Volume 59, Number 3 November 2013 Dreams ª Judy Irving One August afternoon, a young, con- with , they become fused, hungry, and very tired brown pelican more motivated to protect created a spectacular traffic jam on the the fragile coastal marine Golden Gate Bridge by landing on the environment that they—and roadway. Later named “Gigi” (for Golden we—depend on. Gate), she was “arrested,” put in a police car, Pelicans illustrate meta- and taken to a seabird rescue center. Pelican phorically the checkered Dreams follows Gigi’s time in human hands history of our relationship and her release back to the wild, using her with the natural world. story to paint a broader picture of these Flourishing for 30 million ancient, mysterious birds. years, they’ve barely sur-

vived the last a Sundance-and-Emmy-Award-winning 100, when filmmaker who produced and directed DDT nearly Pelican Media’s classic film The Wild Par- drove them rots of Telegraph Hill. to extinc- tion. Despite BIRDING INFORMATION b e i n g r e - For November birding information, moved from MDAS Conservation Chair Nancy Wen- the Endan- ninger will discuss how outdoor cats affect gered Spe- birds and other wildlife populations. cies List in For the main program at our Decem- 2009, Brown ber meeting, Suzi Eszterhas, a wildlife Pelicans face photographer, will share some incredible d a u n t i n g stories from the field and discuss how 21st century photographers—professional and amateur JUDY IRVING PHOTOS. IRVING JUDY challenges: alike—can help to raise awareness of the Fishermen often compete with pelicans, oil-spills such as in the Gulf of Mexico, problems facing wildlife today. wildlife rehabilitators care for them one by habitat loss, overfishing, and climate one, and field biologists study their overall change. Pelicans are charismatic avian Meeting Schedule populations. These are the human char- ambassadors: they mirror our stewardship The next general meeting of Mount acters in Pelican Dreams , and the various of the coast and help audiences relate to it Diablo Audubon Society will be ways in which they know these birds help in a direct, personal way. Thursday, November 7, in the us understand their personalities, habitat, The presentation will engage viewers by Camellia Room of The Gardens at population, and continuing survival chal- focusing not only on population issues but Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. lenges. While centered in the San Francisco also on individual pelicans and the people 7:00 pm Birding Information Bay Area, the film ranges from Baja Mexico 7:25 pm Announcements who help them: Gigi (and her itinerant art- 7:40 pm Refreshments,* raffle and southern California’s Channel Islands, ist rehabbers, Monte and Laura) and Morro 8:05 pm Speaker: Judy Irving up the Pacific Coast to the Columbia River (an adaptable, curious bird who injured his Please remember to bring a cup. between Washington and Oregon, creating wing and now lives with chickens, geese, Thursday, December 5: a full migratory portrait of these elegant and a rural couple near Morro Bay). The Suzi Eszterhas, Wildlife ­Photography yet comical birds. As viewers fall in love film is produced and directed by Judy Irving, DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— November 2013 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar I have written a lot of bad news regard- with a movable tail. They were able to mount Welcome ing birds in this column, but I read some small cameras on hawks and vultures and good news last week. The October 2 edition you see what the birds see as they fly. It has New ­Members of the Oakland Tribune and the CC Times some of the most amazing footage of birds Bethi Carver Bethel Island had an article about a nesting of Swainson’s I have ever seen—it was just great. Edward Donnelly Pinole Hawks near San Jose. The first nest seen Our Young Birders Club headed up by since the 1800s. Pretty amazing I think. Tracy Farrington continues to grow. We Swainson’s Hawks winter in Argentina so have had a number of field trips as well as they have a huge 6000-mile migration. A few evening meetings at Wild Birds Unlimited. Eurasian years ago our east CC County Christmas If you know any young people who might Collared-Doves Bird Count had the nation's high count of have interest let them know. Our MDAS Swainson’s Hawk—we had 2! But usually website has information on meetings and there are none seen on any bird count in the field trips. We have a few young people country. They head to Argentina. from San Francisco who become involved so it certainly does not have to be folks from Contra Costa only. Lastly, I would like to let you know we are going to try and redo/update Jean Rich- mond’s book, Birding Northern California. When Jean was editor of our newsletter, the Quail, she, in almost ever issue, would have an article about some area to go birding in Norhern California. It had 72 locations. It would have directions, when to go, what you would see, a map, etc. It was first published in 1985 and was the only book like it for Northern California. It sold like hotcakes and we did a number of reprints. You can Over the past 30 years, the non-native download a copy from our website for free, at Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia de- Swainson's Hawk. Glen Tepke photo. http://www.diabloaudubon.org/birdingno- caocto) has spread across North America. cal.php But as time passed things changed. Since it was first discovered nesting near Speaking of Christmas Bird Counts, Directions became outdated. Maybe an area Miami, Florida in 1982, it has rapidly spread let get our dates in front of all of you. Our became developed and the birding was not northwestward and can now be found Central Contra Costa County is Saturday, the same, etc. Well anyway one of MDAS as far away as Alaska. In Contra Costa December 21, and the East County count is members, Bill Chilson, approached me said County, the birds have been reported at Tuesday, December 17. Maury Stern, who he would like to try and update the book and sites such as Waterbird Regional Preserve, does the sightings for the Quail, and I are get it republished. We first contacted Jean to Heather Farm, Valle Vista and Mount Dia- the co-compilers of the two counts. Contact make sure she was ok with the idea, which blo. Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project either of us if you would like to participate. she was. This will require a lot of work and FeederWatch has been a crucial source of I hope you have been able to watch the a lot of help from you our members. We will information on the spread of this species. series Earthflight on PBS. The six-part spe- need to revisit each place to revise or update Now your help can lead to more data about cial series of Nature has concluded, but all the information. We think some areas will their nesting biology. NestWatch is a citizen segments are available streaming at http:// be left out and maybe some new areas will science project in which volunteers find and www.pbs.org/wnet/nature). The BBC pro- be added. But we think a revised edition will monitor bird nests so that scientists can duction shows how the birds were filmed be well received. If you would like to help, study status and trends in the reproductive using remote-controlled drones, floating please let us know. biology of birds, including when nesting oc- spy-cams, paragliders and a fake vulture Hope to see you at a meeting or field curs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs trip. hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. Sometimes called Sprig, the Eurasian Collared-Doves live in urban swift flight of these birds has The Quail is published monthly except and suburban areas throughout much of the Q given them the nickname January and August by Mount Diablo United States and southern Canada except Greyhound of the Sky. Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut for the northeast. They also can be found Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed in rural areas, such as farms, where grain is Unscramble these letters, or turn to on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. Page 8 to learn more. readily available. They are a bit larger than The deadline for the December/January Mourning Doves but slimmer than Rock AEHIILNNNOPRRTT issue is November 12. Continued on Page 5 » the Quail —2— November 2013 About one hundred Cedar Waxwings were at Heather Farm 10/5. HH. By Maury Stern Observations A Nashville Warbler was at Vollmer Peak 10/1. JB. Submit Contra Costa County sightings to A Parasitic Jaeger was at Point Isabel AL photographed a Yellow Warbler at [email protected] or (925) 284-5980 or 9/17. AL. Clifton Court Forebay on 10/2. The only send to EBB [email protected]. If LK and TF saw 51 Vaux's Swifts at Inspi- other Yellow Warbler seen at this location you report sightings to eBird, please also ration Point in Tilden RP 9/30. and reported to eBird was by Steve Glover send to Maury Stern. An immature Lewis's Woodpecker was in August 1996. Fall migration is still underway and re- at Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez 9/20. JB. turning winter residents have begun to On 9/22, AL saw a slightly late Olive-sid- come in . ed Flycatcher at Fernandez Ranch. A Greater White-fronted Goose was at PS had a Willow Flycatcher in his the Ferry Point lawn in Point Richmond Antioch yard 9/11. 10/4. AA. On 10/1, AL saw a Tropical Kingbird at AL saw a single Snow Goose at Clifton Miller–Knox Park in Point Richmond. Court Forebay 10/2. DH had a Red-breasted Nuthatch in his Eight Brant were at Sandpiper Spit in Walnut Creek backyard 9/19. Last year Richmond 9/9, AL; and LK saw seven on was an invasion year for these birds as the 9/18 from the Canal Blvd. viewing plat- cone crop failed in the North. This year's Yellow Warbler. Albert Linkowski photo. form. cone crop is supposed to be good so they One Wood was seen at the Contra may return north. JR saw a Black-and-White Warbler at Costa Canal Trail in Walnut Creek by PS; HS saw a Pacific Wren at Vollmer Peak Jewel Lake in Tilden 10/1. EL found 4 at Valle Vista in Moraga; and 9/13. A Northern Waterthrush was at Jewel TF saw 15, also at Valle Vista. Lake 9/22. Two MacGillivray's Warblers were at Vollmer Peak 9/13. HN; KF saw one at Miller–Knox Shoreline 9/29. HN saw six Western Tanagers at Vollmer Peak 9/13. An early Fox Sparrow was seen by HN at Vollmer Peak 9/13. The first returning White-crowned Sparrows were noted by ST in Briones 9/14, and JC and TF on 9/16 in Moraga and Heather Farm respectively. AL saw an early Golden-crowned Spar- row 9/16 at Miller-Knox. A Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco was at Black Diamond Mines RP 9/20. This is a Western Grebes with young at Clifton Court Forebay..The Breeding Bird Atlas of Contra Costa form of the Dark-eyed Junco which is usu- County reports that nesting behavior among Western Grebes had been noted on two previ- ally in the Rocky Mountains. ous occasions (Clifton Court Forebay in 2000 and Antioch Municipal Reservoir in 2002). It On 10/5 Greg saw a Black-headed Gros- was not known if there was any successful breeding. Albert Linkowski photo. beak in Richmond. Hooded Orioles departed Hercules early AL may have seen the first successful TF and LK saw a Golden-crowned King- September. JC had a female and two young breeding Western Grebes with 2 young let at the Tilden Nature Center 9/30. until 9/16 in her Moraga yard. in Contra Costa County 10/2 at Clifton The first returning Ruby-crowned King- JA Jeff Acuff, JB John