Volume 63, Number 3 November 2017 November Program : Kaua’i, the 5.1 Million Year Experiment ✦ Gordon Beebe “Te bird not found, and why…” islands? Certainly the arrival of When Gordon Beebe traveled to the island of Kaua’i in Captain Cook in the late 18th 2016, he looked forward to exploring the many scenic trails, century, roughly 1,000 years later, snorkeling in the reefs, and seeing some of the native bird had an enormous effect, as did the species. Tere was one species of bird in particular he hoped arrival of countless others in the to see, the I’iwi, a bright red honeycreeper with a long years hence. downward-curved bill. As the trip progressed, and no I’iwis Archived photos and animated were to be seen, he began to wonder what had happened to graphs illustrate the extent of their them. Once back home, he started doing research, and the manipulation of the environment. more he uncovered, the more complex the story became. Te introduction of foreign animals Te reason is best explained by examining the entire and diseases are revealed in history of the island, so the presentation begins with the chronological order for viewers to volcanic birth of Kaua’i grasp the impact to native species roughly 5.1 million years o n t h e i s l a n d . N at i v e a n d ago. It continues with the introduced species of birds, other arrival of the first plant animals, plants, and scenic views and animal species, and are showcased in photos, audio, t h e i r s u b s e q u e n t and video all taken on the trip. adaptation to the new Graphics and animations illustrate significant events in the environment , which history of Kaua’i. stimulated some of them Te presentation concludes by highlighting the efforts of t o e v o l v e t o t a k e many local and international groups to preserve and protect advantage of unfilled the native species and habitats on this fragile island paradise. ecological niches. Te Gordon Beebe I ’ i w i i s b u t o n e is a past president of Meeting Schedule descendent of a long line Madrone Audubon Te next meeting of the Mount of honeycreeper species S o ciety, cur rent Diablo Audubon Society will be that evolved from a single website editor, and Tursday, November 2 in the species that reached the the Saturday bird Above: Ahupua’a system; Camellia Room of Te Gardens at islands millions of years walks leader. He is Above R: White-rumped Shama, Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. Gordon Beebe photos ago. also a coordinator Te presentation f o r t h e S o n o m a 6:30 PM Doors open continues with the arrival of the first humans from Polynesia, County Breeding Bird 7:00 PM Birding Information who became the original Hawaiians. Were they as benign as Atlas and lives with 7:25 PM Announcements people might like to imagine, coexisting with the his wife, Judy, near 7:40 PM Refreshments* and raffle environment, or did they have a detrimental influence on the Santa Rosa, CA. *please bring your own coffee mug 8:00 PM Program: Kaua’i, the 5.1 M 7 PM Birding Information Year Experiment ✦ Gordon Beebe Eagle Scout, John King, worked with MDAS Volunteer Coordinator, Brian Murphy, to install and maintain 12 Wood Duck nest boxes along Grayson Creek in NEXT MONTH’S PROGRAM: Pleasant Hill. John will talk about how he enlisted the support of his neighbors to Tursday, December 7 monitor the boxes and place them on private property adjacent to the waterway. Nicole Michel ✦ CBC Trends

DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION President’s Corner Paul Schorr Identifying birds by ear is such a wonderful attribute to and possibly see, nocturnal birds such as the Common birding. During birding tours, Nancy and I have marveled at Poorwill. the ability of tour guides to identify birds by ear and then It was a memorable moment when we stood on Red locate the birds for us to see. Te guides’ ability to distinguish Road in White Canyon in complete darkness and listened to similar sounding birds such as warblers is simply amazing, a Common Poorwill in the surrounding chaparral. Ten, as and I know that many members of MDAS have also we scanned the road ahead with flashlights, the beams developed similar strategies. caught a poorwill on the road actively chasing and feeding on On one birding tour in particular, while we were birding insects, probably moths. MDIA will likely offer night hikes with Wezil Walraven in North Carolina, his ability to detect again next summer, starting in June. Be sure to check the birds by ear was made abundantly clear. As he drove slowly mdia.org website’s “event calendar” for special hikes or along the Blue Ridge Parkway with his window down, he check the “Community Events” Quail announcements. would call out a bird he was hearing and bring the car to a If you are interested in learning more about bird songs stop on the shoulder of the road. We would quickly exit the and calls, the MDAS Education Committee plans to offer a car and he would most often locate the bird, usually a “Spring Bird Sounds: Birding By Ear” workshop taught by warbler, for us to see. Denise. Te two fall workshops filled up quickly, so please During MDAS field trips, it is always a joy to hear fellow refer to upcoming issues of the Quail for spring dates and birders like Terri Wills, Eugenia Larson, Hugh Harvey, Fred more information. Safier, and others, call out birds they are hearing. In that Having a personal hearing loss of high-pitched sounds, I regard, Nancy and I joined Denise Wight, birder-by-ear am always envious of those birders who have mastered the extraordinaire, on a Mount Diablo Interpretive Association ability to learn the specific bird songs and calls. Their (MDIA) sponsored night hike in August. One of the contributions always make an outing more rewarding for me. purposes of the night hike into Mitchell Canyon was to hear, Happy Birding! Centre, allow it to gain weight for a year Welcome New Members Good News For on a predator-free island, and then, to Amy & Brian Richardson Walnut Creek release the kiwi back into the Okarito New Zealand Kiwis Karen Case Clayton Kiwi Sanctuary where it might have a Recently, I watched another Janet Kahn Walnut Creek fighting chance at survival. fabulous episode of “RARE: Creatures Cameron Ward Orinda of the Photo Ark” on PBS. In Episode 3, In the wild, total Rowi Kiwi births are extremely low—an increase of just National Geographic photographer, What bird has helpers Joel Sartore, featured the rare Rowi two new birds per year. Under New Zealand’s Department of Conservation during the nesting period Kiwi with a population estimated at just who are rarely the young 400-500 birds and the valiant active management plan, 95% of the retrieved eggs that are incubated hatch, Q from a previous brood? increasing