September-October, 2008 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

8/8/2019 September-October, 2008 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society

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Pomona Valley Audubon Societywww.pomonavalleyaudubon.org

A publication of

September/october 2008 A cha f h Nainal Audun Siy Vlu 48, N. 1

In thIs Issue...

Bluebird Adventures ................................................Pg. 1

Glen Helen Update / New Members ........................ Pg. 2

PVAS Annual Report ................................................. Pg. 3

Field Trips ......................................................... Pgs. 4 & 5

Crane Festivals / Dues Reminder ............................Pg. 6

Announcements ................................................ Pg. 6 & 7

Upcoming Programs ................................................Pg. 8

In the nesting season 17 bluebird houses were hung fromtrees in three sections of Bonelli Regional Park and these

houses were monitored once each week. Eleven of thehouses were occupied by Western Bluebirds and one byHouse Wrens, leaving 5 which remained empty during the

entire season. Two houses went missing, and two othersshowed signs of chipping probably by woodpeckers.

The rst nests were discovered on March 7 and the last inthe last week of July. The largest number of Bluebird eggs

in one nest was seven and each of these edged! The one

birdhouse occupied by House Wrens had 6 eggs and thenestlings edged the last week in June.

In one of the bluebird houses I discovered a nest made

almost entirely of multicolored Easter basket grass. Iremoved this nest and a new one was made out of grass,

but when the nestlings edged one nestling was left dead inthe nest entrapped by a blue Easter grass wrapped around

its leg. There were several other dead nestlings found inother birdhouses and each year there are some eggs which

never hatch.

Some of the nests were made entirely of pine needles, buone of the houses was filled with sticks most likely by

wrens. This was in one of the newer birdhouses with both

a round entrance opening and a space at the sides of thehouse just under the roof. This space was used by a pair of

Bluebirds who constructed a nest on top of the sticks andfrom this nest three nestlings edged in two weeks.

In addition to those at Bonelli there are two other Bluebirdtrails one the Claremont Colleges campus monitored

by Karlene Campo and the second at the ClaremonGolf Course on Mountain Avenue monitored by Jeffrey

Burkhart who seeks a replacement for next season. Thereis opportunity for additional volunteers to assist at each o

the locations or to organize a new trail!

Bluebird Adventuresby Rev. Richard Moore


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Welcome New MembersWe extend a warm welcome to all new members. Subscribers to Audubon Magazine from our area areautomatically enrolled in our chapter and receive the Chaparral Naturalist at no additional charge. You arewelcome to all our events.

Alta Loma: Amanda Shafer

Baldwin Park: Veronica Enriquez, David HerrodChino: Colleen Lewis

Chino Hills: Dolores Barstow

Claremont: Bob Borton, Janetha Corey,

Scott and Susan Mornoy, Guillermo Sandoval

Corona: Marsha Heidbrink

Covina; Jamie Diaz, Martin Alfredo Rendon,

Sandra Ramirez

Glendora: Hendrika Namikas, Kathleen Urac,

Joy Wohler, Dr. Ken Yamate

La Verne: Deborah Felix, Walter Trojanowski,

Mira Loma: Phyllis GreenwoodNorco: John Bales, Margaret Lether

Ontario: Barbara Booth, Johnnece Fiero,

Marilyn Sousa.

Pomona: Karen Chapmanlenz, Barbara Sayles

Rancho Cucamonga: Marilyn Atcheson

San Dimas: John Robert Bottala

Upland: RaymondArjo, Barbara Howe,Juvenal Ospina, Dave and Patty Thorne,Melburn Whitcopf

Glen Helen Update - July 31stI recently visited Glen Helen (off the 15 freeway in CajonPass). Last year they were doing quite a bit of work there,

cleaning out the wild area and turning what used tobe the grounds for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire intoa part of the park. They seem to have nished work forthe moment. The wild area still has wild parts. Many

cattails have been removed from the lake, but there stillare good stands for the roosting blackbirds and grackles.

