March 2021 Free and Open to the Public THURSDAY, MARCH 11 7:30 PM Virtual Birding-By-Kayak on the Russian River by Miles and Teresa Tuffli

SPEAKER SERIES Newsletter of the Marin Audubon Society. Vol. 63, No. 7 March 2021 Free and Open to the public THURSDAY, MARCH 11 7:30 PM Virtual Birding-by-Kayak on the Russian River By Miles and Teresa Tuffli

!e RailMARIN AUDUBON SOCIETY

Teresa and Miles Tu ! i Monarchs in Serious Trouble Green Heron regulators to list the monarch as endangered. The March Speaker Series program will be a Zoom meeting. Visit the Despite these legal and regulatory setbacks Speaker Series page on the MAS there are things we urgently need to do to save website for information on joining the this magni#cent butter"y. It will be important Zoom meeting electronically. to establish monarch “waystations” of nectar Join Teresa and Miles Tuffli as they plants and milkweed. If you have a garden take you on a virtual birding-by-kayak please consider planting native nectar plants trip along the lower Russian River in Sonoma County. A leisurely paddle is and if you live away from the immediate coast an ideal way to experience the wildlife also plant native milkweed, which is the host the Russian River has to offer on a plant for the monarch larvae. A list of native gorgeous summer day. Herons, swal- Joyce Waterman Joyce nectar plants and milkweed can be found on lows, raptors, ducks, and songbirds galore are easily observed while Monarch Butterfly the Marin Audubon Society website under !e quietly moving along the tranquil Monarch Rescue Project. Over the last two river. They'll share some of their his year’s 2020 !anksgiving and New years Marin Audubon volunteers have been favorite photos and audio recordings Year’s annual count observed fewer establishing stands of nectar plants and milk- captured while kayaking and map out their preferred launch spot and route. than 2,000 overwintering monarchs weed on two of its properties. Miles and Teresa Tuffli are avid inT coastal California. !is is a 99.9% decline birders from Guerneville who since the 1980s. !ese count results follow especially love helping “bird-curious” two years with fewer than 30,000 butter"ies – folks take the next step of getting Western Monarch into the field to enjoy the bird world! record lows – indicating the western monarch Mystery Challenge They lead guided bird walks and population is nearing collapse. Paci#c Grove, give educational presentations for which goes by the name “Butter"y Town USA” In light of the more than 99% decline of the population of western monarchs, you are local organizations including the because of the many monarchs overwintering Point Reyes National Seashore invited to participate in the Western Monarch Association Field Institute, Redwood in cypress the city’s trees, had no monarchs at Mystery Challenge. The challenge’s purpose Region Ornithological Society, all this year. is to use community science to try to !gure Laguna Foundation, and Sonoma Interestingly, with the unseasonably warm out where and how the monarchs migrate Land Trust. Residents of West weather well into January monarchs have been from their overwintering sites in coastal Sonoma County for 11 years, Miles California to inland sites in the Central Valley, and Teresa also enjoy writing about observed around the bay and did not make it to the Sierra foothills and beyond. and documenting our local birds at their traditional overwintering sites on the coast The challenge was started by a group their website: I’m Birding Right Now where it is warmer. Hopefully these butter"ies of researchers from Washington State (https://imbirdingrightnow.com). will survive the winter and join the spring migra- University, Tufts University, University of California at Santa Cruz and the Xerces NEXT MONTH’S SPEAKER: tion inland. However, if we get some cold storms Society to help !ll a critical gap in knowledge THURSDAY, APRIL 8 7:30 PM these lingering monarchs could be wiped out. about habitat needs of migrating monarchs Discovering Wood Warblers in !is sad news comes on top of the in the spring. The challenge runs from Marin County announcement by the US Fish and Wildlife February 14 (Valentine’s Day) to April 22 By Daniel Edelstein Service that monarch butter"ies are “warranted (Earth Day) and is a call to action to report a monarch if you see one. To make a report, but precluded” from listing under the search for Monarch Mystery Challenge and IN THIS ISSUE Endangered Species Act. !is Federal decision follow the instructions on the Conservation Biology or Western Monarch Count web- President’s Message 2 comes on the heels of a court decision in California that terrestrial invertebrates including sites. Once you report a sighting, you will Online Programs 3 monarchs and bees cannot be o$ered protection be entered to win prizes. Solving the mystery of where wild, Conservation Report 4 under the California Endangered Species Act. migratory western monarchs are at this time Habitat Stewardship 6 Endangered species designation would usher of year is a way for Californians to make in resources and funding to help the species a contribution to conserving and restoring Birdlog 7 to recover. Marin Audubon and others will the monarch migration in the West. be contacting legislators to encourage the

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON MARCH 2021 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Phone numbers are in the 415 area code unless P%&'()&*+’' L&++&% otherwise noted. Questions? Please contact the appropriate Board member. By Barbara Salzman President Barbara Salzman 924-6057 Vice President Lowell Sykes 388-2821 Tired of staying at home? We are, too. With Loggerhead Shrike and Kestrel populations Secretary Ann Thomas 924-9559 the vaccines now becoming available, hopefully have reduced greatly, possibly the victim of Treasurer Ann Thomas 924-9559 we’ll be able to get outside with our activities the clearing of snags for fire prevention, which Conservation Phil Peterson 828-4780 soon. We’re beginning to think of opening up, removes nest cavities. Wildlife must go where Barbara Salzman 924-6057 having some field trips outdoors. But it won’t habitats exist that they have evolved to use. Field Trips Jane Medley 559/760-1551 be the coming month. We’re not out of the Habitats change over time due to man–caused Membership Chair Bob Hinz 