the total population by about Unscramble the letters 2% per year. It is estimated that by the or look at page 7 for the answer. year 2030, the population will nearly TTHIUBS double, to 891 Rowi Kiwi. Te Rowi Kiwis, like many native MDAS on the Web birds, are at risk due to the introduction www.diabloaudubon.org of non-native predators by humans. In www.facebook/mtdiabloaudubon the late 1800s, stoats (short-tailed www.meetup.com/Mount-Diablo- weasels) were introduced to control the Audubon-Society/ Rowi Kiwi, Google Images photo rampant rabbit population, but they preferred the ground-dwelling kiwis. Possums, another introduced species, is Submit Contra Costa County sightings to conservation efforts in New Zealand to also a key predator, along with [email protected], call Maury at (925) 284-5980, or send them to EBB prevent their extinction. domestic and feral cats and dogs. [email protected]. If you report Te photographer followed a Trough human intervention, the sightings to eBird, please also send them scientist with Operation Nest Egg to Rowi Kiwi population is increasing and to Maury Stern. (see Observations page 3) locate banded kiwis on their nests in the government of New Zealand has the remote forests near Franz Josef set a high bar, a predator-free nation by Te Quail is published monthly except Glacier on the south island of New the year 2050. ~Maren Smith in January and August by the Mt. Diablo Zealand. Te idea is to retrieve the egg And, that’s good news for New Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut from the nest burrow, incubate it, raise Zealand’s Rowi Kiwis. Creek, CA 94597-0053. Te deadline for the chick at the West Coast Wildlife Information: joelsartore.com the Dec.-Jan. Quail will be November 6. the Quail —2 — November 2017 A Lapland Longspur was seen Observations (9/12-10/8/17) by Maury Stern 10/8 by ES at Ferry Pt., Miller-Knox RP. DW and AA saw one Pine Siskin Many of the expected winter SG and MK saw a Red-naped at Vollmer Peak 9/15. residents have returned, the southern Sapsucker at the Valle Vista area 10/4. A Black-and-White Warbler migration of northern birds continues, A Red-breasted Sapsucker was at stayed the last two weeks of August at and several exciting birds were seen. Heather Farm 9/13, and another at D&NK’s Martinez home. A Greater White-Fronted Goose Vollmer Peak 10/4. JC A Nashville Warbler was near was seen at Pt. Isabel 9/24, AK, CM; J E s a w a Ye l l o w - s h a f t e d Bailey Road in Concord 9/28, AF; and and at Meeker Slough/51st Street. AK Northern Flicker at his Pinole home another was at Heather Farm. TF Te continuing Canvasback was 10/4. AS and DW saw a MacGillivray's at Meeker Slough and seen by VW, LD, D&NK saw a Merlin in Pittsburg Warbler 9/30 at Vollmer Peak and AL BD, JeC, MiP during the month. 9/12. saw one at Ellis Lake in Concord 9/27. Flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons An Olive-sided Flycatcher was at Black-throated Grey Warblers were in Orinda and Richmond 9/25 Valle Vista 9/22, ER, JoC; a later one were common this migratory season. and 10/5 (probably related to the big was at DVC 10/3. DL Tey were at Heather Farm 9/13, DK; acorn year we are having). JC, AK SD saw a Pacific-slope Flycatcher at Wildcat Canyon 9/15, AK; at SD saw two Eurasian Doves at Pt. 9/18 in Pt. Pinole Park. Heather Farm 9/23, HH, FS; in Pinole 9/26, the first seen there. A Say’s Phoebe returned to southeasten Lafayette 10/4, MZ; and in JY saw a Greater Roadrunner in Heather Farm 9/13. HH, FS P&NS’s Antioch yard on 10/5. her Deer Ridge subdivision in the Te Tropical Kingbird returned, A Green-tailed Towhee was at Antioch/Brentwood area 9/25. its 4th year to Heather Farm 10/3. HH, JC’s Orinda home 9/7 and 9/8. MP Tere were Black Swifts flying FS, TF and MR. LW saw it on 10/4. AL saw a Clay-colored Sparrow over Las Trampas Ridge Park 9/22. DS A very unusual Eastern Kingbird at the West County Waste Dump 9/25. Vaux’s Swifts were over Vollmer c a m e t o Fox Sparrows returned to Vollmer Peak in late September, AA, DW; and Heather Farm Peak 9/15, AA, DW; and Pt. Pinole over JC’s Orinda house 10/4. 9/19. HH, FS, 9/18. SD JC saw a Rufous Hummingbird TF, and MR A Lincoln’s Sparrow was at AK’s 9/24 at his Orinda home and EM saw Tis vagrant Richmond home 9/14. one at his Alamo home 10/7. sighting was White-crowned Sparrows A Common Gallinule was seen confirmed as returned to Heather Farm 9/15. FS 9/15, HH, and 9/28, E&DL at H. Farm. a first county Golden-crowned Sparrows KB and BB saw a Sandhill Crane r e c o r d f o r returned to AK’s Richmond yard 9/24 . in Holland Tract 9/22. Contra Costa A Western Tanager was at An American Golden Plover was C o u n t y . Heather Farm near the Contra Costa discovered at West County Wastewater L a t e r, D Q Eastern Kingbird, Canal 9/15, FS; AK also saw one at District in Richmond by AL on 9/25. and JS saw Rosita Harvey photo Wildcat Canyon 9/15; and FS and HH Te bird was seen by many until 9/28. the bird, and saw one at Heather Farm 9/23. AM, DaW, JH, MR, DT, ES, BD, TH RL saw it on 9/20. It was not seen after A late, young Black-headed A Red Knot was a Pt. Isabel 9/22. 10/5. Grosbeak was at Wildcat Canyon BB, KB A Western Kingbird was at Pt. 9/15. AK BB and KB also saw a Dunlin at Isabel 9/15. LF A very late Lazuli Bunting was at Pt. Isabel 9/22. A Cassin’s Vireo was at Heather DVC 10/3. DL JT saw a Wandering Tattler in the Farm 9/19, HH; and DW saw another T w o u n u s u a l W e s t e r n Pt. Molate/Pt. San Pablo area 9/8. at the Tilden Nature area 9/22. Meadowlarks were at Heather Farm A Common Murre was at Meeker One of the last Swainson’s 10/5. HH Tey haven’t been seen there Slough near 51st Street on 9/15. LF Trushes of the season was at Wildcat for many years. Another was in the water between Canyon Park 9/15. AK SL saw a Hooded Oriole at his Richmond Marina and Brooks Island DW, AA, and DAG all saw a San Ramon home 9/23. on 9/25. CM returning Hermit Trush at Vollmer 〰 A Northern Pygmy-Owl was at Peak 9/15. JA Jeff Acuff, AA Ann Ardillo, KB the Skyline gate area of Redwood A Varied Trush was at Wildcat Keith Bailey, BB Beko Binder, CC Carol Regional Park 9/30. SJ Canyon Park 10/3, AK; and JC saw one Chetkovich, JC Jim Chiropolis, JoC Nineteen Lewis’s Woodpeckers just east of Vollmer Peak on 10/4. John Colbert, JeC Jeremy Cushman, were over JC’s house in Orinda 9/25. Ten American Pipits flew by LD Lynn Davidson, SD Sheila Dickie, E&DL saw one on the Heather Farm Wildcat Canyon 10/5. AK BD Bob Dunn, JE Jack Edick, TF Tracy Pond island 9/28, and JA saw six at GT and CC saw Red-billed Farrington, AF Andrew Ford, LF Briones RP’s Blue Oak Trail on 10/5. Crossbills at Vollmer Peak 9/24. Friedman, >>>continued on page 4 the Quail —3 — November 2017 Vaux’s