White-tailed Kite

August/September, 2007

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 held on the third Monday of each month (except
for July and August) at 6:30 p.m., at the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St.

September Program – Members’ Slide Show – Monday, September 17, 6:30

p.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center
Come see what Altacal members have been up to as they show off their photos for our
annual members’ slide show! There are always some great new, and sometimes old,
(that’s OK too) pictures to see and tales to hear. Feel free to bring some of your own
slides (35 mm or electronic) if you like. We’ll try to work it out so everyone gets a
chance to participate. The meeting will be at the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 East
8th Street.

Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips

All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is
welcome to participate.
August 4/5, Saturday/Sunday - Farallon Islands Pelagic Trip (Shearwater Journeys)
– Organizer: Scott Huber - The date of the Altacal field
trip to the Farallon islands is posted on Debi
Shearwater's website. The trip is open to all, not just
Altacal members, so it is important that we book early to
ensure ourselves a place on the boat. Below is Debi's
description of the trip as well as instructions for
reservation and payment. PLEASE BOOK AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE so that we can all go together! Please
call Scott with any questions and let him know if you do
book it so he can keep track of how many may be
carpooling down. So far, six have verbally committed to
the trip. Some of us will be doing optional birding on
the 4th (the Shearwater pelagic trip out of Monterey).
Others will probably do bird walks closer to Sausalito on the 4th. The Monterey pelagic
trip on the 4th may still have openings and if you are an Altacal member you can take the
trip for $100 instead of $125. It was an afterthought, though, and is not an official,
announced Altacal trip.
Tufted Puffins and the Farallon Islands
This pelagic trip will visit the waters surrounding the
Farallon Islands to view the many species of nesting
seabirds, as well as marine mammals. It is scheduled for
Sunday, August 5th, the prime time to see Tufted Puffins.
These incredible islands host the largest seabird colonies
south of Alaska on the west coast, and are entirely protected
as a marine sanctuary. Altacal Audubon has teamed up with
Shearwater Journeys for this trip which will depart from
Sausalito at 7:30 a.m. aboard the Salty Lady for an 8-hour
adventure. Weather permitting, we'll continue to the
Continental Shelf to look for deepwater species of
seabirds and marine mammals.
See www.shearwaterjourneys.com for trip reports from previous exciting trips. The
Audubon Society-member discounted rate is $100/person (NON-REFUNDABLE FOR
ANY REASON except weather cancellation by captain); non-members rate is $125 per
person. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Send a check or money
order and self-addressed, stamped envelope for return confirmation to: Shearwater
Journeys, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024. This trip sells out every year, well in
advance. To date, we have a 100% success rate of seeing the puffins.
August 10-12, Friday-Sunday – Yosemite National Park Great Gray Owl Hunt -
Trip leaders: Mike Fisher and Jennifer Patten - The Great Gray Owl is North America's
largest-appearing owl (the Great Horned Owl has 15% more body mass but less feather
mass) and has been designated an Endangered Species by the State of California. The
population in the Yosemite region is perhaps the healthiest within the state and is the
most southern population in North America. There are an estimated 40 within the park.
Although the likelihood of spotting a Great Gray Owl is small, we will visit a number of
sites and give it our best shot. Jennifer will already have been on site for a few weeks as
a volunteer for the park and will be collecting possible sightings of owls and other rare
birds for us to check out when we arrive. Other species we will look for include Sooty
Grouse (formerly, Blue Grouse), Black, Vaux’s and White-throated Swifts, Northern
Goshawk, and Black-backed Woodpecker. We will leave early Friday morning and
camp Friday and Saturday nights in the park. Park entrance fees and camping fees will
be required. This birding trip may include a lot of walking and hiking. Contact Mike
Fisher (624-4777) or Jennifer Patten (345-9356) for more information.
September 23, Sunday - Upper Bidwell Park - Trip Leader: Skip Augur - We'll start by
walking along North Rim, Upper, or Middle trail early to beat the heat; as the day warms
up we'll head down and return along the Yahi trail. Some migrants are a possibility, as
well as our resident species. No experience necessary. Bring your binoculars, a field
guide if you have one, hiking shoes, water, and snacks if you need them. Meet at the
newly constructed parking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8 a.m. and walk until about 11:30
a.m. (2-3 miles). Difficulty Level: Some moderately steep trail sections. For more
information, contact Skip at 893-9222.
September 28-30, Friday-Sunday - Fall Vagrants at Point Reyes National Seashore –
Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten - We'll camp at Samuel P. Taylor State Park or Olema
Ranch campground Friday and Saturday night. Our first stop will be at Point Reyes
Bear Valley Visitor Center Saturday morning to pick up a copy of the Field Checklist of
Birds for Point Reyes National Seashore ($2.50) and then take a hike along the
Earthquake Trail. We'll then bird the outer Peninsula to the Lighthouse, Fish Docks,
and Drakes Beach. After that, we’ll move on to the Historic Ranches. Sunday we'll drive
to the Tomales Bay State Park and Abbott’s Lagoon areas. Bring camping gear, money
for a camping site and carpooling. Contact Jennifer so transportation and camping can be
coordinated; 345-9356 or [email protected]
October 13, Saturday, Oxidation Ponds/Indian Fishery - We will meet at the Park-n-
Ride on Hwy 32 in the lot nearest Hwy 99 at 7:30 a.m. and will carpool to the Chico City
Sewage Treatment Plant. There we will spend a couple of hours walking the levees
around the oxidation ponds where we hope to find many species of local and migrating
waterfowl and other birds and mammals. We will then go over to the Indian Fishery
Day Use Area of Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park and walk the half-mile guided
nature trail. The trail winds through an oak woodland forest adjacent to an oxbow lake.
Woodpeckers abound along with woodland and aquatic birds. In addition we may see
River Otters, Beavers and Western Pond Turtles. We should be back at the Park-n-
Ride by 12:30 pm. Call or e-mail Mike Fisher for more information at (530) 624-4777 or
[email protected] . Rain cancels.

