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FIELD TRIPS

www.rras.org

andpiperS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

Redwood Region Audubon Society

The

WHAT: Audubon Meeting,Potluck, and Field Trip

WHEN: Potluck Social - Friday,September 10th - 6:00 p.m.to 7:00 p.m.Board Meeting - Friday,September 10th - 7:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m.Field Trip - Saturday,

September 11th

- 8:30 a.m. to12:00 p.m.

WHERE:Meet at the Lake EarlWildlife Area InformationCenter2591 Old Mill Road,Crescent City, California

CONTACT: For more information:Sue Calla (707) 465-6191

August September 2010

Every Saturday: Arcata Marsh and WildlifeSanctuary. These are our famous, rain-or-shine,

docent-led field trips at the marsh; take your

binocular(s) and have a great morning birding!

Meet in the parking lot at the south end of I

Street in Arcata at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, August 8: Humboldt Bay NationalWildlife Refuge. This is a wonderful, two-

to-three hour trip for people wanting to learn

the birds of the Humboldt Bay area. It takes

a leisurely pace with emphasis on enjoying

the birds! Beginners are more than welcome.

Meet at the Refuge Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m.

Call Jude Power or David Fix (707-822-3613)

for more information.

Saturday, August 14: King Salmon. On thistrip, well look for water-birds typical of the

bay in late summer, including Brown Pelican,

Parasitic Jaeger, Elegant Tern, and Marbled

Murrelet. Note that some of these birds may

be mere specks, even through a scope. Meet at8:30 a.m. at the hairpin curve at the gate. Dress

warmly. For more information call Matt Wachs

(707-476-9349).

Sunday, August 15: Southern HumboldtCommunity Park. Jay Sooter (707-444-8001),

Robert Sutherland, and/or John Gaffin will

be leading this monthly walk. All ages and

experience levels are encouraged to participate

and revel in the beauty of the park and its avian

inhabitants on this easy, two to three-hour walk.

Binoculars are not provided and dogs are not

allowed; field guides are usually available but

please provide your own if possible. Steady rain

cancels. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot on

Kimtu Road in Garberville.\

Saturday, August 21: Pelagic Trip. DavidFix (707-822-3613) and Gary Lester (707-839-

3373) will lead a foray onto the open ocean to

Trinidad canyon aboard the Shenandoah in

search of tubenoses, jaegers, alcids, cetaceans,

and other pelagic specialties. Meet at 7:00 a.m.

at the Trinidad wharf to depart at 7:30. We will

return by 3:30 p.m. To claim 1 of 12 spaces

available, call or email Rob Fowler (707-839-

3493; migratoriusfwlr@gmail.com) to make a

reservation (cost $75).

Saturday, August 28: ebird site survey--ShayPark. Do you have only an hour or two to get

out over the weekend to peep some birds?

Come assist Rob Fowler on his weekly ebird

site-survey at this little gem-of-a-park in Arcata.

Meet at 0800 at the Shay Park parking lot thatis located at the eastern end of Foster Avenue.

Average trip time is about 1.5 hours. For more

info on the ebird site survey visit this link at

ebird.org: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/

eBird_Site_Survey.

Call or email Rob (707-822-5095;

migratoriusfwlr@gmail.com) for more

information and other future survey dates.

Saturday, September 11: Pelagic Trip. DavidFix (707-822-3613) and Rob Fowler (707-839-

3493) will lead a foray onto the open ocean

to Trinidad canyon aboard the Shenandoah in

search of tubenoses, jaegers, alcids, cetaceans,

and other pelagic specialties. Meet at 7:00

a.m. at the Trinidad wharf to depart at 7:30.

We will return by 3:30 p.m. To claim 1 of

12 spaces available, call or email Rob Fowler

(migratoriusfwlr@gmail.com) to make a

reservation (cost $75).

Sunday, September 12: Humboldt BayNational Wildlife Refuge. See August 8.

Sunday, September 19: Southern HumboldtCommunity Park. See August 15.

Sunday, September 19: Mendocino CountyPelagic. Come join Mendocino Coast Audubon

Society on their annual fall pelagic boat trip.

