January 2011

The

Valley Habitat

A Joint Publication of the Stanislaus Audubon Society and the Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

Sierra Club Webmaster Harold Wood to speak February 18th

Harold Wood is the Webmaster of the Sierra Club John Muir Exhibit website. In his illustrated program, find out how mountaineer, writer, and activist John Muir, the Sierra Clubs first President, is still celebrated in legend and song today, as his adventurous and inspiring life and message continues to influence environmental issues. Harold has been a wilderness advocate and environmental activist and educator for over 40 years. Inspired in his youth by Muir, he has worked on grassroots efforts to pass wilderness legislation and in support of environmental education and the Sierra Club John Muir Education Center Committee. Harold currently chairs and is webmaster for the LeConte Memorial Lodge Committee, and the John Muir Education Team the Sierra Club Activist Network. You can see the award-winning John Muir website www.sierraclub. org/johnmuir. The meeting will be held Friday, February 18th, at the College Avenue Congregational Church Fellowship Hall at 1341 College Avenue in Modesto. Refreshments and socializing begin at 6:45 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. Non-members are always welcome.

State of the Yokuts Report by Brad Barker, Yokuts Chair

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers on our Yokuts management team, we had a very productive 2010. Check the results: New Coalition: The Yokuts helped to form a coalition of Stanislaus County environmental groups. Our Coalition includes the Farmland Working Group, Stanislaus Audubon, the Tuolumne River Trust, MJCs Project Green, the Valley Land Alliance, Riverbank Watch, Pattersons WS-PACE, Sustainable Action Modesto, the Modesto PeaceLife Center, and the Sierra Club. The group met officially four times in 2010, and members attended our Yokut June potluck. Were working together on many issues. Conservation: One frustrating issue is Modesto City officials failing to keep promises and manage growth in a more intelligent way. The city consistently postpones meaningful reforms; theyre full of excuses. Modesto was hit hard by the recession and foreclosure crisis, partly because of bad growth, and yet the city just blows smoke. Other 2010 issues included a proposed biomass energy project by M.I.D., the possible acquisition of Dos Rios Ranch by River Partners, and the City of Pattersons preposterous General Plan Update. The Yokuts Chair submitted official comments to the lead agencies for all of these projects. In 2010 Yokuts management members made our presence felt at a number of public meetings/ hearings. We attended meetings with the Modesto Planning Commission, the City of Modesto Parks Dept., Modestos Economic Development Committee, the Modesto Irrigation District, the CA Dept. of Water Resources, the Patterson Planning Commission, the Patterson City Council, etc. Were keeping a watchful eye on the North County Corridor highway proposal; the changing status of West Park the massive inland port project near Patterson; the FERC re-licensing of Don Pedro Reservoir; the City of Turlocks turn at a General Plan Update; the appeal by the building industry in their lawsuit against Stanislaus Countys Farmland Mitigation Policy. Programs: Our series of public programs included such topics as Environmental Ethics, the free-flowing Clavey River, climbing the highest California peaks (the 14ers climb all 15 peaks over 14,000 ft.), landscape painting with artist Dan Petersen, statewide issues from California Audubon, Sierra Nevada water quality, and Ecuadors Galapagos National Park. Yokuts Outings in 2010 included snowshoe hikes, snow camping in the Emigrant Wilderness, backpacks in Yosemite and John Muir Wilderness, hikes at Black Diamond Mine, Oak Flat Road, Chewing Gum Lake, the San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge, the Albeno Munari Winery, and a continuing series of very popular Tuolumne River Regional Park walks.
Continued on page 6
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Stanislaus Audubon Society Recent Sightings of Rare or Uncommon Birds

