February 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

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

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Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their habitats through education, research and environmental activities.

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

July and August there are no Program Meetings.

February Program - Monday, February 16, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature CenterWildlife Rehabilitation in California - Nicole Carion

If you see a wild animal in distress, how do you know when to take action and when it is best to just letnature take its course? When help is needed, do you know who you can call in this situation? Once a

wild animal is turned in for care, where does that animal go and what happens to it? These are just someof the questions that will be answered when Altacal welcomes Nicole Carion from the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game to our February program. Nicoles topic will be wildlife rehabilitationin California. The presentation will explain how wildlife rehabilitation is conducted in the state of California, and what role wildlife rehabilitators play in protecting the states natural resources. Thereare over 100 facilities permitted in the state and these facilities receive from the public over 60,000 wildanimals each year. Nicole has been working for the California Department of Fish and Game for 15years, currently holds the title of Associate Wildlife Biologist and is the Statewide WildlifeRehabilitation Coordinator. She works for the Wildlife Investigations Lab which has many functionsbut mainly focuses on wildlife diseases. Nicole holds a bachelors degree in Environmental Studiesfrom California State University San Bernardino. Prior to working for Fish and Game she volunteered

at Wildlife Care in Sacramento and rehabilitated song birds and small mammals. When she is notworking she loves to adventure travel and is an avid birder.

Also making an appearance will be Marilyn Gamette who for many years served as InterpretiveSpecialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and continues to be an environmental educationspecialist in many ways, both locally and statewide. In 1974, Marilyn and husband Bob helped foundand still operate the Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Chico. She will be accompanied by herfriend, Checkers, a wing-disabled Great Horned Owl .

White-tailed KiteFebruary/March, 2009
http://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehabhttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehabhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehabhttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehabhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenter


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CheckersPhoto by George W. Hartwell

March Program - Monday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature Center Birding and Herping Southern Mexico Jackson Shedd

Join Jackson Shedd as he takes us along on his quest for adventure, birds and reptiles of SouthernMexico. Mexico is one of the richest biodiversity hot spots in the world. Acting as a bridge between the

United States and Central America, Mexico hosts a great number of species found both to the north andto the south. In addition, it is home to a phenomenal number of endemics (confined to a certain region). Jackson traveled through the states of Michoacan and Guerrero in order to bird and herp [a commoncontraction referring to looking for herpetofauna, specifically toads, frogs, salamanders, lizards,snakes, and turtles] this relatively unexplored region where many species are only now being describedto science, picking up many lifers along the way. Jackson is an expert birder and Past President of theAltacal Audubon Society. He is also a local wildlife artist and author of Amphibians and Reptiles of

Bidwell Park .


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Conants Milk SnakePhoto by Jackson Shedd

Giant Horned LizardPhoto by Jackson Shedd


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From the President

Help With Education Projects?

The Altacal Audubon Society has agreat need for education-relatedvolunteers in its ever-increasinginvolvement with youth activities andthe education of young people insupport of its mission, to promote theawareness, appreciation andprotection of native birds and theirhabitats through education, researchand environmental activities.Volunteers can choose to work with,or be responsible for, specificeducation projects in as limited orexpanded a role as they desire.

A group of Forest Ranch Charter School children learn how bird-banding isused for science and conservation at the Toyon Slope Songbird Migration

Monitoring Station, Big Chico Creek Ecological ReservePhoto by Dawn Garcia

We continue to grant three $500 scholarships to high school seniors in Butte, Glenn and Tehamacounties whose educational goals are related to wildlife and habitat studies, ecology, conservation andrelated earth sciences or environmental sciences. We are thankful to have the professional expertise of volunteer Sue Scott in this effort.

Altacal Board Member and Conservation Chairperson, Dawn Garcia , has established bird-bandingstations to determine avian species diversity, abundance, and demographics on CSU Chico reserves.

Mike Fisher , AAS co-Vice-President, has been integral to these projects, and with the help of othervolunteers, Dawn and Mike have educated budding naturalists about birds and conservation. Recently,AAS was awarded a grant to conduct local educational programs, "bird-banding as a science andconservation tool," to school children in 2009. Outreach will include development of a standards-basedcurriculum, bird-banding field trip, and post trip evaluation. The project helps promote the proposed"No Child Left Inside" Act of 2008 . Dawn has also been awarded two grants to monitor NorthernSaw-whet Owls during fall migration and this project is in its fifth year. The bird-banding stationscontribute not only to science, but to education and conservation.

Scott Huber , Altacal Board Member, Field Trip Chairperson and Northern California Representative toAudubon California has, along with other statewide representatives, advocated for greater emphasis onyouth development at the State level. This effort has been immediately rewarded as Audubon Californiadeveloped a scholarship program and awarded matching funds to chapters to encourage attendance byyouth representatives to the Audubon Assembly at Asilomar in March 2009 . The redesignedconference will now feature an entire youth agenda, and young birders will have an opportunity to learnand recreate with their birding peers.

Altacal Board Members Kathryn Hood , Ruth Kennedy , Jennifer Patten, Carolyn Short, Steve andRaina King and other volunteers engage in youth education at the annual Endangered Species Faire,Rancho Esquon, the California Wildlife Festival, Chico Creek Nature Center and additional youth-oriented events and organizations.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3036http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl_dtl.htmlhttp://ca.audubon.org/assembly.phphttp://ca.audubon.org/assembly.phphttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl_dtl.htmlhttp://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-3036


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We currently have a vacant Board of Directors position, Education Chairperson , who would head upthe Education Committee . As stated in the Altacal By-Laws, The Education Committee shallpromote the understanding, awareness, appreciation and knowledge of birds and their habitats. This willbe partially accomplished by initiating, supporting and sponsoring environmental activities in our localcommunity, including encouraging schools to stress natural history, ecology and conservation.

So, give it some thought. You could tailor the program in any number of ways. You dont have to be ateacher/educator to do well in this position, but if you are, then its a great opportunity to be helpingyoungsters even more than you currently do, or to get back into youth education if youve been awayfrom it for a while. Thanks for your help.

