december 2009 white tailed kite newsletter, altacal audubon society

8/8/2019 December 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

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Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their

habitats through education, research and environmental activities.

Program Meetings for the general community are normally held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the ChicoCreek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St. In December the meeting is held on the second Monday and in July and August there

are no Program Meetings.

In Memoriam

Robbins Bob King, professor emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences,CSU, Chico passed away on October 6

thin Chico. He taught at CSU, Chico

for 30 years, from 1956 until 1986. During that time, he was chair of thedepartment and helped establish the Eagle Lake Field Station.

Bob belonged to the Altacal Audubon Society from its inception and he tookhis family on many bird-watching trips to Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge,Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, and refuges in all of thesouthern states, including the Gulf Coast. He was very involved with TheNature Conservancy and volunteered for several years as a docent at the VinaPlains Preserve north of Chico.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, four children - Robin Sigel, Steve, and Stuart all of Chico, andBarbara MacIntyre of Oakley, Calif. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

White-tailed KiteDecember, 2009/January, 2010
http://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenter


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December Program - Monday, December 14, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterMembers Slide Show

December is a special month and we will celebrate it at the Altacal Program by inviting members andfriends to share some photos they have taken over the past year. Our annual members slide show is afavorite program for many. There are always some great new, and sometimes old, pictures to see and

tales to hear of how they were gotten. Join in and bring a few ofyour own photos of birds/wildlife/nature (on disk or memory

stick). We will have plenty of time for all who want toparticipate. Also, at this program we will hear about plans for theannual Chico and Oroville Christmas Bird Counts taking placeover the following two weekends. Call or email Mike Fisher([email protected]) or Jennifer Patten([email protected]) so we know ahead of time how manywill be showing photos.

Yellow-billed LoonPhoto by Mike Fisher

January Program - Monday, January 18, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterProtecting California Birds

Jordan Wellwood ofAudubon California will discuss the major threats thatbirds face in California and what Audubon is doing to protect the landscapesthat birds will need in order to thrive in the future. She will also shareopportunities for local citizens to get involved and make a real difference intheir communities.

Jordan started with Audubon California in January of this year as ConservationCoordinator for the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada. Prior to Audubon, sheworked on conservation policy in Sacramento. She holds an Honors Bachelorof Environmental Studies degree from the University of Waterloo in Canada.She works with local Audubon chapters on a variety of conservation projects,as well as at the state level on Audubons priority projects for the CentralValley and Sierra Nevada. She is passionate about cycling, yoga, cooking, andconservation.

Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips

All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder iswelcome to participate.

December 5, Saturday Raptor RunTrip Leader: Michelle Ocken

Meet at the Chico Park n Ride on Rt. 32 (the lot nearest the freeway) at 8a.m. We'll look for raptors in the Cottonwood Rd. and Nelson Ave. areas.Targets are Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk,Prairie Falcon, Merlin, andBurrowing Owl as well as more commonlyseen species. Bring binoculars (and scope if you have one) water, and alunch. We should be back around 1 p.m. For questions, contact Michelle,530 518-7404. Rain cancels.

Ferruginous Hawk Photo by Mary Claypool
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://identify.whatbird.com/obj/408/_/Yellow-billed_Loon.aspxhttp://ca.audubon.org/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/prairie_falcon/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/prairie_falcon/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ferruginous_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://ca.audubon.org/http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/408/_/Yellow-billed_Loon.aspxmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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December 12, Saturday - Waterfowl Identification Field Workshop, Part 2: Identifying Ducks inthe Field and on the Wing.Trip leaders: Jay Bogiatto and Scott Huber

Late fall and winter are wonderful times for viewingthe thousands ofducks, geese, swans and the many other bird species that share our ButteCounty wetlands. Altacal Audubon, by way of agrant from the Butte County Fish and GameCommission, is offering a series of four all-day field-workshops designed to provide the general publicwith the skills necessary to accurately identifywaterfowl and wetland birds.

Mallard in Flight - Photo by Gert Ellstrom

Each trip will provide a slightly different focus.Workshop 1 (November): Waterfowl and their allies -shorebirds, waders and raptors. Workshop 2(December): Identifying Ducks in the Field and on the

Wing. Workshop 3 (January): Dark, light, speckled andblue geese. Workshop 4 (February): Swans and Cranes.

Participants will be provided instruction on the nuancesof identification, including general impression of sizeand shape, silhouette, field marks, flock pattern andvocalizations.

Ruddy Duck - Photo by Tony Northrup

Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars or can check out binoculars and field guidespurchased thanks to a grant by the Butte County Fish and Game Commission. Spotting scopespurchased under the same grant will be available for shared use by all participants.

Workshop leaders are: Jay Bogiatto who teaches ornithology, waterfowl biology and zoology at CSU,Chico, and Scott Huber, past field trip director for Altacal Audubon. For more information on meetingplace and time please contact Scott at 321-5579 or 343-1306. Space is limited so please reserve yourspot early.

December 13, Sunday - Sacramento National Wildlife RefugeTrip leader: Steve King

You may either meet at the Park n Ride onHwy. 32 nearest State Route 99 at 8:00 a.m. forcar pooling or meet us at the SNWR visitorparking lot south of Willows at about 9:10 a.m.It is about an hour drive from Chico to theRefuge. Bring a picnic lunch, binoculars andspotting scope if you have one. This is a greattime to see wintering waterfowl and many otherbirds. Dress warm and wear shoes for walkingon nature trails. After the nature walk, welldrive the auto tour route, with a stop for lunch atthe viewing platform. The birding trip will be over about 2:00 p.m. There is a $3 entrance fee per car.Heavy rain cancels. For more information contact: Steve King at 342-6715.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107749637272644391136.000477406be1461207d02&ll=39.737047,-121.818337&spn=0.002982,0.004967&t=h&z=18http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&t=h&ll=39.429613,-122.188568&spn=0.005992,0.009935&z=17&msid=107749637272644391136.000477408140f58ea4bbehttp://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&t=h&ll=39.429613,-122.188568&spn=0.005992,0.009935&z=17&msid=107749637272644391136.000477408140f58ea4bbehttp://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107749637272644391136.000477406be1461207d02&ll=39.737047,-121.818337&spn=0.002982,0.004967&t=h&z=18


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January 9, Saturday Llano Seco and Indian FisheryTrip leader: Nancy Nelson

We will visit two entirely different habitats on this outing. The first stop will be Llano Seco on 7 MileLane where we should see a large varietyof wintering waterfowl and severalspecies of raptors. Next, we will visit theIndian Fishery area of the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park to see severalspecies of woodpeckers and many otherwoodland and aquatic birds. Totalhiking distance for this trip will be 1-2miles on easy trails. We will meet at theChico Park n Ride on Hwy 32 (lot nearestHwy 99) at 8:00 a.m. Bring binoculars, aspotting scope if you have one and apicnic lunch. We will return to the Park nRide by about 2:00 p.m. Heavy raincancels. Contact Nancy Nelson for moreinformation at 345-0580 [email protected]

Trail at Indian Fishery

January 17, Sunday - Pine Creek/Indian FisheryTrip Leader: Mike Fisher

Two trips in one! Our first stop will be the Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River National WildlifeRefuge. We will walk and bird parts of this restored site looking for grassland and riparian birds.Next, we will visit the Indian Fishery area of the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park. Here, we willtake a -mile nature trail to see several species ofwoodpeckers and many other resident and winteringwoodland and aquatic birds. We may also seeRiver Otters, Beavers and Western Pond Turtles.Beginning birders are always welcome. Let the tripleader know ahead of time if you need to borrowbinoculars or a field guide.

