THE NEWSLETTER OF THE GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY // VOL. 101 NO. 3 SUMMER 2017

OSPREY NEST CAM CREATES BIRD CELEBRITIES—AND FANS by ilana debare hen Golden Gate Audubon Society W launched the Bay Area’s first live- streaming Osprey nest cam this spring, our video feeds opened an intimate window into the life of one Osprey family. They also turned tens of thousands of people into avid new bird watchers—creating a broader- than-ever constituency to help us protect Bay Area birds and their habitat.

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Osprey pair on the Whirley Crane in 2015. Lee Aurich Jr. Regional Shoreline—property that our GGAS advocacy had saved twenty years ago. Meanwhile, GGAS has been working with the City of Oakland, developers, and biological consultants on a comprehensive plan to optimize sites at Lake Merritt so that these remarkable birds will have safer places than downtown streets to raise their young in future seasons. Our several years of heron outreach have inspired love for #OaklandHerons in myr- iad delightful forms. Third graders at Park Day School launched an online petition to declare Black-crowned Night-Herons the official bird of Oakland. These young- sters even made two brief films as public Lea ZalinskisLea One of Oakland’s new library card designs. service announcements! Plus, local artist Lea Zalinskis, daughter of a GGAS volun- teer, won the Oakland Public Library Card HURRAY FOR HERONS, Design contest with her charming Black- AND THE BIRD LOVE THEY INSPIRE Crowned Night-Heron hand-cut paper by cindy margulis, executive director creation. Our vibrant heron chalk-art “flash mobs” in 2015 and 2016 inspired Presidio Trust to ozens of precious young herons Bay Area’s largest breeding concentration of partner with Golden Gate Audubon for a d and egrets were saved this season, these birds to raise their young. Nonethe- sidewalk chalk art event celebrating birdlife thanks to terrific teamwork by Golden less, more than 130 pairs of Black-Crowned of the Presidio this summer! The Presidio Gate Audubon Society volunteers and our Night Herons, plus about twenty pairs of has planned a series of public walks to dis- conservation allies: Oakland Zoo and Inter- Snowy Egrets, nest there. cover diverse birds and habitats and to tour national Bird Rescue. When a GGAS monitor sees an injured the sidewalk chalk bird art. Artists’ sidewalk In February, I trained twelve volunteer heron or a pre-fledgling stranded on the chalk bird renderings will still be visible monitors to collect data on the heron and pavement, they notify the Oakland Zoo, when we open our expanded Centennial egret rookery and to keep a lookout daily for which sends an on-call trained animal han- Exhibit at the Tides Thoreau Center in the any injured or stranded young herons in the dler to rescue the bird and transfer it to Presidio, running July 12 – September 29. “concrete jungle” beneath the non-native International Bird Rescue for longer term Come view the exhibit, admire the chalk trees in the downtown corridor and Chi- rehabilitative care. With our allies, we’ve art, and rejoice that birds are such a gor- natown areas of Oakland. This intensely already released several of the rehabbed geous way to bring people together in our urban location is less than optimal for the birds into a wetland at Martin Luther King communities.

NEWS BRIEFS

Pier 94 BioBlitz finds Five years of Snowy Plover Bring 100 for 100 Are you getting our emails? 168 species habitat help Celebrate GGAS’s Centennial If you’re not receiving our monthly Pier 94, the former dump site we’re 2017 marks five years of our monthly by helping us grow! The first 100 Field Trip and e-Gull email restoring as wetlands, held its first beach clean-ups at Crissy Field in San current members who recruit a newsletters, you’re missing out on BioBlitz in May. We found 168 Francisco. GGAS volunteers have put friend to join GGAS will receive lots of great birding events. Send species of flora and fauna, including in 700 hours and removed over 250 enamel pins with our Centennial your name and email to ggas@ 40 bird species. Hats off to our buckets of trash, making the beach logo – one for you and one for your goldengateaudubon.org to ensure volunteers who are turning this Port safer for theatened Snowy Plovers friend. Great way to share your love you get advance notice of upcoming of San Francisco site into flourishing and other shorebirds. Join us! See of birding. See goldengateaudubon. classes, bird walks, birding tours, habitat. goldengateaudubon.org/volunteer. org/bring100-info. and other events.

