Professional Documents
Culture Documents
December/January, 2008
Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation and protection of native birds and their
habitats through education, research and environmental activities.
Program Meetings for the general community are normally held on the third Monday of each month at
6:30 p.m., at the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St. In December the meeting is held on the
second Monday and in July and August there are no Program Meetings.
January Program – Birding Florida’s Southern Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the
Dry Tortugas – An Electronic Slide Presentation by Tim Ruckle
Monday, January 19, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center
Escape from Chico winter to Florida spring (well, for about an hour) as Tim Ruckle shows photos of,
and talks about, many birds he saw that are rarely seen outside Florida and the U.S. Southeast – Red-
whiskered Bulbuls, Magnificent Frigatebirds with inflated, red gular pouches, a Masked Duck and
about 40 other bird species that
were life birds for Tim. See birds
in, and learn the history of, Fort
Jefferson on Garden Key in the
Dry Tortugas, one of the top ten
birding destinations in the
country. Some of you have
already been there and who
knows? - Maybe others of you
will consider birding there
yourselves sometime.
Magnificent Frigatebird Red-whiskered Bulbul
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Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips
All of our field trips are open to beginning birders. Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate.
Meet at the Chico Park ‘n Ride on Rt. 32 (the lot nearest the freeway) at
8 a.m. We'll look for raptors in the Cottonwood Rd. and Nelson Ave.
areas. Targets are Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged
Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, and Burrowing Owl as well as more
commonly seen species. Bring binoculars (and scope if you have one)
water, and a lunch. We should be back around 1 p.m. For updated
information contact Phil Johnson at (530) 570-7139.
Ferruginous Hawk
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December 21, Sunday - Chico Christmas Bird Count
All levels of birders are welcome to join us on the Chico Christmas bird
count. Beginners will be paired up with experienced birders. Bring warm
clothes, hiking shoes, lunch, bird books and binoculars. You will be
assigned an area and spend the day counting all of the birds in this area. If
anyone is interested in doing just a half day, please let the compiler, Phil
Johnson, (530-570-7139) know ahead of time so arrangements can be made
for the day’s assignments. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Chico Creek
Nature Center. At 5:00 p.m. we meet at Scott and Nina Campbell's place to
compile our results. Scott and Nina will, as usual, be cooking us a great
meal. For possibly updated information, check the Altacal web site at
www.altacal.org
… and a partridge in a pear tree
December 28, Sunday - Oroville Christmas Bird Count - All levels of birders are welcome to join us
on the Oroville Christmas bird count. Beginners will be paired up with experienced birders. Bring
warm clothes, hiking shoes, lunch, bird books and binoculars. You will be assigned an area and spend
the day counting all of the birds in this area. If anyone is interested in doing just a half day, please let
the compiler, Scott Huber, (530-321-5579) know ahead of time so arrangements can be made for the
day’s assignments. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Agricultural Commissioner's Office on Nelson Rd.
just east of Highway 70. At 5:00 p.m. there will be an optional dinner and compilation at a local
restaurant. For possibly updated information, check the Altacal web site at www.altacal.org
January 11, Sunday – Indian Fishery (Pine Creek)
Trip Leader: Mike Fisher
Indian Fishery is an ox bow lake surrounded by a beautiful oak woodland. This is a wonderful area for
birding, watching the wildlife that abounds in the ox bow lake and simply enjoying the grandeur of
massive oaks. It is common to observe River Otters darting through the water, Western Pond Turtles
basking on a fallen tree or herons stalking a meal. A variety of birds are busy in the grandeur of
massive oaks. We’ll take a leisurely walk around the easily negotiated, ½-mile guided nature trail and
see a variety of woodpeckers, as well as other woodland and aquatic birds. Meet at the Park ‘n Ride
(the lot closest to Rte 99) at 8 a.m. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, bring water and snacks if you
like, and binoculars and a field guide if you have one. For more information contact Mike at (530) 624-
4777.