June Program Report – Members’ Potluck Dinner - Monday, June 18,

6:00 p.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center
Altacal Audubon’s summer season started off with the annual Members’ Potluck Dinner
outdoors at the Chico Creek Nature Center on Monday, June 18th. With a
good crowd of members along with friends and family, it was a fun-
filled evening centered on socializing, games and great food.
The potluck consisted of delicious fresh food from hors d’oeuvres to
desserts, including many dishes made from local produce from our
farmers’ market. We played bird trivia and memory games and our all-time favorite, the
water-balloon toss. Three lucky winners enjoyed getting their prizes which included a
Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America and the mallard and turkey from
the Audubon toy bird collection.
But mostly, we enjoyed visiting and sharing stories with each other. It was nice to see
new members attending along with some long-time members. A special thanks to all
who participated. Mark your calendars now for next year’s Members’ Potluck. You
don’t want to miss it.

May Program Report – Lassen’s Amazing Birds, May 21, 6:30 p.m.
Chico Creek Nature Center
Ranger Steve Zachary drove down from his home in Red Bluff to talk and show slides of
Lassen Volcanic National Park, located just 45 miles east of Red Bluff. Steve is a
teacher as well as a Park Ranger and has been the Education Specialist at the park for 16
years. It quickly became clear that he has developed a vast wealth of knowledge about
the park during this time and was able to share much of it at the presentation.
Lassen Park contains the largest concentration of thermal features west of Yellowstone.
Steve said most people visit Lassen to see its volcanic and thermal features but that this is
just one aspect of the park. The park is located in the center of three biological
provinces: the Cascades, the Sierras, and the Great Basin. At just over 100,000 acres
Lassen is considered small as National Parks go, but has a large diversity of things to see
and do. Ranging in elevation from 5000 to 10,457 feet and containing over 100 lakes and
thousands of acres of old growth forest, Lassen provides many habitats that are home to a
wide range of flora and fauna.
Switching to birds, Steve focused much of his presentation on the Manzanita Lake area.
From the trail around the lake it is possible to see over 100 different species of birds
including Bald Eagle and Osprey. The lake is home to many neotropical migrants such
as warblers and flycatchers and also offers a year-round home to resident birds such as
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee and Brown Creeper. All three
accipiters can be seen around the Manzanita Lake Campground area; Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk and even Northern Goshawk. One of the many interesting
facts related by Steve was the disappearance of the American Coot as a breeding bird on
the lake. Although very common ten years ago, today it is seldom seen. Nobody knows
just why they left but this change has resulted in an increase in the numbers of other
ducks at the lake. One such new arrival is the Bufflehead, rarely seen in the past but now
a regular breeder at Manzanita Lake. In fact, Manzanita Lake is one of the only places in
California where Bufflehead breed.
Of special interest to many in attendance was a recent sighting of the Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finch, a rare bird of high elevations. These birds were seen foraging in patches of
snow around the Lassen Peak trailhead parking lot recently. It just may be time for
another visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Sister Society (Cape Cod Bird Club) News

