The

CALIFORNIA CONDOR
CONDO R
Ventura Audubon Society APRIL 2010 Volume 30 Number 8
A Chapter of the National Audubon www.VenturaAudubonSociety.org

CALL NOTES ..Bruce Schoppe, President

Birdathon 0Spring has sprung. The birds are sing-
ing. And, nesting. That means Birdathon time!
Birdathon is Ventura Audubon’s only major fundraiser
of the year. With your generous response, VAS can
continue to provide outstanding monthly programs and
publish a monthly newsletter (electronically and on pa-
per). We can also continue to develop educational out-
reach programs, fund special conservation and envi-
ronmental projects and help inform the public on impor-
tant birding and wildlife issues.
Any scheduled trip during the month of APRIL may be
used as the basis for your pledge of money per species
seen. Or, if you prefer, you may make a donation in
any amount. All contributions are tax deductible.
Please use the pledge form and preaddressed enve-
lope provided in this newsletter to send in your pledge
or donation. If you receive your newsletter by email,
the pledge form arrived as an attachment. The address
to which to send your pledge or donation is on the
pledge form.
Share The Shore ...Last month, I told you about the
Share the Shore children’s poster project. It has been
successful beyond all expectations. We have 26 class-
rooms participating from Hueneme, Oxnard, Santa Paula
and Ventura school districts plus the Ojai Valley School.
In addition, the workshop at the Gull Wings Children’s
Museum attracted 15 children. We should see some ex-
citing works of art!
The Ventura County Maritime Museum near Channel
Islands Harbor has agreed to host an art show of the
work from kids in the Oxnard schools during the month of
May. A location at which to display the work from the
other schools is yet to be determined.
This extraordinary response is indicative of the interest in
environmental issues from children and their teachers in
Ventura County. That’s great. As I mentioned in March, I
believe that instilling a conservation ethic early is really
important.
Check the website for more information on art exhibits
and other aspects of Share The Shore.

Thanks for your continued support.

APRIL PROGRAM ...Janice Susha, Program Chair

Tuesday April 13th, 7:30 p.m., Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura

Paul Abravaya… BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF COSTA RICA

Paul Abravaya is a zoologist and photographer and will present pictures of birds and other wildlife from his latest trip
to Costa Rica.

Paul has a B.S. and masters degree in Zoology. He was a member of the Peace Corps from 1969 to 1974. During
that time, he worked as a resident zoologist at the Museu Mello Leitao, working for Agusto Rischi, Brazil’s leading
naturalist, conservationist, and authority on hummingbirds, bromeliads, and small mammals.

He continued to pursue several research projects including the population ecology of small mammals, and published
his research in scientific journals. Since then, Paul has had a career as a biology teacher, and owned and managed
Tropical Eco-Tours, a tour business that introduced teachers and others to the fascinating tropical diversity of Costa
Rica, Panama, and Brazil.
 BIRD OF THE MONTH – APRIL 2010
Article and Photo by DAVID PEREKSTA
Lawrence’s Goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei)

April is prime time to start searching our mountains and inland arid valleys for migrant songbirds that are moving in for
the breeding season. One of the sought-after species in this region is the Lawrence’s Goldfinch.

The Lawrence’s Goldfinch is intermediate in size between the smaller Lesser Goldfinch and larger American Goldfinch.
Both males and females are gray with a yellow wash on the breast, wings, and rump. They have a fairly long tail and a
stubby pinkish bill. Males are brighter yellow, may show tinges of green on the back, and have black around the front of
the face, chin, and forehead. There are white spots on the center of the inner webs of the tail feathers that can be seen
from below or in flight. Juveniles are grayish-brown with only traces of yellow, sometimes with faint breast streaks. Its
song is an extended tinkling warble that includes imitations of other species. Calls include a nasal too-err or a
clear ti-too.

Lawrence’s Goldfinches are the most uncommon and unpredictable of our local goldfinches. In spring and summer,
flocks of this species visit our local foothills and inland valleys where they feed on the seeds of fiddlenecks, thistles, and
other weeds. They are particularly attracted to fiddlenecks and can be found along roadsides where that species is
growing. Although they forage in open weedy areas, they nest around riparian thickets and wet oases within arid wood-
lands including arid oak savanna, pinyon-juniper, chaparral, and coniferous forest. Primarily a bird of middle to lower
elevations, after breeding they do stray up to meadow edges and thickets in the mixed conifer zone from June through
August.