Swifts, Healdburg, September Alto Adult School class led by Matthew Dodder, all looking 16: For 28 years, the Vaux's Swifts have for the same birds, so it was a Trip been flying into a chimney at Rio little crowded everywhere we Reports Lindo Adventist Academy in went. Tough we started at the Healdsburg during the swifts’ lighthouse, the high winds pretty southward migration in late August and much insured we would not see September. Seven members and guests from MDAS joined any small migrant birds. We did about 200 other viewers to eat, socialize, and watch over see some birds in the trees at the 7,700 birds enter the residence near the Chimney c h i m n e y a f t e r Rock parking lot, including a sunset. When the P r a i r i e W a r b l e r a n d a birds finally finished Blackburnian Warbler. We tried their activity, the several other of the known crowd responded Above: Blackburnian with a hearty round Warbler; R: Prairie Warbler, of applause. Other Beth Branthaver photos birds seen while migrant traps, but things waiting were Anna's were mostly quiet. We did H u m m i n g b i r d , find Great Horned Owls Vaux’s Swifts are a blur as they enter the American Robin, and a Barn Owl at the chimney at dusk, Maren Smith photo Black Phoebe, and a Mendoza Ranch, and the small kettle of Turkey pond below the road had Vultures, perhaps eyeing the sedate crowd looking for their an early Greater White- own evening repast. ~Hugh Harvey fronted Goose and a Greater Yellowlegs. We did our Hayward Regional Shoreline, September 18: Te checklist at the RCA radio station, but made one more stop morning started with a scramble to figure out the best way to at Vision Road and the Inverness tennis court trees. Here, we navigate massive traffic problems during the morning had a number of Hermit, Townsend’s, and Black-throated commute, but 14 participants gathered for the field trip and Gray Warblers, and some of our group saw a Red-eyed Vireo. had a really good day of birding led by Bob Richmond. Tough not everyone saw every bird, our 21 participants Almost immediately, we found an adult Red-tailed Hawk found 57 species. ~Hugh Harvey with its prey in the eucalyptus trees near the parking lot. Eventually, we made it to the edge of the bay and after Field Trip Year-end Report 2016-2017 w a t c h i n g a Altogether, we had 47 scheduled field trips last year. hovering White- Tree were cancelled due to rain; Limantour, Niles, and tailed Kite and Putah Creek. Grizzly Island was cancelled due to flooding passing Northern and Sunol RP was cancelled due to a rock slide. We had a Harrier, we found total of 600 participants and we had a total species count of a Peregrine Falcon 256—not too bad. Of these, four were heard-only: Golden- perched on the crowned Kinglet, MacGillivray's Warbler, Yellow-breasted r o c k s j u s t Chat, and Red Crossbill. A big thank you goes out to the field offshore. Some trip leaders. You certainly keep the name of Mt. Diablo participants said Audubon Society shining brightly. ~Hugh Harvey, FT Chair it was the best 〰 peregrine view >>>Observation abbreviations continued from page 3 they had ever Red-necked Phalarope, Beth Branthaver photo DAG Daryl Anne Goldman, SG Susan Greef, HH Hugh s e e n . F r a n k ' s Harvey, JH Jeff Hoppes, TH Tim Howe, SJ Sharon J., DK Dump was filled with shorebirds including Red-necked Dave Kent, MK Marilyn Kinch, D&NK Deborah and Norm Phalarope, Dunlin, Sanderling, Snowy Plover, Ruddy and Kirshen, AK Alan Krakauer, E&DL Elizabeth and Dal Leite, Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, and Red Knots. A RL Ron Lindeman, AL Albert Linkowski, SL Steve Lombardi, total of 62 species were identified over the course of the DL Douglas Long, AM Aaron Maizlich, CM Colin Meusel, morning. ~Hugh Harvey EM Ethan Monk, MP Michael Park, MiP Michael Pyle, DQ Outer Point Reyes, September 30: Tis time of year Dave Quady, MR Mark Rauzon, ER Erica Rutherford, FS there are a lot of southbound migrants passing through Fred Safier, DS Don Schaezler, P&NS Paul and Nancy Schorr, California and a good place to see some of them is the Outer AS Alex Smolyanskaya, JS John Sterling, ES Emilie Strauss, Point. Our trip did find some migrant birds; we also found GT Glen Tepke, JT John Toldi, DT David Tomb, DaW Dave four other large groups of birders, including Yolo, Weber, LW L. Weiss, DW Denise Wight, VW Virginia Sacramento, and Madrone Audubon Societies, and the Palo Wolinsky, JY Jill Y., and MZ Mara Zhelutka

the Quail —4 — November 2017 Field Trip Schedule By Hugh Harvey November 2017 (Contact Leader for ?s or rain cancellations) Saturday,November 18 04 Saturday Charleston Slough/South Bay Limantour 07 Tuesday McNabney Marsh Leader: Maury Stern (925) 284-5980 18 Saturday Limantour Carpool leaves at 7 AM from El Nido Ranch Road, OR December 2017 meet at 8:30 AM at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point 02 Saturday Sacramento/Colusa NWRs Reyes National Seashore. Take SR 24 to Oakland, then I-580 09 Saturday Solano County Raptors w e s t t o 16 Saturday Christmas Bird Count-Central Contra Costa Co. R i c h m o n d 20 Wednesday Christmas Bird Count-East Contra Costa Co. and the San R a f a e l Saturday, November 4 Bridge (toll). Charleston Slough/South Bay F r o m U S Leader: Eugenia K. Larson (925) 806-0644 101 north, Carpool leaves at 7:30 AM from Sycamore Valley Road Park take Central and Ride. OR, meet at San Rafael T e r m i n a l R o a d i n exit. Go two Mountain View at 8:30 blocks, turn Surf Scoter, AM. Take I-680, exit left on 3rd Beth Branthaver photo Mission Boulevard W. Street and Continue through two continue west to Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Turn right on Sir traffic lights and take I-880 Francis Drake. At SR 1 in Olema, turn right for 0.25 miles, ramp S. Exit to SR 237, then turn left on Bear Valley Road. Te Visitor’s Center is off connect to US 101 N at Black Skimmers and Black-bellied Bear Valley Road. Tis trip includes forest birds on the ridge Moffett Field. Exit at San Plovers, Cassie Tzur photo and ducks, shorebirds, and often, loons and grebes on the Antonio Road, turn right bay. Bring lunch and a beverage. (north) to Terminal Road, turn right and park. Entrance is on left. Other areas of interest in the South Bay are Palo Alto Baylands, Alviso, and Redwood Shores. Shorebirds and Christmas Bird Count (CBC): waterfowl should be plentiful. Bring lunch and a beverage. Central County, Saturday, December 16 East County, Wednesday, December 20 Tuesday, November 7 McNabney Marsh For details or to sign up: Leader: Steve Taylor (925) 828-8810 [email protected] Meet at 9 AM at the observation platform along the Mt. see page 9 for an article with more CBC information View Sanitary District entrance