equoia Bulletin of the Sequoia Audubon Society San Mateo County Volume 51, No. 1 eedles September, 2000

This Month's ...... From the President Program ~ -~ Changes are coming to our Chapter starting this Tom Ryan, biologist with the ~Lf A~ fall! National Audubon is implementing the Member- ship part of its Strategic Plan. According to the plan, Santa Clara Valley Water District, will present a program on those aptly each part ofNAS must be financially self-sufficient and the Membership part is not. NAS attributes this to the fact that the cost of named birds, SWIFI'S, THEIR acquiring new members is so great. NAS has determined that they can no NATU- longer give the Chapters a share of the dues until NAS has recouped these RAL .... recruitment costs. The end result of this is that our Chapter income from HIS- National will suffer a 75% decline by the end of three years. This income TORY AND from National has always been close to what is needed to fimd the print­ IDENTIFICATION. - ~~~~r. - • ing and mailing of our Chapter Newsletter, the Needles. Tom was formerly SO - This year we will be sending out a full Needles once each chiefbiologist with the ...... _ _ quarter and a one page flyer for the other months. July and August will Bay Bird continue as currently, without a newsletter of any kind. At the same time Observatory, has worked ' ...,.101 we will be revising and expanding our Web page so current information in South America and has will be available at all times. Audubon- has been hosting us on given extensive time to their website, but National Audubon has decided not to host Chapters after studying these highly ma- October 31, 2000. We will be responsible for designing, financing and neuverable insect catchers. Thursday, September 14 at maintaining our website this year. I know that every one doesn't have the San Mateo Garden Center on Parkside at home access to the Web, but our libraries do. Give it a try when you go to . • check out books!!! Mystery Members! Sequoia Audubon has about 1700 members, Next Month's Program but many of you are a "mystery" to me! I know and interact with some 200 of our members and we receive generous donations from many others This meeting will be held on the Coastside in­ that I don't know personally. But what about the rest of our membership? stead of at our usual location. We will meet at the ranger headquarters at the end of Kelly Street in Half I assume you support the Audubon idea of enjoying and preserving Moon Bay at the State Beach. A park ranger will pre­ birds and their habitats. Do you read the Needles? Will you miss receiving sent a birding program. See next month's Needles for it each month? What things can Sequoia Audubon do to encourage you to more information. become more active? Please call me at 325-3306 or our office, 345-3724 and share your ideas and concerns. Writing about birds is fun, so I'll close with my latest sighting. An Eating Machines adult and a young California Thrasher are holding forth in my front gar­ Sea anemones look like pretty flowers. Actually den. I love watching them scurry in and out under the flowering shrubs they are very efficient predators. They will ingest al­ searching for insects. The young one keeps focused on its parent and begs most anything offered. They have tentacles armed rather piteously whenever mom or dad finds a tasty morsel. When the with minute stinging structures. If a crab or small fish adult isn't paying attention, the young thrasher finds his own tidbits and touches the tentacles, the anemone will gobbles them down. No sharing there!! sting the organism and draw it towards The young bird is very curious and not very wary of humans. He its mouth. An anemone will quickly walked right up to the dog and stood beak to nose until mom or dad saw digest any food, and "spit out" any in­ him and unleashed a stream of scolding chatter that sent him running digestible shells or bones. away and under cover. It wont be long before he's on his own. I hope he decides to live in my yard and sing to me in the spring. -Robin Smith

