June 2010 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

8/8/2019 June 2010 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society

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W hite-tailed K iteJune/July, 2010

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. 8th St. In December the meeting is held on the second Monday and in July and August thereare no Program Meetings.

June Program - Monday, June 21, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center

Altacal Audubons Potluck and Elections

Come join us and celebrate friendships and our common love for birds and the naturalworld at our annual potluck dinner, Monday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. at Chico Creek

Nature Center. Well have a chance to visit with old friends and new ones; talk about

birds and birding and share stories of recent and future adventures and travels. We willplay some games and maybe even win some prizes. Also, the newly opened Howard S. Tucker ExhibitHall will be open for our viewing. Its been another remarkable year for Altacal Audubon and this willbe our last chance to get together as a group until our next program in September. Remember, there areno programs during July and August so you dont want to miss this one. Bring a dish to share, abeverage for yourself or to share, a plate and fork, and a chair if you like.

Its also time again for elections to the Altacal Audubon Board of Directors. We will take this time toelect new members to the Altacal Board of Directors. Newly elected members will serve for the nexttwo years. The slate of nominations put forward by the nominating Committee is:

President - Scott Huber

Vice President - Phil JohnsonSecretary Ruth KennedyTreasurer - Mike Fisher

Members may still put forth additional nominations before voting. Elections will be held in accordancewith the Bylaws of the Society.

See you there!
http://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenterhttp://www.northvalley.net/naturecenter


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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.

June 4-6, Friday-Sunday Sierra Valley/Yuba Pass Trip Leader: Mac McCormick - This trip

covers a variety of mountainhabitats. We will bird the marshesand open fields at the headwaters ofthe Feather River, the sagebrushlowlands of the Sierra Valley, theconifer woodlands of Yuba Passand well take a short trip to theLake Basin area (Sand PondBoardwalk). This trip always givesus a good variety of birds. Lastyear we witnessed many young

birds being fed by their parents.Friday and Saturday nights we willcamp out at the Salmon CreekCampground. Contact NancyNelson if you wish to go. She will

be helping Mac with the camping and transportation arrangements.Nancy Nelson 345-0580 [email protected]

June 12th, Saturday Last of the Second Saturday Upper Bidwell Park Walks (new time)Trip Leader: Steve King

This is the last of our Second Saturday of the Month field trips. This is the end of the spring migrationso we should see birds that are spending the summerin the upper park. Yellow-breasted Chats shouldbe singing and many birds will be feeding theiryoung. Lets meet at 7:30 a.m. (earlier time) at theparking loton the left just past the gun club (followWildwood Ave for 1.75 miles and turn left justbefore the gate). We may start our trip from here, ormaybe drive a short distance farther up the park roadand start our field trip at a different location. Bringbinoculars, water, snacks walking shoes and proper

clothing for the expected weather conditions. Weshould be back to the cars before noon. Rain cancels.For more information contact: Steve King at 566-6136.

Birders in Upper Park Photo by Raina King
mailto:[email protected]://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-breasted_chat/idhttp://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=39.772296,-121.779869&spn=0.002981,0.004967&t=h&z=18&msid=107749637272644391136.0004774399b3ee0f8c18dhttp://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=39.772296,-121.779869&spn=0.002981,0.004967&t=h&z=18&msid=107749637272644391136.0004774399b3ee0f8c18dhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-breasted_chat/idmailto:[email protected]


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June 25-27, Friday-Sunday- Willow Lake

Trip Leader: Gaylord Grams

Come and enjoy Willow Lake, situated just outsideLassen Volcanic National Park. Its a natural lake(kayaks are welcome) that features a floating bog (afen) in a narrow valley-like setting. PiliatedWoodpeckers nest in, and are common to the area;other birds include White-headed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Sandhill Cranes, WesternTanagers, Evening Grosbeaks and a variety ofwarblers. We will camp on the edge of the lake -only a pit toilet is provided - and hike to theTerminal Geyser, Boiling Lake, and perhaps up toLittle Willow Lake and bird the area along WillowCreek. Come for part of or the entire weekend.Contact Gaylord at 533-1624 for more information,directions and meeting places.

Willow Lake from the Camp

June 25-27, Friday-Sunday - Lassen Volcanic National ParkTrip Leader: Bill Oliver, Wintu Audubon

We enjoyed the birding and camping at the Lost Creek Group Campground last year so much that weare planning a repeat. This time we have invited the Altacal Audubon Society as well as the RedwoodRegion Audubon Society to join us. Folks can either camp at Lost Creek or drive up for either or both

days. Campers and day trippers will meet at theRedding Convention Center at 7:30 Saturdaymorning. We will bird Manzanita Lake andvicinity, meeting the Altacal and RedwoodRegion folks at noon at the Lost Creek GroupCamp. Two years ago a Pileated Woodpeckershared our campsite and Black-backedWoodpeckers were close by. Lost Creek hasprimitive facilities - pit toilets and no electricity -but potable water is available. Day trippers forSunday, June 27, will meet at the campground at8:30 a.m. The Altacal point of contact for thistrip is Jennifer Patten, 345-9356.

