The Newsletter of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society October 1998 Milpitas Hillside Initiative Worth Fighting For ... by Craig Breon Another big selling point for the We'll meet at the Ed Levin parking SCVAS Environmental Advocate initiative is the money Milpitas will lot off Calaveras Road near the Park With Milpitas facing a save if it passes . Because of Propo­ Headquarters (parking fee required) at . new proposal to destroy sition 13 and the state's tax struc­ 8-8: 15 AM. Dave Cook and and other , h~ndreds of acres of hillside ture, residential development is al­ knowledgeable birders will help iden­ land for luxury homes and most al ways a long-term money loser tify local wildlife, so beginners and golf courses, the City Coun­ for cities; the tax revenues don't families are welcome. cil and the people seem keep pace with the rising costs of Then, later that morning, we'll poised to strike a blow against sprawl. providing services like police, fire, spend just a couple hours walking Measure Z on the November 3 ballot and schools. Suburban sprawl and neighborhoods in Milpitas, handing out will give Milpitas residents a chance to hillside development are even worse information about Measure Z. People enact a 20-year urban growth boundary. because of the terrain and distance who wish to just walk neighborhoods Since the City is bordered by other towns from existing services. So, if Mea­ with us can meet at the Ed Levin park­ on two sides and the Bay on the third, sure Z passes, existing Milpitas resi­ ing lot at 11 AM. there are only hillsides left to protect. dents will get better, cheaper city And lovely hillsides they are. Ed services than they would otherwise. ... but Alviso Master Levin County Park has become an in­ creasingly attractive destination for An Invitation Plan Must Be Stopped! birders. A good mix of habitats makes On Saturday, October 24 SCVAS A flurry of messages spread recently the park and surrounding hillsides a great will be sponsoring a bird walk in the on the South Bay bird chat e-mail cir­ place to escape the urban South Bay, and morning at Ed Levin Park followed cuit. The title said it all: "The end of it's also the home of some uncommon by walking neighborhoods in birdwatching in Alviso ." At the same species. Without the passage of Mea­ Milpitas getting out the word for time, the alternative paper for the re­ sure Z, Ed Levin will be increasingly Measure Z. You don't have to do gion-The Metro-ran a cover story surrounded by sprawl. both; join us when you can. entitled "Adios Alviso." Both the above were references to General Membership Meeting the Alviso Master Plan, a blueprint for Wednesday October 21 · environmental destruction for one of "Birding Ecuador the few places in San Jose that has not yet succumbed to strip mall, tract house, From the Andes to the Oriente" and industrial complex uniformity . with Jim Danzenbaker If I were to try to draft a document Palo Alto Cultural Center that was more insensitive to the land, it Newell & Embarcadero Rds. would take quite an effort. Here, taken 7:30 Hospitality 8:00 Program from page 23 5 of the plan's Draft En- Join us tonight as Jim presents a slide show covering a typical birding trip to continued on Page 6 Ecuador, one of the crown jewels of the neotropics. A variety of habitats will be covered, including lowland Amazonian rainforest, eastern slope of the Andes to 13,000 feet, and elevations in between . During the presentation Jim will provide Field Notes------Page4 information on each unique habitat, special birds, and the logistics, climate, lodging, insects, etc. of an Ecuadorian birding adventure. "Warbler/and" Pt. II Jim Danzenbaker is an experienced Bay Area birder whose passion for neotropical -----Page5 birding has led him to Central and South America 20 times in the past 18 years, Salton Sea Adventure including five visits to Ecuador. Tonight's program should provide us with an -----Page7 exciting glimpse into the dazzling world of neotropical birdlife---don 't miss it!