road. Exit from I-680 S at Arthur Road, turn left and go under the freeway. Or, exit I-680 N at Pacheco Blvd, turn right Field trips are open to members and non-members, onto Arthur Road and beginners to advanced birders, but no dogs. Contact Leader go under the freeway. for ?s or rain cancellations. MDAS is a conservation Arthur Road will turn organization; as such, we encourage carpooling (riders help left. At 0.4 miles, turn a with gas, tolls, or entry fees). Drivers who carpool for field sharp left onto Mt. View trips should have proof of liability insurance in their cars. Sanitary’s private road, : Easy, little walking, smooth paths through the entry gate, on the east side of the : Moderate, one mile+, possibly rough terrain freeway, and park in the Common Goldeneye, : Difficult, many miles, rough terrain gravel area across from Isaac Aronow photo El Nido Ranch Road carpool location: Exit SR 24 at St. the wooden observation Stephens Drive east of Orinda. El Nido Ranch Road is parallel p l at fo r m . We o f te n s e e go o d w i nte r d u ck s a n d to and north of the freeway. Park just east of the intersection shorebirds. Because Moorhen Marsh is currently closed, time with St. Stephens Drive. permitting, we may continue to the north side of the marsh along Sycamore Valley Road Park and Ride location: From I-680 Waterfront Road or to other areas in the Martinez area. Te S, exit at Sycamore Valley Road East in Danville, and for exact itinerary will be determined the morning of the trip. Bring I-680 N, exit at Sycamore Valley Road. Te Park and Ride lot a beverage and a snack, or lunch. is on the left at the light, one block east of the freeway. the Quail —5 — November 2017 Grebe-a-palooza on Lake Almanor article and photos by Maren Smith, Quail Editor Anxious to see the nesting rafts of Western and Clark’s Grebes on Lake Almanor, one of the largest breeding populations in California, and hopeful of witnessing the spectacular mating “dance,” we headed to Chester, about a 4.5 hour drive from the Bay Area to partake in the 2nd Annual Plumas Audubon Grebe Festival, August 18-19, 2017. Te festival included 42 activities for a nominal fee from hikes to kayaking and everything in between. Tey also watching the mother kick out a foot, as if to say, you are just offered free events including a children’s art contest with too big for that nonsense, kiddos (photo above). adorable entries displayed in the lobby. Te depth of the lake water is critical, not only for We were a little late to the party, signing up the week of availability of fish and plant material for nests, but to prevent the festival, but we managed to sign up for three memorable predation by land mammals. In addition, if the water level activities: the informative John James Audubon documentary, dips too high or too low, grebes may abandon their nests. a bird walk in the historic Olsen Barn meadow and adjacent Lake Almanor is a man-made reservoir in Plumas riparian habitat along the North Fork of the Feather River, County, just south of Mt. Lassen. It is a hot spot for human and the much-awaited pontoon boat ride on Lake Almanor, recreation as well as a breeding colony for 35% of the grebes It was well worth the long drive as we got to see four in California (and a nesting site for Bald Eagles and Osprey). different grebe species. By the end Plumas Audubon surveys estimate over 3000 grebes this year. of the trip, I could confidently tell Te dam was built on the North Fork of the Feather River the difference between the two in 1914 by Great Western Power, flooding the former main nesting species: the Western meadow and valley, creating Lake Almanor (named for the Grebe (photo L) with the black Vice-President Guy Earl’s three daughters—Alice, Martha, mask extending below the piercing and Eleanor). Te current Canyon Dam was doubled in size red eye, like a bandit from an old and completed in 1927. cowboy Western movie, and the Today, the reservoir is owned and operated by Pacific Clark’s Grebe’s (photo below) with Gas and Electric (PG&E) and is used for their hydroelectric its black power system, sending water to the Butt Valley Reservoir mop stopping just short of its eye which is then diverted by tunnels for electricity and like Clark Gable. agricultural needs in Northern California. With a spotting scope, you can During the drought, water was at a premium, so it was see the floating nests south of the released from the reservoir to thirsty crops and humans, but causeway, located east of Chester it was a disaster for nesting grebes that suffered low numbers past the large Olsen Barn. But a of chicks hatched. Tis is an ongoing concern. boat ride gives you a close-up view Nesting surveys done by Plumas Audubon in of these fascinating birds. Our conjunction with California Audubon count the birds to knowledgeable guide kept the boat provide data to inform PG&E of reservoir management 300 feet from the birds, while regaling us with grebe facts. practices that will benefit both humans and birds. Tere is a Grebes molt during the nesting season, losing their flight direct link between water levels in the lake and nesting feathers. Tey are adept divers and swimmers, but poor success. In 2015, at the drought peak, only one chick survived walkers due to unwieldy feet resembling yellow paddles for every three adults. Tough the species is not listed as situated on legs towards the back of their body. Tey tend to endangered, the drop in reproduction could become a nest in large colonies, making their nests out of aquatic conservation disaster. plants, attaching them to underwater reeds in shallow water. Tough we did not witness the Late nesters, the grebes are found nesting on Lake courtship “weed ceremony,” or the Almanor from June-September. showy “rushing dance,” we were Te 2-4 (on average) bluish eggs lucky to witness the persistent become stained brown from begging calls of the young, the plant matter over the course of subsequent dive by the doting 23 days. Upon hatching, the parents, and the tender presentation of a fish to a hungry, young climb aboard the adult’s young grebe (photo above R). Te grebes return to the vast back (photo L), finding a warm Pacific Ocean with their young, so we felt fortunate to have spot beneath the feathers, called this close-up view of these lovely birds. We are already “back brooding.” Once fledged, plotting our return trip to this scenic area. the young attempt to crawl back For more information: plumasaudubon.org (under on their parents, to no avail. We got a chuckle out of “projects” select Grebes)

