SPEAKER SERIES Newsletter of the Marin Audubon Society. Vol. 63, No. 2 October 2020 Free and Open to the public

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 7:30 PM Birds of the Sierra Valley By Bob Lewis

The MARIN AUDUBONRail SOCIETY

Bob Lewis Introducing MAS’s Updated Website American Bittern We’re pleased to announce the launch of Marin These revisions are intended to make it The October Speaker Series program Audubon’s updated and improved website — easier for our members to participate in our will be a Zoom meeting. Visit the going live on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. field trips and programs, as well as to keep our Speaker Series page on the MAS Over the past year, we’ve been working to website for information on joining the members and the public better informed about Zoom meeting electronically. upgrade and expand our website. We’ve finally Marin Audubon’s current activities, our work finished, and are excited to share it with our and accomplishments, and conservation issues For more than 20 years, Bob Lewis community and beyond! While the basic design to protect wildlife and habitat. has been leading birding trips to the is similar to our previous website, you will see Sierra Valley, often staying to pho- We hope you will find our updated website the following improvements: tograph the birds and he sees. At easier to navigate, more informative, and enjoy- • Reformatted site for a better experience the headwaters of the Feather River, able to use. From our management perspective, on all size screens the valley is a magnet for birds and it will be easier for us to make changes, which the surrounding mountains provide • Upgraded Home page means we can bring you current information additional habitats. • New pages dedicated to Stewardship and Bob will take us to some of his Restoration and updates more efficiently and faster. A favorite places and show us the • Improved Field Trip page very special thank you to Martha Jarocki who birds that live there, along with a few has been a dedicated partner in the upgrade other creatures. He has often been • Upgraded Volunteer page providing for asked where his favorite birding spot easy volunteer signups through the past year, and Jane Medley, whose is and Sierra Valley ranks high on • Expanded Property and Conservation diligent attention has made the field trip page the list. pages user-friendly. Bob trained as a chemist, but • New photos on Volunteer, Property, and We are thrilled to finally share our new his second career is very avian. He’s Stewardship pages website with you! served on the Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS) board where he led the Adult Education Committee. He’s an award-winning photographer and world traveler, and frequent We Had a Visitor at Deer Island public speaker on avian topics at libraries and Audubon Societies. He On Saturday, August 29 at about 2 pm while has co-taught Master Birding, Avian watering, we observed a monarch visiting Marin Evolution and Bay Area Birds for Audubon’s milkweed patch and nectaring on GGAS, and his bird life list stands at the flowers. This is the first time a monarch has 5,059. been observed at this site. Hopefully it laid some NEXT MONTH’S SPEAKER: eggs — we will see. It is amazing how this little insect can find a 0.01 acre of patch of milkweed THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 7:30 PM out of thousands of acres without any milkweed Feathers and Flight: A Journey to in eastern Novato. The New World Tropics By Benjamin Jacobs-Shwartz This is the second year of Marin Audubon’s demonstration patch of milkweed and nectar plants on the Simmons’ property behind the IN THIS ISSUE Deer Island Storage in Novato. Last winter the Marin Chapter of the California Native Plant Nute Ed President’s Message 2 Society donated 160 milkweed seedlings, which Birdlog 2 our volunteers planted on a dreary day in Janu- Milkweed is the host plant for monarch but- Online Programs 3 ary. Ed Nute and his daughter Kristin have been terflies. Most milkweed plants have survived at Conservation Report 4 watering the milkweed just about every week to the Deer Island patch and some are flowering get it established. Recycled water is delivered to a and setting seed. Milkweed seeds form in a pod Habitat Stewardship 6 1,550-gallon water tank which was installed on which splits open when it matures and the seed the property. continued on page 7