Sequoia Audubon Society 1 Septelltber, 200tJ ~TIIUJOO)AY,SEYIEMBER7--::::s:a=A~~BER7-BAIRISLAND DIRECfORS.MEETING -7:30PM-At the -Here's a chance to bird in the newest part of the Sequoia Audubon office. All members are welcome. Call ahead Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. to make sure that there will be enough room. Sequoia Audubon volunteers work at in various ways. You can become one of the volunteers, too, or you can just SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, BEGINNERS/ FAMILY enjoy birding at Bair. Take 101 to the Whipple Avenue exit in TRIP- SEA CLOUD PARK-This is the first of the Redwood City. Go east on Whipple across the frontage road monthly trips, held on the second weekend of the month , espe­ There is a parking area here, but WATCH OUT for the frontage cially designed for beginners and fiunilies. We have plenty of road traffic! Meet at 9 AM at the refuge sign inside the gate. binoculars to share. Besides looking at the birds we will discuss LEADER ROBIN SMITH 325-3306 binoculars, field guides and the basics of bird identification. Questions gladly answered! To get there take Hillsdale Avenue THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12-GENERAL MEETING- - east from 101 and make a right turn on Edgewater Blvd Go 1.3 AT STATE PARK HEADQUARTERS IN HALF MOON miles, turn left on Pitcairn Drive. Look for the park entrance on BAY. Birding program to be presented by ranger personnel. The the right. We'll meet at the fur end of the parking lot at 9 AM. Headquarters building is on the coast at the end of Kelly A venue LEADER ROBIN SMITH 325-3306 in HalfMoon Bay. Go south from the intersection of Highways One and 92 and take a right at the first light. Follow it to its end. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14-GENERAL MEETING The park building will be on the right. Informal get-together at -SWIFTS, THEIR NATURAL HISTORY AND IDENTI­ 7:30 with the meeting beginning at 8 PM. FICATION. -Presented by Tom Ryan, former chief biologist of the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and currently a biolo­ SATURDAY, OCfOBER 14-SEA CLOUD PARK­ gist with the Santa Clara Water District. At the San Mateo Gar­ BEGINNERSIFAMIL Y TRIP. The second of our monthly den Center on the Alameda at Parkside. Informal get-together at trips designed for beginners and families. Besides looking at the 7:30 with the meeting beginning at 8 PM birds we will discuss binoculars, field guides and the basics of bird identification. Questions gladly answered! Sea Cloud Park SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16-POINT REYES in Foster City is reached by taking Hillsdale Avenue east from We will be looking for filll migrants, vagrant species and those 101 and making a right turn on Edgewater Blvd. Then go 1.3 early arriving winter residents in one of the premiere birding miles and turn left on Pitcairn Drive. Look for the park entrancA destinations in the state. Our trip will take us to the outer point, on the right and meet at the far end of the parking lot at 9 AM. Y unless we try for reported vagrants in another location. Expect LEADER ROBIN SMITH 325-3306 some moderate Walking. Wear layered clothing since the weather at Point Reyes is extremely changeable. We will meet at SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21- . the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 8:30AM. To get there take Bird the Zoo!! David Anderson, Director of the SF Zoo, will I 01 north across the Bridge and exit at San An­ lead us in searching for local resident birds and any migrants or selmo. You will travel west on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. to even vagrants. We may be able to see a Bald Eagle in flight, part Olema. Turn left at the stop light and make the first left turn of the Zoo's rehab/recovery program. A $6 donation per person onto Bear Valley Road. The next left will be for the Bear Valley is expected. Park on Herbst Road and enter through the service Visitor Center. Park near the rest rooms in the upper (left) park­ gate by 9 AM. To get to Herbst Road: Take 280 North to 19th ing lot. Avenue, 19th to Sloat Blvd. Turn left on Sloat, and then left on LEADER JUDY SPITLER 3S5-9362 Skyline Blvd. From there turn left on Herbst Road OR Take 280 north to Brotherhood Way, follow it to Blvd, turn SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, PHIPPS