![]() |
Altacal Audubon SocietyA California Chapter of the National Audubon Society |
![]() |
Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation, and protection of native birds and their habitats through education, research, and environmental activities.
Serving the communities of Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties, Northern California.
One of Our Own Says
“Thanks”!
The recent fires affected one of our most active birders, volunteers and good friends, Nancy Nelson. Her home and belongings were destroyed. Nancy is grateful for all the thoughts, prayers and offers of assistance and passes on her thanks.
Help Wanted!
In all our areas of interest (e.g.,
Field Trips, Education, Conservation, etc.) we are trying to get things
done more efficiently and effectively by asking members to contribute
in any way they can by contacting a Committee Chairperson or other
Board member and offering to help in some area of interest.
There’s no need to sign on for a particular position or office and you
can be sure you’d be appreciated.
Upcoming Programs
![]() Children of La Marea
|
Join us as we kick off the new
season of programs by reporting on the
2008 Altacal Audubon birding trip to the Republic of
Panamá. Mike will
present highlights of the trip using photos, maps and stories.
The
goal will be to share the excitement of this amazing journey taken by
twelve of our local chapter members. In just two weeks over 400
different species of birds were seen and heard. In addition,
numerous
mammals, reptiles and insects were encountered and photographed.
You
may even feel like you were there, as we explore the country from just
inside Panama’s western border with Costa Rica, to the far eastern
province of Darién, only 25 miles from the Colombian border. We will re-live our visits to such diverse habitats as mangrove swamps, tidal marshes, primary rainforests, orchid farms, cloud forests, coffee plantations, city parks and the Panamá Canal. Finally, we will share what for many of us was the highlight of the trip, our amazing experience staying with the indigenous Emberá people. The Emberá live in a very remote and roadless portion of eastern Panamá accessible only by a long boat ride up the Rio Bagre. We had the opportunity to spend a week living in their small isolated village of La Marea. I’m sure you too will be amazed by these beautiful people whose simple life remains much the same as it has been for centuries. |
![]() White-necked Puffbird – Pipeline Road |
Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding
Trips
August 16, Saturday - Butte Meadows – Trip Leader: Skip Augur. Meet at the Park ‘n Ride at 8:00 a.m. and caravan to the Butte Meadows/Jonesville areas to look for warblers and other montaine species. Light hiking and carpooling. Bring a sack lunch. We will bird until about 3:00 p.m. and then return to Chico. For more information, contact Skip Augur at 893-9222.

September 21, Sunday - Upper Bidwell Park - Trip Leader: Skip Augur. We'll
start by walking along North Rim, Upper, or Middle trail early to beat
the heat; as the day warms up we'll head down and return along the Yahi
trail. Some migrants are a possibility, as well as our resident
species. No experience necessary. Bring your binoculars, a field guide
if you have one, hiking shoes, water, and snacks if you need
them. Meet at the parking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8 a.m. and
walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles). Difficulty Level: some
moderately steep trail sections. For more information, contact
Skip at 893-9222.
Seasonal Creek near the Shooting Range

September 19-21, Friday-Sunday - Point Reyes National Seashore - Trip
Leaders: Mike Fisher and Jennifer Patten. Point Reyes
National Seashore is well-known for its excellent birding. The
seashore and surrounding areas offer many different habitats from
grasslands, estuaries, coastal scrub to forests. The projection
of the Point Reyes peninsula some 10 miles seaward from the "mainland"
makes Point Reyes National Seashore a landing spot for many vagrants -
birds that may have made errors in navigation and thus are unexpected
in this area.
Each fall these vagrants seek out resting
spots along the peninsula on their way south. Some of these
rarities have included Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart,
White-throated Sparrow, Palm Warbler and Prothonotary Warbler. We will
visit places where these vagrant traps (resting spots) are, such as the
Fish Docks, the lighthouse rocks and cliff areas, Abbott’s Lagoon,
Tomales Bay, Drake’s Beach, Bear Valley, Olema Marsh and the famous
historic ranches along the way.
We will camp Friday and Saturday night at
Samuel P. Taylor State Park or Olema Ranch Campground. Please contact
Mike or Jennifer if you are interested in going for more information on
what to bring, directions, camping, etc.
Mike Fisher fisherml@pacbell.net
624-4777
Jennifer Patten jpchico@scbcglobal.net
345-9356

