February 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

8/8/2019 February 2008 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 eachmonth at 6:30 p.m., at the Chico Creek 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.

February Program - Different Time, Date, Night of the Week and Place thanUsual! - Tuesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. at the Chico City Council

Chambers

Special Guest Speaker, Dr. Jeff Price -Potential Impacts of Climate Changeon Biodiversity

The National Audubon Society considers Global warming

to be the biggest environmental threat of our lifetime andthat the time to act is now! In recognition of this, theAltacal Audubon Society is proud to sponsor a communityevent featuring Dr. Jeff Price, a co-recipient of the 2007Nobel Peace Prize and a leader in the study of the impactsof climate change on birds and other wildlife.

The global average temperature has increased byapproximately 0.7C since pre-industrial times. TheUnited Nations Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) projects a further increase in global meantemperatures of 1.1 - 6.4 C by the year 2100. Thebalance of evidence obtained from meta-analyses ofpublished studies suggests that a significant impact from

Jeff PricePhoto courtesy of Public Affairs

and Publication, CSUC

this amount of climatic warming is already discernible in the form of long-term, large-scalealteration of animal and plant populations. Thus, the question is not whether climate changewill impact biodiversity as many of these impacts have already been observed. Rather the realquestion is one of how great the impacts might be and how can conservation managers adapt?Models of changes in breeding distributions of North American birds predict that most species

White-tailed KiteFebruary/March, 2008
http://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenter


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will undergo some shift in their ranges. A comprehensive analysis of the literature indicatesthat impacts to ecosystems will accelerate once the global average temperature increases bymore than 2 C. Dr. Price will discuss the potential impacts on ecosystems and biodiversityand what can be done to avoid them.

This event is co-sponsored by the Mount Lassen Chapter of the California Native PlantSociety, the Friends of Bidwell Park, the Sacramento River Preservation Trust and the Yahi

Group of the Sierra Club.

Dr. Price is a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as a member of the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change (IPCC). He was one of the lead authors of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (ecosystems), the IPCC Third Assessment Report (ecosystems), and the IPCC Technical Paper on Climate Change and Biodiversity. He also contributed text to theU.K. Governments Stern Review of the Economic Impacts of Climate Change and U.S. National Assessment on Climate Change Impacts on the United States and led a projectlooking at the potential impacts of climate change on the San Pedro riparian area in Arizona.He was co-author of the Nature article Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals andplants, of the publication The Birdwatchers Guide to Global Warming as well as a number of

scientific papers on the potential impacts of global warming on birds. Some of his otherpublications include the books Summer Atlas of North American Birds, Birds at Your Feeder(maps), A Guide to the Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada(maps); CD-ROM Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds (maps, databases); the Birds of North America series (maps). His work has been the subject of a Steve Bensoneditorial cartoon and is featured in the murder mysteryDeath of a Songbirdby Christine Goff.

March Program The Owls of Bidwell Park with Scott Torricelli

Monday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center

Join Scott Torricelli for a

captivating night exploring themystery of the owls of BidwellPark. Learn all about the habits,habitats, and species of owls andalso the places these fascinatingbirds are most likely to be sighted.Then, after the discussion, Scottwill lead an Owl Prowl intoBidwell Park to look and listen forthese wonders of the night. Theprowl will immediately follow

Scotts presentation and will be aleisurely walk from the NatureCenter into the park.

Western Screech-OwlPhoto by Dawn Garcia

Dress warmly and bring along a flashlight and binoculars. This is a great family-orientedprogram perfect for children as well as adults.


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Scott is a well-known, popular naturalist and teacher with an intimate knowledge of theChico area. He was a naturalist at the Yosemite Institute, has coordinated programs forthe Chico Creek Nature Center for several years, and has taught environmental educationfor over twenty-five years. He is also on the Chico Creek Nature Centers Board ofDirectors, serving as Vice President.

Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding TripsAll of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to

participate.

February 16, Saturday - Black Butte Lake Trip Leader: Anne-Lise Feenstra - Meetat Burger King in Orland (I 5 and Hwy. 32) at 8:30 a.m. We will bird-watch in the

vicinity of the lake, along the lakeshore, and atthe dam overlook. Bring a picnic lunch and yourbinoculars. Dress warm, in layers, and wearsturdy shoes as there will be some hiking. Wehope to see Mountain Bluebirds, Lewiss

Woodpeckers, Bald Eagles, Phainopeplas,American White Pelicans and other winterbirds. The trip will end about 2 p.m. Raincancels. Call Anne-Lise at 865-5254 for moreinformation.

Black Butte Dam and Lake

February 17, Sunday Butte Basin/LlanoSeco Trip Leader: Skip Augur - "ButteBasin" refers to the flat, open lands roughlybetween Dayton, the Sutter Buttes, the

Sacramento River, and Highway 99.Historically, this area was all tule marshes andgrasslands. It is the wintertime "Serengeti" ofmigratory waterfowl. We will start at theLlano Seco viewing platform and continuealong Rd. Z in search ofwaterfowl, raptors,rails and Black-crowned Night-Herons.

Butte Basin Habitat

From there we will hit various spots along the rice fields looking for concentrations ofSandhill Cranes and other ofwintering birds. Meet at the Park n Ride (the lot closestto the freeway) at 7:45 a.m. to carpool. Contact trip leader Skip Augur at 893-9222 oremail [email protected].

March 9, Sunday Genetic Resource (Tree Improvement)Center Trip Leader: Skip Augur - Come join us for amorning of birding at one of our lesser-known local jewels.Parking is limited, so well meet at Chico Park n Ride at 8 a.m.to carpool. We never know what will show up at the center.

Flowering Shrubs Alongthe Comanche Trail
http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=L201600mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=L201600


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Its typically good for sparrows and passerines in general, and sometimes raptors, butunexpected species such as turkey have been seen there. If you have questions call SkipAugur at 893-9222 or email [email protected].

