The Valley Habitat

June 2012
A Joint Publication of the Stanislaus Audubon Society and the Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club Its that time of the year again! The Yokuts Potluck Picnic, June 8, 2012
This years Yokuts Potluck will be Friday, June 8th, from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the garden of Kathy and Jim Clarke, 510 West Fairmont Avenue, Modesto, 575-2174. All friends of the Sierra Club or Audubon are invited. Please bring a favorite dish to share, a beverage or two, your own table settings, and maybe a lawn chair. Enjoy the start of summer with friends , great food, and I know there will be singing.

Perhaps You've Heard: Elections Have Consequences

by Brad Barker, Yokuts Conservation Chair

mous benefits for all Americans. It would be swell if there were a few moderate Nixonian Republicans still around, but they're long gone. Republicans today want to roll back all that progress. They want to abolish or curtail the E.P.A., eliminate environmental regulations, continue taxpayer subsidies to the wealthiest companies in history (big oil). Republicans mock climate science, push to privatize public lands, and celebrate government dysfunction.

Democrats sometimes remind me of Harry Whittington. Do you remember him? He was the elderly gentleman (accidentally) shot in the face by Dick Cheney, and then he publicly apologized "for everything Vice President Cheney and his family have had to deal with." Ol' Harry was a Republican, of course, but his subservient manner even as the victim of a birdshotblasting Elmer Fudd oligarch, reminds me of Democrats. We are just too nice, nice to a fault, nice to political opponents who rig the system for wealthy malefactors against the public interest. It's been decades since protecting the environment was a bipartisan issue. Back in the 1960s and 70s, huge numbers of Republican legislators joined with Democrats to create the Environmental Protection Agency, to pass the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air and the Clean Water Acts. All of this landmark legislation had enor-

words, she takes pride in opposing clean air, clean water, safe food, public health, protected public lands, smart growth, etc. Even in the Republican Alice-in-Wonderland world, her views are preposterous.

Due to redistricting, these treehater incumbents are vulnerable. Denham's new District 10 is far more moderate. It includes all of Stanislaus County which went for Obama in 2008 by 2,762 votes. The Sierra Club strongly supports Jose Hernandez for Congress. His personal And, our local Republicans fit story is inspirational: born in French right in. Congressman Jeff Denham Camp, worked as a migrant farm has become an automatic yes-vote worker, became an engineer and an for the radically anti-environmental astronaut. Mr. Hernandez has an House of Representatives. He joins eloquent way of explaining how his with Tea Party freshmen on almost trip to space on the Shuttle Discovery every vote. And, he is the first in 2009 revealed to him how delicate Congressman in history to sponsor a this planet and our atmosphere are, bill that would flood part of a designatand the experience made him an ed Wild & Scenic River (the Merced environmentalist for life. River above Lake McClure). Let's not surrender to irrational Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen Republicans with twisted values. On openly brags about her hostility to June 5th, let's make sure our candithe environment. When she joined dates finish in the top two so we can Twitter late last year, her very first work for victory in November. (And Tweet was: "I am proud to be the if you've read this far, you probably only legislator out of 120 with a 0% support literacy, so how about a vote rating from the Sierra Club." In other for Measure T, too? Save our libraries.)

Valley Habitat 1

Stanislaus Audubon Society

RECENT SIGHTINGS OF RARE OR UNCOMMON BIRDS
MERCED COUNTY: On April 22, John Fulton had a few BANK SWALLOWS flying out of a roost with other swallow species, south of Gun Club Road and west of Santa Fe Grade Road. STANISLAUS COUNTY: Jim Gain had a migrating MacGILLIVRAYS WARBLER and two STELLERS JAYS in Del Puerto Canyon on April 19. John Harris and Sal Salerno had a HOODED ORIOLE at Fox Grove River Access on May 5; Justin Bosler saw four of them there on the next day. Also on May 5, Matthew Dodder and members of his birding class saw a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL at Frank Raines Park in Del Puerto Canyon. (NOTE: The last three species are uncommon, but regular at those locations.)