October 4, Saturday – Packer and Sul Norte Units of the SRNWR – Trip
Leader: Gaylord Grams. Join us as we explore two of the
lesser-known units within the Sacramento River National Wildlife
Refuge, the Packer Unit and the Sul Norte Unit, both located near the
Butte City area. We will meet at the Park ‘n Ride on 8th/9th
Street in the lot nearest the freeway at 8 a.m. for carpooling.
Remember to bring water, hiking shoes (modest flatland terrain 1.5-3
miles) and snacks. We'll be back around 1 p.m. For additional
information call Gaylord at 872-0739. The Packer Unit is located at
River Mile 168-R, just south of Butte City and Highway 162
October
10-12, Friday-Sunday - Bodega Bay Terrestrial and Pelagic Birding
Weekend. Trip Leaders: Scott Huber (terrestrial) and Rich
Stallcup (pelagic). The weekend of October 11-12 promises to be an
exciting one for both Altacal members and our out-of-area friends as we
combine a long-awaited Pelagic Trip led by the well-respected Rich
Stallcup with a day of ‘land birding’ in the Bodega Bay area.
We’ll depart mid-morning Friday arriving at the coast before dark where
participants have the option of camping or staying at a local motel or
Inn. If there’s time we’ll even bird a little in the late afternoon.
Saturday Morning we’ll board the New Sea Angler for our trip to the
Cordell Banks where we’ll hope to see an impressive array of pelagic
birds.
Sunday morning we’ll rise with the morning chorus and proceed to bird
the many productive spots in the Bodega area including Bodega Head, the
bay, the beaches and others. It’s quite likely that the afternoon will
find some of us enjoying a bottle of fine wine around the campfire
(weather permitting) or at The Tides.
Participants will make their own arrangements for lodging and meals.
Some Altacal members will be staying at Bodega Dunes Campground, please
see www.bodegabay.com/discover/camping.html for more information and to
make reservations. For a list of Bodega Bay Motels go to
www.sonoma.com/lodging/sonoma_coastlistings.html.
Please contact Scott Huber at BirdTours@Altacal.org or (530)
321-5579 to let him know whether you’ll be camping or moteling and
provide him with your contact information while in the Bodega area. The
pelagic portion of this trip is full but if others would like to join
us for the Saturday portion please let him know. Prepare for a variety
of weather possibilities including ‘darn cold and wet’ on the water.
Those departing from Chico should plan on meeting Friday October 10th
at 10 a.m. at the Park ‘n Ride on Highway 32 (eastern-most lot, second
lot from Highway 99). We’ll rendezvous with those coming from other
areas at the Tides Wharf Restaurant in Bodega Bay between 5-6 p.m.
Friday evening.
Bank Swallow Data Request Form
| Use this link to download a data form regarding
Bank Swallow information. AAS and the Bank Swallow working group
are requesting historical (1998-2007) and current Bank Swallow
locations to find more information on this CA threatened species.
Thank you!
This Microsoft Word document can be downloaded, edited and emailed to Dawn Garcia.
|
Image copyright 2006: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
|
Submission of Articles Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor as Microsoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 7th of the month for the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep and Nov 7th) - editor@altacal.org – Thanks, Ed. |
|
Attention Libraries! |
|
If you would like to receive the White-tailed Kite for distribution to your patrons, please email membership@altacal.org to let us know how many copies you'd like. |
Support us by becoming a member: Membership Application (PDF)