The charter boat Trek II will depart from Noyo

harbor, Fort Bragg, for an eight hour cruise.

Meet at 7:00 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. departure.

$110 per person. Rob Fowler, Robert Keiffer,

and John Sterling will lead. Pay by check or

credit card. For checks send to C. McAllister

Pelagic Trip PO Box 332 Little River, CA 95456.Contact Charlene by email charmac@mcn.

org to pay by credit card.

Saturday, September 25: ebird site survey--Shay Park. See August 28th.

SPECIAL INVITATION TO RRAS MEMBERS September Board Meeting and Field Trip

The following morning, on

Saturday, September 11th, from 8:30 a.m.

to 12:00 p.m., all levels of bird watchers

are encouraged to join biologist and

professional guide, Ken Burton, for a bird

excursion to scout out some ofDel Norte

Countys migratory and resident birds.

The outing meets first at the Lake Earl

Wildlife Area Information Center at 8:30

a.m. and then caravans to several locations

with some walking. Bring viewing optics,

binoculars, snacks, and drinking water.

As a wildlife biologist and professional

bird guide, Ken Burton has led birding and nature

study trips for Godwit Days, the Aleutian Goose

Festival and California Redwoods Bird & Nature

Festival, Audubon groups, international touring

companies, and private individuals. He has birded

in multiple states and on every continent and seen

3,100 bird species. Burton heralds originally from

Marin County, California, where he authored the

Marin Audubon Societys Checklist of Birds of

Marin County. He is a current Board member and

Project Manager for the Redwood Region Audubon

Society and makes his home in Arcata.

The Redwood Region Audubon Society(RRAS) is holding its once-a-year Board

meeting in Del Norte County on Friday evening,September 10th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. atthe Lake Earl Wildlife Area Information Center,2591 Old Mill Road, Crescent City. All bird loverswho would enjoy learning about upcoming localand regional Audubon programs and projects arewelcome to attend. Preceding the meeting from6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Lake Earl Branch ofRRAS and the North Coast Redwood InterpretiveAssociation (NCRIA) will host a potluck supper.Those wishing to come early, meet other birders,and socialize are invited to bring a side dish,drinks, or a dessert to share. Please RSVP to SueCalla (707) 465-6191.

Lake Earl, Gary Bloomfield

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Keep Up-to-DateThrough RRAS Listserve

Be reminded about field trips and programs and learnabout upcoming meetings, public hearings, and symposiaof interest to RRAS members and other concerned naturelovers. Subscribe in 1 of 2 ways: through a Web page linkat http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rras or by e-mail torras-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Postings should havecomplete information. This listserv is not for posting birdsightings.

Thinking of Joining theNational Audubon Society?

If so, please use the coupon below. By sending in yourmembership on this form, rather than replying to solicita-tions from National Audubon, $20 is sent directly to RRAS.This is how NAS rewards local chapters for recruitingnational members. (Otherwise, the RRAS dues share pernew member is only a couple of dollars.) Thank you.

Chapter Membership ApplicationYes,Id like to join.Please enroll me as a member of the National AudubonSociety and of my local chapter. Please sendAUDUBON magazine and my membership card to theaddress below.

My check for $20 is enclosed. (Introductory offer)

NAME_______________________________ADDRESS___________________________CITY ______________________________STATE____________ZIP______________email ______________________________Local Chapter Code: C0ZC240ZPlease make checks to the National Audubon Society.

Send this application and your check to:National Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 422250Palm Coast, FL 32142-2250

--------------LOCAL CHAPTER-------------REDWOOD REGION AUDUBON SOCIETY

P.O. BOX 1054EUREKA, CA 95502

CHAPTER LEADERS

OFFICERS

President Kerry Ross ................ 839-4365

President-Elect Jim Clark ................ 445-8311

Immediate Past-President Ken Burton......825-1124

SecretaryAdam Brown................abrown@prbo.org

TreasurerSusan Calla..................................465-6191

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Jan Andersen...................................................616-3888

Rob Fowler ................ 822-5095

Lew & Judie Norton.......................................445-1791

Chet Ogan .............. 442-9353C.J. Ralph .......................................................822-2015