A View of the Pine Creek Unit, SRNWR

Meet at the Park-n-Ride closest to Hwy 99 at 8:30 a.m. We will carpool to the Pine Creek Unit andthen to Indian Fishery. We will return to the Park-n-Ride by 1:00 p.m. Rain cancels. Contact Mike for

more information - [email protected] or 530.624.4777.
mailto:[email protected]://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/fact-riverotter.cfmhttp://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/beaver.htmhttp://www.natureali.org/pondturtle.htmmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.natureali.org/pondturtle.htmhttp://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/beaver.htmhttp://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/fact-riverotter.cfmmailto:[email protected]


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January 23, Saturday - Waterfowl Identification Field Workshop, Part 3: Dark, light, speckledand blue geeseTrip leaders: Jay Bogiatto and Scott Huber [For more information, see December 12 above]

Blue Morph Snow Goose

January 28-31, Thursday-Sunday 11th Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway

[For over 40 field trips, see http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/]

February 6 - Saturday - Waterfowl Identification Field Workshop, Part 4: Swans and Cranes .Trip leaders: Jay Bogiatto and Scott Huber

Sandhill Crane

[For more information, see December 12 above]
http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/


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February 13 - Upper Bidwell ParkTrip Leader: Steve King

NOTE! This bird walk will be held on the second Saturday of each month from February through JuneTrip leaders will be Steve King and others.

On February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8 and June 12we will have our new monthly field trip to UpperBidwell Park. These dates are the second Saturday of

each month. For February and March, we will meet at8:00 a.m. at the almost-new parking lot on the left justpast the gun club (follow Wildwood Ave for 1.75 milesand turn left just before the gate). From there, we maystart walking, or maybe drive a short distance further upthe park road and start our field trip at a differentlocation. Bring binoculars, water, snacks walking shoesand proper clothing for the expected weather conditions.Rain cancels. For more information contact: Steve Kingat 342-6715.

Trails in Upper Bidwell Park

February 14, Sunday Chico State Birding Club Winter Survey

Altacal members will accompany Chico State Birding Club members on the Winter, 2009 Bird Survey.Check the next issue of the White-tailed Kite or the Altacal web site at www.altacal.org for updatedinformation.

Christmas Bird Count

and a partridge in a pear tree

This year the Altacal Audubon Society will participate for the 54th time in the annual AudubonChristmas Bird Count (CBC) in Chico and in Oroville. More than 50,000 observers nation-wideparticipate each year in this all-day census ofearly-winter bird populations. The results of their effortsare compiled into the longest-running database in ornithology, representing over a century of unbrokendata on trends of early-winter bird populations across the Americas. Simply put, it is citizen science inaction.

December 19, Saturday- Chico Christmas Bird Count All levels of birders are welcome to join uson the Chico Christmas bird count. Beginners will be paired up with experienced birders. Bring warmclothes, hiking shoes, lunch, bird books and binoculars. You will be assigned an area and spend the daycounting all of the birds in this area. If anyone is interested in doing just a half day, please let thecompiler, Phil Johnson, (530-570-7139) know ahead of time so arrangements can be made for the daysassignments. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center. At 5:00 p.m. we will meet ata place to be determined to compile our results. For possibly updated information, check the Altacalweb site at www.altacal.org
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=39.772296,-121.779869&spn=0.002981,0.004967&t=h&z=18&msid=107749637272644391136.0004774399b3ee0f8c18dhttp://www.altacal.org/http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://www.altacal.org/http://www.altacal.org/http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://www.altacal.org/http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=39.772296,-121.779869&spn=0.002981,0.004967&t=h&z=18&msid=107749637272644391136.0004774399b3ee0f8c18d


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January 3, Sunday - Oroville Christmas Bird Count - All levels of birders are welcome to join us onthe Oroville Christmas bird count. Beginners will be paired up with experienced birders. Bring warmclothes, hiking shoes, lunch, bird books and binoculars. You will be assigned an area and spend the daycounting all of the birds in this area. If anyone is interested in doing just a half day, please let thecompiler, Scott Huber, (530-321-5579) know ahead of time so arrangements can be made for the daysassignments. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Agricultural Commissioner's Office on Nelson Rd. justeast of Highway 70. At 5:00 p.m. there will be an optional dinner and compilation at a local restaurant.For possibly updated information, check the Altacal web site at www.altacal.org

And speaking of Christmas Bird Counts, consider the thrill that birders (maybe some of them from ourCape Cod Bird Club sister society) got on last years Nantucket Island CBC. Over Eel Point, a group offourDovekies, small black and white alcids that are rarely seen, were flying along about 200 feet in theair when a Merlin, a small falcon, came rocketing in and caught one. As it was flying back to land, aSnowy Owl flew out of the dunes and engaged in aerial acrobatics attempting to kleptoparasitize (stealfrom) the Merlin. It tried to take the dovekie away from the much smaller falcon. The Merlin managedto keep its meal. Holy Smoke! Maybe our editor, while visiting family on Cape Cod, will be ableattend a CBC on Nantucket this year.

Dovekie Merlin

Snowy Owl
http://www.altacal.org/http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/881/overview/Dovekie.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/57/_/Merlin.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/11/_/Snowy_Owl.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/11/_/Snowy_Owl.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/57/_/Merlin.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/881/overview/Dovekie.aspxhttp://www.altacal.org/


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Conservation Corner

Dawn Garcia, Conservation Chairperson

San Joaquin River Restoration

A conservation victory has begun to unfold in Californias Great Central Valley; this year, the SanJoaquin River will receive more water than it has since the 1940s when Friant Dam was constructed. In

2012, Chinook salmon will be re-introduced and with any luck will begin their recovery from the brinkof extinction.

If you grew up in the San Joaquin Valley before the 1940s, you probably remember an impressive riverflowing to the Delta from the mountains beyond Fresno. A river that was as volatile as it was vital - ariver that in wet years overflowed its banks and wreaked havoc and at the same time abundance, and indry years created scarcity and conflict.

If you lived near the river, you may remember thesound of thousands of salmon splashing upstream ontheir journey to spawn. You may even have spear-fished Chinook Salmon in the San Joaquin.

Some things have changed in the Valley since then andothers have not. The San Joaquin no longer flows fromthe Sierra to the Delta, and Chinook Salmon no longertravel up this river to spawn. We have controlled themovement of water in astounding ways, but have notlearned how to create water where there is none.