The range of this species is very local and discontinuous with numbers varying from year to year. It breeds in the arid
interior foothills and valleys from northern California west of the Sierra Nevada to northern Baja California. It winters ir-
regularly over that area, mostly in the south, but also in southern Arizona and northern Mexico, and is casual to New
Mexico and west Texas.

In Ventura County, Lawrence’s Goldfinches occur primarily in the inland arid valleys and adjacent foothills, both in the
mountains and along the coastal slope. They are scarce on the immediate coast. Most arrive in March and depart by
September; however, some remain erratically during the winter. They are locally common in the inland valleys in the
north County including Ozena, Lockwood, Cuyama, and Quatal Canyon. The Ozena Fire Station and Ozena Camp-
ground are reliable locations as is the lake in Rose Valley; the latter particularly in the winter. They can also be found
closer to Ventura, but less predictably. Places to search include riparian habitat along the Santa Clara and Ventura Riv-
ers, in the Santa Monica Mountains, Wheeler Canyon, and Canada Larga Road. Listening for their tinkling calls is often
the easiest way to find them.
2
 A P R I L 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.
Birdathon: Any scheduled trip in April may be used
to pledge money per species seen!
Saturday, April 3, 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 (340-0478). 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).
Wednesday, April 7, 8:30 a.m. Bird & Plant Walk, Ar-
royo Verde Park. Leaders: Carl and Nancy Schorsch
(643-5825). Orioles will be abundant and hopefully the
wildflowers will be blooming and Carl will identify them.
Meet at the last parking lot with restrooms on the left.
Park is at Day Rd. and Foothill Rd. in Ventura.
Saturday, April 17, Condor Trip, Bitter Creek Nat’l
Wildlife Refuge, 10:00 a.m. Leader: USFW Staff.
Celebrate Earth Day on a mild 2 hr. hike (although un-
even terrain) into the refuge to look for condors, as well
as other birds and wildlife, while learning about local ecol-
ogy. The refuge is located in the southwestern San Joa-
quin Valley foothills approximately 10 miles west of Mari-
copa. Parking is limited so we will car pool from Nordoff
H.S. at 8:00 a.m. Trip is limited to 20 persons with
preference given to Audubon members. There are no
bathrooms on the refuge & smoking is not allowed. Addi-
tional info. will be given to those who register. To regis-
ter, call Judy (642-0842) or e-mail (catmai03@yahoo.com)
and leave name, telephone number & membership
status. Registration starts on April 5.
Saturday, April 24, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Beginners’ Bird
Walk, Ojai–Persimmon Hill area. Leader: Allen
Bertke (640-903). Join us at Allen’s place. We should
3
see Hooded & Bullock’s Orioles, Western Bluebirds,
hummingbirds, and many more. Bring binoculars, a field
guide, hat and water. From Ventura, take Hwy 33 to
Creek Rd. Turn right and follow Creek Rd. for about 5
miles. Just past the 10mph left hand curve, take 1st right
onto Saddle Lane (Look for Persimmon Hill sign; Saddle
Lane sign is difficult to see.) Once on Saddle, go straight
at the stop sign. 481 Saddle will the 4th house on the
right past the stop sign.
Sat. & Sun, April 24/25, Kern River Preserve located
along the South Fork Kern River on State Hwy. 178 in
Weldon opposite of Valley Road – 57 miles east of Ba-
kersfield. Leader Neil Ziegler (983-7207) The Preserve
is managed by Audubon-California for the preservation of
one of California’s finest remaining riparian forests. If you
are planning to go, please call Judy (642-0842). Meet at
the entrance to the preserve on Saturday at 8:00 a.m.
We will bird other sites in the area on Sunday. Contacts
in Kernville: Neil (208-3149) & Judy (283-4272).
Wednesday, April 28, 8:30 a.m. Lake Casitas.
Leader: Betsy Bachman (646-4407). We should see
Snowy & Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, spring mi-
grants, and many more. Take Hwy 33 towards Ojai; exit
Casitas Vista Rd. Turn rt. and go under freeway past
Foster Park to 1st rt., Santa Anna Rd. Follow to park. Or
take Hwy 33 to Hwy 150, turn left and follow signs to the
lake.
Mark your Calendars0
May 8, VAS Annual Meeting and Picnic at Hedrick Ranch
Nature Area
 EDUCATION and OUTREACH
…Susan Bee
The twelve new Eagle Optics binoculars recently pur-
chased by VAS were inaugurated by Ms. Solano’s 4th
grade class at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in
Oxnard. Susan Bee and Neil Zeigler arrived with the
binoculars, nest, handouts and stuffed birds to introduce
the students to the wild birds of Ventura County. The
students were polite, attentive and asked many chal-
lenging questions.