Manzanita Lake, Lassen

July 8-11, Thursday-Sunday - Ruby Mountains: Himalayan Snowcock, Black Rosy-Finch and

Nevada Green Big DayTrip Leaders: Jennifer Patten/Scott Huber and Liam HuberBased on our popular and successful 2008 trip we return to the beautiful Ruby Mts. We are hoping foreven better looks at Himalayan Snowcock and to find the Black Rosy-Finches we missed. Well alsovisit Ruby Lake, Nevadas most productive wetlands. On the final full day of the trip participants canchoose either to join Liam and Scott Huber on a 24-hour Green Big Day entirely by foot and bicycle toestablish a Nevada record, or bird additional locations by vehicle. This trip will be moderately to verystrenuous and we will be tent-camping. We will be car-pooling for the long drive. For moreinformation or to reserve your spot call Jennifer Patten 321-6185 or Scott Huber 321-5579.
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htmhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Evening_Grosbeak.htmlhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1022/overview/Himalayan_Snowcock.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/312/_/Black_Rosy-Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/312/_/Black_Rosy-Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1022/overview/Himalayan_Snowcock.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/idhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Evening_Grosbeak.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Western_Tanager_dtl.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sandhill_Crane.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-backed_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker.htmlhttp://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm


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Himalayan Snowcock Photo by Larry Spradlin

July 23-25, Friday-Sunday - Lassen Volcanic National ParkTrip leaders: Nancy Nelson and Steve King

Beat the heat and head for the high country just up the road in Lassen Volcanic National Park. We havereserved a site at Lost Creek Group Camp for Friday and Saturday nights. Well explore various partsof the park each day. You can join us for one or more of the hikes, kayak or canoe on your own atManzanita Lake, explore the park on your own or lounge in camp and let the birds come to you. Thebirding is great right in the campground area. Well get together for dinner and campfire socializing inthe evenings and perhaps take a night hike to look for owls. Come for all or part of the weekend. If youarent interested in camping, you can join us just for the day. There is a $10.00 fee per car to enter thepark and we will share the campsite fee. Group size is somewhat limited. If you would like to join usor need more information, please contact Nancy Nelson at 345-0580 or [email protected]

Clear, turquoise pool, at the east edge of the Bumpass Hell basin
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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August 4-8, Wednesday-Sunday - Saddlebag Lake and Mono Lake

Trip Leaders: Mike Fisher and Gaylord Grams

Saddlebag Lake is located about 10 miles west of LeeVining on CA 120, just east of Yosemite National Parkin the Hoover Wilderness. This high elevation area(10,150 feet) is known as the Twenty Lakes Basin. Wewill camp at Saddlebag Lake Campground Wednesdayand Thursday nights, using it as a base for exploring theSaddlebag Lake area. We will meet at the campgroundon Wednesday. Thursday morning we will get up earlyand take the water taxi across the lake to the trailhead(roundtrip cost is $11 but cuts 4 miles off the hike givingus more time to look for our target birds).

Mono Lake Moonrise Photo by Jeff Sullivan

The five-mile loop trail passes by several lakes and has spectacular scenery with dramatic granite peaks,clear streams, and small glaciers behind alpine meadows. Our target birds for this hike will be theelusiveGray-crowned Rosy-Finchand White-tailed Ptarmigan. Mono Lake is just about 10 milesdown the Tioga Pass from Saddlebag Lake. Friday and Saturday will be spent exploring the many areas

around Mono Lake where 1-2 million birds feed and rest each year. Our destinations will include theMono Lake County Park (MacGillivrays Warbler and Lazuli Bunting), Sagehen Summit (SageSparrow, Lewiss Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay), Lee Vining Canyon (Calliope Hummingbird, CassinsFinch) and the South Tufa area (Sage Thrasher and Snowy Plover). We will also make time to stop atthe Visitors Center to learn about the natural and human history of the Mono Basin. On Sundaymorning before we head for home we will visit Bodie State Historical Park a genuine California gold-mining ghost town (Sage Grouse, Mountain Bluebirds and Green-tailed Towhee). The proposeditinerary could be modified if conditions warrant. This trip is limited so please contact trip leaders MikeFisher, [email protected] 530-624-4777 or Gaylord Grams, [email protected] 530-533-1624for further information or to secure a spot.

Conservation Corner

Dawn Garcia, Conservation Chairperson

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster: How You Can Help

The National Audubon Society is inspired by the many people who have contacted them to find out howthey can help the birds and other wildlife threatened by the Gulf oil spill. Your commitment to theirhealth and safety during this crisis is greatly appreciated and it underscores how much you value thenatural world. To find out how you can help, go to the National Audubon web page at:http://www.audubonaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aa_HowtoHelp

An oil-stained cattle egret rests on the deck of the supply vessel JoeGriffin at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill containmentefforts in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, Sunday,

May 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/314/_/Gray-crowned_Rosy-Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/561/overview/White-tailed_Ptarmigan.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/333/_/MacGillivrays_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/204/_/Lazuli_Bunting.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/615/_/Sage_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/615/_/Sage_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/180/_/Lewiss_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/80/_/Pinyon_Jay.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/222/_/Calliope_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/591/variations/Sage_Thrasher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/414/overview/Snowy_Plover.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/258/_/Greater_Sage-Grouse.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/581/overview/Mountain_Bluebird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/617/_/Green-tailed_Towhee.aspxmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.audubonaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aa_HowtoHelphttp://www.audubonaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aa_HowtoHelpmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://identify.whatbird.com/obj/617/_/Green-tailed_Towhee.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/581/overview/Mountain_Bluebird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/258/_/Greater_Sage-Grouse.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/414/overview/Snowy_Plover.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/591/variations/Sage_Thrasher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/222/_/Calliope_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/80/_/Pinyon_Jay.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/180/_/Lewiss_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/615/_/Sage_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/615/_/Sage_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/204/_/Lazuli_Bunting.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/333/_/MacGillivrays_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/561/overview/White-tailed_Ptarmigan.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/314/_/Gray-crowned_Rosy-Finch.aspx


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Seen One?

If you see a Yellow-billed Magpie, do not attempt to apprehend orinterfere with it in any way. Simply report its whereabouts to AudubonCalifornia. Visit www.ca.audubon.org to learn more. Enter your resultsat www.ebird.org/california Sightings of the Yellow-billed Magpie arewanted to inform conservation efforts around this splendid species. Thebird has a black head and chest, white shoulders and belly, iridescent

blue wings, and long tapered black tail. Its bill is bright yellow. Malesare slightly larger than females. The Yellow-billed Magpie is known tofrequent Californias Central Valley and Central Coast.