Blakelock, JBo Jackie Court Forebay. let was found at the Bear Creek Trail near Bobrosky, JC Judi Cooper, TF Tracy Far- An made a visit to Briones Reservoir on 9/14. JR. American Bittern rington, KF Kathy Francone, HH Hugh Heather Farm pond reeds on 9/30, JR; HN and JB saw a Hermit Thrush 9/13 at Harvey, DH David Hutton, LK Logan Kah- 10/1, TF, BS; and HH 10/5. One previous Vollmer Peak. JBo saw one a week later in le, EL Elizabeth Leite, AL Albert Linkows- record is known from the mid-90s. her Martinez yard. ki, MM Mary Lou Mull, HN Harold New- A very unusual Broad-winged Hawk flew LL saw an out of normal habitat Califor- man, JR Jim Roethe, BS Bobbi Schmidt, over Richmond Brickyard Landing 9/27, nia Thrasher at Pinole Shores 9/22. PSc Pat Schneider, PS Paul Schorr, ST KF, and Lafayette on 9/28, JA. Steve Taylor. the Quail —3— November 2013 Field Trip Schedule By Hugh Harvey November ➋ Tuesday, November 12 12 Tuesday McNabney Marsh/Mountain View Sanitary McNabney Marsh, Mountain View Sanitary District 16 Saturday Charleston Slough/South Bay Leader: Steve Taylor, (925) 828‒8810. 30 Saturday Limantour Meet at 9:00 am at the Mountain View Sanitary Visitor December Center. Exit from I-680 southbound at Arthur Road, turn left 7-8 Saturday/Sunday Sacramento Refuges and go under the freeway. Exit I-680 northbound at Pacheco 12 Thursday Niles Area Blvd., turn right onto Arthur Road and go under the freeway. 14 Saturday Solano County Raptors Arthur Road will turn left. At 0.4 miles turn sharp left onto 17 Tuesday Christmas Count/East Contra Costa Mountain View Sanitary’s private road. Follow the road 21 Saturday Christmas Count/Central Contra Costa through the entry gate, alongside the freeway and through January the tunnel under I-680. Park and sign-in at the Visitor Center. 11 Saturday Putah Creek Trails may be muddy. Close-up looks at dabbling ; pos- 25 Saturday Las Gallinas/Rush Creek/Shollenberger Park sibly bitterns and . After walking around the ponds we 30 Thursday Lake Merritt/Arrowhead Marsh—High Tide will drive back through the tunnel to the viewing platform on the left to observe more birds and also complete a check list of the birds we saw at the ponds. If you wish, bring a lunch and explore Martinez shoreline in the after- noon on your own. Common Yellowthroat. MVSD photo.

➋ Saturday, November 16 Townsend's Warbler. Beth Branthaver photo. Charleston Slough/South Bay Leader: Eugenia Larson, (925) 806‒0644. Carpool leaves at 7:30 am from Sycamore Valley Road Park Come birding with us! and Ride. Meet at Terminal Road in Mountain View at 8:30 am. Take I-680, exit Mission Boulevard west. Continue through Field trips are open to members and non-members, beginners and advanced birders, but please do leave your dogs at home. Weather two traffic lights and take I-880 ramp south. Exit to SR 237, or other contingencies may require changes. For updates, visit the connect to US 101 north at Moffett Field. Exit at San Antonio MDAS website at www.diabloaudubon.com/index.php. Phone Road, turn right (north) to Terminal Road, turn right and park. area codes are 925 unless specified otherwise. Because most trips Entrance is on left. Other areas of interest in the South Bay are do not return until late afternoon, bring a lunch and drink and join Palo Alto Baylands, Alviso and Redwood Shores. Shorebirds us during our midday break. and waterfowl should be plentiful. Bring lunch and a beverage. Category ➊: Easy, little or no walking, smooth paths Category ➋: Moderate, one mile +, possibly rough terrain Category ➌: Difficult, extensive walking on rough terrain. ➊ Saturday, November 30 Limantour Our Mount Diablo Audubon Chapter is a conservation organization. As such, we encourage members to consider Leader: Maury Stern, (925) 284‒5980. meeting at the carpool point to pick up or ride with others. Carpool leaves at 7:00 AM from El Nido Ranch Road. It is important that given the cost of gasoline, those who Meet at 8:30 am at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes ride with others offer to pay some of this cost. Don’t forget National Seashore. Take SR 24 to Oakland, then I-580 west about any bridge tolls or park entry fees on some of our to Richmond and the San Rafael Bridge (toll). From US 101 longer trips. Carpool locations: Sycamore Valley Road north, take Central San Rafael exit. Go 2 blocks, turn left on Park and Ride Lot—Just south of Danville, exit I-680 at 3rd Street and continue west to Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Turn Sycamore Valley Road to the east; the Park and Ride lot is right on Sir Francis Drake. At SR 1 at Olema, turn right for on the left. El Nido Ranch Road—Exit SR 24 at St. Stephens 0.25 miles, then turn left on Bear Valley Road. Visitor Center Drive east of Orinda. El Nido Ranch Road is parallel to and is off Bear Valley. This trip includes forest birds on the ridge north of the freeway. Park just east of the intersection with and ducks, shorebirds and often and grebes on the bay. St. Stephens Drive. Bring lunch and a beverage. the Quail —4— November 2013 Pack Rat Trail on our return to the parking lot. The riparian Trip Reports and forested surroundings put several novices to the test, as Rio Lindo Academy, Healdsburg, September 21. Two MDAS locating and identifying required both persistence and patience. birders joined about 40 others waiting for the Vaux's Swifts to I’m quite happy to say that we had a total of 13 participants: six fly into a chimney after sundown. Despite the rains earlier in young members and seven adults, parents and a couple of grand- the day, at least 3,000 swifts flew into the chimney before 7:30 parents—all birding, by the way. As always, I’m seeking new pm, possibly as many as 3,500. Immediately upon our arrival and and interested members. Those among you with