HUMMIN’ www.pvsb-audubon.org

Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society Vol. XLII #3 April/May 2020 WHO WERE THEY? Coming Events by Vincent Lloyd Take a trip with Audubon at our April 21 meeting at Madrona Marsh on the Ohio, John Cassin Ontario, Michigan and Minnesota Express! veryone knows who Audubon was, but who Sounds like the were Townsend, Bonaparte, Gambel, and name of an old E Railroad Line, but Baird? In this occasional series, we’ll look at it was a three- the pioneering ornithologists who gave their week birding tour names to familiar California birds. of the Great Lakes Not all birds named after people represent area that Ann scientists. The rules of nomenclature seem to and Eric Brooks be rather lax in shared with fi ve this regard; while intrepid explorers it’s frowned upon in May 2019. Birds to name a bird migrating north/ after yourself, south through the otherwise there Midwest have to are no restric- go around or over the Great Lakes, creating tions. As an concentration points that have become Meccas example, Anna for birders. Join Ann and Eric as they present never saw the their story of adventures braving north winds hummingbird and high water in search of migrating birds. named after her Eric is a founding member of PV/SB — indeed she never went to America — she was Audubon, and taught birdwatching classes the wife of the Count of Rivoli, who had a large at Harbor College and subsequently at South collection of bird specimens (another of which Coast Botanic Garden for almost 40 years. He is known today as Rivoli’s Hummingbird). has been studying birds and traveling to expe- Lucy’s Warbler was named after the 13-year- rience birds ever since he caught birding fever old daughter of ornithologist Spencer Baird. when he saw Painted Redstarts and Scissor- Lewis’s Woodpecker and Clark’s Nutcracker tailed Flycatchers while serving in the Army in were named after the great explorers. In many Texas. Ann joined the Bird Classes and rose to cases, however, ornithologists named new the rank of co-teacher. Fortunately, she shares species after colleagues and mentors. Eric’s passion for birds and for travel! Eric and Such is the case of the fi ve American birds Ann lead fi eld trips for PV/SB Audubon Society that bear the name Cassin: Cassin’s Kingbird and do birdwalks at Kenneth Hahn Park for (described by George Lawrence), Cassin’s the Los Angeles Audubon Society. Auklet (described by William Gambel), Cassin’s Finch (described by Baird), Cassin’s Vireo Check website for possible program and (Continued on Page 3) fi eld trip cancellations! 2 April/May 2020 From the President The restored habitat will response services, research be perfect for Burrowing Owls and innovation, and outreach and Grasshopper Sparrows, and education. both California Species of The Audubon Center at Debs Special Concern. California Park will use its grant to help has one of the largest resident fund activities for its Bird Day and migratory populations LA festival on May 9th. Bird of Burrowing Owls in the Day LA is a celebration of the United States. The distribu- avian diversity in Los Angeles tion of Burrowing Owls in and connects the community California has changed signifi- to birds by educating the cantly, however, because of residents about the birds they agriculture and urbaniza- see in their communities. The New Grants Awarded tion, factors that also affect Bird Day LA activities will the Grasshopper Sparrow. include performances and By David Quadhamer The owls have disappeared arts and crafts workshops or declined in many southern centered around local birds. Palos Verdes/South Bay coastal counties. Western A live bird show featuring Audubon awarded three Meadowlarks, regular visitors hawks, owls, and vultures $1,000 grants at our last to the Marsh, would also will be provided by Nature board meeting. The grants benefit from the habitat of Wildworks. The live bird will support habitat resto- restoration. show provides information ration, bird rehabilitation and International Bird Rescue about the birds, their habitat educational programs for Bird will use its grant to support and eating habits and allows Day Los Angeles. The grant the Wildlife Rescue and attendees to ask questions. proposals are described in Rehabilitation Program. The A family oriented scientific more detail below. grant will offset nutrition, illustration workshop will be Madrona Marsh will use its medicine, and veterinary provided as well. Synchromy, grant to restore coastal prairie medical supply costs for birds a local orchestra, will perform habitat in the northeastern admitted to the Los Angeles Ten Thousand Birds by John part of the preserve. Coastal Wildlife Center. Millions of Luther Adams. The Debs Park native wildflowers, bulbs and birds die every year from Bird Day LA festival is free grasses will be planted, and injuries from fishing, human and open to the public. invasive non-native plants cruelty, illegal shootings, We are planning on offering will be removed. Foothill need- habitat disruption, starvation, our grant program again next legrass, California poppies, oil, plastic, chemical pollution, year. The guidelines are posted and California aster are some and climate change-induced on our website and applica- of the plants that will be hazards. International Bird tions will be due on January included in the restoration. Rescue rehabilitates birds 15, 2021. Our past grants The coastal prairie resto- affected by these issues. have helped to fund habitat ration will provide habitat for The Los Angeles Wildlife restoration for the California grassland birds, small native Center treats approximately Gnatcatcher, the Palos Verdes animals and insects. Less than 1,500 birds annually. In Blue Butterfly and the El 10% of coastal prairie habitat addition to wildlife rescue and Segundo Blue Butterfly. One remains in California, making rehabilitation, International grant also supported a Coastal this restoration a priority. Bird Rescue provides wildlife California Cactus Wren emergency preparedness and survey program, and another www.pvsb-audubon.org 3 funded a mural at an elemen- contributions will also support Measures to control the tary school. our other work around the spread of coronavirus may Contributions from our South Bay. If you would like cause presentations and bird members help support our to support one or both of our walks to be canceled. We grant program that funds Birdathons, please contact will do our best to work with worthwhile programs like Jess at [email protected] or me the speakers to reschedule the ones above. One way to at [email protected]. programs that are canceled. contribute is by supporting one Your support is greatly appre- For up to date information, of our upcoming Birdathons. ciated and vital to our work. please refer to our website Jess Morton and I will each be Our work restoring habitat (www.pvsb-audubon.org). We leading a group to go out and for the Palos Verdes Blue hope that all our members try and find as many species Butterfly out at Rolling Hills and their families are safe. of birds that we can in one Preparatory School continues. When our schedule returns day, usually in late April or If you would like to help us to normal, I look forward to early May. We generally try with the habitat restoration, seeing you at one of our presen- to stay within our Christmas please send me an email and tations or on a bird walk. Bird Count circle. Donations I’ll let you know when the can be made at a flat rate or next workday will be. There is Check website calendar for on a per species basis, perhaps always a lot of work to do in activity cancellations! one dollar per species. Your the reserve.