Hooded Oriole
Joe Devine

Steller's Jay
Joe Devine

A NOTE ON WEST NILE VIRUS

The California Department of Public Health continues to monitor West Nile Virus in our counties this summer. This agency has contacted Stanislaus Audubon for its support in tracking the spread of this disease, which has adversely affected many species of birds, including such corvids as American Crows, Western Scrub-Jays, and Yellow-billed Magpies. Members of the public can report dead birds by calling the toll-free WNV hotline, 1877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473), or by submitting a report online at www.westnile.ca.gov. It is recommended that you contact this agency before handling dead birds. Its website also features a short video instructing how to handle and submit a dead bird for testing.

2012 STANISLAUS AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS In connection with and in celebration of Stanislaus Audubon just having produced the booklet, "The Birding Sites of Stanislaus and Merced Counties", we will visit all the featured sites in the booklet in the course of 2012 . We will gear the trips to the time of year that is best for each site. The more of the trips you attend, the better you will experience the extent of the wonderful natural history of our local area and if you have read the booklet before each trip you will have an even better experience. June 9. Del Puerto Canyon (booklet, page 40) rises up from the valley floor near Patterson to the Santa Clara County line at about 2400 feet. This gain in altitude creates a number of distinct habitats for birds that can be found nowhere else in the county. We'll be there just as migration is ending and nesting is beginning. Trip leader, John Harris, 209-848-1518, johnh@mills.edu . Meet at the Stanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. at 7:00 a.m. We'll be back mid afternoon. (Field Trips continued on page 4)

Valley Habitat 2

Stanislaus Audubon Society

CULTIVATE YOUR GARDEN
As often as I have been encouraging you to take to the open road and winding trails, I realize there are limitations to such travel. Family and work consume time, finances need managing, and mobility may be restricted due to the maturity of many seasons, to put it discreetly. But if you can no longer range as widely as wild birds, you can get some of them to come to you. All you would have to do is create optimal conditions for them to be welcome to your backyard. The needs of humans are simple: food, shelter, and clothing. The needs of birds that you could provide for are reduced to only the first two, since molting takes care of birds attire. The main strategy for feeding birds is planting shrubs and trees. The California Native Plant Society and Audubon encourage you to plant native vegetation. Oak, buckeye, hickory, and walnut produce nuts that attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays, and turkeys. The seeds of pine, alder, sunflowers, and grasses appeal to finches, juncos, sparrows, and doves. The fruits of elderberry, wild grape, and other native shrubs will bring thrushes, waxwings, tanagers, wrens, and vireos. The insects that inhabit vegetation will provide ample forage for many species of migrating birds. (Incidentally, you should leave dead and dying trees standing, if safe to do so; birds use all stages of trees for their needs.) A second strategy for feeding birds is setting up a feeding station.
by Salvatore Salerno

Some birds will come to seeds strewn on the ground; others will perch on feeders stocked with sunflower seeds, thistle, suet, and chopped fruit. These food sources will have to be regularly maintained, as birds are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infection from damp or unclean feeders. Now, as many recipes recommend, just add water. Place many birdbaths around the yard, and flocks of birds will take turns drinking and bathing in them. If you can rig up a drip with a hose or other device, thats even better, for birds are especially attracted to low -running water. Just remember to scrub birdbaths clean every two or three days, to eliminate mosquito larvae and bacteria. If you have provided birds with a yard cluttered with diverse vegetation, then they have shelter from predators and rough weather. You can supplement natural shelters with a dry stone wall, brush piles from fallen branches, and piles of rocks or logsthe farther away from your house, the better. Birds may decide that your yard is hospitable enough to build nests. You can create some real estate of your own by building and installing nest boxes. Robins and phoebes prefer shelf-like structures, while wrens, swallows, and bluebirds use cavities. A little research will help you figure out the entrance hole size and height placement of each nest, depending on which bird you would like to invite. You should add ventilation and drainage