The Avocet 1 VIEW FROM THE OFFICE by Garth Hanvood, SCVAS ChapterManager

a success: "It's always hard to lose IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME of birds, though we realize some loss is year here at the Audubon office. inevitable. Wish we knew the causes McClellan Park is deceptively quiet, of these losses so we could help and the only thing going on most prevent them. We found ourselves afternoons seems to be the thistles fantasizing about having cameras on some boxes all baking silently in the shimmering air. the time to help explain disappearances and dead But walk out among them, and they birds. come alive with the scurryings of Western "We were surprised when Violet-green Swallow Fence Lizards, owl food (a.ka. rodents). and various parents used a few cigarette butts and a Kleenex in furtive birds such as Song Sparrows and Bewick's their nest (this nest fledged 4!). For next season, we Wrens. A few more steps, and a cloud of several plan to move boxes that were unsuccessful in both hundred House Finches lifts from the mild-thistle heads 1997 and '98. And if possible we'd like to try boxes for where they've been feasting on plump new seeds (in chickadees and titmice as well as kestrels. We re­ case you wondered why the crowd at your feeder thins cently observed four Western Bluebirds in our neigh­ out at this time of year!) borhood "park" (a field with a few trees). This is a first! And something special is beginning to happen in We'd like to try two or three boxes there. Maybe and above the creekside trees: ever so silently, a river hanging ones would be best since cats, raccoons, of birds is starting to mirror that of water below , flowing squirrels, and possibly certain humans could be a ever southwards . For a month or so, we ordinary mortals entrenched in our suburbs might see any threat. We look forward to next season." number of birds not otherwise seen here: Western Tanagers, Yellow Warblers, unusual flycatchers ... RETURN OF THE BLACK RAIL PATROL: Every year, even raptors from far afield. The season's singing there are a precious few tides high enough to push the _ct_one,_mQs_t migrants willp_assJ.hrough u11.Se__e_n._and seldom-seen Black Rail into view for a few seconds many of those observed will present odd and difficult along the shores of the Bay. Those in the know consult variations on their typical plumages, due to the molting their tide tables and dash to the parking lot of the Lucy process and the prevalence of juvenile birds. Evans Baylands Interpretive Center in Palo Alto, staking out a spot at the curb in the northeast corner of BLUEBIRD RECOVERY PROGRAM UPDATE: I the lot. suspect it's due to the fact that we had a rougher trail to It is difficult to overstate just how specific the tread this season, but whatever the reason, we have location and timing of the effort need to be for a suc­ yet to hear back from all of our bluebird trail monitors . cessful sighting. Moreover, it can be difficult to believe By next issue, however, we'll be able to provide a how close these shy wetland birds will come to their complete report. The story to date? A lot of losses on admirers during these events. The one time I joined the nest, with some trails reporting nearly 50% mortality the throng, I was gazing steadfastly out across the during the sustained and unseasonable cold rains marshlands in my best Kenn Kaufman pose, when through the heart of the nesting cycle. And it's not just someone gasped, "There it is!" and pointed down---into us; the California Bluebird Recovery Program reports a the scruffy plants about three feet from my toes! similar pattern statewide. But despite everything, I And it's that very combination of factors that puts can't wait to see our final numbers. Last October, we the Black Rails into jeopardy each season. Unwitting reported a total of 229 birds fledged from 66 boxes. fans may trample the few plants providing cover for the This year, for just one example, Board member and all­ birds during this very stressful event, or flush them out around sparkplug Dave Cook has 130 birds to report of cover and into the teeth of opportunistic predators. from his trail at Grant Ranch County Park! With Accordingly, Palo Alto city naturalist Deborah Bartens another fifteen trails or so to hear from, I expect our has asked us to help by monitoring the highest tides final numbers to show ample improvement over last this fall and providing "advice" to any overzealous year, reflecting the steadfast efforts of nearly 40 observers in need of it. volunteers. To volunteer, please call Deborah at (650) 329- Volunteer Mary Beth Arago, summing up her 2383 . Volunteers are needed sporadically (according season of monitoring bh4ebird boxes at the Stanford to the cycles of the tides) between the beginning of Dish area with her husband Michael Arago, shows the November and the end of January. kind of determination that has made this program such