COUNTRY- This left on Lake Merced Blvd., cross Sunset and continue on Lake combination produce stand, berry-pickin' farm and barnyard Merced Blvd and cross Skyline Blvd on to Herbst Road menagerie, formerly known as the Phipps Ranch, has become a LEADER BARBARA STEWART 359-3899 favorite birding spot with rare and unusual birds turning up an­ nually. To get there take Hwy. 1 to Pescadero Road Follow SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28-CRISSY FIELD- Bird the Pescadero Road through town until you come to the farm stand. New Marsh! Explore an area newly restored, including a tidal Park away from the farm stand so as to leave the nearest spaces marsh, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San for customers. We will meet at 8:30 AM. Francisco. See what is in the marsh at this season. Identity the LEADER GARY DEGID 726-1340 birds in and over the bay waters, even those pesky gulls! Take 101 north to Van Ness Avenue. Follow Van Ness to Bay, turn THURSDAY, OCTOBERS- BOARD OF DIRECTORS left on Bay and, soon, right on Marina Blvd. Follow Marina past MEETING-7:30PM- At the Sequoia Audubon office. All the to the entrance to Golden Gate National Rec­ members are welcome. Call ahead to make sure that there will reation Area. Park in the parking area and meet at the large ki- • be enough room. oskat 9 AM. LEADER FRANCIS TOLDI 344-1919 SeptelftNr, 2000 2 FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE - 2000-2001 DATE DAY & TIME TYPE LOCATION ll=&ni=R 9/9/00 Saturday 9 AM Beginners/Family Trip Sea Cloud Park Robin Smith 325-3306 9/16/00 Saturday, 8:30AM Fall migrants Point Reyes Judy Spitler 355-9362 • 9123100 Saturday, 8:30AM Fall migrants Phipps Ranch Gary Deghi 726-1340 9/30/00 Saturday 9 AM Fall Shorebirds TBA TBA 10/7/00 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bair island Robin Smith 325-3306 10/14/00 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family Sea Cloud Park Leslie Flint 573-6279 10121100 Saturday Behind the Scenes SF Zoo !arbara Stewart 359-3899 10128100 Saturday New Marsh Crissy Field Francis Told 344-1919 11/4/00 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bairisland Robin Smith 325-3306 11112/00 Sunday Beginner/Family Coyote Point Sue Cossin& 347-9358 11/19/00 Sunday Fall Shorebirds Coyote Point ~ue Cossins 347-9358 1212100 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bair island Robin Smith 325-3306 12/9/00 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family Sea Cloud Pat'X Garth HarNOOd 12/16/00 Saturday Christmas Bird Count Crystal Springs AI DeMartini 12/30/00 Saturday Christmas Bird Count AnoNuevo Garth HarM)()(f 1/6/01 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bairisland Robin Smith 325-3306 1113101 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family BayFrontPat'X Robin Smith 325-3306 1/20/01 Saturday 9 AM Land and Sea Birds Sharp Park Judy Spitler 355-9362 213-4101 Saturday & Sunday Wintering Waterfowl & Raptors Los Banos/Panache Valley Cliff Richer 873-1754 2/10/01 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family ~Cloud Park TBA 2/17/01 Saturday 9 AM Water & Shorebirds Princeton Harbor Gary Deghi 726-1340 313101 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bair island Robin Smith 325-3306 3110/01 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family Sea Cloud Park TBA 3117/01 Saturday 9 AM Upland Birdina Arastradero Preserve Garth Hai\YOOd 4/7/01 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bair island Robin Smith 325-3306 4/14/01 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family Arastradero Preserve Garth HarNOOd • 4r22/01 Sunday9AM Land and Water Birds Coyote Point Sue Cossins 347-9358 4129/01 Sunday8AM Unique Habitat Caravan Mines Road Cliff Richer 873-1754 515101 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bairisland Robin Smith 325-3306 5112/01 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family Bay Front Park TBA 5119/01 Saturday 9 AM Coastside Canyons Higgins-Purisma/Verde Rd. Rick Johnson 5126/01 Saturday 9 AM Coastside Creek Whitehouse Creek Nicole~' 612/01 Saturday 9 AM Refuge Trip Bair island Robin Smith 325-3306 6/9/01 Saturday 9 AM Beginner/Family TBA TBA 6/16-17/01 Saturday-Sunday Sierra & Cienega Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley ~liff Richer & Company 6/23101 Saturday 9 AM Butterflies & Birds Hidden Villa Garth Harwood