Christmas Bird Counts means more birders, spending more hours in more habitats. That equation usually adds up to more sightings of uncommon and rare birds. At the La GrangeWaterford C.B.C. on December 22, David Froba and Richard Anderson found an AMERICAN DIPPER at the La Grange Dam. This unusual songbird frequents rapidly-flowing rivers and dives underwater for aquatic invertebrates. Ralph Baker had a tan-stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROW by the old La Grange Bridge. (A white-stripe Whitethroated Sparrow is pictured below.) During the Los Banos C.B.C. on December 27, Al DeMartini had a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at the sewage ponds. Al also found a Chipping Sparrow and Red-breasted Nuthatch, both uncommon species for the Central Valley. The Caswell-Westley C.B.C. of January 2 turned up the most surprises. Joe Devine and his grandson Caleb saw a WHITE-WINGED DOVE that was not only the 310th species for our county, but also a first Stanislaus County record. This tropical dove seldom strays north into a colder climate zone. Amazingly, just two hours later, Joe and Caleb had a juvenile EASTERN PHOEBE in an orchard in Westley; that bird was only the third Stanislaus County record. John Harris and Harold Reeve found two separate Glaucous-winged Gulls. Harold had a THAYERS GULL and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER at the Modesto Wastewater Treatment Facility. Outside of the Christmas Counts, Lori Franzman had a VARIED THRUSH at East la Loma Park on December 22. This shy cousin of the American Robin has an ethereal sound. Varied Thrush is an irruptive species that FeederWatch has found is almost regularly biennial, increasing one year and decreasing the next. On January 10, Eric Caine had a male EURASIAN WIGEON at the Ceres Wastewater Treatment Facility. As its name indicates, Eurasian Wigeons show up every now and then in California from eastern Siberia.

American Dipper Joe Devine

Glaucous-winged Gull Tom Grey

Eastern Phoebe Joe Devine

Whie-throated Sparrow Tom Grey

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Whie-winged Dove Joe Devine

Varied Thrush Tom Grey

Stanislaus Audubon Society WHAT IS A FIELD MARK?

Striving to identify birds, we depend upon field marks. Sometimes called trademarks of nature, field marks customarily mean visible features of birdsplumage patterns, eyes, bills, legs, and feet. The Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America (1934) was ground-breaking in this regard, with drawings that indicated key field marks with arrows. Kaufmans or Sibleys contemporary field guides employ variants of that system. If we see a kingbird perched on a wire, were led by the field guide to focus on the black tail with white edges of a Western Kingbird, or darker gray head contrasting with white chin of a Cassins Kingbird. Its a common maxim, however, that you shouldnt rely upon just one field mark for identification, if theres time to study the whole bird. Thats why field guides include detailed studies of bird topographies, by which you can learn the names and locations of head, body, and wing feather groups. If youre looking at a sparrow with pale lores, brownish rump, and dark crown-stripes, then honing in on the gray nape could clinch the call of a Clay-colored Sparrow. Of course, youd have to know where the lores and nape are on the bird in the first place. Ive written extensively about vocalizations as field marks, so I wont belabor the point again here. Ill only underscore that field guides include descriptions of voice, sometimes broken down to song and call note. By Salvatore Salerno which present difficult identification challenges. The great variability of bill shapes and leg lengths among shorebirds provide vital information. Dowitchers stand in deep water and probe with a sewing-machine motion; Long-billed Curlews use decurved bills to remove invertebrates from mudflats. Dunlins wade in shallow water; Least Sandpipers prefer drier edges. A Stilt Sandpipers long legs and short bill require it to lean forward while feeding, while a Greater Yellowlegs darts around and jabs for prey. Any shoreline may host a dozen species of shorebirds, with nearly as many postures and foraging methods. This leads to the all-encompassing field mark of habitat. Different species of birds have adapted to differing types of vegetation, water, and prey for surviving, migrating, and breeding. At a marsh, you should expect Virginia Rail, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and Red-winged Blackbird. One caveat, though: during migration all bets are off, as birds travel through varying habitats to get to their local patch. For those who believe life is an interwoven tapestry, I may say somewhat mystically that birds are an expression of their environment, and habitats live through the animals thriving there. Perhaps a more accurate question is: what is not a field mark?