The Avocet 2 October 1998 Calendar On al/field trips carpool and share Tuesday Oct. 13, 9:30 AM. The Eve parking lot at Sausal Pond. From I-280 in expenses. Bring binoculars, field Case Bird Discussion Group will meet at Portola Valley take Alpine Rd.south (to­ guides, warm clothing, lunch (optional the home of Pat and Jean Dubois, 17150 ward hills). Go 2.9 miles to Portola Rd (1st on half-day trips) and liquids. Buena Vista Ave. Los Gatos (408)395- STOP sign), turn right and go 0.8 mi."to **Denotes Field Trip 4264. Topic: Canada Goose. parking lot on left just past The Sequoias. Lunch optional. **SaturdayOct.3,9:00AM. Fullday. **WednesdayOct.14,9:00AM. Moss Hawk Hill/MarinHeadlands. Leader: Nick Landing/Elkhorn Slough. Leaders: Gail Tuesday Nov. 10, 9:30 AM. The Eve Yatsko (408)247-5499. MeetatPage Mill Cheeseman (408)741-5330 and Harriet Case Bird Discussion Group will meet at Rd/Hwy 280 Park'n'Ride at 8:00 AM for Gerson (408)252-6244. MeetatJettyRd. the home of Pat and Jean Dubois, 17150 carpooling. Migrating raptors (chance of and Hwy 1 just north of Moss Landing. Buena VistaAve,LosGatos408/395-4264. rare Broad-winged Hawk). Highlights: gulls, grebes, terns, ducks Topic: Brown pelican. shorebirds, raptors. Lunch optional. **Sunday Oct. 4, 8:30 AM. Half day. **WednesdayNov.11,9:00AM. Half Phipps Ranch, Pescadero. Leader: Garth **Saturday Oct. 17, 8:00 AM. Full day. Campbell Percolation Ponds/Los Harwood (408)252-3747. Bird one of the day. Monterey Peninsula. Leader: Kathy Gatos Creek. Leader: John Arnold 650/ San Mateo coast's best migrant and va­ Parker(408)358-2832.. TakePacificGrove 948-4250. From I-280 take Winchester grant traps with our Chapter Manager. Del MonteAve.exitfromHwy l; after 1.7 Blvd exit, then east on Hacienda, left on Take Hwy 84 oror92 west to Hwy 1, then mi. on Del Monte turnrightatFigueroaSt. Del and right into park entrance. Entrance south to Pescadero Rd. Turn left and into parking lot.and meet at base of Mu­ fee. Easy2-mile walk. Heavy rain cancels. follow road through town of Pescadero to nicipal Wharf. Bring quarters for parking, Phipps Ranch approx. 1 mile east of town lunch, full gas tank. **Wednesday Nov.18,9:00AM. Half on right. day. Pescadero Marsh and vicinity.Leader: **SundayOct.18,8:00AM. Half day. Sue James 650/348-0315. Meet at first Wednesday Oct. 7, 7:30 PM. Bay Alum Rock Park. Leader: Dave Cook parking lot south of bridge over Pescadero Area Bird Photographers. Lee Hung will (408)871-9552. From Hwy 101 or I-680 Creek on Hwy I. Shorebirds, gulls, grebes, present a slide program on the birds of take Alum Rock Ave northeast toward terns, ducks. Lunch optional; heavy rain Japan featuring the work of her husband, hills and into park. Tum left just after cancels. photographer Mike Danzenbaker. Lucy entrance booth and before bridge; meet in Evans Baylands Interpretive Center, E. lower parking lot. (Note meeting area is **New Beginner's Feature! Start­ Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto. different than traditional upper parking lot ing November 7, a special bird walk due to last year's storm damage.) designed to meet the needs of begin­ **Saturday Oct. 10, 8:30 AM. Half ning birders will be offerred by our day. Coyote Hills Regional Park. Leader: **Saturday Oct. 24, 8:00 AM. Half Chapter Manager on the first Satur­ Frank Vanslager (408)257-3647. Take day. Princeton Harbor. Leader: Mark day of every month from 10AM to Hwy 84 (Dumbarton Bridge) east to New­ Miller (650)967-3429. Meet at comer of 12 at McClellan Ranch Park. ark. Exit right at Thornton, then go left WestPointand Stanford A vein Princeton, Loaner binoculars will be available, over freeway as Thornton becomes Paseo 4 miles north of Half Moon Bay on Hwy I. and families are welcome! In addi­ Padre. Tum left at Patterson Ranch/Com­ Highlights: Waterbirds, coastal migrants, tion to seeking out the many birds to merce Rd into park. Meet at far end of possible vagrants. be found at the park, this free session Quarry parking lot on left, 1/4 mile past will include pointers on birding tech­ entrance. Raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl. **SundayOct.25,8:00AM. Half day. niques and ethics.This new monthly Park entrance fee. Ogier Ponds . Leader: Bob Reiling program is designed to welcome (408)253-7527. From Hwy 101 in Mor­ newcomers to the birding commu­ Saturday Oct. 10, 9 AM - 12. gan Hill take Cochrane Rd. west to nity in an unintimidating atmo­ Beginning bird class at McClellan Ranch Monterey Hwy, tum right, go north 2.6 mi. sphere. Park, Cupertino. SCVAS volunteer Sandy and turn right towards the Model Airplane Cortright will teach 3-hr. class. Call the Park. Follow