Join Audubon Californias 2nd annual Yellow-billed Magpie survey,June 4-7, 2010

Education

Ecology in Flight Program in our Third Season Spring, 2010

The Ecology in Flight (EIF) team and Altacal Audubon members Dawn Garcia, Steve King andMichelle Ocken, are in our third season of conducting our wildly popular outreach program. RainaKing, Mike Fisher, and Colleen Martin have also come to volunteer their time and knowledge. Weteach 4th graders about birds by demonstrating the use of bird-banding as a monitoring and research tool.This spring we are teaching the kids about the wonder of migration and migrants, and the Big ChicoCreek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) providing essential habitats for migrating birds to stopover forrest, forage and shelter. We discuss types of migrants including short distant migrants (HermitThrush), long-distance migrants (some of the flycatchers and warblers) and sedentary or resident birds(Spotted Towhee). Weve had some exciting and colorful birds to show the students includingMacGillivray's, Wilsons, Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers, and the look-alike empidonaxflycatchers like Grayand Hammonds Flycatchers.

Our other team members, Kids and Creeks and CSU Chico, rotate the kids through four stations(including ours) where they are introduced to Maidu culture, the ecology of the Reserve via a naturehike, and a song station where the children create and sing a group song about the wonders of theBCCER and what they learned on their adventure.

Students from the Hooker Oak School releasing anAnnas Hummingbird

Photo credit Dawn Garcia.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/82/_/Yellow-billed_Magpie.aspxhttp://www.ca.audubon.org/http://www.ebird.org/californiahttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/148/_/Hermit_Thrush.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/148/_/Hermit_Thrush.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/102/_/Spotted_Towhee.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/333/_/MacGillivrays_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/341/_/Nashville_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/330/_/Gray_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/346/_/Hammonds_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://www.kidsandcreeks.org/http://www.kidsandcreeks.org/http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/346/_/Hammonds_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/330/_/Gray_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/341/_/Nashville_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/333/_/MacGillivrays_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/102/_/Spotted_Towhee.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/148/_/Hermit_Thrush.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/148/_/Hermit_Thrush.aspxhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.csuchico.edu/bccerhttp://www.ebird.org/californiahttp://www.ca.audubon.org/http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/82/_/Yellow-billed_Magpie.aspx


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Two Scholarships Awarded

Once again, Altacal has awarded two scholarships to high school students who plan to studyenvironmentally related studies in college. The winners are Emma Luther and Jack Foerster. Theirselection by the Altacal Scholarship Committee was based on their academic excellence and theircommitment to environmental issues. Emma is a straight-A student at CORE Butte Charter School inChico who is concurrently taking college classes. She plans to major in environmental studies incollege. Jack is first in his class at Chico High School. He spends summers volunteering at wildlife

refuges and worked the last two summers full time as part of the Youth Conservation Corps program atthe Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. He plans to major in environmental science andengineering in college.

Emma Luther, Scholarship Chair, Sue Scottand Jack Foerster

Youth Camperships

Scott HuberEducation Chair

With the successes of three years of awarding scholarships to high school seniors, the Altacal Board ofDirectors determined that reaching children at the impressionable ages of 9-12 was an appropriate wayto expand our scholarship program. Public Service Announcements on public radio station andapplications distributed to area elementary schools produced wonderfully expressive essays which led toawarding two camperships and two bird-banding excursions.

Sadie Lao of Citrus Elementary School and Gracie Bugnacki of Sierra View Elementary School were

both recipients of a four-day scholarship to attend a field course entitled Birds of the Sierra Nevada atSan Francisco States Sierra Nevada Field Campus near Yuba Pass. Included are room (tent cabinwith beds) and all meals for the girls and a parent for the four-day course taught by Point Reyes BirdObservatory (PRBOs) Dave Shuford. Two runners-up: Anthony Guzman and Daniel Ramirez wereawarded a one-day bird-banding session with Altacals Conservation Chair and Master Bird Bander,Dawn Garcia. All of the children also received complimentary Audubon Field Guides to the Birds ofNorth America.
http://www.sfsu.edu/~sierrahttp://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra


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Sadie Lao Receiving a Field Guide Gracie Bugnacki Speaking with

from Scott Huber Scott Huber

Anthony Guzman is Awarded Daniel Ramirez Being Awardeda Field Guide by Scott a Banding Session and Guide Book

Capers of the Canada Geese

Rex Burress

Feather River Canada Geese are at it again! On May 13, four pair had braved the rigors of the river tonest and raise goslings, and they were gathered on the Bedrock Park grass with their preciousachievements. They took a chance nesting in unstable water levels, but families of 7, 5, 5, and 4, hadbeen hatched along the river that could have flooded.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/85/overview/Canada_Goose.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/85/overview/Canada_Goose.aspx


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The families were of various sizes from gangly half-growns to the four cuddlynew-born fluffs, yet they grouped together in social camaraderie and security. Thesentinel parents watched for dangerous dogs or gosling-nappers with their long,black necks stretched high- -true River Watchers!

The downy progenies nipped at the grass in a hasty race to grow up and be able tofly away from danger. There are some perilous moments in infancy whenpredators are looking for an easy mark- -but the easy can turn into a nasty

confrontation with a fierce feathered giant with pounding wings!

The Oroville flock hang around the region rather than migrate which once was thenorm, but the savvy Branta canadensis have become civilized around manycities, thriving on the watered lawns and handy ponds, often to the point of being declared a nuisance.Even at Lake Oroville, they love the lush lawn at the spillway and the grumbling maintenance crew hoseoff the defecation. But what a beautiful bird! They deserve some tolerance.

I quietly walked out among the Bedrock bunchfor a count and pictures, and they looked meover before allowing me within 10 feet. Maybethey could tell I was for the birds! ["When you

watch for feather or fur...do not stir...do notstir..."] I gathered with geese five days a weekfor 32 years at the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refugein Oakland, so the bird man of the FeatherRiver should be familiar with them!