suggestions or while removing our dinner from the back of the car, a Merlin recommendations, please contact me at 925-788-6223, or via flew over the parking lot. We also had a Common Raven fly past e-mail at [email protected] Tracy Farrington while we waited for the swifts. Despite the distance we travel for Hayward Regional Shoreline, October 1. It was a beautiful this event, it is a spectacle to behold—one worthy of the round day for two members to join Bob Richmond for a leisurely walk of applause given by the awed crowd. Hugh B. Harvey around the north end of the Shoreline. Starting from the Winton Outer Point Reyes, September 28. The day for the MDAS annual Avenue parking area, we walked around the bushy/wooded areas fall trip to Outer Point Reyes dawned clear and calm; temperatures first, then slowly walked toward the bay. We walked north to were in the mid to upper 60s. After gathering at the Bear Valley view the birds at Franks Dump, then circled and returned to the Visitor Center, Drakes Beach was our first stop. Here we encoun- parking lot via the entry road. We met local birder and some- tered several Yellow Warblers in the willows close by the Drake times MDAS participant, Bob Dunn, before we returned to the memorial. At the pond we added Sora, Virginia , Common parking lot. Teri Wills needed to leave, but the two Bobs and I Gallinule, Common Yellowthroat among other notables. From the then walked around the top of Mt. Trashmore before calling it beach, worthy of mention was a lone Red-throated . Great a day. We had 62 species total, including 6 raptors, White-tailed Horned were sighted at both Mendoza and Nunes Ranches. Kite, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, At the Lighthouse Monterey cypresses, a Western-type Flycatcher Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel. We also had Turkey was observed, but no Blue-footed Boobies were seen offshore; Vultures and a Barn . No unusual shorebirds were found, several reports had been posted over the previous two weeks of but we did find Yellow, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped these birds from Stinson Beach as far north as Bodega Bay. On Warblers, American Pipits, a Horned Lark, several Western-type the rocks below the observation platform, two Black Oystercatch- Flycatchers, the usual California Towhee and 6 other sparrow ers were picking their way through the seaweed. Above the Fish species—Savannah, Fox, Lincoln's, Song, Golden-crowned and Docks we had excellent views of Blackburnian and Townsend’s White-crowned. Hugh B. Harvey Warblers, as well as a Warbling Hawk Hill, October 5. It would have been a perfect day for hawk Vireo; unfortunately we did viewing; however, due to the US Government shutdown and the not find the Prairie Warbler consequent closure of national parks, including the Marin Head- which had also been reported. lands, the MDAS trip was cancelled. Fred Safier. Clearly migrants and vagrants were passing through; other Audubon chapters were aware of this and shared in the day’s ac- Eurasian Collared-Doves tion—Madrone and Santa Clara » Continued from Page 2 were well represented. At the Pigeons, and have a characteristic narrow black crescent around RCA Station, after tallying our the nape of their necks. Eurasian Collared-Doves build a simple Blackburnian Warbler. list for the day, our species count platform nest consisting of twigs, grasses, roots, and sometimes Beth Branthaver photo. was 65. Eight birding enthusiasts feathers, wool, string, and other materials. Pairs of doves often participated. David Hutton use the same nest for multiple broods during the year. In warmer Young Birders Club, September 29. The third field trip with regions, Eurasian Collared-Doves can nest year-round. Nests are the Mount Diablo Audubon Young Birders Club was enjoyable, usually located in trees or on buildings at a height of at least 8‒10 productive and instructive. We began our morning at Inspira- feet above the ground. They lay 1‒2 white eggs per nesting attempt, tion Point on the Orinda side of Tilden Park at about 8 am, which hatch after 14‒19 days of incubation. Young doves are ready although Logan Kahle, who guided the trip, and I, arrived at to leave the nest approximately 17 days after hatching. 7 am to scout and do a dawn sky watch. Shortly after all at- If you know the location of a Eurasian Collared-Dove nest, tendees were signed in, we walked the Nimitz Trail for a mile please report it to NestWatch.org. NestWatch and FeederWatch and got some well-earned looks at a couple of mixed migrant are citizen-science projects of Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and flocks well up in the conifers and elsewhere. Wilson’s, Hermit, it's fun and rewarding to participate. The 2013‒2014 season for Yellow-rumped, Yellow and Townsend’s Warblers were noted FeederWatch begins November 7. NestWatch is any time. Go to along with the expected Chestnut-sided Chickadees and other http://www.birds.cornell.edu//citsci/projects to learn more. resident species. Jewell Lake was then visited after about an Don’t know where any Eurasian Collared-Dove nests are? hour and a half on the Nimitz. We didn’t find the Northern Not a problem! NestWatch is seeking observations of all species Waterthrush that had been reported but the kids did enjoy an of nesting birds, so you can also help by monitoring American opportunity to experience birding in both closed canopy condi- Robins, Western Bluebirds, Northern Mockingbird, or whatever tions along the boardwalk, and above canopy as we hiked the other species may be nesting near your home. the Quail —5— November 2013 of Waterfront Road. A $1.5 million bridge replacement project is McNabney Marsh Update planned to increase flows and decrease the amount of time water By Nancy