(Cassin, continued from Page 1) an experience that left him with Cassin left a large legacy. He (described by John Xantus), and broken health. He died just four described no fewer than 193 new Cassin’s Sparrow (described by years after the end of the war, but bird species, many of them African. Samuel Washington Woodhouse). the cause is most likely an accumu- Today, four African species are John Cassin was an American lation of arsenic, a poison used in named after him, including the ornithologist. He was born in preserving skins. secretive Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle Pennsylvania in 1813. An early (Aquila africana) of West Africa. interest in natural history led him Cassin went beyond his predeces- to join the famous Academy of sors, who were content to describe Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, new species one by one, to systemat- where he worked for the following ically categorize all North American 26 years. In those days, nobody birds. His publications included the was paid to do ornithology, so he first volume of Illustrations of the supported himself by operating Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, a lithograph shop. The Academy British and Russian America and was the place to be for an aspiring was a co-author (with Baird and ornithologist: it had a collection of Lawrence) of the classic study Birds thousands of bird skins from all of North America (1860). over the world (Rivoli’s collection The birds that Cassin himself ended up there). Today, known as described include such familiar the Academy of Natural Sciences of birds as Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Drexel University, it remains the Hutton’s Vireo, Heermann’s Gull, oldest natural history museum in and the White-headed Woodpecker, the U.S. among many others. Only one new When the Civil War broke species did he collect himself: the out, Cassin — although he was Philadelphia Vireo, which is only a approaching 50 — volunteered Cassin’s Kingbird, from a report migrant in Philadelphia. for the Army. He ended up in a on the United States and Mexican Confederate prisoner of war camp, boundary survey, ed. Spencer Baird. 4 April/May 2020 Concerning Conservation the truth of her analysis. I can remember the DDT spraying done along the streets where I grew up. While we children wondered at the deaths of our pets from what we called “the wobbles,” our parents understood, and the spraying had stopped long before Silent Spring was published. Far more was needed. Then, following the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin) and Congressman Pete McCloskey (R-California) called for the establishment of a broad movement for environ- mental and conservation action. Denis Hayes was recruited to coordinate the effort, building a national staff of 85 to do so. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated, with Earth Day at 50 20 million Americans taking part. The Clean By Jess Morton Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts resulted. These have netted enormous health The need to conserve is not new. It is an idea and other benefits for our nation, and have that stretches back to antiquity, often voiced by served as models for similar legislation around a small minority of the populace with enough the world. understanding of the workings of the society However, Earth Day has retained those capi- within which they lived to see the perils ahead talized letters. It has been celebrated each April if nothing was changed. In America for upwards 22 since then, but it has never been the earth of two centuries, we can point to instances of day every day we must have in order to survive necessary changes that have been recognized the massive environmental changes under way. and acted upon. The first National Parks in the That point was driven home early on, in 1973, world were created here in the 19th Century, when the country’s main oil supplies were followed early in the 20th by the establishment abruptly cut off. Suddenly, gasoline became of wildlife sanctuaries and city open spaces. scarce and long lines of huge gas-guzzlers, i.e. the Isolated local actions have followed wide standard American-made automobile, formed public acceptance of need, such as the mid-cen- at the gas stations that still had some on hand. tury banning of back yard incinerators in Los When gasoline became readily available later Angeles, followed by other regulations that cut in the year, no effort was made by American smog levels dramatically. However, until 1960, auto makers to build and market smaller, more voices other than those of the environmentally efficient cars. Had they done so, foreign makes aware dominated public discourse. would have had difficulty breaking into the US The publication of Rachel Carson’s signal market, and Chrysler, Ford and GM would not Silent Spring marked the beginning of wider have faced bankruptcy. demands for change. Hers was the first call to On April 22, 2020, we in Audubon will join environmental action to draw popular accep- perhaps a billion human beings of every nation- tance. Although decried by interests who saw ality to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth the called-for banning of DDT as detrimental to Day. We must hope that this will be enough to health and prosperity, a claim now long-proved make world leaders bold enough to take the delusional, Carson’s warning was heeded by the steps necessary to: 1) limit the damaging effects majority of Americans who could see firsthand of climate change, 2) stop the unsustainable www.pvsb-audubon.org 5 extraction of water, minerals, and other natural resources, and 3) reduce the human footprint upon the landscape. Such action is possible, but it will cause immense upheavals in social Dandelions and economic structures around the world. No one will be immune, however much individuals I took a seat on a cliff top bench may try to isolate themselves. to watch the falcon work her prey, The earth has been around for the last four and a half billion years, and it has another sure as time’s sped to my birthday, few billion years to go. Since early on, life has or dandelion seeds drift slow existed here and it will continue to do so. By with breeze and breath. comparison, we’re pretty new within that web of life. How much longer we humans remain She veered and I eased back on the bench part of it is only a question of how we respond against an old nameplate that waits to the demands of both Earth Day and every earth day. for a gaze to take in its dates, the birth of a man I didn’t know, and then his death.