On May 12 and 13, the 2nd Annual Birding Cape Cod Weekend was held. Members
of the Cape Cod Bird Club led walks to top birding hotspots throughout the Cape Cod
area. There was one walk in each town on both Saturday and Sunday and participants
were welcome to stop by the Pilgrim Heights Hawk Watch in Truro both days.
Saturday was partly cloudy and cool with temperatures ranging from mid 40’s to low
50’s. With Sunday the 13th being Mother’s Day, the participation for the event decreased
from last year’s event with 155 people attending the walks, 95 on Saturday and 60 on
Sunday. The total number of species seen was 134 for the weekend, 103 on Saturday and
111 on Sunday. Birds seen included Common Eiders (20), Northern Bobwhites (7),
Common Loons (56), Northern Gannets (12), Great Cormorants (2), Glossy Ibises
(3), Mississippi Kite (1), Piping Plovers (15), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Ruddy
Turnstone (1), American Woodcocks (11), Laughing Gulls (45), Great Black-
backed Gulls (49+), Whip-poor-wills (3), Chimney Swifts (3), Fish Crows (8), Brown
Thrasher (1), Warbler Species (17) Grasshopper Sparrows, (5), Saltmarsh Sharp-
tailed Sparrow (1), and Seaside Sparrows (2).
Some of the sightings that Mary Keleher, President of the Cape Cod Bird Club, reported
to the Massachusetts Audubon Society for the period of June 14-20 were:
• An Atlantic Puffin was among the seabirds seen from the Race Point parking lot
in Provincetown on June 14. Also seen off-shore from that vantage point were 4
Wilson's Storm-Petrels, 4 Greater Shearwaters, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 8
Manx Shearwaters, 280 Northern Gannets, 20 Laughing Gulls and 20
Common Terns.
• An unusual spring sighting of a Western Tanager was reported on June 16. The
male in breeding plumage was seen on an oriole feeder on Barn Hill Lane in West
Chatham.
• An apparent pair of Acadian Flycatchers was seen in the Mashpee River
Woodlands in Mashpee on June 16.
Birds seen in the area during the week of June 27 were:
• From North Monomoy and South Beach: Black-bellied Plovers,
Semipalmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstones, Red Knots,
Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, White-rumped
Sandpipers, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitchers, and one Wilson’s Phalarope.
• Other birds in the area were 1 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Black Tern,
and 30 Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows. On June 26, a lone Whimbrel made
an appearance at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. While several observers
enjoyed excellent looks at the whimbrel, two Royal Terns were spotted in
Provincetown. The ocean birds were also making their way back to their waters.
Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, and Sooty Shearwaters were starting to make
appearances. Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, and Finback Whales were
also present during the week.
• On July 8, Susan Witzell of Falmouth noted that two pairs of breeding Baltimore
Orioles came to their syrup feeder very frequently. They had been around since
late spring. One had just fledged a single Oriole chick and the other, a Brown-
headed Cowbird . In all the years she had seen cowbirds in her yard, she had
never seen one being raised by birds of other species. But this year there are two,
the second being raised by Song Sparrows.

AviQuiz
(Estimated Difficulty Level: Difficult)

Q: What do the names of the birds in the following photos have in common?

The answer appears at the end of the “Opportunities and Events” section of this
newsletter.
 Rex Burress
The Brink of the Bank Swallow
The environmentally aware manager of the Avenue 9 Gallery in Chico, Maria Phillips,
reminded me of the dilemma of the Bank Swallow. One of her photographs, taken by
Dawn Garcia, showed a colony occupying an embankment, a rare sight in recent years as
it seems a scarcity of banks has developed, much like animals finding fewer tree-crevice
homes.
The Bank Swallow, (Riparia riparia), is the most stressed of the swallow family and has
been listed as threatened in California, primarily because its major habitat, the
Sacramento River corridor, has fewer bare banks because they have been extensively rip-
rapped with rock for flood control. Up to 80% of California’s Bank Swallows are found
along the Sacramento, and 50% are threatened by river projects.
The tiny Bank Swallow, the smallest of 74 swallow
and martin species found around the world, gallantly
undertakes a laborious task of digging a three to four
foot tunnel into an embankment where a nest is
tended in darkness at the end at end. The birds are
sensitive to intrusion, and since they often build their
tunnels near the top of a bank, they can cave in under
heavy weight. The packed dirt is pecked and clawed
determinedly until the nest is built. They are the only
swallow to dig a hole. In California, Cliff Swallows
build mud nests under bridges, Rough-winged
Swallows
A Bank Swallow Trio on the Sacramento River
- Photo by Dawn Garcia