the Quail —6 — November 2017 Bushtit✦Psaltriparus minimus by Jean Halford Te Bushtit is a small, plain, active bird that One of the smallest birds in North America, about half of lives in open woods or scrubby areas, their four-inch length is made up of their tail. Tey are gray A particularly pine-oak woodlands and chaparral, above, lighter below; males have a dark eye, females have a as well as suburbs and pale eye. Tree subspecies of Bushtits parks. Tey will come consist of coastal birds that have a to your garden if there are native brown crown; the interior subspecies shrubs and small trees planted, or if show a brown ear patch and gray cap; suet or peanuts are available. and in the southwest to Mexico some Bushtits come periodically and mob adult and juvenile males have a black my suet feeder, with 14 or so mask and are called the Black-eared hanging all over the feeder! Bushtit. Bushtits are social birds that Bushtits eat mostly small insects travel in flocks of up to 60 birds until and spiders, often hanging upside breeding season when they break off down while foraging. Te large flock into pairs. Tey can range widely in can be almost undetectable in a tree winter, sometimes moving long or a bush until the birds fly out one at distances to escape cold weather. a time following the bird ahead of it. Female Bushtit, Jean Halford photo Breeding season in California On winter nights, foraging flocks roost begins in February. Both males and females help build an communally in dense cover, often huddling shoulder to impressive hanging nest that can take from two weeks to a shoulder during a cold spell. While birds are using the nest, month or more to build. Te nest can hang up to a foot in the parents and their helpers roost inside their hanging nest. length, with the entrance on one side near the top; three Teir light ticking and lisping call notes keep the flock in inches in width at the top, 4-5 inches in width at the bottom. touch with one another. Tese call notes can be intensified to Te adults create a stretchy sac using spider webs and plant indicate nesting activities or when mobbing predators. material; they add insulating material such as fur, feathers, Individuals that get separated from their group make a series and downy plant material. of high-pitched chip notes that carry well. (Editor’s note: the Tey lay 4-10 plain white eggs and both parents incubate genus Psaltriparus derives from Psaltria, a female lute player, the eggs, sometimes at the same time! It takes about 12 days reflecting a Bushtit’s high-pitched call; minimums means small.) for the eggs to hatch. Te altricial young are born naked with Bushtit populations are relatively stable, however, their eyes closed. Teir eyes open in eight days and the young numbers declined between 1966 and 2014, according to the fledge 6-7 days after that and are independent at 21-23 days. North American Breeding Survey. Partners in Flight estimates Bushtits have helpers at the nest who aid in feeding the the global breeding population at 3.2 million, with 70% living young. Tese helpers are usually unmated males or breeders in the U.S., 2% in Canada, and 27% in Mexico. whose own nest failed. Bushtit helpers are rarely young from Te average lifespan of a Bushtit is about two years. Te a previous brood. oldest Bushtit on record was 8 years, 5 months. Community Events ▶︎Sandhill Crane Festival, Lodi, November 3-5 For 20 years, the festival has celebrated the return of the cranes, one of nature’s wondrous spectacles. Enjoy the art show, workshops and presentations for free at Hutchins Street Square Exhibit Hall or register for a paid tour with Sandhill Crane experts. For information: cranefestival.com ▶︎Baja’s Birds & Gray Whales Tour, February 17-24, 2018 Join seasoned expedition leader, Juan-Carlos Solis, on an 8-day desert oasis adventure in a search of birds unique to the Baja California Cape’s prime birding hot spots as well as 35-ton gray whales during their migration to Baja’s coastal lagoons. Te trip is limited to ten participants. For information: www.quetzaladventures.com/ bajabirding2018 L: Black-throated Sparrow on a cardon cacti, Juan- Carlos Solis photo; R: Xantus’s Hummingbird, Shellie Bailey-Shah photo the Quail —7 — November 2017 by Ellis Myers C. Hart Merriam Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Its ✦ ✦ founders, who held their first meeting Ornithologist Mammalogist Ethnologist in New York in September of 1883, O n e o f A m e r i c a’s l e a d i n g first ornithological club in the United included Spencer F. Baird, George N. naturalists, C. Hart Merriam was the States, the Nuttall Ornithological Club. Lawrence, Charles E. Bendire, Elliot first Chief of the U. S. Biological Merriam enrolled in Yale's Coues, and Robert Ridgway. Merriam, Survey. He was also one of the Sheffield Scientific School continuing 27, was one of the younger members. founders of the National Geographic his interest in natural history. He He was elected secretary of the new Society. developed an interest in anatomy and organization and became chairman of Clinton Hart Merriam was born in thought to make medicine his career, its important Committee on Bird 1855 in New York City. He was named and went from Yale to the College of Migration. for his father, Clinton Levi Merriam, Merriam's interest in mammals and his mother, Caroline Hart. Te continued to grow and his private name Clinton was in honor of the collection of them grew as well. Private distinguished Governor DeWitt collections of birds were numerous, Clinton of New York. but similar collections of mammals His boyhood days at the family were very rare. Merriam carried on a estate of Locust Grove in central New large correspondence, promoting York State, at the base of the interest in mammals by purchasing Adirondack Mountains, allowed him a s p e c i m e n s a n d b y e mp l o y i n g freedom to know the woods and fields collectors. Among those who sent him and to build a passion for their birds specimens, in 1883, was Vernon Bailey, and animals. a farmer's boy of Elk River, Minnesota, Hart's sister, somewhat younger and his future brother-in-law. Tis boy than himself, now best known as sent so many difficult to obtain species Florence Merriam Bailey, shared her that Merriam forme d a close brother's love of nature and followed friendship. In 1884, Merriam described h i m b o t h i n h i s c h i l d h o o d his first new species, Atophyrax bendirii, meanderings and in careers in which a small shrew obtained for him in both achieved eminence. (see the Quail C. Hart Merriam, National Academy of Oregon by the ornithologist, Major newsletter for July-August 2017 and Sciences photo Charles Bendire. His collection of September 2017) mammals had then numbered perhaps His father had provided him with Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia, seven thousand specimens and was a single-barreled shotgun when he was