2 THE GULL SUMMER 2017 FEATURES Ilana DeBareIlana Left: Jack Dumbacher shows Birdathon participants the bird skin collection at California Academy of Sciences. Above: GGAS members on a South Bay Birdathon trip to Calero County Park.

The top first-time Birdathon fundraiser was Marjorie Powell, who had never raised money before but brought in a whopping $550! Marj emailed her friends about our Oakland heron rescue program. Then she went on the Behind the Scenes at International Bird Rescue Birdathon trip, where she got to see some of the rescued herons as they recovered in IBR’s good care. Afterwards, she

Jack Ryder sent a follow-up letter to her donors with photos from the IBR trip. Not only did she raise money…she raised awareness BIRDATHON 2017: about the plight of Oakland herons and about our great FROM THE PINNACLES TO PIXAR rescue partnership with IBR and Oakland Zoo. by ilana debare Both the fundraising and birding winners were honored on May 13 at a delightful Birdathon Awards Celebration at the home of board member Carol Baird About 250 irdathon 2017, Golden Gate Audubon Society’s and Alan Harper. Birdathon b biggest fundraiser of the year, boasted our most The Best Bird award went to Dan and Joan Murphy’s diverse array of field trips ever. team for a rare Eurasian Green-winged Teal on the Pen- participants Throughout April, over 250 Birdathon participants insula. The prize for most birds in six hours went to raised over visited classic birding destinations such as Pinnacles Bob Power and his Alameda County team (116 species), National Park (condors!), the Presidio, and Point Reyes. while most birds in 24 hours went to Dave Riensche and $61,000 They also visited more unusual sites—such as Liver- his East Bay Parks team (168 species). despite a more Valley for a day that combined birding with wine We also announced the winners of our prestigious challenging tasting, and Pixar, for a private screening with the 2017 Elsie Roemer Conservation Award and Paul Covel director of Piper, the Oscar-winning short animation Education Award. The Roemer award went to Tony fundraising about a young sandpiper. Brake for his work documenting the spread of nesting year. We even sponsored our firstBirds and Chocolate trip, Ospreys along the Bay shoreline. which combined viewing shorebirds in breeding plum- The Covel award went to Eddie Bartley, Jack Dum- age along the Alameda shoreline with a blind tasting of bacher and Bob Lewis—founders and instructors of gourmet chocolates! the Master Birding class that GGAS co-sponsors with Despite a challenging fundraising year with many California Academy of Sciences. Over the past four competing demands on people’s charitable giving, years, about 80 birders deepened their ornithological Birdathon participants raised or donated over $61,000, knowledge through the intense year-long class. Thanks exceeding our goal of $60,000. to the class’s community service requirement, they also The top individual fundraiser for the the third year formed a new generation of leaders for GGAS and other in a row was Dan Harris, who raised $2,795 from 50 local conservation groups. donors! The second place fundraising award went to Help us organize Birdathon 2018! Email Ilana at Bruce Mast, while third place went to Eric Schroeder. [email protected].

Have a favorite birding site you’d like to share? Contact [email protected].

SUMMER 2017 THE GULL 3 SPEAKER SERIES

SONGS OF CITY LOCATION / DATE San Francisco SPARROWS Thursday, August 17 jenny phillips 6:30 p.m. refreshments 7 p.m. program

Scientists have found that many birds alter the pitch or duration of their songs in areas with a lot of urban noise. But how and why do their songs change? Wildlife biologist Jenny Phillips will address the vocalizations of urban White-crowned Sparrows, and whether ambient noise affects how sparrows respond to each others’ songs. Jenny Phillips, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Fresno, received her PhD from Tulane University. As part of her dissertation, she compared songs of male White-

Bob Lewis crowned Sparrows in urban, noisy San Hooded Mountain-Tanager in Peru. Francisco and rural, quieter Point Reyes