use found holes, Tree Swallows use tree cavities, and Barn Swallows build a mud/fiber
nest on man-made structures, but they all soar and swoop for a living, spending more
time in the air than perching...and they all consume large numbers of insects caught on
the wing!
I observed one pair of Bank Swallows construct a hole/nest in a rough flood-eroded bank
opposite the Oroville Dam one year. Usually they gather in colonies, but this one pair
chose a difficult site to dig their hole. Tall, sheer, dirt banks are rare along the Feather
River watershed, forcing them to use a less-than-perfect place. I could lean over the edge
of the bank and run my arm into the finalized excavation, and I marveled that I couldn’t
reach the end of the narrow run through pebbly soil. Once in my Missouri boyhood when
I was an egg collector, I scaled a cliff to reach back into a bank swallow burrow to obtain
a pearl-white egg.
I have seen the excavations of the colony at Fort Funston on the beach cliffs just south of
the San Francisco Zoo. In 1988, a 12-acre refuge was made of that cliff area to help save
the birds that were being affected by human intrusion. They also contend with the severe
winds that buffet the sea edge, and starlings sometimes steal their holes. Numbers
decreased from 500 to 140 between 1993 and 1996. They feed over nearby Lake Merced
and share the air with gulls and hang gliders. The only other coastal colony is at Ano
Nuevo State Park.
The tiny bank swallow is a neotropic bird, migrating to South America each year, and
returning in mass to northern nesting sites in April. The energetic life of a swallow is
devoted to flying as if spiritually obsessed to living on the wing. And what greater
privilege than to have wings able to lift the bird above earthly conflicts and mingle with
the heavenly chorus!
"Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away
and be at rest."
Psalm 55:6

Conservation Corner
Dawn Garcia, Conservation Chair
Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia) continued….…

Since you have read Rex’s fine essay in this issue regarding the Bank Swallow (Scientific
Name: Riparia riparia, Bird Banding Code: BANS) you understand the populations’
unfortunate decline in CA. The
decline of this species is very
real and current, BUT is
something that we can change. It
is difficult to be passionate or
even aware of the plight of this
species because, due to their
riparian habitats, they are
inaccessible and rarely seen
unless you float down the river
regularly.

Active Bank Swallows on the Banks of the Sacramento River

Photo by Dawn Garcia
This species is under continued
threats due to decline as the
colonies and their habitat are
threatened by bank-armoring
projects. Nobody wants to see
orchards or other “assets” fall
into the river, but as we are all
aware, the natural state of a
healthy river ecosystem is to
meander, ebbing and flowing,
eroding its banks. Those friable,
eroded banks are the very
habitat a Bank Swallow colony
needs to survive.

Bank Swallow Colony on the Banks of the Sacramento River

Photo by Dawn Garcia

Summary of Documented Decline

I was fortunate to help conduct the 2007 BANS annual surveys along the 100-mile stretch
of the Sacramento River from Red Bluff to Colusa, which has been surveyed by the
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and US Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) for
the last 20 years. This is the population that maintains from 50-80% of the remaining
California population!
Data from the last 20 years of surveys (DFG, USFWS) show the highest nesting pair
estimate from the initial 1986 survey of 13,170 pairs had declined to a low of 4,990 pairs
in 1998, rebounded to 9,590 in 2001, but continued a decline to 7,380 pairs in 2005.
Surveys in 2006 were not conducted due to the survey boat’s engine failure. In 2007, I
was part of the team that documented 38 colonies - just over 50% of the 72 colonies
documented in 1986. Due to our continued rocking practices, the California population
of the Bank Swallow is on the brink of extinction.

What to do?
Please stay posted to our newsletter and local papers for river bank armoring activities.
For example, soon an Environmental Impact Review (EIR) to armor a bank across from
the “washout” or Indian Fishery, a popular birding spot, will be out for review. This
project which will be submitted by M&T Ranch, will rock-over habitat that Bank
Swallows used in 2007 and have used in the past, and if available will use in the future, if
it is left intact. AAS will keep you posted, but let us know of your observations and
concerns as well. Stayed tuned and ACTIVE!
 Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports
May 18-20 – Friday-Sunday – Sierra Valley / Yuba Pass – Trip Leader: Mac
McCormick
By Liam Huber - age 10

We took a wonderful trip to Sierra Valley. Our campground was the most splendid and
most marvelous campground, the Salmon Creek Campground. We first arrived there at
7:45, May 18. There was a small creek near our camp.
On Saturday morning Mac McCormick joined us for coffee and
muffins. We went to a large marshland in Sierra Valley and
saw: Wilson's Phalarope, Yellow-headed Blackbird,
Wilson's Snipe, Vesper Sparrow and Brewer's Sparrow.
Later that evening we went to a high elevation spot called Yuba
Pass. There we saw Warbling Vireo, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-headed
Woodpecker and Red-breasted Sapsucker.
On Sunday we drove along a dirt road a few miles from Yuba
Pass. The elevation was 6800 feet. There we saw Gray and
Dusky Flycatchers and a Green-tailed Towhee. At 2:00 p.m.
we returned to our campground to pack up, and left at 3:00.
The author in the Field
Photo by Kathleen Huber

May 27, Sunday - Upper Bidwell

Park – Trip Leader: Skip Augur - A
group of ten birders met for an
enjoyable morning of birding in
Upper Park. We had several nice
sightings from the Horseshoe Lake
parking lot - Violet Green and
Northern Rough-winged
Swallows, Bullock's Oriole,
Western Kingbird, Phainopepla,
and Western Bluebird all put in an
appearance. The road leading to
Upper Park had also yielded Cliff
and Barn Swallows, and we got
Tree Swallows later, so it was a
good day for swallows.