383-8688 woods yet. activities, climate change and natural processes. Contact Bob for membership problems or questions. With so much negative and pessimism What’s happening to the species that are declin- Outreach, Website Elyse Omernick 694-2320 today, it was a pleasure to hear some positive ing in Marin? Have they moved to another Speaker Series Doug Waterman 506-4675 messages from Roger Harris in his February place or died off? Are they declining every- Special Projects Jude Stalker 680-6291 Speaker Series program. Nationwide statistics where? What can we do to maximize habitat? Nominating Doug Waterman 506-4675 show that we have lost three billion birds. These are all questions generated by his talk. If Editor, The Rail Doug Waterman 506-4675 However, Roger’s investigations revealed that you missed Roger’s presentation you can find it Property Management Ed Nute 669-7710 many bird species are doing well, and even on our website. Perhaps we should have Roger Volunteer Coordinator thriving, here in Marin County. Some have return to do a follow up program to answer Meghan Kehoe 209-769-8862 expanded their range taking advantage of new these questions and discuss the status of the BAAC Reps Lowell Sykes 388-2821 Barbara Salzman 924-6057 habitat. Man-made ponds are attracting spe- species he did not mention. cies. Shorebird Marsh in Corte Madera hosts Our Nominating Committee is working DIRECTORS MEETINGS Meetings open to members. If you wish to the only known nest of site of Forster’s tern in busily to fill spots on our Board. Contact attend please call 924-6057. Marin, and Gadwall, once a rare species, out- Committee members Doug Waterman, Jude 6:30 PM, First Tuesday of the month number mallards at Shorebird Marsh. Nuttall’s Stalker or Ann Thomas, to find out about our Richardson Bay Audubon Center 376 Greenwood Beach Road woodpecker, Red Shouldered Hawk, and Board and how you can help with our activi- Tiburon, California 94920 Osprey populations have expanded in recent ties. We are currently looking for members to

MAS telephone: 721-4271 (for messages only) years. Hooded oriole were first observed in help with Field Trips and Secretary. 1941 nesting in the palms in Larkspur, Black- Another huge thank you to our generous Marin Audubon Society is a nonpro!t 501(c)(3) organization. All memberships and contributions necked Stilt first arrived in 1978 and American donors who have contributed to our end of year are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Avocet in 1984. Now they are common birds. appeal. A very special thank-you to Mary Love However, some the new species are not wel- who made a most generous donation. It, along The Rail is published ten times a year by the Marin Audubon Society on 100% recycled paper; come news. Barred owls are expanding their with the contributions of the other donors, will edited by Doug Waterman, [email protected], range from the east coast and now pose a major be a great help getting us through the year. 506-4675; assisted by other members of MAS; threat to our native Northern Spotted Owl I hope all eligible members are getting their and designed by Studio NaCl (www.studionacl. com). Deadline is the !rst of each month. populations. And some species have declined; vaccine shots.

Website: www.marinaudubon.org Members can receive The Rail electronically Spring Awakening instead of a hard copy by emailing By Juan García, Atlas Coordinator [email protected]. From now to the very moment of the vernal number of trips atlassers can make to their DONATIONS APPRECIATED! equinox, late winter is still upon us. But block (with four visits per season being a Marin Audubon Society welcomes gifts of careful observers are already noticing the notional minimum). Dave used historic data funds, stock, or property, and bequests in onset of early spring. By mid-February willow to establish a relatively constant peak sea- general, or in honor or memory of someone. catkins were budding and several of our son of roughly 90 days within which most Gifts may be directed to any MAS project. resident birds were !nding their voices. Now records – playing the odds – should be Unspeci!ed gifts of more than $500 will be placed in the Endowment Fund for that we’re in the !nal approach to the equinox, obtainable. Over the four years of our project, conservation, the protection of wildlife species, watch for the signs of migratory jitters among we can use these parameters as guidelines and the preservation and enhancement of our wintering birds, as hormones generate for putting the energies of our volunteers to wildlife habitats. Since MAS is an all-volunteer nervous energy. the best, most focused use, and seeing to it organization, 100% of your donation goes to its The volunteers of the Marin County that their visits are well-distributed over the projects. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be Breeding Bird Atlas are getting the jitters too course of the breeding cycle. acknowledged in The Rail, as well as personally and will soon hit the !eld. For most of our To learn more, you may consult our on behalf of the Society. Checks should be breeding birds, March is above all a time for website by following the links at www. made out and mailed to: Marin Audubon reconnaissance. This is a good opportunity marinaudubon.org. To renew our appeal to Society, P.O. Box 599, Mill Valley, CA 94942. for ‘block leaders,’ the volunteers who have neighborhood bird watchers, home-owners, accepted the assignment to supervise data land-owners and managers, and experienced collection in one of our study blocks, to iden- birders of all ages to help us answer two MISSION STATEMENT tify the good breeding spots – what our friend key questions: What bird species use our Josiah Clark calls the ‘habitat potential’ – farms, ranches, parklands, shorelines, and To conserve and restore natural within their blocks. neighborhoods to nest and rear young (or ecosystems, focusing on birds Is there a particular start date for the sur- even attempt it)? What changes have this and other wildlife and their habitats, vey proper? Working with another friend of population seen since the original county for the bene!t of humanity and the atlas, Dave DeSante, we’ve devised an atlas was published in 1993? All volunteers the earth’s biological diversity. ideal schedule of site visits based on the are most welcome and appreciated.

