The

CALIFORNIA CONDOR
CONDO R
Ventura Audubon Society JANUARY 2010 Volume 30 Number 5
A Chapter of the National Audubon www.VenturaAudubonSociety.org

CALL NOTES
...Bruce Schoppe, President
We Have Work to Do!
Even as the United Nations Climate Change Confer-
ence is underway in Copenhagen, we continue to read
stories highlighting doubts about the human causes of
climate change. Recent surveys show support among
Americans has fallen from more than 75% a couple of
years ago to barely 50%. It is clear, we have work to
do.
An important component of the VAS mission is educa-
tion. We support Audubon Adventures in elementary
school classrooms. Currently, there are 11 classrooms
using the program. That’s half the number of previous
years! How can we encourage more teachers to take
advantage of Audubon Adventures?
In years past, VAS had a booth at the County Fair, at
the Oxnard Earth Day where kids assembled bird feed-
ers, and at the July 4th Street Fair in Ventura. No more!
The people who had organized those events for years
wore out, and there were no replacements. We want
to have a booth at the Earth Day program in Oxnard on
April 10th (as well as at the Street Fair), but a request
for volunteers has had “zero” response. That’s disap-
pointing!
If we believe in conservation and the importance of edu-
cation, we must be willing to step up and volunteer. I’m
hoping that someone will reconsider and take on just one
of these projects, please. Neither would require an inor-
dinate amount of time. Among 650 VAS members, I can’t
believe there isn’t someone willing to step up. Yes, I’m
begging! Please call me!
*******
Don’t forget the Christmas Bird Count on January 2nd.
Pre-register online or with Karl Krause at 525-2452. The
pot luck dinner will be held at the Church of the Foothills,
2679 Foothill Road, Ventura at 6:00 p.m. This pot luck is
open to members, friends, and guests; you do not have
to be a field observer to be included. Those attending are
requested to bring the following types of dishes based on
the first letter of your last name. Counters who count
during the afternoon do not need to bring a dish to
the potluck.
A to I – Dessert J to R -- Salad S to Z – Entre
Please bring your own place settings, utensils and bever-
ages (sodas and hot coffee provided.)

JANUARY PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair

Tuesday January 12th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura
Birding in South India with Michael Zarky

Michael Zarky has a decades-long interest in the culture and spiritual traditions of India; when visiting there he’s al-
ways on the lookout for some of the 1,200 exotic bird species living in that land. On his sixth trip last winter he ar-
ranged for two birding tours within the Western Ghats, the mountainous area along the west coast which harbors
many endemics. He also managed to see a lot of avian wildlife during his travels on the east coast near Madras.

Along with slides of whatever birds sat still long enough to get photographed, Michael will offer some insights into
the problems of habitat preservation and restoration that are a serious issue in India today, and will present a few
examples of communities involved in such work that have led to a dramatic increase in their local bird populations
over recent decades.
 BIRD OF THE MONTH – JANUARY 2010
Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

A number of herons and egrets are evident throughout the year in Ventura County. During the winter, the secretive
American Bittern increases in abundance, but remains a difficult species to observe.

The American Bittern is a brown, stocky heron with a thick neck and short legs. It has brown upperparts finely flecked
with black. The head is brown with a darker cap; a white supercilium, chin, and throat; and blackish malar. The whitish
underparts have bold rufous streaks. The legs are dull green, the bill is yellowish, and the eyes are yellow. In flight, it is
hunchbacked and long-headed with relatively pointed wings showing dark brown primaries and secondaries that contrast
strongly with the lighter brown of the body and the rest of the wing. The sexes are similar; however, juveniles are lighter
brown and lack the black malar. Silent most of the year, on their breeding territory they produce a loud, resonant pump-
per-dunk, usually repeated 3-5 times. This odd pumping song has earned it the nickname “thunderpumper.” Sometimes
when flushed it utters a low, repeated kok-kok-kok. Juvenile night-herons are often mistaken for American Bitterns, but
the former are smaller, lack the dark malar stripe, and have rounded wings and reddish eyes.

American Bitterns are solitary and secretive; hiding among cattails and rushes in fresh and brackish marshes. They are
most often seen flying low over marshes or skulking at the water’s edge. They often “freeze” with their bill pointed in the
air, making them nearly invisible against a backdrop of reeds. They forage by standing still or stalking slowly and are
most active at dawn and dusk. They eat fish and other aquatic life (frogs, crayfish, salamanders, snakes, etc.); however,
they occasionally occur in dry grassy fields where they eat voles and other small rodents.

The species breeds from southeastern Alaska, across Canada and the northern states; south locally and rarely to south-
ern California, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. It winters on the Pacific coast from Puget Sound south, across the
southern states, along the Gulf of Mexico, along the Atlantic coast south of New England, and in Mexico and Cuba.
Some winter south to the West Indies and Central America.