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON OCTOBER 2020 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Phone numbers are in the 415 area code unless President’s Letter otherwise noted. Questions? Please contact the appropriate Board member. By Barbara Salzman President Barbara Salzman 924-6057 This past month our Board has been focusing climate. There are also important local elections Vice President Lowell Sykes 388-2821 on our operations and guidance documents so for the MMWD Board seats in Tiburon and in Secretary Ann Thomas 914-9559 we can function smoothly. We have approved San Rafael, which is now an open seat because Treasurer Ann Thomas 914-9559 our budget, reviewed and updated our Policies Armando Quintero has been appointed State Conservation Phil Peterson 828-4780 Barbara Salzman 924-6057 and Procedures, including a revised and simpli- Parks Director. MMWD owns and manages Field Trips Jane Medley 559/760-1551 fied Document Destruction and Retention significant acreage of watershed lands on and Membership Chair Bob Hinz 383-8688 policy based on California law. We’re also around Mount Tamalpais. So make protecting Contact Bob for membership problems preparing our Annual Plan to guide our work the environment an essential motivation as you or questions. for the coming year. As always, our focus is on vote. Vote for the environment! Outreach, Website Elyse Omernick 694-2320 protecting and restoring habitat, which benefits As restrictions are eased on public activi- Speaker Series wildlife as well as people. ties, (hair dressers, gyms and restaurants), we Doug Waterman 415/506-4675 We’ve had some welcome contributions. don’t see much changing in our operations in Special Projects Jude Stalker 680-6291 Nominating Doug Waterman 415/506-4675 They come at a time when future donations are the foreseeable future. We expect to continue Editor, The Rail Doug Wallace 310-1693 uncertain due to the national economic decline. Speaker Series programs on Zoom and substitute Property Management Ed Nute 669-7710 A special thank you to very generous donors: Zoom workshops for outdoor field trips, prob- Volunteer Coordinator the RHE Foundation for its grant of $10,000 ably through the end of the year at least. On the Meghan Kehoe 209-769-8862 to support our operations, and Mary Love for upside, the Zoom field trips and programs are BAAC Reps Lowell Sykes 388-2821 her donation of $25,000 to support our habitat attracting attendees in numbers far beyond what Barbara Salzman 924-6057 stewardship program. This donation will enable can be accommodated on field trips. But we still DIRECTORS MEETINGS us to order additional plants to be grown, miss seeing each other in person! Although the Meetings open to members. If you wish to installed and maintained at Bahia and Simmons personal interactions are missing, we are able to attend please call 924-6057. and other habitat enhancements we are still for- learn about birds in a more focused way and we 6:30 PM, First Tuesday of the month Richardson Bay Audubon Center mulating. We also thank Todd Denman for the can see others who show themselves on Zoom. 376 Greenwood Beach Road donation of his car through the CARS program We’re also holding our Conservation Committee Tiburon, California 94920 through which MAS receives a portion of the meetings on Zoom. If you would like to join us, MAS telephone: 721-4271 (for messages only) proceeds and the donor gets a tax write off (see call or email Barbara Salzman. how to donate on page 7). The Final EIS for the Pt. Reyes National Marin Audubon Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All memberships and contributions Election day will soon be upon us. As a Seashore General Management Plan was released are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 501(c)(3) organization, MAS is prohibited just as The Rail was in production. We will have

The Rail is published ten times a year by the by law from taking a position on political our analysis next month Marin Audubon Society on 100% recycled candidates, but we can urge you to vote and Stay safe, wear your mask and keep your dis- paper; edited by Doug Wallace, dwallace1957@ vote early in the critical national election. We tance, and please join us for the activities we are yahoo.com, 310-1693; assisted by other mem- are hoping for an improved environmental offering for you to connect you with nature. bers of MAS; and designed by Studio NaCl (www.studionacl.com). Deadline is the first of each month. ©2020 Marin Audubon Society Marin Birdlog: August 2020 Website: www.marinaudubon.org By Noah Arthur Members can receive The Rail electronically instead of a hard copy by emailing [email protected]. The hot, dry days of August bring rare shorebirds to the California coast, and the first rarity of the month was a clas- DONATIONS APPRECIATED! Semipalmated Sandpiper Marin Audubon Society welcomes gifts of sic August shorebird, a juvenile at funds, stock, or property, and bequests in Abbotts Lagoon on the 1st (LS, MS, & JZ). This was followed general, or in honor or memory of someone. by another Semipalmated Sandpiper on the 4th at the Valley at the Library Bailey/Macaulay Joe Cornell Lab ( ML55259551 ) Gifts may be directed to any MAS project. Ford Wetlands (RO). Franklin’s Unspecified gifts of more than $500 will be placed in the Endowment Fund for A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, likely a bird that over- conservation, the protection of wildlife species, summered nearby, was in Woodacre on the 6th (BB). and the preservation and enhancement of Probably one of North America’s most stunningly beautiful avian plumages, a breeding- wildlife habitats. Since MAS is an all-volunteer Franklin’s Gull organization, 100% of your donation goes to its plumaged adult showed up with the gull flock at Rodeo Beach on the 7th (WL). projects. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be The long-staying Black Vulture floated over Giacomini Wetlands on the 10th (EL), and acknowledged in The Rail, as well as personally another sighting of it was in San Rafael on the 16th (DL). on behalf of the Society. Checks should be Another Semipalmated Sandpiper at Abbotts Lagoon on the 14th (JP) was almost certainly made out and mailed to: Marin Audubon Rose-breasted Grosbeak Society, P.O. Box 599, Mill Valley, CA 94942. a new individual. A male on the 18th was the first record for Nicasio Reservoir (BB), and another Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in Corte Madera on the 24th (JP). On the 21st a male Summer Tanager was at Pine Gulch in Bolinas (EG). A Ruff showed up at Valley Ford Wetlands on the 27th (JP), and another Ruff at Rodeo Lagoon MISSION STATEMENT on the 28th (WL), both subsequently enjoyed by many birders. To conserve and restore natural Very unusual for summer in Marin, a Snow Goose flew over Corte Madera on the 31st with a ecosystems, focusing on birds flock of Canadas (BB). and other wildlife and their habitats, Observers and Acronyms LS: Lucas Stephenson, MS: Mark Stephenson, JZ: Joseph Zeno, RO: Rob for the benefit of humanity and O’Donnell, BB: Bob Battagin, WL: William Legge, EL: Evan Lipton, DL: Derek Lecy, JP: Jeff Perkins, EG: the earth’s biological diversity. Eugene Gregor, BB: Brian Browne