Annual Fall Fund DriveWe gratefully extend a special "thank you" to our members who contributed to Altacal's annual FallFund Drive in 2008. We have received over $1,955 so far. Your donations make our organization'smission of promoting avian education and outreach within our local communities a reality. Because of your generosity we will continue to fund the three $500scholarships mentioned above and also hope to provide somefunding for Altacal's special 2008/09 commitment to producinga "Birds of Bidwell Park" static bird exhibit for the newly

constructed Chico Creek Nature Center Exhibit Hall , wherewe hold our monthly Altacal meetings. The bird exhibit willfeature professionally wood-carved replicas of native birds, bothabundant and rarely seen species within the varied park habitats.

The New Chico Creek Nature CentersExhibit Hall

This is an exciting undertaking that we feel will bring increased awareness and appreciation of birds topark visitors, both local and world-wide. Despite its name, the Fall Fund Drive has no date deadline.Please feel free to contribute at any time to any of our various projects and programs. If you would likemore information on projects or programs or wish to volunteer to help with them, please contact one of the members of our Board of Directors.

Phil JohnsonPresidentAltacal Audubon Society

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.

February 15, Sunday - Colusa National Wildlife RefugeLeader: Mike Peters

Join US Fish and Wildlife ServiceBiologist Mike Peters for an insiderslook at the Colusa National WildlifeRefuge . The waterfowl season ends inJanuary so things quiet down and therefuge becomes the domain of birders inFebruary. The 4,507-acre refuge is thewinter home to 20,000 ducks and50,000 geese . Year-round residentwildlife includes herons , egrets ,
http://www.bidwellpark.org/page/about/new-nature-center.phphttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/r_colusa.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/r_colusa.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/r_colusa.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/r_colusa.htmlhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/page/about/new-nature-center.php


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American Coots , Red-winged Blackbirds , Ring-necked Pheasants , Red-tailed Hawks , Black-tailedJackrabbits , Northern Raccoons , and Black-tailed Deer . This refuge provides food and cover forhundreds of species of birds , mammals , reptiles , and fish , and is well-known for its population of theendangered Giant Garter Snake . Well meet at the Chico Park n Ride promptly at 7 a.m. From there,well carpool to the refuge. Refuge rendezvous point will be at the restrooms near the start of the AutoLoop at 8 a.m. Well drive the three-mile loop and then take the one-mile walking loop. Rain cancels.Dress warmly. We should be back at Chico by approximately 2 p.m.

February 21, Saturday Rancho EsquonTrip Leader: Jennifer Patten

Just a short drive outside Durham, Rancho Esquon, a private rice farm, has over 900 acres of wetlands set aside as a sanctuary for wintering waterfowl . We will visit their viewing platform whichoffers a spectacular view of the surrounding wetlands with high concentrations of ducks . Along theroadways bordering the ranch, we should also see Sandhill Cranes , Snow and Greater White-frontedGeese , Bald Eagles , and other raptors .

Meet at the Chico Park n Ride at 9 a.m. Bring water and snacks. The trip will last from 9 to 1. If youhave any questions, call trip leader Jennifer Patten at 345-9356 or send her a message at

[email protected]

March 8 Sunday Llano Seco and Butte BasinTrip Leader: Skip Augur

"Butte Basin" refers to the flat, open landsroughly between Dayton, the Sutter Buttes, theSacramento River, and Highway 99.Historically, this area was all tule marshes andgrasslands. It is the wintertime "Serengeti" of migratory waterfowl. We will start at the LlanoSeco viewing platform and continue along Rd.Z in search of waterfowl , raptors , rails andBlack-crowned Night-Herons . From there wewill hit various spots along the rice fields

looking for concentrations of Sandhill Cranes and other wintering birds . Meet at the Park nRide (the lot closest to the freeway) at 7:45 a.m.to carpool. Contact trip leader Skip Augur at893-9222 or email [email protected] .

Butte Basin Habitat
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Pheasant.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/jackrabbit.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/jackrabbit.htmhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_lotor.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_lotor.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_lotor.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_lotor.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_deerhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.gigas.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-crowned_Night-Heron.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.gigas.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_deerhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Procyon_lotor.htmlhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/jackrabbit.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/jackrabbit.htmhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Pheasant.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.html


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March 15, Sunday Pine Creek NWR and Indian Fishery State ParkTrip Leader: Mike Fisher

Two trips in one! Our first stop will bethe Pine Creek Unit of the SacramentoRiver National Wildlife Refuge. Wewill walk and bird parts of this restored site looking forgrassland and riparian birds . Nextwe will visit the Indian Fishery area of the Bidwell-Sacramento River StatePark. Here we will take a -mileguided nature trail to see severalspecies of woodpeckers and manyother woodland and aquatic birds .We may also see River Otter , Beaver and pond turtles .

Pine Creek Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

Beginning birders are always welcome. Let the trip leader know ahead of time if you need to borrowbinoculars or a field guide. Meet at the Park n Ride closest to Hwy 99 at 8:00 a.m. We will carpoolover to the Pine Creek Unit and then to Indian Fishery. We will return to the park n ride by 1:00 p.m.Contact Mike for more information. [email protected] or 530.624.4777

March 22, Sunday - Oroville Wildlife Area Trip Leader: Nancy Nelson

The Oroville Wildlife Area consists of 11,870 acres of woodland, riparian and grassland habitat alongthe Feather River and Thermalito Afterbay in Oroville. We will familiarize ourselves with various

access points and explore the area both on foot and along fairly well-maintained gravel roads. Weshould see waterfowl , raptors , lingering winter visitors , year-round residents and perhaps someearly spring migrants . Great Horned Owls have been seen on nests at this time of year. Ospreys ,herons and egrets may be starting some nesting activity, as well. This area is full of surprises andanything is possible!