receiving his M.D. in 1879 at the age of probably superior even to those of the only thirteen or fourteen and, later, had twenty-four. In March of 1878, while a American Museum in New York City taken him to a taxidermist in New medical student in New York, he or Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. York City to learn how to prepare assisted in organizing the Linnaean In the spring of 1885, Congress specimens. By the age of fifteen, young Society of New York and was elected established a section of ornithology in Merriam had already begun a private its first president. From 1879 to 1885 the Entomological Division of the collection of bird skins. About this he practiced medicine at Locust Grove, Department of Agriculture. At the time his father, then serving as a but he was also very active in studying recommendation of Professor Spencer Representative in Congress, took the the local fauna and adding to his Baird, Merriam was given the position boy to Washington and introduced collections. He developed a growing of Chief, with the title of Ornithologist. him to Prof. Spencer F. Baird. With this interest in mammals as well as birds. In In 1905, this Division became the connection and with his youthful 1877, he published a Review of the Birds Bureau of Biological Survey; in 1939 it ambition, he found himself attached to of Connecticut. His observations in Te joined with the Bureau of Fisheries, a government expedition, the Hayden Birds of Locust Grove were published in and continues now as the U. S. Fish Geological Survey of 1871, and spent 1881. Tis was followed three years and Wildlife Service in the Department the summer in the Yellowstone region, later with Mammals of the Adirondacks. of the Interior. where he collected more than 300 bird At this time, such a great interest Merriam brought in Vernon Bailey skins and 67 nests with eggs. in ornitholog y had de veloped as a field agent; and he was ranging the In 1872 and 1873 he attended prep throughout the country that the West, sending in previously unknown s c h o o l s i n N e w J e r s e y a n d Nuttall Ornithological Club, although species for study and description. Massachusetts. In 1873, he joined with continuing as a local society, was Merriam soon made a personal other young naturalists in forming the expanded by transition to a larger, journey to the West, going with national organization, Te American Vernon Bailey to >>>cont. on page 9 the Quail —8 — November 2017 >>>continued from page 8 tribes of Native Americans in the state. County). Chapter involvement in this the San Francisco Mountain region of He collected examples of Indian National Audubon citizen science Arizona to study the distribution of handiwork, especially basketry. project is one of our most important birds, reptiles, mammals, and plants. Eventually, his collection became a c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o p r o m o t e Merriam was one of 33 founders large and valuable one. conservation. Te data is used in many of the National Geographic Society in At the age of fifty-five, he devoted significant ways to determine the long- 1888, serving on the Board of himself to field studies among the term health and status of bird Directors for 54 years. He was California Indians and made detailed populations across the continent. It Chairman of the U. S. Board on notes about them. His notes and was used in Audubon's 2014 “Climate Geographic Names for nine years manuscripts are now with the Change Report,” a ground-breaking (1917-1925). He was active in founding Smithsonian Institution. He published research document that predicted how the Washington Academy of Sciences. a few papers in ethnological journals climate change may affect the ranges In 1919, when the American Society of and two books of folk tales. His total of 588 North American bird species, Mammalogists was founded, he was publication count was very large, and in 2012 the EPA included CBC elected its first president. numbering nearly 500 titles. data in a report as an important In 1891, Merriam organized the His wife, Virginia Elizabeth indicator of climate change. Te data Death Valley Expedition, which Gosnell, formerly his secretary, whom shows, unfortunately, that many of our explored the mountains and deserts of he had married in 1886, died in 1937. avian friends are in great trouble. For southeastern California and Nevada C. Hart Merriam died five years later information: www.audubon.org/ with good success. Tis expedition was at the age of 87, in Berkeley, California. conservation/science/christmas- led by Dr. T. S. Palmer, since Merriam Editors Note: Ellis Myers passed away bird-count himself, after starting with the party, in May, but he had written this article in MDAS has held a Christmas Bird had been chosen by President advance for our November issue for which I Count since shortly after our chapter's Harrison to act as a Bering Sea am grateful. He is sorely missed. founding. Today, our chapter "circles" Commissioner to study fur seals and cover two distinct areas. Previously, spent the summer on the Pribilof we only completed a Central County Islands in Alaska. Count, but about fifteen years ago, the He directed the 1899 Harriman East County Count was added. As a A l a s k a E x p e d i t i o n , a u n i q u e chapter, we survey unique habitats exploration of the Alaskan coast with ranging from the oak woodlands of John Muir, George Bird Grinnell Central County, to montane on Mt. (Quail, October 2013), and William Dall, Diablo, and a riparian piece of the among other noted scientists. On Delta. Each habitat hosts its own returning, he edited the twelve species and, accordingly, over the years volumes reporting on the observations wintering songbirds as well as and collections. waterfowl and shorebirds have Merriam maintained a long appeared on our lists. Due to the friendship with Teodore Roosevelt. goodwill established by our chapter As a youth in New York, Roosevelt's leaders over the years, we have the admiration for Merriam's book good fortune of being able to access Mammals of the Adirondacks led to a some private, privately-managed, and meeting of the two. At that time, In 1900, E. W. Nelson named a off-limits public lands in our Counts. subspecies of Wild Turkey for C. Hart Roosevelt had serious thoughts of a Some of our survey parties will be Merriam, Meleagris gallopavo merriami. career as a naturalist (Quail, April This photo is not likely to be that bird, as out dawn to dusk. We will be counting 2013). When he came to Washington it was photographed in Moraga, and not regardless of weather. Your reward will as Assistant Secretary of the Navy he in the Rocky Mountains, Maren Smith be knowing you are contributing to the