March 8, Saturday - What Might Be Lost? Birding the Potential Sites ReservoirTrip Leaders: Jennifer Pattenand Scott Huber - Just 11 miles

west of the town of Maxwell inan area known as the AntelopeValley (and yes, there is rumorof a small resident herd ofpronghorn antelope in the area)there is a serene and somewhatpristine slice of oak woodlandsthat is slated to become amassive (1.9 million acre feet)water storage facility to beknown as Sites Reservoir.

Advocates point out benefits formigratory fish populations and

Sites Reservoir

flood protection, while opponents see a huge loss of native foothill habitat and theresultant loss or displacement of species.

We explore the approximate area of the reservoir and look for some of the species thatwill be displaced. Time allowing, we also hope to visit East Park and Stonyfordreservoirs. These are all good areas for the locally declining Greater Roadrunner, anumber of species of woodpeckers and sapsuckers, two species of bluebirds, lots ofsparrows, waterfowl on the reservoirs and of course well be watching for those fun-to-

find rarities and out-of-season species.Well meet at the Chico Park n Ride (on Hwy 32 - closest lot to Hwy 99) at 7:30 a.m.An 11-passenger van will be available to save on gas, emissions and multiple car-trips(donations for gas accepted). This area is more than an hour from Chico so anticipate alate afternoon return. Bring lunches and water as we may not be near supplies at lunchtime. Well make restroom stops where available. Weather is iffy at this time of year, rainwill cancel, mosquitoes and ticks are possible, so please prepare accordingly. Much ofour birding will be done from the van with short walks where possible. Bring binocularsand a sense of adventure! Please call Scott Huber at 321-5579 or email:[email protected] if you plan to attend, or for more information.

March 15, Saturday - Visit Panam with Altacal in 2008 - Sold Out! - The responseto the first-ever, Altacal-sponsored internationalbirding tour was overwhelming. The trip to Panamathis March filled up within a week of itsannouncement. Twelve Altacal Local ChapterMembers will be visiting the lowlands and foothills ofcentral Panam and the highlands of ChiriquProvince near the Costa Rica border. They will thenfly to the remote Darin Province in eastern Panamto search for rarities such as the Harpy Eagle andfinally returning to the U.S. on March 28. Harpy Eagle
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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The diversity of the bird life, including cotingas, hummingbirds, manakins, motmots,quetzals, tanagers, toucans and trogons, makes for a wonderful exploration of theavifauna of the New World Tropics. Our guide will be Guido Berguido, ConservationDirector of Panama Audubon Society and one of the top Panamanian birders and guides.The tour will be escorted by Steve Margolin, a member of Altacal Audubon Society and apast president of Golden Gate Audubon Society who has traveled widely in the

neoptropics and has escorted six international trips for Golden Gate Audubon Society,five of them to Panam. The enthusiastic response by the membership to this opportunityvirtually ensures future Altacal-sponsored international birding destinations.

March 29-30, Saturday/Sunday - Honey Lake Basin/Sage Grouse Lek Trip TripLeaders: Phil Johnson and George Horn - To hear thebooming sound of a male Sage Grouse in the wildand to see them strut about in their flamboyant way, isto experience the wonders of the Great Basin sageplains. Altacal and Wintu Audubon chapters will joinup to explore the Honey Lake basin and Sage Grouselek grounds.

Well meet at the Chico Park n Ride (in the lotnearest the freeway) at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, head uphighway 32, stop at Almanor to bird, and continue onto the Honey Lake area where well meet up with the

Sage Grouse

Wintu Audubon folks in Susanville and then proceed to tour several spots in the HoneyLake basin (Janesville cemetery, Mapes Rd., Daiken unit of the Honey Lake Wildliferefuge). We will be looking for the abundant raptors and waterfowl all along the way,and well cross our fingers and hope for Short-eared Owl, Merlin, both eagles,Ferruginous Hawks, Barrow's Goldeneye, Chukar, Pronghorn Antelope and Coyote

on this trip.

Sunday morning well arrive at Schaffer Mountain at an early 6:15 a.m., walk 20 minutesup to the lekking grounds, and view the mating ritual. We have never missed seeingthem in 20+ years of going, so chances are good that they will be there. After the lek, wewill go to the base of the Skedaddle Mountains to look for Chukar, Prairie Falcon andBlack-throated Sparrow, then down to Fleming Unit to look for more raptors andwaterfowl.

Logistics: Sleeping - Some of us will camp at the Fleming unit of Honey Lake Refuge(primitive, flush toilet and sink only), and some may choose to get a motel room inSusanville. You will need to make your own arrangements for lodging in advance, or

have your own camping gear. There will be a meeting place and time Sunday morningbefore the lek. Food - Those camping will need to bring all of their own food andcooking arrangements. Those staying in a motel will be able to eat out Saturday night inSusanville (and Sunday morning if you can get up early enough). Contact yourrespective trip leader to make further arrangements. This trip can be extremely colddepending on weather conditions, so plan accordingly. Due to the logistics of this trip,you must, before going, contact trip leader Phil Johnson at [email protected] or891-1634, 570-7139.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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April 6, Sunday Teichert Pond: Eyesore or Eye Candy? Trip Leader: Scott Huber- An eyesore? A pit? Invasive vegetation? Mosquitos and algae? Teichert Pond is all ofthese BUTthe tenacity of wildlife and the lure of an isolated wetland amid the bustle ofa growing community makes Teichert pond a magnet for bird species! While well neverknow how many and which species lost their homes when the pit was created, we doknow that a number of riparian-dependent species, and others, now call the ponds home.