We will meet at the Chico Park n Ride on Hwy. 32, the lot nearest Hwy. 99, at 7:30 a.m. Wearweather-appropriate clothing and shoes suitable for hiking. Bring water, a lunch, binoculars and a fieldguide if you have one. Scopes would also be useful. Beginning birders are always welcome. Let thetrip leader know ahead of time if you need to borrow binoculars or a field guide. We should be back inChico by 2 p.m. Heavy rain cancels. For more information call Nancy Nelson at 345-0580.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/fact-riverotter.cfmhttp://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/beaver.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/beaver.htmhttp://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/Facts/fact-riverotter.cfm


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March 29, Sunday Upper Bidwell Park Field Trip Leader: Phil Johnson

Take a casual walk along the creek-side and adjacent woodlands in search of birds that breed in Upper Park. No experience necessary. Just bring yourbinoculars, a field guide if you have one, hiking shoes, water and snacks. Meet at

the newly constructed parking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8:30 a.m. and walk untilabout 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles). For more information, contact Phil Johnson at 570-7139.


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April 4, Saturday Table Mountain Team Leader: Gaylord Grams

This field trip will include Cherokee,Cherokee Cemetery, the ponds along theroad and the wildflowers on TableMountain plus the birds and waterfalls.For more information check the Altacalweb site www.altacal.org or contactGaylord at [email protected] or 530872-0739.

Table Mountain Spring Flowers, Oroville

April 18, Saturday Kayak Trip through the Oroville WildernessTrip Leader: Gaylord Grams

For more information check the Altacal web site www.altacal.org or contact Gaylord [email protected] or 530 872-0739.

BandingMigration Monitoring Banding Summary 2008 for BCCER and BCEP, Chico, CA

In 2008 the bird-banding team processed and banded a total of 603 individuals of 44 species at the BigChico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) and Butte Creek Ecological Preserve (BCEP) . Morebirds (n=328) and species (n=36), were banded at BCEP than at BCCER where we processed 276individuals of 31 species (Table 1). We captured, but did not band (due to permit restrictions), anadditional five species in our nets at the BCEP, including four species of hummingbird and CaliforniaQuail (Table

1). Although abundance and diversity appear higher at theBCEP, the tabular data are not directly comparable since webanded an additional four days at BCEP and net hours (#netsopen/per hour) for each site have not yet been calculated.Analysis of the data is something we strive to accomplish in2009.

Kudos to a great group of volunteers for keeping this projectviable and now entering its fourth year!

Singing and Banded Golden-crowned Sparrowat BCCER - Photo by Liam Huber
http://www.altacal.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.altacal.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Quail.htmlhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bcephttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccermailto:[email protected]://www.altacal.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.altacal.org/


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Species Total#

BCEP Spp # BCCER Spp #

American Robin 20 AMRO 9 AMRO 11Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 ATFL 2 0Bewicks Wren 35 BEWR 23 BEWR 12Brown-headed Cowbird 2 BHCO 2 0Black-headed Grosbeak 7 BHGR 4 BHGR 3Black Phoebe 6 BLPH 6 0Brown Creeper 1 0 BRCR 1Black-throated Gray Warbler 3 0 BTYW 3Bushtit 57 BUSH 48 BUSH 9California Towhee 6 CALT 1 CALT 5Downy Woodpecker 1 DOWO 1 0Dusky Flycatcher 1 DUFL 1 0Fox Sparrow 14 FOSP 7 FOSP 7Golden-crowned Sparrow 34 GCSP 2 GCSP 32Hammonds Flycatcher 1 0 HAFL 1Hermit Thrush 133 HETH 66 HETH 67House Wren 1 HOWR 1 0Huttons Vireo 6 HUVI 2 HUVI 4Lazuli Bunting 1 0 LAZB 1Lesser Goldfinch 54 LEGO 45 LEGO 9Lincolns Sparrow 4 LISP 2 LISP 2McGillivrays Warbler 4 MGWA 2 MGWA 2Myrtle Warbler 1 MYWA 1 0Nashville Warbler 1 NAWA 1 0Nutalls Woodpecker 4 NUWO 4 0Oak Titmouse 8 OATI 6 OATI 2Orange-crowned Warbler 26 OCWA 11 OCWA 15

Oregon Junco 16 ORJU 2 ORJU 14Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2 PSFL 1 PSFL 1Purple Finch 21 0 PUFI 21Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 0 RBSA 2Ruby-crowned Kinglet 21 RCKI 14 RCKI 7Red-naped Sapsucker 1 0 RNSA 1Song Sparrow 1 SOSP 1 0Spotted Towhee 46 SPTO 16 SPTO 30Swainsons Thrush 5 SWTH 4 SWTH 1White-breasted Nuthatch 2 0 WBNU 2Western Tanager 8 WETA 7 WETA 1Western Wood-peewee 1 WEWP 1 0Willow Flycatcher 1 WIFL 1 0Wilsons Warbler 13 WIWA 12 WIWA 1Wrentit 14 WREN 8 WREN 6Yellow-breasted Chat 8 YBCH 5 YBCH 3Yellow Warbler 9 YWAR 9 0Total Individuals Banded 604 TOTAL 328 TOTAL 276Species Count 44 species 36 species 31

Table 1. Bird Species and Number of Individuals Banded at Butte CreekEcological Preserve (BCEP) and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve

(BCCER) in 2008.


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Conservation Corner

Dear Altacal Members - The following situation may have been settled, one way or another, by the timeyou read this, but maybe not. We figure its important enough to make you aware of it and ask for yourhelp. If you saw the young California Conservation Corps (CCC) people helping to park cars at theSnow Goose Festival and providing and driving field trip vans; or if you read about the CCC workersplacing Christmas trees in Lake Oroville as fish, bird and other wildlife habitat; then you knowsomething about the worth of this program that helps at-risk youth and provides volunteer communityservice.

Below is an email message we received from John Griffith, a Board Director of Friends of the Eel River,that is being sent to individuals and organizations in response to the governor's proposal to eliminate theCalifornia Conservation Corps and the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards programs. Prompt action isnecessary as a final decision to eliminate or fund these two important restoration programs will be madein the upcoming weeks. A link to an article that Griffith wrote for the Environmental News Network isincluded below. A letter to your representatives and the governor would be much appreciated.

Dear Friends of the CCC:

Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed to eliminate the California Conservation Corps (CCC) - theworld's oldest and largest youth environmental corps program. The CCC employs at-risk youth to doecological restoration and emergency response work. A final decision to defund the CCC could bemade as early as next week. With it, the AmeriCorps program called the Watershed Stewards may alsobe eliminated. Everyone who supports these two vital programs needs to act right now. And I've madeit easy for you.