National Seashore. Jenny Phillips PERUVIAN LOCATION / DATE Berkeley PEREGRINATIONS Thursday, July 20 bob lewis 6 p.m. Annual Meeting LOCATION / DATE and refreshments UNLIKELY URBAN Berkeley 7 p.m. program ENVIRONMENTS Thursday, September 21 Peru is a land of many habitats, from the dry Tumbas in the north- ann riley 6:30 p.m. refreshments 7 p.m. program west and the high Andes mountains running down the center of the country, to the Amazonian forests and rivers in the east. During two trips, we had a chance to examine the avian inhabitants of each of Over the past 30 years, the East Bay has pioneered a growing move- these regions. We’ll discuss evolution, speciation, and the impact ment to restore very degraded riparian corridors, including digging of geological upheavals while focusing on hummingbirds, and then up streams buried underground in culverts. These neighborhood- look at some other exotic bird families, from Tanagers and Oven- scale projects have produced unlikely birds to Hoatzins. Finally we’ll finish with a brief look at amazing wild areas with remarkable bird and Machu Picchu. wildlife use in the midst of densely pop- Bob trained as a chemist and worked for Chevron for 33 years. ulated cities. He’s taught birding classes for over 25 years, and is past chair of Dr. Ann Riley is the author of Restor- Golden Gate Audubon’s Adult Education Committee. His life list is ing Neighborhood Streams and was over 4,700, and he loves to travel. Bob was honored with American recently featured in the PBS show Birding Association’s Chandler Robbins Award for Education and Urban Nature. She has worked as a river Conservation in 2016 and GGAS’s Paul Covel Award for Education scientist for state agencies for over 25 in 2017. years and was a cofounder of the Urban Creeks Council and California Urban

Streams Partnership. Ann Riley 2017 ANNUAL MEETING You are invited! San Francisco: First Unitarian Universalist Church and Center, 1187 Golden Gate Audubon Society will hold our annual membership meeting Franklin Street (at Geary). Public transit, street parking, and parking in a on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. immediately before the Speaker Series in lot for a fee are available. Directions: uusf.org/contact. Berkeley. Hear the latest on our conservation activities, Centennial year celebrations, and upcoming plans. Share your ideas. Enjoy some snacks. Berkeley: Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda (between Then stay for Bob Lewis’s talk. Solano and Marin). Directions: northbrae.org/contact--find-us.html.

4 THE GULL SUMMER 2017 FEATURES nest cam nest Photos from the sfbayospreys.org

From left: Rosie and Richmond on April 10 with their three eggs, two of which subsequently hatched. Rosie with a chick at sunset on May 27.