January 18, Sunday – Upper Bidwell Park
Trip Leader: Phil Johnson
We will start our walk along Big Chico Creek and circle back on one of the side
hill trails in search of the wintering birds of Bidwell Park. As always,
beginners are most welcome. Bring binoculars, hiking boots, a snack, and layers
of clothing. Meet at the Gun Club parking lot (across from the golf course) at
8:00 a.m. The walk will go until 11:30 a.m. Call Phil at 570-7139 for details.
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January 22-25 – 10th Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway
• Backyard, novice, and veteran birders, as well as
wildlife enthusiasts of all ages, can choose from over 60
field trips, presentations, and workshops.
• Local art can be viewed at the festival’s
Uptown/Downtown Wildlife Art Exhibit hosted by
Avenue 9 and All Fired Up! Gallery and Ceramic Art
Center from Friday, January 16 to February 7, 2009.
• In conjunction with the art exhibit, the festival’s kick-off
event will be the “Wildlife Art Reception” at the
Uptown/Downtown art galleries on Friday, January 23.
• A festival highlight is Saturday night’s “Gathering of Wings” Banquet and Silent Auction, which
will be held at the Bell Memorial
Union Auditorium, Chico State
University with keynote speaker,
Ed Harper, well-known birder,
world traveler, and photographer.
His interest in birds goes back to his
early childhood when he was
growing up in Montana. It was there
his interest and love of natural
history blossomed. Always a teacher
at heart, Ed taught mathematics at
American River College from 1969
until his retirement in 2003. With
his passion for birding, Ed has also taught a variety of classes in field ornithology for the ARC
Extension. He designed and taught many popular classes including bird song, migration,
introduction to the birds of the Sacramento area, and various classes on field identification for birds
of prey, shorebirds, and gulls. He is a popular and frequent speaker at many birding festivals and
conferences.
An experienced world traveler, Ed has traveled to all the continents in search of birds. An avid
photographer, he has photographed over 2000 species of birds. Some of his photos are found in
books and periodicals whereas other images highlight talks and slide lectures. In North America
alone, he has photographed over 750 species of birds. Starting out as a tour leader for the
Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1981, Ed now operates Sandpiper Journeys with his wife,
Susan Scott. Together they have conducted many birding and natural history tours throughout the
world.
Through a series of beautiful images and enlightening discourse, Ed will share an evening of
insight and awe into the beauty and inspiring aspects of bird migration. Throughout recorded
history the migration of birds has fascinated humankind. The outmoded myths and archaic
speculations that once dominated beliefs have been largely replaced by illuminating research and
ingenious scientific studies. We now know the feats of avian migration truly exceed our wildest
imaginations. Just as birds fascinate and command our interest, understanding the great
phenomenon of bird migration further enhances the joy and wonder that birds bring into our
lives.
Festival headquarters will be at the Chico Masonic Family Center where free events and activities for
the whole family are held on Saturday and Sunday. Numerous educational exhibits and displays along
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with vendors selling everything from binoculars to bird feeders will be in attendance. In addition, there
will be Junior Naturalist activities, and live presentations about owls, hawks, and native reptiles, plus
more. Admission is free.
For more information contact us at;
(530) 345-1865, info@snowgoosefestival.org, www.snowgoosefestival.org. Registration for field trips,
workshops, art reception, and banquet starts in December.
Conservation Corner
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Despite real reason for optimism, we cannot take conservation gains for granted. Audubon is committed
to helping the new Administration and Congress to live up to their great promise; and to make
conservation, clean energy and green jobs part of America's path to a brighter tomorrow.
Through our local Chapters, state offices and national grass roots efforts, Audubon will join with others
in the environmental community to ensure that our newly elected leaders lead the way on issues vital to
our environment, our economy and diversity of life on Earth."
Carol Browner
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Did You Know?
The first American organization devoted to studying and watching birds was
established in 1873 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was named the Nuttall
Ornithological Club. Its namesake was the Englishman, Thomas Nuttall, a natural
history teacher at Harvard who produced the first compact guide to North
American birds. He was an early explorer of the North American wilderness and
is considered to be one of the greatest botanists who ever worked in the United
States. In our neck of the woods, we are used to seeing and hearing Nuttall’s
Woodpeckers.