In a third year of drought and with increasingrestrictions on water use, many Californians will find it

difficult to see water flowing down the San Joaquin for the first time in over 70 years. For others thisprocess is recognition of the inherent value of a natural river system and the culmination of decades of

hard work.For the Birds

The vast majority of wetland and riparian habitat that once existed in the San Joaquin Valley has beenlost for decades. Birds have been forced onto smaller and increasingly marginal pieces of land, and onlythose that have adapted to the agriculture-dominated landscape have continued to thrive.

Over 225 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians depend on riparian habitats, and riparianecosystems harbor the most diverse bird communities in the arid and semiarid regions of the westernUnited States. Riparian areas can harbor individuals during the bird breeding season at densities up toten times greater than surrounding terrestrial habitats and the San Joaquin River habitat complex hosts avariety of special-status species including Bald Eagle, Greater Sandhill Crane, Yellow-billed

Cuckoo, Swainsons Hawk, Willow Flycatcher, and Bank Swallow.

As test releases begin in 2009 and federal and state agencies prepare the river for the reintroduction ofChinook in 2012, Audubon California is working to maximize the benefits of the revived river corridorfor birds. For more information and to sign on in support of the river restoration, see our website:www.ca.audubon.org.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/chinooksalmon.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/sandhill_crane/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-billed_cuckoo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-billed_cuckoo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/willow_flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bank_swallow/idhttp://www.ca.audubon.org/http://www.ca.audubon.org/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bank_swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/willow_flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swainsons_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-billed_cuckoo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-billed_cuckoo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/sandhill_crane/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/idhttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/chinooksalmon.htm


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Trumpeter Swan Watch

Though restoration of Trumpeter Swans throughouthistoric breeding areas of the Midwest and GreatPlains has been highly successful, most of the flocksremain vulnerable. Historically much of the Interiorpopulation migrated to favorable sites south of the 40thparallel. Today, a small percentage of the flocks are

exploring and possibly pioneering routes into theirhistoric winter range. Trumpeter Swans are showingup in new locations, some they have not frequented forover 100 years. Audubon members and fellow birdersare asked for help to document and then monitorwinter habitat use in twenty states of the Central, Southern and Eastern U.S. Observers are asked toRegister with Trumpeter Watch, a program of The Trumpeter Swan Society. Identification guidelinesand data forms to be printed for field use can be found online. Photographic documentation is useful butnot required.

Find out more about this Citizen Science project on The Trumpeter Swan Society website.

Eleven Billion Dollar Delta Water Reform Package Passes through Congress

As we post this, Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to sign a landmark water reform package whichincludes a proposed water bond to pay for water storage and restoration (see below), land preservationand ground water cleanup; requires Californians to regulate ground water; and cut their usage by anaverage of 20%. The bill also supports a variety of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Bay restorationmeasures and several protections for migratory birds. Audubon California worked with otherconservation partners including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the EnvironmentalDefense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Bay Institute and Defenders of Wildlife to include policesthat protect wildlife and habitat. Other supporters included The California League of ConservationVoters, Trout Unlimited and Cal Trout.

According to Audubon California the new water package benefits migratory birds in the following ways:

Mandates no net loss of migratory bird habitat as a result of restoration or delta improvements,and where practicable, calls for habitat enhancement.

Imposes a much higher standard for environmental protection on current efforts to improve waterdelivery and restore fisheries.

Further, the water bond passed by the Legislature and requiring approval from the voters, contains thefollowing supports for migratory birds:

$2.25 billion for Delta habitat restoration $215 million for watershed restoration that

supports threatened and endangered species

$100 million to provide water to Central Valleywildlife refuges

Funding for important conservation of theKlamath region and Salton Sea, as well asconservation on private lands that isincreasingly important for migratory birds.

A View of the Sacramento / San Joaquin Delta
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Trumpeter_Swan/idhttp://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Trumpeter_Swan/id


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Certainly there are still many concerns from a conservation standpoint, including language in the billmaking it easier to develop a peripheral canal that would bypass water from the main stem throughagricultural land to the bay, a council appointed by the Governor and unaccountable to voters, and newdam construction. For birds though (and obvious benefits to river ecology through habitat restoration)Audubon California, who provided much of the protective language, says it is biggest step forward formigratory bird conservation that this state has taken in decades.

Please stay tuned as this water reform package progresses.

Knowing Where to Go

Rex Burress

Down on the riverside path, I met one of the "campers of the brush" and he was walking fast with hisbackpack. It struck me that he had an urgent idea and knew where he was going rather than just walkingfor exercise, although leisure-walkers presumably know their destination.

When I started work at Lake Merritt with Oakland in 1961, it was before the jogging era and you justnever saw anyone running around the lake, and not many walking. If someone was running, you

wondered what the emergency was about. That all changed a few years later when there were legions ofjoggers, going someplace, even though it wasnt apparent where.

Millions of maps have been printed to guide people to where they want to go. Our modern times haveproduced maps on computers and maps on your autos control board and on GPS. Knowing whereyoure going is one of the main concerns of life. Even in the formative school years, deciding what youwant to do and where to go is a personal decision-dilemma.

Most members of the animal kingdom seem to know where they are going. Dispersal is mostpronounced in birds, and we have no idea when a flock of ducks or songbirds will suddenly decide todepart, maybe for a trip all the way to Alaska or South America. Birds think for themselves, and theirguidance system is uncannily accurate.

Along the sidewalk, I saw a large ant venturing out of the grass-jungle to wander alone, taking an insect-view of the plain of concrete. It seemed to have a purpose, as I paused to watch it move rapidly,stopping to sniff spots, but then proceeding determinedly to whatever task it was dedicated. Was it ascout seeking a food bonanza? Or had working in the crowded colony become tiresome and the lone antwas merely seeking the relief of wide open spaces?

Thus it is with all of nature. We see the surface of animals and plants, seldom knowing whats going oninwardly to perpetuate life. We watch without knowing the rest of the story, yet there is a multitude ofanimals, from ants to elephants, whose inner understandings and plans are beyond the line of humancommunication. How intriguing it would have been to know what reason that ant was alone on the


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walk, but that knowledge was in its mind, if mind is the word. I am everlastingly amazed to see themigrant birds return each autumn. On some California autumnal day, suddenly the sky becomes alivewith clouds of waterfowl, driven out of the stormy north-land, and snow geese in particular, descend tothe valley marshes like a flurry of snowflakes, settling daintily onto the welcome water.

Even as swallows and flycatchers prepare to depart for the warm tropics in autumn, wave after wave ofwarblers and kinglets and sparrows filter in from the north to fleece the flora of the Feather River.

Just as suddenly in the springtime, when the call of the wild asserts itself, those geese and ducks and

songbirds silently drift away in a migratory mode to repeat the signs of the seasons as surely as thedeciduous leaves that fall and reappear year after year. Whatever sets the controls, each segment of thewild knows where its going.

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by,and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

Beautiful Bird Photos

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatorys Click Off 2009 Winners

To view a slideshow of this and other winning images, clickhere.