OSPREY NEST CAM CONTINUED from page 1 The nest cam and outreach effort was sparked by the “Everyone can relate to a family—the surprising phenomenon of Ospreys starting to nest along dorky dad with a strange collecting impulse, the rambunctious youngsters who test the Bay’s edge. limits and get too close to the edge,” said GGAS Executive Director Cindy Margulis. maritime crane used by nesting Ospreys in We debuted the SFBayOspreys.org live “The amount of affection for these birds is recent years, would show both natural and stream and website with a press conference heart-warming…and relevant. When you human use of the landscape. on March 29. Richmond Mayor Tom Butt love something, you’re motivated to take With cooperation from the Port and City spoke, joined by numerous project allies, care of it. We’re aiming to channel the pub- of Richmond, the National Park Service, including two original “Rosie the Riveters” lic’s newfound passion for wild Ospreys into the adjacent SS Red Oak Victory, and a from the National Park Service. tangible stewardship that will help all our “big lift” from a telescoping PG&E bucket Within weeks, 33,000 people were Bay birds to thrive alongside us.” truck, two video cameras were positioned watching the live stream. Viewership surged The nest cam and outreach effort was high on the Whirley Crane at opposite further when the chicks hatched on May 12 sparked by the surprising phenomenon of angles. and 14. (Mother’s Day!) Ospreys starting to nest along the Bay’s Our webcam set-up is innovative. We Our public naming contest produced edge. Although Ospreys breed along fresh- deploy two high-definition streaming video evocative names for the nestlings: Whirley, water lakes in Northern California, the cameras that provide close-up and wider- for the Whirley crane, and Rivet, for Rosie’s species had never been documented nest- angle views. GGAS controls each cam littler one…and for how so many people are ing on San Francisco Bay until the 1990s. remotely with pan, tilt, and zoom function- riveted by the nest cam. Decimated by DDT in the 1960s, Osprey ality. Infrared illumination allows nighttime As the chicks grew, so did their fan base. populations across North America began to observation without disturbing the birds. Secondary school teachers downloaded rebound after the pesticide was banned in Meanwhile, audio allows people to hear the our STEM science lesson plans to engage 1972. Vital wetland restoration and cleaner voices of the Ospreys as well as the ambient 6-12th grade students. water have likely facilitated Osprey breed- soundscape. “This signature project of our GGAS ing success on the Bay. The nest cam team—Margulis, Brake, Centenary year exemplifies our perennial By 2016, there were at least 42 nest- pro bono project manager John Ehrenfeld, mission: connect people to local birdlife ing pairs and 51 fledglings along the Bay, and wildlife camera expert Joe Pifer— and translate their wonder into stewardship according to ongoing citizen-science moni- rejoiced when an Osprey pair bonded before actions that protect local bird populations toring led by GGAS member Tony Brake. the cameras early in March. and habitat,” Margulis said. “We’re lever- Margulis saw the potential to inspire The resident male Osprey was named aging leading-edge technology as a ‘force stewardship and education by connect- Richmond for the city, and the migrating multiplier’ to drive local bird conservation.” ing people with these charismatic raptors. female dubbed Rosie in honor of the brave You can watch the live nest cam at Situating a webcam at the historic Whirley women who worked in the shipyards during http://sfbayospreys.org. Or view highlights Crane, a decommissioned World War II-era WWII. on Facebook at facebook.com/bayospreys.