Wenninger, Conservation Chair is retained in the marsh. Water quality should improve, cattail McNabney Marsh, named to honor long-time MDAS con- spread will be curtailed and brackish water will help to re-establish servation advocate Al McNabney, is a 130-acre wetland complex native fish populations. located east of I-680 between Highway 4 and the Benicia Bridge. MVSD has secured about $1.1 million towards the project and Part of Waterbird Regional Preserve, the marsh is owned jointly by is currently seeking grants for the balance. They hope to begin Mountain View Sanitary District (which manages the inundated construction on the new bridge in summer 2014. area) and the East Bay Regional Park District (which manages the In the interim, the pumping up effect creates unusual challenges uplands). for ground-nesting birds which have depended upon McNabney Originally a tidal wetland, the marsh was converted to a sea- Marsh for decades. In an effort to increase benefits to breeding sonal marsh when development in the 20th century cut off its birds, MVSD has constructed and deployed a total of 20 floating connection with the Carquinez Strait. In 1988 the Shell Oil Spill nesting rafts to attract nesting waterfowl and shorebirds. In ad- mobilized the community to restore and enhance the marsh. dition, biologists used cut vegetation to create nesting mounds Since the early 1990s, treated effluent from MVSD was the on several existing islands to increase nest elevation and prevent primary water source. However, in June 2009, tide gates on Peyton potential flooding. Slough to the north were opened, allowing water from the Strait MVSD has also commissioned multi-year nesting bird surveys to flow into the marsh for the first time in more than a century. to try to determine the most beneficial range for marsh water lev- Marsh managers were hopeful that reintroduced tidal action els between March and July. In 2013, species observed nesting at would resolve several habitat quality issues: low oxygen and pH McNabney included Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Cinnamon levels in the water, the relentless spread of cattails and a plethora Teal, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Marsh Wren, of non-native fish. Black Phoebe, San Francisco Common Yellowthroat, Savannah However, MVSD has discovered that keeping the tide gates Sparrow, Suisun Song Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle and Red- open year-round will not work. The marsh fills up during high winged Blackbird. tides but does not drain during low tides. This effect aggravates Perhaps most exciting were observations of California Black water quality issues through stagnation, and increases the risk of Rail and California Clapper Rail in the marsh during the nesting flooding to roads and other infrastructure. season. Hopefully, the bridge replacement and tide gate operation The main culprit in the “pumping up” effect is a pinch point on to control water levels will result in optimal breeding success for Peyton Slough at the Union Pacific Railroad bridge located north both common and special-status species in McNabney Marsh.

Good News for Raptors In signing the bill, Governor Brown said, in part: On October 11, Gover- "Lead poses a danger to wildlife. This danger has been known nor Jerry Brown signed a his- for a long time—in 1894 one of the founders of the wildlife con- toric bill that will save some servation movement in America, George Bird Grinnell, wrote of California’s most majestic about lead poisoning in Forest and Stream, a precursor to today's birds from senseless lead Field and Stream magazine, and there is much published scientific poisoning deaths. Assembly literature from the 1950s on regarding this danger. In 1991, the Bill 711 will disallow lead US Fish and Wildlife Service banned lead in waterfowl hunting ammunition for all hunting across the nation. Since 2007, California has prohibited it in the in California. By removing eight counties within the condor range. In fact, at least thirty other the single greatest source of states regulate lead ammunition in some manner. unregulated lead from our "I am concerned, however, the impression left from this bill environment, this law will is that hunters and sportsmen and women in California are not benefit not only California conservationists. I know that is not the case. Hunters and anglers Condors, eagles and other are the original conservationists. Since the 1930s, hunters have raptors, but people as well. NATIVE BIRD CONNECTIONS NATIVE done more than any other community to conserve species and Fragments of lead bul- their habitats, and that is a lasting conservation legacy." lets left behind in hunted carcasses, as well as lead shot left behind Mount Diablo Audubon was one of more than 37 Audubon on the ground, have been a constant obstacle to bird conserva- chapters who advocated on behalf of this legislation. tion in California for decades. California Condors simply cannot recover with lead in the environment, as scientific studies have Brigid McCormack, Executive Director, Audubon California clearly shown. But the condor is just part of the story. Iconic birds said "Ridding our environment of lead ammunition is quite pos- such as the Golden Eagle and Bald Eagle also suffer the threat of sibly one of the greatest conservation victories in the last 20 years. lead poisoning, along with more than 130 other wildlife species. I hope you are as proud as I am to have been a part of it. This was Moreover, research also shows that people who eat meat hunted an incredibly difficult fight for Audubon California and its partners. with lead ammunition have higher levels of lead in their blood. You were there with us. Thank you." Even minute traces of lead leads to lower IQs in children. the