The additional lawns are attracting large numbers ofbluebirds; perhaps we should ask to place bluebirdhouses there for next spring. On this visit black-headedgrosbeaks, western kingbirds and lots of swallows, themigrants of the season, were much in evidence. A niceplace to visit for a quick morning birding. They open at

7:30 and charge $5 for entrance on weekdays. Be sureto ask for a bird list (which we prepared for them). DanGuthrie

The Enigmatic WrentitEver since its discovery, the wrentit has been recognized

as odd. Considered the most sedentary bird in NorthAmerica, wrentits are found from Oregon along the coastinto northern Baja, California. The relationships of thisspecies have always been a mystery.

Placed in its own genus because of its differences from

other birds, it has long been unclear to whom the wrentitwas related. Various authors have at times consideredwrentits to be related to bushtits, wrens, mockingbirdsand old world warblers. More recently DNA evidencehas conrmed some earlier speculations that the wrentiis a babbler! Babblers are a mostly African and Asiangroup, non-migratory and skulking. Many Babblers are

tropical but some live in the Himalayas. No babblertoday lives anywhere near northern Russia, the site ofthe past Bering Strait land bridge by which species arethought to enter the Americas. The wrentit is different

enough that it probably came to North American notduring the most recent Pleistocene connection with Asia

but during an earlier connection, perhaps from Asiaor even from Europe. The fossil record of wrentits isnon-existent and of babblers very poor so neither tellsus anything about origins. As a fossil collector, I canonly dream of nding a fossil babbler in northern China

or Alaska. Dream as there are no fossil deposits of theproper age in these areas.

If you ever travel to Asia birding, be assured that Asian

babblers are as skulking and difficult to see as ourwrentit, but also more easily heard.

2009 PVAS Desk CalendarsAvailable Soon!

Stay tuned... PVAS Desk calendars will be available

soon - make sure you get yours! This calendar makes

a great gift and money raised will help fund our Audubon

Adventures program and other worthy outreach

programs. Calendars will be available for purchase at

meetings or by calling Pam Kling at 909-596-7604.


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Pomona Valley Audubon Society Pomona Valley Audubon Society

Income & Expenses Assets & Liabilities

07/01/07 through 06/30/08 As of 06/30/08

12 Months BalanceEnded As of

Category Description 6/30/08 Category Description 6/30/08INCOME ASSETS

Recycling Income 913$ Cash in Bank 26,114$Birdathon (Net) 6,258 Inventory -NAS Chapter Share 2,641 TOTAL ASSETS 26,114$

Gifts & Memorials 1,180Wild Wings Support 852Village Venture 325Other Fundraising 1,165 LIABILITIES & NET WORTHOther Income 505 DESIGNATED FUNDS

Memorial Funds 1,763$

TOTAL INCOME 13,839$ TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS 1,763$

OPERATING EXPENSES TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,763$Insurance 1,282$Meeting Expenses 2,362 AVAILABLE FUNDS 24,351$

Newsletter Expenses 3,341

Office Exp. & Postage 237Miscellaneous 24

7,246$

CONTRIBUTIONS MADE - 2007

PROGRAM EXPENSESContributions 2,534$ PROGRAMWild Wings Program 2,400 Wild Wings of California 2,400$Special Projects 1,153 Endangered Habitats League 1,000

Kern River Preserve 1,0006,087$ LeRoy Haines Center 534

TOTAL EXPENSES 13,333$

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS 4,934$

TOTAL INCOME & EXPENSES 507$

Annual Report to theMembers of Pomona Valley Audubon

Presented below is a summary of the income and expenses of Pomona Valley

Audubon Society for the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. On the

right is a statement of the assests and liabilities of the Society as of the end of

our scal year, June 30, 2008. Belowthat is a breakdon of the contributions

made to varios conservation programs and other cuases throughout the

state.


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Field TripsSunday, September 7, 2008Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. through June)bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Adults and childrenwelcome. The walk is at andslow and takes about twohours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at thefront entry gate (north end ofCollege Ave. north of FoothillBlvd. 1500 N. College Ave.)