Id like to go past feathers and voice, though, to present a more organic view of field marks, as defined by veteran birders. This intuitive method incorporates every other feature of birds except for plumage and song. One notable field mark is a birds flight. When flying, a birds anatomy may be called its destiny. The birds size and weight, distribution of muscles along its structureall determine the way it takes to the air. Ive often seen beginning birders lower their binoculars after a perched bird takes off, not understanding that its flight offers clues. Many species of woodpeckers and goldfinches have an undulating flight pattern. Red-tailed Hawks and other buteos are characterized by slow flapping and gliding, whereas falcons use snappy, rapid wing beats in powerful strokes. Numerous other examples abound. Remember to watch the bird approach, fly over, and leave, and to memorize its signature pattern. The next two field marks are inextricably entwined. How a bird is built determines what it eats, or conversely, what it eats determines its posture and behavior. Warblers have a forward-leaning profile while gleaning prey, whereas flycatchers perch more erectly in order to sally out for aerial insects. Plovers and thrushes stand upright, and then run to pick up food. Nowhere is this forage/posture/ behavior cluster more telling than among the families of shorebirds

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Stanislaus Audubon Society MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Stanislaus Audubon Society is no longer offering Chapter-only memberships for $8.00. Information regarding membership in the National Audubon Society is listed at the bottom of the box on this page of The Valley Habitat. Due to efficiency and cost considerations, this chapter is striving to streamline its membership mailing list. Complimentary copies to individuals will be discontinued, but the newsletter can be read online every month. Please contact John Harris at johnh@mills.edu if any of the following circumstances apply to you: Your household is receiving two copies of the newsletter You have paid for national membership, but you have not received the newsletter for more than one month Our mailing list has increased lately to more than six hundred members in Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Feel free to contact us with any suggestions that might fulfill our chapters purpose for the community.

Monthly Birdwatching trips to the San JoaquinRefuge

Stanislaus Audubon Society organizes a birdwatching fieldtrip each month to San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. It is located a few miles west of Modesto. The next trip will be Sunday, February 20. We will meet in the parking lot behind the Stanislaus County Library, 15th and H Streets, Modesto at 7:00 A.M. Starting this year we will be doing these trips on the third Sunday of each month. It is suggested that you participate in at least one of the three Christmas Bird Counts that Stanislaus Audubon Society sponsors.

Field Trip to Refuge on Saturday, February 5

Wally Tordoff will be leading a Stanislaus Audubon Field Trip to the Merced National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, February 5. We will meet in the parking lot of the Stanislaus County Library inh Modesto at 7:00 AM. Anyone who wants to go directly to the Merced Refuge can meet us there at 8:00 AM.

Stanislaus Audubon Society

Board of Directors: Bill Amundsen, Eric Caine, Joe Devine, Lori Franzman, David Froba, Daniel Gilman, John Harris, Harold Reeve, Sal Salerno, Dale Swanberg, Wally Tordoff. Officers & Committee Chairs President: Sal Salerno 985-1232 (bees2@sbcglobal.net) Vice President: Eric Caine 968-1302 (ericcaine@sbcglobal.net) Treasurer: David Froba 521-7265 (froba@comcast.net) Secretary: John Harris 848-1518 (johnh@mills.edu) Membership: Revolving San Joaquin River Refuge Field Trips: Bill Amundsen 521-8256 (birdscouter@prodigy.net) Other Field Trips: TBA Christmas Bird Counts:
Harold Reeve 538-0885

Stanislaus/Merced Counties Big Year

Early Birders Class Winter 2011

Salvatore Salerno is once again offering an Early Birders class through the Modesto Junior College Community Education Department. This course is designed for the beginning or intermediate bird watcher in the identification of birds. There is one classroom session on Wednesday, February 2. Field trips are on Saturday, February 5 to Knights Ferry and Saturday, February 12 to Caswell State Park. The class is listed in the mjc4life catalog. Register at www.mjc4life.org or call 575-6063.
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As of January 19, the Audubon Stanislaus/Merced Counties Big Year stands at a combined total of 151 species. There are still a good number of regular winter and year-round species that have yet to be reported, so thats an incentive to get out and go birding! As reported in the last newsletter, this big year is collaborative: we compile sightings from any birders who want to contribute. Some of the rare birds that have been detected so far this year are reported elsewhere in this newsletter. For those who post sightings to the Stanislaus or Central Valley list servers, you need do no more, as well check these regularly. Sightings can also be sent to John Harris at johnh@mills.edu.

