November Program: Dr. Mini Nagendran  Crane Research and Conservation Around the World November 17, 1997, 7:30 PM, Chico Creek Nature Center 1968 East Eighth St., Chico, 95928 An expert on Cranes who has traveled world wide researching these majestic birds who are in great peril these days, Dr. Nagendran is the current Director of California Audubon's Birds, Wildlife, and Habitat Program. She works cooperatively with chapters, state, and federal agencies, and other organizations. She is responsible for designing and implementing our state bird and wildlife conservation program. Besides this, she is a part-time faculty member at Sacramento State University. Normally a speaker of her caliber commands a much larger setting, such as her talk at the Chico State's Omicron Theta Friday Seminars last year. We are extremely lucky to have her as our guest. Invite a friend and come experience her wonderful slides, discussions, and stories.

The money that we raised via our Bird-A-Thon for the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge was used in a matching grant for the refuge to purchase a desperately needed spotting scope and cabinets for their many educational programs. Next time one comes around, join up (or at least sponsor a team)! They’re a lot of fun, and the money goes to a good cause!

Let's remember to get those school-age persons involved; invite or bring them to the monthly meeting and the field trips!

Any tardiness in the newsletter getting out last month or this month is my fault. My apology if the newsletter has arrived a bit tardy. I will get our info to the newsletter editor sooner in the future.

– Dave Tinker

Sunday, November 16th – Beginning Bird Walk at the Chico Oxidation Ponds. Meet at the Chico Creek Nature Center at 8AM. Dress warmly in layers, bring snacks and something to drink. We will carpool to The Ponds. This will be an outstanding opportunity for beginners to get excellent looks at most of the species of Ducks that use our flyway.

Saturday, November 29^th - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the Chico Creek Nature Center on East 8th St. at 7AM or at the Sacramento Refuge at 8:15AM. It should be Ducks Deluxe and Hawk Heaven!

October 26,1997 - Upper Bidwell Park. Sunday Morning 7Am, was a beautiful north valley morning. Six people met for a half-day of birding. Leaving the parking lot and walking east we came to a draw that had Golden-crowned Sparrows, Bewick’s Wren, Bushtits and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. We continued eastward along a trail above the road and below the ridge. A bird flew from a tree to a bush, hot on its trail were Bushtits and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The fleeing bird landed in a bush along another draw. The refugee bird turned out to be a Pygmy Owl. The owl was quite co-operative as they tend to be and all in our party got great looks at the bird. The Buck Brush along the hillside was alive with California and Spotted Towhees, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bushtits and Scrub jays. We came upon a burned area that was a vibrant green with new growth. Meadowlarks fled ahead of us, launching themselves from their perches in the Blue Oaks that dotted the hillside. A flock of 8 to10 Jays flew across our path. We were about to dismiss them as Scrubs when several of the group noted they were Stellar’s Jays. We moved down to the road and proceeded Eastward. We came to a streambed that had a tangle of Sycamore and Oak Trees and a substantial amount of Wild Grape hanging from the trees. One of the group saw a Sapsucker. While trying to determine which Sapsucker, we saw Red-breasted and Red -naped Sapsucker, Downy, Nuttall's and Acorn Woodpecker and Red-shafted Flicker (Six woodpeckers in a small grove of trees). We moved over to the Yahi trail in Hopes of finding Rufous-crowned Sparrows etal. We found said sparrow as well as Dipper and Canyon Wren. The only aerialists we saw were Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture. Other birds we observed in the tangles and thickets were Wrentits and Hermit Thrushes. We heard but did not see Hutton's Vireo and Cal. Quail. – Richard Redmond
 
 

Saturday, November 8, 9:00-10:00 AM – Maidu Medicine Hike. Join nature expert and retired CSU biology professor Wes Dempsy for a history-filled nature hike in Upper Bidwell Park. Wes will lead participants to discover native plants and discuss how the Native Americans used them in their daily life. This free event will meet at Horseshoe Lake in upper Bidwell Park. Please wear appropriate hiking gear. Please call 891-4671 to register. Rain will cancel this event.
 

Saturday, November 15, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM – Skullduggery. Learn and study the skeletal remains of various animals with local naturalist Scott Torricelli. A wonderful event for the entire family and a great way to bone-up on your knowledge of the natural world! This free event will take place at the Chico Creek Nature Center. Please call 891-4671 to register.