7/13-16101 Friday-Monday Riparian & High Desert KemValley Bob!;;JCIIIII.-:1

While we will attempt to stay to Some field trips may this schedule as closely as possible, require reservations. circumstances may dictate changes. Checkinyournxxrthly Check in your monthly Needles for Needles for details. complete details.

• Sequoia Audubon Society Page Three September, 2000 fertile soil stretching from California's the extra water to occasionally flow across The Colorado River Coachella Valley to the Gulf of California. the border. In the flood year of 1983, the Delta - Getting a The soil was the foundation for the verdant river even reached the Gulf of California forests Leopold described, and supports for the first time since Glen Canyon Dam Second Chance the irrigated agriculture of the Mexicali went up. The wet winters ofthe 1990s • and Imperial Valleys. continued the sporadic floods. Glenn says The Colo­ The Gulf of California is famous for fish populations in the Mexican stretch of rado River Delta in the enormous tides that barrel up through the river have "exploded," increasing as Mexico was once the narrow channel between the Baja Pen­ much as tenfold since the beginning of the covered with mil­ insula and mainland Mexico. The some­ floods. lions of acres of times violent mix of waters in the delta Even though most of that water ar­ lush wetlands formed one of the largest and most pro­ rived too early in the year to help the river­ formed by the ductive in the world. Fish such as side habitat, some of the native vegetation ever-shifting, pow­ corvina, mullet and tilapia were plentiful in on the northern end of the delta has al­ erful flow of the river. But upstream dams the southern delta, and shrimp abounded in ready sprouted back. When migratory and diversions have taken their toll during the upper gulf. The Cucapa tribe once songbirds cross the border, they're now the last century. The delta is now a salt­ lived off the delta's harvest and found their welcomed by a 60-mile-long corridor of soaked desert with hardly a plant in sight. best hunting grounds at the mouth of the forest, stretching from Morelos Dam to the river. The mouth of the river once sus­ river's confluence with the Rio Hardy. Be­ tained fields of cotton and wheat in com­ But the river people and the delta's cause the Mexican side is relatively free of munal farming settlements. Now, only a wildlife were the last to be considered riprap and concrete channels, the flood-fed fraction of the land is still good for agricul­ when the waters of the Colorado were div­ recovery in Mexico is especially dramatic. ture and busloads of delta people leave for vied up. The 1922 compact on the river Researchers estimate there are 34,500 jobs at foreign-owned farms or factories split the water among the seven US basin acres of forest containing cottonwoods and states. No water was set aside for Mexico near the border. willows along the river in Mexico - about During the past 20 years, flood flows until 1944. That treaty promised Mexico triple that along the lower Colorado in the and wastewater have rejuvenated a few 1.5 million acre-feet ofwater every year . places in the delta, creating isolated (about 10 percent of the river's flow) but That good habitat is sustained by patches of river and wetland habitat. These all of that was diverted for irrigation of the chance alone. Another accidental generos- signs oflife have inspired hope