As the raccoon is one of the most intelligentmammals, so is the Canada Goose one of thetop smart birds. They tend to mate for life,although I wonder how they know boy from girl

since they are marked alike. But connect they do and go through the arduous antics of intimacy, nest

selecting, egg laying, incubation, and guiding the goslings into goose-domall done with class!

Lake Merritt goose-land in the center of the Oakland metropolis is unique. The first refuge in America(1872) started out with vast numbers of migratory pintail ducks, and perhaps a few domestic geese thatare constantly dumped. Five manmade islands were built in the 150 acre salt-water basin first half of1900, and five wing-injured Canada Geese were brought from Gray Lodge marshes in 1953 by ParkNaturalist Paul Covel.

Being flightless didnt hamper their nesting instincts, and during my 1961-1993 sojourn there, I watchedthe prolific originals expand into a present-day flock of nearly 2,000! The average family was about adozen, but every year super parents would adopt up to 20 extras! They become addicted to brown-bagbread providers, too. Petty complaints aside, to see wild geese flying over the city, honking the call of

the wild and gliding down on the lake is a thing of beauty. Dispersed in the Bay region, there is areunion in July when they return home to molt.

No less wondrous are the geese and birds of the Feather River, filling the skies with flights of freedomand rejoicing to participate in the wonder of life on Earth. A bird of beauty is a joy forever!

"If the bird has not preached to me, it has widened the field of my interests, afforded me anotherbeautiful object to love, and has helped me feel more at home in this world."

John Burroughs


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April Program - Monday, April 19, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature Center

Birds of Oaxaca, Mexico

Shelly Kirn

From late December through early January of this year, Shelly Kirnalong with her partner Jay Bogiatto traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico fora 12-day birding tour led by Chris Benesh, senior leader for FieldGuides. The state of Oaxaca is home to almost 700 bird species andnearly 100 of them are regional endemics. Addressing a roompacked with Altacal members and friends, Shelly presented anenergetic and captivating account of their search for the endemicbirds of Mexico.

Oaxaca Sparrow

There could not be a more exotic location in all of North America than Oaxaca. Located in the southernpart of Mexico, bordering the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Guerrero and Chiapas, the state of Oaxaca ishome to 16 diverse and distinct cultures, each with its own language. It has mountains almost 10,000feet high, caverns among the deepest in the world, virgin beaches, hidden jungles, and expansive valleyscontaining some of the most important Pre-Columbian ruins in all of Mesoamerica. And it has amazing

birds, including an unusually high number of endemics. An endemic species is one with a very limitedrange and found naturally nowhere else in the world. For this reason birders are especially excited toadd these birds to their life lists.

Shelly explained that the trip was divided into two parts. For the firstweek they would be based in Oaxaca City, capital of the State ofOaxaca. Each day they would travel to different areas both within thevalley and into the foothills. During this period they would utilize thethree main roads leading out from of the city - Highway 190 travelingalong the valley to the famous archeological sites of Yagul and Mitla.Highway 175 leading into the foothills of the Sierra Juarez, andHighway 131 leading up and over the Sierra Madre del Sur and on toPuerto Escondido. For the second week they would take the shortflight to the pacific coast and be based in the city of PuertoEscondido, still within the state of Oaxaca.

Bridled Sparrow

On the first day, before the tour officially began and within a couple miles of their hotel, Shelly and Jayset out on their own to do some birding. That first day brought many common birds including CassinsKingbird, Tropical Kingbird, and Vermilion Flycatcherand later yielded their first two endemics,White-sided Towhee and Hooded Yellowthroat. The next morning and for several more days, thegroup added new and exciting birds to their lists. Shelly was more than pleased with the many endemicsseen that first week of the tour including Bridled Sparrow, Oaxaca Sparrow, Slaty Vireo, Bumblebee

Hummingbird, West Mexican Chachalaca, Gray-barred Wren, Oscillated Thrasher and DwarfJay.

For the second part of the tour the group chose a 30-minute flight over the Sierra Madre del Sur and intothe beach town of Puerto Escondido rather than the infamous eight-hour nauseating bus ride through themountains. On the coast they birded the pacific coast thorn forests and Laguna Manialtepec. Themangrove forests within the Laguna were alive with Boat-billed Heron, Black-bellied Whistling-duck, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Wood StorkandBlue-winged Teal. Endemics added on this partof the trip included Citreoline Trogon, Yellow-winged Cacique, Red-headed Tanager, Blue-cappedHummingbird, and Orange-breasted Bunting.
http://oaxaca-travel.com/guide/index.phphttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/324/overview/Cassins_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/324/overview/Cassins_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/846/overview/Tropical_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/376/_/Vermilion_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1101/overview/Bumblebee_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1101/overview/Bumblebee_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://www.oiseaux.net/photos/jean-michel.fenerole/ortalide.de.wagler.1.htmlhttp://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/OCTH+x.jpg.htmlhttp://www.klein.com/dvk/photos/birds/boat_billed_heron.jpghttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1042/_/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1042/_/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck.aspxhttp://www.1000birds.com/reports_Bare-throated-Tiger-Heron.htmhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/50/overview/Wood_Stork.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/407/_/Blue-winged_Teal.aspxhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/prayingmother/4380029340http://www.pbase.com/gtepke/yellowwinged_caciquehttp://www.pbase.com/tprestby/image/92702744http://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/BCHU.htmlhttp://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/BCHU.htmlhttp://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic203-41-1.htmlhttp://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic203-41-1.htmlhttp://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/BCHU.htmlhttp://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/BCHU.htmlhttp://www.pbase.com/tprestby/image/92702744http://www.pbase.com/gtepke/yellowwinged_caciquehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/prayingmother/4380029340http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/407/_/Blue-winged_Teal.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/50/overview/Wood_Stork.aspxhttp://www.1000birds.com/reports_Bare-throated-Tiger-Heron.htmhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1042/_/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/1042/_/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck.aspxhttp://www.klein.com/dvk/photos/birds/boat_billed_heron.jpghttp://www.xenospiza.com/gallery/v/retter/mexican+birds/OCTH+x.jpg.htmlhttp://www.oiseaux.net/photos/jean-michel.fenerole/ortalide.de.wagler.1.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1101/overview/Bumblebee_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1101/overview/Bumblebee_Hummingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/376/_/Vermilion_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/846/overview/Tropical_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/324/overview/Cassins_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/324/overview/Cassins_Kingbird.aspxhttp://oaxaca-travel.com/guide/index.php