holes, as well as metal guards to deter predators. Some birdwatchers even provide nesting materials such as twigs, thread, hair and moss left in a nearby tray or net. The toughest decision you will have to make involves your pet. Four of ten households dont have dogs or cats, and you may be certain that nature has filled that vacuum with plenty of birds. Its a cat-eat-bird world out there, after all. Even if your dog wouldnt harm its own fleas, its very presence will trigger birds instinct to flee. If you want a yard in which birds can thrive, you must keep cats indoors always, and dogs indoors almost always. Once you have done the labor required to create an avian Garden of Delights, you only need to keep working at it, and then enjoying it at your leisure. You may find yourself well entertained by the environment you have enhanced. Not only are there obstacles to far-flung journeys, but also there may come a time when you will no longer feel the need to have to travel, when being at home suffices. That is surely one form of wisdom, in life as in art. In a novel by Voltaire, Candide witnessed wonders and experienced hardships on his journeys, and then he replaced philosophy for labor when he retired to his farm. His mentor Pangloss tried to justify Candides reversals of fortune in this best of possible worlds by elaborate twists of logic. Excellently observed, answered Candide; but let us cultivate our garden.

Valley Habitat 3

Stanislaus Audubon Society

(Stanislaus Audubon Field Trips continued from page 2) June 17, July 15 , August 19, and September 16. San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (booklet page 31) is huge and offers the most diverse habitats in the area, including deep water lake, riparian forest, oak woodlands, grassland, and seasonal wetland. Trip leader Bill Amundsen ( 5218256, birdscouter@prodigy.net) chooses the particular habitats to visit each month based on conditions and season. Meet at the Stanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. at 7:00 a.m. We'll be back early afternoon July 7-8. CRANE FLAT MEADOW,TIOGA PASS AND MONO LAKE. Leader: Jim Gain 209-602-4596 jimgain@sbcglobal.net (Please email or call to confirm). I will be placing a little more emphasis on photography this trip as there should be pretty good flower displays all around. Saturday Leave Stanislaus County Library Parking Lot at 1500 I Street, Modesto, at 5:45 Arrive at Park entrance (RR) (via Coulterville) roughly 7:45 and head to Crane Flat gas station (15 minutes) at 8:00. Lunch Olmstead Point LEE VINING - Check in (Yosemite Gateway Hotel - book room asap) eat dinner meet back for evening drive 6:30 to look for Poorwill and Nighthawk. Sunday Meet at Lee Vining gas station (Hwy 120 x 395) at 6:30 then head to Cottonwood Canyon. Lunch Lundy Canyon (RR) - birds and blooms until ready to leave for home at 2:30. July 14, Stevinson Ranch. This golf course in Merced county is very bird and birder friendly. It even has an Audubon certification. Our leader will be Madelaine Yancey, kyancey@bigvalley.net, 209-417-9179, who wrote the book on this area, booklet, pages 70-72. While the summer is the slow season in most of our area, Stevinson Ranch has a large number of nesting species and should offer very pleasant and productive birding in the middle of the summer. Leave Stanislaus County Library Parking Lot at 1500 I Street, Modesto, at 7:00 a.m. We'll have lunch at the golf course restaurants and be back by mid afternoon. August 26, Half Moon Bay. Meet at 6:30 a.m. behind the Stanislaus County Library, 15th and H Streets, Modesto. Trip Leader: Sal Salerno, bees2@sbcglobal.net, 526-9832. This is an all-day trip, at the end of which we will have dinner at a restaurant in Half Moon Bay before returning to Modesto. Bring a bag lunch. Carpooling will be encouraged. RSVP is not necessary, but desirable. We will be birding in several habitats, including Burleigh-Murray State Park, Redwoods Open Space Preserve, Fitzgerald State Beach, and Princeton Harbor. September 8. Modesto City Parks offer a very good and convenient place to look for migrating songbirds (booklet, page 34). Trip leader, Dan Gilman, spiderdan1974@att.net, 551-5440. Meet at the Stanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. at 7:00 a.m. We'll be back about noon. September 22. San Luis Reservoir. This Merced county area has wooded areas that form migrant traps for song birds. The birds migrate south hugging the east side of the Coast Range, flying mostly over dry grasslands. When they see these rare wooded areas, they drop out of the sky to feed. We'll be there to watch and listen. Trip leader is Dale Swanberg, daylo@netzero.net, 357-2494, who wrote the book on the area, booklet, page 62. Meet at the Stanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. at 7:00 a.m. We'll be back mid afternoon.