Join Teichert fan, Scott Huber, in finding thegood (birds) in this forgotten gravel project.Although early for migrating warblers;Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped andBlack-throated Gray are all possible inMarch. Sparrows, towhees and thrushes areall winter residents of the dense undergrowth.Raptors are drawn here too with Red-shouldered Hawk likely and Osprey andGreat Horned Owl seen here occasionally.Good looks at Wood Duck, Canada Goose,

Red-shouldered Hawk at Teichert PondPhoto by Scott Huber

Belted Kingfisher and Common Moorhen are hoped for. Eurasian Wigeon, Sora andVirginia Rail have been seen here on rare occasions.

Meet at the Chico Park n Ride at 8 a.m., then carpool over to the limited parking area.This is a short (3-4 hour), easy walk. Bring binoculars and water. Rain will cancel thistrip. Please call Scott Huber at 321-5579 or email: [email protected] formore information.

From the President

Fall Fund DriveOn behalf of the AltacalAudubon Society, I thank ourmembers for their generousdonations to the annual FallFund Drive 2007. As stated inthe 07 Fall Fund Drivebrochure, the Altacal Board ofDirectors has appealed for fundsto uphold and extend efforts inthe areas of education andconservation. Your monetarycontributions enable Altacal tocontinue its mission, maintaincore programs, and moveforward with new goals set for2008. We are fortunate to have our dedicated co-Vice President and Fall Fund Driveteam member, Mike Fisher, volunteer as our Finance Committee Chairperson as well.Anyone wanting to volunteer to help Mike with any aspect of Finance Committee mattersor to work on Fund Drive goal programs can contact him at (530) 624-4777 or


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[email protected] . We have already initiated our new goals and will continue todevelop plans for the Altacal Scholarship Fund and the Defense of Locally ThreatenedSpecies projects.

A Pledge to FledglingsAltacals Scholarship Fund will offer up to three $500 annual scholarships to eligiblehigh school seniors within Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties. Selection criteria will be

consistent with the mission statement of Altacal Audubon. What better way to promote ahealthy future for Altacal? Recipients will be selected by a scholarship committeeheaded by Sue Scott who has specific expertise in this area and who will have theassistance of Scott and Kathleen Huber, Marilyn Gamette and me as AltacalScholarship Fund Committee members. Many thanks to Sue and her committee membersfor inaugurating this important program! If you want to contact Sue regardingScholarship Fund matters she can be reached [email protected] .

We welcome other volunteers to help develop this and other Altacal Education programs.Most particularly, we have a greatneed for a Chairperson for the Education Committee.The position could be developed as the Chairperson sees fit, within the guidelines of the

Altacal Bylaws:Education Committee - The Education Committee shall promote theunderstanding, awareness, appreciation and knowledge of birds andtheir habitats. This will be partially accomplished by initiating,supporting and sponsoring environmental activities in our localcommunity, including encouraging schools to stress natural history,ecology and conservation.

Altacal Steps Up Education on Local Habitat IssuesFollowing a time-honored Audubon Society tradition of community education, AltacalAudubon will be offering a number of thematic bird walks in 2008 focusing on potentialdevelopment areas and the probable effects on birds and bird habitat. Our first offeringtook place on Saturday, January 5, providing a look at the environs surrounding theproposed M&T Gravel Mine operation and the species of concern that utilize thearea, such as Sandhill Crane, Swainsons Hawk, White-tailed Kite and both eaglespecies (see the Conservation section of this issue for results). Other trips beingconsidered include Bidwell Parks disc golf course and the proposed Sites ReservoirProject west of Maxwell.

Anyone who would like to be more closely involved in any of Altacals future projects,serve on a committee, volunteer for upcoming activities and events, or further contributemonetarily is welcome! Here are a couple of our upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Inventory volunteers are needed at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge,Willows SNWR/Altacal bookstore. Contact Marilyn Gamette, (530) 343-3154,[email protected]

Endangered Species Faire Volunteers are needed for Altacal booth attendancein May. Contact Jennifer Patten (530) 345-9356,[email protected]

Please join where your skill set fits or, like most of us, learn as you go. Its guaranteedthat youll have fun, make new friends and increase your birding skills tremendously.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Nominations for Elected OfficersOn another note, its time for us to start the formalities for electing new officers for thecoming two years. This means that you, as Altacal Members, can send us suggestions asto who youd like to nominate to serve as Elected Officers (President, Vice-President,Treasurer or Secretary) on the Board of Directors. Please send your suggestions byMarch 7, 2008 to any of the members of the Nominating Committee (Phil Johnson, Mike

Fisher, Scott Huber or Kathryn Hood). Youll find their contact information in theAltacal Board of Directors section of the newsletter. The names of the nominees will bepublished in the April/May issue of the White-tailed Kite and a vote will be taken at theJune Program Meeting. You may even want to send in your own name for nominationand be a part of Altacal in a more active way. Seriously, we always welcome new peopleto step up and join "The Board". Even if you dont want to be a Board Member, considerhelping on any of a number of committees. There are a lot of very exciting thingshappening right now involving Altacal, and you can help keep our momentum strong.

Again, thank you for making Altacal Audubon such a strong organization in our tri-county area. Success in our mission and these efforts is made possible throughthoughtful contributions from people like you. Remember, your gifts are tax-deductible.

If you would like a receipt for your records, please contact Mike Fisher, (530) 624-4777,[email protected]

Sincerely,

Phil JohnsonPresident, Altacal Audubon SocietyFor: The Altacal Audubon Society Board of Directors

Conservation Corner

Dawn Garcia, Conservation Chair

M&T Gravel Mine Project Update

M&T Gravel Mine Field Trip: TripLeaders: Scott Huber and Dawn Garcia - OnJanuary 5th, 2008, despite very coldtemperatures, power outages throughout thearea, and a wind chill factor of BRRRRR, 15people, bundled in winter warm clothes,headed toward the site of the proposed M&Tgravel mine located adjacent to Little Chico

Creek along River Road in Butte County, fivemiles southwest of Chico. Most of us piled inScotts van to view birds and meet with

Birders braved cold and rainy conditions toreview the proposed gravel pit area located

next to Little Chico Creek.Photo by Carolyn Short

Land owners Ron and Sandy Jones and Frank and Lila Prentice whose properties areadjacent to the proposed mine site. These folks will be directly impacted by the project.