I picked dandelions by the bench their seed heads grown white as my hair as they held for a lifting air to wing up off the sea below or for my breath.

Then I noticed the name on the bench. Like me, his birthday was today, and his age when he passed away is mine now, though long years ago the date of death.

When I return that day to the bench, I shall find a bloom gone to seed. With that falcon screaming her need as she flies, do I see her go and take a breath?

Trumpeting White-faced Ibis by Jess Morton Photo by Jess Morton 6 April/May 2020

plastic bags in 2008 have been mountain range covering Asante Sana passed. As a result, there is parts of Rwanda, Uganda and By Evi Meyer no trash lining the roadsides, the Democratic Republic of the making Rwanda one of the Congo. It is here where over nyone who has seen the cleanest countries to which I 60% of all mountain gorillas Lion King movie or been have travelled. live. Dian Fossey made the toA sub-saharan Africa knows Rwanda is now a safe area famous when she did that “asante sana” is Swahili place to live or visit. Women her studies there. Because of for thank you very much. On a successful conservation recent trip to Rwanda to programs the population track mountain gorillas of these primates is now in the Volcanoes National steadily increasing. Park, my husband David One of the driving and I used this expres- engines of this conser- sion frequently to thank vation is the large our guides, trackers financial input of a and porters, but also to tightly controlled visi- show our gratitude to tation program. For a the people of Rwanda for pretty steep price, eight welcoming us so warmly. people can trek into the Rwanda suffered a mountains with trackers, horrendous genocide in guides and porters to 1994. In the “100 days spend one hour observing of slaughter” almost one a family of gorillas up million people – mostly close and personal. Tutsis - were killed by Depending on where Hutus. The massacre the gorillas are on a happened with dazzling given day, the trekking speed and did not stop can take anywhere from until a Tutsi rebel group a couple of hours in the launched an offensive morning to a whole day. aimed at toppling the If the gorillas stay put, Rwandan government. the experience can be Today, Rwanda is over by lunch time. If the a country re-building family of gorillas moves itself from the genocide uphill through the steep and its destruction. Roads hold over 60% of all govern- mountain forest from where and infrastructure have been ment positions and armed the trackers had originally put in place in the cities and guards patrol the cities and seen them that morning, this throughout the country. country-side to prevent any can result in a very strenuous Government support helps insurgency from neighboring all-day expedition. people plant crops and bring countries or from within. They We lucked out in that our them to market. Health emanate a sense of safety mountain gorillas named insurance for all makes rather than threat. the Amahoro Group could medical care available for But back to the gorillas. be reached that day in a one everyone. Environmental laws Volcanoes National Park hour uphill hike through a such as the ban of single use is a high elevation volcanic muddy forest. There were www.pvsb-audubon.org 7

22 gorillas in that family, Little did I know that our of golden monkeys. These with two silverbacks present. experience with the gorillas mid-size monkeys live in social When we reached them early could be matched by another groups of about 30 individuals in the morning they sat on the primate species. The following and feed largely on bamboo ground in the warming sun day we trekked back into the leaves and fruit, with an occa- munching on a breakfast of forest, not far from where we sional boost of insect protein. local plants. had been the day before to Unlike with the gorillas There was tranquility and observe the mountain gorillas. there was no tranquility at serenity that emanated from This time we were trying to find all with these creatures. They them as they were a lively slowly stripped bunch, leaping plants of their from bamboo leaves. They branches, were fully frolicking on aware of our the floor and presence, as we munching were standing incessantly on in the open not bamboo leaves more than a few and other feet from them. plants. The Their eyes were young were always on us, very playful but they seemed and inquisitive, undisturbed by often jumping us. Making eye around our feet. contact