Jay Sooter .......... 444-8001

OTHER CHAPTER LEADERS

ConservationChet Ogan ..........................442-9353

Education -- vacant

eBird Liason Rob Fowler .... 822-5095

Field TripsRob Fowler .......... 822-5095

HistorianJohn Hewston ..........................822-5288

MembershipLew & Judie Norton.............445-1791

NEC Representative.........Ken Burton......825-1124

Field NotesSean McAllister ......................268-0592

ProgramsC.J. Ralph...................................822-2015

PublicitySue Leskiw....................................442-5444

SandpiperDavid Schumaker...............530-227-5192

Gary Bloomfield........................822-0210

Volunteer CoordinatorKate Rowe.. (715) 554-0498

WebmasterSean McAllister ......................268-0592Lake Earl BranchSue Calla.......................465-6191

RRAS Web Page......................................www.rras.org

Arcata Bird Alert .....................822-LOON (822-5666)

The Sandpiper is published six times each year byRedwood Region Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502.

New MembersRedwood Region Audubon Society welcomesthe following new members and subscribers:

Arcata Anna Moore, Frederick Moore, Leisyka Parrott,Mary Ashton, Minerva Williams, Wendy Branca

Crescent City Elizabeth Henetz, Monika McKinnon,William Ross

Eureka Ed Cook, Elsie Moore, Florence Burek,Harry Blumenthal, Kathleen Wall, Lyn Wandell,N. J. Frazier, Peggy Gervais, Thomas Preble

Ferndale Aln Cooley, Pam CooleyFortuna Rex PryerHydesville George GredassoffMcKinleyville Edith Robertson, Joyce Houston,

Karen Brown-Stockton, Nancy Jioras,Penelope Gurley

Redway Pat AustinSawyers Bar Michael J. KeinTrinidad Tyna MastersWhitethorn Stephanie LusakZenia Michelle Jewett

We look forward to seeing you on field tripsand at our monthly programs.

Conservation News

Chet Ogan Conservation Chair

Our regular Conservation Committee meeting

was July 15. In attendance were Chet Ogan, John

Hewston, Sue Leskiw, and Melvin McKinney. Some

topics discussed were: Klamath Dam removal, MLPA,

Humboldt Bay dredging, billboards around the bay,

NAWCA grants, and cordgrass removal.

Sue and Mel attended a public scoping meeting

July 14 probing the Klamath Dam removal. It will take

agencies many years to get all the pieces in place for

Klamath Dam removal. This public scoping is the first

step in trying to anticipate all environmental aspects,

effects, and implications of dam removal. A next step

will be writing an EIS/EIR.

Billboards obstruct views of the beautiful

scenery around Humboldt Bay and clutter the roadsides.

Sue reported that the North Coast Railroad Authority

is trying to get billboards removed from their right-

of-way around the bay. Several years ago Humboldt

Bay National Wildlife Refuge had several billboards

removed from their property. Sue also reminded us that

four years ago this month Humboldt County Supervisors

voted to have all vehicles, except emergency vehicles,

excluded from Clam Beach. Regulations were supposed

to be written by the fall of 2006. This still has not been

done.

The topic of MLPA Marine Life Protective

Act was brought up at both the Conservation

Committee meting and RRAS Board of Directors

meeting. The City of Arcata has registered opposition

to a proposal to extend protection provisions to

Arcata Bay as it may prevent discharges from

Arcatas wastewater treatment plant into the bay. At

our BOD meeting Adam Brown said he has written

a letter on behalf of RRAS supporting both MLPA

proposals on behalf of the seabird colonies that nest

and roost on the offshore rocks.

Mel attended a Harbor Commission

meeting where dredging three local marinas was

discussed. The Harbor Commission is planning to

place dredging spoils on diked sites adjacent to the

bay. We have had concerns in the past that some of

the dredging spoils may contain toxic wastes.

Chet reported that almost $1 million has

been awarded to various wetland related projects

benefiting wildlife in Humboldt and Del Norte

counties through NAWCA grants administered by

Ducks Unlimited. Some of this money will be used

to continue cordgrass removal, an invasive plant,

around Humboldt Baytidal wetlands

The next meeting will be moved back one week later

to Thursday August 26 at Arcata Golden Harvest

Restaurant at noon.