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A proposed 18-foot dirt berm, for mitigating the noise that would be produced by themining, would be constructed literally feet from the Jones residence. This berm wouldalso block their current view of farmland, grassland, wetland and riparian habitat andbirds and wildlife that use them. Further, the threat of flooding is increased with theberm in place.

This is a poorly sited project, which will result in the loss of prime agricultural land as

well as prime wintering Sandhill Crane habitat, of which we counted over 50. In total,we counted 49 species including: (raptors) Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailedHawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Horned Owl, (waterfowl) Common Goldeneye,Wood Duck, Tundra Swan, Snow Goose, Rosss Goose, White-fronted Goose, andmany passerines, woodpeckers and shorebirds. As we made our way to Llano Seco,the rain came down hard and we called it an eventful morning.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors meeting to consider approval of the project, heldin Oroville January 8 began at 1:30 p.m. with an overly full house, upwards of 200people, and continued until 9:00 p.m. Four Altacal Audubon members voiced theiropposition to the project, as did more than two-thirds of the audience. Unfortunately, the

project proponents strategized better; their lawyers, one for Baldwin Construction andone for M&T Ranch, were the last two public to testify, rebutting most points ofconcern brought up during the seven hours of public testimony. The opposing public, allresidents of Butte County, were not given an opportunity to speak again.

The Board of Supervisors decided that, with all the additional testimony and concerns,they would review the new information and vote on this project at the next meeting heldon Tuesday January 29 at 10:30 a.m. This newsletter went to press before that meeting.

Banding

Dawn Garcia

The Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) Station completed its 3rd year (2007) contributingto local owl ecology and to the broader monitoring program, Project OwlNet:http://www.projectowlnet.org/. This table provides the number, age and sex of NorthernSaw-whet Owls captured near Chico, CA in 2005, 2006 and 2007 during fall migration.Percentages are rounded to the nearest 1.

HY = Hatch Year, AHY = After Hatch Year, F = Female, M = Male, U = UnknownRECAPS = Birds Previously Banded

NSWO 2005 2006 2007 TOTALS

HY-F 7 (30%) 27 (44%) 8 (16%) 42

HY-M 2 (9%) 5 (8%) 4 (8%) 11

HY-U 1 (4%) 5 (8%) 4 (8%) 10HY Total 10 (43%) 37 (60%) 16 (31%) 63

AHY-F 13 (57%) 21 (35%) 29 (57%) 63

AHY-M 0 2 (3%) 4 (8%) 6

AHY-U 0 1 (2%) 2 (3%) 3

AHY Total 13 (57%) 24 (40%) 35 (69%) 72

RECAPS 2 6 5

Owl Totals 23 61 51 135
http://www.projectowlnet.org/http://www.projectowlnet.org/


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# NIGHTS of effort 19 20 27

NET HOURS (NH) 340 322 327

OWLS/NH 0.068 0.19 0.16

NSWO flying off after banding and releasePhoto by Mike Fisher

With similar effort in terms of net hours we banded 51 owls this year (see table). Theseason started later than last year with our first bird at the Forest Ranch site on10/17/2007 and we did not have another bird until 10/26/2007 at the Big Chico CreekEcological Reserve (BCCER). Last year the first bird of the season was 10/2/06 at theForest Ranch site followed by birds on 10/11 at BCCER.

On November 4, 2007 we had a peak night of 12 owls (plus 2 recaps). I left town for sixdays after that, so had we continued monitoring during that time, the season total wouldhave likely been higher.

We had a greater number of males this year, but females still comprised the majority (seetable). We had more after hatch year (AHY) owls this year than birds hatched this year

(hatch year [HY]), indicating lower productivity (or we missed the window of greatestHY movement). Last year there was a greater number of HY birds (see table).

We had four same-season recaptures and 1 female NSWO that was recaptured one yearlater in October 2007, originally banded at BCCER in 10/2006. We will continuemonitoring (setting up nets) 1x per month to determine winter status.Results for 2007 follow:

8 HY females4 HY males4 HY unknown sex29 (at least 2 years old) females

4 AHY males2 AHY unknown sexOther captures: Western Screech-Owl, Silver-haired Bat, Pallid Bat

Thanks for all those who helped. We had a good season. I look forward to next fall!

2007 Passerine Banding Totals BCCER and BCEP

This year we banded a total of 287 birds of 39 species at our passerine migrationmonitoring stations at CSU Chicos Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) andthe Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP). Our biggest catch was the winteringHermit Thrush at 47 individuals and resident Spotted Towhees came in next at 46


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individuals. Bewicks Wrens, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Golden-crownedSparrows were high on the list. We had several recaptures, mostly birds banded in theprevious or same year. However one Golden-crowned Sparrow captured in 2005 as a birdhatched that year, has been recaptured both on 4/18/06 as a second year and again on12/1/2007, spending his/her 3rd winter at BCCER.

Age Determination by Plumage Characteristics Workshop- Jan 11-14, 2007Dawn Garcia, Project Coordinator

In mid-January, 2008, I organized a workshop to enhance the skills of my bandingvolunteers. I invited Ken Burton, who first introduced me to bird banding in 1993. Kenis internationally renowned in the bird-banding community, having banded for 26 years,and is a former Coordinator of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and SurvivorshipProgram and former Director of The Institute for Bird Populations Training and OutreachProgram. He is past President of the Western Bird Banding Association and a foundingmember and charter Trainer of the North American Banding Council. He is widelypublished on banding techniques and regularly offers workshops such as this across theUS and Canada.