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatorys 2009 Click Off Best in Show award winnerEdward Minh Nguyen My Tern to Dance.
http://thegardensofeden.org/Click%20Off%20Winners/Click%20Off%20Winners/index.htmlhttp://thegardensofeden.org/Click%20Off%20Winners/Click%20Off%20Winners/index.html


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QUIZ

What a beautiful photo! What kind of tern is this? Answer on page 23

A Young Birders Adventure

[Liam Huber, a local 7th grader, recounts a trip he took with his dad, Scott Huber, to find a special bird]

Gravel crunched beneath the grooved tires of the enormous white van. Moving alongwith the swiftness of a wolf, the vehicle surged forward. My dad did not speak once.

I have come to think that it was the unbelievable truth. We were moving - movingtowards an unknown destiny, soon to be discovered. The act of moving toward thatdestiny poured over us with unbelievable reality. Suddenly, the car stopped, and thesong of a Black-throated-Gray Warbler rocked me out of my trance. The BeryllineHummingbirdwas our goal, a Mexican vagrant, being recorded in the country lessthan ten times.

The call of a Sulphur bellied Flycatcher echoed against the steep canyon walls. Abandit, or Mexican Jay, flew in and out of sight. A beautiful warbling song, seeming to cascade

down from the heavens, encompassed me momentarily. A Flame-colored Tanager, another Mexicanvagrant, was here, and we had to walk in order to reach it. We began the short trek up the winding road.We arrived at the station of feeders, where to no surprise, the tanager appeared, its breast so bright that itseemed to be giving off a radiant glow. After this pleasant beginning to the day, we walked to thetrailhead where a Bridled Titmouse chattered its disagreement towards our trespassing. I gazed up thetrail, pondering what marvelous wonders awaited us.

We headed onward towards our destination. A Greater Roadrunner stumbled clumsily across thepath. A soft mewing reached our ears at the same time. Gnatcatcher! we exclaimed in unison. There,skulking in a nearby toyon bush, was a minuscule, nondescript passerine. Could be any of the three,from what I can see from here, whispered my dad. He was referring to the three species of gnatcatcher

that could be found in southeastern Arizona; Black-tailed, Blue-gray, and a very seldom recorded thirdspecies, the Black-capped Gnatcatcher. A Black-cap was a long shot in this area especially, neverbeing recorded this high up in the canyon. We moved closer, at what might be described by some asagonizingly slow.

As we got closer, I popped the large, black lens cap off of my camera. I slowly raised it up, felt thesoftly cushioned eyepiece, and snapped down my finger on the cool tin button. Click, the buttonslowly descended to the hard surface of the shutter. I snapped almost ten shots before I was trulysatisfied with my results. It was a female bird, meaning the only two diagnostic features would be thepattern of the undertail coverts or the call. I flipped through the gallery of shots I had gathered, andthere I came upon a photo of the bird lifting its tail. We examined the undertail pattern. It closelyresembled a Black-capped. Then without the slightest hint to us, it called in a short raspy series of notes.

Its gotta be a Black-capped, I excitedly whispered to my dad. Suddenly, as if to prove ourponderings, a male Black-capped Gnatcatcher flew in and perched in small manzanita only feet fromme, where it only stayed for brief seconds. It was gone almost before I could think. Dad you saw that,right? I asked in an ecstatic tone. What? he replied, curiously. I told him about the gnatcatcher, andthat now there could be no doubt. We had found the first Black-capped Gnatcatchers this high up inMadera Canyon. Our luck was holding. Now all we needed to do was what we had started to do - findthe Berylline Hummingbird.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/861/_/Berylline_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/861/_/Berylline_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/861/_/Berylline_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/396/_/Sulphur-bellied_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mexican_Jay/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/596/_/Flame-colored_Tanager.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bridled_Titmouse/soundshttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/greater_roadrunner/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1015/_/Black-tailed_Gnatcatcher.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-Gray_Gnatcatcher/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1065/_/Black-capped_Gnatcatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1065/_/Black-capped_Gnatcatcher.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-Gray_Gnatcatcher/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1015/_/Black-tailed_Gnatcatcher.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/greater_roadrunner/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bridled_Titmouse/soundshttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/596/_/Flame-colored_Tanager.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mexican_Jay/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/396/_/Sulphur-bellied_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/861/_/Berylline_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/861/_/Berylline_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/id


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Up we went, the wind pushing at us like invisible hands. Ourdestination was Bog Springs, a small damp plateau at a highelevation. There had been reports of a bear cub loitering nearthe springs. That would be a bonus, I thought to myself. Wereached the spring less than thirty minutes after we had seen thegnatcatchers. A pair of hummingbirds buzzed past us and upthe trail. Did one of those hummers look bigger to you? Isuggested. Yah, guess so, said my dad, I dont think it was

the Berylline though. Just then, the hummers came racingback along the trail.

Berylline Hummingbird

I immediately recognized the smaller individual to be a male Black-chinned, and at that moment theother bird slowed and gracefully swooped up into a small oak, unluckily out of sight because of a clusterof branches in front of it. Being in front of my dad, I took a step forward, and to my surprise, saw abeautiful cinnamon and brown hummingbird staring back at me. Its the Berylline! I mouthed to mydad. He stepped forward also, but before he was to a place where he could see, I foolishly steppedforward in an attempt at a photo. As soon I moved though, the bird was gone. Its gone, I saidsympathetically. My dad nodded calmly. After all this he had missed the bird. Im sorry! I pleaded.

Dont be, he said, still engulfed in an aura of calm, you shouldnt be, but next time, dont only thinkof yourself. The sound of footsteps across the clearing gave me a fright. I almost jumped.

Look! my dad exclaimed. I spun around to find myself less than a hundred feet away from a BlackBearcub. We had only marveled at this for a matter of minutes, when from across the ravine below us,an adult Black Bear crashed out into view. Seconds later another adult bear came barging out behind thefirst. I bet its a family, I said. Oddly, the pair started to advance on us. My heart seemed to leap intomy throat. The bears were getting closer. I think we should get out of here, I suggested to my dad.The bears came to within thirty feet of us, sniffing the air, I assumed, because of their weak eyesight.We slowly backed down the trail, away from the bears, the melodious songs of many Painted Redstartsshielding our noisy escape.

September Program - Monday, September 21, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterAlaska Revisited

We started off the new season ofAltacal programs in Septemberwith a photographic report on therecently completed Alaska fieldtrip.

Alaska 09 Birding Group at Kuzitrin

Rear: Bill Kehoe, Veronika Kehoe, MikeFisher, Skip Augur, Warren Patten,Jennifer Patten, Tim Ruckle & ScottHuberFront: Raina King, Liam Huber, DawnGarcia, Pam Hansen, Mauricio Schrader,Frances Oliver and Bill Frey

Photo by Scott Huber
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-chinned_hummingbird/idhttp://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/game_bear.shtmlhttp://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/game_bear.shtmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Redstart/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Redstart/idhttp://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/game_bear.shtmlhttp://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/game_bear.shtmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-chinned_hummingbird/id


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Following in the tradition of great Altacal birding adventures, twelve chapter members visited some ofthe wildest parts of Alaska. The trip was hosted by Scott and Liam Huber and covered five days birdingaround the city of Nome followed by five days exploring the interior of Alaska near Denali NationalPark, the Fairbanks area, and the old Denali Highway. For the program, people took up the challengeand wowed the crowd with great pictures and stories.