Leader: Fraser Pemberton

909-624-6451

Wednesday,September 10, 2008Midweek Trip to Glen Helen ParkMeet at Memorial Park at 7:30 am for a morning visitto this nearby park. It should be a time for westernmigrants. Leader: Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836

Saturday, September 13, 2008Bolsa Chica Preserve andHuntington Central ParkA trip to Orange County for shorebirds and migrant land

birds. Meet at Memorial Park at 7:00 a.m. and bring alunch. Leader: Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836

Sunday, September 28, 2008Bonelli Park Bird WalkMeet 8:00 a.m. at the Bonelli Park headquarters on Via

Verde near the 57 freeway. Leader: Rod Higbie 909-599-6526

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. throughJune) bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana BotanicGardens. Bring binoculars if you have them. Adultsand children welcome. The walk is at and slowand takes about two hours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at thefront entry gate (north end of College Ave. north of

Foothill Blvd. 1500 N. College Ave.) Leader: FraserPemberton 909-624-6451.

Saturday, October 11, 2008Galileo Hill and Piute PondsA trip to these northern oases for late migrants andreturning wintering species. Meet at Memorial Parkat 7:00 a.m. and bring a lunch. Leader: Dan Guthrie

909-607-2836

Wednesday, October 15, 2008Prado Regional ParkMeet at Memorial park at 7:00 a.m. for a half day tripfor migrants and early wintering birds. Leader: DanGregory 909-944-2259

Saturday, October 25, 2008Village Venture, Claremont Street Fair

Come and visit the Pomona Valley Audubon booth onFirst Street.

Sunday, October 26, 2008Bonelli Park Bird WalkMeet 8:00 a.m. at the Bonelli Park headquarters on ViaVerde near the 57 freeway. Leader: Rod Higbie 909-

599-6526

Sunday, November 2, 2008Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. through June)bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic GardensBring binoculars if you have them. Adults and childrenwelcome. The walk is at and slow and takes about twohours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry gate (north

end of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 NCollege Ave.) Leader: Fraser Pemberton 909-624-

6451.

Wednesday, November, 12, 2008Baldy Village and VicinityMeet at Memorial Park at 8:00

a.m. and bring a lunch

Leader: Dan Gregory 909-

944-2259


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Sunday,November 23, 2008Bonelli Park BirdWalkMeet 8:00 a.m. at the BonelliPark headquarters on Via Verdenear the 57 freeway. Leader:Rod Higbie 909-599-6526

Sunday, December 7, 2008Beginners Bird WalkRancho Santa Ana Botanic GardenJoin us for our monthly (rst Sunday, Sept. through June)bird walk at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Adults and childrenwelcome. The walk is at and slow and takes about twohours. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the front entry gate (northend of College Ave. north of Foothill Blvd. 1500 N.College Ave.) Leader: Fraser Pemberton 909-624-6451.

Saturday & Sunday,December 13-14, 2008Morro Bay Weekend Field TripMeet at the base of Morro Rock in Morro Bay at 8:00a.m. on Saturday for a weekend of birding to the north.Saturday will be the highest and lowest tides of the year

so we should have a great chance for shorebirds andthe sharp-tailed sparrow. We will do coastal birdingon Saturday and on Sunday bird down the coast atOceano and other areas. Leader: Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836

Wednesday, December 17, 2008Bonelli Park Pre-Christmas Trip

Meet at the Picnic Valley area on Via Verde at 8:00 a.m.for a half day pre-Christmas count search or rarities.Leaders: Bruce and Nancy Strang 626-339-6984

Thursday,December 18, 2008Claremont Parks Pre-Christmas tripMeet at Memorial Park at 7:00 a.m. for a half day searchof our local area, including Moreno Ponds and variouscemeteries. Leader: Dan Guthrie 909-607-2836

Field Trips(Cont'd.)

Saturday, December 20, 2008Annual Christmas Census

Help out and join a count group. It's fun and themore eyes we have, the more birds we'll see

Contact Neil Gilbert at (909) 626-0334

Sunday, December 28, 2008Bonelli Park Bird Walk

Meet 8:00 a.m. at the Bonelli Park headquarterson Via Verde near the 57 freeway. Leader: Rod

Higbie 909-599-6526

RACERby Marcyn Clements

(30 October 1995)

One foot long, slender yellow stripes

down a tensible back, he skims the hot

blacktop the way a willow branch does.