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Pop Quiz!
Now, for all the marbles, what two other birds are honored with his name? Time’s up! This one’s too
hard, so here’s the answer: Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) and Yellow-billed Magpie
(Pica nuttalli).
To John:
"To a Waterfowl" - William Cullen Bryant:
"Whether, midst falling dew,/ While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,/ Far through their rosy
depths, doest thou pursue/ Thy solitary way...Thou’rt gone! The abyss of heaven/Hath swallowed up thy
form; yet on my heart/Deeply hath sunk the lessons thou has given,/And shall not soon depart."
If you missed the November Program Meeting you also missed a chance at winning a special item in our
usual free raffle. Dawn Bremmer, owner of The Gifted Garden, generously donated a free raffle item
for the meeting. It was a beautiful glass hummingbird feeder that Dawn described this way: “Each of
its three feeding stations is made of an opaque white glass with red glass flower tube ports. The glass is
all recycled. The metal frame holding the feeding stations has a perch in front of each port, so the little
guys have a place to sit still for a minute. Its retail value is $55. Additional info that might be of
interest: the feeder is made in Mexico and the company sends part of all their proceeds to The
Hummingbird Society.” In addition to hummingbird feeders Dawn carries other feeders, bird baths and
assorted bird-themed items.
Bird Walk and Birding Trip Reports
September 19-21 - Point Reyes National Seashore – Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten
If you have never been to Point Reyes National Seashore you are missing one of the great birding
destinations in our state. Point Reyes is a promontory on the Pacific Coast of Northern California.
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Located in Marin County, it is approximately 30 miles north of San Francisco. Because of the way it
juts out into the Pacific it is a trap for migrating birds passing along the coast. Every year Altacal
Audubon plans a trip here coinciding with the peak of fall migration. This year eleven members went
along and spent from two to five days exploring the various birding hot-spots of the area. Point Reyes
National Seashore and its surrounding area proved again to be one of our most productive birding trips
of the year. The total number of bird species seen by at least one of the eleven Altacal Audubon birders
on this trip was 141, with all of us getting at least one lifer (a bird never seen before).
The weather on this stretch of coast is notoriously variable. At different times we braved strong wind,
thick fog and rain. But much of the time we had beautiful warm sunny weather in which to hunt for
birds. Our quest took us along beautiful beaches, coastal scrub grasslands, salt and freshwater marshes,
into thick coniferous forests, and even through cow pastures. Yes, a lot of effort, but well worth it to see
such unusual birds as Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Long-tailed
Duck, Pectoral Sandpiper and Marbled
Murrelet. Other noteworthy sightings
included Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Nashville
Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Red-throated
and Common Loons, Black Oystercatcher,
Snowy Plover, Black Turnstone, Pigeon
Guillemot and Virginia Rail.
The Earthquake Trail at the Bear Valley
Visitors Center is always a favorite and
productive birding spot for us. This year was
no exception. We saw a mixed flock of
Townsend’s Warblers and Black-throated
Gray Warblers palling around with Chestnut-
backed Chickadees, Hutton’s Vireos and
Warbling Vireos. All were foraging in the
creek-side willow and alders.
Rear: Warren Patten, Jennifer Patten, Mike Fisher, Gaylord Grams, Rick Wulbern
Front: Carolyn Short, Nancy Nelson, Ruth Kennedy
Not in Photo: J.T. Lewis, Mike Skram
Photo by Tim Ruckle
Next year, instead of just reading about it, think about joining us on this always exciting and productive
Point Reyes National Seashore Altacal Audubon field trip.
October 4, Saturday – Packer and Sul Norte Units of the SRNWR – Trip Leader: Mike Fisher
What looked like a not so pleasant morning for birding and hiking
turned into a very nice day for exploring the Packer and Sul Norte units
of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Currently, the
Refuge is composed of 27 units along a 77-mile stretch of the
Sacramento River between Red Bluff and Princeton.