and ener­ border-hugging Mexicali Valley. ity of the Bureau ofReclamation has fig- • gized Mexicans who care about the delta. Hoover, Glen Canyon and the many ured in the delta's revival. A little more And for the first time, environmental lesser dams didn't erase the tidal bores but than a decade ago, its engineering uninten­ groups in the United States are looking they did change them. High tide now o~er­ tionally created some of the best wildlife over the international border that hides the whelms the paltry flow of the river, and the habitat in the delta. mouth of the Colorado River from the rest conditions in and near the river mouth are In 1977, the Bureau completed the grimly referred to as a "negative ," MODE canal, which annually carries 35 of the basin. They're trying to change the oldest a flow nearly as salty as the ocean. The salt billion gallons of irrigation runoff south­ unwritten western water law: Take all you has poisoned much of the wildlife that used ward from Yuma, Arizona. The runoff can get, and never let it go. to thrive here, and overfishing has almost dumps out on the eastern edge of the delta In 1922, conservationist Aldo Leo­ finished off several species. The dams also in Mexico where it has formed a lake and pold spent several weeks paddling a canoe trapped the rich silt so that the soil in the 50,000 acre marsh- Ia Cienega de Santa delta is eroding, not accumulating. through the delta's wetlands in Mexico. Clara. The cienega is a mistake. Originally "The still waters were of a deep and emer­ Now the delta may be finally getting it was intended to be a sink for brine from ald hue, colored by algae, I suppose, but a few lucky breaks. Three years ago, a a $250 million de-salinization plant in no less green for all that," he wrote. "A University of Arizona professor named Ed­ Yuma while the de-salted water was to be verdant wall of mesquite and willow sepa­ ward Glenn flew over the northern end of returned to the Colorado River. Delays in rated the channel from the thorny desert the Colorado River Delta in Mexico. Glenn completing the plant caused all of the wa­ beyond. At each bend we saw egrets had never had a bird's-eye view of the ter to end up in the cienega. standing in the pools ahead ... Fieets of cor­ river above its confluence with the Rio Now the plant is completed and it sits morants drove their black prows in quest Hardy, but he'd been exploring the delta there - a giant white elephant - for in of skittering mullets. Avocets, willets and region for more than two decades. He ex­ 1993 the cienega was designated a bio­ yellowlegs dozed one-legged on the bars; pected little more than a panoramic per­ sphere reserve. Any release of salt and mallards, widgeons and teal sprang sky­ spective of tamarisk groves and salt flats. alkali-rich brine to the cienega would kill ward in alarm." Instead, he saw a winding green its plants and animals. Nevertheless, the In its prime, the Colorado River thread of native cottonwood and willow plant has the potential to be a rogue ele­ trees along the river channel - products dumped about 70 percent of its substantial phant as there are powerful interests in sediment load near its mouth. Over time, ofthe "wet" years ofthe 1980's when all the Colorado deposited a deep wedge of reservoirs on the river were full, and the (Continued on Page Six) US. Bureau of Reclamation had allowed September, 2000 4 Sequoia Audubon Society • •