SUMMER 2017 THE GULL 5 DONATIONS

Thank you for your generous donations to support our Lee Rudin, Raymond Deborah Craig, Everett Ryan, Joyce Rybandt, Crook, Deborah Crooks, many conservation, education, and member activities! Jack Ryder, David & Natalie Crouch, Kate Karen Ryugo, Rochelle & Tom Cunningham, Donations from March 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017 Satter, Claire Saxton, Sharon Cushman, Chuck Martha Saylor, Raquel Dake, Merrill Deskins, Scherr, Aleksandra Lowell Nelson Detloff, Smolyanskaya, Cathy Diamond, Mid GOLDEN EAGLE Jonathan Franzen, Lori Elizabeth Bartz, Sharon Timothy Erdman, Trudy Michelle Squitieri, Dornan, Aliki Dragona, ($1000 and above) Hatakeyama, Derek Beals, Kristen Beckus- Ernst, Madelyn Stone, Mary Dumont, Art & Agerter Judd Fund, Heins, William Hudson, Baker, Kathleen Beebe, Leora Feeney, Roxanne Peter Stonebraker, Ellie Elphick, Jan Elvee, Chris & Gary Bard, Mary Krentz, Robert Wendy Beers, Edward Fiscella, Jane Fischberg, Emilie Strauss, Tan Liz Engh, Michelle Eddie Bartley, March & Hanno Lewis, Miya Bennett, Scott Benson, Clara Gerdes, John Suwannukul, Sylvia Enochson, Nancy Evans, Conservation Fund, Lucas, Kristine Moore, Judith Bernhard, H. Gilliland, Susan Sykora, Jerry Ting, Jennifer Fish, Alan Martin Bern, Mary J T Morcom, Amanda A. Bok, Richard & Goddard, Irene Gomez, Ulysses Torassa, Laura Fleming, Erica Ford, Betlach, Jane Freeman, Nelson, Jeanette Liz Bordow, Marion Laurie Graham, Linda Trupin, Linda Vallee, Catherine Fox, Rondi Patricia Greene, Cameron Nichols, George Peyton, Brackett, John & Becky Grant, Alane Gray, Alexander & Marsha G., Anne Gable, Patricia Phleger Bob Power, Deldi Reyes, Bradley, Katherine Belinda Gregory- Van Broek, Joseph Van Gannon, Fiorenzo & Eric Schroeder, Nancy Branstetter, Nathan Head, Whitney Grover, Winkle, Bill Walker, Linda Gardin, Barbara PEREGRINE FALCON Smith, Craig Spriggs, Brennan, Jillian Brien, Marianne Hallet, Carol Terrence Watson, Gerry, William Giddens, ($500 to $999) Rigel Stuhmiller, Jan Crystal Brunzell, Andrea Baird & Alan Harper, Kenneth Weidner, Carol Doreen Gluckin, Bob Shirley Clift, Colberg Sutcher, Glen Tepke, Burhoe, Susan Caldwell, Christine Hayamizu, Wiebe, Teri & Chris & Margie Gomez, Family Fund, Jacqueline Kristi Whitfield, Virginia Carder, Andrea Diane Henry, Elizabeth Wills, Debbie Winn, Suzanne Good, Maureen Craig, Jane & Kevin Hart, Christopher Winn Cartwright, Alice Hook, Alan Hopkins, Kenneth Winston, Grabowski, Bob & Laura Alan Kaplan, Bruce Mast, Chetkovich, Carol John Hornor, Ann Felicity Wohltman, Graham, James & Cecile Diane Ross-Leech, Anne RIDGWAY’S RAIL Chetkovich, Kathy Hughes, Lynda & Pearce Eric Wong, Stephanie Grant, Pria Graves, Rowe, Steve Tom ($100 to $249) Chetkovich, Mark Hurley, Jackie Ito-Woo, Woods, Mitchell Karen Gregory, Sue Nicolas Abgrall, Linda Chetkovich, Flavio & Linda Jacobs, William Youngman Hahn, Susan Hampton, LEAST TERN Agerter, Clayton Nat Ciferri, Gary Coates, Jones, Dennis Kelly, Betty-Lou Harmon, ($250 to $499) Anderson, John Martin Cohn, Katherine Joshua Kemp, Elizabeth GIFTS Lenore Harris, Vera Dianne Ayres, Johanna Anderson, Karen Congdon, Robert Kimble, Marilyn Kinch, (To $99) Harris, William Hart, Baruch, Eleanor Briccetti, Anderson, Eileen Coon, Don Couch, ECI June Kodani, David Alice Abbott, Gary Diane Hie, Nathanael Barbera Brooks, Arbues, William B. Grant, Coury, Howell & Barbara Kramer & Susan Shargel, Abel, Marilyn Abers, Hill, Sarah Hinds, Robert Maryellen Buckley, Patricia Bacchetti, John Daly, Deborah DeBare, Vivian Kremer, Jacques Gary Adest, Amazon Hirschberg, Anne Hoff, Phil Cotty, Wendy Del Bacon, Christopher Ilana DeBare, Carla Lagarde, Elinor Levine, Smile Foundation, Jim Holtan, Leonard Valle, Catherine Elliott, Badgley, Nina Bai, Din, Margaret Eldred, Kent Lewandowski, J. David Anderson, Lois Horwitz, Richard & Lindquist, Ann Linsley, Anderson, David Arrick, Monica Hove, Joseph Bill Long, Christiana David Assmann, Sarah Hughes, Paula & Francis Macfarlane, Marian Aubert, Ed Avant, Itaya, Norma Jellison, MacMillan, Cindy Jennifer Ayres, Judith Thomas Jenckes, Margulis, MaryLove Barish, Carol Baxter, Lawrence Jensen, David May, Pamela McKown, Barry Benioff, Diana Jones, Debra Katz, Darlene McNulty, Berges, Bruce Berman, Nancy Kenyon, Christine Joyce Mercado, E. Candace Berthrong, Kerr, Jane Kilzer, Mignonet Montez, Tim Marie-Juliette Bird, Gwynne Kimurafong, Montgomery, Beth Connie Boardman, Judith Kneeter, Nicholas Moseley, Doug Mosher, Karen Bodine, John & Kridler, Fanny Krieger, Julio Mulero, Judy Boe, Marilyn & Patricia Lamborn, Dan Murphy, Wendy Stephen Brown-Cornell, Joan Lamphier, Johan Niles, Kitty O’Neil, Deborah Bullock, Peggy Langewis, Joyce Patrick Owens, Susan Burks, Karen Butterfield, Larrick, Richard Laude, Palo, Winifred Perkins, Ursuline Carpetta, Judith Leash, Thomas Judith Perlin, Juergen Robert Carstensen, Lee, Shelly Levinthal, Pfaff, Ellie Pickrell, Sarah Chan, Aneta Richard Lewis, Steve Piedmont Garden Club, Chapman, Maggie & Carol Lombardi, M Pierazzi, Marjorie Clark, Marlene Clarke, Elaina Rose Lovejoy, Powell, Reetta Raag, Lorna Cogen, Diana Duncan MacRae, Trinka Michael Rawson, Cohen, Sandy Cohen- March, Lupe Mariscal,