RRAS Tour

to Colombia

November 27-

December 9

RRAS is launching its tour program with an exciting,

educational, and green trip to the Colombian Andes.

This trip is being offered by Colombia Birdwatch (http://

www.colombiabirdwatch.com/about.html) and co-led by

Ken Burton, who will be spending several weeks there

ahead of the tour in preparation. The trip itinerary andlogistics are described on the Web site. Based on previous

trips, we can expect to see about 350 bird species as well

as many other animals. We also will experience the local

culture and cuisine.

RRAS is interested in promoting travel that

meets international standards for eco-tourism. CB fulfills

these standards in many ways, including support of

nature preserves, carbon offsets, partnerships with local

conservation and education organizations, employment

of native guides, and waste reduction. This is the kind of

organization with which we feel comfortable partnering.

The price of the trip is a very reasonable $3000

all-inclusive from Cali (double occupancy, plus mandatory

travel insurance). Single occupancy is an additional

$600. We are working on arranging an inexpensive flight

to Cali from Bogot (a cheaper destination from here) or

starting the tour in Bogot instead. With a minimum offive participants from RRAS, Colombia Birdwatch will

return 5% of the proceeds back to our chapter for our

projects. Thus, by participating in this trip you will help

support worthy Colombian organizations as well as our

own work here at home!

Colombia ranks first in the world in bird diversity

and is now much safer than previously, as well as the

cheapest place in South America to reach from the U.S.

It is on the cusp of becoming an extremely popular travel

destination, which is likely to result in higher prices and

bigger crowds at the prime birding locations. NOW is the

time to go! For further information, contact Ken (707-

825-1124/brdnrd@sbcglobal.net) or Chris Calonje at CB

(541-891-9394/chriscalonje@gmail.com). This trip will

be limited to eight people, so act soon!

Evolution of BirdBills: Birds Reduce

Their Heating Billsin Cold Climates

ScienceDaily (June 24, 2010)

The evolution of bird bills is related to climate according tolatest research by the University of Melbourne, Australia andBrock University, Canada.

By examining bill sizes of a diverse range of bird species

around the world, researchers have found that birds with largerbills tend to be found in hot environments, whilst birds in colderenvironments have evolved smaller bills.The study led by Dr Matt Symonds of the Department ofZoology at the University of Melbourne and Dr Glenn Tattersallof the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock Universityprovides evidence that maintaining body temperature in a birdsnatural environment may have shaped the evolution of birdbills.The size and shape of these distinctive structures are usuallyexplained by their role in feeding and mate attraction. However,previous research shows bird bills have a third, less appreciatedfunction, as organs of heat exchange.Dr Glenn Tattersall says we know, from our thermal imagingstudies that birds like toucans and geese can lose a large amountof their body heat through their bills.Unlike humans they dont sweat but can use their bills to helpreduce their body temperature if they overheat.We then wondered whether this function had evolutionaryconsequences, and sought to compare bill sizes across a whole

range of species, says Dr Tattersall.The 214 species examined comprised diverse groups includingtoucans, African barbets and tinkerbirds, Australian parrots,grass finches, Canadian gamebirds, penguins, gulls and terns.Across all species, there were strong links between bill lengthand both latitude, altitude and environmental temperature,Dr Matt Symonds says. Species that have to deal with coldertemperatures have smaller bills.This suggests that there is an evolutionary connection betweenthe size of the birds bills and their role in heat management,he says.Although its possible that large bills have evolved to help shedheat loads and prevent overheating in hot climates, we think itsmore likely that cold temperatures impose a constraint on thesize of bird beaks, Dr Tattersall says.It simply might be too much of a liability to carry around a bigradiator of heat energy in a cold environment.The research validates a 133-year-old ecological theory calledAllens rule, which predicts that animal appendages like limbs,ears, and tails are smaller in cold climates in order to minimize

heat loss.Dr Symonds says Allens rule has never been tested with thislarge a group of animals and was more anecdotal.This is the first rigorous study of its kind to test this theory andto show that bird bill s have evolved in this manner.The paper is published online this week in the journal AmericanNaturalist and will be in the journals August 2010 edition.