American Bitterns have declined due to habitat loss throughout their range. They are a very uncommon and local tran-
sient and winter visitor normally arriving in September and departing by late April. Summer records are rare, but they
have occurred recently at McGrath State Beach. Exceptional was a recent nesting record at the Hedrick Ranch along
the Santa Clara River. They are still regular in the freshwater impoundments with emergent vegetation at the duck clubs
north of Point Mugu and can sometimes be seen at the end of Arnold Road. Other places they have been found include
Lake Sherwood, the Ventura River mouth, and in marshy backwaters along the length of the Santa Clara River. Al-
though records are lacking elsewhere, they should be looked for in dense stands of rushes and cattails at Lake Casitas,
Callegas Creek, Camarillo Regional Park, and the Ventura Sewer Ponds. The best chance of seeing one is to go on a
Point Mugu or Duck Club field trip during the winter or spring.
2
 J A N U A R Y F I E L D T R I P S . ..Jud y Du gan

Beginners are welcome on all field trips. Light drizzle
does not necessarily cancel trips, but heavier rain
will. If in doubt, please call the trip leader.
Saturday, Jan. 2 Christmas Bird Count
Sunday, Jan. 10, 9:00-12 a.m. Restoration Work Day,
Santa Paula. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area Restoration
Program. Come at 8:00 for birding! Leader: Sandy
Hedrick (370-0478). Long pants and boots or closed
shoes are required. Directions: Take Hwy 126 to Santa
Paula, 10th St. Exit. Go left under freeway, right on Har-
vard, right on 12th, cross S.C. River Bridge. Go 3.7 miles
to 20395 S. Mountain Rd. Turn left onto the dirt road &
follow it to the end (approx. ½ mile).
Saturday, Jan. 16, 8:30 a.m. Saticoy Ponds. Leader:
Eric Waian (671-9913). Bring scopes and meet outside
the gate. Please be prompt as we need to enter to-
gether. Directions: The ponds are located on the north-
east side of Hwy 118/Los Angeles Ave. From Ventura
take Wells Rd. which turns into Los Angeles Ave./Hwy
118 and cross over the Santa Clara River Bridge. The
entrance to the ponds will be on your left just after the
Vineyard Ave. intersection. We should see a variety of
ducks, such as, teal, Gadwall, & Bufflehead.
Saturday, Jan. 30, 8:30 a.m. Ormond Beach Nature
Conservancy. Leader: Richard Handley (535-5533).
The Nature Conservancy owns approximately 175 acres
of remnant wetlands. 200-300 species of birds are pre-
sent during the year. We should see a variety of ducks
including the Pintail, several herons and the Belding’s
Savanah Sparrrow. Directions: From Ventura go south
on Victoria Ave (app. 5.3 miles). Turn left on Channel
Island Blvd, turn right on Ventura Rd, turn left on Port
Hueneme Rd (app. 1.2 mi.), turn right on Arcturus (app .4
mi.), and right on McWane Blvd. Drive to the end of
McWane Blvd and park on either side of the road before
the barriers.
Mark Your Calendar
Feb. 6 – Hedrick Ranch
Feb. 13 – Lake Casitas – Great Backyard Bird Count

January 15-18 – Morro Bay Bird Festival. No VAS trip

planned.
“If we believe in conservation
& the importance of education,
Saturday, Jan. 23, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Beginners’ Bird we must be willing to step up
Walk. Ojai Meadow Preserve. Leader: Allen Bertke and volunteer.”
(640-9037). Directions: To car pool meet at 7:50 a.m.
at the Pacific View Mall. Take the Coastal View Dr en- Bruce Schoppe, President
trance off Mills & park in the lot directly across from the
parking garage entrance. Take Hwy 33 toward Ojai and
follow it to Nordoff High School. We will meet at the north
end of the school parking lot. There is usually a large
variety of birds, such as raptors, meadowlarks, sparrows.
egrets and bluebirds.

3
 Eagle Optics, and the binoculars are now in VAS’ pos-
session, each engraved with Ventura Audubon Society.
FOOD, FAMILY, FRIENDS & We will use the binocs at other functions when needed
as well, such as beginners’ bird walks.
FUNDRAISING FOR VAS
…Marianne Slaughter In case you are wondering: we cannot mention the name
of the restaurant in the newsletter because of our non-
profit mail permit. The name and flyer will be on VAS
Mark your calendars for a VAS fundraiser on January web site. If you have any questions, call Marianne at 484
19, 20, and 21, 2010! All you have to do is EAT at a -8415.
popular local restaurant!!