2 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON BIRDING PROGRAMS ON ZOOM Bird Paparazzi March Webinars Focus on migration in Marin County is exceptional for As reported in the January 29, finding rare birds compared to most places 2021 New York Times, one day Breeding Behavior of Owls on the west coast because the extent during the last week of January a and Rare Birds in Marin to which Point Reyes National Seashore snowy owl was spotted in New York extends into the Pacific Ocean makes it City’s Central Park. According to Our Wednesday evening Webinar series an ideal resting place for migrating birds. bird records the last sighting of a snowy owl in Central Park was 130 continues with two programs this month. Joe Some of the birds that stop there are regular Mueller returns with another intriguing owl years ago. Of course, the Manhattan migrants, and some are truly rare because program, and four high school birders from Rare Bird Alert twitter feed with its they get blown off course. These are known the California Young Birders Club will share 38,000 followers was abuzz report- as vagrants. This webinar will illustrate where ing this mega-rarity and revealing its stories and photos from their adventures you can find rare migrants and vagrants in location. As a result hoards came while seeking rare birds in Marin. Marin county, giving tips on how to find them, running with a resulting crush of To register for these webinars, visit the and these talented and enthusiastic young binoculars, cameras and spotting MAS website Field Trips page. The webinars birders will show you some of the highlights scopes. One person even used a are also livestreamed on Facebook. drone to get better overhead photos. and best experiences they had with Marin’s If you miss the presentation, you can The next day the bird was gone. rare birds in 2020. view a recording afterwards either on the The birder behind the Manhattan All of the young birders presenting on this MAS website or on Facebook by searching for Bird Alert, a hedge fund manager, date are part of the Bay Area Chapter of the argues that that he was performing Marin Audubon Society. California Young Birders Club (https://califor- a community service and building niayoungbirders.weebly.com/trip-reports1. awareness for conservation. Now THE BREEDING BEHAVIOR OF OUR LOCAL html). Check out their website and read that humans are the dominant spe- OWLS–GETTING TO KNOW OUR NOCTURNAL about their monthly field trips throughout the cies perhaps there are better ways to promote conservation and pre- NEIGHBORS state. serve the health of our planet and Wednesday, March 17, 2021 Young Birders its wild species than feeding our own 7 PM to 8:30 PM sense of entitlement. With Joe Mueller Joseph Zeno Sophomore currently attending Terra Linda The best time of year to get to know owls is High School and part of the Marin School during the breeding season. This is the time of Environmental Leadership (MarinSEL) when they communicate with each other program. Started birding in 2017 and likes and allow us a glimpse into their lives. Join to find and photograph birds and make photo Joe for a guided journey into understanding books and calendars. Interested in studying the reproductive behavior of our local owls. how birds interact with other organisms in our We’ll explore topics from territoriality and pair changing environment. See Joseph’s photo of formation to courtship and nesting. the American Dipper on this page. As a Professor of Biology for 30 years Joe has been teaching a rich diversity of Mark Schulist

courses ranging from ornithology to marine Sophomore currently attending Marin Zeno Joseph invertebrate zoology as well as leading field Academy High School. Started birding in American Dipper at Leo Cronin Fish courses from Alaskan tundra to Costa Rican 2017 and enjoys photographing birds as well Viewing Area on Lagunitas Creek Tropical Rain Forests. His teaching style has as any other wildlife. Interested in patterns of developed from a view of life focused on birds and how birds are able to migrate with systems thinking and how interrelationships such consistency. Interested in Joining MAS Board? make up the essential nature of life. He Lucas Corneliussen developed and coordinates the Natural Junior currently attending Credo High School Marin Audubon Society’s accomplish- History Program at College of Marin and in Sonoma County. Started birding in 2011 ments in preserving and restoring precious natural habitats has been is the 2008 recipient of the Terwilliger and enjoys California county birding and bird- Environmental Education Award. prominently displayed in this ing in new locations all over the state as Newsletter and other environmentally well as birding throughout the Point Reyes concerned publications. But there is RARE BIRD SIGHTINGS IN MARIN 2020 National Seashore on an almost weekly always more that needs to be done. Wednesday, March 31, 2021 basis. Currently interested in nocturnal flight For MAS, the impetus for creating 7 PM to 8:30 PM counts (NFC) and changes in migration pat- new projects and confronting ongo- With California Young Birders Club Members terns within certain species over the course ing challenges starts with the Board of Directors. At this critical time – Joseph Zeno, Mark Schulist, Lucas of different periods of time. when climate change and destructive Corneliussen, and John King John King development still threaten habitat, Marin County hosts some of the best oppor- Sophomore currently attending Terra Linda the stronger the Board is the more tunities to see and find rare birds. You can High School. Started birding in 2017, and still effective it can be. Our Board of see a new bird in Marin every time you go enjoying the different habitats California has Directors are totally staffed with volunteers and we invite anyone outside. As you grow as a birder and begin to offer. He enjoys birding in coastal forested seeking to deepen their involvement to be able to recognize most of the local areas where small passerines are abundant with our efforts and concerns to con- species, you will start to find new birds that and in large flocks. Interested in the evolu- sider joining us. If you are interested may be rare where you live. The species you tion of birds and the adaptations (structural/ in learning more, please contact: observe will change with the seasons. Fall behavioral) they made to survive in the wild. Doug Waterman at 415/506-4675.