How to Join Audubon To become a member of the 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 51003 - Boulder, CO 80323-1003 Visit our web site at www.stanislausbirds.org

Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

February 6, Sunday Snowshoe Hike (1A) Calaveras Big Trees, Highway 4 (Yokuts) February 27, Sunday Day Hike (2A) Morgan Territory Regional Park (Yokuts) March 12, Saturday Sierra Club Day Hike (2A)
Intermediate level early Spring wildflower hike to Table Mountain on land managed by the Bureau of Recreation land surrounding New Melones Reservoir. Goldfields, Shooting Stars, Wallflowers and Blue Dicks should be some of the flowers in bloom on this lava flow which is rich aquatic life invernal pools scattered throughout the top of this unusual flow left behind after the most recent ice age. This will be a moderately difficult 5 to 6 mile hike with a short 400 feet climb to the flat volcanic table top. Some poison oak is scattered along the trail leading up to the top. Somewet conditions are expected on the hike, therefore, waterproof footwear is highly recommended. Bring a packed lunch, water, snacks, and other 10 essentials. For location of meeting places and other details, contact leader, Frank by phone, 209-962-7585, or email, frank-oyung@ sbcglobal.net.

Its an approximate 2 1/2 to 3 mile trail through the redwoods, ending at the warming hut where they serve hot cocoa and spiced cider. Bring water, sack lunch, ten essentials, and money for dinner on the way home and for the drivers. Meet at Dennys parking lot in Oakdale at 8:00am to carpool. Contact Monica Casey at 209.996.0058 or hikerlady1955@ gmail.com. Co-leader?

Trip Report: New Years Day Snowshoe Hike

This park, which is part of the East Bay Regional Park system, offers plenty of leg muscle action as we follow the old ranch roads for about 8 miles. We will pass by stock ponds, shady creeks, and grazing cows. Fabulous views will reward our labors as we top out on the ridges. Bring binos for spotting raptors and migrating birds. Meet at North Modesto Park n Ride (on Sisk Road, adjacent to Vintage Faire Mall) at 8:30 am. Bring lunch, beverage, hiking boots, warm/rain gear, hiking poles (recommended), hat, other essentials, and $$ for carpool. Contact leader Elaine Gorman, 209.524.7630 or goford@

The snowshoe hike on New Years Day was chilly and snowy. The trees were heavily laden with snow, and Linda had fun liberating the branches. We had a nice climb to the icicle festooned outbuildings where we enjoyed a delicious, albeit short, lunch due to the cold. Tim and Elaine led off-trail back down the hill on their skis. Other intrepid participants were Sandy, Jerry, Anita, Jim, Sylvan, Stephen, and me. Chaining up was a pain, but it was a lovely outing and a great way to start the new year!

Tuolumne Group Weekly Thursday Hikes from Groveland

Each Thursday meet at Mary Laveroni Park, Groveland at 9:00 am for an approximate 6 mile hike. Bring a jacket, water, sunscreen and a snack in a daypack. Wear hiking boots. In fair weather, the hike is generally followed by a picnic lunch near the trailhead. Leader: Frank Oyung 209.962.7585 or frank-oyung@ sbcglobal.net

Another photo on page 8

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Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