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Shelly had nothing but praise for the tour company, Field Guides and especially for the leader of thistour, Chris Benesh. He worked extremely hard getting the group a total of 289 species of birdsincluding 33 endemics.

May Program - Monday, May 17, 6:30 p.m. Chico Creek Nature Center

Gardening for Birds

John Whittlesey

At Mays Program Meeting membersand friends of Altacal were treated toexcellent advice on how to designgardens and yards to attract birds andother wildlife by long-timehorticulturist and owner of CanyonCreek Nursery & Design, JohnWhittlesey. Having owned his ownnursery for over twenty years, Johnsaid by adding a few basic elements inthe form of landscape plantings and a

good water source, we can attract andkeep birds and other wildlife close toour homes.

Part of a Wildlife Garden

Planting a wildlife garden will have a more natural appearance, which affords good reasons for birds tocome to your yard. Not all birds find food and shelter sources at the same levels, so plan your garden inmulti-tiers; tall trees in the background, medium-sized shrubs, perennials and vines in the mid-section,and small shrubs and groundcovers as borders. Trees lend structure to the garden and provide perching,nesting and roosting sites for birds. Shrubs provide hiding places, shady resting spots, and quick coverfrom predators. Perennials supply birds with seeds and nectar. Vines offer shelter, berries, flowers,

insects, and nesting sites, and groundcovers provide shelter and berries for food. Leaving fallen leavesin the fall attract insects; food source for birds; a simple brush or rock pile makes for excellent shelterand cover, and a clean, reliable source of water will draw birds like magnets. Either a common birdbathor one you make yourself will do the job.

John also had plenty of slides of plants and trees that will attract birds. From native Goldenrods toManzanita,Salvias, Toyonand California native oaks, if you plant them, they will come..and willkeep coming back.

Birds prefer garden landscapes without cats. Even the best planned bird and wildlife gardens will notattract birds if the family cat decides to lounge there. Keep cats indoors. The sooner you start, thesooner youll be enjoying more birds in your own pleasant garden space.

For more information on gardening for birds visit:

Audubon California http://ca.audubon.org/chapters_atHome.php

California Native Plant Society http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/
http://www.fieldguides.com/http://www.gpnc.org/goldenro.htmhttp://www.laspilitas.com/groups/manzanita_arctostaphylos/Manzanita.htmlhttp://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htmhttp://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/heteromeles-arbutifoliahttp://ca.audubon.org/chapters_atHome.phphttp://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/http://ca.audubon.org/chapters_atHome.phphttp://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/heteromeles-arbutifoliahttp://www.laspilitas.com/garden/sages.htmhttp://www.laspilitas.com/groups/manzanita_arctostaphylos/Manzanita.htmlhttp://www.gpnc.org/goldenro.htmhttp://www.fieldguides.com/


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Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports

March 13, Saturday - Upper Bidwell Park

Trip Leader: Steve King

Eleven showed up on March 13th for another of our "Second Saturday of the Month" field trips in UpperBidwell Park. The weather was perfect! Forty-one species of birds were identified. We saw a goodnumber of our winter resident and year-round species along with three spring/summer birds; Tree

Swallow, Violet-green Swallow and an Orange-crowned Warbler. These early migrants are a signthat many of our winter birds will soon be leaving and the summer and transient birds are coming!

March 27, Saturday - Paradise Flume Trail

Trip Leader: Dawn Garcia

Seventeen flume-walkers birded andbotanized along the Miocene canalaccessed by Dean Road in Paradise.The canal was not flowing but in thepuddles we saw several newts, a coupleof Yellow-legged Frogs and many

caddis-fly larvae all dressed up in theirdecorated cases. Migrants were few butwe did have our first of season Pacific-slope Flycatcher, many singingOrange-crowned Warblers and aRufous Hummingbird. Thanks toSteve King, Maurico Shrader, andRick Wulbern who hung back, somepeople

Flumers

had great views of a singing Rufous-crowned Sparrow. We saw Bushtits and Anna's

Hummingbirds collecting nesting material, heard singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Hutton'sVireos and Gaylord Grams detected a still-wintering Townsend's Solitaire. Most of us made it to theincredible Clear Brook falls and could view a pair ofCommon Mergansers roosting on a rock about200 feet below in the Feather River. Although the fantastic slopes ofFawn Lilies had mostly senesced,we had wonderful views ofSpring Gold, Red Larkspur and Great Hounds Tongue in glowy gold,red and blue. The best is yet to come with more wildflowers and spring migrant birds. Afterward, tenof the group descended to Joy Lyns Candies in Paradise and sampled and bought chocolates and hadfun doing it all. Check out accessibility and birds for this site at:http://www.altacal.org/sites/ParadiseFlumeTrail/ParadiseFlumeTrail.php