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON MARCH 2021 3 Conservation SAN RAFAEL GENERAL PLAN implement mitigation requirements for tree and is a good idea. A Baylands Corridor DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC REPORT removal….” But the requirements are not would be more protective because it would OUT FOR REVIEW provided. !e city’s mitigation for tree cover lands that are historic baylands and !e San Rafael General Plan 2040 (GP) impacts should be presented and their would continue on the County’s Baylands Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact e$ectiveness discussed. Corridor. !e EIR should discuss bene#ts of Report (EIR) is out for public review. Marin We note that the lack of protections for adopting a Baylands Corridor as is included Audubon’s primary focus when reviewing native trees (except oaks), which amounts in the Countywide Plan. Protection for EIR’s for General Plans and development to a preference for non-natives, con"icts “Other Waters” for their habitat and other projects is the protection of biological with the goal of protecting environmental values should be adopted. resources. !e San Rafael GP generally resources. Program C1.3A calls for 2 acres of addresses biological resources under Goal C1 2) Special Status Species and compensatory mitigation for each acre of Supporting our Natural Communities. Protect Wildlife Policy C1-13 speaks to protecting wetlands lost, with 3 acres per acre lost restore and enhance San Rafael’s environment special-status species but the Programs “if on-site mitigation is not possible or and natural communities. !e EIR reviews identi#ed to carry out the policy rely practical.” Again, allowing an exception if Policies and Programs that are intended to on surveys to determine the presence or an applicant claims changing the project protect the resources of concern: special sta- absence of species. Only minimization of is “not practical” is not much protection. tus species, wetlands, streams/creeks, and adverse impacts is mentioned. Avoidance, !e program also allows the city to waive trees. Our analysis of the adequacy of the the preferred mitigation in CEQA, should mitigation if, among other things, the EIR assessments follows: be recommended. wetland is small (0.1 acre) and the city 1. Protecting Trees !e only Policy We support the recommendations to map determines that the #lling would result in that mentions native trees is C-1-12B which wildlife corridors and to develop a bird-safe a more desirable development project, is requires development that would impact design ordinance with the goal of avoiding not much motivation to protect wetlands. oak/oak savannah to avoid where feasible,” bird collisions with buildings, which is a Fifty-foot setbacks would be required for minimize or compensate for the loss of signi#cant cause of bird mortality. wetlands of 2 acres except that that too oak trees. !is policy re"ects CA Fish 3) Creeks Policy C1-6 Protect and can be waived if it can be demonstrated and Game code, which contains the same Improve Creeks and Programs 6-6A and B the functions would still be protected. requirement, and states a preference for provide for creek setbacks of 25 to 50 feet, Again, consultants can be found that would avoidance. !e DEIR should discuss how should be supported except that C-1.6A compromise the resources. the city would interpret “feasible” because allows for minor (unde#ned) encroachment In conclusion, the EIR has strong poli- developers often claim avoiding resource under certain conditions, including “if it cies to protect wetlands but the many ex- impact is infeasible. is demonstrated that the reduced setback ceptions weaken or render the protection Four policies and seven programs adequately protects the resources and the sections of the policies moot. !e exception address the protection of urban or street results are approved by agencies.” !e EIR for “more desirable development” blatantly trees. While non-native trees that are should state the agencies that regulate disregards resource values and should be typically planted in urban areas may have setbacks and what their regulations are. deleted. New programs are included requir- public values, those bene#ts are limited Policy C-1-9 Enhancement of Creeks and ing surveys. While the surveys are impor- compared to the water conservation, Drainageways and Program C1.9A preparing tant to identify resources, by themselves biodiversity and habitat provided by Watercourse Protection Regulations would they do nothing. !ere must be follow up native plants. !e DEIR does not even be bene#cial except 1.9A calls for complying ordinances to protect the identi#ed re- acknowledge the importance of any native with San Rafael Code 11.30 which requires sources. !e EIR should discuss, for each trees but oaks, even though a state and permits from public works for development of the resources surveyed, the policies and federal threatened Northern Spotted Owl within 15 feet of a bank of a watercourse. ordinances that will protect the resources. nest site is in redwood trees within or near Fifteen feet is too close in our view and Policies intended to protect natural habitat the San Rafael border. even closer is worse. appear to be easy to get out of. !e DEIR should address the Day lighting, should be supported and environmental values of native trees, encouraged for all creeks that have been WHAT YOU CAN DO: impacts of invasive trees and recommend undergrounded. It is only mentioned for Submit comments on whether the favoring planting natives. Some