Organizational Change for Our Chapter
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THE Santa Clara Valley The Newsletter of the Santa ClaraAVOCET Valley Audubon Society September-October 2013 Audubon Society Organizational Change for our Chapter Executive Director Retiring To Pursue Field Ornithology And Eco-Travel By Ashok Khosla, SCVAS Board President After leading Santa Clara Valley Audubon for seven 22nd Annual years, Bob Power has announced his retirement as executive director effective January 31st, 2014. Wildlife Education “This past year was exceptional for our organization and I will leave SCVAS in excellent financial shape with a very Day will be Bigger strong and experienced staff,” said Bob in a recent discussion and Better than Ever! with the Board of Directors. An executive search committee has been formed and is actively seeking qualified individuals to find someone who is a great fit for the conservation and Saturday, Oct 26th education programs we are known for. During Bob’s tenure, significant accomplishments were -Page 8 achieved. Some of the highlights have been: • Brought back the Environmental Advocate as a permanent staff position. • Worked with our coalition against the development in Panoche Valley. Bob surveying Eared Grebes at • Participated in and helped to shape regional, long-term land-use plans such as, the county’s Habitat Crowley Lake, Eastern Sierra. Photo courtesy Linda Votteri Conservation Plan, the Salt Pond Restoration Plan, and environmental policies of the Santa Clara Valley Water Department. • Worked closely with Golden Gate Audubon and the Ca. Attorney General’s office to limit raptor mortality at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area. • Ensured that SCVAS is a voice for Burrowing Owls in the Bay Area and beyond. • Grew education and conservation fundraising through our Birdathon from $26,000 to $75,000 annually. • Developed our local chapter’s adult General Membership Meetings education and field seminar programs Cubberley Community Center, Rm H1 including eco-travel in Arizona, Costa Palo Alto - Middlefield & Montrose Rds Rica, and Alaska. (go to www.scvas.org for maps to this location) • Implemented the Legacy Fund to facilitate bequests that will ensure the Doors open 7:30; program 8:00 organization’s program continuity. Wednesday, September 18th Wednesday, October 16th (continued on page 10) “A Year with the Urban Gray “African Birds of Prey” Fox” with Doug Cheeseman Audubon Classes and Field Seminars with Bill Leikam This informative fast-paced program to Fill Your Every Birding Desire! about the raptors of Tanzania and Kenya This engaging program will begin — Page 5 with an overview of the Gray Fox and will feature Doug’s best action and then follow them on their cycle of life behavioral photos taken during more than Summer Astounds with Black Rails adventure. From the time that they pair up sixty safaris in East Africa. Life histories (and more)! – the romantic period – to when the pups and unique behaviors of seven eagle — Field Notes, Page 6 are indistinguishable from their parents species, some accipiters, falcons and owls and are ready to disperse, Bill will share will be shown. The finale of the program September 25th will be a Date to stories, photos, and videos about these will include special African mammalian Remember! remarkable creatures that will be sure to predators. Doug will put his full energy — Page 9 inspire. into sharing lots of information combined with images. Cavity Nesters Recovery Program Grey Fox Photo courtesy of Bill Leikam Bateleur photo courtesy of Doug Cheeseman End-of-Season Wrap-up (Additional information - including driving directions - is available on the SCVAS website: — Page 10 www.scvas.org, click on “Speaker Series.” The Avocet 1 Saturday Sept. 28, 9:00 AM Sept - Oct ‘13 Field Trips Point Reyes (Full details for all of our Field Trips are also available online at www.scvas.org) Full day. Leader: Peter LaTourette (650) Please carpool if possible; bring binoculars, field guides, layered clothing. 961-2741. Highlights: Our annual trip to LO = Lunch optional; RC = Heavy rain cancels; NF = No facilities available the west coast’s most active vagrant trap where birds and the weather are always Sunday Sept. 1, 8:15 AM Wednesday Sept. 11, 8:00 AM exciting and unpredictable! Directions: Arastradero Preserve Almaden Lake Park & Alamitos Creek From Hwy 1 in Marin Co. (just south of Half day. Leader: Rich Page (408) 377- Half day. Leader: Janna Pauser 408-569- Pt. Reyes Station), take Sir Francis Drake 1092. Directions: From I-280 take 9264. For details and directions, see the Blvd. west approx. 14 miles and turn left Page Mill Rd. west approx. 