2 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON BIRDING PROGRAMS ON ZOOM

up the essential nature of life. He developed and New Birding Programs coordinates the Natural History Program at College Continue on Zoom! of Marin, and is the 2008 recipient of the Terwilliger Environmental Education Award. Note: After a somewhat rocky start to our debut webinar on shorebirds last month, we are now better THE NATURAL HISTORY OF IN MARIN

prepared to manage the technical aspects of our COUNTY: COLONIZATION AND POPULATION de Blok © Mark programs and hope you will participate again, even if GROWTH you were frustrated in September — please give us Wednesday, October 21, 2020 another chance! 7 PM to 8:30 PM MAS and the Mill Valley As we continue to shelter in place, we invite you With Jules Evens Film Festival Present to join us for one or more of our upcoming Webinars Since the establishment of a nesting colony of focused on raptors. Why not take advantage of Osprey at Kent Lake beginning in the mid-1960s, “The Warden” this opportunity to deepen your understanding and the local population grew exponentially, but only appreciation of these charismatic aerial predators? over the next three decades. Beginning in the mid- Marin Audubon Society is partner- Presentations will be made by respected local 1990s, the numbers leveled off and then began to ing with the Mill Valley Film Festival naturalists and scientists, friends to many in our decline somewhat. This presentation will trace the on the presentation of the new film, birding community. Fall is a good time to view raptors dynamics of that founding population, discuss the in Marin, and when the smoke finally clears, these reasons for its local decline as well as the popula- The Warden. programs might just inspire you to get out in the field tion’s expansion in the greater Bay Area. The Warden (Netherlands, narra- and sharpen your identification skills. Born and raised in New England, Jules lived Our October calendar features four programs on with his family and worked as a wildlife biologist tive feature, dir. Threes Anna) For consecutive Wednesday evenings — October 7, 14, in western Marin County for over three decades. almost half a century an old man 21, and 28. Each program will be scheduled from He currently lives in coastal Oregon but returns to has been the warden of a bird 7:00 to 8:30 PM, and begin with a one-hour program Marin for field work and friendships. His primary sanctuary on a tiny island in the to be followed by a time for questions and discussion. research focuses on tidal wetlands, avian popu- middle of the ocean. One day he Check at the bottom of each field trip listing to lation trends, and species at risk. He has written access the sign-up links for each program. Please three California Natural History Guides: The Natural receives notice that his posting note you will need a Zoom account (free for basic History of the Point Reyes Peninsula (3rd ed. 2008), will be discontinued. His happy service) in order to register, and you will need to sign An Introduction to California Birdlife with Ian Tait up separately for each program. All programs are free, life—in and alongside nature— (2005), and Birds of the Northern California Coast but registration is required and will soon be available comes to an abrupt end. But the with Rich Stallcup (2014). at www.marinaudubon.org. warden refuses to accept his dis- RED TALES, HAWKISH BEHAVIORS, AND missal. Determined not to leave, DIURNAL RAPTORS OF MARIN MIGRATORY STORIES – REVELATIONS FROM THE Wednesday, October 7, 2020 he decides to fight back in his GGRO’S FIRST 35 YEARS 7 PM to 8:30 PM own way. Wednesday, October 28, 2020 With Shannon Burke 7 PM to 8:30 PM – North American Premiere From colorful kestrels to enormous , diur- With Allen Fish nal raptors are charismatic birds of our landscapes. As the Festival is being presented Each fall, tens of thousands of birds of prey funnel Perched at the top of the food web, these species online this year, The Warden will overhead at the Marin Headlands, the largest known take advantage of different habitats and use various have an available streaming window raptor migration along the Pacific