Audubon Field Trip Email List

If you would like to be on a group email to advise you of all Audubon field trips, please email: Dave Froba at froba@comcast.net Stanislaus Audubon Society
Board of Directors: Bill Amundsen, Ralph Baker, Eric Caine, Joe Devine, Lori Franzman, Jody Hallstrom, David Froba, Daniel Gilman, John Harris, Harold Reeve, Salvatore Salerno, Dale Swanberg. Officers & Committee Chairs President: Sal Salerno 985-1232 (bees2@sbcglobal.net)

Vice President: Eric Caine 968-1302 (ericcaine@sbcglobal.net) Treasurer: David Froba Secretary: John Harris Membership: Revolving San Joaquin River Refuge Field Trips: Bill Amundsen 521-8256 (birdscouter@prodigy.net) Other Field Trips: David Froba 521-7265 (froba@comcast.net) Christmas Bird Counts:
Harold Reeve 538-0885

521-7265 (froba@comcast.net) 848-1518 (johnh@mills.edu)

How To Join Audubon To become a member of National Audubon Society, which entitles you to receive Valley Habitat and Audubon Magazine, send your check for $20.00 to: National Audubon Society Membership Data Center P.O. Box 422250 Palm Coast, FL 32142 If you are a current member, please check the expiration date on the mailing label, so that you may rejoin in time to continue receiving our publications. Visit our website: www.stanislausbirds.org

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Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

June 9-10, 2012 (1A) Backpack Outing 2-day Leave No Trace Trainer Class, Salt Springs Reservoir (Mokelumne Wilderness) Time: 10:00 AM Saturday to 5:00 PM Sunday. Learn through experience how to share the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace during this two day training taught by Tom Banks, Master Trainer of Leave No Trace and longtime wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. We will teach each other backcountry Leave No Trace hiking and camping skills during an easy overnight backpacking trip; our location is tentatively set at Salt Springs Reservoir within the Mokelumne Wilderness which is about 35 miles from Pioneer, CA. Our first day we will hike about 2.5 miles to our campsite, "500 Dollar Camp" which will be our "classroom" for the 2 days. Our hike out will be the same way on the 2nd day. Participants will need to provide their own food and camping equipment and have a basic knowledge of how to backpack. Cost for the training will be $50 per participant. More information will be sent by email in early May. There are only 6 spots available for this training so register early! Contact: Mari at 209-242-4845 or grloutdoor@gmail.com to register and for information. June 8-10, 2012 SIERRA CLUB OUTINGS LEADER TRAINING WORKSHOP
The Outdoor Activity Training Program is bringing its highly successful Outings Leader Training Workshop back to Clair Tappaan Lodge in Norden, CA! Do you already lead outings for the Sierra Club? Want to find out what it takes to lead Sierra Club outings? Are you a Sierra Club activist who wants to use outdoor activities to highlight local conservation issues? Then this Outing Leader Training is for you! You are invited to attend a weekend of interactive learning, networking with leaders from all Sierra Club outing programs, and of course, lots of fun. The purpose of this training is to provide leaders with the skills to plan safe, happy and inspiring outings that promote the conservation mission of the Sierra Club. This workshop provides the opportunity to welcome new outdoor leaders to the Sierra Club, share and exchange new trip ideas and learn what it takes to lead for other programs in the Club. To learn more and register, visit: http:// www.sierraclub.org/outings/training/. Or contact Sascha Paris at 415-9775711.
July 27-Aug 2 Backpack (2B) Yokuts Annual Summer Backpack

