winters is also a fun stop,with several fruit stands, Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement(SHARE) a large brewery that has live music on weekend evenings,several program. Besides opening the ranch for birding, the SHARE wineries,and a restored old-time downtown. program issues permits(yes,on days different from birding days) The new 350,000-acre Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monu- for the hunting of wild pig, waterfowl, and other upland game.A ment,created last summer by President Obama,stretches from new Bobcat Ranch lottery for 2016 spring dates will be posted on the SHARE website near the end of January.With recent rains, Putah Creek below Lake Berryessa in Solano County through spring wildflowers should be abundant this year. Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Yolo counties. Included are the popular river-rafting Cache Creek to the south and Snow Mountain Since I consider myself a novice birder, I was lucky to meet and to the north. Locals have long known what a treasure they have, hike with two ace birders from the Bay Area:photographer Sarah and since 2005 hikers have been going to the 80400t-high Zim Barsness, who posted a list of the 32 species we identified on Zim Falls in the Knoxville Ranch State Wildlife Area,now part of eBird.com,and Juan-Carlos Solis,who can identify birds as quick the new national monument.Lots of potential here for hiking and as a flash based on their calls.As we hiked a couple of miles up even more birding. Bray Canyon, we saw no owls, reputed to be abundant there, Audubon's Bobcat Ranch but we did sea quail,a cormorant,an osprey,a northern harrier, http://ca.audubon.org/about-us/bobcat-ranch mourning doves,five kinds of woodpeckers,two kinds of phoebe, numerous sparrows and finches, a kestrel, and a large flock of Lake Solano County Park&Campground: pine siskin,to name just a few. www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/rm/countyparkliakesolano.asp The presence of numerous California newts prompted Juan- Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve Carlos to tell us how toxic they are when ingested,especially for hftp://nrs.ucdavis.edu/stebbins.html birds. He once found a dead grebe shortly after seeing it alive, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and asked the California Academy of Sciences to examine it.He http://berryessasnowmountain.org later learned that the grebe had been poisoned by a tasty but Hike to Zim Zim Falls poisonous meal of California newt. http://yolohiker.org/trails/knoxville/zirnzim/index.htmi Lincoln's sparrow by Sarah Barsness Winters, California hftp://www.cityofwinters.org 6. Local Chapter Membership Application l N y, Aease join us! �''' L CAL YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL HELP Auzu6on Society ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK. Aitacal Audubon Society (AAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society.AAS is a separately incorporated non-profit OTHER ALTACAL 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 www.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 White-taiCed Cite SCHOLARSHIPS and ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Articles for publication should be sent to Denise Devine Advocating for BIRDS and WILDLIFE byemailto dsrdevine@hotmail.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—Denise, Editor. ALTACAL AUDUBON SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ❑ $25 Basic ❑ $35 Family ❑ $15 Student/Low Income ❑ $50 Sponsor ❑ $100 Sustaining ❑ $ Additional Donation Name Address City State Zip Phone email ❑ Save Paper! Send me an email only ❑ New Member ❑ Renewal [] Gift ❑ email me Altaca!in Action Alerts [] l would be interested in volunteering to help ❑ Cash ❑ Check Date IMPORTANT:Membership inAltacal Audubon Scociety 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 AUDUBON SOCIETY Mail to AAS, P.O. BOX 3671, CHICO, CA 95927-3671 ALTACALAU,DUBON, SOCIETY, INC Requested Non-Profit Organization POST OFFICE BOX 3671 In-home Delivery U.S. Postage CHICO, CA 95927-3671 1/27 - 29/2016 PAID 3-Day Window Permit No. 86 Chico, Calif. 95927 ADM1N.S"fl kATWwv CURRENT RESIDENT FEB 0 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 25 COUNTY CENTER DR. OROVILLE, CA 95965 000woksoo W-Z CAL u on-5miC1,9 FPS i 1:d White-taiCedXite ALTACAL Prograrn FEBRUARY/ MARCH 2016 Feb 15 LD DATES TO REMEMBER WIFIRES Feb 15 Program- WILDFIRES Mar 21 Feb 20 Upper Bidwell Park INDIA Feb 28 Genetic Resource Center Mar 19 -20 Fort Bragg Mar 21 Program- INDIA k T 1, ' For updated information check the Altacal website 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.