Coast. In the early strategies to hunt. We’ll explore how these behav- of October 9-18, meaning patrons iors, along with distinguishing field marks, can help 1980s a few Marin citizens started conducting count- in identifying our local species as we discuss some ing and banding studies on the flight, studies that can purchase and watch the film via of the life history stories that make each unique. drew many volunteers. This soon evolved into the the festival’s streaming platforms Marin County Parks Naturalist Shannon Burke, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, a full-fledged pro- during that period of days. Tickets gram of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy known for her expertise in a variety of natural history went on sale Sunday, September fields (some animal, some plant), has a special inter- in cooperation with the National Park Service. est in raptors and worked for a number of years as Today, the GGRO is part of a broad program of 27, 2020 at 12 noon and can be a volunteer for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. community science and ecological stewardship coor- purchased at www.mvff.com/tick- She skillfully combines her considerable field identi- dinated by the Parks Conservancy, including ONE ets. There you can find further box TAM and the Native Plant Nurseries. fication skills with substantial knowledge of animal office and streaming information. behavior to create outstanding programs. Now 35 years old, with four staff and 240 volun- teers, the GGRO is the only barometer of migrating The 43rd Mill Valley Film Festival, THE BIOLOGY OF VOCALIZATIONS – WHAT raptor populations in California, providing population presented by the California Film ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? trends and migration locations for up to 19 species ZOOM PROGRAM of , kites, , eagles, osprey, vultures, Institute, is an eleven-day festi- Wednesday, October 14, 2020 and harriers. Along with keeping an annual pulse on val boasting the year’s best films 7 PM to 8:30 PM California’s raptors, the GGRO has forged long-term from all corners of the globe, pre- With Joe Mueller relationships with local biologists. These experts sented online through the Festival’s study a range of stressors on the wild birds of prey The sounds of talking late into the night may new CALFILM channel and at the seem mysterious, but there are solid biologically we have in hand, among them, diseases, parasites, accepted reasons for their diversity of vocaliza- rat poisons and other toxins. Festival’s studio-grade drive-in cin- tions. The variations have much to do with how owls Come join us for an entertaining discussion ema located at the beautiful Lagoon have evolved, becoming the dominant nocturnal of the GGRO, Migratory Story and all things rap- Park – Marin Center! avian predators. Join Joe for an introduction to owls tor. GGRO director Allen Fish will delve into the best with a focus on the exploration as to why owls have stories from Hill, as well as the unique mean- evolved such a plentiful repertoire of hoots, howls, ing of 2020 for long-term bird monitoring. For many Bay Area birders, Allen needs no introduction. The wails, screams, whistles, yelps, shrieks, barks, BENEFIT MAS whines, and whinnies. GGRO’s first director, he was hired in 1985. With a As a Professor of Biology for 30 years Joe has background in evolutionary ecology and conservation Make your next Amazon order been teaching a rich diversity of courses ranging biology from UC Davis, Allen has a particular interest through AmazonSmile and Amazon from ornithology to marine invertebrate zoology as in bird population responses to urban development, will donate 0.5% of the price of your well as leading field courses from the Alaskan tun- climate change, and other human pressures. His eligible purchases to MAS. For infor- dra to Costa Rican tropical rain forests. His teaching presentations always manage to inform and enter- mation, visit https://smile.amazon. style has developed from a view of life focused on tain audiences. This program will no doubt continue com/ch/94-6076664. systems thinking, and how interrelationships make that tradition.