April 10, Saturday A Second Saturday Upper Bidwell Park Bird Walk


Sixteen of us ventured up the Yahi Trail in Upper Bidwell Park looking for the last of the White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes along with the first of theOrioles, Warblers and Grosbeaks. We got 46 species of birds but no migrating warblers were seen.Some of the spring species seen were Bullock's Oriole, Western Kingbird, Rough-winged, TreeandViolet-green Swallows (I did see many Barn Swallows near the Easter Cross later in the day). Oneflycatcher sat on a branch for all to see through a spotting scope, but we were only able to narrow itdown to two possible species (the trip leader needs to work on his flycatchers). After returning to ourcars at Horseshoe Lake, four of us ventured back up the canyon and heard three Black Rails near the
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/195/_/Violet-green_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/tari-tor.htmlhttp://www.mylfrog.info/http://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery2/pages/caddisfly.htmhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/605/_/Rufous-crowned_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bushtit/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Huttons_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Huttons_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Solitaire/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_merganser/idhttp://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_flora_com&where-genre=Plant&where-namesoup=Fawn+Lily&rel-namesoup=matchphrase&title_tag=Fawn+Lilyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mgsbird/4459296760http://www.flickr.com/photos/robreiter/4383776596http://www.flickr.com/photos/liefphotos/2424894093http://www.joylynscandies.com/http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_kingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_rough-winged_swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/451/_/Black_Rail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/451/_/Black_Rail.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Violet-green_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_rough-winged_swallow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_kingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/hermit_thrush/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/idhttp://www.joylynscandies.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/liefphotos/2424894093http://www.flickr.com/photos/robreiter/4383776596http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgsbird/4459296760http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_flora_com&where-genre=Plant&where-namesoup=Fawn+Lily&rel-namesoup=matchphrase&title_tag=Fawn+Lilyhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_merganser/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Solitaire/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Huttons_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Huttons_Vireo/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/lifehistoryhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bushtit/idhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/605/_/Rufous-crowned_Sparrow_Breeding_Male.aspxhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rufous_Hummingbird/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/orange-crowned_warbler/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_flycatcher/idhttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pacific-slope_flycatcher/idhttp://www.watersheds.org/nature/gallery2/pages/caddisfly.htmhttp://www.mylfrog.info/http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/herps/tari-tor.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/195/_/Violet-green_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspx


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diversion dam parking area). One was under 20 feet away but was not about to show himself. It was agreat morning with a great group of birders!

April 18, Sunday Pine Creek/Indian Fishery

Trip Leader: Skip Augur

Around a dozen birders (including a fewvisitors from out of town) met for amorning of birding at Pine Creek.

Migrants weren't as plentiful as we mighthave hoped for but therewas reasonable representation from Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock's Orioles,and Western Kingbirds along the trails.There were also our enjoyable residents -Bewick's and House Wrens, WildTurkeys, Red-tailed and Red-Shouldered Hawks, Nuttall's and DownyWoodpeckers, and Black Phoebes. Nearthe river we chatted with a resident who

pointed out a rattlesnake den (kudos tohim for letting the critters stay near hishouse!).

Indian Fishery Trail

At the river we added Bank, Tree, and Cliff Swallows, as well as Forster's Tern, American WhitePelican, Common Merganser, and Greater Yellowlegs. We spotted a Bald Eagle nest (luckily NancyNelson had drawn a picture before the vegetation leafed out, as it was nearly obscured by interveningtrees), and an Osprey nest with young.

Most of the group departed from the Pine Creek lot but a few of us continued on to Indian Fishery. Itwas a bit quiet but we did add several other species: White-breasted Nuthatch, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Total for the day was around 52 species.

April 29-May2 Kern River Valley PreserveTrip leaders: Scott and Liam Huber

Chico Birders were treated to a number of Southern California specialties during the Altacal Field Tripto Lake Isabella in conjunction with the Kern Spring Nature Festival.

An early morning sojourn to the east side of the southern Sierras provided the group with great looks atLeContes Thrasher, Black-throated Sparrow, Scotts Oriole, Cactus Wren and many others. Anevening outing to Greenhorn Summit added Cassins Finch, White-headed Woodpecker andTownsends Solitaire. Ensuing days yielded beautiful Summer Tanagers, Lawrences Goldfinch,

Hermit Warbler and Tricolored Blackbirds. A stop in Bakersfield on the way home added two non-native breeders: Rose-ringed Parakeets and Spotted Dove.

Thanks especially to Alison Sheehey of the Kern River Preserve for being such an accommodating host.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/73/_/Black-headed_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/73/_/Black-headed_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/349/overview/Western_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/349/overview/Western_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/135/_/Bewicks_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/814/overview/House_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/814/overview/House_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/592/_/Wild_Turkey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/592/_/Wild_Turkey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/41/_/Red-tailed_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/182/_/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/177/_/Downy_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/177/_/Downy_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/169/_/Black_Phoebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/233/_/Bank_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/470/overview/Forsters_Tern.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/268/overview/American_White_Pelican.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/268/overview/American_White_Pelican.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/416/_/Common_Merganser.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/252/_/Greater_Yellowlegs.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/25/_/Bald_Eagle.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/362/_/White-breasted_Nuthatch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/385/_/Wood_Duck.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/64/_/Pied-billed_Grebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/64/_/Pied-billed_Grebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/154/_/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/156/_/Common_Yellowthroat.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/556/overview/Le_Contes_Thrasher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/318/_/Black-throated_Sparrow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/571/_/Scotts_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/811/overview/Cactus_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/749/_/Townsends_Solitaire.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/576/_/Summer_Tanager.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/193/_/Lawrences_Goldfinch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/327/overview/Hermit_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/_/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/956/overview/Rose-ringed_Parakeet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/266/_/Spotted_Dove.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/266/_/Spotted_Dove.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/956/overview/Rose-ringed_Parakeet.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/552/_/Tricolored_Blackbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/327/overview/Hermit_Warbler.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/193/_/Lawrences_Goldfinch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/576/_/Summer_Tanager.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/749/_/Townsends_Solitaire.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/185/_/White-headed_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/316/_/Cassins_Finch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/811/overview/Cactus_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/571/_/Scotts_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/318/_/Black-throated_Sparrow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/556/overview/Le_Contes_Thrasher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/156/_/Common_Yellowthroat.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/154/_/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/64/_/Pied-billed_Grebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/64/_/Pied-billed_Grebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/385/_/Wood_Duck.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/362/_/White-breasted_Nuthatch.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/25/_/Bald_Eagle.aspxhttp://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/252/_/Greater_Yellowlegs.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/416/_/Common_Merganser.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/268/overview/American_White_Pelican.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/268/overview/American_White_Pelican.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/470/overview/Forsters_Tern.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/233/_/Bank_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/169/_/Black_Phoebe.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/177/_/Downy_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/177/_/Downy_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/182/_/Nuttalls_Woodpecker.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/41/_/Red-tailed_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/592/_/Wild_Turkey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/592/_/Wild_Turkey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/814/overview/House_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/135/_/Bewicks_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/349/overview/Western_Kingbird.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/73/_/Black-headed_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/73/_/Black-headed_Grosbeak.aspx