This riparian habitat along the Sacramento River is critically important for fish, migratory birds, plants,
and river system health. It provides shelter for many songbirds and water-associated animals, including
River Otters, turtles, Beavers, American White Pelican, Ospreys and Bank Swallows.
This field trip, led by Altacal and co-sponsored by the Sacramento River Preservation Trust, is one of
a series of trips intended to increase community awareness of these valuable public wildlife areas. Even
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though the day started with rain, a group of seven met at the Park-‘n-Ride to carpool over to Glenn
County, near Butte City, where the units are located.
Beginning with the Packer Unit, we walked the 1.5-mile loop trail that explores the center of the refuge.
Even before we hit the trail, still in the parking lot, we had flyovers of Red-tailed Hawk, Northern
Flicker, Great Egret, and Sandhill Crane. Someone spotted a tree full of Western Bluebirds and
mixed in were a few American Robins. The walk along the trail was very pleasant, if not super birdy.
We picked up most of the regulars including American and Lesser Goldfinch, Tree Swallow,
Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, California Quail, Spotted Towhee, Bewick’s and House
Wren and several flocks of Cedar Waxwing. A highlight was the flyover of a beautiful, adult
Ferruginous Hawk. It soared right over our heads for about a minute giving us beautiful looks.
Then it was back in the car for the short trip over to the Sul Norte Unit. Coming from Chico on Hwy
162 you turn right on the only road between the river and Hwy 45. It is not marked, but the road turns
back and parallels Hwy 162. This leads to the parking lot for the unit. Leaving the cars, we proceeded
to hike the trail that circles this 590-acre unit. Our intention was to do only a portion of this
approximately 3-mile trail but we missed our cutoff point and ended up hiking the whole trail. It turned
out to be a very nice hike. Some of the new birds we picked up in this unit included; Downy
Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Oak Titmouse, American Kestrel, White-breasted Nuthatch,
and Northern Mockingbird. Everyone got very excited when Jennifer Patten spotted a baby Northern
Pacific Rattlesnake hiding out in a drainage ditch. The trail fronts the Sacramento River for a while
and we spotted Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Double-crested Cormorant along the water’s
edge. On our way back to the cars we had flyovers of Greater White-fronted Geese and two Lewis’s
Woodpeckers. A total of 42 species was seen on this morning.
October 19, Sunday- Butte Basin Field Trip – Trip Leader: Phil Johnson
Nine eager birders showed up for an early season sampling
of the birds found in the Butte Basin. We started off the day
at the Park ‘n Ride where we were treated to a great look at a
Red-Shouldered Hawk that was coughing up some
remnants of its last meal. When we arrived at the Llano Seco
unit parking area, we instantly saw groups of Greater
White-fronted Geese in the rice fields near by. The pond to
the south of the parking area was flooded and had many
Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Mallards. On
our walk out to the back platform, we strolled by a dry field
with Long-billed Curlews feeding in the grasses. As we
Butte Basin Habitat
watched them, a group of White-faced Ibis flew in to join them. Once we got the back platform, we
were able to get good looks at Sandhill Cranes flying about and resting at marshy edges of the ponds.
The back ponds were already flooded up, and had big numbers of waterfowl.
After getting back to the cars, we headed South down 7-mile Lane to a marshy spot. A large number of
Black-crowned Night-Herons were seen in the willows surrounding the ponds. Wood Ducks and a
Common Moorhen were also on the water. After searching the reedy edges, we eventually were
treated to a good look at a Sora, walking about in the open. Our drive further south was fruitless, due to
lack of water in the rice fields, but we did have a nice stop at Nelson Rd. to get good looks at Belted
Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Lesser Goldfinch.
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October 31, Friday - Owl-o-ween - Trip Leaders: Dawn Garcia and Scott Huber
Through the night, we did hear bats and a few Saw-whet vocalizations and matched Scott's detection of
a Great Horned Owl (albeit ours was plastic and staged by the hostess!). Rain, wind, and the petite Gray
Fox predator gave us enough reason to close the nets after only two hours. All were invited back to see a
Saw-whets in the hand.