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON OCTOBER 2020 3 Conservation

SONOMA Marin Audubon Conservation Committee reviews critical issues related to wildlife habitats and comments to cities, COUNTY agencies, and other jurisdictions. To attend, phone Barbara Salzman at 415/924-6057.

PE TA L U M A

R I V RESTORATION PLAN FOR THE E Rush R Creek THER FARALLONES MISREPRESENTED OSP A TO N AV EN Much misinformation is being circulated UE Novato about the Farallones in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) plan to restore the Farallones by removing introduced house mice. An example is an article in the recent issue of the Sierra Club’s Bay Chapter newsletter con- tained a number of inaccuracies. The most San Pablo Bay MARIN troublesome is the impression conveyed by the COUNTY article that contraception is a viable alternative for eradicating the introduced house mice from Ashy Storm Petrel the Farallones. It is not. www.pbase.com/gtepke Tepke, Glen As the article acknowledges, a mouse con- federal and state laws and regulations.” In addi- traception product does not exist at this time. tion, the article distorts the actual quantity of Fairfax A rat contraception product does exist, but it is rodenticide that will be applied on the island: San Anselmo San Rafael administered in drinking water. Rats consume out of all the bait, the rodenticide itself will a lot of free water, but mice get much of their Ross total less than 1.2 ounces. water from the moist food they eat and would RI The article also incorrectly claims that CHM OND -SA not drink much, if any, of the water. N R AFA Burrowing Owls eat seabird eggs. EL BRIDGE Larkspur Consequently, a solid contraceptive product Coastal Commission schedule: We’ve learned would have to be first invented for mice. If one that the Coastal Commission will delay the could be produced, it would have to be tested, Consistency Determination for the USFWS Mill Valley undergo environmental review, and be permit- Mouse Eradication Plan for the Farallon Islands. Bothin ted — all of which would need to occur before Marsh Commission staff want additional information it could be used on the Farallones. As we know that the Service cannot produce by the deadline from reviewing CEQA documents and from for the November meeting. The hearing will preparing them for our own projects, that can take place after the first of the year. take years to prepare. Sausalito Even if a contraceptive product specifi- WHAT YOU CAN DO: cally for mice existed that has been proven to San The Commission still needs to hear from Francisco work, it would only control the mouse popula- Bay you. Commission staff have set up a dedi- tion, not eradicate it. Substances that prevent cated email address: farallonislands@ contraception must be consumed regularly to coastal.ca.gov, or send comments to the be effective. It would have to be distributed Commission’s new address: 455 Mission, around the islands, probably in perpetuity. This Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 904105 MARIN AUDUBON PROPERTIES would be extremely costly and problematic, Tell the Commission that the project is consistent with the Coastal Zone Man- 1. Petaluma Marsh 180 acres if not impossible, to implement. Bait stations Expansion Site would have to be set up and refilled regularly. agement Program, the purpose of which 2. Bahia 60 acres This would interfere with the breeding birds is to maintain and restore the ecosystem of the islands. This has been the experi- 3. Simmons Slough 144 acres and mammals on the Farallones, which would ence on hundreds of other islands where 4. Norton Avenue Pond 4 parcels defeat the purpose of trying to restore its inter- nationally important breeding seabird habitat. rodenticides also have been used to 5. Black Point Parcels many parcels successfully remove rodents. For more 6. Arroyo San Jose 2 parcels In short, contraceptives might work in barns and agricultural fields, where control could information and to see a documented 7. Tiscornia Marsh 20 acres suffice, but not on islands where eradication is experience at Anacapa Island off the 8. Tidelands and 34 acres Southern California Coast, visit Point essential. Murphy’s Rock Blue’s and MAS’s websites. 9. San Clemente Creek 4.34 acres And the article incorrectly infers that Tidelands California Assembly Bill 1788 would prohibit 10. End of Channel Drive ?? acres the use of the rodenticides on the Farallones. ANCHOR-OUT UPDATE 11. Triangle Marsh 31 acres AB 1788 Section C.2. 12978.7(2) lists a num- After taking August off, the Richardson Bay 12. Arroyo Corte Madera 2 acres ber of activities that are exempt including (e) Regional Agency (RBRA) met on Zoom on del Presidio (4): “The use of any second-generation anti- September 10 to present the Transition Plan 13. Cal Park <1 acre coagulant rodenticides for the eradication of and related Safe and Seaworthy program. The 14. Corte Madera Ecological 5.2 acres nonnative invasive species inhabiting or found Plan is clear and well written, and most of its Reserve Expansion Site to be present on offshore islands in a manner provisions would have beneficial results for that is consistent with all otherwise applicable continued on page 5