The first link below is to a petition to the governor to continue funding for the CCC. The second link takes you to an online letter to the governor. After you send the letter, you will be directed to aclearinghouse of information about the "Save the CCC" campaign. The third link is to an EnvironmentalNews Network article about governor's proposal.

Governor targets the CCC! - The Petition Site

Table 1. cont. Additional Species Captured but not Banded

SPECIES BCEP BCCER

California Quail CAQUAnnas Hummingbird ANHURufous Hummingbird RUHUBlack-chinned Hummingbird BCHUCalliope Hummingbird CAHUSpecies TOTAL - 49 41 31
http://www.ccc.ca.gov/http://watershedstewards.com/http://www.thepetitionsite.com/65/help-save-the-CCChttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/65/help-save-the-CCChttp://watershedstewards.com/http://www.ccc.ca.gov/


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This is the link to the letter. save-the-ccc This is the link to the website. www.save-the-ccc.org

ENN article. Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment

Hardcopy letters to the governor (sent this week) are still the best. If you don't have time to write one,cut and paste the one below and mail it to him ASAP. His address is included at the top of the letter.Please forward this email to everyone you think would lend their support. Green jobs for youth andendangered habitats depend on your prompt action. - John Griffith

Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerState Capitol BuildingSacramento, CA 95814

Attention, Governor Schwarzenegger,

Please do not let the California Conservation Corps be cut from the budget . The CCC is theworlds oldest and largest youth conservation program. We need the CCC to continue doing itsemergency response and environmental restoration work. We need the CCC to continue giving youth aplace to live, job skills, education, and scholarships for college. We need the CCC to continue to providefinancial stimulus into rural communities. We need the CCC to provide green jobs for urban and ruralyouth. We vote according to our beliefs. We voted for green jobs, youth programs, and more efficientemergency services. We will have the CCC in mind when we vote again. Please make the toughdecisions. Decide to save the California Conservation Corps.

Signed by the voter named,

Sister Society (Cape Cod Bird Club) News

Members of our Sister Society had excellent weather and good coverage combining to produce 132species of birds on the Cape Cod Christmas Bird Count held on December 14. By their local standards,nothing exceptionally rare was found - the best birds being an Ovenbird in East Orleans and aLincoln's Sparrow in South Chatham. Unfortunately for them, a couple of recent local attractions, aMountain Bluebird and a Golden Eagle were no-shows - the bluebird apparently not being seen for atleast four days prior to the CBC. Remarkably, for a 77-year-old count, 18 species exceeded or matchedprevious high totals, which they figured was, at least in part, due to the favorable weather and coverage.Included in the count were: an American Woodcock (in full display at 6:15 a.m. in 22 degree weather!),
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5766/t/4572/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=935http://www.save-the-ccc.org/http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2794http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ovenbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lincolns_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Woodcock_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Woodcock_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden_Eagle_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mountain_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lincolns_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ovenbird.htmlhttp://www.enn.com/press_releases/2794http://www.save-the-ccc.org/http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5766/t/4572/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=935


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5 Iceland Gulls , 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls , 1 Dovekie , 1061 Razorbills , 17 Yellow-breastedChats (a record high - and a new national high!), 2 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows , 3 SeasideSparrows and a White-winged Crossbill .

Highlights from the Mid-Cape Christmas Bird Count held on Tuesday December 30 included anamazing 80,000 American Robins leaving a roost in Barnstable, an American Bittern , a Great Egret ,2 Canvasbacks , 15 Virginia Rails , a Rough-legged Hawk , a Short-eared Owl , 5 Black-headedGulls , and a House Wren .

The snows in January drove birds into local yards in search of fruiting trees, and there were severalreports of Eastern Bluebirds and Baltimore Orioles in local yards. The number of Baltimore Orioles inparticular reported from yards in towns like Orleans, Mashpee and Falmouth this winter is remarkable.

A PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was found on Salt Pondin Falmouth in mid-January and stayed a few days.This breeding goose of Greenland and Iceland wintersin Northwestern Europe, and occurs only as a very rarevagrant to North America. As you might imagine, thiswas of great interest to birders on the Cape andelsewhere.

In addition, hard on the heels of the Pink-footed Goosewas an IVORY GULL in Plymouth Harbor (I know, Iknow. Id like to be there too but consider, theyvehad much snow, rain, wind off the Atlantic and 1-degree temperatures, as well as birders from all overthe US coming to see the gull.) As of late January thebird was still there.

Pink-footed Goose

In Provincetown during the same period,birders reported 700 White-winged Scoters ,3 Iceland Gulls , 60 Black-leggedKittiwakes , 45 Razorbills , and 1 Thick-billed Murre .

It all sounds kind of exotic to our NorthernCalifornia ears, doesnt it?

Ivory Gull
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Iceland_Gull.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Black-backed_Gull.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dovekie_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Razorbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-breasted_Chat.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-breasted_Chat.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Saltmarsh_Sharp-tailed_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-winged_Crossbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Bittern.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Virginia_Rail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rough-legged_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Short-eared_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Baltimore_Oriole.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Baltimore_Oriole.htmlhttp://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=027019http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=027019http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ivory_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-winged_Scoter.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Iceland_Gull.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-legged_Kittiwake.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-legged_Kittiwake.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Razorbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Thick-billed_Murre_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Thick-billed_Murre_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Thick-billed_Murre_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Thick-billed_Murre_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Razorbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-legged_Kittiwake.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-legged_Kittiwake.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Iceland_Gull.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-winged_Scoter.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ivory_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=027019http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Baltimore_Oriole.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-headed_Gull_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Short-eared_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rough-legged_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Virginia_Rail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canvasback.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Bittern.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Robin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-winged_Crossbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Seaside_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Saltmarsh_Sharp-tailed_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-breasted_Chat.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-breasted_Chat.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Razorbill.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dovekie_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Black-backed_Gull.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Iceland_Gull.html


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The Snag Hangout

Rex Burress

Down by the riverside, near the Feather River Nature Center, there is a grove of Populus fremontii

cottonwood trees. In October the leaves start turning yellow as they twist in the breeze and finally gospinning to the soil.