sought out Merriam and continued the photo. Happy Thanksgiving! data collected while enjoying a warm relationship when he b e came and friendly Countdown Dinner at the President. Merriam was one of his ▶︎MDAS Christmas conclusion of the day. ~Elizabeth principal advisers when Roosevelt Leite, CBC Chair organized his noted African trip after Bird Count Sign-ups Online sign-ups: Previous CBC leaving the presidency. Te Audubon Christmas Bird His field work in California participants, please let me know if Count is the longest running citizen you intend to participate and in enamored Merriam to the state and he science project in the nation. Tis year finally built a home in the redwoods which survey(s). If you are new to marks the 118th Count. Our MDAS the CBC and want to join us, please near Lagunitas in Marin County. CBCs will be held on Saturday, During his travels in California he had contact me at: December 16 (Central County), and [email protected] many contacts with the dwindling Wednesday, December 20 (East the Quail —9 — November 2017 ☛Legislative Action Update � Bird Surveys Support Local Creek SB 5 – Parks Bond – PASSED. After a real roller coaster Heather Rosmarin, an active MDAS Legislative Action of a week, during which we saw potential defections and Committee member, has been instrumental in relaunching holdouts from Assembly members from the Bay Area, Friends of Pleasant Hill Creeks. She and other MDAS Northern California, and the Central Valley, the Assembly got members, including Alan Bade, Wendy Gollop, Georgette its act together and passed SB 5. Tis bond will provide Howington, and Adena Rosmarin, have become advocates for hundreds of millions of dollars for local, regional, and state protecting Grayson Creek, a vital riparian wildlife habitat parks, with a special focus of spending on “parks-poor” corridor in Pleasant Hill. Activities include engaging with the communities that have traditionally not benefited as much community about the importance of creeks, monitoring and from parks bonds. It also has $200 million for the Salton Sea, providing comments on development projects, proposing a tens of millions for Central Valley wetlands, and additional multi-benefit Grayson Creek Green Corridor, participating in investments in coastal areas, wildlife corridors, and climate creek clean-ups, and initiating citizen science projects. Te adaptation projects. group is partnering with MDAS to document avian wildlife SB 249 – Off-highway Vehicle Office Reform – along the creek through regular bird surveys. With my help PASSED. Tis bill was substantially watered down and faced a they have compiled data from eBird and the 2016 CBC, and in lot of opposition, but it squeaked through. October they conducted a habitat assessment of Grayson AB 890 – Closing CEQA Loophole – PASSED. We Greek with the help of Tracy Farrington. Bird surveys will weren’t sure this bill would survive, but it managed to get occur on a regular basis with increased frequency during through earlier this week—good news for our chapters. important nesting and migratory periods. If you would like to SB 49, 50, 51 – Preserve California Package – SB 49 help or are interested in learning more about this project, DID NOT PASS, SB 50 and 51 PASSED. SB 50 (CA has first please contact Heather at: [email protected]. right of refusal if the federal government tries to sell federal ~Elizabeth Leite, Citizen Science Chair land in CA) and 51 (scientific data protection) passed earlier ▶︎ in the week. SB 49 (baseline protection for water and air Education Committee Update quality, endangered species) was more controversial and Te September Birding By Ear class taught by Denise difficult, and did not pass. Wight is a wrap and a second group is currently taking the SB 100 - 100% Renewable by 2045 – DID NOT PASS October class. Te Raptor ID class is just around the corner. (Wasn’t brought up for a final vote, as far as I know). Tis bill According to survey results, the majority of participants is likely to come back in some form next year. learned new ways of thinking about bird vocalizations and AB 109 – Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund were satisfied with the length of the class, although a third of Investments – PASSED. After a couple of years of work, our the respondents indicated that they would be interested in a coalition was able to secure $15 million/year for investments longer class with more field trips, if offered, and 100% said in wetlands in the GGRF. ~Ariana Rickard, Legislative they would recommend the class to others. Action Chair Looking ahead to 2018, the Education Committee is For more information: www.latimes.com/politics/ working on more classes and a longer version of Birding By essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-it-s-a-wrap- Ear. Stay tuned! ~Maren Smith, Education Committee for-the-california-1505533018-htmlstory.html � Cornell Lab’s Project FeederWatch � Save Lafayette Trees Update Looking for a simple citizen science project in your own backyard? Look no further than the Cornell Lab of Save Lafayette Trees (SLT) has initiated a second lawsuit, Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada’s Project FeederWatch. this time against East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) Choose two days in a row to observe the birds in your yard and PG&E in order to protect 204 trees in Briones Regional and record the data. Help scientists track feeder bird Park. EBRPD has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) populations and get familiar with your backyard visitors. Te with PG&E signed March 22, 2017, paying $245,000 for these season begins on November 11, 2017 and runs through April trees. 13, 2018. For more information: www.FeederWatch.org Originally, Save Lafayette Trees had a Tolling Agreement, with EBRPD, an agreement to not cut any trees in Briones RP ✔ Two Easy Ways to Give until the Lafayette legal matter is resolved with EBRPD, but 1. Register at Wild Birds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill as EBRPD would not extend the Tolling Agreement. So, this is an MDAS member and each time you make a purchase, 5% another CEQA lawsuit filed September 29, 2017 in Contra will be donated to MDAS and Native Bird Connections. Since Costa Superior Court. 