Mount Diablo Audubon Travels to Costa Rica Maury Stern Annual
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Volume 56, Number 9 June 2011 Mount Diablo Audubon Travels to Costa Rica ◆ Maury Stern Members of MDAS who went on a trip to Costa Rica in February will present pictures and share experiences of the trip at our potluck dinner on Wednesday, June 1st. Fourteen people joined an unofficial MDAS Costa Rica bird trip from February 3‒20, 2011. Hugh and Rosita Harvey, David and Valerie Hutton, Norm and Debby Kir- shen, Paul and Nancy Schorr, Maury and Susan Stern, Will and Kate Taylor, Nancy Wenninger and her sister Terri Davis, made a very congenial group. Edwin Ramirez was our guide. With a great sense of humor, he was always enthusiastic and eager to make Left: Great Green Macaw. Right: Rufous-tailed Jacamars are insect eaters and nest in burrows sure everyone saw the birds. Edwin’s friend along stream sides like kingfishers. Both photos by Paul Schorr at La Selva Biological Station. Enrique (Kike) Gomez, our delightful bus lowed by a siesta. The afternoon included 3 We traveled to most of the varied habi- driver, was also a knowledgeable birder. The or 4 hours of birding. Dinner was followed tats during our 17-day trip. This allowed us trip was arranged by Kathleen Cameron of by compiling the daily bird list. By 9 or 10 to see 436 species with 35 hummingbirds, 7 Majestic Feathers and accommodated bird- pm most birders were more than ready for trogans, 5 kingfishers, 12 woodpeckers and ers who stayed for 9, 14 and the full 17 days. a good night’s sleep. 32 tanagers. The multiple habitats included: http://www.majesticfeathers.com/ Costa Rica is near enough to the equator Tropical Wet Forest at Esquinas Rainforest Most mornings the group started about to have 12 hours of daylight and 12 of dark- Lodge on the Osa Peninsula; Lower Mon- 6 am with an hour of birding before break- ness. There is a wetter side of the country tane Rainforest at the Wilson Botanical fast. Then we would bird until lunch, fol- (Caribbean) and a less wet side (Pacific) with Gardens and Los Cusingos (former home the northwest being the driest area. The of Alexander Skutch, who died in 2004 at country extends from sea level to 13,000 feet. age 99); Subalpine Paramo above timberline Meeting Schedule The majority of the 4.6 million Costa Ricans at Cerro de la Muerte (11,000 feet) which The next general meeting of live in the large central valley, which at 3500 is the highest point on the Pan American Mount Diablo Audubon Society to 5000 feet has the most temperate climate. Highway; Cloud Forest of the Savegre Val- will be , in the Wednesday, June 1 Continued on Page 8 » Camellia Room of The Gardens at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. 6:00 pm Doors open Annual Potluck Dinner 6:30 Dinner is served The potluck dinner meeting on June 1 Remember that this event will be on * Please remember to bring will be at our regular meeting place at The Wednesday, June 1, but it is at the same your own utensils and cup. 8:00 pm Announcements Gardens at Heather Farm. Doors open location as our usual monthly meetings. 8:15 pm Speaker: Maury Stern at 6:00 pm. Members bring a main dish, Q The next meeting will be Thursday, salad, or dessert and their own utensils Accolades and thanks are owed to our September 1. There will be no meet- and coffee cup. Please mark your serving Hospitality Chair, Gerry Argenal, and her ing in July or August. plates. Coffee, tea and punch will be pro- volunteer helpers for setting the ambience vided. Bring your own wine if you wish. for this occasion. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— June 2011 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Kudos to Volunteers As I write this month’s President’s Cor- many that are fairly rare even for Arizona. On May 7, in conjunction with a Moth- ner we have just held our yearly chapter For years and years a family named Patton ers’ Day celebration at Wild Birds Unlimited elections. We have elected Paul Schorr as opened their yard for birders to come in in Pleasant Hill, Michelle de los Reyes, Tomi our new Vice-president; all other officers and sit and watch the birds. Their home is Izuno, Gwen Atihl, and Cevina Targum joined remain the same. We will have our an- in Patagonia, which is east of Nogales and with Moses de los Reyes to host a member- nual pot luck dinner on Wednesday, June almost on the Mexico border. They have ship drive for MDAS. It was a good event for 1, which will be our final meeting until long ago passed away but