Birding Middle Trail, Upper Bidwell Park

Photo by Skip Augur
We chose to begin the hike on Middle Trail to cover the exposed habitat before the day
got too warm. Ash-throated Flycatchers serenaded us from several trees along the walk,
but none actually showed themselves for about half-an-hour. There was a lot of what
appeared to be territorial harassment going on - an American Kestrel mobbing a Red-
tailed Hawk – and later, a Common Raven and a Red-tail engaging in aerial combat. It
seemed like the Red-tails were on the receiving end of most of it. We also got a nice look
at one of the kestrels in the same binocular view as a Phainopepla - not something you
see every day. As the day heated up, we headed down the hill, and scared up a small
flock of Wild Turkeys - always nice to see. There were two adults and several young.
We got a few more looks at their heads moving through the tall grass and one flushing
from a tree where it had taken refuge.
Hiking back along the Yahi trail we found more of the local breeders near the wetter
habitat. Black-headed Grosbeak, Orange-crowned Warbler, Hutton's Vireo, and
Downy Woodpecker all put in an appearance. Near the end of the hike we heard, but
never saw, a quite vocal Yellow-Breasted Chat that teased us for about 15 minutes. A
small family of Common Mergansers (a hen and ten handsome chicks) elicited some
“Awww’s” from the group. The total for the morning was 42 species.

Common Merganser and Ten Ducklings, Big Chico Creek, Upper Bidwell Park
Photo by Skip Augur

June 29/30-July 1, Friday-Sunday - Willow Lake - The Willow Lake trip on June 29-
July 1 weekend was filled with great moments. Here are a few.

Participants, Willow Lake Birding Trip

Photo by Phil Johnson
While walking around the perimeter of Little Willow Lake (a filled-in lake that is mostly
a swampy grassland), we noticed large concentrations of tiny Western Tree Frogs. A pair
of Sandhill Cranes was there to enjoy the bounty. A Spotted Sandpiper chattered
about trying to distract us from its nest. A Hermit Thrush gave its ethereal, flute-like
call from a high perch in the woods. Tiger
Lilies, Bleeding Hearts, and Columbine
were blooming along the lush green
margins of seep springs and streams.
Western Tanagers were often seen in the
tule marsh foraging and perching. From a
kayak on the lake, one could look up the
canyon and see the tufts of steam rising out
of the forest from the Terminal Geyser
vents. Around the campfire, Jon Aull told
stories of birds seen in Brazil's largest
wetlands, Nancy Concow spoke of birds
she had seen in the Peruvian Andes, and
Jennifer Patten gave us word pictures of
birds in France that were migrants from the
African continent. A nest of Townsend's
Solitaire chicks was found in a big, open
cavity on the side of an old snag. We
watched the parent bird bringing in food.
Townsend’s Solitaire Nest, Willow Lake
Photo by Phil Johnson

Right then, someone looked up and saw a Northern Goshawk circling in the sky. At
camp, a nest of a Western Wood-Pewee was found high up in a snaggy branch. In broad
daylight, we watched a Wilson's Snipe as it made it's winnowing flight. A Sora called
from the marsh at dusk. In an Aspen tree in the lower meadow, a Tree Swallow
and a Red-breasted Sapsucker had both taken residence in same tree. Both were seen
arriving at cavity hole, feeding chicks, and departing to forage for more baby food. Mike
Fisher noticed a Dark-eyed Junco flying out of the base of a Cornflower in the
meadow. As we parted the leaves of the plant, we saw four eggs in the nest.
On the floating bog (actually
called a fin) we saw two species
of insectivorous plants,
Roundleaf Sundew and
English Sundew. One plant
had trapped a damselfly in its
sticky glands. Two people
slipped and fell into the lake
with all of their clothes on. We
won't mention names in this
column (but you know who you
are). And last, but not least, lots
of good food showed up at the
informal potluck.
Dark-eyed Junco Nest in Corn Lily, Willow Lake
Photo by Phil Johnson
 Opportunities and Events

August 11, Saturday - Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration – Weldon, CA