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May 8, Saturday - Upper Bidwell Park and Hooker Oak Field Trip


Eight of us ventured intoUpper Bidwell Park on aperfect birding day.Including the after-lunch

birding at the HookerOak area, we identified45 species of birds. Onthe upper park field trip,there were at least fourYellow-breasted Chats,a number of Wilson'sWarblers and a fewOrange-crowned

Warblers.

Bird Walk Participants

The Red-shouldered Hawk nest that we have been watching on our previous trips into the upper park,has young. An Ospreyflew a little too close to the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest and was hurried alongby one of the parents. The only birds swimming on the creek were Common Mergansers. We didcatch a glimpse of a Belted Kingfisher flying downstream. A number of Ash-throated Flycatcherswere also seen across the creek. And there is always at least one unidentifiable flycatcher that refuses tomake a sound.

After the trip in the upper park, many of us headed over to the Hooker Oak Recreation Area for lunchand more birding. A number ofHouse Wrens were along Big Chico Creek. We saw Violet-green,Rough-winged, Cliffand Barnswallows. Many cliff swallows are nesting under the foot bridge at the 5mile recreation area. We also searched the area for Phainopepla but none were to be found. On LindoChannel, below the dam, we saw a Green Heron. A great double header birding day!

Special thanks to Rick Wulbern for toting his spotting scope along. We all got some great views ofmany of the birds because of his spotting scope on both field trips.

May 16, Sunday Kayak Trip through the Oroville Wilderness

Trip Leader: Gaylord Grams

On a beautiful Spring day 12 kayakers put in at the Oroville FishHatchery and boated down into the Oroville Wildlife Area. Birdsounds were abundant and we had good looks at Bullocks

Orioles, Tree and Cliff Swallows, various Osprey (along withtwo well established nests), Green Herons, Cedar Waxwings, aGopher Snake with something in his mouth at our lunch stop,noisy Belted Kingfishers in the air, noisy Yellow-breasted Chatsin the bushes and the usual cast of bird characters throughout theday. If interested join us in the Fall when the salmon are in theriver for another Audubon kayak trip.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/342/_/Yellow-breasted_Chat.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/39/overview/Osprey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/416/_/Common_Merganser.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/61/_/Belted_Kingfisher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/195/_/Violet-green_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/190/_/Northern_Rough-winged_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/191/overview/Barn_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/_/Green_Heron.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/39/overview/Osprey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/_/Green_Heron.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/159/_/Cedar_Waxwing.aspxhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/p.c.catenifer.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/61/_/Belted_Kingfisher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/342/_/Yellow-breasted_Chat.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/342/_/Yellow-breasted_Chat.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/61/_/Belted_Kingfisher.aspxhttp://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/p.c.catenifer.htmlhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/159/_/Cedar_Waxwing.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/_/Green_Heron.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/39/overview/Osprey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/188/_/Tree_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/174/_/Bullocks_Oriole.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/_/Green_Heron.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/191/overview/Barn_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/189/_/Cliff_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/190/_/Northern_Rough-winged_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/195/_/Violet-green_Swallow.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/397/_/Ash-throated_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/61/_/Belted_Kingfisher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/416/_/Common_Merganser.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/39/overview/Osprey.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/40/_/Red-shouldered_Hawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/153/_/Orange-crowned_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/157/_/Wilsons_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/342/_/Yellow-breasted_Chat.aspx


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Sightings

May 17 Scott Huber reported that Liam and I logged 72 miles by bike and 3 miles by foot yesterdayto record our first Butte Green Big Day. Of particular interest to local and county birders were:

Winter Wren: At the intersection of Hwy 32 and Humboldt Road (the road to Butte Meadows).On the inside corner formed by these two roads there is a raised gravel pad. From this pad goeast down toward an overgrown creek. The bird was singing here, moving around, perching up

now and then. Willow Flycatcher: From the corner of Ord Ferry Road and 7 Mile Lane head south towards the

Llano Seco Platform. A tenth to a quarter of a mile south of the large metal building on the left,the bird was perched high in a willow and issuing diagnostic fitz-pew calls/songs.

Great-tailed Grackles: 3 separate individuals along 7 Mile Lane between Ord Ferry Road andLllano Seco.

Other sightings of note included:

a leucistic Blue Grosbeak with blue head, pale brown on the wings and white underparts, in theflower garden across the street from 3620 River Road

a melanistic Mallard in the flooded rice fields across from Llano Seco.For a full account of the day and totals please visit www.biggreenday.blogspot.com

Liam noted that they identified 125 species. Also, Liam had sent us a scouting report of ButteMeadows, done prior to the Big Day. Of note were sightings of a Northern Goshawk, a couple ofMountain Quail seen (four more heard) and 35 Evening Grosbeaks.

Late May Kathryn Hood observed a flock of about a dozen Cattle Egrets in a herd of dairy cows innortheastern Glenn County.