A few years ago, two of those old trees died, becoming leafless snags as they slowly started to decaywith limbs falling twig by twig. They seemed to be outcasts compared to the other tall healthy trees, andto some they might appear as unfit to be part of the scenic beauty.

There are other outlooks, though, and thanks to their riverside isolation, they were spared even though inOroville park property where the policy is to take down dead/dying wood. The Acorn Woodpeckers that found the two snag trees a perfect hangout are happy about leaving them natural.

A standing snag tree is cherished by acorn woodpeckers, and they love to scale those woody heights,peck out holes where they can nest, or smaller holes for the acorns they collect. The deteriorating wood,harboring various boring insects, is the hangout-habitat of the clownish bird, even decorated in a festivecostume of contrasting feathers. The male has an extra large splash of red on its head, and they are proneto fuss a lot, poking into those holes in play. Dont be surprised if one goes swooping out across theriver to snatch an insect!

One wonders if they have any apprehension as to when the final bit of debris will shatter to the groundleaving them homeless, but seemingly, they work on with what theyve got, taking one day at a time andtaking what the day gives. Of course, with wings, they could go on in search of other snag trees, unlessthe final collapse came at nesting time.

Ive watched those trees die and slowly dissipate for several years, so its a slow process unless someunusual windstorm or turbulence occurs. One dead branch leans off to the side, the last segment to die,and grape vines had attached and still hang on as long as there is anchorage. Some clumps of mistletoehave slowly died, as they actually sink roots into the living tissue and depend on a live tree.

On cool autumnal mornings, Turkey Vultures spread their wings to the morning sun to warm up anddry, until finally the woodpeckers fuss and annoy the scavengers into gliding away. Birds love a snagtree, where they can perch and clearly see the surrounding scene. The Osprey lands there to restbetween fishing excursions. The Black Phoebe sits there until an insect comes into range and then itdarts out for a catch. "Catch the Dream" applies not only to Riverbend Parks theme, but each little foodmorsel a bird catches is its daily dream!

There is also the pure beauty of the yellowish decaying wood, some of it bleached white and barkless, aswell as arty knobs and burls on the trunk. A snag tree is showing hidden character somewhat like anaging human with handsome lines of time creased in the face.

So look well to old snag trees; they are serving a useful purpose as they slowly recede into the arms of time, offering temporary homes to animals, and eventually help mulch the soil with necessary nutrients.

"The woods are full of dead and dying trees. Yet needed for their beauty tocomplete the beauty of the living."

John Muir
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Acorn_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Acorn_Woodpecker.html


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Coast Horned Lizard Survey

Coast Horned Lizard

A Survey of Remaining Coast Horned Lizard Populations within the Sierra Nevadaand Central Valley of California

Background Information

Local naturalist, bird expert and Past President of the Altacal Audubon Society, Jackson Shedd, asks forour help in a Coast Horned Lizard survey.

The Coast Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii [=coronatum] ) is a State-listed Species of SpecialConcern and is on the decline throughout California. Reasons for decline are attributed to conversion of habitat to housing, golf courses, agriculture, extensive oil drilling, as well as the introduction of theinvasive Argentine Ant , which the horned lizard wont eat and which eliminates native ant species.Introduced European grasses and other annuals such as star-thistle also appear to have choked thisspecies out from many undeveloped grassland areas where native grasses were much shorter and sparse.

Where in the Sierra Nevada and Central Valley

The Coast Horned Lizard occurs on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada from the Central Valley up toaround 2,500 ft in the northern Sierra and to around 6,200 ft in the southern Sierra. Historically thisspecies occurred throughout much of the Sacramento Valley south throughout the San Joaquin Valley.Both Sierra Nevada and Central Valley populations are now few and isolated. Like most horned lizards,this species has specific habitat and dietary requirements. Found in grassland, chaparral, and open pine,oak, and pinyon-juniper woodlands, the Coast Horned Lizard is dependent on open ground situationswhere areas of loose soil allow for burial during periods of inactivity (i.e. daytime heat or hibernation).Such soil types include alkali, basalt, gabbro and decomposed granite. Harvester ants, a main prey item,are also typically present. This is the only horned lizard within the region of focus and should be readilyidentifiable by its flattened, spiny body; stocky appearance; and horns adorning the head. Colorationvaries with soil type.

Sightings

The relatively few historical vouchers and records for the Sierra Nevada and Central Valley are typicallyold, lack useful locality data, and very often represent extirpated populations. More information isneeded to better understand Coast Horned Lizard abundance in the Sierra Nevada and Central Valley.Both recent sightings and older sightings from remaining natural areas are encouraged. Please include
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/phry-cor.htmlhttp://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/argentine.htmlhttp://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/argentine.htmlhttp://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/phry-cor.html


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as much data as possible. The information gathered during this survey is not for public use. CoastHorned Lizards are protected by State law and should be left at the site of discovery.

*Please report your sightings and locality information to Jackson Shedd:

[email protected] .

Useful information includes the following: Name of observer(s)

Date and time Locality (include county, elevation, GPS coordinates if available) Land use at time of observation Photo voucher

Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports

November 30, Sunday Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Fly-Off

The finale of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area field trip was aspectacular fly-off at dusk of thousands and thousands of ducksand geese. Over thirty people took the trip down to Gray Lodgeon a warm, autumn day. Before we settled in for the fly-off therewas time to walk out to the viewing platform and hike out to theviewing hide. Some birds seen along the trails where Ruby-crowned Kinglets , Nuttalls Woodpecker , Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows , Yellow-rumped Warblers ,Northern Shoveler , American Wigeon , Greater White-fronted Geese , Northern Pintail , Gadwall , Pied-billed Grebes ,

Snow Geese in Flight

Turkey Vultures , Spotted and California Towhees , Red-tailed Hawk , Great and Snowy Egrets ,Great Blue Heron , Cinnamon Teal , Black Phoebe , plus several flyovers of large flocks of Snow

Geese and Greater-white fronted Geese .Then off we drove along the auto tour route to parking lot 16, where we set out our chairs, sharedcookies and hot chocolate, and waited for the sun to set. All of a sudden, huge flocks of Snow Geesesimultaneously lifted off from the ponds. These flights continued for several minutes. Then the ducksstarted their fly-off, in every direction possible. Its a stunning experience to be there and one of thegreatest spectacles of flight youll ever see and we have it in our own backyard.