Quail —6— November 2013 Panton, Mary Pelkey, Nadine Peterson, Thank You to Our Donors Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglas Philips, Roger A. The Board of Directors of Mount Diablo Audubon Society wishes to thank all those who Prince and Noelle B. Schoellkopf, Donald have contributed during the 2012-2013 fiscal year. These donations permit the on-going and Daisy Ray, Marge Reed, William Rocha, programs dedicated to preservation of habitat for birds and other wildlife, and promote Gerry and Nancy Salsig, Fay and Edwin an awareness of our natural wonders among young people. Schoenberger, Judy Secor, Julia M. Starr, California Condor ($1000+) California Quail ($25‒$99) Ann-Charlott Stenberg, F. and B. Strehlitz, Hugh B. and Rosita O. Harvey, Wild Lin and Dennis Ashlock, Althea Bates, Patricia Sullivan, Fred W. Sullivan, Bill Birds Unlimited–Pleasant Hill. Nancy Beckus, Ruth Beeve, Thomas Surges, Janet Thomas, Claire and William California Gnatcatcher ($250‒$999) Bishop, John and Diane Blackman, Jackie J. Toaspern, Catherine R. Tzur, Kathleen Kristen Beckus-Baker, Larkin Breed, Bobrosky, Beverly G Bortin, Theresa Ca- Usher, Paul Veilleux, Thomas Verrill, Rich- Jerry Britten, Steve Buffi and Anne Waters, bral, Daniel Campos, Britta E. Cascio, Ethan ard Vrmeer, Beverley Walker, Mashuri and William D. and Linda L. Chilson, Galaxy and Ruth Chickering, Margaret Clark, Rahima Warren, Carter S. Wells, Peter L. Printing, Bruce and Judy Kronmiller, Lynn Arthur Clarke III, Carolyn E. Cogan, Don and Dolores White, Ronald White, Roger Lakso, Tom and Pam Lee, Donald W. and and Susan Couch, Patricia and Michael Wilcox, Dr. R. Claude Williamson, Marilyn Susan E. Lewis, Deborah Payson, Paul and Cousins, Nancy Damaschino, Doris C. and Ed Wojcik, Bevelyn Wolf. Nancy Schorr, Martin and Sandra Stuart, and Peter J. Daniels, Joy Dardin, William California Towhee (To $24) Joel Summerhill and Gloria Cannon, Nancy E. Davis, Jr., Analice J. Decker, Carol Evans, Lorraine J. Adams, Bridget Albosta, Wenninger. William Galvin, George Gero, Bingham Janet Battislini, Carole Beeton, Marilyn California Thrasher ($100‒$249) and C. L. Gibbs, Betsy and David Gifford, Chaplin, Richard Comiskey, Jan Rae Cook, Cheryl Abel, Gus and Gerry Argenal, Valerie Glass, Thomas Goedewaagen, Janet Susan Ferro, Sarah Gallagher, Alfred S. Constance Diernisse, Kent Fickett and Re- M. Goodman, Bill and Diana Granados, Harvey, Dolores L. Mauritz, Sharon K. becca Beemer, Don and Melinda Groom, Karin Grillo, Carol and John Harkin, Sherri and Patrick F. McKee, Edith A. Mitchell, Marilyn Halberg, Jean Halford, Claudia and Hedman, Dora Henel, Cheryl Hines and Moreland and Jean Richmond, Patricia A. Scott Hein, Claudia and Scott Hein, David Charles W. Deutschman, Ann and Donald and William G. Schneider, Walter L. and Hutton and Valerie Ventre-Hutton, Mark Hughes, Daniel Jacobs, Toril H. Jelter, Diane Suzanne L. Schnyder, Karen Stella, Dr. and Janlois, Linda and Lew Jenkins, Donna and Lynn Karkiewicz, Susan Dee and Edwin Ms. Howard Sturtz, Betty Ann Williams, Scott Kramer, Herb and Randi Long, Nor- F. Katibah, Kathryn and Thomas Kellogg, Patricia Willy. man and Christy Lundberg, Nancy and Paul Jane and James Kieran, Matty Kilpatrick, Meyerhofer, Mimi and Ellis Myers, Margaret Michael Krieg, Richard Kurovsky, Mona L. O'Connell, Carol Pachl, Bernt Pettersson, Lange, Steve and Sue Loftin, Mike Loper, 5 Sharon and Dennis Randall, Elizabeth Sand- Pamela Lorenz, Diane and Bob Malu- erson, Kathy Simons, Donald and Beverly celli, Jan Manns, John and Margaret Elgin Steffen, Maury and Susan Stern, Willard Masek, Susan and Mark McGowan, Laurie Taylor, Dianne and Robert Tecco, Michael C. Morrison, Mary Muerle, William O'Neil, and Rita Tischler, Nina and Leary Wong. Darryl Ott, Margaret and Christopher Annual Treasurer’s Report, 2012–2013 By Steve Buffi, Treasurer The financial health of MDAS, due to the generosity of our members, allows us to actively pursue our mission. During the year, we funded important habitat preservation projects and continued our community education outreach efforts for young people such as the “No Child Left Inside Program” and the Young Birders Club. Your generos- ity supports our monthly presentation program, this newsletter, the annual Christmas Count, our web site, and much more. You have read about these important community efforts in this and prior issues of the Quail. Each dollar you give is put to good use for the benefit of our community. The General Fund balance covers operations and reserves, the Conservation and Education balance is used towards these efforts, and the Breeding Bird Atlas reflects the books held for sale and the results of book sales. Cheers! … July 2012 – June 2013 Fund Balance For Our Volunteers Funds Revenue Expenses Net 7/1/2012 MDAS helped Wild Birds Unlimited General $29,182.99 $21,442.62 $7740.37 $110,753.34 ­celebrate its 22nd anniversary October 4 Conservation & Education $56.65 $0.00 $56.65 $16,549.75 with the following members hosting the Breeding Bird Atlas –$362.57 $61.64 –$424.11 $19,671.09 table: Kathy Kellogg (above at right), Da- vid and Lita Little, Cevina Targum, Mike Total All Funds $28,877.07 $21,504.16 $7,372.91 $146,974.18y Robertson, Julie Padilla and Cassie Tzur. the Quail —7— November 2013 Joseph Grinnell » Continued from Page 10 paleontology. She insisted, too, that Grin- California Thrasher and its chaparral habi- nell come to Berkeley as the first Director tat, and refined it in future years with his of the Museum of Vertebrate Zology.. studies of the environmental associations Most of his field work was in California of mammals in Yosemite National Park. and western North America, where he led Like his distant cousin, George Bird many extensive expeditions. He recognized Grinnell, Joseph was