Please visit theRRAS/USFWS Booth

during the HumboldtCounty Fair,

August 12 - 22.

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By Sue Leskiw

On June 25-27, several RRAS members took the Wintu (Shasta County) Audubon

chapter up on its invitation to a camp-out at Lassen Volcanic National Park. This is

the third year that Wintu has invited neighboring chapters to join it for a weekend

of birding. Eureka residents Tom and Sue Leskiw, Jim and Donna Clark, and ChetOgan joined Garrett and Kerry Watty from Salyer on the outing organized by Bill

Oliver. Wintu chapter president George Horn and photographer Larry Jordan also

camped out at Lost Creek group camp (visit thebirdersreport.com for photos of birds

and other animals seen during the trip).

Several day trippers from the Redding area met up with the campers Saturday

morning to bird around Manzanita Lake. Ducklings were out in full force as we

observed baby Buffleheads, Wood Ducks, and Mallards cruising with their mothers.

Upland brush fields and forest produced species such as Dusky Flycatcher, three

kinds of Nuthatch, and a Yellow Warbler singing atop a white fir.

Walks from the campground yielded Pileated and White-headed Woodpeckers and

Mountain Bluebirds, but Black-backed Woodpecker was a no-show. At the former

Hat Lake (now a creek since the demise of a beaver dam), Clarks Nutcrackers,

American Dippers, and a large number of Spotted Sandpipers were noted. In betweenbirding forays, we relaxed, conversed, ate, and drank around the campfire.

On Sunday morning, we stopped by PG&Es Lake McCumber to look for birds

before returning home, with the highlight being a Common Loon. Bill Oliver

compiled a list of 59 species seen by group members during the weekend in Lassen,

plus 20 species viewed at Lake McCumber. RRAS should consider a similar outing,

inviting our sister inland chapters to join us for some coastal birding.

Rendezvous with Wintu at Lassen

Birding Manzanita Lake From left Jim Clark and Donna Clark, Chet Ogan, Bill Oliver, George Horn,

Sue and Tom Leskiw, Garrett Watty. Photo by Kerry Watty

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the

experience wisely.-- Auguste Rodin

June 16, 2010height of the vagrant SillySeasondawned with a high overcast. Despite thepaucity of rare birds this spring, I thought to myself:Theres gotta be a rare bird out there somewhere.As planned, I rendezvoused with Ken Irwin at theArcata Marsh. We covered the log pond, and later,Crannell Road, Scenic Drive, Elk Head, and PatricksPoint, but birds were scarce.

Ken mentioned to me that his spring birdingefforts have yielded just one Indigo Bunting andone American Redstart. I responded: I wish I couldclaim that much. What a strange spring: one of thewettest March-May periods ever. And when it wasntraining, the northwesterlies were blowing like abanshee. In May, I went for a hike at Patricks Pointwhere I saw red elderberry toasted from windburn:shriveled leaves and broken branches. Birdwise,how was I to know that the Arctic Tern I found June9 along the north shore of Lake Tahoe would be mylone noteworthy find?

Ken nodded in agreement. Its been soslow, that I find myself looking at bugs, just tostay entertained. I saw several new bugs today.When birding is slow, I like to feel like Ive learnedsomething. I know what you mean, I replied.

The introduction of Steven G. Mlodinowand Michael OBriensAmericas 100 Most Wanted

Birds contains the following passage: It is indeed arare birder who would remain placid on encounteringan Eared Trogon or Ross Gull in the United States.

Mining the Nuggets

Such is the spice of birding, such is the glory. Sage

thoughts, as the operative word here is spice,as in rare birds are not the main course. Althoughsometimes highly sought, they are unlikely to beencountered.

Something I learned long ago is thatneeding to come home with a noteworthy bird inorder to feel the day was a success is setting oneup for failure. When birding is slow, I ask myself:What nugget will I take home today? What did Ilearnsome aspect of bird behavior, evidence ofnesting, a puzzling alternate song or call unfamiliarto me, etc? If one remains observant, theres alwayssomething to be discovered.