After showing the “For the Kids” slide show about our
wild birds, 35 kids headed out to the urban park next
door to look for those very birds. It was a moment of
slight tension0 will we even see any birds? Would we
we see them soon enough to keep the kids’ attention? Neil Zeigler points out those elusive Yellow-rumped Warblers
in the flowering Eucalyptus trees.
Fortunately, a lady who lived across the street from the
school had hung up milk carton feeders in her trees and Upon seeing a bird, the boys reported, “I’ve got a visual!”
there were dozens of House Sparrows flitting around The required response is “Roger that.” So we all learned
her front yard. The kids were entranced. something new. Our reward was the request to return.

Touring the park we saw 7 species. The kids found mul- VAS is looking for members who might be interested in
tiple aged nests in the juniper bushes and were helping out with this activity. Call Susan Bee for more
launched into the bliss of discovery. information at 805-640-0779.

Neil and I learned some new vernacular from the kids to

use in the future.

BEGINNER’S BIRD WALK ...Allen Bertke

Twenty nine birding enthusiasts showed up to participate in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count at Lake Casitas.
As I watched more and more people show up, I thought at one point I might have to send out for crowd control! But it
was an orderly group and we saw a great variety of birds, 45 species in all. The GBBC did what it was designed to do –
gather useful information about bird populations while introducing many beginners to this enjoyable activity. At least half
of our group were first-timers.

One of the interesting things we saw was a Great Egret standing motionless, within spitting distance of a fisherman sit-
ting in a lawn chair with his back to the egret. Even though it was probably just attracted by a fish that the man had pre-
viously caught, on a stringer in the water next to him, it looked for all the world like the egret was observing how humans
catch fish, to see if maybe there was a better method than it had been using all of its life. That was all fine and dandy,
but if it suddenly started taking notes, and came back later with a rod and reel, then we would all be in trouble!

Birding is so popular because anyone can do it. All you need is a good pair of binoculars, a field guide and, and a shot-
gun to blast them out of the trees so you can study them up close – no wait, that was the John Audubon method. We’ve
come a long way since then. Birding is not only enjoyable for those wanting to see these colorful little creatures, but also
for the folks who like to be competitive and keep track of all the birds they see.

In the birding world these are known as listers. Listers keep varying lists, but the most common is the life list. Some
people also keep a state list, county list, city list or back yard list. Why not a list of birds seen at work, at the bird feeder,
on the dog walk, at your birdbath, at a picnic, or while at the beach.

How about a list of how many birds that have perched on you (seriously, I can name nine for myself). I even know
someone who counts how many birds she sees or hears in each movie she watches! You are only limited by your
imagination. So get out there, look at the birds, enjoy what you see, or find a list that suits you and start checking them
off. As I always like to say, a good birder is a person outstanding in their field, so go out, stand and watch! See you on
the next walk.
4
 NOTES FROM THE FIELD

...David Pereksta

I have a short deadline this month because I am The wintering Sage Thrasher continued at the end
leaving for a trip, so there are only a few weeks of of Casper
sightings to report since last month’s Notes From R o a d
Sage Thrasher
the Field; most of which are continuing wintering through 20
birds that have been reported over the last few Feb. The
months. With April approaching, it is a perfect time c o nt i n u i n g
to go out and start looking for migrants moving north Ruff and an
through the county. A me r ic a n
Bittern and
a Stilt Sand-
A Plumbeous Vireo was at Rancho Simi Park 15- piper (LH)
27 Feb (RM). This were near
area has hosted a Point Mugu
wintering P lum- on 20 Feb.
beous Vireo in past Twenty Blue-winged Teal continued at Ormond
years. Also there on Beach through 20 Feb.
15 Feb was a
Greater W hite-
fronted Goose and A Summer Tanager was found at Camino Real
a Hooded Mergan- Park along with the continuing Brown Creeper on
ser (RM). 16 Feb (RK).