1/2 mile to write-up for Sept 8th. to Drakes Beach. Meet in the parking Arastradero Rd. Turn right and meet at Saturday Sept. 14, 8:00 AM area. Notes: Bring lunch, liquids, a full the parking lot located 1/2-mile on the tank of gas, and be ready for fog, wind, right. Highlights: Woodland and grass- Alum Rock Park Half day. Leader: Jim Johnson (408) sun and lots of difficult to ID birds. Be land species as well as a good assortment prepared to carpool from Drakes Beach. of raptors are possible. Difficulty Level: 996-3506. Directions: From Hwy 101 or Trip involves two plus miles of moder- I-680 take McKee Rd. northeast toward Sunday Sept. 29, 8:00 AM ately strenuous walking. RC the hills then left on Toyon Ave. then right Ogier Ponds on Penitencia Creek Rd. and continue on Half day. Leader: Rich Page (408) 377- Wednesday Sept. 4, 12:00 PM into the park. Drive under the bridge and 1092. For details and directions see the City of Sunnyvale Landfill meet at the far end of the parking lot. write-up for Sept 7th. RC One hour. Leaders: Freddy Howell and Notes: Possible entrance fee. Difficulty Allen Royer. Contact organizer Silviana Level: Trip is a moderately strenuous 3-4 Wednesday Oct. 2, 12:00 PM Ruiz (408) 730-7545 to attend. Direc- mile walk. LO, RC City of Sunnyvale Landfill tions: Donald M. Somers Water Pollu- One hour. Leaders: Freddy Howell and tion Control Plant, junction of Borregas Sunday Sept. 15, 8:30 AM Allen Royer. Contact organizer Silviana and Caribbean. Meet at Trailhead at north Coyote Hills Regional Park Ruiz (408) 730-7545 to attend. See addi- end. Difficulty Level: Birding geared to- Half day. Leader: Frank Vanslager (650) tional details from Sept 4th. ward beginners. Notes: Bring binoculars; 961-1505. Directions: Take Hwy 84 loaners also available. RC (Dumbarton Bridge) east to Newark. Exit Saturday Oct. 5, 8:00 AM right at Thornton, then go left on over- Oka Ponds Saturday Sept. 7, 8:00 AM pass, as Thornton becomes Paseo Padre Half day. Leader: Bob Reiling (408) 253- Ogier Ponds turn left at Patterson Ranch/Commerce 7527. Directions: From Hwy 17 in Los Half day. Leader: Kirsten Holmquist Rd. into park. Meet at far end of Quarry Gatos take Lark Ave. exit west. Turn (408) 747-0988. Directions: From Hwy parking lot located on the left, 1/4 mile right on Oka Rd., left on Mozart Ave. and 101 in Morgan Hill take Cochrane Rd. past park entrance. Notes: Entrance fee an immediate right on Oka Lane. Meet west to Monterey Hwy, turn right, go required. LO, RC at gate. RC north 2.6 miles, turn right towards the Model Airplane Park (street is unnamed). Saturday Sept. 21, 9:00 AM Sunday Oct. 6, 9:00 AM Follow the road for 1/4 mile and park in Charleston Slough Hawk Hill/Marin Headlands the gravel lot at the first bend in road (meet Half day. Leader: Allen Royer (408) 288- Full day. Leader: Nick Yatsko (408) at the gate if the entrance is locked). RC 7768. Directions: From Hwy 101 in Mt. 891-3187. Directions: Going north on View take San Antonio Rd. north to Ter- Hwy 101, after crossing the Golden Gate Sunday Sept. 8, 8:00 AM minal Way parking area. Meet at the en- Bridge exit just past the Vista Point, cross Almaden Lake Park & Alamitos Creek trance nearest San Antonio Rd. Difficulty under Hwy 101 and turn right just before Half day. Leader: Steve Tracey (650) Level: This trip is recommended for be- entrance back onto Hwy 101 south. Drive 966-3860. Directions: From Hwy 85 ginning birders but all are encouraged to up hill to the highest point and park. Meet take Almaden Expwy south, turn left on attend. Notes: Bring your spotting scope at the parking area or at the Hawk watch Coleman Rd. and then right on Winfield and a friend. on top of the hill (arrive/depart the Hill at Blvd. Notes: Parking is free on Winfield Sunday Sept. 22, 7:30 AM any time). Highlights: Migrating raptors Blvd. Highlights: We will bird the lake including the possibility of seeing a rare and the trail upstream looking for water- Sunnyvale Baylands Park Half day. Leader: Pete Dunten (650) 210- Broad-winged Hawk. Notes: Weather fowl, raptors, and a wide variety of ripar- conditions can be highly variable, dress in ian birds. Notes: Meet at the bathrooms 6764. Directions: From Hwy 237 take the Lawrence Expwy/Caribbean Dr. exit layers, bring lunch and liquids. This will (blue building) near the east entrance to be our only field trip to the Hawk Hill/ Almaden Lake Park. Difficulty Level: toward Caribbean Dr. Turn right into the park at the first stoplight north of the free- Marin Headlands this fall. Heavy fog in Expect about 3 miles of easy walking. the headlands will likely cancel the trip. LO, RC way and meet in the first parking lot to the left of the entrance kiosk. Notes: a $6.00 parking fee may be required.