reservoir and proceed up the North Fork of the Kings river into the southern section of Blackcap Basin. The hike will follow a counter-clockwise loop, visiting several of the regions granite-bound lakes and streams, and later stopping at Blackrock Lake and Devils Punchbowl, before turning west back towards the trailhead. Sections of the trip will be cross-country. For further details, please contact Yokuts leaders Jerry Jackman (209.577.5616) or Randy Brown (209.632.5994). A $50 reservation fee is required to hold a spot. Limited to 10 experienced backpackers.
Weekly Thursday Sierra Club Hikes

Meeting time 8:00AM at Mary Lavaroni Park in Groveland. Leader: Frank Oyung, for details and to sign-up, (209) 962-7585, frank-oyung@sbcglobal.net
June 23rd, Saturday 4 -5pm Oak Grove Regional Park, Stockton, CA PEAK activity at Great American Backyard Campout (DSG)
An hour having fun playing "Step on it", "Treks or Tracks" or other PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) activities and games. Mari Praus is a Leave No Trace trainer and will be leading this activity. Sierra Club has partnered with REI to help bring Environmental Stewardship to our community. We are happy to play a game or two with the families who want to campout at this years Great American Backyard Campout at Oak Grove Regional Park, Stockton, CA. Contact Mari Praus at grloutdoor@gmail.com for more information or questions.

The 18th annual backpack will be a seven day trip into the Blackcap Basin area of the western Sierra. We will leave early Friday from Courtwright

Valley Habitat 5

Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club & Stanislaus Audubon Society

Top of the Falls Hike Saturday May 5th Six stalwart hikers set off from the Hetch Hetchy parking lot at 10:15 with high hopes of reaching a distant dome that overlooked Wapama Falls. After pausing at the O'Shaughnessy dam (photo), the group -consisting of Jerry, Lee, Monica, Randall, Sandy, and Tammy -- headed up the Vernon Lake trail in loose company with eight backpackers who were headed to Vernon Lake for the night. We did our best to keep them variously entertained and pre-occupied on the switchbacks up, with light chatter and casual conversation; no doubt they missed us greatly when we finally peeled off the trial to begin our cross country trek to Falls creek. An hour or so later we were rewarded with stunning views of upper Wapama Falls the creek was at about maximum flow for the year and some dizzying looks straight down 1,800 feet to the tiny bridges over the lower creek. Too soon, it seemed, we had to pack up and begin the trek back. The lack of a defined route, however, combined with a nice mix of flora and fauna (flocks in bloom, multiple deer and a coyote) helped make the route back as intriguing as the route out.

Wapama Falls Hikers 5/5/2012 STANISLAUS AUDUBON SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, 5/15/12 Front row, left to right: John Harris, Lori Franzman, Jody Hallstrom; Meghan Hertel, Audubon California; Jim Gain, website manager. Back row, left to right: David Froba, Daniel Gilman, Eric Caine, Salvatore Salerno, Joe Devine, Harold Reeve, Dale Swanberg, Ralph Baker. Not pictured: Bill Amundsen. LIKE STANISLAUS AUDUBON SOCIETY ON FACEBOOK!

Stanislaus Audubon Society has started a Facebook page for birders to share comments and photos on birds and birding. This page is not limited to county birds. If you have gone birding elsewhere in California, out of state, or even in another country, feel free to share your photos by emailing them to stanislausaudubon@gmail.com.

Hetch Hetchy Lake 5/5/2012

Link to the Yokuts website

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Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

Sierra Club Membership Enrollment Form
Yes, I want to be a member of the Sierra Club! Yes, I want to give a gift membership! ______________________________________________________________________

Yokuts Sierra Club joins Meetup

The Yokuts Sierra Club group, along with the Delta Sierra and Tuolumne Groups have formed a StocktonModesto-Sonora Meetup group that includes Sierra Club outings and events. Its easy and free to join this Meetup, just go to the link below and sign up. Its not necessary to be a Sierra Club member to join. Once you sign up, you will automatically be sent announcements of new and upcoming Meetup events. Join the fun and get active in the Sierra Club. http://www.meetup.com/StocktonModesto-Sonora-Sierra-Club/

NEW MEMBER NAME(S)

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From time to time, we make our mailing list available to other worthy organizations. If you prefer your name not be included, please check here.

Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club Management Committee

Anita Young 529-2300 (ayyoungbooks2@gmail.com) Sylvan Bupp (enbupp@yahoo.com) Maryann Hight (mhight@csustan.edu) 524-0074 417-9114

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES (check one) INDIVIDUAL JOINT

Special offer $15 Regular $39 Supporting $75 Contributing $150 Life $1000 Senior $25 Student $25 Limited Income $25 $49 $100 $175 $1250 $35 $35 $35

Treasurer Secretary Programs Conservation Membership Hospitality

Alexandra Hoffmann 981-8985 (ahoffmann216@gmail.com) Brad Barker 526-5281 (braddbarker@gmail.com) Kathy Clarke 575-2174 (kathyclarke@prodigy.net) Candy Klaschus (cklaschus@gmail.com) Dorothy Griggs (dorothygriggs@att.net) Randall Brown (rbrown@csustan.edu) Nancy Jewett (njewett@sbcglobal.net) Kathy Weise (kweise@ssica.com) Milt Trieweiler (magictrain@aol.com) Leonard Choate Jason Tyree (jason.tyree@gmail.com) 632-5473 549-9155 632-5994 664-9422 545-5948 664-1181 524-3659

Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are not tax-deductible; they support our effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your dues include $7.50 for a subscription to SIERRA magazine and $1 for your Chapter newsletter.

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CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE _____________________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE GIFT MEMBERSHIP: A gift card will be sent for your use. Enter your name and address below and the name and address of the gift recipient above. _____________________________________________________________________ YOUR NAME(S) _____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________ CITY STATE ZIP ______________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE (optional) EMAIL (optional) Enclose payment information and mail to: P.O. Box 421041, Palm Coast, FL 32142-1041

Check out our Website: http://motherlode.sierraclub.org/yokuts To send stories to the Habitat, e-mail: njewett@sbcglobal.net

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Yokuts Group Mother Lode Chapter Sierra Club P.O. Box 855 Modesto, CA 95353

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Modesto, CA Permit No. 139

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

Riverside Parties in Modesto

Food, music, and family fun! Join the Tuolumne River Trust, friends, supporters, and program participants to welcome Paddle to the Sea to Modesto as the paddlers go through town and meet up with families from the Tuolumne River Trusts local Nature and Neighborhoods program in the Airport Neighborhood and West Modesto. These free event are open to paddlers, friends and families, and friends and supporters of the Tuolumne River Trust. To sign up to canoe with Paddle to the Sea on these days, visit www.paddletothesea.org or call the Trust toll-free at 1-888-994-3344. Legion Park Riverside BBQ Thursday, June 14 3:00pm-5:00pm Tuolumne River Regional Park 1600 Legion Park Drive Modesto, CA Riverdale Lunchtime Welcome Friday, June 15 12:00-2:00pm Riverdale Park Intersection of Parkdale Drive and Avondale Ave Modesto, CA

Scholarship Recipients
Jason Heutmaker, Enochs High School senior, will be awarded the $500 Stanislaus Audubon Society Bob Corey/Paul Illick Memorial Scholarship. His project involved raising salmon and releasing them into a local river. He also has created a National Wildlife Federation certified backyard, attracting wildlife. Jason plans to attend Humboldt State University, majoring in Biology and Botany. Heidi Dittrich, Beyer High School senior, will be awarded the $500 Yokuts Sierra Club Donna Durham Memorial Scholarship. Her project involved water quality testing in Dry Creek and Mono Lake. Heidi plans to attend UC Berkeley, majoring in Chemistry/Pre-med.

The Valley Habitat

June 2012