The Ventura River
Plumbeous Vireo
W ater s he d s ti ll
hosted a number of
continuing birds and a few new ones for the season.
The Black Vulture was seen again over the Ojai
Meadows on 22 Feb. Bald Eagles continued at
Lake Casitas with a juvenile there on 13 Feb and an
adult and juvenile there on 21 Feb. A
Common Merganser was at Lake Ca-
sitas on 13 Feb (AV).
Thank you to those who reported sightings during
the last month. If you have any questions about lo-
cal birds or have a good one to report, call or e-mail
David Pereksta at pereksta@pacbell.net or 659-
5740.
Observers: Lauren Harter, Raeann Koerner, Robert
McMorran, David Perek-
sta, and Alex Viduetsky.

The Ojai Zone-tailed Hawk continued

through 28 Feb where it was seen flying
past the Ojai Meadows Preserve. Three Zone-tailed Hawk
Lewis's Woodpeckers were along
Santa Ana Road north of 150 on 28 Feb
(DP). A Red-naped Sapsucker and two
Lewis´s Woodpeckers continued along
Canada Larga Road through 28 Feb.

5
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

SLATE FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD 2010-

2010-2011
Your nominating committee is pleased to propose the follow- VAS OFFICER S AND C HAIRS
ing slate of directors to serve on the VAS Executive Board for
the coming year. The membership will vote on the slate at the President Bruce Schoppe 658-2396
May general meeting; once elected, the Board will elect offi- Vice-President
cers. If elected as Board members, the current officers have Secretary Joyce Schoppe 658-2396
agreed to serve another year: Treasurer Jan Lewison 643-3353
Those nominated include: Bruce Schoppe, Jan Lewison, Conservation Sandy Hedrick 643-2408
Joyce Schoppe, Sandy Hedrick, Janice Susha, Susan Bee, Newsletter Dee Press 484-8415
Art Marshall, Judy Dugan, Reed Smith, Dee Press, John Membership Art Marshall 642-1585
Field Trips Judy Dugan 642-0842
Connor, Jack Gillooly, Nancy Schorsch, Marianne Slaughter,
Publicity/Education Susan Bee 640-0779
and Jim Susha. Science/Webmaster Reed Smith 652-0706
As you can see, most of the proposed Board members have Programs Janice Susha 983-3929
served previously. They have made our Chapter function effi-
ciently and well, donating many hours to the work of the Chap- At Large Jim Susha 983-3929
ter. Kudos to each of them! Jeff Goldberg will be stepping Jack Gillooly 646-3867
down from the Board; we thank him for his service. Jeff Goldberg 649-1132
Marianne Slaughter 484-8415
Nancy Schorsch 643-5825

EARTH DAY (from Audubon Advisory)

The first Earth Day in 1970 was a revolutionary event and
provided focus for the growing concern over the state of the
environment. The notion spread quickly to college campuses
and communities across the nation. That first Earth Day
helped create the political will to pass many of our landmark
environmental laws—the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act,
the Endangered Species Act.
This year's Earth Day seeks to capture that same enthusi-
asm and sense of urgency that marked the first event. Now
before Congress is critical legislation to grapple with climate
change and the chilling repercussions it poses for the earth
and all its inhabitants.
Earth Day 2010 offers a moment to recommit our passion
and demand that Congress pass climate legislation to reduce
pollution, create jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign
oil. It is a day to declare ourselves clean energy patriots and
start the next revolution in environmental protection for this
century.
Ventura Audubon will have a booth at Oxnard’s Earth Day
event at Plaza Park from 11:00 to 3:00 on April 10th. Other
events are scheduled for the Promenade in Ventura on April
17th and in Ojai on April 24th. Enjoy one or all!
A P R IL B OAR D MEET IN G
The Tuesday, April 6th Board of Directors meeting will be
held at the home of Dee Press & Marianne Slaughter,
1656 Riente St, in Camarillo. Any VAS member is wel-
come. Call (484-8415) for information.
THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR is published nine times per
year (September—May). Members are encouraged to sub-
mit articles, announcements, letters and drawings in
WORD format or in the form of an e-mail message. The
deadline is noon on the 12th of the month preceding the
next issue. E-mail to: birderz@roadrunner.com Call Editor
Dee Press at 484-8415 for more information.
THE VENTURA AUDUBON SOCIETY holds its regular
meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at the Poin-
settia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. in Ventura at 7:30 p.m.,
September through April. The May meeting is a fund-
raising barbecue. Call the President for information. Board
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month. A
Membership Form is available on our web site.