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April 2009 Whistling Swan Newsletter Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
April 2009 Whistling Swan Newsletter Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
At the previous assembly in the fall of 1997, many of the meetings focused on the dire
challenges posed by global warming. At that time, when policy makers were overruling
scientists and denial trumped debate, many of us felt overwhelmed and confused. During the
past eighteen months as the players and particulars have changed, so has the tone of the
discussion. Although the rate of anthropogenic climate change continues to increase, there was
a marked difference in the outlook at this year’s Audubon Assembly.
So what is the future of conservation? It starts with an honest and thorough assessment of what
is wrong and what needs to be done. Session leaders identified the serious threats to vulnerable
species such as Tricolored Blackbirds and Ashy Storm-Petrels, or the damage caused by
wildfires, or the conflicts over water allocations – but rather than simply cataloging the
problems, they pointed to the opportunities for change and ways in which we can use these
challenges for political advantage.
The future of conservation relies on our ability to act wisely today in order to save the areas that
will be viable tomorrow. Audubon staff presented the results of their study on California bird
distribution changes in response to climate change (go to ca.audubon.org to read the report).
They showed the rapid northward movement of distribution patterns and discussed the rate of
habitat loss. As dire as the data appeared, the researchers were able to show how a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions will significantly lessen the extent of habitat loss for most state birds.
The model’s mapping also identified habitat areas that will likely endure and those that will
certainly be lost, thus providing a blueprint for effective conservation.
The future of conservation also involves working with private landowners to protect
California’s landscape. Audubon is working closely with ranchers and even (continued)
Page 3 The Whistling Swan April 2009
The future of conservation requires that we become actively involved in the development of
alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and wave energy to ensure that they are sited in
appropriate locations and in an appropriate configuration so that they impose the least possible
impact on the environment. We have learned hard lessons from past mistakes, but energy
development will continue to occur in California. You and I need to be involved.
Most importantly, the future of conservation lies in our ability to engage the next generation. At
previous meetings people asked, “How can we get our youth involved?” At this meeting young
people from all over the state came and showed us what they were learning about nature and
how it is changing their lives. The future spoke, and it finds pleasure in being a part of the
natural world.
Two days after the Assembly, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar publicly released
the first “State of the Birds Report” (go to stateofthebirds.org to view the report). This
remarkable study was the product of governmental agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife
working together with nongovernmental agencies such as National Audubon, the Nature
Conservancy and Cornell Ornithology Lab. They analyzed over 40 years of data, much of it
gathered by citizen scientist reports from breeding bird surveys and Christmas counts.
The report documents that many bird species are in decline in every region. Birds in the
Hawaiian Islands, on the oceans, and in the grasslands and arid lands are most vulnerable. But
the report also showed that when we decide to take action, the birds can respond quickly. We
decided to save and restore wetlands, and the birds returned. The winds of change that restored
the Bald Eagle, the Brown Pelican, and the Peregrine Falcon can be made to stir again. The
future of conservation relies on our commitment for change.
Save Our Shorebirds is an MCAS project in partnership with State Parks and College of the
Redwoods that studies shorebirds on three MacKerricher State Park beaches. It is supervised by
State Parks Environmental Scientist, Angela M. Liebenberg, and sponsored by TogetherGreen, an
Audubon program with funding by Toyota. BECKY BOWEN
The Whistling Swan April 2009 Page 6
In April, the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society will again host two bird walks at the
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. The monthly beginners' bird walk will be held on
Saturday April 4 at 9:00 a.m. The midweek early bird walk will be held on Wednesday April 15
at 8:00 a.m. This month special attention will be paid to birds that are building nests or singing
to attract mates. We will also look for those birds who are preparing to leave for their breeding
grounds in the north. Although this walk is designed to help beginning birders identify local
species, birders with all levels of experience are invited. Binoculars will be available for those
who need them. Admission is free for Botanical Garden members.
On Saturday, April 11, the Audubon Society will hold its annual field trip to view the birds of
Sea Ranch. Participants will meet at the Knipp-Stengle Barn in Sea Ranch (mileage marker 53.71-
in Sonoma county, just south of the Gualala River) at 9:00 a.m. Binoculars will be available for
those who need them. Carpooling is encouraged, not only to save fuel and expenses, but also to
share the experience and to learn from one another. For more information on this and other
activities, please call 964-8163 or visit our website at mendocinocoastaudubon.org.
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 4 Bird Walk: 9:00 am, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Page 6.
April 11 Field Trip: 9:00 am, Sea Ranch. Meet at Knipp-Stengle Barn, west side of Hwy 1, Mile
Post 53.76. Page 6.