4 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON Anchor-out Update and the National Environmental Policy Act. West Marin) to the Southern Marin Fire continued from page 4 The document is intended to be an interim Department, expressing our concern about water and shoreline safety, but the solution to address traffic congestion using the mowing of 1 to 1.5 acres within threat- provisions are basically the same as were pre- small fixes, before funding can be found ened plant habitat on Marin County’s Ring sented to BCDC’s Enforcement Committee. for the entire Highway 37 corridor, which Mountain Preserve. In the process of mow- It outlines standards focused on vessel safety includes Marin. ing defensible space, approximately 1,000 and operator experience that will have to be Three alternatives will be evaluated in feet beyond the normal defensible space was met to be granted Legacy status. Legacy des- the EIR/EIS: Alternative 1) has three direc- also mowed along with a 50-foot swath cen- ignation would allow certain anchor-outs to tional lanes — two in the peak direction tered on Reed Ranch Road. stay for an indefinite time. The Plan’s major and one in off-peak — with a moveable Ring Mountain is renowned for its rare deficiency is the failure to set a deadline for center median barrier, similar to the Golden serpentine soil and rare plants. According to anchor-outs to leave the Bay which, as we Gate Bridge; Alternatives 2) and 3) would the California Center for Natural History, pointed out, should be five years as required have four lanes either part or full time. 2008, “Ring Mountain is a geological, by BCDC’s Enforcement Committee. Alternative 2) uses the existing shoulders as botanical, and conservation wonder.” Two Marin Audubon and a few others urged an HOV lane for users during peak traffic extremely rare plants, the threatened Marin moving the anchor-outs from the Bay, and times in the peak direction, and a shoulder Dwarf Flax (Hesporalinon congestum) and supported its programs designed to help for the non-peak direction. Alternative 3) the rare Tiburon buckwheat (Eriogonum folks to transition to land. But the major- uses the existing shoulders as traffic lanes. luteolum or caninum), both annual species, ity of the time was taken up with testimony One lane in each direction would remain a were among the grasses along the roadside from anchor-outs and their supporters. general traffic lane while an additional lane and were flowering and/or in fruit/seed In an obviously orchestrated performance would be added for HOV use during peak at the time of the mowing. The wholesale about ten anchor-outs, who apparently did periods, to provide an incentive for shifting destruction of these reproductive structures not have connection to Wi-Fi or a com- from single occupancy vehicles. Signs would is likely to lead to a decline in the popula- puter, spoke from a parking lot taking turns manage traffic in the lanes. Alternative 1) tions of these species. on a single device. About eight spoke from has the narrowest roadway width at 54 feet. Plant communities also provide nest- other locations. They spoke in opposition Alternatives 2) and 3) would be 58 to 60 ing and foraging habitat for migratory birds to the RBRA Transition Plan expressing a feet wide. that are protected under the Migratory Bird range of emotions. Some pleaded for their We raised the following issues to be Treaty Act. homes to not be taken, some accused the addressed in the DEIS/EIR: the location and The mowed area also lies within the pro- Harbormaster of taking their boats illegally acreage of the multiple small areas along the tected plant communities: coastal terrace and threatened him with physical harm if he length of the roadway that would have to be prairie and serpentine bunchgrass grassland, came to their boats again, some expressed filled to provide a stable road surface, includ- both imperiled within the state. Not only empathy for anchor-outs and cited the pan- ing how much would be wetland fill; the has the seed production of listed species in demic to support taking no action, some location of culverts that would have to be the mowed area been destroyed for this year, lashed out against “elite, wealthy” on-shore replaced or stabilized with fill, and the wet- but the action also opened the disturbed residents, and some claimed their right to lands impacts from culvert improvements; area, leaving it vulnerable to invasion by live on the Bay, with one stating that living and proposed mitigation for the wetlands non-native species. on the Bay benefits him be cause it is “free.” that would have to be filled for the road To add to our dismay, according to fire The testimonies were not entirely unex- widening and for culvert improvements. We experts, the grassland poses a low fire risk pected and will have to be dealt with and also asked whether there are significant safety and there is nothing much to be gained worked through. This testimony was similar differences between the alternatives and that from mowing the grasses in this area. These to public testimony made when the RBRA cumulative impact be addressed. grasslands grow lower to the ground than was established 35 years ago. As can be seen With the narrowest width, it is presumed common Marin annual grasslands. Three from testimony at this meeting and many Alternative 1) would require the least amount to five years of monitoring and possible others over recent years, the anchor-out of fill and, therefore, appears to be the least remedial action will be needed to reduce population is a mix ranging from folks who environmentally damaging alternative. the chance of further impacts to the mowed need financial assistance, some who are area by non-native plants invading the dam- engaging in criminal activities, some who FERN MATTERS aged area. are skilled mariners and others who are not. FERN, the Fire and Environment Resilience FERN has asked the Fire District to The RBRA needs to continue to reach out Network, will be reviewing the projects sub- educate its staff about the sensitive natu- and to work diligently to work toward pro- mitted to the Marin Wildfire Protection ral resources in its jurisdiction, to provide tecting the bay. Authority by the various jurisdictions, work- adequate oversight of its on-the-ground ing on best management practices, reviewing employees to ensure this does not hap- HIGHWAY 37 TRAFFIC projects and CEQA documents, offering pen again, and to assist the Marin County CONGESTION RELIEF PROJECT constructive recommendations, attending Open Space District, which owns the Ring DRAFT EIR/EIS and participating in Authority meetings and Mountain Preserve, with any needed resto- Caltrans has begun environmental review for related committee meetings and commenting ration or remedial work. a project that is intended to provide conges- on projects and related meetings. FERN organizations are working together tion relief at peak traffic times, and increase An example of FERN action is a letter to ensure that Marin’s natural resources are vehicle occupancy for the section between recently sent on behalf of FERN member protected as the Marin Wildfire Prevention Mare Island and State Route 121. The envi- organizations (Marin Audubon Society, Authority and FireSafe Marin work to ronmental document will comply with both California Native Plant Society and the reduce fire risk. the California Environmental Quality Act Environmental Action Committee of continued on page 7