November 8, Saturday - Butte Creek Ecological Preserve
Trip Leader: Liam Huber
Despite the forecast for rain, a dozen hardy birders took a
chance and were treated to a beautiful morning of birding at
Butte Creek Ecological Preserve.
A view of the Butte Creek Ecological Preserve
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Altacal's very own junior naturalist, Liam Huber, guided the eager group which included a few seasoned
Altacal members as well as a few first-timers from the community.
Liam reports: We took the banding route to the dry river bed and got some looks at Black Phoebes and
Golden-crowned Sparrows. We then followed the dry river bed to the pond. On the way, we heard a
Varied Thrush calling, saw Evening Grosbeaks and got close-up views of Cedar Waxwings, which
we heard and identified well in advance. At the pond, we had at least 25 Wood Ducks, 2 Canada Geese
and several Mallards and American Coots. We also saw at least 40 Steller's Jays, and that's not
exaggerating! We were excited because that was extremely low elevation for this species. Ruby-
crowned Kinglets were also numerous and we caught a look at some Downy Woodpeckers. In
addition to the birds, I caught a Ring-Necked Snake for the group to examine and photograph.
I think everyone enjoyed the trip and I enjoyed leading it.
Many thanks to my Uncle Steve who went along with us because my Dad was in Texas.
White-tailed Trogon
Photo by Mike Fisher
The armchair version of birding Panama with Altacal included many impressive photographs of the
most extraordinarily decorated birds seen by the fortunate few who were able to make the trip in person.
Resplendent Quetzal, Turquoise Cotinga, Speckled Tanager, Veraguan Mango, Scintillant
Hummingbird, Spot-crowned Barbet, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush and Emerald Toucanet
were among them. Altacal member and trip organizer Steve Margolin, who has led previous birding
excursions to Panama, set up the venue and escorted our members on the three-week tour that covered
an extensive area of varied habitats from inside the western border with Costa Rica, to deep within the
eastern border with Columbia.
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It was equally touching to listen to Mike’s wife, Laura
Rivero-Fisher - a self-described non-birder, revel in
memories of her interactions with the warm welcome
and hospitality from the native Embra children who
greeted them after a long, perilous journey by boat to
the secluded village where they camped over during
the long trek to viewing the Harpy Eagle’s nest.
Altacal’s first international birding trip was a great success despite the absence of the highly sought-after
Harpy Eagle.
October Program - Nome Alaska: Birding the Last Frontier! - Scott Huber
At Altacal’s October Program Meeting, 45 attendees thoroughly enjoyed
listening to Scott Huber, Field Trip Director for Altacal Audubon and owner
of BigBirders Birding Tours, as he narrated a photographic account of the
three weeks that he spent in the Nome, Alaska area in May and June of 2008,
a portion of which was spent with another Altacal member, Tim Ruckle, and
the remainder as a guide for several groups of birders from around the
country.
American Golden-Plover - Photo by Scott Huber
Scott explained that because it was breeding season the birds were all in their
freshest and most colorful plumage, and throughout the evening he showed photographs of many of
them. Adding spice to the mix were sightings of Asian birds such as Bluethroat and Arctic Warbler .
And birds were not the only attraction. A fringe benefit was the amazing mammal display – Grizzly,
Moose, Red Fox, Caribou, Musk Ox and others.
Finally, there was the tundra itself, a place that belongs to the animals but tolerates a few humans
including birders who visit primarily during a few weeks in June.
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Opportunities and Events
Every January on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend (January 16-19 in 2009), the Morro Coast
Audubon Society in collaboration with California State Parks, Central Coast Natural History
Association, the city of Morro Bay, the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of the Estuary,
host the Winter Bird Festival. All-day and half-day tours will take participants to a wide variety of
habitats, including deep water pelagic, oak woodland and riparian, wetland and estuary, and the unique
grassland habitat of the Carrizo Plain. Workshops will cover a vast array of topics ranging from
beginner birding classes to gull identification. Outstanding Evening Speakers will make presentations on
Saturday and Sunday. A variety of vendors will be present with nature related artwork, books, field
equipment and attire, and local merchant wares.