Sometimes, the nugget comes in the formof a temporal-phenologic montage, which isanother way of saying passage of the seasons.To illustrate: on April 24th of this year, I found aSolitary Sandpiper with three Least Sandpipers in anondescript wetland puddle about 60 feet long inthe Ferndale Bottoms. Several weeks later, nearly allthe water had evaporated and the mudflat was beingvisited by Cliff and BarnSwallows, gathering mudfor their nests. A common practice for swallowsgathering mudyet my experience was heightenedby its time-lapse nature and the memory of howthe site changed throughout the year.

Last Monday, July 12, I drove my regularbirding loop through the Loleta and FerndaleBottoms. I stopped, as I nearly always do, at a rowof eucalyptus trees. The lighting was poor, but inthe distance, foraging among a family group ofBullocks Orioles, were several Cedar Waxwingsapparently feeding on the eucalyptus flower nectar.

Or were they merely feeding on bugs attracted to the

flowers? I checked several references. Waxwingsbring insects to their young at first, but switch tofeeding them berries within a few days. Theyre alsoknown to sip tree sap and munch on flowers such asapple, much to the consternation of orchardists.

The waxwings were too far away for me tobe sure what they were eating, but I consideredthe fact that they eat tree sapor possibly flowernectarto be my nugget for the day. Plus, later thatafternoon, I confirmed nesting by White-throatedSwifts at a bridge at milepost 13.48 of Highway 36over the Van Duzen River. The colonization of theVan Duzen watershed fits nicely with the speciesnorthward march, as swifts were also detectednesting in a bridge over the Mad River in Blue Lakethis summer.

Gardeners, like everyone else, livesecond by second and minute by minute.What we see at one particular momentis then and there before us. But thereis a second way of seeing. Seeing withthe eye of memory, not the eye of ouranatomy, calls up days and seasons pastand years gone by.

--- Allen Lacy The Gardeners Eye, 1992

Tom LeskiwJuly 15, 2010

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By Sue Leskiw

On June 28, RRAS joined with Friends

of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM) to host a day-long

camp for children age 9-12 at the Arcata Marsh.

The session was part of the Wildlife Biology

week of the Arcata Recreation Departments

Natural Resources Science Camp.

Thirteen kids arrived at the Interpretive

Center to start with a low-tide critter collection

RRAS Cosponsors Arcata Camp

Mud Walk. Leaders were FOAM vice-

president Elliott Dabill and HSU graduate

student Julie Koeppel. After lunch, FOAM Board

member Bob Rasmussen joined Eliott and Julie

to help the students operate the microscopes

and identify what they had collected. FOAM

volunteer Jean Santi helped set up and clean up

the viewing stations, while FOAM president

Sue Leskiw was responsible for pulling togetherphotos by Sue Leskiw

the schedule and volunteers.

The day was capped off by a bird walk led by

RRAS volunteers Tom Leskiw and David Fix.

Highlights were two Peregrines, a Coopers

Hawk, and an obliging Band-tailed Pigeon.

juv. Yellow-breasted Chat, Gary Bloomfield

Janes Creek, Arcata, 20100709

Barn Swallow nest, Gary Bloomfield

College of the Redwoods, Eureka, 20100610

Black Phoebe, Gary Bloomfield

Janes Creek, Arcata, 20100610

Due to the writers schedule we were unable to

publish Field Notesfor this edition of theSandpiper, but it will return next issue (October/

November)

Reports may be submitted to the Redwood RegionAudubon Society bird alert (707-822-LOON), the onlinenorthwestern California birdwatching and informationexchange (nwcalbird@yahoogroups.com), the MendocinoCounty birders listserve (mendobirds@yahoogroups.com), eBird (http://ebird.org/content/klamath-siskiyou),or to Sean McAllister: sean@madriverbio.com; 417 2ndSt., Suite 201 Eureka, CA 95501; (707) 268-0592.

Pelagic Cormorant, Ron LeValley

Point Cabrillo, Mendocino County, 20100708