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON OCTOBER 2020 5 Habitat Stewardship HABITAT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM Our volunteer days remain on the BAHIA schedule. Staying a healthy distance The plants installed last winter are doing well apart from each other on our at Bahia. Crews from On Point Land Manage- volunteer days is easy, so don’t let ment continue to water every two weeks. this keep you away! There are two late summer non- Thanks to the generous donation for our native annuals, stinkwort and Salsola properties (see President’s letter) we will be soda, to control at this time of year. able to purchase more wetland plants and have At Triangle Marsh we’ll prepare for them planted, continuing our work to create planting in the winter by sheet wet meadow habitat on the Central Peninsula, mulching an area on the berm. That and shrub habitats along the levee sides. will cover two of the more troublesome non-native perennials, The homeowners association will be repaint- bristly ox-tongue and Harding grass. ing their bridge/culvert structure. We visited Those same species will be the the site with their contractor to review the Stalker Jude center of our attention at the Corte project and its possible impact on adjacent MAS’s Petaluma restored marsh Madera Ecological Reserve vegetation. We recommended protecting the expansion property Extra time on your hands? A native gumplant (Grindelia stricta), a very student who needs community healthy stand of which is growing on the out- parallel to the SMART tracks; Pickleweed (Sal- service hours? Act locally and join board side of the bridge. icornia pacifica), Cordgrass (Spartina foliosa), us on a workday. We all make a Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) and alkali bulrush difference. CORTE MADERA RESTORATION SITE (Bolboschoenus maritimus formerly Scirpus Watering continued at Corte Madera on the Volunteer Workdays maritimus) in marsh at the edge of the levee are first Saturday in September—in spite of the Triangle Marsh, East Corte Madera: doing really well; and a lot of Cordgrass (Spar- heat. Our volunteer waterers are Lowell Sykes, First Saturdays: October 3, tina) has established on the constructed islands November 7 Martha and Jerry Jarocki, Ed Nute, Dave Che- within the marsh. There are lots of rodent bur- Meet at 10 AM on Paradise noweth, Doug Waterman, and Rich Cimino. rows, runs and animal tracks running through Dr. directly across from the Ring We thank you for your dedication. the levee and bench areas. Mountain trailhead near the We also have data on bird use from a report But alas, things are not perfect. There are Montessori School. on the bird surveys Rich Cimino has been some non-native plants: Italian Rye (Festuca Corte Madera Ecological Reserve: conducting from the overlook for about a year. perennis formerly Lolium multiflorum) in a solid Second Saturdays: October 10, And he has observed 68 species to date. He’s mat covering most of the flat bench. There is November 14 seen a number of fall migrants this month: Meet at the end of Industrial Way. quite a bit of Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolia), For up-to-date information, contact Long Billed Curlew, Least Sandpipers, Savanna an extremely invasive plant; lots of fennel (Foe- Martha Jarocki, marthajarocki@ Sparrows and Killdeer. Rich advises that in the niculum vulgare), a few patches of Yellow Star gmail.com or phone 415/461-3592. winter months it is a good location to look Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Mallow sp., and Bahia, Novato: for American Pipits and Whimbrel. This past dried wild radish (Raphanus sativus) and mus- If you’d like to help, please contact spring a pair of White-tailed Kites nested on tard (Brassica sp.) on the levee. While these are Jude at [email protected]. the property. Rich observes: “It is also inter- all invasive species, the number and diversity THANK YOU, STEWARDSHIP esting to watch the vegetation slowly taking of native species is impressive considering the VOLUNTEERS over the restoration site.” Yes, just as we antici- difficulty we had getting anything to grow for Dave Chenoweth, Rich Cimino, Bob pated with our restoration project, pickleweed many years after the marsh restoration due to Hinz, Gerry and Martha Jarocki, Ed is indeed colonizing the area we lowered to high sulfide levels in the soil. Elymus, a native Nute, Lowell Sykes, Vickie Vann, restore to marsh. grass that is known to outcompete invasive Doug Waterman PETALUMA MARSH plants, may eventually spread out and take over the levee bench and levee sides. One of our earliest tidal marsh restoration proj- Credit nature for the gradual evolution of THANK YOU, DONORS ects was restoring 100 acres of tidal marsh on this site. Over time rain appears to be success- Deborah Brown, Donal Brown, Arthur a 182-acre property we purchased from Waste fully leaching the high salt levels from the soil, Campodonico, William Clark, Todd Management Inc. We’re pleased to report that Denman, Daniel Drake, Robert Fallat, allowing plants to grow. Fischer Family Fund, Kathleen Foster, things are going well on the marsh and adjacent Inge Fraser, Rick Fraites, Nancy Frost, upland habitat. TRIANGLE MARSH Beth Huning, Christina Jaqua, Angela The Creeping Wild Rye (Elymus triticoides) On a warm first Saturday stewardship day Jane Kerby, William Lary, Carol planted along levee looks great; Brush in September with extremely hot days in the Maddison & Don Higgins, Mary H T (Baccharis pilularis) is doing great and growing; forecast, volunteers watered the young blue Love, Sarah Martin, Erald Meral, Kate Marsh Baccharis (Baccharis glutinosa) planted Merriman, Ron & Betsy Miewiarowski, elderberry and western goldentop (Euthamia Ruth Neuweiler, Frank Noonan, Diane in patches is doing great and spreading; several occidentalis). They also looked for stinkwort Parish, RHE Foundation, Marianne patches of Alkali Heath (Frankenia salina) are (Dittrichia graveolens) in the usual area and, Riser, Kathryn Van Dyke, David growing high up on levee; Gumplant (Grinde- after several years of pulling it, were pleased to Wiechers lia stricta) is found on the MAS levee that runs find none.