We were lucky to have some generous donors and have Ken to teach banding volunteers,including many Altacal Audubon Society members, the intricacies of determining age ofsongbirds by plumage characteristics. We had 10 participants including Mike Fisher,Julie Nelson, Nancy Nelson, Scott Huber, Steve and Raina King, Keith Paul, ColleenMartin, Michelle Ocken and Tim Ruckle. All of these volunteers have contributed theirtime to my banding projects.

We met on campus for a lab/lecture on Friday,January 11, followed by a morning bandingsession at the Big Chico Creek EcologicalReserve (BCCER) and an afternoon

lab/lecture session. The next day, Sunday,January 13, we put the lessons to work at amorning banding session at the Butte CreekEcological Preserve (BCEP). During theweekend we banded 55 birds.

Thanks to our donors we will be able to runmore banding stations and run established

Instructor Ken Burton Illustrates PlumageCharacteristics such as Tail Feather Shape

stations more efficiently. This is criticalwhen comparing results and trends withinand between stations across the west.Birds are excellent indicators ofenvironmental health and their behaviordue to climate change predictions hasalready been modeled. We can helpvalidate those predictions. We are on our way to establishingmore banding stations combined with educational outreach tocontribute to regional and global avian research.

Ruby-crowned KingletPhoto by Scott Huber


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Sister Society (Cape Cod Bird Club) News

This year your White-tailed Kite Editor, while visiting family, participated in one of thefive Cape Cod Christmas Bird Counts with members of our sister society, the Cape CodBird Club. In its 12th year, the relatively young Truro Christmas Bird Count producedsome excellent birds among the record-high 113 species seen. Our particular section

produced 53 species including Bohemian Waxwing, Red Crossbill, Great Cormorantand Red-breasted Merganser (all life birds!) Other section teams saw a King Eider inWellfleet harbor, 2 Barrow's Goldeneyes, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers among a flockof 75 Dunlin, an Iceland Gull, a Thick-billed Murre, a Snowy Owl on Great Islandviewed from Wellfleet Harbor, a Barred Owl calling behind the South Wellfleet GeneralStore, a Lark Sparrow, 12 Pine Grosbeaks, 6 White-winged Crossbills, and 2 HoaryRedpolls among Common Redpolls in Wellfleet.

At least one Hoary Redpoll had been visiting the feeders of Mass Audubon's WellfleetBay Wildlife Sanctuary in early January, providing many folks with their first-ever lookat this mysterious high-arctic species. These tiny but hardy seed-eating birds can survivetemperatures of -67 C and rarely move south of the Canadian border, but several have

recently been reported around the state among Common Redpolls.

Finally, dead and dying Common Eiders continue to be found on Cape beaches. JulieEllis of Tufts/SEANET gave training sessions at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary forthose interested in helping with beached bird surveys.


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GOOSE DOWN

Rex Burress

I had a parka jacket passed on to me, and I was going to give the bulky coat away. But ona chilly December day I plucked it out of the overstuffed closet and discovered it wasfilled with goose down!

I now find that extra warmth comforting, and marvel that some old-time goose was theprovider for the insulation! It is a reminder that those lonely geese you see out there inthe winter-frigid marshes, sometimes rimmed with ice, are not suffering because Naturehath provided an incomparable protective coat. They can thread their way out of thefrozen North, fly through icy storms toward a sheltered winter rendezvous, and indeedendure freezing nights in warm comfort, all because of their feather covering!

When you see all the down-filled apparel on the market, you wonder just where themakers obtained allthose soft feathers. Allwaterfowl have that

cozy layer of warmfuzzy feathers under thestiffer, repellant outerfeathers, and althoughhunters reap a harvest, itis mostly sport and meatthat they are after. Iveseen a "feather barrel"down at the Gray Lodgehunting lot where thefeathers are plucked and

discarded.Domestic Graylag Goose

Killing of the goose is not always involved in obtaining down, at least on the Missourifarm we had a flock of domestic geese, and every year part of those breast feathers wereplucked as Mother held the goose on her lap and I controlled the head. Ouch! But thegoose lived on to grow more feathers. The down didnt go into jackets, but rathermattresses made of pure down feathers into which you sort of sunk out of sight. Downpillows too!

The feather is a wondrous thing, and birds are the only animals to grow them. Severalkinds of feathers are involved in the multi-use appendages in addition to warmth,

including the means of flying, and courtship ornamentation. At least five kinds offeathers constitute a bird, and the part we see are called contour feathers in addition tostiff wing feathers. The down and semiplume feathers are cradled close to the body.

Take a look at a wing feather through a microscope, and you will see interlocking barbssprouting from the main shaft or rachis. The barbs have barbules and hamulus filaments,all of which must be kept clean and groomed by preening for efficient use.

Feathers are replaced every year during the molt, and they grow rapidly, some quailbabies being able to fly within a week. Most water and ground birds are born with a


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covering of down which is replaced by the other feathers. A swan may have 25,000feathers!

When I watch the Goldeneye and Bufflehead ducks bounce around on the cold water ofthe Feather River in the wintertime, frolicking and feeding as if they like it, I am alwaysamazed that the assemblage of beautiful feathers was developed thousands of miles awayin the North last summer and grew to enable those joyful birds to travel to distant ports in

comfort and on time.

It is engrossing that the term "feather" is applied to both a river and a bird, a marvelouscombination enabling the bird-lover to enjoy a unique habitat filled with wondrous worksof living art! That is partly why Audubon members spend a cold, long winter daywhatever the weather to make a Christmas Bird Count and check on the status of thefeathered kingdom.

"Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest."Psalms 55:6

Bird Walk and Birding Trip ReportsNovember 25 Gray Lodge Fly-Out Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten TheGreatFly-Out at Gray Lodge was just that. Itwas a perfect evening as 20 hopeful birderssat at Gray Lodge Wildlife Areas parkinglot 16 waiting for the sunset fly-out bythousands of ducks and geese to theirfeeding grounds. Many of us brought ourown chairs, some just leaned against theircars, all waiting for the moment. Wenoticed that the large marsh area on the eastside of the auto tour road had thousands of

Waterfowl at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

ducks - Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Gadwalls,Mallards and the marsh on the west side had thousands ofSnow Geese. Then suddenly,around 4:45 p.m., the ducks took flight. For fifteen minutes they kept coming in drovesand droves right over us. Yet, the Snow Geese stayed put. We were all wondering if thegeese would take flight, because by now it was close to 5:10 p.m. and getting dark. Then,this giant flock of Snow Geese lifted off the water. Looking like huge white cloudsagainst the darkening sky, thousands by now where flying out to their feeding grounds

for the night. What is really amazing is the noise as these ducks and geese fly over you inall different directions providing a surround sound experience. If you get lucky, whichwe did, and see a fly-out, you will never forget it!

December 1 Raptor Run Trip Leader: Jackson Shedd - There was a great turn-outwith perfect weather for locating raptors. Our first stop was on Cottonwood Rd. just offHwy 99 where the surrounding land is covered mostly by rice fields. We got some looksat Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks hunting the area, as well as a CoopersHawk that flew in to hunt a plowed field and then left later with what was reportedly arodent in its talons. People also got some nice looks at Sandhill Cranes and TundraSwans at this area, amongst the Greater White-fronted Geese flying overhead, the


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cryptic Long-billed Curlews and gulls. Down Cottonwood Rd. (heading east) thelandscape opens up into natural grassland, which is where the raptor diversity isspectacular during this time of year.

Where we normally observe Prairie Falcons along thisstretch, none were seen, but a Peregrine soared overheadwhen we stopped by the power plant to get a distant

Ferruginous Hawk in the scope. The Ferruginous landedon a different tower than where it was originally spotted,with the sun now behind us, affording everyone greatviews through one participants scope. The beauty of thisdeclining hawk is certainly worth the persistence in thefrigid morning breeze. An adult Bald Eagle was thenspotted around this time soaring overhead from the east.As we turned for more looks at the Ferruginous, two more

Ferruginous Hawk

adult Bald Eagles came in from the west soaring as if they were a pair. This seemed odd,

as typically one adult is seen with one, two, or even three immatures this time of year.Next, visiting PhD student Nuria Polo Cavia from Madrid, Spain spotted a BurrowingOwl perched at the side of the road. It held its ground as everyone got great looks of anecologically unique, but declining, owl species. Northern Harriers were common, aswere the intermittently seen White-tailed Kites. After being on Cottonwood for a coupleof hours we headed to Nelson Ave. to loop back around to Hwy 99. Typically NelsonAve. is a good stretch for Merlins and Ferruginous Hawks, but it had warmed up a littleby this point, so the raptor action was minimal, with a few Red-tails and AmericanKestrels seen.

This area of Butte County is a wintering raptor hotspot, as the open grasslands affordacres upon acres of open foraging habitat with few disruptive surrounding roads. Table

Mountain is just to the east where more open grassland exists. Most of this grassland isused as ranchland for grazing cattle. As long as the cattle are kept on the land anddevelopment is not permitted, this area will remain a place where raptors will continue tocome in the winter so this incredible diversity will persist in the future.

Raptor species seen: Coopers Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk,Ferruginous Hawk, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite , Bald Eagle, American Kestrel,Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl

Raptors also of the area but not seen: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, GoldenEagle, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl

December 8 - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Willows Trip Leader: Anne-Lise Feenstra - Seventeen birders met at the refuge on this seemingly nice sunnymorning, but a strong north wind was blowing, so it was very cold. At the start of ourhike, we found Ruby-crowned Kinglets, House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Nuttalls Woodpecker in the trees near the parking lot.Western Meadowlarks and an American Pipit were spotted in the grass along the trail.Red-winged Blackbirds worked the cattails. From a field in the dis tance, hundredsof Snow Geese took to the air. We found Killdeer, Great Blue Heron,Cinnamon Teal, Gadwalls, American Coots, Common Moorhens and a Pied-billed Grebe in the water. We spotted a Great Egret at the edge of the pond


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trying to swallow a large rat. It dunked the rat in the water a few times, and afterseveral minutes finally got it down.

Along the auto-tour route we sawCommon Ravens and NorthernHarriers flying over. Near theobservation platform we found Black-

necked Stilts, Long-billed Dowitchersand many ducks resting on the mudflats,while American Wigeon, Mallards,Northern Shovelers, Ring-neckedDucks, Buffleheads and Ruddy Duckswere foraging in the big pond. Two Red-tailed Hawks were perched in acottonwood tree and a Peregrine Falcon

Margaret Rader, Sue Scott, John Scott, Jennifer Patten,Robert Villarrial and Veronika Kehoe have spotted

something interesting

Photo by Tiffany Yostwas spotted at the top of a nearby snag. A little farther down the road we had amuch closer look at another (or the same) Peregrine Falcon perched in a tree bythe creek. White-fronted Geese, a few Canada Geese and hundreds of SnowGeese were resting in the marshes along the north side of the tour route. In all,we saw 44 species of birds.

December 16 - Chico Christmas Bird Count Compiler: Phil Johnson - This year theAltacal Audubon Society participated for the 52

ndtime in the annual Audubon Christmas

Bird Count (CBC) in Chico and in Oroville. On Sunday, December 16, 24 hardyvolunteers scoured the Chico CBC circle in what some considered bone-chilling weather(just above freezing) and identified 117 avian species. The day ended with a compilationat the home of Scott and Nina Campbell where the grateful volunteers partook of home-made chili and bread. Some pleasant surprises included:

Eurasian Wigeon (1) - second time ever within the count circle.Hooded Merganser (26) - where are these stunning birds the rest of the year?Bald Eagle (4) - one was in an oak tree inside the city limits!Peregrine Falcon (2) - this off-the-list species needs to be put back on the list!Merlin (1) - feeding on a starling. These guys are hit or miss from year-to-year.Lewis's Woodpecker (30) - Another hit-or-miss species, a group of 24 north of town anda group of 6 southeast of townRock Wren (3) - all in the same rock wall

Eurasian Collared-Dove (16)- first time on list...they're he-ere!Phainopepla (2) - a pair actively calling back and forth in Butte Creek CanyonWhite-throated Sparrow (1)

Specific species and total numbers of each can be seen at:http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html.