a foundation was MDAS, advocating our goals in conservation. September. set up to maintain the yard and the feeders. Last Saturday the Wild Birds Unlimited A caretaker lives there and watches over store hosted an event that was really well everything. They have about ten humming- attended and had a lot of the local groups bird feeders and about six seed feeders. SE and organizations there. “Give a Dam” from Arizona is known for the many species of Martinez was there to talk about the bea- hummingbirds seen there. We saw about vers in their city. Native Bird Connections eight species the morning we were there. was there with five wild birds to show off Nature Conservancy purchased a large including a beautiful Bald Eagle. None of piece of land along Patagonia Creek. They the birds NBC has can be released into the have a nice visitor center and miles of trails wild because of some kind of injury that throughout the property. With water come is permanent. Gary Bogue from Contra lots of birds in the desert. We spent a very Costa Times was also at the store. It was productive three hours there. If you have a fun event. not been birding in SE Arizona you need I spent two days last week in Southeast to go. It is maybe the best birding spot in Arizona with a friend whose parents live in North America. Tucson in the winter. I had not been to SE I hope we see you at the June potluck; Arizona in many years. What a great place and have a great summer. it is for birds. We had 85 species on Friday, Q Art Exhibit for MDAS Artists Cevina Targum and the MDAS exhibit The next outreach activity will be Heritage In association with the Arts and Cultur- There is no cost to enter the show, but Day at Borges Ranch on June 11. Heritage Day al Foundation of Antioch, Joel Summerhill because of space constraints we’ll need includes tours of the historic ranch house, gar- has arranged a September Art Exhibit for to limit it to the first 35 artists. The Arts dening, spinning, quilting, and blacksmithing Mount Diablo Audubon Society members and Cultural Foundation will provide light demonstrations, food, and various exhibits. at the Lynn House Gallery in downtown refreshments and wine at a free artists This is a fun event for all. Why don’t you come Antioch. You are invited to participate by reception on September 10 from 2‒4 pm. and say hello to our volunteers? submitting your work within the broad The exhibit will be free and open to the theme of Nature, in any media. public. The event will also be publicized in Volunteers are encouraged to help at Heritage Day. To volunteer for an hour or two Exhibit Date: September 10‒24, the local newspapers, ACFA newsletter and at the MDAS booth, or for more informa- Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1‒4 pm. website and cable billboard. tion, please contact Moses de los Reyes, at The Lynn House Gallery is located How to enter: E-mail Diane Gibson- (925) 755-3734. Thank you for your valuable at 809 West First Street, across from the Gray at [email protected]. support. Art Limits: 2 pieces per artist, art work amtrak station. http://art4antioch.org/ value cannot exceed 30” × 40” per piece, or lynn-house.asp. total value of $1,500. Hanging work must This bird has exceptional have wire hanger on the back and must be Q eyesight that allows it not suitable for all ages to enjoy. ( only to spot a beetle from a distance of 100 feet, but Drop-off dates: Friday, September 2, also allows it to detect ultraviolet light. and Saturday, September 3, from 4‒5 pm The bird can perceive the iridescent both days. The Quail is published monthly except January and August by Mount Diablo reflection of urine squirted by voles Pick-up dates: 9/24 Saturday, Septem- and can follow their trails. ber 24, and Monday, September 26, from Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is 4‒5 pm both days. Unscramble these letters, or turn to printed on 30% post-consumer waste Page 6 to learn more. Awards: $100 Best of Show, $75 1st recycled paper. The deadline for the Place, $50 2nd Place, $25 3rd Place and two July/August issue is June 21. AACEEEIKLMNRRST Honorable Mention ribbons the Quail —2— June 2011 Field Trip Schedule By Hugh Harvey June 4 Saturday. Outer Point Reyes ➋ Saturday/Sunday, June 18‒19 18-19 Saturday/Sunday. .Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley July Leaders: Rosita and Hugh Harvey, (925) 935-2979. 30 Saturday. San Mateo Coast This is always a productive and well-favored weekend trip August to the northern Sierra which requires driving and walking, 20 Saturday.