Sharon Beals Sharon Peter Ray, Renee Wynn, Ken Copen, George & Barbara Learning to spot local birds in our Eco-Education program. Robin, Joan Roos, Charles Cowden, Martin, Jeff Martin,

UPCOMING EVENTS

Centennial Exhibit at The Presidio BioBlitz at Heron’s Head Park Burrowing Owl Docent Training Tides Thoreau Ctr, The Presidio, San Francisco San Francisco Berkeley July 12 – September 29 Monday, July 24 Saturday, September 23 View gorgeous photos of Bay Area birds and learn A BioBlitz is like a citizen-science scavenger hunt! Help introduce the public to the adorable about GGAS’s inspiring 100-year history as our Take photos and notes of all species of plants Burrowing Owls that winter along the East Bay free traveling Centennial exhibit comes to the and animals you find in this park along the city’s shoreline. Our once-a-year volunteer docent Presidio. Open during weekday business hours at southeastern waterfront, then share your findings. training will tell you everything you need to know 1012 Torney Street. Then join us for a members- All ages welcome, no experience necessary. to become a docent during the winter 2017-18 only reception on Thursday, July 13! For details, Contact [email protected] for season. Email [email protected] email [email protected]. more information. for sign-up or info.

6 THE GULL SUMMER 2017 ROSTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Diane Bennett BIRDATHON 2017 CORPORATE SPONSORS Vice President and Secretary Linda Carloni Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Copper Sponsors Treasurer Dolphin Charters Hanson Aggregates Coast Litho Bill Hudson Recology Emergency Management & Clayton Anderson, Carol Baird, Sharon Beals, SCS Global Services Safety Solutions Jack Dumbacher, Jill O’Brien, Pam Young

STAFF Executive Director Robert Martin, Dave Sapiro, Josh Schecatel, Sojourner, Judy Stern, Eileen Ward, Alexis Cindy Margulis, 510.843.9912 Massen, Shelley Mast, Cynthia Schrager, Kelly Strain, Ellen Strong, Ward, Judy Warmington, [email protected] Mary McMillan, Bruce Helen Schulak, Gail Margaret Strubel, John Rachel Watson-Clark, Education Director McBride, Janet McGarry, Schweitzer, Dorothy Sutter, Danny Teng, Jennifer Watts, Sue Anthony DeCicco, 510.843.2222 Helen McKinley, Joseph Sellman, Allan & Giedra Lawrence Thorpe, Westermeier, Sharon [email protected] Megan, Naomi Morales, Shrafman, Joanne Stephanie Tick, Sheila Westernoff, Terry Sue Morgan, Tara Sidwell, Judith Silver, Tokos, Mark Tran, Paula Winckler, Marcia Winn, Volunteer Coordinator Mueller, Claire Murphy, Steve Singleton, Frieda Trossman, Yulling Tsai, Winnie Wong, Katiann Noreen Weeden, 510.301.0570 Valerie Neale, Donna Sion, Adam Smith, Monica Tyler, Kenichi Wong-Murillo, Kenneth [email protected] Neumark, Sebastian Robert Smith, Elizabeth Ueda, Susie Wallenstein, Zabielski Nicholls, Karyn Noel, Communications Director Daniela Ogden, Leslie Ilana DeBare, 510.301.5573 Olle, Scott Olle, Carol [email protected] Pachl, John Palo, Jean Perata, John Petterson, Office Manager Carole Plum, Baika Monica Moore, 510.843.2222 Pratt-Heaton, Dorothy [email protected] & Boris Ragent, Donna Rand, Evelyn VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP Randolph, Tony Read, Adult Education Chair Patricia Reese, David Maureen Lahiff, [email protected] Robinson, Jim Robinson, Jim Rosenau, John Field Trip Coordinator Rosenbaum, Charles Steve Lombardi, [email protected] Rosenberg, Eunice Travel with GGAS Coordinators Rosenberg, Susan Pat Kirkpatrick, [email protected] Rosenthal, Carolyn Rubi Abrams, [email protected] Roundey, Casilda Rubio, Weeden Noreen Taiine Santiago, Mark Volunteers restore shoreline habitat at Pier 94 in San Francisco. THE GULL AND WEBSITE Gull and Web Editor Ilana DeBare, [email protected]