He hides in the shade of a post on the bridge

over the concrete drain, slim young racer.

I reach out a hand to steer him aside, away

from the edge. If he drops into the ditch,

he will certainly die, there is no way out.

But he spurts under my hand and down,

six feet down, he falls in spirals, light as a bird.

I hear the slight tick as he hits the leaves below.

When I look over the rail I can see no

trace of him, no tail twining into the duff,

no delicate black tonguing of the fractured air.


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LocalMmbshp

DusNo Du!

If you are a Local Member (not a member of

National Audubon) or are a member of another

chapter, it is time to pay for your subscription

to the Chaparral Naturalist. Rate is $10/year.

Remember that you can become a member of

National Audubon for only $20/year. If you are

already a member of National Audubon, your

membership in our local chapter is already

paid.

Fall/WinterCrane Festivals

If Nebraska seems a littlefar away, there are two more or

less local sandhill crane festivalsthis winter which feature eveningy ins of a large number of sandhill cranes.

Willcox, Arizona hosts the Wings Over WilcoxFestival, January 15-18, 2009 for cranes, raptors andsparrows. Information can be found at their website

www.wingsoverwillcox.com. Online registrationopens September 1.

Lodi, California also has a Sandhill Crane Festival,November 7-9, 2008 with free events. Sandhill Cranes,hawks, waders, and songbirds ll the San Joaquin andCentral Valleys during the winter season. Their webpage is www.cranefestival.com

PVAS FALL/wiNter FieLD triPS 2008-09

September

Sunday, September 7, 2008 - Beginners Bird Walk- Rancho Santa Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - Midweek Trip to

Glen Helen Park, 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, September 13, 2008 - Bolsa ChicaPreserve andHuntington Central Park. 7:00 a.m.

Sunday, September 28, 2008 - Bonelli Park BirdWalk - 8:00 a.m.

OctOber

Sunday, October 5, 2008 - Beginners Bird Walk -Rancho Santa Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 11, 2008 - Galileo Hill and PiutePonds, 7:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - Prado RegionalPark, 7:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 25, 2008 - Village Venture,Claremont Street Fair

Come and visit the Pomona Valley Audubon booth onFirst Street.

Sunday, October 26, 2008 - Bonelli Park Bird Walk- 8:00 a.m.

NOvember

Sunday, November 2, 2008 - Beginners Bird Walk- Rancho Santa Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, November, 12, 2008 - Baldy Villageand Vicinity, 8:00 a.m.

Sunday, November 23, 2008 - Bonelli Park BirdWalk - 8:00 a.m.

December

Sunday, December 7, 2008 - Beginners Bird Walk- Rancho Santa Ana, 8:00 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday, December 13-14, 2008 -Morro Bay Weekend Field Trip, 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - Bonelli ParkPre-Christmas Trip, 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 18, 2008 - Claremont ParksPre-Christmas trip, 7:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 20, 2008 - Annual ChristmasCensus

Sunday, December 28, 2008 - Bonelli Park Pre-Christmas Trip, 8:00 a.m.

One day and half day trips start at Memorial

Park, Indian Hill Blvd at 10th Street, Claremont.

Weekend trips usually meet at the destination on

Saturday morning. Bonelli Park trips meet at park

headquarters on Via Verde, just off the 57 freeway.

It is recommended for all trips to bring a snack and

plenty of water, lunch if recommended.


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PVAS OFFiCerS 2008-2009

President.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Vice-President.Bruce.Strang. 626-339-6984Secretary.Pam.Kling.909-596-7604.Treasurer.Neil.Gilbert. 909-626-0334.Board.Member..Nancy.Strang. 626-339-6984Board.Member.Dick.Moore. 909-626-1127.Board.Member.Pat.Higbie. 909-599-6526.Board.Member.Rod.Higbie. 909-599-6526

COMMittee CHAirSConservation.Dick.Moore. 909-626-1127Education.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Field.Trips.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Membership.Dan.Guthrie.909-607-2836Publications.Neil.Gilbert.909-626-0334Publicity.Shirley.Harris.909-982-9727Door.Prizes.Karlene.Campo. 909-627-8191Hospitality.Gloria.Slosberg.909-626-4754.Website.Mike.Klein.909-625-5510.