Participants, led by Compiler Phil Johnson, were Skip Augur, Jon Aull, Jean Beede, ScottCampbell, Mike Fisher, Pam Hansen, Kathryn Hood, Scott Huber, Phil Johnson, RuthKennedy, Raina King, Steve King, Nancy Nelson, Joseph ONeil, Jennifer Patten, TimRuckle, Mauricio Schraeder, John Scott, Sue Scott, Bruce Steidl, Leslie Steidl, and AndyTomaselli.
http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html


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January 13 - Upper Bidwell Park Trip Leader: Phil Johnson -Four of us turned out for a beautiful day in the park. As we droveup to the gun club, the foothills were shrouded with a low, narrowband of fog nestled up against the hillside. Very mystical! Itburned off within 20 minutes and gave us clear views of severalflocks of Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, and Greater White-

fronted Geese that were flying over headed North. Where werethey headed? Klamath Basin? Honey Lake? Mostly, we saw theusual suspects of wintertime foothill birds, but noticed several ofthem singing their spring songs (Oak Titmouse, Bewick'sWren). The highlight was seeing a Lewis's Woodpecker flyingabout the Blue Oak woodland. Seasonal Creek Near the

Shooting range

Opportunities and Events

February 1-3 - The San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival - This 12th annual event

celebrates the migration of more than one million shorebirds and hundreds of thousandsof ducks and geese, hawks and even butterflies, through the San Francisco Bay Estuary.If youre a return visitor, welcome back! If youre a first-timer, welcome to the party!

Rest assured that the beautiful and amazing wildlife is back, along with our experiencedand enthusiastic wildlife guides. Discover some of the best wetlands, wild lands, openspaces and historic sites in the Bay Area by participating in guided bird-watching outings,hikes and tours

For more information and registration: http://sfbayflywayfestival.com/

February 15-17 - Winter Wings Festival - Klamath Falls hosts the 2008 WinterWings Festival at the Oregon Institute of Technology.This community event celebrates the return of BaldEagles, other raptors and wintering flocks of waterfowlto the Klamath Basin. The Basin is home to the largestconcentration of wintering Bald Eagles in the lower 48states. The Festival arranges field trips to observe BaldEagles as they fly in and out of their roosting area orforage in the nearby refuges and to view thespectacular flocks of waterfowl. Participants can alsoenjoy a variety of workshops, mini-sessions, freefamily activities, and special receptions. Trish Nixon,

Bald Eagle Print by Pam Stoehsler

the raptor specialist at the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise,Idaho, will be the keynote speaker on Feb. 15. Her talk will focus on Condor recoveryand will be preceded by a welcome reception.

To obtain more information, visit the Winter Wings Festival website atwww.winterwingsfest.org after mid-December, 2007, or contact Travel Klamath at 1-800-445-6728 or 541-882-1501 for travel information, or call Todd at 541-850-0084 forfestival brochures and registration information. Festival participants enjoy reduced hotelrates at several partner hotels and transportation is provided on all of the major fieldtrips.
http://sfbayflywayfestival.com/http://www.winterwingsfest.org/http://www.winterwingsfest.org/http://sfbayflywayfestival.com/


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March 28-30 Aleutian Goose Festival - A "Celebration of Wildness" on the extreme coast ofnorthern California. Experience an in-depth extended weekend in the home of Redwood National andState Parks and the Smith River National Recreation Area by choosing among the 60+workshops/fieldtrips led by experienced, qualified guides. Experience outstanding birding, geology,Native American Heritage and more. Register online at www.aleutiangoosefestival.org or 1-707-465-0888.

Keynote speaker for this year's celebration is Humboldt State University's Professor Stephen Sillett, theleading researcher in the study of the canopy of the towering redwoods. Recently featured in RichardPreston's best selling bookThe Wild Trees, Professor Sillett will share his passion for his work in the

fog- shrouded tops of the world's tallest trees.

April 25-27 Tricolored Blackbird Survey -Volunteers are needed for the 2008 TricoloredBlackbird Survey coordinated by AudubonCalifornia in collaboration with the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service. This citizen-based,statewide survey provides critical information fordetermining the status of Tricolored Blackbirdpopulations in California and is critical inconservation strategies to protect this species. Thecolony locations and numbers of TricoloredBlackbirds change from year to year, making it

Tricolored Blackbird

impossible to track without the help of volunteers across the state. The survey will take place over onefull day that is convenient for you between April 25 and 27. Additional days of survey following thiswill also be welcomed and of great value. If you are interested in participating, please contact RoddKelsey (530) 795-0660 or [email protected].
http://www.aleutiangoosefestival.org/mailto:rkelsey%40audubon.orgmailto:rkelsey%40audubon.orghttp://www.aleutiangoosefestival.org/


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Sightings

(If you have any interesting sightings in your yard, on the way to work, or in the Butte, Glenn or Tehama counties area ingeneral in late January, February and early March you can send them to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected] by

March 7 for possible inclusion in the next newsletter.)

December 3 Scott Huber and Tim Ruckle saw a Snow Bunting on Road R in Glenn County in aroadside airplane landing strip. Horned Larks and American Pipits were in the neighborhood. MikeFisher had seen the bird earlier in the day and J.T. Lewis reported seeing it as late as December 6.