The Southern Sierra's Kern River Valley is one of the premier migration routes for six species of
hummingbirds. Join us for a day (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) of hummingbird appreciation at our feeders.
Contact: Kern Valley Nature Festivals, PO Box 833, Weldon, CA 93283;
http://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htm
September 21-23, Friday-Sunday - 3rd Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival - Fall is a magical
time of year for birding along the Monterey Bay. Over 400 species of shorebirds, ducks, geese,
seabirds and songbirds gather along this beautiful coast to overwinter among our wetlands, sloughs,
shores and woodlands. With the Monterey Peninsula to the south and Santa Cruz to the north, the
Pajaro Valley is at the heart of one of the premier destinations along the Pacific Coast, providing great
diversity and abundance to the visiting birder.
The festival, headquartered in Watsonville, California, will feature expert-led field trips (Watsonville
Wetlands, Monterey Bay, Elkhorn Slough, Pajaro River and
Dunes, Moss Landing State Beach, Big Sur, Sunset Beach, the
Santa Cruz Coast, Pinnacles National Monument and
the Carmel River), guided walks for children, specialized birding
activities for beginners and outings led by a bilingual birding
expert. Additional excursions to the Big Sur Ornithology Lab and
guided outings to see the endangered California Condor are
also available.
Visit www.montereybaybirding.org for the festival schedule or to register. Visit www.birding.travel
for additional information on lodging or general travel information.
For more information about the festival, take a look at the archives of 2006. You may also e-mail
questions to Nanci Adams, festival co-chair: [email protected]
Sep 29/30, Saturday/Sunday - Kern Valley Turkey Vulture Festival - The Kern River Valley
Turkey Vulture Festival celebrates the height of fall Turkey Vulture migration through California's
"Valley Wild", the Kern River Valley, one of the two largest known migration sites in North America
(north of Mexico). The magnitude of the migration over this southern Sierra Nevada count site is awe
inspiring - field trips, exhibits, workshops.
October 7-9, Sunday-Tuesday, Audubon California Assembly 2007, Asilomar Conference
Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA – For over 100 years, Audubon has conserved and restored natural
ecosystems. Now, we prepare to face the challenge warming temperatures present to our beloved
landscapes and species. The 2007 Assembly will examine the problems of global warming from a
wildlife and ecosystem perspective and help us understand how global warming should affect our land
management decisions. The Assembly will spotlight climate solutions from conserving energy with
simple changes around the home, to reaching an 80 percent national reduction of greenhouse gases.
The Audubon California Assembly brings together over 300 chapter leaders, birders, scientists,
volunteers, grassroots activists and staff for three days on the Monterey Bay. At the Asilomar
Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, participants will have an opportunity to attend a wonderful
variety of interactive workshops on restoration, policy and education and meet renowned speakers
emphasizing the importance of effective conservation of California's birds, wildlife and habitat. World-
class birding, pelagic and California Condor fieldtrips, and more, will make the Assembly an
unforgettable experience. We welcome old friends and first time attendees!
Registration Fees: $275.00 per person before July 9; $325.00 per person after July 9; includes two
nights/three days, double occupancy; six meals; workshops. For questions and more information
contact: Claudia Eyzaguirre, [email protected] 510.601.1866 ext.3
September 1 through October 15, 2007 – Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO)'s 30th Annual
Bird-A-Thon - Grab your binoculars, your field guide and get ready for PRBO’s 2007 30th Bird-A-
Thon, the longest-running event of its kind in the US. Each year, PRBO's Bird-A-Thon raises over
$100,000 to help fund our critically acclaimed research and education programs. Our largest fundraiser,
the Bird-A-Thon, is a fun way to support PRBO's programs. Participate this Fall and help us reach our
goal of $130,000!
A Bird-A-Thon is a fundraiser, similar to a walk or jog-a-thon where individuals, or teams, count the
total number of bird species seen or heard in a 24-hour period. Each counter solicits pledges, or one-time
gifts from friends, relatives, neighbors, businesses and/or corporations for each bird species identified
during their chosen 24-hour period.
By participating you will:
• Have fun while raising critical funds to conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystems
throughout the West, Latin America and Antarctica!
• Have the chance to win lots of great prizes – spotting scopes, binoculars and more!
• Enjoy getting outdoors while you visit your favorite birding area!
You can participate by becoming an individual counter, creating or joining an existing team, or by
sponsoring a counter! For more information, or to register, visit: http://www.prbo.org/birdathon or
call Ann Joly, PRBO’s Bird-A-Thon Coordinator, at 707-781-2555 ext. 320 or email at
[email protected].