non-native Gallinas Creek. DEIR adequately addresses impacts of trees, notably eucalyptus and acacia, have 4) Wetlands Policy C 1.1 Protecting the project and ways impacts could be adverse impacts: highly invasive, "ammable Wetlands. Protection of wetlands and avoided or reduced through mitigation and outcompete native plants. Program C-1.3 call for protection unless it measures or alternatives. You may Program C 1.16C should be is “not possible or practical.” !is amounts submit comments at a public hearing strengthened by changing “Consider to no protection at all. “Not practical” is on March 9 at 7 PM or via email to ordinances and standards that limit the an easy standard, all it takes is a developer’s [email protected] or U.S. removal of trees of a certain size and require claim. It is unclear whether the city has any Mail to Barry Miller, City of San Rafael, replacement….” to “Adopt ordinances and guidance on how to de#ne practical. !e 1400 Fifth Street, San Rafael 94901. Comment deadline is also March 9. standards to protect trees, particularly DEIR should address how this program can native trees….”. be depended upon to protect wetlands. Program CDP 3.6A: “Continue to A Wetland Overlay Zone is proposed continued on page 5

4 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON Conservation are planning a construction project. !e project will destroy some existing continued from page 4 Marin Audubon is grateful for our part- vegetative habitat. We are concerned about NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL nership with Marin County Open Space tree loss, tree replacement and particularly OUTREACH District, the California Department of Fish with uncertainty about mitigation for re- & Wildlife, and Point Blue Conservation moval of native trees. Even though the proj- !e Northern Spotted Owl’s (NSO) nesting Science. Our Northern Spotted Owl con- ect is no longer an Army Corps of Engineers season has o,cially begun! In Marin County, servation e$orts could not be completed project, a Corps 408 permit will still be nesting season runs from February 1 to July without their support and guidance. needed and Corps guidelines do not allow 31 each year. Last month, Marin Audubon trees to be planted within 15 feet of "ood- completed our 2021 Northern Spotted Owl CORTE MADERA CREEK FLOOD walls. Total tree loss would be 364, or 333 if Advisory Mailing for residence that live with RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT the county is successful obtaining a variance a 1/4 mile of a NSO activity center. DEIR STATUS from the Corps guidelines which they plan !ese mailings are important, as Marin !e Draft Environmental Impact Report to request. Fortunately, the CA Department County supports one of the last stable (DEIR) for the Corte Madera Flood of Fish and Wildlife has strong requirements populations of Northern Spotted Owls in Risk Management Control Project is out for native oak mitigation: 4 trees planted the world. !ey are listed as “threatened” on for public review. !e project has been for each one removed to 15 mitigation trees both the California and Federal Endangered transitioned from the Army Corps of planted for each tree removed. Species Act, and because of this they are Engineers to the management of Marin a$orded extra protections from noise and County Flood Zone #9 and the Town WHAT YOU CAN DO: habitat disturbances during its nesting of Ross, and the project design has been season. Submit comments by March 17 revised to be more re"ective of local via email to cortemaderacreek@ Our NSO advisory letters and fact sheets priorities and values. Boundaries of the marincounty.org or by USPS to Joanna include details about types of noise pollu- project extend from the Ross/San Anselmo Dixon, Project Manager, 3501 Civic tion, and other disturbances that negatively boarder to the end of the concrete channel Center Drive, Suite 304, San Rafael, a$ect the Spotted Owl’s ability to nest and in Kent#eld. CA 94903. You may also attend and testify raise its young properly, as well as what to Environmental enhancements the do if a resident is planning loud outdoor at the public hearing on March 2 project will provide include restoration before the Board of Supervisors. See construction work during the Spotted Owl’s of #sh passage habitat by removing an the Board of Supervisors agenda nesting timeframe. Activities or acts that impediment to "ood "ows, the #sh ladder, that is usually available on the Friday result in the disturbance, harassment or increasing capacity of the channel, creating before the meeting for the time of the death of Northern Spotted Owls are con- "oodplains, constructing larger #sh resting hearing. sidered a federal and state o$ense. Our fact pools and removing the concrete channel sheet also discuss the growing presence of from Stadium Way down to the natural the Barred Owl in Marin County. Reporting channel. Restoring natural creek banks and THANK YOU, DONORS Barred Owl sightings is important as they stabilizing slopes will also improve bird are an invasive species, and one of the largest Ablin Family Fund, Diane Aldrich, Tom habitat. !e project will have an additional and Annina Arthur, Anonymous, Anne threats to the Northern Spotted Owl’s long bene#t for 327 structures in Ross and Baxter, Benjamin Bonnlander, Tom and term survival. Kent#eld by installing stormwater pumps Carol Budzikski, Jan Capper, William !e Northern Spotted Owl faces an and low "ood walls to reduce the risk of Carney and Tamra Peters, Imok Cha, uphill battle against wild#res, human "ooding. David