Glenn County Snow BuntingPhoto by Scott Huber

Early January - Michelle Ocken saw a pair ofShort-eared Owls at the bend in Road Z before it turnsinto Seven Mile Ln. (by the haystacks) two weeks ago. She also saw a Blue-winged Teal from theviewing platform at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge on January 5.

January 5 Jackson Shedd and Mela Garcia saw a female Western Tanager in the parking lot at

World of Trees in Lower Park the weekend of Jan 5-6.

January 11 A wigeon research team (Principal Investigator Jay Bogiatto and assistants Tim Ruckleand Jeremey Ashe) reported a new high count (for them) on Unit 12 (the pond west of the viewingplatform nearest 7 Mile Lane) of the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR. They located 24Eurasian Wigeons, 23 male (including two immatures) and 1 female. Another noteworthy observationwas an apparent Northern Pintail/Gadwall hybrid.

January 18 Dawn Garcia and members of her banding crew (Mike Fisher, Julie Nelson, NancyNelson and Raina and Steve King) banded a Red-naped Sapsucker at the Big Chico Creek EcologicalReserve.


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January 19 - Phil Johnson saw 5 Short-eared Owls foraging about a grassland/marsh edge on the Eastside of the Afterbay.

Peregrinations

[Peregrinations reports on birds seen on trips outside the Butte/Glenn/Tehama counties area except for those sponsored bythe Altacal Audubon Society or other local birding groups - Ed]

December 27 Tim Ruckle, while visiting family on Cape Cod, MA over the holidays, went on a localChristmas Bird Count and, in addition to experiencing a North Atlantic noreaster, saw four life birds Great Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, Bohemian Waxwing and Red Crossbill.

Bohemian Waxwing

Late December (from Scott Huber) - I headedto Southern California with my family last weekunder the guise of visiting relatives for theholidays but everyone knew that I was reallygoing to pad my life-list! I was again amazed athow good the ABA birding guides are atproviding pinpoint information on where to findspecialty birds, this time in A Birders Guide toSouthern California by Brad Schram (2007). Mytarget list was short: California Gnatcatcher,LeContes Thrasher and Island Scrub-Jay.

On Saturday, December 29, I traveled to thePalos Verdes peninsula to look for thegnatcatcher. Fifty feet from the southern parking

California GnatcatcherPhoto by Scott Huber

area for the Bluff Trail at the Trump Golf Club I encountered both Blue-gray and California

Gnatcatcher, both foraging and vocalizing enthusiastically, the former in much greater abundance. Atvarious points along the trail more of each species were observed. Next I crossed the highway toanother site described in the guide Forrestal Canyon. On the Quarry Trail near the hillside spring, Ihad great views of California Gnatcatcher and was able to get some decent photos. Ive posted them athttp://bigbirder.blogspot.com/

On Sunday, December 30, Kathleen, Liam, Alita and I cruised to Santa Cruz Island via Island Packers inVentura (nice trip, helpful crew). Island Scrub-Jay virtually met us at the dock (well, next to the rest-rooms) and we saw approximately ten of these handsome corvids along the Nature Conservancy Trail.Also found were island subspecies of Orange-crowned Warbler, Allens Hummingbird, and Song
http://bigbirder.blogspot.com/http://bigbirder.blogspot.com/


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Sparrow (rumored, at least by the naturalist from Island Packers) as potential split candidates.Incidental lifers on the trip were Black-vented Shearwater and Pomarine Jaeger (ten feet from theboat!) and we were treated to a half-hour spectacle of an Orca pod playing cat and mouse with aCalifornia Sea Lion (the finale included a 30-foot toss of the Sea Lion by way of the Orcas tail!).

New Years Day was spent on the east side of the Central Coast Ranges. Near Maricopa, alongPetroleum Club Road, app. mile north of Kerto Rd., we were tipped off by the distant song of athrasher and obtained good scope views ofLeContes Thrasher after much searching. An hour-and-ahalf later, along San Diego Rd. (also known as Panorama Rd.), approximately two miles east of SodaLake Road, we found a flock of 10 Mountain Plovers in the mix of crumbly soil and short grass onthe north side of the road.

Submission of Articles

(Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to thenewsletter editor as Microsoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 7

thof the month prior to the next

issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep and Nov 7 th) - [email protected] Thanks,Ed.)

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] John Oswald 342-1651/[email protected] 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 Scott Huber 321-5579/[email protected], Lands Ruth Kennedy 899-9631/[email protected] RefugeConservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/[email protected] vacantDirectors-at-Large John Merz 345-4050/[email protected]

Jackson Shedd 342-5144/[email protected] Gamette 343-3154/[email protected] Tinker 824-0253/[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. The public is welcome to attend.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:342-5144/[email protected]:[email protected]:899-9631/[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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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 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 meetings

which 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 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 SacramentoRiver

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -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 AudubonSociety. We encourage you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbyingefforts. 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


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Dates to Remember

Feb 1-3, Friday/Sunday San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival, Mare IslandFeb 15-17, Friday/Sunday Winter Wings Festival, Klamath Falls, OR

Feb 15-18, Friday/Monday Great Backyard Bird CountFeb 16, Saturday Black Butte Lake, Burger King, Orland, 8:30Feb 17 Sunday Butte Basin/Llano Seco, Park n Ride, 7:45Feb 26, Tuesday Jeff Price, 7 p.m., City Council Chambers

Mar 8, Saturday Sites Reservoir, Park n Ride, 7:30Mar 9, Sunday - Tree Improvement Center, Park n Ride, 8:00

Mar 17 Monday Owl Prowl, 6:30, CCNCMar 28-30, Friday/Sunday Aleutian Goose Festival, Crescent CityMar 29-30, Saturday/Sunday Sage Grouse Lek, Park n Ride, 7:45

Apr 6, Sunday Teichert Pond, Park Ride, 8:00Apr 25-27 Tricolored Blackbird Survey

Documents

February 2008 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society