2012, Mike has made over $3300 in donations to these two SLT had their third settlement meeting with PG&E and groups. the city of Lafayette on October 5. Should the settlement talks 2. If you, your family members (calling all Millenials!), or not result in a mutually satisfactory outcome, the first court your friends shop online at Amazon, please register “MT date to resolve this issue is scheduled for November 8, 2017 in Diablo Audubon Society” as your favorite non-profit charity Contra Costa Superior Court. at smile.amazon.com. For every eligible purchase, MDAS ~Kent Fickett, Vice President receives 0.5% of your purchase. You shop. Amazon gives. the Quail —10 — November 2017 Cache is King Mt. Diablo Audubon Society (MDAS) Ever stop to think about where the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society, a Chapter of National Audubon, is committed to the sustainable balance of our word “cash” comes from? Well, it stems community’s people, birds, other wildlife, and habitat through conservation, education, and advocacy. from the French word cache, meaning “to hide” and refers to storing valuables MDAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS .…..…….…[email protected]..(925) 757-5107 to be used later, caching. A bird’s “cash” President: Paul Schorr Vice President: Kent Fickett ..…………….k.fi[email protected]..(415) 269-4277 is usually made up of seeds and nuts, as Secretary: Carol Pachl .…..………[email protected]..(925) 253-0675 well as insects and invertebrates—food Treasurer: Steve Buffi ..….…….…………………………………(925) 938-0929 that can be stored for months without Programs: Ariana Rickard .…..……[email protected]..(347) 754-0143 spoiling will do. Field Trips: Hugh Harvey ..…..………………………………………(925) 935-2979 .….….………[email protected]..(925) 938-7987 Birds cache during the fall in order Conservation: Nancy Wenninger Education: Beth Branthaver …..……[email protected]..(925) 944-1856 to have the necessary food supply to live Sales Manager: Diane Malucelli …………………[email protected]..(925) 674-0920 through cold winters in areas where Membership: Virginia Hamrick .……………[email protected]..(925)-945-7761 seeds or foods are difficult to find, from Young Birders Liaison: Tracy Farrington …..…[email protected]..(925) 788-6223 several months to year-round. Volunteer Coordinator: Brian Murphy …..……[email protected]..(925) 937-8835 ..……….………………………[email protected] Chickadees are the most famous Publicity & Social Media: Rosalie Howarth Member-at-Large: Mike Eliot ..….………[email protected]..(925) 798-0303 cachers. Teir brains are well-developed Member-at-Large: Chick Chickering ……..……[email protected]..(925) 686-9231 to remember hundreds of places that Quail Editor: Maren Smith ..……[email protected]..(925) 322-9477 they cache seeds, using landmarks and ADVISORY COMMITTEES the orientation of the sun. Food is often Webmaster: Dal Leite ….………………………[email protected] ..…..………[email protected]..(925) 284-5980 stored in tree bark, knot holes, clusters Observations Editor: Maury Stern Hospitality: Kathy Kellogg ……..…[email protected]..(925) 228-2690 of leaves or pine needles, and even EBB Sightings Monitor: Bill Chilson ….…..….……[email protected]..(510) 619-6692 gutters on roofs. Tey store one type of Scheduling Coordinator: Chick Chickering ….…..……[email protected]..(925) 686-9231 food, one piece per location. Citizen Science & CBC: Elizabeth Leite ……………………………..,[email protected] Titmice usually cache only large ------….…..…[email protected]..(347) 754-0143 sunflower seeds, removing the shells Legislative Action: Ariana Rickard Email Meeting Reminder: Barbara Vaughan ……………………………………………(925) 376-8732 and storing them within 100-130 feet of Honorary Advisor: Jean Richmond ……………………………………………(925) 837-2843 the feeder from which they came, in loose tree bark or rotting areas of trees. Nuthatches cache mostly seeds, but The MDAS Board meets at 645 PM at WBU on the second Thursday except for July and August. do so for only several hours to a day before they are retrieved. White- Mt. Diablo Audubon Society breasted Nuthatches prefer shelled thanks our Business Partners: sunflower seeds due to the small size AlphaGraphics, Walnut Creek and weight, storing the seeds in deeply Galaxy Press, Concord furrowed tree trunks. Red-breasted Native Bird Connections Nuthatches, however, prefer heavier Rakestraw Books, Danville seeds in the shell, poking them into Wild Birds Unlimited, Pleasant Hill crevices or rough-barked branches. Jays cache both seeds and larger The Mount Diablo Audubon Society meets at 7 PM the first nuts, like peanuts in the shell. Pinyon Thursday of each month except in July and August in the Camellia Room of The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Jays have an expandable esophagus that Walnut Creek, CA 94598. allows them to carry as many as 40 pine MDAS MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL APPLICATION nuts to a site. Jays ☐Please enroll me/my family in the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society for $25 for one work in mated pairs year. (MDAS dues are tax-deductible) to hide seeds or nuts ☐For an additional $20 please enroll me as a first-time member in the National so that either one Audubon Society (NAS). (includes 6 bi-monthly issues of Audubon Magazine) w i l l b e a b l e t o ☐Please enroll me as a lifetime member for $500. (or 2 annual $250 payments) retrieve them later. Tese jays may ☐I am enclosing an additional tax-deductible donation of $______. transport seeds over six miles to a Please send the Quail by ☐ “Go Green” email ☐ US Mail caching site. Steller’s Jays bury pine nuts in the ground. Some species of pine Name:______trees are dependent upon jays to Address:______disperse their seeds. It is thought that Phone: ( ) ______email:______the rapid dispersal of oak trees after the Send check payable to Mt. Diablo Audubon Society with this application to: last Ice Age was due to the transport of Membership Chair, P.O.B. 2094, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 acorns by jays. ~Mike Eliot, WBU the Quail —11 — November 2017 Mount Diablo Audubon Society Non-Profit Org. P.O. Box 53 U.S. Postage Walnut Creek, CA 94597-0053 PAID Address Service Requested Permit No. 66 Concord, CA

A Yellow Warbler eating fennel at Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds, Isaac Aronow photo

In October, for Birding Information, Kelly Davidson Chou, Mt. View Sanitary District Biologist (bottom L, Maren Smith photo) presented an update on the Moorhen Marsh pond improvements, and tide gate control and nesting platforms in McNabney Marsh.

Max Tarjan, PhD, the Waterbird Program Director for San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (SFBBO) presented a program on SF Bay salt marsh restoration, and also gave us an update on California Gulls and waterbirds in the Bay. (top L, Maren Smith photo) To learn about volunteer activities with SFBBO: sfbbo.org/volunteer/index.php

Brian Murphy (below middle, Georgette Howington photo) at the MDAS table for the WBU October event; and September Birding By Ear field trip (below R, Maren Smith photo)

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ~John Muir

the Quail —12 — November 2017