Chenoweth, Tessa Cherniss, interference (construction, rodenticides, !ere is too much concrete, especially Robert and Sandra Chilvers, Carole and George Eade, Janet Ekberg, Gayanne o$-leash pets), the Barred Owl, and logging. in the Frederick Allen Park. Use of natural Marin Audubon is also coordinating with Enquist, Kathleen Foster, Rick and Dee materials for at least some of the walls and Fraites. Martha Frankel, Catherine organizations and agencies in the North the park should be used wherever possible. Fuller, Garth Gilchrist, Jim Gonsman, West where logging impacts are an ongoing We had raised the issue of potential impacts Pauline Grant, Karen Guasco, Valerie problem, and where the Trump adminis- of constructing steps down to the creek. !e Hetherington, Stephanie Hom, Mary K tration removed many thousands of acres DEIR misunderstands our concern as being Hynes, Martha Jarocki, Reese and from Northern Spotted Owl critical habitat. about people impacting the restoration area. Margaret Jones, Robert Kennis, Cynthia !ese actions will further threaten the owl’s Kenyon, Klein-Donahoe Family Fund, Our concern is actually broader than just Warren and Barbara Levinson, Jack and existence. We want to broaden our e$orts the restoration area. It is about the ongoing Alexandra Liebster, Sarah Martin, Peter and our in"uence to protect this threatened impacts on the creek habitat, #sh and other Mason, Nancy Merritt, Regina and John species by joining with others who are tak- wildlife that use the creek waters. !e Milavec, Gerald Mitchell, Joan Murphy, ing action. mitigation measures presented to reduce Martha Nelson, On Point Land We hope these yearly mailings bring these impacts are fencing and signs saying Management, J Morrow Otis, Joy critical awareness to this threatened spe- “Stay out of Restoration Area,” would be Phoenix, Colette Pratt, Alison Quoyeser, cies, as they need all the help they can RHE Foundation, Carla Ruff Fund, of questionable e$ectiveness. While some Barbara Salzman, Mary Kent Schardt, get. Please visit Marin Audubon’s website: people may abide by sign messages, many Ann Sheldon. Sharie and Clem Shute, https://marinaudubon.org/conser- do not. It is also unclear whether the fencing Judd Simmons, Everett Stanley, Michael vation/northern-spotted-owl for more would be e$ective either. !e impact of Stone, Anne-Christine Strugnell, information on our Northern Spotted Owl people using the steps on the vegetation; Stephen and Britt Thal, Mary Jeanette conservation e$orts, our fact sheet, a list of and the birds and #sh using the creek waters Walker, Douglas Wallace, Doug and agencies and biologists to contact should could be signi#cant and is unnecessary. Joyce Waterman, Dr. Sandra Weiss, Alex Wittenberg, Christine Wood you need to report a Barred Owl sighting People do not need to go to the water, they and/or live within a NSO bu$er zone and can view the creek from the bank.

LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON MARCH 2021 5 H-.(+-+ S+&/-%)'0(1 HABITAT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM BAHIA Madera and the Redwoods facility and did some The planting is finished for the sea- On Point Land Management (OPLM) crew has clean up. Recently someone has cut the lower son and now our attention turns to #nished planting 360 plants – 180 California limbs from several oaks on our property. If they removing the competition, the non- sage (Artemesia californica) and 180 coyote bush wanted to cut to reduce #re risk, it did just the native annuals and perennials. Hard- opposite. !e cut limbs were left to dry on the ing grass, a perennial, might be the (Baccharis pilularis) – on the Bahia levee that worst of them and with moist soil it we ordered last year. As noted last month, these ground where they are more of a #re danger is a little easier to dig out now. Annu- plants were installed to outcompete the highly than when they are growing on the tree. It als, like Italian thistle, are probably invasive radish and improve upland habitat. In should also be noted that oaks growing near the large enough to pull or cut off. It is addition, a rootball of a mature pampas grass bay never seem to grow with an upright trunk. also time to start removing radish plant has been removed and left to decompose. Rather they grow as short trees, with no visible and its cousin, mustard, before they trunk and their canopy close to the ground. begin to flower. NORTON POND Our volunteer days remain on the OPLM also removed sediments from the TISCORNIA schedule. They are good opportuni- culvert, as far as they could reach on our It’s been a busy month for our Tiscornia marsh ties for students who need commu- property. One end of the culvert is on MAS restoration project. To restore tidal marsh, we’ve nity service hours. Staying a healthy property and the other on property of the been exploring with the City of San Rafael and distance apart from each other out- house across Norton. !e culvert connects the Army Corps of Engineers possibly using doors on our volunteer days is easy, so don’t let that concern keep you our pond to a tidal channel that extends to sediments the Corps will be removing from away! A little physical activity is the Petaluma River and is the source of water the San Rafael Cana. In addition, the City has good for a person’s mood, and, if it for the pond. !e culvert was in place long scheduled a scoping meeting on February 23, does good for the environment, it is before we acquired the property and was at which time the project will be presented, and doubly good. reportedly installed