FALL 2000 BIRDSEED SALE ORDER FORM ALL ORDERS WITH PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY OCT 1 J Proceeds support local Audubon conservation and education programs ***Check preferred pickup location. Pickup dates will be Odober 19-22,2000 Conrmnation and details will be sent via mail. Half Moon Bay_ Burlfnpaae_ SaaCarlos_

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THE NEXT SEED SALE WILL BE FEBRUARY 2000 Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope to receive your order confirmation and directions to pickup location. Mail check and order to: SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY Nrume ______30 West 39th A venue, Suite 202 Ad~------~------San Mateo, CA 94403 City______-""""'lp _____ (650) 345-3724 Phone------E-MaiJ------

• Sequoia Audubon Society 5 September, 2000 Colorado River The Curmudgeon DNA Analysis Lead­ Delta Revival Cliff Richer ing Up to Splits Publish Or Perish (Continued from Page Four) The Sage Grouse arOWld Gwtnison A both Mexico and the US who want that Restating the Obvious County, Colorado are different from othetW de-salted water delivered to the Colorado A new study written in part by a pro­ Sage Grouse in size, plumage, displays, Delta or to the thirsty Los Angeles or San fessor at UC-Berkeley and published in and vocalizations. A recent study has pro­ Diego metropoli. the August issue of vided genetic evidence that Sage Grouse Under the "use it or lose it'' provi­ Conservation Biol­ should be considered two species. The re­ sions of western water law, California has ogy, criticizes the searchers made genetic comparisons be­ been taking more than its allocated 4.4 captive rearing tech­ tween "large" and "small" Sage Grouse. million acre-feet of water from the river. niques used to raise The small birds are now fowtd only The excess was water not ''used" by up­ YOWlS condors, citing around Gunnison COWlty, but birds extir­ stream states. Population increases and that one-third of re­ pated from Arizona, New Mexico, Okla­ better plumbing in the other states have leased condors die in homa, and other parts of Colorado in been whittling away at the California ex­ the first year. recent times are also thought to have be­ cess and there is increased pressure from According to the report, the condors longed to this group. All other popula- Mexico to restore flows to the delta. Even face a risk oflead poisoning from car­ tions are treated as members of the main the US Dept. of Interior has acknowl­ casses containing lead bullet fragments. group. The authors conclude that the ge- edged that 800/o of the best habitat along netic differences between the two groups, Authors~ythecombinedeffects the lower Colorado is in Mexico. Deputy and the lack of gene flow between them threaten the population of released con­ Interior Secretary Hayes has written that provides sufficient evidence to elevate the dors. They are calling for a change in the "Restoring the ecological integrity of the small-bodied birds to species level. condor release program as well as a re­ Delta is in the interest ofboth the US and striction on the use of lead-based ammo. Kevin P. Johnson and Michael D. Mexico". Sorenson also published the results of "Many condors are reared in captiv­ The fate of the Colorado River delta their DNA work on puddle ducks with ity by humans using condor-shaped pup­ had begun to arouse some interest and po­ some startling conclusions. They fOWJd pets, and this has created birds that litical influence in the Mexican govern­ that the Eurasian sub-species of the readily approach people, cars and build­ ment. The defeat of the long-entrenched Green-winged Teal was as different from. ings," ~id co-author Vicky Meretaky, an PRI party at the polls this summer leaves the North American sub-species in its assistant professor at Indiana University. a lot of questions wtanswered. How high DNA makeup as the Mallard was from on the priority list can the delta be for a The authors cite examples of re­ the Pintail. European taxonomists areal­ new government that has 70 years of po­ leased condors attempting to reunite with ready using its old name, Common Teal, litical empire to dismantle? Will they put humans, whom they are supposed to natu­ and treating it as a separate species. The it back on the shelf while they consolidate rally fear, including the well-known in­ nimia sub-species, breeding on the Aleu- their gains? Will they seize it as an op­ stance when a group of birds ripped open tians and Pribilofs, was determined to be portunity to embarrass their big uncle to a screen door to enter a human residence. a sub-species of the Common Teal and the north? Or will they take up the issue The study ignores the fact that these not related to the Green-winged Teal. in a determined but cooperative manner ''facts" have been known and well­ These researchers also fOWld no sig­ that can contribute to the restoration of documented for years and that the condor nificant DNA differences between Blue­ what was once one of the world's great release professionals have changed their winged and Cinnamon Teal, but qualified wildlife environments? Time will tell. rearing and release procedures several . this by ~ying their analysis was based on (Condensed and adapted from an article times to improve the survival chances of two individual birds and more work by Michelle Nijlluis in the July 3, 2000 the endangered vultures. The lead shot is­ needed to be done before coming to any High COWltry News.) sue is even older - its use has long been firm conclusions. forbidden on federal lands - and ammu­ DNA tests on black-billed and nition manufacturers as well as state and yellow-billed magpies are also causing Birds at Home TV federal agencies have been researching al­ some second thoughts. The DNA com­ Howard Rathlesberger has called to ternatives for more than a decade. As to parison of our two North American spe- our attention the birding series, Birds at the death rate -how many second and cies is closer than expected, and both Home, which was featured on KCSM, third year plumage gulls do you see? differ markedly from Eastern European Channel 60. The current cycle of shows is More than 90% of first year gulls die. sub-species of the black-billed magpie. now history, but in the inevitability of We would suggest that the profes­ Yet, there are no cases ofhybridization in public television will undoubtedly re­ sors devote more time to reading what the North American birds in their narrow surface at some future date - keep your others are doing and less time to writing zone of overlap. This test should be one • eyes open. The scattered episodes that I ill-informed and obsolete articles. that is going to be debated for some time. was able to catch were well worth it.

