Altacal Audubon Society A California Chapter of the National Audubon Society

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

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

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 there are no Program Meetings.

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June Members’ Potluck - Monday, June 29, 6 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center

Well it's that time again! - time for our annual potluck dinner.  Come join us and celebrate friendships and our common love for birds and the natural world.  We will have a chance to do all the things we seem never to have enough time for at our regular programs; visit with old friends and get to better know our new ones; talk about birds and birding; and share stories of recent and future adventures and travels.  We will play some games and maybe even win some prizes.  It has been another remarkable year for Altacal Audubon and this will be our last chance to get together as a group until our next program in September.  Remember, there are no programs during July and August so you don’t want to miss this one.  Bring a dish to share, a beverage for yourself or to share, a plate and fork, and achair if you like.  See you there!

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Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips

June 5, Friday - Search for Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Lesser Nighthawk

A bird walk co-sponsored by Altacal and the Sacramento River Preservation Trust.  Meet at the Park ‘n Ride (lot nearest the freeway) at 6 p.m. and carpool to the Bidwell - Sacramento River State Park parking lot at Indian Fisheries.  If you choose, just meet at the Indian Fisheries parking area at 6:30 p.m.  We will walk through the riparian forest and out to the river, listening for Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  At the river, we will watch for Lesser Nighthawks flying above their gravel-bar nesting area. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are always a long-shot bird to find.  No promises of finding one, though we did have luck last time we tried.  Of course, there will be lots of other great birds there.  One hour of walking on trails and gravel bar.  Bring binoculars, sturdy shoes, and bug repellent.  We will bird until dusk, then return to the Park ‘n Ride area. Call Phil Johnson at 570-7139 for more information.

June 8-17 - Nome, Denali, Anchorage and Fairbanks Alaska Altacal Charter Trip (FULL)

Trip Leaders: Scott Huber (Altacal Director - Owner, BigBirders Birding Tours) and ace birder, Liam Huber

Altacal Audubon Society has developed a reputation for great field trips such as last spring’s trip to Panama.  This summer we head to the “Great White North” to bird Nome and Denali as well as Anchorage and Fairbanks.  For more information on this exciting trip (and others) check out the itinerary http://bigbirders.com/tour_calendars.htm

June 6, Saturday – Upper Bidwell Park – Neotropicals for Beginners

Trip Leader: Steve King

Take a casual walk along the creekside and adjacent woodlands in search of birds that breed in Upper Park.  No experience necessary.  Just bring your binoculars, a field guide if you have one, hiking shoes, water and snacks.  Meet at the newly constructed parking lot by Horseshoe Lake at 8 a.m. and walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles).  For more information, contact Steve at 342-6715.

June 19, 20 and 21, Friday-Sunday- Willow Lake

June 27-28, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Trip Leader: Bill Oliver, Wintu Audubon

July 9-14, Thursday-Tuesday - Yosemite National Park

Trip Leaders: Gaylord Grams and Mike Fisher

Join us for all or part of this six-day trip to one of our most beloved national parks, Yosemite.  We will car pool to the park on Thursday and spend the first three nights at Yosemite Creek Campground.  Located about 20 miles NE of Crane Flat off Tioga
Road, Yosemite Creek Campground is in a spectacular part of the park. Friday we will take the 10.5 mile round-trip hike to the edge of Yosemite Falls for the top-of-the-world views looking down on wondrous Yosemite Valley.  Saturday we will hike in the other direction up the creek amid Lodgepole Pines, with Red Firs and White Pines along the shaded slopes.  Birds and bears should be plentiful.  Early Sunday morning we will move approximately 20 miles further east to Tuolumne Meadows.  We will camp here for two nights birding and hiking some of the trails along the Tuolumne River.  As there are no reservation campgrounds some adjustments might have to be made.  Anyone planning to go must contact Gaylord or Mike to get details and final plans.  Spaces are limited.  Participants do not have to stay the whole six days but could join us for just a part of the trip if they choose.  Contact Gaylord at gg2canoe@yahoo.com, 530-872-0739 or Mike at fisherml@pacbell.net, 530-624-4777.

July 25, Saturday - Rio Vista Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Search

Trip Leader:  Scott Huber

A bird walk co-sponsored by Altacal and the Sacramento River Preservation Trust.  Recent research by Chico State grad student, Jessi Hammond, indicated that the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge held eight Yellow-Billed Cuckoos in 2007 and 2008 – including a breeding pair.  Join us for an early morning search for these hard-to-find birds. We'll beat the mid-summer heat and hope to hear Cuckoos vocalizing early by departing the Chico Park ‘n Ride (lot closest to Hwy 99) at 6 a.m. Bring bug juice and light clothing.  For more information contact Scott at (530) 321-5579 or ScottH@bigbirders.com

August 2, Sunday - Butte Meadows

Trip Leader:  Skip Augur

Meet at the Park ‘n Ride at 8:00 a.m. (the lot closest to Hwy. 99) 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 530-519-4724 (incorrect in the newsletter) or wba@acm.org.

August 8, Saturday - Brokeoff Mountain Hike in Lassen National Park

Trip Leader: Steve King

Are you ready to spend all day in the splendor of the Cascade Mountains and one of the least-visited National Parks in the country?  That is what the Brokeoff mountain trail located in the Lassen National Forest offers you.  Starting at about 6,000 thousand feet you begin your hike through moist forest, wetlands and open-water ponds where you will hear/see Mountain Chickadees, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and other mountain species like Clark’s Nutcracker.  Wonder where the Dark-eyed Juncos and MacGillivray’s Warblers go?

They should be visible as should American Dipper at the lower lake. Sooty (formerly Blue) Grouse are also often seen along the trail as well as Olive-sided Flycatchers. We will break out into subalpine habitat full of shrubs and stunted trees until we climb to the treeless summit.  A lot of habitat change for not much altitude. But, you must be prepared for a strenuous all-day hike with a gradual elevation change from 6,600 to 9,200 feet (approx. 3,000 foot climb).  The journey and lunch at the summit are worth the effort!  Wear sturdy hiking boots and layers; bring lots of water, lunch, sunscreen, bug juice, a camera and, of course binoculars. For more info on this great hike see:  http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_brokeoff_mountain.htm

We will meet at the Park ‘n Ride off highway 32 closest to highway 99 at 6:45 a.m. and be on the road to Lassen park by 7:00 and at the trail head by 8:30.  The trailhead is just outside the park but a $10 fee per car is still required. Season passes to the park are available a half-mile beyond at the park entrance for $25. As always, bad weather cancels.

Contact Steve King (sking.chico@gmail.com 342-6715) for more details.

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. If you don't have Microsoft Word. this PDF version can't be edited, but can be downloaded, printed and mailed to Dawn.

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 1st of the month for the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep and Nov 1st) - editor@altacal.org – Thanks.

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