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Birds Can Smell, After VOLUME 46 April/May 2014 Number 5 Birds Can Smell, After All GENERAL MEETINGS First United Methodist Church by Daphne Smith 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa Continued on page 2 There have been some rumors, but now April Meeting there is hard data to document that birds “Climate Change and Conservation Reliance Among California’s At-risk Birds” do indeed have a sense of smell. The latest Monday, April 21, 7:00PM issue of Audubon magazine (January-Feb- Lists of at-risk species are a common and important conservation tools. But do they go ruary 2014), features an article by Nancy far enough? Tom Gardali, ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, will discuss Averett entitled “The Sniff Test,” covering two important considerations of at-risk species lists: climate change and conservation reli- extensive research results that contradict ance. Using California birds as the example, he will discuss how at-risk lists are developed, what needs to be done to incorporate the threat of climate change, and the need to con- long-held notions to the contrary. sider ongoing management for species that are conservation reliant. He will draw from No less of an expert than John James Audu- his work on the California Bird Species of Special Concern, a climate change vulnerability bon came to a definitive conclusion in analysis, and a recent paper on conservation reliance of California birds. 1820, setting up experiments with old vul- ture carcasses to attract them by the odor. The vultures weren’t tempted, and the word May Meeting with Annual Awards and Potluck “The Laguna de Santa Rosa” was out—birds have no sense of smell. Monday, May 19, 7:00PM It seems that even vultures have their The Laguna de Santa Rosa is the largest freshwater wetland complex in Northern Cali- preferences. In 1960 Kenneth Stager, an fornia, and the receiving basin of a watershed where most of the Sonoma County’s ornithologist in Los Angeles, found that population lives. Its 14-mile channel is the largest tributary of the Russian River, and is the birds did generally show up to feed if of critical importance to the county’s water quality and flood control. It is also a unique the carcasses were less than four days old. ecosystem covering 30,000 acres of marshes, grasslands, creeks, and oak woodlands, with an amazing diversity of plants, animals and birds. He could also identify the specific scent, the same rotten egg odor as natural gas David Bannister is the Executive Director of the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. engineers use to find gas leaks. Still, Stag- Some of us older folks will remember that he also served as the Chairman of the So- noma Group of the Sierra Club during the campaign that led to the adoption of the er’s work didn’t draw much attention. Vineyard Erosion Control Ordinance. However, scientific study of bird olfac- David will give a talk on the importance of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and the special tion was beginning to attract at least a few features that make up a laguna, how to access the area by foot or by boat, and the wild- dedicated researchers in the latter part of life that thrives there. He will also have available a new birding checklist for the Laguna. the 20th century, and a variety of stud- ies led to more and more species of birds MAS Annual Potluck Dinner, with Recognition Awards and Election of Officers Madrone will host our annual potluck dinner at the monthly meeting on Monday, May found to have a distinct sense of smell. 19. For the potluck dinner, please bring a dish to share (entree, salad or dessert). We Continued on page 2 will provide drinks–sorry, no alcoholic beverages allowed at the church. To help set up before the dinner, please come at 5:30 p.m.; dinner begins at 6 pm, To receive Leaves via email in PDF format just meeting at 7:00 pm (includes annual awards and May presentation). We look forward email your request to: to seeing you! [email protected] You will get your copy faster and help save paper. MADRONE LEAVES BIRDS CAN SMELL Though not as obvious as in other animal Out and About Continued from page 1 life, it seems that many birds have tiny structures in the forebrain called olfac- Sonoma Ecology Center Hosts Spring Bernice Wenzel, a physiology professor at Wildflower Walks at Van Hoosear UCLA, gave a paper in 1965 to explain tory bulbs. A study in 1968 found such bulbs in 108 species. Recent studies in Wildflower Preserve and Sugarloaf how pigeons’ heart rate went up when Ridge State Park they were exposed to scented air. For the 2008 found that many birds use smell to next 25 years she repeated the tests, us- a smaller or larger extent in combination The public is invited to attend one of 10 ing electrodes attached to the birds’ ol- with visual and auditory clues, to