CHAPArrAL NAtUrALiSt

Editor.Pam.Kling.909-596-7604

TheChaparral Naturalist.is.published.bimonthly,.except.July.and.August.by.the.Pomona.Valley.Audubon.Society..Copy.deadline.is.the.last.Thursday.of.the.month..Articles.may.be.reprinted.without.permission,.but.please.give.credit.to.the.author.and.the.Chaparral Naturalist.We.encourage.members.to.submit.articles.and.photos.by.email.at.pamtone@verizon.net..Acceptable.le formats are jpg, Word and Excel.

Subscriptions.to.the.newsletter.are.available.for.$10.per.year.to.non-members..Make checkspayable to PVAS and mail to W. M. Keck

Science Center, 925 N. Mills Ave., Claremont,CA 91711.

Name__________________________________________

Address________________________________________

City, State, Zip___________________________________

Chapter Code: Pomona Valley Audubon CO8, 7XCHYou may also join National Audubon via our website at:

http://www.ca.audubon.org/chapters.html/

National Audubon Membership

Annual membership in the National Audubon Society is $30 peryear. New membership dues are $20. Members receive the

Audubon Magazine and Chaparral Naturalist newsletter. Renew-als of membership are computerized by National Audubon andshould not be sent to PVAS. However, a new membership maybe sent directly to PVAS.

Make checks payable to National Audubon Society. Mail payment

with membership form below and mail to: PVAS, W. M. KeckScience Center, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont,CA 91711. (Please note chapter code number, CO8, 7XCHon your check.)

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It's time to have some fun again! The 12th Annual CentralValley Birding Symposium will be held Nov. 20-23 inStockton, Ca. We're back at the Stockton Grand Hotel (aHilton property).

Our evening programs include Hans Peeters "Owls of

California and the West" and John Muir Laws "Exploringthe Sierra Nevada as a Naturalist and Artist".

We have many workshops such as, "Raptor ID" byJoe Morlan, "Bird ID" by Jon Dunn, "Bird and Nature

Digiscoping" by Clay Taylor, drawing workshops withJohn Muir Laws, our always popular and informative IDPanel with the guest experts, and more.

We have programs for beginning birders and for peoplewho want to make their gardens bird-friendly. Field tripsfrequently turn up chasable goodies.

The Birder's Market is full of artists and vendors with somany wonderful bird and nature related items that you'llbe tempted to max out your credit cards!

For more info, check the website at www.cvbs.org , or

contact Frances Oliver at [email protected]

or (209) 369-2010.

Come and bird your problems away. See you there!

12th Annual Central ValleyBirding Symposium

November 20-23, 2008


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Membership Meetings

PomonaValleyAudubonSociety W.M.KeckScienceCenter 925NorthMillsAvenue Claremont,CA91711

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Dan Guthrie

"Birding Uganda"President Dan Guthriekicks off the season with

a tour ofBirding Ugandabased on his trip last July.Uganda is quite differentfrom the usual Kenyaand Tanzania tours andthis program will include

some of the major touristattractions includingshoebills and gorillas and

comment on conservationefforts in the country.

Monthly meetings are held in Bauer Forum of

Claremont McKenna College. Evenings begin with

a bird identication session at 7:00 p.m., followed

by refreshments, a short business meeting, and our

evening program.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Nina Karnovsky

"Gulls, Guillemotsand Great WhiteSharks - theFarallon Islands"MemberNina Karnovsky,a faculty member at PomonaCollege, will present aprogram on the biology of

the Farallon Islands off theSan Francisco coast.

Thursday, November 6, 2008Nick and Mary Freeman

"Saw-whet Owls of the San Gabriel's"Nick and Mary Freeman of Los Angeles Audubonset out over the past eight years to study the status anddistribution of this little- understood owl in the SanGabriel mountains. Come and listen as Mary gives anoverview of her ndings relating to Saw-whets, other

owls and wildlife encountered during the project.

Documents

September-October, 2008 Chaparral Naturalist - Pomona Valley Audubon Society