December 6, Saturday Raptor RunTrip Leader: Phil Johnson

About the worst type of weather that you could ask for when watchingraptors is dense fog, and that is exactly what we got on our Raptor Run.The big, wide-open-sky country along Nelson and Cottonwood Roadswas socked-in thick. This did not, however, stop us determined birdersfrom having a good time.

Along Nelson Road we encountered many Red-tailed Hawks perched onthe power poles. Several American Kestrels were seen perched on the

Bald Eaglefence lines along the way. Mourning Doves , White-Crowned Sparrows , and Western Meadowlarks clung to the barbed wire fences as we passed.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shoveler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gadwall.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pied-billed_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snowy_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cinnamon_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Kestrel.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Meadowlark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Meadowlark.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Kestrel.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cinnamon_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snowy_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Towhee.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pied-billed_Grebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gadwall.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shoveler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.html


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The big highlight on Nelson Road was coming upon a tree with four Bald Eagles in it. Three of themimmediately flew off, but a juvenile stayed perched in the tree, just above the road. We all got greatlooks at this stately creature.

With the fog so thick, we decided to go to Bedrock Park along the Feather River in Oroville thinkingthat it may be a better spot to bird in the fog. It was. Right away, we spotted five Barrow'sGoldeneyes (males and females) in a backwater channel directly below us. A Spotted Sandpiper flewoff, and a few Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were seen resting along the banks. HermitThrushes , Fox Sparrows , Anna's Hummingbirds , and Golden-crowned Sparrows were some of thebirds that we saw lurking in the brush.

After a while we returned to the open grasslands along Cottonwood Road to look for raptors again, withlittle luck. A Northern Harrier gave us a little show, and several more American Kestrel's were seen.A Say's Phoebe kept flying alongside the cars, and gave us a good look. The rice fields along thehighway 99 corridor were filled with the calls of Northern Pintails , Tundra Swans , Greater White-Fronted Geese , and American Wigeons but we only got glimpses of a few that were close in.

December 13, Sunday - Sacramento National Wildlife RefugeTrip Leader: Mike Fisher

Snow Geese and Ducks and Eagles - Oh

my! Yes, that sums up the close-to-perfectday we had at the Sacramento NationalWildlife Refuge (SNWR). Gaylord Grams,Marcia Briggs, Rick Wulbern and MikeFisher took full advantage of a beautifulwinters day and spent five hours at therefuge near Willows.

The Willows refuge is the headquarters forthe SNWR Complex and is one of six

Viewing Platform at SNWR, Willows

located in the Sacramento Valley of north-central California. The 10,783- acre refuge consists of about7,600 acres of intensively managed wetlands, uplands, riparian habitat and vernal pools. It typicallysupports wintering populations of more than 600,000 ducks and 200,000 geese. On this trip it seemedlike we saw them all!

We took the back roads out of Chico making a very brief stop at the Llano Seco unit of the SacramentoRiver National Wildlife Complex. By the time we arrived at the Willows Refuge we had already seen24 species of birds. Our exploration of the complex began at the picnic area near the office. In andaround the willows were Yellow-rumped Warbler , Song Sparrow , White-crowned Sparrow , HouseFinch , Marsh Wren and Turkey Vulture . The nature trail begins by crossing the main road andlooping around the north-front of the refuge. In this section we picked up Red-winged Blackbird ,Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Tree Swallow , Black Phoebe , Golden-crowned Sparrow and BewicksWren . As the trail passed a large flooded area we had our first white geese, both Snows and Rosss , inlarge numbers. Hanging with them were Greater White-fronted Geese , Cinnamon Teal , Gadwall ,American Wigeon and the ever present American Coot . Just before we crossed back over the mainentrance road to the south side we had a Muskrat leisurely swim by. Our attention was drawn to amassive uprising of thousands of white geese in the main part of the refuge. Looking at the chaos andconfusion it was easy to see what was going on. Two adult Bald Eagles were coming our way flyingover the now very agitated main flock of birds. The eagles soared by us acting like they owned the sky.A third eagle, this one an immature, trailed along behind the original two. As we watched, we weretreated to a small flock of soaring American White Pelicans making their way into the refuge.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Sandpiper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Fox_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Annas_Hummingbird_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefugeshttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefugeshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Song_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Marsh_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tree_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rosss_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cinnamon_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gadwall.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_White_Pelican.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_White_Pelican.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_White_Pelican.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ondatra_zibethicus.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Coot.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gadwall.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cinnamon_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rosss_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Snow_Goose_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tree_Swallow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Marsh_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Song_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefugeshttp://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefugeshttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Wigeon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Pintail.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Annas_Hummingbird_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Fox_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Spotted_Sandpiper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.html


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After picking up our cars we set out for the auto loop. Here we were treated to several more ducksincluding Ring-necked Duck , Lesser Scaup , Ruddy Duck and Green-winged Teal to add to our list.At the platform, sizable numbers of Black-necked Stilt and Dunlin were present. In the willows justbeyond the platform we picked out Bushtit , Lesser Goldfinch , American Pipit , Savannah Sparrow ,and a lone Orange-crowned Warbler . The day ended with well over 60 species seen.

December 21, Sunday - Chico Christmas Bird CountCompiler: Phil Johnson

Check the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count web site for results.http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html

December 28, Sunday - Oroville Christmas Bird CountCompiler: Scott Huber

After a week of checking and double checking the data here are the count totals for the Oroville CBC(Butte County) along with some observations*. Species Total: 144 - This is highest species total sincethe count began in 1968. The second highest was 140 in 1989.

