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Altacal Audubon SocietyA California Chapter of the National Audubon Society |
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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.
Serving the communities of Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties, Northern California.
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
May Program – Bird-watching from Sea Level to 10,000 Feet in a Day - Bruce Webb
Monday May 19, 2008, 6:30, Chico Creek Nature Center
Back by Popular Demand - Exactly 35 Years Later
Not many places on the
planet offer such a remarkable change in elevation as the small state of
Colima
in western Mexico. Situated on the coast between the major cities
of Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, Colima is known to have 487 recorded bird
species, comparable to 45% of the birds of the Continental United States.
From coastal mangroves to the pine forests atop
Volcan de Fuego and nearby
Nevado de
Colima (13,450 ft) it is possible to see some remarkable birds
and butterflies. Bruce Webb will present us with bird-watching sights and
sounds from Colima and other western Mexico birding hotspots.
Bruce, a former Chico State student and Altacal officer during in the 1970s, now lives in Granite Bay, CA, and is married to Dr. Jeanne Conry whom he met while they were students in Chico. Bruce asked for the May program date to be labeled "back by popular demand" (he gave a presentation on owls at the May 1973 Altacal meeting, exactly 35 years ago). Expect to see photos and hear some recordings of owls and many other endemic birds of Mexico.
Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips
April 27, Sunday – Upper Bidwell Park – Trip Leader: Phil Johnson – Take a casual walk along the creek-side 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 8:30 a.m. and walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles). For more information, contact Phil Johnson at 570-7139.
May 3, Saturday – Paradise Flume Trail- Trip Leader: Dawn Garcia - An adventuresome hike above the west branch of the Feather River in Paradise. This 2-5- mile hike will be on the gently sloping flume trail, in many cases walking along narrow wooden planks and metal grates above the flume. Beautiful views of the Feather River, up to several hundred feet below, require birders with good balance and no fear of heights. To access the site we need to carpool in high clearance (4-wheel drive suggested) vehicles. This time of year should be birdy with residents and spring migrants including Nashville, Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned and Townsend's Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers and Lazuli Buntings. I've had singing Winter Wrens and American Dippers and have flushed Mountain Quail. Watch out for California Newts and Yellow-legged Frogs. Bring binoculars, lunch, water and your cameras. We may take a short hike down to the river. Carpooling is suggested to the meeting place at 8:30 a.m., Holiday Market parking off Skyway in Paradise. Contact Dawn Garcia at (530) 872-2165 or mel.dawn@sbcglobal.net.
May 11, Sunday –
Pine Creek Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Complex
–Trip
Leader: Jennifer Patten.
Come bird a recently
opened public trail through the 564-acre Pine Creek Unit of the Sacramento River
National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This site is located directly east of Hamilton
City and just south of Highway 32 and is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The property has 31 acres of fallow, 228 acres of restored native
grass, and 33 acres of existing riparian habitat. The existing riparian habitat
consists mostly of cottonwood riparian forest, with some riparian scrub and
herbland cover. It will be interesting to see what birds will be around during
the Fall at this site. So bring your binoculars, bird field guide book and
water. Rain cancels. Meet at the Chico Park ‘n Ride (lot closest to freeway) at
8:00 a.m. We’ll be back around 12:30 p.m. Contact Jennifer Patten, field trip
leader, for more information, 345-9356,
jpchico@sbcglobal.net.
May 22-26, Thursday-Monday, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Princeton, Oregon – Trip Leaders: Mike Fisher and Jennifer Patten - Make plans to join us for a long Memorial Day weekend in Oregon at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, one of the premier birding hot spots of the west. Malheur is well known as a great spot for eastern migrants that include Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-Eyed Vireo, Northern Waterthrush and American Redstart. We will visit marshy Malheur Lake, one of the finest waterfowl refuges in the United States. Additionally, if time permits we will explore the neighboring Steens Mountain, a majestic tilted fault block. We will camp at one of the campgrounds outside of the refuge. If you are considering going, please call field trip leaders Mike Fisher 530-624-4777 or Jennifer Patten 530-345-9356 for more information and to coordinate camping and driving arrangements.
May 31, Saturday – Butte College Wildlife Refuge – Trip Leader: Mike Williams. Over one hundred fifty species have been recorded on the Butte College Wildlife Refuge to date - and they want to add to that list! We'll visit the nature trail located along the riparian area of Clear Creek and see how the Acorn Woodpeckers are faring after lots of changes to the standing granaries this winter. Then we'll walk the trails through the blue oak/savannah community and look and listen for breeding and nesting birds.
The weather may be warm and the walking moderately strenuous. Please dress appropriately for sun, bugs, ankle support and the possibility of snakes. Plan on departing Chico for Butte College at 7:30 a.m. and bring binoculars and water. We will return at approximately 1:00 p.m. For more information on where to meet please call MIKE WILLIAMS @ 895-2252 or 228-1753.
June 8, Sunday – Upper Bidwell Park– Trip Leader: Phil Johnson - 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 8:30 a.m. and walk until about 11:30 a.m. (2-3 miles). For more information, contact Phil Johnson at 570-7139.
Opportunities and Events
SFSU Sierra Nevada Field Campus
The San Francisco State University’s Sierra Nevada Field Campus has a new web site that provides information on summer courses to be taught as well as a downloadable Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley bird checklist. Among the courses taught are:
April 25-27 – Tricolored
Blackbird Survey - Volunteers are needed for the 2008
Tricolored Blackbird Survey coordinated by Audubon California in
collaboration with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. This citizen-based, statewide survey provides critical
information for determining the status of
Tricolored Blackbird populations in California and is critical in
conservation strategies to protect this species. The colony locations and
numbers of Tricolored Blackbirds change from year to year, making it
impossible to track without the help of
volunteers across the state. The survey will take place over one full day that
is convenient for you between April 25 and 27. Additional days of survey
following this will also be welcomed and of great value. If you are interested
in participating, please contact Rodd Kelsey (530) 795-0660 or
rkelsey@audubon.org.
April 27, Sunday, California Native Plant Society Garden Tour sponsored by Mt. Lassen Chapter, CNPS, 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Residential native gardens, one public garden and one nursery. Donation $8 adults (children free with adult)
Tickets available at the following nurseries: Mendon's (Paradise), Floral Native, Little Red Hen, Plant Barn, and Lyon's Books in Chico. Tickets may also be purchased at the Chico Creek Nature Center after 10 a.m. on the day of the tour (rain or shine). Information: 530-893-2886 .
Woodpeckers of the Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada |
April 30-May 6, Weldon/Kernville, Kern Co., CA - Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival, This festival is centered on the Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada and includes Southern San Joaquin Valley birding trips. Of interest to Central Valley birders are some central valley trips including trips to Kern National Wildlife Refuge and Bakersfield birding hotspots (Spotted Dove, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Hart Park).
There are thirty field trip options this year, many of them offered all
seven days. There are numerous half-day field trips offered Saturday and
Sunday. In addition to all of last year's offerings, among new offerings for
the upcoming festival are additional owling destinations, Little Lake/Owens
Bob
Barnes, Field Trips Chair, Ridgecrest, Kern County, CA
Alison Sheehey, Festival Chair & Webmaster, Weldon, Kern County, CA
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May 10, Saturday – International Migratory Bird Day, Check the Sacramento River Preservation trust web site for updated information.
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 |
Scholarship Application Form
The Altacal Audubon Society is offering three $500 scholarships to public high school students in Butte, Glenn, and Tehama counties who plan to attend college in Fall 2008. Click here for the PDF.
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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 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)