Here is how it will work: all day on January 19, 20, and
21, the restaurant will donate 15% of proceeds from
each table of diners presenting a flyer validating the ENJOY A NICE MEAL
VAS fundraiser. So bring friends to the restaurant, pre- AND BENEFIT VAS!
sent the flyer to your server, and enjoy a good meal.
Print the flyer from the VAS web site
(VenturaAudubonSociety.org) or get one at the January
meeting. Copy it and give it to friends. Go to the restau-
rant more than once on these days; just bring a flyer
with you each time.

Here is the reason for the fundraiser. Your board has

been aware for some time that VAS was lacking an im-
portant tool to use when doing outreach to schools: de-
cent pairs of binoculars for students who have none or
whose binoculars are sadly lacking. Consequently, it
was decided to purchase 12 pairs of binoculars from

BEGINNERS’ BIRD WALK

...Allen Bertke, Leader
As we all drove in through the gated road leading to the Saticoy Ponds for last month’s Beginner’s Bird Walk, I led the
cars over to park next to a series of large concrete blocks, ominously marked “No Trespassing”. I had already cleared
this with management, but my group didn’t know that yet. When I was asked if it was really ok to park there, someone
piped up and said “Sure, it doesn’t say This Means You, so it must be ok”! That reminded me of a series of crude,
home made signs I once saw on a private road while on a ski trip. The first sign said CHILDREN AT PLAY, the second
said SLOW DOWN!, the third said THIS MEANS YOU! and the last sign said WE THROW ROCKS! Now that got my
attention, and I made sure to drive very, very slowly every time I went down that road!

Once we were safely out of our cars we were treated to several flying rocks – I mean flocks - of Canada Geese, about
80 - 100 geese in total, with one token Cackling Goose tucked in among the first flock we saw. We also observed 10
separate species of ducks, some grebes, herons, egrets, raptors, shorebirds, finches, the ever-present coots and two
Wilson’s Snipe – 42 species in all.

Several times a flock of ducks would take off together. On one such occasion, they all stayed very low, with wings al-
most touching the water. One of the group asked if that low flight pattern signified anything. I didn’t have a clue if it did
or not, but the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Yes, it signifies they all had too much to eat”!

