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Altacal Audubon SocietyA 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.
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.
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Northern Saw-whet Owl project and ADOPT AN OWL! Altacal Audubon Society
is proudly sponsoring Dawn Garcia and her
banding crew as they continue researching
the migration ecology of the Northern
Saw-whet Owl (ageolius acadicus).
Their project was the recent focus of the
Greenways Column in the Chico News and
Review, (http://www.newsreview.com/chico/content?oid=1869662).
Dawn also recently launched an "Adopt an Owl" program that will help support the long-term monitoring of the owl. Check out her blog at http://birdbling.blogspot.com/, to learn more about the owl project and how to ADOPT AN OWL! The package includes a owl certificate, project brochure, and letter of thanks for your tax free donation. |
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It's a BIG YEAR
for the 13th Annual Snow Goose Festival of
the Pacific Flyway!
Greg Miller is joining our festival this year and causing some BIG excitement for everyone! Greg is one of the famed birders featured in the 2004 book, The Big Year by Mark Obmascik and portrayed by Jack Black in the recently-released movie. Greg will be our Keynote Speaker at the banquet on Saturday night, and is looking forward to coming to Chico and sharing his joy of birding. Over 65 fieldtrips, workshops and presentations will be offered, along with lots of free activities and events for youth and families... something for everyone! Join us for the ever-popular Art Reception and Exhibit of the Pacific Flyway featuring a new downtown location... the Chico Art Center. We've also partnered with The Chico Museum, whose exhibit "Amazing Grains: The Story of Rice and Beyond," will be a show-stoppper for many of our participants. So save the date on your calendar and be sure not to miss out on the Snow Goose Festival's BIG YEAR this coming January 26-29! Registration opens in December at http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/. |
Upcoming
Programs
![]() Red-cheeked
Waxbill by
Roger Lederer
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February
Program - Monday, February 20, 6:30 p.m.,
Chico Creek Nature Center
UGANDA’S Extraordinary Birds & Gorillas Presented by DRS. ROGER LEDERER & CAROL BURR Uganda is known for the vicious reign of Idi Amin from 1971-1979 and the 1976 hostage rescue by the Israeli Special Forces at the Entebbe Airport. Only recently has Uganda become a tourist destination, primarily because of its mountain gorilla population. Few people are aware that Uganda is also a world class birding destination, with 1100 species of birds to be found in a country the size of Oregon. The variety of birdlife is also spectacular, ranging from drongos, gonoleks, and waxbills, 22 species of cuckoos, 17 hornbills, and 25 barbets to the fan-tailed widowbird and the rare shoebill stork, “a most extraordinary bird.” Join Drs. Roger Lederer and Carol Burr for a virtual trip through Uganda to visit some of these most amazing birds, and make a short visit to the mountain gorillas. Roger Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico and has taught ornithology and ecology. He has published over thirty scientific papers and books; Ecology and Field Biology, Bird Finder, Amazing Birds, Birds of New England, and recently, Birds of Bidwell Park. He has consulted for governmental agencies, environmental organizations, schools and presented hundreds of public presentations. He has been contacted by many news organizations through his popular website Ornithology.com. Roger has birded in 90 countries and seen 3000 species. Carol Burr, is Professor Emerita from California State University, Chico, where she taught literature in the English Department for 37 years. In retirement, she returned to a childhood love of drawing, taking oil painting classes. Married to Roger, an ornithologist, she learned about birds and became an active bird watcher on their travels around the world. In 2009 she illustrated Roger’s The Birds of Bidwell Park. |
![]() Mountain
Gorillas by
Roger Lederer
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March Program -
Monday, March 26, 6:30 p.m.,
Chico Creek Nature Center
Life Histories and Ecologies of SIX RIPARIAN BIRD SPECIES Presented by WILLIAM E. HAAS Bill is the Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Conservation Alliance, a non-profit conservation group that designs and manages wildlife preserves and conducts field research on threatened and endangered vertebrates. His primary focus is the study of riparian systems. He will describe in his talk a recent study to develop a simple model to predict occurrence and carrying capacity for six riparian obligate avian species. The challenge was to design and test a simple remote method of determining occurrence and breeding potential of the least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), summer tanager (Piranga rubra), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), and yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens). Three steps were involved in the creation of the model, which he tested using field surveys to ascertain that the model was an effective predictor. The two data sets used to