instrumental in shap- that the rich and often unique birds and ing the philosophy of the National Park animals of California were threatened from System and in securing the long-term increasing impacts of human population protection of Yosemite. When he became growth and unsustainable land use prac- founding director of Berkeley’s museum in tices. His response was a dedication to 1908, Grinnell started a letter campaign to gather an extraordinarily detailed record government and park officials arguing for of the distribution and natural history of conservationist policies. Many of his ideas, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, from placing trained naturalists in national backed by specimens, photographs, and parks to prohibiting hunting and trapping field notes. He assumed that much of the park animals. are in place today. value of this work lay in the fact that "after Although much occupied in many other the lapse of many years, possibly a century, activities, he edited for thirty-six years the the student of the future will have access Condor, a journal devoted mainly to the to the original record of faunal conditions ornithology of the western states. Professor in California”. And this has come true: you Grinnell was president of the American will find, in nearly every species account Ornithologists Union from 1929 to 1932. in Contra Costa Breeding Bird Atlas, for A number of birds carry the Grinnell example, a reference to the observations of name: a fossil raptor from the La Brea Tar Grinnell and his colleagues. Further, Grin- California Quail, Male. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, in Pits is Geranoætus grinnelli, similar to the Game Birds of California, by Grinnell, ­Bryant nell's data serve as a baseline for current living Chilean Blue Eagle. Subspecies of Ru- and Storer, 1918. studies of niche shifts in Yosemite owing by-crowned Kinglet, Northern Pygmy Owl, to climate change. niche as all of the habitat conditions that Red-winged Blackbird, Loggerhead Shrike, In 1917, Grinnell published a paper are required for a species to exist. He con- Mountain Chickadee, Red Crossbill, House titled "The niche-relationships of the cluded that in nature there is competitive Finch, and Guadalupe Caracara also honor California thrasher." in which he defined exclusion i.e. no two species can occupy Grinnell in the tri-part scientific name. the concept of the “ecological niche”. This the same niche for a period of time without All who care about the environment has proved to be one of the organizing one excluding the other. He developed this and about our national parks should con- principles of nature. Grinnell defined the idea around the relationship between the sider Joseph Grinnell a hero.

Northern Pintail ◆ Anas acuta With its long black point- These ducks use all four flyways, ed tail, brown head with but are most plentiful in the west. white neck stripes and gray Pintails in North America breed slender body, the Northern throughout much of Canada, Alaska, Pintail drake is one of North the northern plains states and parts America's most beautiful ducks. Their long of California, including Contra Costa neck and tail makes them appear larger County. In Birds of the Pacific States, than a Mallard but in body size and weight Hoffmann said, in 1927, "In the reedy they are smaller. The Northern Pintail hen edges of sloughs or on ponds and ELLIS MYERS PHOTO Northern Pintail drake, Cosumnes River Preserve. is mottled brown and also has a pointed tail. estuaries from August to April, the In flight drakes have iridescent steel-green Pintail is generally the commonest duck." point, the breeding population is still below wing patches bordered with light bands. But this species has been badly affected by the long-term average, despite years of ma- Hens have a duller wing patch bordered loss of habitat and by avian diseases, falling jor efforts focused on restoring the species. with light bands. from a population of more than 10 million Among those efforts are the projects funded In flight the birds are extremely grace- in 1957 to 3.5 million by 1964; then after a by your purchase of Federal Duck Stamps: ful and fast, fond of zig-zagging from great short-lived rebound, to a new low of about for example, the Grasslands Wildlife Man- heights before leveling off to land. They are two million about 1990. Although the spe- agement Area is high on the priority list for agile on land and often feed in grain fields. cies has recovered somewhat from that low 2013‒2014 distribution of those funds. the Quail —8— November 2013 Art Donations Mount Diablo Audubon Society Mount Diablo Audubon Society, a Chapter of National Audubon, is committed to the Needed By Mike Eliot sustainable balance of our community’s people, birds, other wildlife, and habitat through The first ever conservation, education, and advocacy. Native Bird Con- MDAS Board of Directors (Area code 925 unless specified) nections White President: Jimm Edgar...... 510‒658‒2330 Owl Art Auc- Vice President: Paul Schorr...... [email protected] . . .757‒5107 Treasurer: Steve Buffi...... 938‒0929 tion and Sale is Board Secretary: Diana Granados...... [email protected] scheduled for Programs: Ariana Rickard...... [email protected] 347‒754‒0143 Saturday, No- Field Trips: Hugh Harvey...... 935‒2979 vember 9, at Wild Conservation: Nancy Wenninger...... [email protected] . . .938‒7987 Birds ­Unlimited Corresponding Secretary: Barbara Vaughn...... 376‒8732 in Pleasant Hill. Sales Manager: Diane Malucelli...... 674‒0920 Membership: Pat Schneider...... [email protected] . . . 935-5683 We will accept donations of nature-related Volunteer Coordinator (Acting): Bev Walker...... [email protected] ...... 952-9925 artwork, paintings, photographs, sculptures, Hospitality: Nina Wong...... [email protected] . . 