SURVEY OF TRUMPETER SWANS WINTERING IN CALIFORNIA - The Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS) will attempt to document Trumpeter swans wintering in California. TTSS knows that at least 50 and perhaps as many as 200 Trumpeters winter in California. TTSS suspects that most of the birds winter from the Sacramento Delta north, to as far South as the Owens Valley and Death Valley.

TTSS is asking for help to conduct this survey. Contact Rod Hug (address below) if you can help. TTSS believes that marked Trumpeters may include birds released at Summer Lake, Oregon in 1991-1995, as well as migrants from Canadian flocks in North West Territory and Alberta. Some of the unmarked birds may also be coming south from Alaska.

Birders should look for and record the following information:

A. Color and number of birds, singles or family groups, mixed or not mixed with Tundra swans (see Note A).

B. Neck collar color and markings (make a sketch if possible) (see Note B).

C. What characteristics caused you to identify these birds as Trumpeters rather than Tundra swans? Did you hear them call? (see Note C).

D. Activity; i.e., resting, feeding on pond, field, or flying.

E. Take photos if you can.

F. Other pertinent information.

G. Date(s).

H. Location.

Name, phone number, and e-mail address of observer (report as soon as possible after observation is made). Report information to:

Rod Hug

4603 Bridle Trail

Santa Rosa, Calif. 95409 (707) 539-3413

Rodhug@aol.com

Note A: Immature Trumpeters are gray in color, and mature Trumpeters are white. Trumpeters might be found as singles or family groups mixed with large numbers of Tundra swans. Trumpeter cygnets are darker gray than Tundra cygnets, particularly as winter progresses. It is difficult to pick out Trumpeters mixed with Tundras.

Note B: Neck collars are green with white codes that usually are read from the body toward the head. A few collars are red with white codes, and a few are yellow with black codes. Probably less than 10% will have neck collars.

Note C: Trumpeters and Tundras look similar. Trumpeters are a little larger. The Trumpeter head is somewhat distinctive if viewed close up. However, the call of the Trumpeter is diagnostic. When viewing a group of Tundras, listen for the Trumpeter call. Suggest observers look at photos of Trumpeters and Tundras, and listen to bird call tapes, CD's etc. Some Trumpeter web sites have good audio representations of the Trumpeter call.

Try not to disturb swans when making observations.

TTSS will send you the history of any swans whose collar markings are identified.

Please help if you can. Thank you. Rod Hug

Come enjoy some great birdwatching and discussions with the Central Valley Bird Club!

Saturday, February 6th - Meet at 7 AM at the Golden Waffle Restaurant for breakfast. The restaurant is at 7th & Main Streets in Chico; from Highway 99, take the 8th St. exit and go west to Main; turn right and go one block.

After breakfast there will be three field trips:

• Upper Bidwell Park. Possible species include Swans, ducks and Geese flying over; Accipiters and other Raptors, Wild Turkey; Band-tailed Pigeon, 3 types of owl; numerous woodpeckers; wrens, thrushes, Phainopepla and Rufous-crowned Sparrows as well as our more common birds. Richard Redmond will lead this trip.
• Chico Oxidation Ponds and Sacramento River. The Chico sewer farm is more open to birders than most of those in the Central Valley area. Currently an expansion project is under way. The ponds provide excellent looks at most species of ducks that frequent the valley and have also yielded Oldsquaw, Surf and White-winged Scoters. Raptors and Sandhill Cranes are frequently seen here. The Sacramento River provides the normal winter riparian Species. Mike Skram will be your guide.
• Tree Improvement Center and Butte Creek Fish and Game Preserve. This will have many of the same species as Upper Park, except it has turned up some interesting sparrows amongst its winter flocks. Jim Snowden will lead this trip.

At 1 PM, we will convene at Butte College at for three or four talks on birding in the Central Valley.

• Jim Snowden will regale us with tales of crane and goose banding
• Debbie Peterson, naturalist at Gray Lodge, will show us the wonders of our local State Wildlife Area
• Joe Silvera of Fish and Wildlife will give a 1-hour presentation on the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, guiding us though its development.
• The fourth speaker will be Tim Manolis from CVBC whose subject is entitled "25 years later -- population changes of breeding birds at Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park".

Sunday February 7th - Meet at 7 AM at the Morning Thunder Café in Chico. From Highway 99, take the 8th St. exit and go west to Cypress Street. Turn right and go to the first light, which is Vallombrosa. Turn left and go through the first light; the restaurant will be on your right.

Fieldtrips to Gray Lodge and Llano Seco will depart from the restaurant after breakfast.