Scott Huber began with an overview of the trip itinerary and some photos of a pre-trip he and Liamtook to the village ofGambell on Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. Located in the northern Bering Seaonly 190 miles off the coast from Nome and just 40 miles from Siberia, Gambell is a hotspot for NorthAmerican rare birds. Scott shared photos of some of their best finds including Rustic Bunting, WhiteWagtail, Least and Crested Auklets, Northern Fulmar and Rock Sandpiper. Liam presented hisphotos next and thrilled everyone with his creative action shots of many birds - Common Loons,American Golden-plovers, Long-tailed Jaegers and godwits in flight, groups of Harlequin Ducksdiving the wild rivers for food, and Arctic Terns performing aerobatics as they pierced the cold watersseeking fish.

Then, one-by-one, Raina King, Pam Hansen, Skip Augur, and Mauricio Schrader all took turns

showing their favorite photos. Many of thebest birds of the trip were found andphotographed in the Nome area. Long-tailedDucks, Arctic Warblers, Bluethroats,American and Pacific Golden-Plovers,Northern Wheatears, Eastern YellowWagtails, Long-tailed and Parasitic jaegers,both Common and Hoary Redpolls, andmany, many more.

Grizzlies at Denali

Photo by Tim Ruckle

During the time spent in the interior of Alaska, mammals were abundant and provided greatopportunities for the photographers. Playful Alaskan Brown Bears, mother and baby Moose, Red Fox,and Caribou, were all photographed in Denali National Park. The interior also dished up some greatbirds. Images of Three-toed Woodpecker, Upland Sandpiper, Boreal Chickadee, and White-winged Crossbill filled the screen.

The final four presenters were Bill and Veronika Kehoe and Warren and Jennifer Patten. They hada unique experience due to the special way they returned home. Instead of flying out of Anchorage likethe rest of the group they took a short, 50-mile bus ride to the Gulf of Alaska and boarded an ocean linerfor the trip back via Alaskas Inland Passage. Their photos highlighted this extremely beautiful area as

well as life aboard the ship. Making port in places like Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan allowed them toshare some of the history and culture of these historic towns.

By the end of the program it was clear that those who took this adventure to Alaska had experienced avery good time, and likewise, those who came to the September Altacal program had a great timeexperiencing Alaska through the eyes of others.
http://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/gambell/index.htmlhttp://offline.whatbird.com/obj/660/overview/Rustic_Bunting.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/271/_/White_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/271/_/White_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/239/overview/Least_Auklet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/257/_/Crested_Auklet.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Fulmar/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rock_Sandpiper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Golden-Plover/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/489/overview/Long-tailed_Jaeger.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Harlequin_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Arctic_Tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Arctic_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bluethroat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Golden-Plover/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/757/_/Northern_Wheatear.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/742/overview/Eastern_Yellow_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/742/overview/Eastern_Yellow_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/491/overview/Parasitic_Jaeger.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hoary_Redpoll/idhttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/brnbear.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/moose.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/redfox.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/caribou.phphttp://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/index.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Three-toed_Woodpecker/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Upland_Sandpiper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Boreal_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.alaskainfo.org/CMS/index.phphttp://www.alaskainfo.org/CMS/index.phphttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Crossbill/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Boreal_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Upland_Sandpiper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Three-toed_Woodpecker/lifehistoryhttp://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/index.htmhttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/caribou.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/redfox.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/moose.phphttp://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/biggame/brnbear.phphttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hoary_Redpoll/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/491/overview/Parasitic_Jaeger.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/742/overview/Eastern_Yellow_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/742/overview/Eastern_Yellow_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/757/_/Northern_Wheatear.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific_Golden-Plover/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bluethroat/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Arctic_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Arctic_Tern/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Harlequin_Duck/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/489/overview/Long-tailed_Jaeger.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Golden-Plover/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Loon/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rock_Sandpiper/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Fulmar/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/257/_/Crested_Auklet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/239/overview/Least_Auklet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/271/_/White_Wagtail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/271/_/White_Wagtail.aspxhttp://offline.whatbird.com/obj/660/overview/Rustic_Bunting.aspxhttp://www.kawerak.org/tribalHomePages/gambell/index.html


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October Program - Monday, October 19, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterWestern Field Ornithologists Trip to Cuba with John Lewis

The evening became a virtual visit to Cuba for the people who packed themuseum room at the Chico Creek Nature Center for Altacals Octoberprogram. They all came to hear John Lewis (JT) recount his birding andcultural adventures in this often maligned country. As a member of theWestern Field Ornithologists, an organization of amateur and professional

field ornithologists, JT had a rare opportunity to travel to the island nation ofCuba on which the United States government has placed severe travelrestrictions.

As a photographer, JT is perfectly suited to record and report on such anexotic location. He shared dozens of photos of both the birds of Cuba andthe many faces of Cuba. His group traveled from Habana to theGuanahacabibes Peninsula in westernmost Cuba, then backtracked eastward,visiting the Sierra La Guira, and finally, the abundance of habitats aroundthe Bahia Cochines (Bay of Pigs) and Zapata Swamp area.

Cuban Pygmy-Owl

Some of the highlights of the evening were photos of a few of the many endemics of Cuba. The CubanTody, Cuban Trogon, Bee Hummingbird, and Zapata Sparrow were all shown by JT. Alsophotographed was the almost-endemic Great Lizard-Cuckoo (also found in the Bahamas) that gets itsname by scurrying up the branches of trees like a lizard. Other spectacular species seen and shared werethe Cuban Grassquit, Zapata Wren, Giant Kingbird, Cuban Solitaire, and Yellow-headedWarbler. Raptors seen and photographed included Bare-legged Owls, Cuban Pygmy-Owls, CubanBlack-Hawkand Cuban Kestrels. Many of these species were difficult to find and even more difficultto photograph. JT recounted the search for the highly sought after but very difficult to find quail-doves.After long walks searching, and all the while hearing them just out of visual range, only quick glimpsesofBlue-headed, Gray-fronted and Ruddy Quail-Doves were seen by a few people.

Beyond just birding, the group had a chance to experience the Cuban culture via its dance and music. JT

and his wife Chris were fortunate to be able to spend some time in the home of a distant relative wholives in Habana. Afterword they walked the 16 blocks back to their hotel and marveled at thefriendliness, and hospitality of the Cuban people, people who have so few possessions but are so rich inspirit.