September, 2000 6 SeQUOia Audubon Society

----~ ------~-~------~------to eliminate jet-ski use, or obtain a special Pilchuck Audubon First Bob Breen approval. Many conservation groups felt the ~ Society Wins Suit Scholarship ban did not go far enough. "The ray of • Throws Monkey Wrench into Awarded hope we see in this is that the Park Serv­ Federal Land Exchange ice is recognizing that they have a serious Rosalyn Claret of HalfMoon Bay is problem with thrill vehicles," said. Sean Program the first student to be awarded the newly· Smith, the public lands director for the This spring the Pilchuck Audubon established Bob Breen Scholarship. Re­ San Francisco-based Blue Water Network, Society successfully challenged the Huck­ cipients of the award must be seniors who a leader in the fight against jet-skis. (1 leberry MOWttain Exchange, by which plan to attend college and major in the love that term "thrill vehicles", which I Weyerhauser was going to trade 30,000 natural sciences. Ms. Claret was a mem­ would also apply to snowmobiles, dirt acres of logged land for 4300 acres of ber of the team representing HMB High bi/ces, dune buggies and many federally-owned old-growth forest. School in the recent National Ocean Sci­ SUVs.-Ed.) The federal Court of Appeals agreed ence Bowl contest. The award of$300 Smith pointed out that the Organic Act mandates that the national park serv­ that the deal heavily favored the timber was presented by Dona Juergens, presi­ ice leave park lands unharmed from de­ firm and that the Forest Service had in­ dent of the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Refuge, sponsors of the annual award velopment and pollution as much as adequately assessed the environmental possible. His group, backed by other envi­ named in honor ofBob Breen, the long­ impacts before approving the deal. This ronmental groups plans to file a lawsuit sets a precedent for future exchanges and time (30+ years) Reserve naturalist. Stu­ against the Park Service that calls for the will help assure that the government will dents are selected on the basis of overall total elimination ofjet-skis. grades, as well as marks in the sciences. make a fair and thorough examination of •"The Park Service has admitted that any such transactions. jet-skis pollute both air and water, harass wildlife, and interfere with other visitors. County Approves Yet they propose to allow most use to con­ Federal Jet-Ski Ban tinue," complained Tom Kierr president Fitzgerald Marine Effective April 20 the National Park of the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPS) banned jet-skis and similar Association. •'personal motorized water-craft," at Plan Extension But the Personal Watercraft Industry scores of national parks and seashores. Additional funding to extend the Association felt the ban was too broad and consultant contract for completion of the said in newer models, noise and pollution • Fitzgerald Marine Reserve master plan have been reduced significantly. has been approved by the San Mateo In all, the Park Service allowed COWtty Board of Supervisors. these craft to be used in 87 parks, recrea­ Since November, 1997 there have tional areas and seashores. where motor­ been four meetings with Technical Advi­ boating is allowed. In 66 of the 87 areas, sory Committee groups, four public hear­ local superintendents will have to get ap­ ings, and nwnerous meetings between the proval from Washington before allowing their use. While jet-ski use is marginal in consultants and the county staff to arrive many of the parks, overall usage has risen at the present plan. dramatically in recent years. Among the recommendations in the Jet-skis had already been banned master plan is the construction of a new along the 59 miles of Golden Gate Na­ education center with classroom facilities. tional Recreation Area coastline and will A Fungus Among Us This building would be constructed on the remain that way tmder the new rules. In 1992 a fungus, Armillaria os­ present parking lot and would be approxi­ Under the Park Service regulation, toyae, was found near Mount Adams, mately 1950 square-feet, as opposed to the jet-skis will be banned in 66 parks, rec­ Washington, whose roots covered 1500 tiny shack now being used. The plan also reational areas and sea-shores. acres. At the time it was declared to be calls for closure of certain areas of the in­ Robert Stanton, the agency's direc­ the world's largest organism. tertidal area, allowing the reefs plant and tor, called the new restrictions ••a prudent animal life to recover. Visitations to the approach" that will allow some use of the A new champion has just been de­ reserve over the years has grown to levels wateraaft "yet protects park values." clared. Another Armillaria covering 2200 that have stressed the Reserve's resources, At the same time, the agency said acres- 3.5 miles aaoss and 3 feet thick particularly in the tide pool area. they may continue to be used at 10 federal - has been found in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. DNA samples taken from Ftmding for an environmental im­ recreational areas where water sports tra­ different sections confirmed that it is a pact report after the master plan is com- ditionally have been a focus of activity. single organism, certainly the largest pleted has been approved by the County The agency also gave 11 other park found to date and perhaps the oldest as • Board of Supervisors. areas - mostly federal sea-shores - a two-year "grace period" before they have well at an estimated 2400 years. 7 s.....,,2tJH Help Needed! We need a volunteer or volunteers with computer skills who can: Help us keep the Bair Island Volunteer Database and/or Set up and maintain our web page • Contact Robin Smith (325-3306) or the office (345-3724)