with a It was pure joy gorilla in the to observe them wild instantly while being brought up a completely sense of kinship ignored by and familiarity. them. It was an expe- Every rienced unlike nature trip I any other I have take always had. includes some While the silverback we golden monkeys, an old world avian creatures as well, and saw stayed put eating for most species endemic to the high Rwanda certainly has a long of the time we were there, altitude forest of Volcanoes list of interesting birds. After mothers moved past us with National Park. Due to habitat our primate adventures at their babies stretched out loss this species is listed on the Volcanoes National Park we on their backs or carried on IUCN red list. There are only headed to Akagera National their chest. Youngsters played about 3000 of these monkeys Park at the north-eastern running games with each other left in the world. corner of Rwanda for a safari and performed play fights Within 45 minutes our of fur and feathers. I would right in front of us. It was a trackers hit a home run again. like to highlight just a couple marvelous hour of observation They led us through the fields of birds that resonated with and excitement. and forest to a large group me for different reasons. (Continued on page 9) 8 April/May 2020 BIRDS OF THE reported another Roadrunner Vireo, to be joined by a rare at Skyline Mobile Home Park Blue-headed Vireo in March. PENINSULA in Lomita on the same day.) These three similar vireos january/February 2020 New Year’s Day brought were once considered to belong a White-fronted Goose to to a single species, the Solitary by Vincent Lloyd Alondra Park (Chezy Yusuf); Vireo; this trio isn’t so solitary. Despite good rain from Dave Moody spotted a second Unusual fl ycatchers included storms in November and at AES Redondo Wetland on the female Vermilion December, January and Jan. 6. A male Redhead, a Flycatcher at White Point, February were dry. Total bay duck, was an unusual a continuing Pacifi c-slope rain at Madrona Marsh visitor to Madrona Marsh on Flycatcher at South Coast during these two months Feb. 8 (Dinuk Magammana). Botanic Garden (SCBG), only amounted to 0.12 inches. Dick Barth has found several and Grey Flycatchers at Temperatures were cool, Black Scoters and White- Entradero Park and High reaching a low of 36° F on winged Scoters among Ridge Park. There were February 5 at Madrona. the fl ock of Surf Scoters off several reports of California Wilmington Marina Dockweiler Beach. On Jan. Quail in Malaga Cove in is an interesting out-of- 27, Dick found an odd-looking the middle of February; this the-way area which has Surf Scoter with a white head. species, once common, is now seen some surprising birds. Once common in Palos rare in Palos Verdes, so please Most famous perhaps is the Verdes, the Loggerhead contact the author if you Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Shrike is seldom seen here happen to see them in future. (Indeed on eBird the area is these days. Jonathan Nakai Tracy Drake spotted a seldom- known by the cumbersome seen Virginia Rail at Harbor moniker “stakeoutEur- Greater Roadrunner Photo by Kim Moore Park on Jan. 20. Sara Boscoe asianTreeSparrow.” Some found a handsome male of us are using the alter- American Redstart at native name “Wilmington Polliwog Park in Manhattan Marina” to denote the area Beach on Jan. 24. Adam along Anchorage Road in Johnson found a white Wilmington.) During the oystercatcher, possibly a December Christmas Bird hybrid, at Paddleboard Cove Count, a White-tailed on Feb. 22. Kite was spotted chasing a Several winter rarities Northern Harrier there; from December lingered both of them continued into into the new decade: the January. Perhaps most Red-necked Grebe remarkable are the congre- at Cabrillo Beach, the gations of Great Blue Herons American Oystercatcher along Shore Road and the found one at Malaga Dunes at Royal Palms Beach, the Black-crowned Heron rookery on Jan. 20 that continued Solitary Sandpiper at SCBG nearby at Newmarks Yacht thru the end of February. An (thru Jan. 9), the Tropical Centre. On February 1st, old friend of the birds, Martin Kingbirds at Entradero Park Kim Moore found a Greater Byhower, visited recently and and Harbor Park, the Brown- Roadrunner in a tree in found a Plumbeous Vireo crested Flycatcher at SCBG, the same area. (By an odd at Harbor Park on Jan. 22, the resident Ash-throated coincidence, Adam Johnson joining a continuing Cassin’s Flycatcher at Madrona www.pvsb-audubon.org 9