Cuban Trogon
http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantody.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantody.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantrogon.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/beehummingbird.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/zapatasparrow.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/greatlizardcuckoo.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/stefankoeder/3376494716http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/zapatawren.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/giantkingbird.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubansolitaire.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/yellow-headedwarbler.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/yellow-headedwarbler.htmlhttp://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec78-67.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubanpygmy-owl.htmlhttp://www.gos.org/sightings/19-hawks/cubh.htmlhttp://www.gos.org/sightings/19-hawks/cubh.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/35303070@N02/3289674922http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2603&m=0http://www.superdirectories.com/?Branch_ID=2208011http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/893/_/Ruddy_Quail-Dove.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/893/_/Ruddy_Quail-Dove.aspxhttp://www.superdirectories.com/?Branch_ID=2208011http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2603&m=0http://www.flickr.com/photos/35303070@N02/3289674922http://www.gos.org/sightings/19-hawks/cubh.htmlhttp://www.gos.org/sightings/19-hawks/cubh.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubanpygmy-owl.htmlhttp://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/spec/spec78-67.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/yellow-headedwarbler.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/yellow-headedwarbler.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubansolitaire.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/giantkingbird.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/zapatawren.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/stefankoeder/3376494716http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/greatlizardcuckoo.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/zapatasparrow.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/beehummingbird.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantrogon.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantody.htmlhttp://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/cubantody.htmlhttp://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/


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Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports

September 25-27, Friday-Sunday - Point Reyes National SeashoreTrip Leaders: Jennifer Patten & Mike Fisher

The annual fall birding field trip out to Pt.Reyes National Seashore was absolutelyperfect in every way. The weather;daytime temps in the 80s, no wind; thebirds; all ten Altacalers got lifers; and thefood shared by all around the campfire -delicious! These perfect conditions madefor full days of birding - and what birdswe saw! Just in our campground alone,the birds sighted were Chestnut-backedChickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos , Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Brown Creepers,Western Bluebirds, a Wrentit, severalPygmy Nuthatches feeding in the pinetrees, a flyover of fifteen Greater White-fronted Geese, and the nightly hooting ofa Great Horned Owl.

Skip Augur, Pam Hansen, John Aull, Rick Wulbern,Jennifer Patten, Gaylord Grams, Nancy Nelson, Mike Fisher

and Sandy TaylorPhoto by Tesh Bhattacharya

One of our favorite spots each year to bird is the Earthquake Trail by the Pt. Reyes NS Visitors Centerwhere we saw Fox Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Cooper s Hawk, Black-throated Gray and Yellow-rumped Warblers, a covey of California Quail, Nuttalls and AcornWoodpeckers. Other popular birding stops included the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse, Fish Docks, Drakes

Beach, Nunes Ranch, RCA Coast Guard Station and the Oyster Farm.These hot birding spots each year prove to be just what the name implies. At Fish Docks a PRAIRIEWARBLER, one of those rarities, was seen in the conifers along the road, and at the Oyster Farm we allsaw a TROPICAL KINGBIRD, fly-catching off the power lines. Drakes Bay was full ofCommonMurres, Surf Scoters, Western, Ring-billed and Heermanns Gulls, Common Loons, Double-crested Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, and at the Lighthouse we saw four Sharp-Shinned Hawkscircling at the headlands. Along the beach or mudflats, shorebirds sighted were Black-bellied Plovers,Marbled Godwit, Pectoral Sandpiper, Willet and Least Sandpiper. Also included were excitingsightings ofRissos Dolphins, Gray Whales, and CaliforniaSea Lions, at the Pt. Reyes headlands;deer, elk and coyotes in the surrounding fields and pastures, plus the nightly visit by raccoons at ourcampsite. In all, 105 species of birds were listed.

The Point Reyes Lighthouse Photo byTesh Bhattacharya
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cked_Chickadee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/id


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October 11, Sunday - Upper Bidwell Park then Hooker Oak Area for LunchTrip Leader: Steve King

Weather was perfect for a walk along the Yahi trail to DayCamp and back. A Great Blue Heron was on the water's edgeat Horseshoe Lake to help us get off to a great start. Alongwith one Lark Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrows wereabundant in the bushes between the tables at the parking lotand Horseshoe Lake. Acorn Woodpeckers seem to be at anextremely high population level this year. Following the roaddown to the Yahi trailhead, we saw a number of Violet-greenSwallows on the power lines and a Pied-billed Grebe on BigChico Creek. Once we were on the Yahi Trail, CedarWaxwings became the dominant bird.

Horseshoe Lake

We would put our binoculars on a bird, only to find out it was another Cedar Waxwing. From DayCamp, we headed back to the cars along the middle trail, which was very quiet. We did hear what we allagreed was a Northern Mockingbird but never could locate it. There was a Great Egret on the lakewhen we returned to our cars.

After the upper park walk, three of us headed over to Hooker Oak for lunch and a little more birding.We followed Big Chico Creek up to the Five Mile area and picked up a Hermit Thrush and aBlack-throated Gray Warbler. We then walked along the levee behind the baseball diamonds where fivePhainopeplas were seen in a bush between the levee and the baseball fields. We saw 40 species ofbirds on the Upper Park walk and added three more species while birding in the Hooker Oak Area. Agreat day!

October 16-18, Friday-Sunday, North Coast Birding

Trip leader: Nancy Nelson

An Aerial View of Arcata Marsh

A small but enthusiastic group braved the threat of wet weather to spend some time in the Eureka/Arcataarea of the north coast. We arrived Friday afternoon and picked a campsite with an ocean view atPatricks Point State Park. The birding along the park trails was slow despite the lovely, warmweather. Friday evening we treated ourselves to a nice dinner at a nearby restaurant.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_blue_heron/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/lark_sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/acorn_woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-Green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-Green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pied-billed_Grebe/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_mockingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_Egret/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Phainopepla/idhttp://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=417http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=417http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Phainopepla/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_Egret/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_mockingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pied-billed_Grebe/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-Green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-Green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/acorn_woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/lark_sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_blue_heron/id


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Saturday morning we joined the Redwood Region Audubon on their weekly walk at the ArcataMarsh. One of the highlights of the trip was the wonderful tour we received from our delightful youngguide, Lauren. It was refreshing to see a young person with so much knowledge. We all enjoyed theabundance of shorebirds and waterfowl. Our best sighting was an American Golden-Plover.

Heavy rain Saturday afternoon caused us to institute Plan B and head for drier ground. The rest of theweekend was spent camping and hiking at Whiskeytown Lake. On the way home, we stopped at TurtleBay in Redding and were surprised to see a Mandarin Duck hanging out with the Mallards on theSacramento River. Our total number of species for the trip was 71.

October 25, Sunday, Thomes Creek HikeTrip Leader: Phil Johnson

Nine hardy hikers showed up to hike the trail to Thomes CreekGorge. The air in the valley was very clear and gave us greatviews across the Sacramento valley of the Sierra Buttes, theSutter Buttes, Mount Lassen and Brokeoff Mountain, MountShasta and the Cascade foothills. We hit the trail by about9:00 a.m. and hiked through chapparal vegetation. Birds werescarce but we did get looks at Bewicks's Wren, Wrentit, andRuby-crowned Kinglets in the brush.