develop the model were 1.) extensive research (from field studies and published literature) into the life histories and ecologies of each target species and 2.) a detailed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping of the study area. The study area was then divided into quadrats and then assigned a suite of species-specific indices that indicated for each species whether it could support breeding, use, or was simply unsuitable. By plotting each species index by quadrat and assessing area, volume, and contiguity, species richness and breeding potential could be predicted for each study site. The completed model was tested by conducting field surveys to determine occurrence, distribution, and breeding status for each focus species at numerous study sites. The simple model in each case predicted well the occurrence (or absence) and approximate numbers of each focus species at each of the study sites. |
![]() Southwestern Willow Flycatcher |
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February 11, Saturday - SECOND SATURDAY - UPPER BIDWELL PARK Trip Leaders: Steve King and Raina King
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February
18, Saturday - GRAY LODGE WILDLIFE AREA
Trip
Leader: Mauricio Schrader
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region2/graylodge/index.html) is the largest wildlife refuge in Butte County and has huge flocks of migratory waterfowl at this time of year. This is also a good trip for raptors, sparrows, and other wintering songbirds. We will hike some of the trails and do the auto tour loop. Meet at the Chico Park & Ride (lot nearest the freeway) at 9 am and return by 3 pm. Bring binoculars, field guide, warm clothes, water, and a snack or lunch. There is a $4 admission fee per person and you will need exact change. For more information, contact Mauricio Schrader at 530-894-4025 or mschrader@nsradiology.com. Rain cancels. |
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March 10, Saturday - SECOND SATURDAY - CHICO OXIDATION PONDS WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Trip Leaders: Steve King and Raina King
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March
30 - April 1, Friday - Sunday - PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT
JOINT TRIP / MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTERCALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Trip Leaders: Jennifer Patten and Woody Elliott Late March is a great time for wildflowers and nesting song birds at Pinnacles NM, south of Hollister in San Benito County. Come together with wildflower and avian enthusiasts to soar with California condors after hiking the well groomed, 2 mile trail to the “High Peaks”. Then look west across the Salinas Valley toward the Ventana Range and elsewhere across the green, rolling ridges of the inner Coast Range. Shorter trails access upland habitat and through a jumble of boulders that create cool caves along a water course tumbling from an upper reservoir where waterfowl are found. Nesting habitat for easy bird watching is abundant in the stream wash next to the campground on the east side of the Monument. Condors can be seen at dawn roosting in the conifers on the ridge above. The Monument’s large campground for tents and RVs (full hookups available) is a 5 hour drive from Chico down I-5 and via Hwy 152 over Pacheco Pass. Reservations for a group campsite or circle of campsites will be made. Please contact Woody at woodyelliott@gmail.com or 530 342-6053 to SIGN UP. |
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April
14, Saturday - SECOND SATURDAY UPPER BIDWELL PARK
Trip Leader: Jon Aull April 14th is our monthly field trip to Upper Bidwell Park. Birders of all levels are welcome! Let’s meet at 9 am at the parking lot on the left just past the gun club (follow Wildwood Ave for 1.75 miles and turn left just before the gate). We will walk from Horseshoe Lake, up the canyon and then follow the Yahi Trail along the creek as far as time permits (2-3 miles roundtrip) and will be back to the cars by about 12:30 pm. Bring binoculars, water, snacks walking shoes and proper clothing for expected weather conditions. Rain cancels. Contact Steve King at 530-566-6136. Note: This is our second to last Second Saturday field trip. May 12 to the Oxidation Ponds will be the last for this season. |
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| Altacal Audubon Society has had an exciting opportunity to create an educational brochure to inform landowners along the Sacramento River about Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia), their nesting habitat, and incentive programs to help protect them. Members Carolyn Short, Raina King and I were awarded a grant to create the brochure and companion website by the Fund for Wild Nature. Go to Bankswallows.org to learn more about this species population on the Sacramento River. |
Image copyright
2006: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART |
| North-state Naturalists
http:// Liam Huber's banding experiences http:// Those Amazing Birds |
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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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Attention Libraries! |
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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. |