GIFTS IN HONOR OF: BEQUESTS Isaac Aronow, in honor of Maureen Lahiff Joseph Padula Living Trust NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BIRD BOX Anne Bergman, in honor of Pat Greene Report your unusual bird sightings: 415.681.7422 Barry Epstein, in honor of Ilana DeBare IN-KIND GIFTS Pauline Grant, in honor of Eddie Bartley, Jack Arizmendi, Carol Baird & Alan Harper, Bird vs. Bird ABOUT GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON The Golden Gate Audubon Society was founded Dumbacher and Bob Lewis Designs, Jacqueline Craig, Hilton Hotels, Sara Smith January 25, 1917, and became a chapter of National Hilma and Mark Jones, in honor of Jackson, Hudson Hirsch, Maureen Lahiff, Port of San Francisco, Recology, Audubon in 1948. Golden Gate Audubon Supporting and Ellie Rosenblum Cellars, Erica Rutherford & John Colbert, Membership is $35 per year. Renewals should be Maureen Lahiff, in honor of Dave Quady and the John Thiel and Pappo Restaurant sent to the Golden Gate Audubon office. The board Greater Sage Grouse of directors meets six times per year (schedule can Chris Muir, in honor of Gracie BIRDATHON PRIZE DONORS be obtained from the office). Louise Richardson, in honor of Dan Harris Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Cliff House, The Historic Alan Robin, in honor of Dan Harris Requa Inn, Howard Creek Ranch, The Inn at Fawnskin, The Gull is published four times per year. Special Chip Sterling, in honor of Pat Greene Jenner Inn, Joshua Inn Bed & Breakfast, Out of This third-class postage paid in Oakland, CA. Send Christopher Winn, in honor of Elizabeth Winn World Optics, Point Cabrillo Light Station, Mendocino address changes to the office promptly. The post Chris Witt, in honor of Pat Greene Coast Botanical Garden, Retzlaff Vineyards, Sierra Hot office does not forward The Gull. Springs, Sorenson’s Resort Learn about upcoming Golden Gate Audubon GIFTS IN MEMORY OF events every month! Send your name and email Sue Adler, in memory of Jack & Betty Adler EMPLOYEE GIFT MATCHES address to [email protected] to receive James Bloom, in memory of Carol Schauer Bank of America Foundation, Inc. (Jennifer Fish) our monthly e-newsletters with upcoming events and Katie Dwight, in memory of Theodore W. Dwight, Jr. IBM International Foundation (Dan Poff) other news. Elaine Geffen, in memory of Thomas Schmitz, MD NorCal Mutual Insurance Company (Mitchell Youngman) Jose Gutierrez, in memory of Jack and Mary Schroeder Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation Foundation (Diane Golden Gate Audubon Society Margaret Harger-Allen, in memory of Rich Stallcup Ross-Leech) 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G Lois Hirsch, in memory of Ethel Hirsch Recology (Stefanie Pavis Medious) Berkeley, CA 94702 Deborah Hurst, in memory of Frances Wilson Hurst Salesforce Foundation (Ken Copen) Office hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday Erica Katz, in memory of Marlene B. Katz Chevron (Don Couch) 9 a.m. – noon, and other hours by appointment David Korn, in memory of Emma Shelton Tel 510.843.2222 David Lewis, in memory of Charles DeBare GRANTS www.goldengateaudubon.org Barbara Messmore, in memory of Larry Nicholson Alameda Fish & Game Commission [email protected] Susan and Mike Olig, in memory of Ethel Shubat Barrios Trust Gary Pappas, in memory of Theodore Lyman Eliot Contra Costa County Wildlife Propagation Fund Nature Store Phil Price, in memory of Rose Braz Craig Newmark Fund Visit our online store at goldengateaudubon.org/ Esther Rogers, in memory of Charles DeBare Salesforce Foundation store. Diane Schwed, in memory of Mildred Katz San Francisco Foundation Jeanette Shalov, in memory of Mildred Katz This issue of The Gull was published July 2017. Meredith Warshaw, in memory of Charles DeBare Design by e.g. communications