(Asante Sana continued from page 7) roam around the savanna. First was the Yellow- They were where they were throated Longclaw (right), meant to be. a common insect-eating and For many people, Rwanda ground-nesting species of might not be on top of the list the dry African savanna. of sub-saharan countries to The hind claw of this bird visit for safaris. Not too long is exceedingly long. Little ago it was a dangerous place is known about the reason to visit. Now, it is a safe and for this long claw, but some forward-looking country trea- believe that it helps the suring its assets in wildlife, bird walk and balance in and welcoming all people the savanna. What was so who would like to experience striking to me was the simi- it. Endemism is prevalent in larities of this bird with our the high elevation volcanic meadowlark, a bird species regions in the north-western of the new world prairies part of the country. But the and grasslands. Perhaps lower elevations have a lot to convergent evolution was offer in large mammals and at play here with coloration crane I so admired as a child birds as well. In addition, and body shape of these two with its bristly golden crown, there is much one can learn unrelated birds. bare white cheek and bright from the history and culture The second bird that red eye brow and wattle. Of of a people of survivors. No struck me was the Grey course the Grey Crowned matter what visitors bring Crowned Crane. Apart from Cranes of my childhood were and how long they stay, the being a gorgeous animal it always in enclosures at the locals will always welcome also brought back childhood zoo. There was something them with a heartfelt “asante memories of many visits to very liberating about fi nally sana”. It is a good one to put the zoo of my home town. seeing these birds out in on the bucket list. This is the grey and white their natural habitat, free to (photos by Evi Meyer)

Marsh, and the Brown migrants; Bob Diebold Creeper at Wilderness Park. spotted the fi rst this Continuing sparrows included year on Feb. 10 at the outstanding Harris’s South Coast Botanical Sparrow in Rolling Hills and Garden. the Clay-colored Sparrow The author seeks at Madrona Marsh. Jonathan reports from readers spotted an unusual Yellow- about unusual birds billed White-crowned you see in our area Sparrow (Z. pugetensis or (the area west of the Nutalli) at Madrona Marsh on Los Angeles River and Feb. 2. south of I-105.) Send Rufous Hummingbirds reports to stephenvin- are among the earliest spring [email protected]. White-crowned Sparrow Photo by Jonathan Nakai 10 April/May 2020