High Species Counts:

Northern Shoveler : Highest at 718, second highest was 1997 with 46

White-tailed Kite : Highest at 44, second highest was 1997 with 21Bald Eagle : Highest with 26, second highest was 1997 with 15Red-shouldered Hawk : Highest with 38, second highest were 2001 & 2003 with 23Ferruginous Hawk : Highest with 6, second highest was 1981 with 5Red-tailed Hawk : Highest with 91, second highest 2001 with 77Merlin : Highest with 5, second highest was 2003 with 4Long-billed Curlew : 2. only 7th time on list since 1968Rock Pigeon : Highest with 860, second highest 299 in 1992Mourning Dove : Highest with 301, second highest 190 in 2006Great Horned Owl : 3. Tied for highest with '72, '73, '85, '87 and `98Northern Pygmy-Owl : 2. tied for highest with '82, '85, '89 and `97Belted Kingfisher : Highest at 28. Second highest was 25 in '71, '90 and 2000Nuttall's Woodpecker : Highest with 39. Second highest 37 in 1978Say's Phoebe : Highest with 14. Second highest in '77 and 2006 with 6Yellow-billed Magpie : 44. Highest since 2003. Zero in 2005. All time high 158 in 1978Common Raven : Highest with 35. Second highest 19 in 2005. Only 4 from 1968-1993Oak Titmouse : 153. Highest since 2000 (157). Low of 27 in 2005Bushtit : Highest with 421. Second highest 413 in 1976Western Bluebird : Highest with 615. Second highest 292 in 1988Song Sparrow : Highest with 39. Second highest 38 in 1989Lincoln's Sparrow : Highest with 65. Second highest 28 in 1974Lesser Yellowlegs : Highest with 3. Second highest 1 in 2003. 2nd time on count

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher : 1. Tied for highest with 1981 & 1985. Only third time on count.Black-throated Gray Warbler 2. Tied for highest with '74 & `04. Fifth time since'68Peregrine Falcon : Tied for highest with 3 in 2001

Eurasian Collared-Dove : 10. First time on countSandhill Crane : First time since 1988. Second highest with 12, highest was 1977 with 14

Brown Creeper : Missed. First time missed since 1998Loggerhead Shrike . Missed. Only third time missed since 1968
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Scaup.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruddy_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green-winged_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green-winged_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-necked_Stilt.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-necked_Stilt.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dunlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Savannah_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shoveler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-tailed_Kite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ferruginous_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Merlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Long-billed_Curlew.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rock_Pigeon_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introductionhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introductionhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Magpie.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Raven.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Oak_Titmouse.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Song_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lincolns_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Yellowlegs.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Collared-Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown_Creeper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Loggerhead_Shrike_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Loggerhead_Shrike_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown_Creeper.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eurasian_Collared-Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-throated_Gray_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Yellowlegs.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lincolns_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Song_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Bluebird.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Oak_Titmouse.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Raven.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Yellow-billed_Magpie.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Says_Phoebe_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Belted_Kingfisher.htmlhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introductionhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rock_Pigeon_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Long-billed_Curlew.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Merlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ferruginous_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-tailed_Kite.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Shoveler.htmlhttp://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Orange-crowned_Warbler.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Savannah_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Pipit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Dunlin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-necked_Stilt.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Green-winged_Teal.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruddy_Duck.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Scaup.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ring-necked_Duck.html


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Many variables contribute to differences, including weather, number and skill-level of census takers, andemphasis on specific habitats within count zones, but clearly there are some notable trends in the abovedata.* not including 2007 data which I did not have access to

January 11, Sunday Indian Fishery and Pine CreekTrip Leader: Mike Fisher

Have you ever wondered what makes a popular field trip? After this experience and having led a

number of past field trips for Altacal, I believe I can now answer that question. Is it a great destination?That surely helps. Is it a leader with vast knowledge? Not as important as you might think. In myexperience, the number one factor for a popular fieldtrip seems to be beautiful weather! Something liketemperatures in the mid 70s, sunny with no wind?Then, if you can produce all of this in January, youhave really hit the jackpot.

That is exactly what greeted the 21 people whoshowed up for a leisurely stroll through the PineCreek Unit of the Sacramento River NationalWildlife Refuge and then a walk through IndianFishery, part of the Bidwell-Sacramento River StatePark.

Pine Creek Unit, SRNWR

The morning began by meeting at the Park n Ride and then carpooling over to the Pine Creek Unitlocated about nine miles west of Chico on Hwy 32, just past River Road. Walking along the wide trailswe were visited by many of our resident birds. Western Scrub-Jay , Black Phoebe , Red-tailed Hawk ,Red-shouldered Hawk , Bushtit , Turkey Vulture , American Crow and Common Raven were all outin force. Flyovers of Canada Geese , Greater White-fronted Geese and Common Merganser werespecial as these are not birds you would normally expect to see here. The group continued along thetrail to the area where it meets up with the Sacramento River. Here we were excited to find a group of Common Goldeneyes diving for dinner. Also along the rivers edge were Greater Yellowlegs , GreatBlue Heron and Great Egret . It was just about then when Jennifer Patten spotted the highlight of theday. Across the river were two adult Bald Eagles engaged in nest-building activities. Eagles build anest out of large sticks and branches. To collect them they fly by a tree and reach out grabbing hold of abranch. Then, using their weight and power they snap it off while in flight. They then carry it over tothe nest. We were fortunate enough to witness this activity for several minutes. With our time runningout we forced ourselves to leave this spectacle and worked our way back to the car. Along the way wesaw many of our visiting winter birds including Ruby-crowned Kinglet , Hermit Thrush , White-crowned Sparrow and Golden-crowned Sparrow .

Into the cars and off we went, next stop Indian Fishery just a four-mile drive from the Pine Creek Unit.Here we walked along the half-mile loop trail enjoying the unbelievable weather. I have never seen this

area so full of birds in the winter. It seemed that they too were enjoying the day just as much as wewere. Nuttalls Woodpecker , Downy Woodpecker , Northern Flicker , White-breasted Nuthatch ,American Goldfinch , both kinds of Towhees , House Finch , Oak Titmouse , and Bewicks Wren wereall heard and seen seemingly at ever turn. For me though, the highlight of this part of the field trip wasthe multiple up-close looks at Golden-crowned Kinglets . Sometimes staying high in the trees this birdis hard to spot. Today they gave their presence away by their constant high-pitched calls and camedown to almost eye level. Another highlight had to be the three River Otters eating fish and playing inthe slough. Well, there is really no need to choose the best part of this field trip as the whole dayqualified as a favorite and was very special indeed. We ended the morning having seen 45 species of birds.
http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Scrub-Jay.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Crow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Raven.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canada_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Merganser.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Yellowlegs.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Downy_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Flicker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-breasted_Nuthatch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Oak_Titmouse.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Oak_Titmouse.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lontra_canadensis.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lontra_canadensis.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bewicks_Wren.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Oak_Titmouse.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-breasted_Nuthatch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Flicker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Downy_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White-crowned_Sparrow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hermit_Thrush.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bald_Eagle.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Blue_Heron.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_Yellowlegs.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Merganser.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Canada_Goose.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Raven.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Crow.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Turkey_Vulture.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Bushtit.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-shouldered_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black_Phoebe.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Scrub-Jay.htmlhttp://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48http://www.sacramentoriver.org/access_site.php?access_site_id=48


