The annual birding slide show by Altacal members will be the focus of the November general meeting.  Bring your slides (35 mm or electronic) and share them with your friends!  We’ll try to work it out so everyone gets a chance to participate.  Remember – There’s a newly established meeting time – 6:30 p.m. at the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8^th St., Chico.

Phil Johnson, nominee for Altacal President, opened the meeting by introducing himself and other Altacal Board members who were present.  He explained that the Board had nominated people for the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and called for other nominations and a vote by the membership.  By a voice vote, the slate was approved.  Phil also named the appointed (as opposed to elected) Board members (a list of all Board members is at the end of this newsletter).

The attendees (about 40 people) were asked about recent bird sightings.  Given the topic for the evening (California Condors) it was interesting that about five of the attendees had actually seen Condors and spoke about their experiences.  Following the discussion, Sanford R. "Sandy" Wilbur presented a fascinating program entitled "Condor Tales: What I Learned in Twelve Years with the Big Birds".  Sandy has 34 years of experience and service with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service including being in charge of their California Condor research program from 1969 to 1980, and was leader of the condor recovery effort. Using color slides and readings from his new book, he traced the history of the species from the Pleistocene to the present day and talked about the efforts to save it from extinction.  Information on his book can be found on his web site at: http://home.netcom.com/~symbios/condortales.html