Meet, Learn, Restore, Enjoy Sunday, April 12, 7a.m.: Fieldtrip to Bear Divide at Angeles National Forest with Eric and Ann Brooks. For Chapter Calendar details, e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688. Events Sunday, April 12, 8 a.m.: Bird walk at South Coast Botanic Garden. Audubon leader David Quadhamer Saturday, April 4, PV/South Bay Audubon board meeting will lead this walk through the garden, located at 26300 at 9. All Audubon members and friends are welcome. Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes. There is a nominal fee for E-mail [email protected] for location. nonmembers of the SCBG Foundation.

Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m.: Audubon Third Tuesday Tuesday, April 14, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See Get-Togethers. Our speakers for the night will be Ann April 7 for details. and Eric Brooks, presenting a program called “Railroad Birding Road Trip”. Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m.: Fieldtrip to Kenneth Hahn Park with Eric and Ann Brooks and LA Audubon. For Tuesday, May 19, 7 p.m.: Audubon Third Tuesday details, e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688. Get-Togethers. Our speakers for the night will be Diane and Bernardo Alps, presenting a program called Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.: Los Serenos de Point Vicente “Anartica Expedition”. Whale of Day (at PVIC). Fun, food, entertainment, education. On the grounds of PVIC. Bring the family and Activity cancellation alert! friends. For details, visit www.losserenos.com/pvic.htm. Check website for meeting and trip status Sunday, April 19, 8 a.m.: Bird walk at Ballona Wetlands with Bob Shanman. For details, visit www.wbu.com/ Field Trips redondobeach. Wednesday, April 1: Birding with Bob. Bob Shanman Sunday, April 19, daylight hours: Spring butterfly count leads bird walks to different destinations every first in the Palos Verdes - South Bay region. Contact Vincent Wednesday of the month. For details, visit www.wbu. Lloyd at [email protected] to take part. com/redondobeach and check Birding with Bob. Sunday, April 19, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Bird Walk through Sunday, April 5, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Bird Walk through Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. See April 5 for details. Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. Join Audubon leaders to explore the newly restored KMHRP and witness the Sunday, April 19, 8 a.m.: Fieldtrip to Prado Regional birds return to this sanctuary in the middle of our metro- Park in Chino with Eric and Ann Brooks. For details, politan area. Meet in the parking lot closest to Anaheim e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688. and Vermont. Tuesday, April 21, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See Tuesday, April 7, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” Join April 7 for details. Audubon leader Tommye Hite and friends on a ramble Saturday, April 25, 8:30-10:30 a.m.: Bird Walk at Madrona around a great local birding area. Meet at Madrona Marsh with Audubon leader Dinuk Magammana. Meet Marsh Nature Center. at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center. Tuesday-Wednesday, April 7-8, 8:30 a.m.: Midweek Field trip “Birds and Blooms” to Carizzo Plain with Eric and Sunday, April 26, 8 a.m.: Fieldtrip to Starr Ranch with Ann Brooks. For details, e-mail [email protected] or call Eric and Ann Brooks and LA Audubon. For details, 323-295-6688. e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688.

Wednesday, April 8, 8 a.m.: Bird Walk at Madrona Tuesday, April 28, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See Marsh with Audubon leader Bob Shanman. Meet at the April 7 for details. Madrona Marsh Nature Center. Friday-Sunday, May 1-3, 12:30 p.m.: Fieldtrip to Big Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.: PVPLC Natural History Walk Morongo Canyon Preserve, Whitewater Preserve, North to Forrestal Reserve. Appreciate some of the best wild- end of Salton Sea with Eric and Ann Brooks. For details, flower viewing and dramatic geological formations. Easy e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688. to moderate. For details, visit www.pvplc.org. Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.: Los Serenos de Point Vicente Natural History Walk to George F Canyon Nature www.pvsb-audubon.org 11