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January 18, Sunday Upper Bidwell ParkTrip Leader: Steve King

What a great day for a field trip into Upper Bidwell Park! There were about 14 of uswho went out and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We saw a total of 42 species of birds. The bird of the day was a Northern Pygmy-Owl that hung around to giveeveryone good looks at it along with lots of photo ops.

Northern Pygmy-Owl - Photo by Steve King

There was a flock of Lesser Goldfinches along with a lone Pine Siskin that kept aclose watch on the Northern Pygmy-Owl. We also had a flock of about 25 Tundra Swans fly overheadheading in a northerly direction.

January 31, Saturday Chico State Birding Club Winter Survey Field Trip Leaders: Shelly Kirn and Jay Bogiatto

Nine birders, including Altacal Audubon Society members, participated in adark-to-dark Winter Survey (a Big Day of sorts). The CSBC does suchsurveys three seasons a year, covering the same habitats for about the sameamount of time in each habitat on each survey. They birded Forest Ranch (lowelevation montane coniferous forest), a chaparral habitat lower down on Rte. 32,the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge (semi-permanent marsh), the Thermalito Afterbay (lake/reservoir) and the FeatherRiver near Bedrock Park (riparian lotic). By days end they had seen 106 speciesof birds and heard three others. Best birds of the day were a PileatedWoodpecker off Nopel Rd. in Forest Ranch, a California Thrasher off Rte. 32below Forest Ranch and a Barrows Goldeneye on the Feather River.

Pileated Woodpecker

November Program - Monday November 17, 2008Colusa National Wildlife Refuge Mike Peters

A packed house greeted Mike Peters for his eagerly anticipated presentation on the Colusa NationalWildlife Refuge (CNWR) . Mike is the Refuge Manager for the Colusa Refuge, the Sutter Refuge andthe Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area. He has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 16years and is also a highly skilled wildlife photographer. Add to this an intense passion for his work andyou get the perfect person to promote the birds and wildlife of the CNWR.

Using his beautiful photos as talking points Mike began with a description of habitats contained in the4500-plus-acre refuge. The refuge primarily consists of intensively managed wetland impoundments,with some grassland and riparian habitat. Colusa Refuge typically supports wintering populations of more than 200,000 ducks and 50,000 geese. Colusa and its sister refuges are a significant reason the
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introductionhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introductionhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Thrasher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=81621http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=81621http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=81621http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=81621http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barrows_Goldeneye.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/California_Thrasher.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Tundra_Swan_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Lesser_Goldfinch.htmlhttp://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/494/articles/introduction


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Sacramento Valley is one of the most important wintering areas for waterfowl in North America. Thegoal of management is to provide the best possible habitat for migratory birds and endangered species,while providing as much natural diversity of indigenous flora and fauna as possible. In addition to thebirds, the refuge is home to a large assortment of mammals and reptiles. At least three albino deer alsomake their home in the refuge as does the threatened Giant Garter Snake .

Mike emphasized that the public is welcome and encouraged to come out and visit the refuge. A newlybuilt parking lot, picnic area and restroom facilities have been completed at the entrance next to theinterpretive kiosk. The refuge has a three-mile graveled automobile tour that meanders throughfreshwater wetlands. A 1-mile Discovery Walk offers visitors a place to stroll along a dense riparianslough and a marsh. The auto tour is open to vehicles and the trail is open to foot-traffic from sunrise tosunset year-round.

Next time you are looking for a great place for Wildlife observation or nature photography rememberthe Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, you wont be disappointed.

December Program - Members Slide ShowMonday, December 15, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center

Once each year at our monthly Altacal program we turn things around and instead of bringing in

someone to make a presentation, we call upon ourmembers to take to the podium. Im referring of course to the Members Slide Show. At this programany member who chooses to do so can show off thebest of the photos he or she has taken over the pastyear. All it takes is a camera and a little courage.Think of it as home movies without all the relatives.As could easily have been predicted, it turned out tobe a very popular evening with a wide variety of birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and the wonderfulwonder of nature on display. On this occasion we

had four of our members participate in the show. Abig thank you goes to John Lewis (JT) , TomPrichard , Phil Johnson and Mike Fisher forsharing their photos with us.

Western Grebes Photographed by Tom Pritchard

Each presenter approached his photos in a slightly different way. Mike led off with a mixture of shotsthat ranged from some exotic species photographed in Panama, to a few common birds of Arizona andthen some wildlife of Yosemite National Park. He also included some yard birds like a Hooded Orioleat his feeder and some shots of the owl-banding project. Tom was a very pleasant surprise participant asit was his very first Altacal program. His presentation was entitled Lunchtime Lunacy and was abeautiful collection of birds he photographed during his lunch hours. Especially elegant were hisWestern Grebes in a courtship dance and a striking pair of Eared Grebes in full breeding plumage.Phil, as we all know, is the supreme outdoorsman. His adventurous sprit keeps him traveling andexploring whenever he has the time. This lifestyle works to our benefit when it comes time to show off the photos of his explorations. As in the past, Phil put together a fascinating assortment of travel shots.Much of this focused on the remote and rugged canyons of Death Valley National Park. Finally, it wastime for the pro. Every time JT takes the stage we know we are in for a treat as he is equally passionateabout birds and about photography. Raising the bar in both quality and quantity, he presented acollection of shots taken both locally and on his travels around the country. A crowd favorite were those
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.gigas.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hooded_Oriole.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/Bir

Documents

February 2009 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society