Differentiating between the different duck species proved quite a challenge for many in the group, especially trying to
identify some of the female ducks. For beginners, it’s difficult enough to pick out the various species in a gathering of
100 ducks or so, let alone throwing in the additional challenge of the females, since their field markings are so much
subtler than those of the males. I told everyone I would try to make it easier for them next time. I’m thinking of cashing
in some markers with the Big Bird Boss in the sky and requesting that no female ducks be present at Saticoy Ponds the
next time we do the Beginner’s Bird Walk there – bachelor flocks only, please! Oh, and no juvenile birds either – those
are also too confusing for the beginners. Yeah, that ought to work. Now let’s just see how much pull I have with the
Big Bird Boss. Thanks to all of you for coming and see you on the next walk.
4
 NOTES FROM THE FIELD
...David Pereksta
The most exciting bird of the last month was a Black Vul-
ture discovered in Santa Paula 29 Nov–7 Dec (CR). This
was a first county record for Ventura and only the fifth
record for California. Other birds of interest in the area
included a Zone-tailed Hawk in the same vicinity a week
earlier (CR) and the continuing Vermilion Flycatcher at
the Santa Paula Cemetery through 4 Dec.
Waterfowl and waterbirds started arriving for the winter
after a slow start to the fall migration. The most exciting
find was a juvenile Tundra Swan at the Ventura sewer
ponds 17-22 Nov (D & CW). Also rare was a Red-
necked Grebe that returned to the harbor for its second
consecutive winter 15-21 Nov (EW). Seven Greater
White-fronted Geese were at Olivas Golf Course 17-18
Nov (DVP). At the Ventura River estuary, a Cackling
Goose was found on 22 Nov and four Common Mergan-
sers on 19 Nov (KR). A Greater Scaup was nearby at
Emma Wood State Beach on 21 Nov (KR). Further up
the Ventura River were three Hooded Mergansers and
two Common Mergansers near Foster Park on 14 Nov
(KR); nine Hooded Mergansers were in the same area
on 18 Nov (DVP et al). Blue-winged Teal were found at
several locations including three at the Saticoy spreading
ponds on 28 Nov (LH) and two at the Ventura sewer
ponds on 18 Nov (DVP et al). Two Common Moorhens
were at the Ventura sewer ponds on 21 Nov (EW) and six
Black Oystercatchers were at the Ventura Harbor on 18
Nov (DVP & LH).
Point Mugu and adjacent areas hosted a number of nota-
ble species. Uncommon or rare species at Point Mugu
included the adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and an
apparent juvenile continuing through19 Nov; fifty Greater
White-fronted Geese, twelve Red Knots, and a return-
ing female Vermilion Flycatcher on 13 Nov (DP); and a
White-winged Scoter in the lagoon in late Nov (MR). A
Swainson’s Hawk was east of Point Mugu on 19 Nov
(RM). A Snow Goose was in a park in Port Hueneme 17
Nov. The Sage Thrasher continued along Arnold Road
until 13 Nov and perhaps the same, or another, was at
the end of Casper Road 10-12 Dec (DDJ). A Clapper
Rail was at the south end of Arnold Road 11-12 Dec.
Canada Larga and Lake Casitas produced a number of
interesting sightings last month. Uncommon species at
Canada Larga included a Burrowing Owl 22-29 Nov
(ETG), a Common Poorwill on 1 Dec (KP), continuing
Lewis’s Woodpeckers with a high count of nine on 18
5
Nov (DVP et al), a male Red-naped Sapsucker 27 Nov-
4 Dec (DP & LP), and two Mountain Bluebirds 22 Nov-4
Dec (ETG). A White-winged Dove was nearby along
Highway 33 on 26 Nov (DT). Notable species at Lake
Casitas included two Common Goldeneyes on 17 Nov,
an adult Bald Eagle on 10 Dec, a Zone-tailed Hawk on
6 Dec, and 6 Lewis’s Woodpeckers on 10 Dec (DR &
BD).
Several uncommon passerines were found around the
city of Ventura, including a few montane species. Sight-
ings at Camino Real Park included a Brown Creeper 27
Nov-2 Dec (LH), Hermit Warbler 18-29 Nov (DVP & LH),
Black-and-white Warbler 18-27 Nov (DVP & LH), and
Summer Tanager 27 Nov (LH). Arroyo Verde Park had
two Mountain Chickadees for at least 3 weeks through 6
Dec and a Brown Creeper 5-6 Dec (ETG). A White-
throated Sparrow was in an east Ventura backyard on 5
Dec (RM).
In the Santa Monica Mountains, a Lewis’s Woodpecker
was in Hidden Valley on 25 Nov (DP & LP). The two
Lewis’s Woodpeckers previously reported from the Up-
per Las Virgenes Open Space continued through 5 Dec.
A Red-naped Sapsucker was also found there on 5 Dec
(JH).
A research vessel cruising southern California waters had
several Red-billed Tropicbirds near San Nicolas Island
the last week of November and a Brown Booby off
Anacapa Island on 21 Nov (MF).
Thank you to those who reported sightings during the last
month. If you have any questions about local birds or
have a good one to report, call or e-mail David Pereksta
at pereksta@pacbell.net or 659-5740.
Good birding,
David Pereksta
Observers:
Don DesJardin, Becky Donahue, Michael Force, Jim
Hardesty, Lauren Harter, Matthew Page, Kathy Parker,
David Pereksta, Linda Pereksta, Kay Regester, Robert
McMorran, David Roine, Martin Ruane, Craig Rudolph,
Elisa Taylor-Godwin, David Torfeh, David Vander Pluym,
Eric Waian, and Don and Cheryl Williamson.
V ENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY Non-profit Organization
P.O. Box 24198 U.S. Postage Paid
Ventura, CA 93002 Oxnard, CA 93030
PERMIT NUMBER 382
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

VAS OFFICER S AND C HAIRS

President Bruce Schoppe 658-2396

Vice-President
Secretary Joyce Schoppe 658-2396
Treasurer Jan Lewison 643-3353
Conservation Sandy Hedrick 643-2408
Newsletter Dee Press 484-8415
Membership Art Marshall 642-1585
Field Trips Judy Dugan 642-0842
Publicity/Education Susan Bee 640-0779
Science/Webmaster Reed Smith 652-0706
Programs Janice Susha 983-3929

At Large Jim Susha 983-3929

Jack Gillooly 646-3867
Jeff Goldberg 649-1132
AUDUBON ADVENTURES Marianne Slaughter 484-8415
...Susan Bee Nancy Schorsch 643-5825
VAS wishes to thank David and Nancy
Bishop, Bruce and Joyce Schoppe,
Neil Zeigler, and Rodney Frykholm for
their recent donations in support of J A N UA RY B OAR D MEET IN G
"Audubon Adventures." These contri-
butions assure that Ventura County The Tuesday, January 5th Board of Directors meeting will
be held at the home of Art Marshall, 4499 Whittier St, Ven-
students will have the opportunity to explore and learn
tura.. Any VAS member is welcome. Call (805) 642-1585
to steward our nation's environment and its wild- for information.
life. Thank you.