Sequoia NEEDLES is published monthly except in January, July and August. Members are encouraged to submit material to be published in the NEEDLES. The deadline for the submission of materials is the first day of the month preceding publication. These may be original articles, original artwork or cartoons, or uncopyrighted material form other sources. Items dealing with conservation issues must be submitted to the Conservation Committee prior to publication. Information for all officers and chairpersons should be mailed to 30 West 39th Ave., Suite 202, San Mateo, CA 94403-4561. Please send RENEWAL MEM­ BERSHIPS directly to National Audubon in the envelope accompanying your renewal notice. Please send LATE RENEWALS or NEW MEMBERSHIPS through Sequoia Audubon Society to insure continuity of newsletter or magazine subscriptions.

SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY'S WEB PAGE'S URL is http://Sequoia.ca.audubon.o..W The Neetlles e-mail address is [email protected]

OFFICERS STANDING COMMITTEES President Robin Smith 325-3306 ACRHosting Barbara Stewart Past President Francis Toldi 344-1919 Audit Rick Baird 574-1067 Vice-president Marilyn Noah Christmas Count AI DeMartini (Crystal Springs) Secretary Sue Cossins 347-9358 Garth Harwood (ADo Nuevo) Treasurer Lisa Moody Conservation OPEN DIRECTORS Education OPEN Term ending '0 I Merry Haveman 344-2146 Field Trips Anne Moser 324-1718 ~y~ Cliff Richer 873-1754 Bluebird Recovery Howard Rathlesberger 367-1296 Term ending '02 Rick Baird 574-1067 NEEDLES Editor Cliff Richer 873-1754 Tom Vanden-Bosch 369-8305 Circulation Editor Sue Cossins 347-9358 Term ending '03 Mary Bresler Programs Sue Cossins 347-9358 GaryDeghi Publicity Nicole Salgado 345-3724 Membership Sue Cossins 347-9358 STAFF Nicole Salgado 345-3724 Finance/Budget Rick Baird 574-1067 Fax 345-3748 Hospitality Merry Haveman 344-2146 e.-mail [email protected] Eileen Kay 592-4626 ACR Representative Leslie Flint

SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY NON-PROFIT ORG. We Invite your membership in the National 30 West 39th Avenue, #202 U.S.POSTAGE PAID Audubon Society & SAS. To join, please complete San Mateo, CA 94403-4561 SAN MATEO, CA. and mail this form with payment to SAS, 30 West PERMIT NO. 293 39th Ave., #202, San Mateo, CA 94403 0 National Audubon Society Membership New $20 (1 year) Student/Seniors $15 Members receive Audubon Magazine & NEEDLES. Make checks payable to National Audubon Society. 0 Needles subscription only. $10 for 9 issues 0 Donation: SAS appreciates your tax­ deductible donation which helps fund the chapter's edu- cation, conservation and ongoing activities. For membership renewal information call National Audubon Society at (800) 27 4-4201 Name______

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Telephone Number______7XCH C16 Printed on Recycled Paper 0 • Time Valued Material - Please Do Not Delay Sequoia Audubon Society 8 September, 1000