Thomes Creek GorgePhoto by Phil Johnson

After hiking for about 45 minutes we discovered that a wildfire had burned the canyon last year, and thatthe hike would be through burned-out sticks of manzanita that were starting to stump-sprout. Due tolack of vegetation cover, not many birds were spotted. We did hear a Mountain Quail in a ravine.Later we spotted California Quail on the trail. Along the trail, there is a lushly vegetatedspring/meadow were we found Lincoln's Sparrow and Black Phoebe. We reached the gorge and were

treated to great views of the pools and clear water. While eating lunch, we spotted a Yellow-leggedFrog in a backwater. Its predator, the Great Egret, was seen nearby. An Orange-crowned Warblerwas lurking in the brush near the creek.

For reptiles, we got Western Rattlesnake, Gopher Snake, Aquatic Garter Snake, and WesternFence Lizard. We saw a total of 29 species.

Yellow-legged FrogPhoto by Phil Johnson
http://www.rras.org/http://www.wildlifehotspots.com/arcatamarsh.htmlhttp://www.wildlifehotspots.com/arcatamarsh.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Golden-Plover/idhttp://www.whiskeytownmarinas.com/http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/NDG/Ducks/Mand/BRKMandarin.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bewicks_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wrentit/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Quail/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_quail/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lincolns_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black_phoebe/idhttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.boylii.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.boylii.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_Egret/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/idhttp://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/crotalusviridis.id.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/p.c.catenifer.htmlhttp://www.tiem.utk.edu/~mmfuller/WebDocs/HTMLfiles/nerodia.htmlhttp://www.wildherps.com/species/S.occidentalis.htmlhttp://www.wildherps.com/species/S.occidentalis.htmlhttp://www.wildherps.com/species/S.occidentalis.htmlhttp://www.wildherps.com/species/S.occidentalis.htmlhttp://www.tiem.utk.edu/~mmfuller/WebDocs/HTMLfiles/nerodia.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/p.c.catenifer.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/crotalusviridis.id.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_Egret/idhttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.boylii.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/r.boylii.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black_phoebe/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lincolns_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_quail/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Quail/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wrentit/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bewicks_wren/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/idhttp://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/NDG/Ducks/Mand/BRKMandarin.htmlhttp://www.whiskeytownmarinas.com/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Golden-Plover/idhttp://www.wildlifehotspots.com/arcatamarsh.htmlhttp://www.wildlifehotspots.com/arcatamarsh.htmlhttp://www.rras.org/


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October 31, Saturday, Owl-o-WeenTrip Leaders: Dawn Garcia and Mike Fisher

Ten adventurers caravanned with their ghoulish hosts, Mike (The Hatchet) Fisher and Steve (TheGuillotine - Guillo to his friends) King, to the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) for thisexciting, full-moon event. Steve summoned the petite Northern Pygmy Owl for most of the group tosee, followed by two Great Horned Owls; everyone had silhouetted views at these winged goblins!Meanwhile Raina (The Sorceress) King, Nancy (The Banshee) Nelson, and Dawn (Madam Scorpion)were concocting magical brew and prepping delicacies (vampire fangs, eye of gremlin, etc) for theirincoming guests, while attempting to charm Northern Saw-whet Owls (NSWO) into mist-nets. Frombelow, a Western Screech Owl called in response to Guillos solicitations to bring in yet a third speciesof owl.

Traversing the shadowy grounds, The Hatchet led his group to the reserve cemetery where Paul Lucas,the lone dweller, awaited under his gravestone. The Hatchet wove the chilling tale of Pauls daughter,the raven-haired beauty, Betty Lucas, who, as the story goes, lost her head to an obsessed transientlogger (a possible distant relation to Guillo) but her head has never been found. The ghastly beheadingof Pauls daughter drove him crazy and he took his own life in 1913. Betty, still searching for her head,haunts the reserve every year on the day it was chopped off, October 31, (1912). Moans, groans andapparitions of a floating, black-haired head, have been reported.

Finally after the chilling tale and walk through the phantom-filled cemetery, the group was led to thehaunted glen, where Dawn and her sirens awaited.Apparently Dawn had not used the correct ingredients(missing hypoboscid fly, ah-ha!) in her magic owl-conjuringpotion, as the NSWO nymphs only distantly responded andnever ended up in the nets. But the group enjoyed thecamaraderie, views of the night sky through scopes, andparticipation in scary stories including the tale of twoincredibly dangerous BCCER rogue bears that later camecrashing through the eerie moonlit woods to frighten ourguests (staged by Scott and Liam Huber). All the while

creepy, ethereal moans floated through the twilight towardsthe ghostly glen..

Betty, Dawn & Liam

Opportunities and Events

New show at James Snidle Fine Arts, Chico - "Avian Stew" by Paula Busch

Altacal member Paula Busch has created an impressive group of encaustic (melted wax) paintings ofover forty-five birds, most if not all, from our local flyways. Encaustic is the second oldest art mediumused throughout the world. There is nothing antique, though, in the appearance of Paula's multi-layered

works of art.

The show will be on exhibit through December, with a reception the evening of December 3rd

at JamesSnidle Fine Arts Gallery, 254 E 4th Street, Chico - Open Wed - Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-1 or by appointment,343-2930.
http://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/13/_/Northern_Pygmy-Owl.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_horned_owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_screech-owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_screech-owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/great_horned_owl/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/13/_/Northern_Pygmy-Owl.aspxhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccer


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[from Paula]

Avian Stew

These are my bird friends. They come to my Northern Californiayard or they fly high above it (Speculation).They eat at my feeders (Consideration andContemplation) or sit at my window sill

(Jaunty) demanding peanuts. These aviansare companions while I work in the studio.I did not want to make images that weresentimental, cute or illustrative but ratherones that would capture the birds with anemotion usually attached to people. I havealso taken much liberty with the color,pattern, and designs of their plumage. Anornithologist would be taken aback.

oxygen kamikaze

My primary focus was printmaking. I have been working in Encaustics for the past several years. Thewax has pushed me to expand my visual language as it permits me to carve, embed, inlay, transfer andscratch into its surface. It allows for more depth than printmaking does because it lets me fuse layers ofwax into a variety of textures and transparencies. I use a heat gun to do this. The Greek word Encausticmeans to burn in. Incorporating bees wax from the Farmers market and mixing it with Damar resin,I create my base. Also used are blocks of heavily pigmented wax and colored oil sticks. The medium isvery permanent and is a treat to the sense of smell.

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.Aesop

January 15-18 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival

Every Martin Luther King weekend over 450 birders visit Morro Bay, California, a Globally ImportantBird Area, to see, photograph, and learn more about birds. Morro Bay is located halfway between LosAngeles and San Francisco on the Pacific Flyway.


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The area offers pristine beaches, beautiful state parks, an excellent natural history museum, panoramicviews of the Pacific Ocean and, best of all, thousands of birds. Over 200 species are usually sightedduring the Festival weekend.