6 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON Conservation Stewardship at Home – Messy is Better continued from page 5 Fall is the time for yard work. Breeding season brush pile. If you see a pile of sticks in Marin CORTE MADERA FLOOD is past so there is no danger of destroying nests woodlands, take care! It may be a Dusky-footed RISK MANAGEMENT when you trim your trees and shrubs. If you Woodrat den. Dusky-footed Woodrats are in- PROJECT want to make your yard a welcome haven for teresting little creatures and the main food item Finally, removal of the environ- resident and over-wintering birds, leave your for Northern Spotted Owl. mentally damaging concrete leaves. As you do your yard work remember In the west, winter rainy season is time to channel on Corte Madera Creek that neat and tidy offers little for birds or other plant. Get plants in the ground as soon as there is in sight. Since its construction wildlife. Messy is better! is a substantial rain. This will allow plants to by the Army Corps of Engineers, Leave leaves — leaves cover and protect the be in the ground with wet/moist soils for the the channel has not only been a soils, decompose, enrich soil and become more longest time to establish, giving them the best visual blight, it’s been disastrous soil. Leaf mulch supports insects, which are im- chance of survival. Plant native species suitable to fish and birds, and has not even portant food source for ground foraging birds, for your neighborhood. The right choices will worked for flood prevention. as well as invertebrates and other native crea- depend on whether you live in the cooler moist In addition to removing the tures that are important in the food chain. So climate of South Marin, hotter North Marin concrete channel from Stadium instead of putting leaves in your green can, re- or Tiburon, flatlands, oak woodlands, near a Way down to the natural chan- cycle them to benefit the environment on your stream habitat, in redwood or mixed wood- nel, the project would have other own property. Make sure to leave them away lands with lots of shade, or on the north side environmental benefits, including from your house and not in a deep a pile. I am of hills or south-facing lands that get full sun. removal of the fish ladder, which told by fire inspectors that leaf litter should be Where your house is makes a difference. Plants has long been a trap for fish, and three inches deep. Different fire districts vary need the right climate, soil type, and amount of installing larger resting pools to somewhat in the standards they enforce. sun or shade. enhance fish habitat. To address Consider creating a brush pile — National Do not use rodenticides to get rid of mice flooding, the project will con- Audubon suggests building brush piles because or rats. Rodenticides are not only fatal for of their benefits for wildlife. Brush or stick rodents but they are also fatal for raptors and struct taller floodwalls, restore a piles are great hiding places from predators, other wildlife that feed on the rodents that have natural channel in Frederick Allen they shelter birds from inclement weather, and consumed the rodenticide. Park in Ross, and install a storm- provide refuges for other wildlife such as snakes Our native plants have evolved together with water pump station to control and lizards. Brush piles will settle and decom- native wildlife. Native plants provide native birds flooding in Granton Park. A pub- pose over time, but here in the West they are and other wildlife with the food and cover they lic access path with steps down to not approved by fire departments. If you have need, and you will be rewarded with a delightful the creek is also planned. space to pile up your downed sticks away from yard and rich diversity of native wildlife. Objectives of the project your house you might consider constructing a include: reducing flood risk, benefitting the environment, and improving operational reli- Monarch at Deer Island hunters. At our milkweed patch they scratch ability, all in a fiscally responsible continued from page 1 for bugs in the mulch and seem to nibble on manner. some of the milkweed. However, milkweed blows off in the wind carried by its attached The project sponsor, Marin is poisonous to most animals so much of the floss — like dandelion seeds. County Flood Control and Water milkweed still appears to be healthy. Wild turkeys seem to be a bit of a problem Conservation District, will be pre- Another problem has been the little orange at this site. They leave feathers and scat. The paring an Environmental Impact oleander aphids, Aphis nerii. These aphids came turkeys were introduced in California for Report (EIR). The deadline for in with the non-native oleander bushes, which are also poisonous and planted liberally along submitting scoping comments roads and median strips because they have is before this newsletter will be Donate Your Car to pretty flowers. These little orange vampires suck published. There will be other Marin Audubon Society the life out of milkweed plants. So far, we have opportunities for the public to been able to control them by squishing them comment on the Draft EIR, when Donating your car, truck, van, SUV, with our fingers. it is produced, and then again when the project is approved. boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer or This winter Marin Audubon will be Other project stakeholders are airplane has never been easier! Simply expanding its milkweed plantings and start the Town of Ross and Friends of call CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & a new patch on the Bahia property at the Corte Madera Creek Watershed. Services) at 1-855-500-RIDE or go to end of Bahia Drive. Hopefully with more patches we can attract more monarchs and MAS has submitted scoping https://careasy.org/home for more provide them with host plants. We will need comments requesting that the EIR information. Marin Audubon will receive volunteers for the planting this winter so let address impacts of stairs down to the proceeds of the sale and you will me know at [email protected]. In the the creek, floodwalls with patterns get a tax deduction. CARS will pick up meantime, if you see a monarch butterfly that provide habitat and a reduced from anywhere in the U.S. you should report your observation on www. project alternative be discussed, MonarchMilkweedMapper.org. also.

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name on credit card IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO JOIN NATIONAL Fill out form and mail to: AUDUBON FOR THE FIRST TIME Membership Secretary MAS will receive 100% of your initial membership if you credit card no. expiration date enter MAS’s chapter code C04 on your application. To Marin Audubon Society join, go to www.audubon.org/join. P.O. Box 599 The best option for the birds: Join MAS and NAS. Mill Valley, CA 94942 signature

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