Preserve. Level: easy. For details, visit www.losserenos. com/pvic.htm. The Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society, of which PV/SB Audubon is the local chapter, are dedicated to the understanding Sunday, May 3, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Bird Walk through Ken and preservation of our natural heritage. Within the Malloy Harbor Regional Park. See April 5 for details. framework of National Audubon Society policies, we seek and implement ways to preserve indigenous flora Tuesday, May 5, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See April and fauna, especially that of our local area, and provide 7 for details. educational services to the region's communities with respect to birds, wildlife, ecology and conservation. Wednesday, May 6: Birding with Bob. Bob Shanman Executive Officers leads bird walks to different destinations every first Wednesday of the month. For details, visit www.wbu. President: David Quadhamer, 310 833-3095 com/redondobeach and check Birding with Bob. Vice-Pres.: Ann Dalkey Treasurer: Jess Morton, [email protected] Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.: PVPLC Natural History Walk to Alta Vicente Reserve. Moderate to strenuous. For Secretary: Vincent Lloyd, [email protected] details, visit www.pvplc.org. Directors: Paul Blieden, Tracy Drake,

Sunday, May 10, 8 a.m.: Bird walk at South Coast Botanic Committees: Garden. See April 12 for details. Calendar: Evi Meyer, [email protected] Sunday, May 10, 8 a.m.: Fieldtrip to Huntington Beach Christmas Bird Count and Central and Bolsa Chica with Eric and Ann Brooks. For Field Trips: Ann and Eric Brooks, [email protected] details, e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688 Hospitality: Alene Gardner, Tuesday, May 12, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See [email protected] April 7 for details. Hummin’: Jess Morton, [email protected] Wednesday, May 13, 8 a.m.: Bird Walk at Madrona Mailing List: Bob Shanman, [email protected] Marsh. See April 8 for details. Programs: Paul Blieden, [email protected] Bob Carr, Candy Groat Sunday, May 17, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Bird Walk through Snowy Plover Tommye Hite [email protected] Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. See April 5 for details. Webmaster: Paul Blieden, [email protected] Sunday, May 17, 8 a.m.: Bird walk at Ballona Wetlands YES: David Quadhamer with Bob Shanman. For details, visit www.wbu.com/ [email protected] redondobeach.

Tuesday, May 19, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See Photos by the author unless stated otherwise. April 7 for details.

Saturday, May 23, 8:30-10:30 a.m.: Bird Walk at Madrona Chapter Support Marsh with Audubon leader Dinuk Magammana. See April 25 for details. Name______Tuesday, May 26, 8:30 a.m.: “Tour de Torrance.” See Address______April 7 for details. City/State/Zip______Saturday, May 30, 12:30 p.m.: Los Serenos de Point Phone______Vicente Natural History Walk to Ocean Trails Reserve. For details, visit www.losserenos.com/pvic.htm. E-mail______Saturday-Sunday May 30-31, 8 a.m.: Fieldtrip to Big Bear with Eric and Ann Brooks. For details, e-mail [email protected] or call 323-295-6688. Your donation is tax-deductible $______

NOTE: PV/South Bay Audubon field trips are Please make checks to PV/SB Audubon and mail to: generally free, but donations are much appreciated PO Box 2582, Palos Verdes, CA 90274 to support programs of the chapter. THIRD TUESDAY PROGRAMS 7 PM AT MADRONA MARSH 3201 PLAZA DEL AMO, TORRANCE

April 21 Great Lakes Express - Spring migration birding with Ann and Eric Brooks on a three Meeting cancellation alert! week tour of the upper Midwest and Canada. Check website for current schedule May 19 Antarctica - Bernardo and Diane Alps The following programs are scheduled but take us the other way to look for birds, whales subject to emergency cancellation: and other wildlife -- south from South America.

Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society P.O. Box 2582 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274 Time-sensitive material Please deliver promptly

sprinG BUtterFLy both beginners and old pros CoUnt to help count the butterfl ies. Our regular summer count If you are interested, contact will be held Saturday, July 11. By Vincent Lloyd Vincent Lloyd at stephenvin- Every July PV Audubon [email protected]. does a butterfl y count in the Palos Verdes Christmas Bird AVIANTICS By Evi Meyer Count Circle, one of over 400 conducted annually in the U.S. and Canada under the Would anybody sponsorship of the National notice if I Butterfl y Association. Many went in? butterfl ies live only a few weeks, so butterfl y popula- tions, even more so than bird populations, can change a lot from spring to fall. For this reason, NABA encourages local groups to do spring and fall counts in addition to the July count. Consequently, this year we are going to see what we can fi nd in a Spring Count. The Spring Count is scheduled for Sunday, April 19. We need