Morro Bay California is one of the few remaining estuaries on the Pacific flyway. Christmas Bird
Counts on the bay have numbered above the 200 species mark, and the festival bird lists have totaled
over 220 species for the weekend, making this area on the central California coast a prime birding
destination.
For more specific information, go to: http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org/
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February 6-8, Friday-Sunday – 13th Annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival
Spend time with thousands of other people enthusiastic about the wild and wide-open spaces of San
Francisco Bay and its mysterious “north shore.” Many of the nearly 70 outings are free and don’t require
pre-registration, making it an outstanding option for beginning birders. Informational slide presentations
are inspirational and educational. Plus, the festival was chosen as the site for two days of American
Volkssport Association-sanctioned walks.
For more specific information go to: http://www.sfbayflywayfestival.com/
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in
counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can
participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you
can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
For more information, go to: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/
Sightings
(If you have any interesting sightings in your yard, on the way to work, or in the Butte, Glenn or Tehama counties area in general in late
November, in December or in early January you can send them to the Newsletter Editor at Editor@altacal.org by November 7 for possible
inclusion in the next newsletter.)
September 28
Patricia Puterbaugh heard a California Spotted Owl right outside her forest
home in Cohasset and then heard another calling back. “They hooted for a good
ten minutes. It was extremely exciting for me as right at that time I was
preparing for a very important meeting with the Almanor Ranger District USFS
staff regarding a logging project we have been following near Yellow Creek.
We also see and hear Pileated Woodpeckers regularly in our woods.”
October 22 – Jennifer Patten saw a Burrowing Owl and a Prairie Falcon off Lassen/Meridian Roads
in Tehama County.
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October 26/27
A first Butte County record BOBOLINK was spotted by Jim Snowden on
Sunday October 26th at the CSU, Chico Farm and seen later that day by Bruce
Deuel. On the next day, Monday, J.T. Lewis, Mike Skram, Tim Ruckle, and
Scott and Liam Huber also found it.
Peregrinations
[Peregrinations reports on birds seen on trips outside the Butte/Glenn/Tehama counties area except for those sponsored by
the Altacal Audubon Society or other local birding groups - Ed]
October 17
J.T. Lewis and I went rarity-chasing for Asian birds (a DUSKY WARBLER at Antonelli's Pond in
Santa Cruz and a RED-THROATED PIPIT at Crissy Field in San Francisco) on Friday, October 17
and managed to see both. It was a long but successful day (5 a.m. - 9 p.m.) - about 13 hours driving and
three hours out-of-the-car birding - beautiful weather. The warbler was a skulker, preferring the dark
undergrowth beneath a willow just a couple of feet above the water. The Santa Cruz Sentinel published
an article about the warbler and the birders in attendance:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_10814091 .
The Red-throated Pipit at Crissy Field favored the edge of a gravel pathway right next to the grass. We
also saw a Lapland Longspur working the grassy area. – Tim Ruckle
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Dusky Warbler – Antonelli’s Pond, Santa Cruz Red-throated Pipit – Crissy Field, San Francisco
From a Joe Morlan Post Unknown Photographer
October 25
Tree Swallow
Photo by Marie Read
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Forming huge swirls of birds, like plague numbers of insects, one "group" would circle in whirlpool
formation and begin to dive, spiraling into the corn fields. It absolutely looked like a distant rainstorm.
Another would form and dive, and another, until all was quiet and the sun had set. On our way out
(6:45) Killdeer became active and we had a hooting Great Horned Owl calling from a distant field. -
Dawn
Submission of Articles
(Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor as
Microsoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 7th of the month prior to the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May,
Jul, Sep and Nov 7th) - Editor@altacal.org – Thanks, Ed.)