930‒7024 carvings, etc., especially birds, that are in good, Julie Starr...... [email protected] saleable condition. You may drop them off at Education: Cecil Williams...... [email protected] . . .376‒1631 the store anytime during business hours until Webmaster: Betts Sanderson. . [email protected] ...... November 7. You may put a reserve price Christmas Count: Jimm Edgar...... 510‒658‒2330 on them if you wish. Also, if you want to be EBB Sightings Monitor: Ethan Chickering. . . . [email protected] Young Birder Advisor: Tracy Farrington. . . . [email protected] recognized as a donor, please put your name Member‒at‒Large: Mike Eliot...... [email protected] on the back of each item. Brian Murphy...... 937‒8835 We support Native Bird Connections Jean Richmond...... 837‒2843 as an educational organization that works Maury Stern...... [email protected] . . . 284-5980 regularly in public schools to educate chil- Mike Williams...... [email protected] . . .376‒1631 dren about nature, wild birds, and the envi- Quail Editor Ellis Myers...... [email protected] . . .284‒4103 ronment. They also rescue injured birds and Mount Diablo Audubon Society house those that are too injured to be released meets at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of back into the wild. [Snowy Owl pictured each month, except July and August, in the above.] They are in dire need of extra funding Camellia Room of The Gardens at Heather due to increased regulation and costs. 100% Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut of the proceeds will go to their efforts Creek. Everyone is invited. SAVE THE DATE! Remind your friends and family about the White Owl Art Auc- Mount Diablo Audubon Society tion. It will take place from 10 am to 5 pm thanks our Business Partners for their on Saturday, November 9 at: generous support: Wild Birds Unlimited, 692 Contra Costa Wild Birds Unlimited Blvd., Pleasant Hill, (925) 798-0303 Steven Joseph Photography Galaxy Press Native Bird Connections FastPrint • Oakland

MDAS MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL APPLICATION c Please enroll my family and me as a member of Mount Diablo Audubon Society for $25 for one year. Membership dues are tax deductible. c I’m enclosing an additional tax-deductible donation of $______. c For an additional $20 (new NAS members only), please enroll me in the National Audubon Society. Silent auction bidding will begin at 10 am Please send The Quail by: c US mail c E-mail______and end at 5 pm. You may bid more than once. You must register to bid when you arrive so Name______please bring a credit or debit card. Call us at the store if you have any ques- Address______tions or need artwork picked up. If you can- City, State______Zip______not attend but wish to bid, please give us your Phone ( ____ )______E-mail______email address. We will email you photos of Please make your check payable to: the artwork the day before the auction and MOUNT DIABLO AUDUBON SOCIETY and mail with this application to: you can bid by phone. Membership Chair, 282 Firestone Court, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 the Quail —9— November 2013 Mount Diablo Audubon Society, Non-Profit Org. P.O. Box 53 U.S. Postage Walnut Creek, CA 94597-0053 Return Service Requested PAID Permit No. 66 Concord, CA

California Thrasher. Denise Wight photo..

Joseph Grinnell Ornithologist • Zoologist • Ecologist Joseph Grinnell, the Most Influential often taken of animals captured. His careful Environmentalist You Never Heard Of! cataloguing began with a specimen of the Joseph Grinnell had a childhood un- Red-shafted Flicker. By the time he entered like that of other youth of his time. He was Stanford University for graduate study, his born in 1877 on the Kiowa, Comanche and collection contained nearly 4500 bird skins. Wichita Indian Agency in Indian Territory In 1893, he entered Throop Univer- near Fort Sill (Oklahoma). His father was sity in Pasadena (later Throop Polytechnic the agency doctor. In 1880 the family moved Institute, and, in 1920, Caltech) Also in to the Dakotas, where the father was treat- that year, at the age of sixteen, Grinnell's ing the great Sioux Chief Red Cloud. The first scientific papers were published. Four boy grew up with the Sioux children, and separate papers were titled Audubon's War- he was a favorite of Red Cloud. His Sioux bler, Virginia Rail in California, Nesting of background surely helped form his attitudes the Road-Runner, and The Wren-tit. In all, Joseph Grinnell of living with nature. Grinnell published 554 articles, most on Annie M. Alexander, who had also collected In 1885 the family moved to Pasadena, ornithology, during his lengthy career. in Alaska. Miss Alexander was daughter then a largely undeveloped area where In 1898, at age 21, Grinnell took a of Samuel Alexander, founding partner Joseph became a budding naturalist and schooner into the Bering Sea during the of Alexander & Baldwin, the giant Hawai- ornithologist. He developed a detailed Alaskan gold rush. This was the first expe- ian sugar, real estate and navigation firm. protocol for recording field observations. dition of his career. The specimens he col- Grinnell pointed out the need for a natural A journal was kept, detailed accounts of lected are still in the Museum of Vertebrate history museum for the West Coast, to be individual species' behaviors were recorded, Zoology at UC Berkeley, all meticulously housed at Stanford. Alexander, though, in topographic maps were annotated to show labeled by his hand. About 1905, Grinnell, agreeing to fund the project, insisted that it specific localities, and photographs were then a Professor of Biology at Throop, met be built at Cal, where she had been studying the Quail November 2013 —10— Continued on Page 8 »