by the former owner of attendees can submit issues and questions to be Act locally and join us on a work- the house across Norton, possibly to allow the addressed in the EIR. !e project description day. We all make a difference. road to be extended across the tidal channel. can be found on our website along with how Volunteer Workdays !e sediments were moved to another of our to submit comments. Comment deadline is Triangle Marsh, East Corte Madera: properties, at the other end of Norton Avenue Friday, February 26 at 5 pm. !e San Francisco First Saturdays: March 6, April 3 and placed on uplands. By acquiring many Bay Restoration Authority is funding the Meet at 10 AM on Paradise small parcels and accepting the donation of a project, including preparation of the EIR, Drive directly across from the Ring few parcels, MAS now owns most of the pond through a grant to Marin Audubon. Mountain Phyllis Ellman trailhead and its shoreline. BLACK POINT near the Montessori School. THE REDWOODS Our volunteer, Lowell Sykes, has pulled sub- Corte Madera Ecological Reserve: MAS’s volunteers planted 50 western ragweed stantial quantities of broom from our largest Second Saturdays: March 13, April 10 (Ambrosia psilostachya) and removed invasive property. !is is the ideal time to pull broom, Meet at the end of Industrial Way. acacia on our property. MAS owns the upland it is easier after there has been enough rain to For up-to-date information, contact adjacent to the mouth of Arroyo Del Corte soften the ground. Martha Jarocki, marthajarocki@ gmail.com or phone 415/461-3592. Bahia, Novato: USFWS Farallon Islands Mouse Eradication Plan If you’d like to help at Bahia, contact Jude at [email protected]. One more delay. I’ve been assured it will be habitats throughout the world the last. We’re almost there. The California • Use THANK YOU, STEWARDSHIP the only method that would be effec- Coastal Commission will be hearing the VOLUNTEERS tive; a one-time (two applications) use of Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge Debbie Ablin, Bob Hinz, Martha a rodenticide specifically permitted for Jarocki, Carolyn Losee, Ed Nute, Consistency Determination in May – not in use to rid island ecosystems from habitat Lowell Sykes March. So we have a few more months to send islands. emails or letters to support the Plan or to sign If this Plan is not implemented, the island up and speak during open time at the one of habitat will continue to degrade, populations of ALERT the Commission meetings in March or April, rare native species will continue to decline and Report Barred Owl before it is on the agenda in May. If you haven’t would be eventually extirpated from these islands. do it now Spottings sent in your comments yet, . The Plan needs to be implemented to: WHAT YOU CAN DO: Barred Owls have extended their • Restore the ecosystem of this rare island Sign up to testify during open time at the range to the west coast and have habitat California Coastal Commission hearings in been seen in Marin. There is increas- March or April. The Commission sets aside • Protect ing concern about their impact on the rare native Leach’s and Ashy one to two hours at the beginning of each Marin’s Northern Spotted Owl popu- Storm-Petrels meeting to hear from the public on items lation. Barred Owls are larger, more • Protect endemic species, Farallon Camel not on the agenda. Write and email to the aggressive and occupy the same Cricket, Farallon Arboreal Salamander, commission telling them the Plan is con- habitat type as Spotted Owls. See Farallon Daisy sistent with the Coastal Zone Management contact list at https://marinaudu- Program. [email protected] or 45 Market bon.org/2020/09/01/alert-report- • Use the only method that has successfully Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. barred-owl-spottings. restored pelagic ecosystems on 600 island

6 THE RAIL LIKE US ON WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MARINAUDUBON Marin Birdlog: December 2020 By Noah Arthur Salmonellosis Outbreak Causing Songbird Deaths* As midwinter fades into the beginnings of late winter, January is often a peak month for rare Removing bird feeders is the waterbirds in Marin. !is month, however, kicked o$ with a spectacular profusion of midwinter best way to help land-bird rarities in the #rst week – as often happens during what tends to be one of our coldest weeks of the year. On the 1st, three Mountain Bluebirds were along Shoreline Highway in The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reports Tomales (AB), and an unseasonable Wilson’s Warbler was in Muir Beach (BB). !e rarities kept that they have been inundated Winter Wren on coming on the 3rd, with a in the Olema Campground (MS, LS, & EM), another with calls from residents who Wilson’s Warbler Western Tanager at Bear Valley (MS & LS), and an o$-season in a San Rafael are !nding sick or dead !nches backyard (DL). On the 7th a female Williamson’s Sapsucker (WA) and a male Yellow-bellied at bird feeders. There have been Sapsucker (RM) materialized in the Olema Campground, found by Winter Wren chasers, a nice reports from Sonoma, but none demonstration of the “Patagonia Rest Stop E$ect” in action. from Marin. CDFW’s Wildlife A very rare hybrid appeared on the 9th in the form of a Common Goldeneye X Hooded Investigations Laboratory has Merganser at a herring run in Richardson Bay (LC). !is outlandish intergeneric is a 2nd county determined the cause of illness to record for Marin. Also on the 9th, an o$-season Black-throated Grey Warbler was in the Marin be Salmonellosis, a disease cause