The Point Reyes Field Seminars program conducts courses within Point Reyes National Seashore in natural history, photography, environmental education and the arts, all taught by recognized professionals. By offering educational opportunities that utilize the tremendous resources available within the seashore, we strive to foster in others an understanding of, concern for, and desire to preserve the health of the natural environment. As a non-profit, self-supporting program, we are a division of the Point Reyes National Seashore Association working in cooperation with Point Reyes National Seashore. College Credit: Extension semester units may be earned for indicated courses from Dominican College of San Rafael. Dominican's tuition, $45 for each unit, must be paid the first day of the seminar. Those earning credit must attend the entire seminar, be an active participant, and submit a paper or project to the instructor. Transfer of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. For further information, call (415) 663-1200 M-F between 10 AM and 4 PM.

CENTRAL VALLEY BIRDING SYMPOSIUM - Dec 4-7, 1997. Held at the Stockton Hilton Hotel and San Joaquin College, Stockton, CA, Hosted by the CENTRAL VALLEY BIRD CLUB and the SAN JOAQUIN AUDUBON SOCIETY. For information, call Cindy at (800)350-1987 or e-mail kfoley@inreach.com. The trips and topics look fabulous. Speakers include some world birding experts and nationally acclaimed authors; Kenn Kaufman, Nancy Newfield, Ed harper, Ted Beedy, Don and Kathy Crump, Sid England, Jesse Brantham, Kimball Garrett, and the list goes on. This symposium promises to have a lasting impact on you.

Brad Stovall had a Sage Sparrow put at the Llano Seco Refuge, Phil Johnson reported a Common poor-will on Crown Point Road and Highway 32. Phil also had Phainopepla and Sharp-shinned Hawk in Upper Park on the same day as our field trip. Mike Skram had Pectoral Sandpipers at the Oxidation Ponds. Bruce Webb reported a Pacific Loon as well as a Common Loon from the Thermalito Afterbay.

We’re still looking for some folks to fill a few positions on the board! A few of us are doing double-duty, and we have quite a number of empty slots to fill. Feel free to help out anytime, we won’t bite! (And we could use the help). We’re currently seeking volunteers for the Conservation, Education, and Recruitment positions, and we’re always glad to have members- and directors-at-large to help out also.

(The following is excerpted from a letter from DR. JOHN G. HEWSTON of Humboldt State University. A form has been included at the end of the newsletter. I apologize for the poor quality of the form; it is the result of a scanned image and I don’t have access to the original.)

Thanksgiving Bird Counts were begun in 1966, but are not as well known as the Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys. Therefore, recruiting new count participants will be an on-going task. I began coordinating and compiling these counts for the Western States six years ago, and am trying to build up the number and distribution of counters. These counts take place on Thanksgiving Day and last for only ONE HOUR. Participants select the hour that best fits his/her holiday schedule. Many former participants have indicated that they welcome the one-hour break on Thanksgiving. Most counters make their counts at their own homes, but some do so while visiting elsewhere, or make a special trip to some favorite spot to make the count.

Counters are to select a count circle measuring 15-feet in diameter, which is an area where local birds are expected to show up, or congregate. Actually, the "circle" can be considered a cylinder, since one may count birds on the ground, at feeders or bird baths, in the bushes or trees, or flying through or over the count circle. Participants usually select a site readily visible from a comfortable viewing spot at a window. Total numbers of all species entering the count area during the hour are to be counted -- but only once. Do not count the same birds more than once. This may mean estimating how many times a single bird enters and leaves or counting a flock when its numbers are highest, then using only that figure. Practicing a few days or weeks ahead of actual count time helps get used to what birds will occur.

We would like to welcome the following new members and transfers into Altacal – we hope to meet you soon!
 

Chico	Elena Ferch, Debbie Powers, Dr. Dallas Sutton, Katie Logan, Elizabeth Tice, Dr. Shelly A. Kirn, Bruce Werlhof, Jeanne Carter, George F. Hill, Margery G. Rogers, Fred Lollar, John Morgan, Araks Tolegian, June Goff
Oroville	Roy Conner, Charles Gordon and Mildred K. Luther, Amelia Jennings, Dorothy M. Kissel, Danny L. Keyes, Jeanne Gallick
Paradise	William Brewster, Shirley J. Drake, W. McCarthy, Gladys Weaver, Christofer Sherwin
Magalia	Vivian M. Phillips
Artois	Colleen Gustafson
Orland	Diana G. Harbour, Mary Montero
Gridley	M. Herrera, Kathy S. Acosta
Forest Ranch	Carolyn Paul
Tehama	Ron Warner

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