Altacal Board of Directors
President Phil Johnson 570-7139/ptjptj@gmail.com
Co-Vice-Presidents Jennifer Patten 345-9356/jpchico@sbcglobal.net
Mike Fisher 624-4777/fisherml@pacbell.net
Secretary Kathryn Hood 342-9112/kathrynhood@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer John Oswald 342-1651/amoent@aol.com
Membership Carolyn Short 345-4224/carolynshort@mac.com
Finance Mike Fisher 624-4777/fisherml@pacbell.net
Publications/ Tim Ruckle 566-9693/Editor@altacal.org
Newsletter
Publicity/Web Site Wayland Augur 893-9222/wba@acm.org
Field Trips Scott Huber 321-5579/Scott@birdtours@altacal.org
Sanctuary, Lands Ruth Kennedy 899-9631/rken1733@sunset.net
and Refuge
Conservation Dawn Garcia 872-2165/mel.dawn@sbcglobal.net
Education vacant
Directors-at-Large John Merz 345-4050/jbmerz@sbcglobal.net
Jackson Shedd 342-5144/jackson_shedd@sbcglobal.net
Marilyn Gamette 343-3154/gamettec@aol.com
Dave Tinker 824-0253/dtinker@cuhsd.tehama.k12.ca.us
Nancy Nelson 345-0580/concownancy@earthlink.net
Board meetings are held at 5:15 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. The usual meeting place is the Altacal Audubon
Society/Snow Goose Festival office at 635 Flume St., Chico. The public is welcome to attend.
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Local Chapter Membership Application
Please join us! Your membership will help Altacal Audubon Society (AAS) continue its important work.
Altacal is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. In addition, it is a separately incorporated non-
profit organization. With a local chapter membership, 100% of your membership dues goes to support
local projects and activities. AAS is an all-volunteer organization that conducts all of its programs with
no paid staff. We offer regularly scheduled field trips focused on birds and bird habitats, our own
website, www.altacal.org/, a bi-monthly newsletter (White-tailed Kite), monthly membership meetings
which include lectures and media presentations on birds and other natural history-related topics, and
advocacy to protect and conserve local habitats as well as special projects and programs. Other AAS
activities include:
• sponsoring and participating in the annual Snow Goose Festival
• sponsoring and participating in the annual Endangered Species Faire
• founding and providing continued support to the Chico Creek Nature Center
• owning and managing the Arneberg Sanctuary as a wildlife habitat and research area
• helping to monitor the bird populations at the Del Rio Wildland Preserve near the Sacramento
River
• paying to maintain public access and a wildlife viewing blind at the Chico Oxidation Ponds
• leading annual Christmas Bird Counts in Chico and Oroville for the past 51 years
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Welcome to the Altacal Audubon Society! Please indicate your choice of membership options:
Important: Membership in Altacal Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon
Society. We encourage you to also support National Audubon in their important education and lobbying
efforts. To join the National Audubon Society contact them at their website www.audubon.org/
Please make checks payable to Altacal Audubon Society, and mail to: AAS, P.O. Box 3671, Chico,
CA 95927
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Dates to Remember
December, ‘08 through April, ’09 – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Interpretive Programs
December 6, Saturday - Raptor Run - Trip Leader: Phil Johnson
December 13, Saturday – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (SNWF) -Trip Leader: Mike Fisher
December 19, Monday - Altacal Program - Members’ Slide Show
December 21, Sunday - Chico Christmas Bird Count
December 28, Sunday - Oroville Christmas Bird Count
January 11, Sunday – Indian Fishery (Pine Creek) Trip Leader: Mike Fisher
January 19, Monday - Altacal Program – Florida Birding – Tim Ruckle
January 16-19, Monday – Friday, Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival
January 18, Sunday – Upper Bidwell Park Trip Leader: Phil Johnson
January 22-25 – Thursday – Sunday, Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway
February 6-8, Friday-Sunday – 13th Annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival
February 13-6, Friday-Monday – The Great Backyard Bird Count
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