Headlands (MS & LS). by Salmonella bacteria. Pine siskins On the 10th, a really spectacular seasonal rarity was found on outer Pt. Reyes in the form of are the primary species affected by a juvenile Swainson’s Hawk (LC). !is is a #rst for January in Marin and adds to Lucas’s pile of the outbreak. The disease has also seasonal megas this winter, along with his late November Swainson’s !rush! been reported in smaller numbers Almost expected in fall but much rarer in winter, a Clay-colored Sparrow was at a feeder near of lesser gold!nches and American Valley Ford on the 10th (JE). gold!nches. On the 12th, the long-absent Yellow-crowned Night-heron reappeared in Sausalito (EF). Rare Salmonellosis occurs periodically in pine siskins in some winters. onshore and often seen after storms, a Red Phalarope was at Rodeo Lagoon on the 15th (WL). A When large numbers of pine siskins new Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged) was found on the 16th in Stinson Beach (AH), adding congregate, the disease can spread Common X Green-winged Teal to at least two others in Marin this winter, followed up by a hybrid in rapidly causing high mortality. Birds Bothin Marsh on the 17th (CC). !e unseasonable passerine parade also continued on the 16th with a become infected when they ingest Grasshopper Sparrow in Corte Madera Marsh (KD & LW), and a Nashville Warbler in Bolinas (AH). food, water or come into contact One of the best birds of the month came on the 18th, a Yellow-billed Loon on Tomales Bay at with objects (e.g., bird feeders, Tomales Bay State Park (MS & LS). Also on the 18th, a mixed movement of winter #nches over perches, soil) contaminated with Bolinas Ridge east of Stinson included an Evening Grosbeak and a Lawrence’s Goldfinch (CC). feces from an infected bird. Sick Tw o Barn Swallows "ew by Rodeo Lagoon on the 21st (WL), and a Tundra Swan was at Abbotts birds often appear weak, have Lagoon on the 22nd (JP & RM), and another Western Tanager was in DS’s San Rafael yard. Rare labored breathing, and may sit for o$ our shores in winter, a Pink-footed Shearwater "ew by the blu$s near Nunes Ranch on Pt. Reyes prolonged periods with "uffed or on the 23rd (MS & LS), and a female Mountain Bluebird was near Drakes Corner (MS, LS, & LC). ruf"ed feathers. A big herring run blanketed the Tiburon shoreline in roe on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, attracting Salmonellosis is almost thousands of gulls. Best of all was a stunning adult Slaty-backed Gull (LC), the #rst in Marin in exclusively reported from locations several years. Other good ones included a 1st-winter Glaucous (LC) a 1st-winter ‘Kumlien’s’ Iceland with bird feeders where birds (NA), and both Glaucous-winged X Glaucous and Glaucous X Herring hybrids (NA & LC). Gull congregate. Residents can help numbers probably topped 10,000 at the peak of the event. reduce disease transmission by removing bird feeders and Another Pink-footed Shearwater was seen from shore at the abandoned ranch on Pt. Reyes on birdbaths. Allowing birds to feed on Black-footed Albatross Palm Warbler the 24th, along with an even rarer . Also at the ranch was a , natural seeds rather than at bird much rarer in winter than in fall (CC). feeders reduces contact between A very nice Red Fox Sparrow visited a Tamalpais Valley backyard on the 24th. birds and helps slow spread of the Regular in winter on Tomales Bay these days but rarer elsewhere, a Caspian Tern "ew by Rodeo disease. As of mid February there Lagoon on the 25th (WL), and another "ew over Tiburon on the 26th (EG), and yet another was have been no reports from Marin. at Corte Madera Marsh on the 28th (BF). !is rapid-#re series of reports suggests there was some Residents can report dead birds movement of Caspian Terns into our region – or perhaps out of Tomales Bay and into other areas. to CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations A Laughing Gull in Bolinas Lagoon on the 30th (GS), possibly the same individual in the area in Laboratory using the mortality fall, rounded out an outstanding month for gulls in Marin. Just as rare were two Black Skimmers reporting form (https://wildlife. found in the Lagoon the next day (BB). !e 31st also produced three Pacific Golden-plovers in a ca.gov/conservation/laboratories/ plowed #eld near the RCA Station on Pt. Reyes (EM). Also on the 31st, a female Black-and-white wildlife-investigations/monitor- Warbler at Bass Lake along the Palomarin Trail (LC), and a Myrtle X Audubon’s Warbler hybrid at ing/mortality-report), which helps Sacramento Landing on the 31st (LS) added to the month’s impressive total of rare warblers. biologists, monitor the outbreak. Continuing rarities found in previous months included the American Dipper at Leo T. Cronin Disposable gloves should be worn Fish Viewing Area, the Black Vulture in Bolinas, Townsend’s Solitaires on Mt. Tam, Lapland and hands should be thoroughly washed after disposing of dead Longspurs at Abbotts Lagoon, and the male Black-and-white Warbler at Muir Beach. birds, and handling of bird feeders Observers and Acronyms WA: Will Anderson, NA: Noah Arthur, CC: Connor Cochrane, LC: Lucas and birdbaths. If sick birds are found, Corneliussen, KD: Konshau Duman, JE: Janeann Erickson, EF: Emily Ford, EG: Eli Gross, AH: Adrian Hinkle, please contact Wildcare for advice. WL: William Legge, RM: Ron Mallory, EM: Eddie Monson, LN: Larry Nigro, JP: Jeff Perkins, DS: Dan Singer, *Excerpted from CDFW Fact Sheet LS: Lucas Stephenson, MS: Mark Stephenson, LW: Lynette Williams

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