Citizen Science

Want to count birds and contribute to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s research by way of Citizen
Science? The purpose of Citizen Science is to create a partnership between the public and professional
scientists. People across the continent are gathering data to better understand and conserve birds. You
can participate in their Spring/Summer Projects (The Birdhouse Network, Birds in Forested
Landscapes, the Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project) or Year-Round Projects (House Finch
Disease Survey, Urban Bird Studies, eBird, PigeonWatch). It’s easy! Check out their web site at
http://www.birds.cornell.edu and click on “Lab Programs”.

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 AviQuiz Answer
Both are named after Charles Emil Bendire. The common name of the bird on the left is Bendire’s
Thrasher. The scientific name of the bird on the right is Megascops kennicottii bendirei, a subspecies
of Western Screech-Owl that is found in California and which used to be called California Screech-
Owl, Otus asio bendirei. (Photo by Dawn Garcia).
Bendire was an interesting guy. He was born in Germany in 1836 as Karl Emil Bender. While
studying for the ministry in Passy, France his “youthful peccadilloes” supposedly required him to
withdraw. He left for the United States in 1853, spent more than 20 years in the army working his way
from Private to Major, and was decorated for bravery several times. In the late 1860’s he became
particularly interested in birds. He took copious and detailed notes on what he saw and he collected
their eggs (a common scientific practice in his day) while stationed in Arizona and Oregon. From then
until his death in 1897 he was among the more highly considered field ornithologists and oologists (a
person who studies birds’ eggs) of the time. His private collection of birds’ eggs numbered around 8000
and is the basis of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection. He wrote “Life Histories of North American
Birds” which is thought to have set the standard for such descriptions. Two other birds are named after
him: Bendire’s Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra bendirei), a subspecies of Red Crossbill; and a species he
discovered on June 10, 1872 near what is now Tucson, Arizona, Bendire’s Summer Sparrow, later
erroneously thought to be extinct and now known as Rufous-winged Sparrow (Aimophila carpalis)
– Ed
Sightings
(If you have any interesting sightings in July, August and early September you can send them to the Newsletter Editor at
[email protected] by September 7 for possible inclusion in the next newsletter.

May 26 – Mike Fisher found three Black Terns along Agua Frias Road in southern Butte County while
doing Burrowing Owl Surveys.
June 17- At the Bidwell Sacramento River State Park/Washout, Phil Johnson saw a Bald Eagle chasing
an Osprey that had a fish in its talons. The Osprey dropped the fish, and the Bald Eagle instantly
grabbed it out of the air and flew off with it.
June - Gay Mitchell has a Cooper's Hawk nest in her backyard in Chico with five fledged hawks
hanging about. She extended an invitation in June to interested birders to visit and view the family
before they are gone. To see if they’re still in her yard, you may call her at 566-1023.
July (first week) – In Chico, the Keech’s had three juvenile Green Herons in their backyard. They
showed up in the morning and stayed a couple of hours and then came back the next morning and stayed
again.

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July (first week) - Dawn Garcia was visiting Julie Nelson in the Sierra National Forest near Shaver
Lake where Julie is studying Mountain Garter Snakes (Thamnophis elegans elegans) and Yosemite
Toads (Bufo canorus) in high-elevation meadows. Dawn took these photos of a female Pine Grosbeak
(Pinicola enucleator) doing what this species is named for (enucleator is Latin for "one who takes the
kernel out”, i.e., de-shells). They watched this grosbeak bite several sedge stems, so they would bend,
making it easier to remove the achenes (a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of
flowering plants). In the second picture you can see the grosbeak in the process of bending the stems
and several bent (broken) stems.

Pine Grosbeak, Sierra National Forest near Shaver Lake - #1 Pine Grosbeak, Sierra National Forest near Shaver Lake -#2
Photo by Dawn Garcia Photo by Dawn Garcia

Peregrinations
[Perigrinations reports on birds seen on trips outside the Butte/Glenn/Tehama counties area except for those sponsored by
the Altacal Audubon Society or other local birding groups – Ed.]
Greetings! We (Scott, Kathleen, Liam and Alita Huber)
returned in June from a U.S. Southwest adventure to Great
Basin National Park, Nevada (our favorite stay), Bryce
Canyon National Park and Zion National Park in Utah,
and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park
in Arizona.
Though the birding was nothing like Texas or S.E. Arizona
we still eked out 5 lifers and 134 species total. The lifers
included: Virginia’s Warbler at the bottom of the Navajo
Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, numerous Grace’s Warblers
on Wildcat Canyon Trail in Zion, Red Crossbill at Tropic
Reservoir near Bryce, Gray Vireo in Coal Pits Wash at
Zion, and stupendous 50-yard views of flying, landing,
perching and taking-off California Condor(s) at Kolob
Reservoir near Zion.