en- wildflower walks taking place at the Van factory bulbs, on subjects as diverse as hance environmental adaptions such as Hoosear Wildflower Preserve or Sugarloaf “a raven, a turkey vulture, mallards, ca- attracting mates, warning against preda- Ridge State Park this spring. Wildflower naries, bobwhite quail, and black-vented tors, and increasing survival of fledglings walks are scheduled for the following dates shearwaters.” She found that she could in the nest. and times: attract two seabirds commonly found off Continuing studies, in spite of lingering Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve, the Southern California coast, northern skepticism, point to some surprising re- 10:00 AM to Noon fulmars and sooty shearwaters, by releas- sults. Our familiar little garden bird, the Saturday, March 22; Thursday, March ing odors of fish oils and bacon fat into dark-eyed junco, distinguishes among 27; Sunday, March 30; Saturday, April 5; the air. the different smells from a gland in the Thursday, April 10; Saturday, April 12. Inspired by Wenzel’s passionate con- tail base to predict better mates. In jun- The Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve viction, a young researcher named cos, “odor is probably a more reliable is known for one of the best wildflower Gabrielle Nevitt took up the cause of indicator of reproductive success than displays in Sonoma County. The 162- how birds smell. She was ridiculed at visual cues.” acre property in the foothills of Sonoma first—many of her grant applications For the full article, go to http://mag. Mountain is protected by a conservation were rejected on the basis of the linger- audubon.org/articles/birds/ . easement made possible by the Sonoma ing “birds-can’t-smell” fallacy. Nonethe- County Agricultural Preservation and less, in 1991 she went on an Antarctic Open Space District and the California research ship to study how birds who • • • • • • Wildlife Conservation Board. The prop- spend most of their lives far out at sea— erty is managed under a partnership with such as petrels, albatrosses, and shear- Junior Audubon Outings the landowner and Sonoma Ecology Cen- waters—might use olfaction to locate Planned for Spring ter to protect the Preserve’s unique plants, their food in schools of krill and squid. thriving streams, and wildlife habitat. She put slicks of vegetable oil laced with Saturday, April 5, 8:00 AM to Noon There is no charge for the Van Hoosear fishy compounds into the water, and the SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK. wildflower walks. They are made possible birds swooped down on her boat. Still Parking fee ($7) for non-permit holders. by the voters of Sonoma County who Nevitt needed to figure out how, absent From Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa, fund the Open Space District’s work with her “stinky slicks,” the seabirds found turn east on Hoen Avenue, then left on a quarter-cent sales tax. Reservations must their prey in the open sea. Newanga Avenue, and right inside the be made by 5:00 PM on the day prior to park entrance gate; meet in the parking On her second Antarctic trip in 1992, the walk. Please note that these popular lot near the restrooms at the top of the Nevitt met up with an atmospheric walks fill to capacity on a first come-first hill. Rain cancels. Leaders: Scott Camp- chemist from NOAA who was “studying served basis every year, so early registration bell, 530 828-6115, and Gordon Beebe. dimethyl sulfide, or DMS, emitted by is encouraged! phytoplankton, microscopic plants that ––––––––––– live at the ocean’s surface.” Something Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, clicked for Nevitt. In later experiments Saturday, May 10, 10:00 AM to Noon 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM she used aerosols of DMS to attract the Junior Audubon will be meeting in the Saturday, March 29; Saturday, April 6; seabirds. Who would have thought that parking lot of Lincoln Elementary School Saturday, April 19; Saturday, May 3 krill release a scented gas when they eat to look at the rookery. Scott Campbell Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is operated by phytoplankton, enough scent to draw and Moss Henry will be leading the Team Sugarloaf, a coalition of five non- tube-nosed seabirds to their dinner on groups. Bring binoculars and Scott will profit partners led by Sonoma Ecology the open sea! have a scope there as well. Scott: 530 Center. The park includes over 3900 acres, 828-6115. Page 2 Continued on page 3 MADRONE LEAVES OUT AND ABOUT Continued from page 2 tions for the field trips are NOT required. Come with clean boots or shoes: the preserve Are you a National with a wide array of habitats and a corre- managers do not want to spread the Sudden Audubon member? sponding diversity of flowers in spring and Oak Death disease.
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