Peregrinations

May 9-15 Tim Ruckle birded Point Pelee, Ontario, Canada and ended up seeing five of six targetedwarbler species (Canada, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, MourningandCerulean). It was a bit tooearly for Connecticut Warbler. Although there was no true fall out (many birds dropping down toland because of bad weather) we (the guide, mostly) identified about 30 species of warblers. The birdthat caused the most ruckus, though, was a Least Bittern found halfway up a tree (they usually hang outin areas with reeds).

Least Bittern Uncomfortable, Perhaps, but SafePhoto by Bruce Di Labio
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/123/_/Winter_Wren.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/348/_/Willow_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/537/_/Great-tailed_Grackle.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/207/_/Blue_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/87/overview/Mallard.aspxhttp://www.biggreenday.blogspot.com/http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/38/_/Northern_Goshawk.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1055/overview/Mountain_Quail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/315/_/Evening_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/45/overview/Cattle_Egret.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/322/_/Canada_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/334/identification/Blue-winged_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/310/overview/Golden-winged_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/340/_/Mourning_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/535/overview/Cerulean_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/34/_/Least_Bittern.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/34/_/Least_Bittern.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/535/overview/Cerulean_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/340/_/Mourning_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/310/overview/Golden-winged_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/334/identification/Blue-winged_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/322/_/Canada_Warbler.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/45/overview/Cattle_Egret.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/315/_/Evening_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1055/overview/Mountain_Quail.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/38/_/Northern_Goshawk.aspxhttp://www.biggreenday.blogspot.com/http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/87/overview/Mallard.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/207/_/Blue_Grosbeak.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/537/_/Great-tailed_Grackle.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/348/_/Willow_Flycatcher.aspxhttp://identify.whatbird.com/obj/123/_/Winter_Wren.aspx


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May 18 - J.T. Lewis and Mike Skram saw a Painted Redstartin Auburn, Placer County. The locationis on Shockley Rd. just north of Highland Dr. If you turn onto Shockley from Auburn Ravine Rd andgo just over the hill past Highland, the bird was just over that hill. This is a residential neighborhood soplease be respectful of the residents. This is an exceedingly rare bird in the northern half of the state andarguably the best bird ever for Placer.

The Auburn Painted Redstart

Opportunities and Events

June 18-20, Friday-Sunday Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua, Lee Vining, CA

Three days of evening presentations, seminars, field trips, music, and great birding! All proceedssupport continuing research in the Mono Basin. Contact: Mono Lake Committee, P.O. Box 29, Lee

Vining, CA 93541 760-647-6595, [email protected] - http://www.birdchautauqua.org/

Mono Basin American Dippers
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/353/_/Painted_Redstart.aspxmailto:[email protected]://www.birdchautauqua.org/http://www.birdchautauqua.org/mailto:[email protected]://identify.whatbird.com/obj/353/_/Painted_Redstart.aspx


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August 7, Saturday Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration, Weldon, CA

The Southern Sierra's Kern River Valley is one of the premier migration

routes for six species of hummingbirds. Join us for a day of hummingbirdappreciation at our feeders. Contact: Kern Valley Nature Festivals, PO Box833, Weldon, CA 93283 - http://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htm

Submission of Articles

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

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

Newsletter Contributors

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

Altacal Board of Directors

President Phil Johnson 570-7139/[email protected]

Vice-President Mike Fisher 624-4777/[email protected] Kathryn Hood 342-9112/[email protected] Mary Lou Martin 893-1931/[email protected] Carolyn Short 345-4224/[email protected] Mary Lou Martin 893-1931/[email protected]/ Tim Ruckle 566-9693/[email protected]/Web Site Wayland Augur 893-9222/[email protected] Trips Nancy Nelson 345-0580/[email protected], Lands vacantand Refuge

Conservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/[email protected] Scott Huber 321-5579/Scott@[email protected] John Merz 345-4050/[email protected] Jennifer Patten 345-9356/[email protected]

Marilyn Gamette 343-3154/[email protected]

Board meetings are held at 5:15 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The usual meeting place is the Altacal AudubonSociety/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. Altacal members are welcome to attend.
http://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htmmailto:342-9112/[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]:566-9693/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4050/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:343-3154/[email protected]:345-4050/[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:566-9693/[email protected]:[email protected]:345-4224/[email protected]:[email protected]:342-9112/[email protected]://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htm


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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 own

website, www.altacal.org/, a bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly membership meetingswhich include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural history-related topics, andadvocacy to protect and conserve local habitats as well as special projects and programs. Other AASactivities include:

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

River

paying to maintain public access and a wildlife viewing blind at the Chico Oxidation Ponds leading annual Christmas Bird Counts in Chico and Oroville for the past 51 years

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

$20 Basic Membership $10 Low Income/Student/Retired $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

E-mail me Altacal Action Alerts 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
http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbchttp://www.fws.gov/sacramento/ea/news_releases/2006%20News%20Releases/RiverPartners--finalSHA_NR.htmhttp://www.bidwellpark.org/http://www.endangeredspeciesfaire.org/http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/


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Dates to Remember

June 4-6, Friday-Sunday Sierra Valley/Yuba Pass Mac McCormickJune 12th, Saturday Upper Bidwell Park Walk (new time) - Steve KingJune 18-20, Friday-Sunday, Mono Basin Bird Chautaugua, Lee Vining, CAJune 21, Monday Altacal Potluck, CCNC, 6:30 p.m.June 25-27, Friday-Sunday Willow Lake Field TripJune 25-27, Friday-Sunday Lassen VNP with Wintu Audubon

July 8-11, Thursday-Sunday Ruby Mountains Field TripJuly 23-25, Friday-Sunday Lassen VNC Field TripAugust 4-8, Wednesday-Sunday Saddlebag Lake/Mono Lake Field TripAugust 7, Saturday Kern Valley Hummingbird Celebration, Weldon, CA

Documents

June 2010 White Tailed Kite Newsletter, Altacal Audubon Society