April 13 Chapter Meeting: 6:00 pm, Gualala Art Center, Gualala. 'Birding Bhutan', Speakers:
Richard Kuehn & Dean Schuler. The annual South Coast meeting. Page 1.
April 15 Bird Walk: 8:00 am, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Page 6.
April 18 9:00 Sue Coulter Children's Bird Stories KMFB 92.7 Page 4.
April 19 1:00 Sue Coulter Children’s Bird Stories Frankie’s Pizza and Ice Cream, Mendo. Page 4
April 16-22 Godwit Days, Arcata. Page 12.
April 25-26 Heron Festival, Clear Lake. Page 11.
May 2 Bird Walk: 9:00 am, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Page 6.
May 2 & 3 Bird Identification and Census Training Stanford Inn and Big River. Page 6.
May 9 Field Trip: Saturday 8:00 am, Navarro River and Beach. Meet at south end of Navarro
River bridge.
May 11 Jack Laws program: 7:00 Room 300 College of the Redwoods. Page 7 above.
May 17 Pelagic Trip. Page 13.
Black Brant
photo by Ron LeValley
www.LeValleyPhoto.com
Page 8 The Whistling Swan April 2009
BOARD NEWS
The slate of MCAS Board members remains unchanged: President David Jensen; Vice President
Tony Eppstein; Secretary Tanya Smart; Treasurer Judy Steele; SOS Program Becky Bowen;
Membership Ginny Wade; Field Trips Art Morley; Programs Charlene McAllister; Education
Jeanne Coleman; Conservation Warren Wade; Newsletter Donald Shephard.
Perhaps you cannot spend as much time in the field as the volunteers in the Save Our Shorebirds
program. Perhaps you have organizational skills developed from membership in other
volunteer organizations or your career. Are you newly retired and looking to develop your
interest in this beautiful area? Whatever your talents and level of birding skills, we need new
board members. Charlene McAllister wants to pass on her task of Program Chair to an
enthusiastic person. Ginny Wade wants to show someone else how she develops membership.
We meet once a month. Ours is a lively, talented group full of joy in the world around us. Join
us by calling any of the present board members listed on page 14.
The Whistling Swan April 2009 Page 11
SWALLOW NEST
A celebration of birds, wildlife, and springtime Ridge beam, crossbeam and ceiling joist
on beautiful Clear lake. Come and see the
Western Grebe’s joyous, almost comical a porch corner geometry, triangular, snug.
courting display.
April 25-26, 2009 Swallows make high speed reconnaissance:
Clear Lake State Park, Kelseyville, CA. in on the south side, up to the corner, out,
Presented by the Redbud Audubon Society
and Clear Lake Sate Park Interpretive as if checking the work of the carpenters
Association. Phone (800) 525-3743
who sang the house into shape.
http://www.heronfestival.org/
Visit their website to view the Western Grebe Satisfied, the swallows come
courting display. with feathers and dry grass.
BIRD SIGHTINGS
Bird Sightings for February taken from Mendobirds. You can register for Mendobirds at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mendobirds/
Sun, 8 March 2009 -- This morning was very windy, but having a little time, I saw a 1st cycle
GLAUCOUS GULL and a COMMON GOLDENEYE at the mouth of Ten Mile R. A possible
hybrid GLAUCOUS x HERRING GULL was also there. It looked much like a hybrid seen in San
Luis Obispo County by Brad Schram at Pt. Piedras Blancas on 5 March. This bird had a smudgy,
bi-colored bill, and primaries that were partly white with creamy centers. A 1st cycle Glaucous-
winged Gull looked a little larger with an all dark bill.
23 March 2009 - Large numbers of hummingbirds are once again congregating at my feeders.
Among the new arrivals are a few Rufous Hummingbirds.
23 March 2009 - Monday - "AL" the Point Arena Cove wintering Laysan Albatross was at the
cove... and has been for several days of the last week. The bird will assuredly be leaving soon
until, hopefully, next winter.
Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen off the north end of Ward Ave, Cleone on Saturday, by
Toby Tobkin and Karen Havlena, within 15 minutes of each other.
The Whistling Swan April 2009 Page 13
Payment by CHECK: Make check payable to MCAS for $95 per person.
We must have full names and contact information of your party: email addresses, phone
numbers, and a mailing address.
Mail your envelope addressed as follows: K. Havlena – Pelagic Trip
PO Box 40
Fort Bragg, CA 95437-0040
Payment by CREDIT CARD: Please contact me by email with your telephone number and a
good time for me to call you and take your credit card information.
NOTE: Credit card approval must be made at least 2 days before the trip (May 15).
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society is to help people appreciate and enjoy
native birds, and to conserve and restore local ecosystems for the benefit of native birds and
other wildlife.