State of the Yokuts Report . . . . continued from page 1

Community Outreach: Nine new issues of the Valley Habitat continued to enlighten. Along with Stanislaus Audubon we awarded two scholarships to local students. We tabled at MJCs Earth day, worked at the LeConte Memorial in Yosemite, spoke on Prop. 23 to Central Valley Democrats, presented to the Modesto City Earth Day Committee, participated at the Peace/Life Youth Conference, & were active in the Tuolumne River Coalition. Fundraising: We continued with our calendar sales and Yokuts yard sale, and the amazing Leonard Choate launched his mailing campaign to keep us financially sound. Thanks to everyone who donated in these tough times. Continuing Education: Yokuts management members attended the High Speed Rail scoping meeting in Modesto, MJCs Recycling Summit, the John Muir Symposium at UOP, Stocktons Sustainability Forums, the Partnership for Agriculture and the Environment, the Western Wilderness Conference in Berkeley, Sustainable Communities Training in Sacramento, Valley Futures Forums, Modestos Bike to Work Day, California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Club Lobby Day in Sacramento, the Chris Jordan exhibit at the Brower Center, the Salmon Festival at Knights Ferry, etc. 2011: Should be interesting.

Sierra Club and Audubon Society Offer Scholarships

The local Yokuts group of the Sierra Club and Stanislaus Audubon Society are offereing two $500.00 scholarships for fall 2011. High school seniors and continuing college students may apply. The Donna Durham Memorial Scholarship and the Bob Corey/Paul Illick Memorial Scholarship will honor former members of the Sierra Club and Audubon Society. These scholarships are offered to students who are currently working on a conservation or environmental project/activity, or have worked on one in the past, and are also residents of Stanislaus County or attend school in Stanislaus County. Besides submitting an application, qualified students must submit a short essay. Postmarked deadline for submissions is March 31, 2011. Information about the scholarships is available through high school counseling offices, Modesto Junior College, UC Merced, or CSU Stanislaus. The applications will also be available on our website at http:// motherlode.sierraclub.org/yokuts. For more info., contact Yokuts member Elaine Gorman at goford@sbcglobal. net.

Island Hopping in Channel Islands National Park July 16-19; July 30- August 2; September 9-11; October 17-19
Explore the wild, windswept islands of Channel Island National Park. Enjoy the frolicking seals and sea lions. Train your binoculars on unusual sea and land birds. Hike the trails to find blankets of wildflowers and plants found in no other place on earth. Kayak or snorkel the pristine waters - or just relax at sea. These live-aboard, eco tours depart from Santa Barbara aboard the 68 twin diesel Turth. Fee ($785 for July trips; $590 for September and October) includes an assigned bunk, all meals, snacks, beverages, plus the services of a ranger/naturalist who will travel with us to lead hikes, call attention to items of interest and present evening programs. To make a reservation mail a $100 check, payable to Sierra Club to leader: Joan Jones Holtz, 11826 The Wye St., El Monte, CA 91732. Contact leader for more information (626-443-0706; jholtzhln@aol.com)

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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!
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Last Call! Sierra Club Calendars on sale!

Doug Hardie, 2011 Sierra Club Calendar Chairman, reports that there are a few 2011 Wilderness and Engagement calendars that can be purchased for $10 each, by phoning Doug at 209.524.6651. These calendars make great gifts, and are always appreciated the first of the year.

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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. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES (check one) INDIVIDUAL JOINT Special offer Regular Supporting Contributing Life Senior Student $15 $39 $75 $150 $1000 $25 $25 $49 $100 $175 $1250 $35 $35

Limited Income $25 $35 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. PAYMENT METHOD: (check one)

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Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club Management Committee Chair Brad Barker 526-5281 Treasurer Sylvan Bupp 524-0074 Secretary Anita Young 529-2300 Programs Kelly Skultety 521-0924 Conservation Sandy Wilson 577-5616 Membership Kathy Clarke 575-2174 Hospitality Candy Klaschus 632-5473 Publicity Dorothy Griggs 549-9155 Outings Elaine Gorman 524-7630 Newsletter Nancy Knoll 579-1990 Mailing Kathy Weise 545-5948 Politics Jerry Jackman 577-5616 Population Milt Trieweiler 664-1181 Fundraising Leonard Choate 524-3659 Website Jason Tyree jason.tyree@gmail.com Check out our Website: http://motherlode.sierraclub.org/yokuts To send stories to the Habitat, e-mail: nan38@sbcglobal.net
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Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

New Years Day Snowshoe Hike

See story on page 5

The

Valley Habitat

January 2011