SUMMER 2017 THE GULL 7 Golden Gate Audubon Society 2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G Non-Profit Org. Berkeley, CA 94702 U.S. Postage PAID Return service requested Oakland, CA Permit No.1702

www.goldengateaudubon.org The Gull is printed with soy-based inks on chlorine-free paper, 30% postconsumer waste content.

2 Oakland Herons Inspire Bird Love 3 Birdathon 2017 4 Speaker Series Our partnership to rescue young herons in Over 200 participants raised $61,000 on unique Peruvian peregrinations with Bob Lewis in downtown Oakland helped inspire a heron trips including one that combined shorebird July, songs of city sparrows in August, and library card and a third-grade petition drive. viewing with gourmet chocolate tasting. unlikely urban environments in September.

BACKYARD BIRDER

The Cal Thrasher belongs to the Mimidae songbird fam- ily. “Mimid” means mimic in Latin, and other Mimidae include our familiar Northern Mockingbird and the Gray Catbird of the East Coast. It’s the largest of the eight thrasher species found in North America, 10 percent heavier than a robin and twice the weight of a mockingbird. The Cal Thrasher’s most distinctive visual feature is its long, decurved bill, which it uses to mow through grass or leaves like a farmer wielding a scythe. This foraging behavior may be the source of its name—thrashing through leaves and mulch to find insects, spiders, berries, and seeds. Cal Thrashers spend most of their life on the ground. They have strong, long legs for running in and out of bushes. When threatened, the Cal Thrasher is more apt to run than fly from danger.

Miya Lucas Miya I particularly like the innovative way that the Cal Thrasher California Thrasher. grooms itself. While other birds bathe in water or dust, Cal Thrash- ers take a different approach—what I call their personal ant spa CALIFORNIA THRASHER treatment. They find a carpenter ant hill, stand on top, and allow the ants to crawl all over them, with formic acid secreted by the ants by miya lucas possibly killing the thrasher’s mites and lice. The Cal Thrasher also preens itself in a distinctive and system- n the spring and summer, the song of the California Thrasher atic manner. While most birds use the sides of their jaw and bill for i always puts a smile on my face. The rapid throbbing beat within preening, the Thrasher uses only the tip. It starts with its breast a continuous melody reminds me of a rhythmic rap song. Often last- feathers, goes on to its back and wing coverts, and finally uses its ing three to five minutes, it’s one of the more varied and complex toenails to preen its head and face. bird songs. One study found 2,807 phrases in a single Cal Thrasher Some good places to hear California Thrashers in the Bay Area song! Some phrases are repeated like the chorus in your favorite pop are San Leandro Reservoir’s Valle Vista entry, Sibley Volcanic song, while others are used only once. Regional Preserve, and Tilden Regional Park.

8 THE GULL SUMMER 2017