Over 100 individual events are featured, including pelagic cruises, boat rides and kayaking in the Bay,van trips throughout the county, as well as many informative workshops.

For more information contact: Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, P.O. Box 1175, Morro Bay, CA 93443or toll free: 866 464-5105 or http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/

January 28-31 11th

Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway

Experience the wonders of the Pacific Flyway at the11th Annual Snow Goose Festival

Thursday- Sunday, January 28-31, 2010Chico, CA

Over 50 guided field trip and workshops to choose from (Thursday-Sunday) Free Junior Naturalist Activities (Saturday-Sunday at the Chico Masonic Center) Uptown/Downtown Art of the Pacific Flyway Exhibit (January 22-Feb-7) & Art Reception

Friday night @ Avenue 9 Gallery & All Fired Up! Ceramic Art Studio

Banquet & Silent Auction, Saturday with keynote speaker, Stephen ShunkBirding thought the Veil of Winter @ BMU, Chico State

Exhibits & Vendors galore @ Chico Masonic Family Center, Saturday & Sunday.2010 Highlights

Storytelling The Boy and the Loon brought to you by the Museum of Anthropology, CSUChico.

Nature Films Huell Howser films Snow Goose Festival

Registration starts in early [email protected]

530-345-1865
http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.snowgoosefestival.org/http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/


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Keynote Presentation

Birding through the Veil of Winter

As the snow falls in the mountains and the darkness of winter takes hold, the outside world seems tosleep. But the rising sun of each winter day signals the start of the brief daily feeding period for all ourwintering birds. Many species, like the Nuttalls Woodpecker and Spotted Towhee, residepermanently in the region, adapting to winter with simple changes in behavior. Other birds, such as theSnow Goose and Rough-legged Hawk, travel thousands of miles to enjoy our relatively mild winters,

while their arctic breeding grounds are shrouded in ice.Join Oregon naturalist and author Stephen Shunk as he shares stories of winterdiscovery in his life as a professional birder. Steve will tell of the invasions ofwinter finches and wood-boring woodpeckers. He will tell of waves ofBohemian Waxwings and white geese, and he will discuss the seasonalmovements of northern raptors and water birds. You will gain a newappreciation for our wintering avian visitors as Steve shares his favorite winterbirding experiences from Northern California and beyond.

Stephen Shunk started birding in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989 andmoved to Sisters, Oregon, in 1997. For over ten years, Steve has led birding

tours and classes throughout western North America with his company,Paradise Birding. He co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy andserved as its first President; he also co-founded the Oregon Birding Trails program and coordinated itsflagship project, the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. Steve currently leads bird surveys in the CentralOregon Cascades, with an emphasis on woodpeckers, and he recently completed the PetersonReference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America.

The next Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place Friday, February 12 through Monday,February 15, 2010. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are calling oneveryone to Count for Fun, Count for the Future! During last years count, participants turned inmore than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent's largest instantaneous snapshot of birdpopulations ever recorded. We hope youll join us again and help spread the word, since the success ofthe count depends on people tallying birds from as many locations as possible across the continent.

Check the next issue of the White-tailed Kite for possible Altacal local bird walks in support of theGBBC.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snow_goose/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birdcount.org&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.audubon.org&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birds.cornell.edu&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birds.cornell.edu&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.audubon.org&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.birdcount.org&srcid=13417&srctid=1&erid=1490063http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snow_goose/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/id


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March, 2010 Panam

Steve Margolin of the Latin American Committee informs us thatthe LAC is offering an eleven-day trip to Panam beginningMarch 4, 2010. Steve organized the Altacal trip to Panam in2008 and will be the escort on this trip. The main trip will visitthe birding hotspots of Cerro Azul and the Canal Area (includingtwo visits to the famous Pipeline Road), the highlands of ChiriquProvince to look for highland specialties like ResplendentQuetzal, and the San Francisco Preserve on the border betweenPanam and Darin Provinces (the 2008 Altacal trip drove bythere on the way to La Marea but did not have time to stop).There is an optional four-day extension to the Azuero Peninsula

Schoolhouse mural by GrupoEcolgico Sierra Gorda, Mexico

in central Panam, a bit off the beaten track, which will include a day of birding and snorkeling at IslaIguana Wildlife Refuge in the Gulf of Panama and, time permitting, a stop at the craft market in ElValle. Guido Berguido, of Advantage Tours Panama and Conservation Director of Panama AudubonSociety, will be the guide. The tour cost will include a donation for the education and conservationwork of the Latin America Committee (www.lacbirds.org). Anyone wanting additional information cancontact Steve at [email protected] or 342-6476.

Submission of Articles

(Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor asMicrosoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 1st of the month prior to the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May,

Jul, Sep and Nov 1st) - [email protected] Thanks, Editor)

Newsletter Contributors

Thanks to all of you who contribute regularly by sending in items, articles and photos, and specialthanks to Denise Devine who does the widely appreciated layout design of the paper version of theWhite-tailed Kite Tim Ruckle, Editor

Answer to Quiz

Forsters Tern


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Altacal Board of Directors

President Phil Johnson 570-7139/[email protected] Jennifer Patten 345-9356/[email protected]

Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected] Kathryn Hood 342-9112/[email protected] Mary Lou Martin 893-1931/[email protected]

Membership Carolyn Short 345-4224/[email protected] Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected]/ Tim Ruckle 566-9693/[email protected]/Web Site Wayland Augur 893-9222/[email protected] Trips Nancy Nelson 345-0580/[email protected], Lands vacantand RefugeConservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/[email protected] Scott Huber 321-5579/Scott@[email protected] John Merz 345-4050/[email protected]

Marilyn Gamette 343-3154/[email protected]

Board meetings are held at 5:15 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The usual meeting place is the Altacal AudubonSociety/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. Altacal members are welcome to attend.

Local Chapter Membership Application

Please join us! Your membership will help Altacal Audubon Society (AAS) continue its important work.Altacal is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. In addition, it is a separately incorporated non-profit organization. With a local chapter membership, 100% of your membership dues goes to supportlocal projects and activities. AAS is an all-volunteer organization that conducts all of its programs withno paid staff. We offer regularly scheduled field trips focused on birds and bird habitats, our ownwebsite, www.altacal.org/, a bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly membership meetingswhich include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural history-related topics, andadvocacy to protect and conserve local habitats as well as special projects and programs. Other AASactivities include:

sponsoring and participating in the annual Snow Goose Festival sponsoring and participating in the annual Endangered Species Faire founding and providing continued support to the Chico Creek Nature Center owning and managing the Arneberg Sanctuary as a wildlife habitat and research area helping to monitor the bird populations at the Del Rio Wildland Preservenear the Sacramento

River

paying to maintain public access and a wildlife viewing blind at the Chico Oxidation Ponds leading annual Christmas Bird Counts in Chico and Oroville for the past 51 years
mailto:342-9112/[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]://www.snowgoosefestival.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/mailto:343-3154/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]:342-9112/[email protected]


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december 2009 white tailed kite newsletter, altacal audubon society

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