Kathleen, Liam, Scott and Alita Huber, The Narrows, Zion N.P.
Photo – Scott Huber

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Other highlights were Painted Redstart (rare) in Zion Canyon, American Three-toed Woodpecker on
the Kaibab Plateau near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, many Gray-headed Juncos, Pygmy
Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees and Vesper Sparrows.
We had some nice herp (herpetofaunal) action including a Great Basin Rattlesnake, three other 'yet to
be identified' snakes and two Horned Lizards.
Alita embraced her role as the wildflower expert on this trip and we have wonderful photos of more than
50 wildflower species which seemed to be at the peak of their bloom in the desert canyons and
mountains. At this point we have about a third of them identified (there are a lot more flower species
than bird species!)

California Condor (A9) Overhead, Kolob Reservoir, near Zion N.P.

Photo by Scott Huber

The other delight was the number of birds we observed on nests: nests with eggs; nests with chicks;
fledglings interacting with adults; a Warbling Vireo on a nest with eggs, then young;

Cordilleran Flycatcher on Nest American Dipper Young’ns

Photo by Scott Huber Photo by Scott Huber

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Yellow Warbler eggs and young in nest; American Dipper nest with young; Barn Swallow young in
nest; Northern Flicker young in nest and a Cordilleran Flycatcher on a nest of eggs! We’ll share
some of the photos with you now and perhaps more at a future Altacal meeting.
Scott Huber

Warbling Vireo on Nest Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on Nest

Photo by Scott Huber Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Submission of Articles
(Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor as
Microsoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 7th of the month prior to the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May,
Jul, Sep and Nov 7th) - [email protected] – Thanks, Ed.)

Altacal Board of Directors

President: Phil Johnson 570-7139/[email protected]
Co-Vice-Presidents: Jennifer Patten 345-9356/[email protected]
Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected]
Secretary: Kathryn Hood 342-9112/[email protected]
Treasurer: John Oswald 342-1651/[email protected]
Membership: Carolyn Short 345-4224/[email protected]
Newsletter: Tim Ruckle 566-9693/[email protected]
Publicity/Web Site: Wayland Augur 893-9222/[email protected]
Field Trips: Scott Huber 321-5579/[email protected]
Sanctuary: Dave Tinker 824-0253/[email protected]
Conservation: Dawn Garcia 872-2165/[email protected]
Education: Ruth Kennedy 899-9631/[email protected]
Directors-at-Large: John Merz 345-4050/[email protected]
Jackson Shedd 342-5144/[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 Audubon Society/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. The public is
welcome to attend.

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 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 support local projects and activities. AAS is an
all-volunteer organization that conducts all of its programs with no paid staff. We offer regularly scheduled field trips
focused on birds and bird habitats, our own website, www.altacal.org/, a bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly
membership meetings which include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural history-related topics, and
advocacy to protect and conserve local habitats as well as special projects and programs. Other AAS activities include:

• sponsoring and participating in the annual Snow Goose Festival

• sponsoring and participating in the annual Endangered Species Fair
• 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 Preserve near 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 50 years

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Welcome to the Altacal Audubon Society! Please indicate your choice of membership options:

‰ $20 Basic Membership ‰ $10 Low Income/Student ‰ $35 Family

‰$50 Sponsor ‰ $100 Sustaining ‰ $500 Patron ‰ $1000 Benefactor

Payment method: ‰ Cash ‰ Check Date: ______________

Important: Membership in Altacal Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon Society. We encourage
you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbying efforts. To join the National Audubon
Society contact them at their website www.audubon.org/

Name: Phone: (_____) _______________

Address: _________________________________ E-mail Address: ____________________________

City: ________________State: ____ Zip Code: _______

‰ Save paper! Send me an e-mail version only

‰ Notify me by E-mail about upcoming programs and events

‰ I would be interested in volunteering to help

Please make checks payable to Altacal Audubon Society, and mail to: AAS, P.O. Box 3671, Chico, CA 95927-3671

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 Dates to Remember

August 5, Saturday – Farallon Islands Pelagic Trip

August 8 – Board Meeting
August 10-12, Friday-Sunday – Yosemite Camping/Birding,
Great Gray Owl Hunt
September 12 – Board Meeting
September 17, Monday – AAS Members’ Slide Show
September 21-23, Friday-Sunday – 3rd Annual Monterey Bay
Birding Festival
September 23, Sunday – Birding Upper Bidwell Park
September 28-30, Friday-Sunday – Pt. Reyes, Birding/Camping
October 7-9, Sun-Tue – Audubon California Assembly 2007
Asilomar
October 13, Saturday – Birding Oxidation Ponds/Indian Fishery

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