road to gravel parking lot at officeat408/252-3747 to sign up. $20 fee. bend in road. Great variety of riparian, fresh-water marsh birds. **SundayOct.11,8:00AM. Half day. Charleston Slough. Leader: Ann Verdi **WednesdayOct.28,9 :00AM. Half (408)266-5108. Meet at Terminal Way at day. Bottom of Windy Hill OSP. Leader: end of San Antonio Rd north off Hwy 101. Al Huber (650)493-6854. Meet at new The Avocet 3 Aug (NL) and five birds were seen in the MarshinAlvisoon 18Aug(FBfideRWR) Field Notes Palo Alto estuary on 24 Aug (MMR). A and is our earliest record for this rare migrant. Allofourrecordsareoffallbirds, by Bill Bousman juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was found at the San Jose-Santa Clara WPCP most occurring in September or October. Grebes through Raptors ponds 3-5 Aug (SCR, NL) and another Three Elegant Terns, including a juve­ Of 38 Aechmophorus grebes on juvenile was along Artesian Slough on 22 nile, were seen at the Stevens Creek mouth Calaveras Reservoir on 13 Aug, 25 were Aug (MJM). One to two Baird's Sand­ on 8 Aug (NL). Single birds were on the Western Grebes and three of the five pipers were at the San Jose-Santa Clara Sunnyvale salt ponds on 11 Aug (TR) and nesting pairs there were also identified as WPCP drying ponds 1-9 Aug (TGr, DW, 14 Aug (VT). Staging Least Terns con­ this species (SCR). A single adult Little NL, MJM) . An adult PectoralSandpiper tinued to be found in the vicinity of Charles­ Blue Heron was seen again on Salt Po!id was at the Coyote Creek Riparian Station ton Slough including 15 there on 8 Aug A9 in Alviso on 21 Aug (MMR). An (CCRS) waterbird pond on 15 Aug (NL); (NL) and 14 on 11 Aug (TGr). Birds were immature Cattle Egret was found along juveniles are more common, but peak in also found on the Sunnyvale salt ponds Adobe Creek in the Palo Alto Flood Con­ late September and early October. There with 5-10 there from 16-22 Aug (NL). trol Basin (FCB) on 20 Aug (PMB, CB) are early signs of another unusual fall for Black Terns are less often found locally and nearby on Salt Pond Al on 28 Aug Stilt Sandpipers. An adult was found at on their fall migration so one at the New (PMB). Two adult White-facedIbis were the Calabazas Ponds on 16 Aug (SCR, Chicago Marsh on 19 Aug (MMR) is note­ foundinCrittendenMarshon6Aug(RWR, MJM) and remained there at least through worthy. TwoBlackSkimmersonCharles­ FV) and at least one bird remained there 26 Aug (v.ob.) . Two juveniles were found ton Slough on 6 Aug (VT) were the only through 23 Aug (m.ob.). An immature was in the ponds near Spreckles and State in ones noted. found at Salt Pond A9 on 21 Aug (MMR) to add to the count. An .,.::.:. :.:j ./:\\{t:{::, Flycatchersthrough Blackbirds ••••••• ••❖ =··················· Osprey was seen a number of times A Willow Flycatcher was seen over Uvas Creek at Gilroy on 2-12 along Coyote Creek on 23 Aug (NL) Aug (SK) and possibly another bird and three were there 27-29 Aug to was at the Ogier A venue ponds on 7 inaugurate the fall migration (NL, Aug (SCR) . The normal influx of MJM, MMR). A Northern Water­ wintering PeregrineFalcons has not thrush was found along the occurred this year with only one Au­ Guadalupe River above Montague gust record, an adult on Salt Pond A4 on 29 Aug (MMR) and was also seen in Sunnyvale on 22 Aug (MJM). An thenextday(v.ob.). Bothearlyandin adult PrairieFalcon at the San Jose­ good numbers, single migrant Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant Alviso on 26 Aug (NL) and have remained MacGillivray's Warblers were found (WPCP) drying ponds on 23 Aug (AME) through theendofthemonth (v.ob.). Com­ along Coyote Creek on 23-28 Aug (NL), was the first of the season away from.the peting with the Stilt Sandpipers were three on the Guadalupe River above Montague Diablo Range. adult female Ruffs (or Reeves). Excellent on 29 Aug (MMR), and along Stevens details from many observers on the molt of Creek at L' A venida on 30 Aug (MJM). Shorebirdsthrough Skimmers these birds allowed good guesses as to the Yellow-headedBlackbirdsaremorecom­ Of the two adult Pacific Golden-Plo­ total number. The first, found in the San mon in spring, but a few fall birds have ver found last month in the Palo Alto FCB, Jose-Santa Clara WPCP drying ponds on 1 been found in recent years. This fall's oneremainedthroughatleast 1 Aug (MJM). Aug (TGr, DW), appears to have remained record was a 1st-year male at the Arzino A "Lesser" Golden-Plover was heard there for two days and then shifted to the Ranch off Los Esteros on 27 Aug (SCR). over Shoreline Park on 16 Aug (SCR) but CCRS waterbird where she was seen was not identified to species. Although through the end of the month (m.ob.). A Observers:Caro/Belew(CB),F/orenceBennen regular, the number of Lesser Yellowlegs second female was found in the ponds at (FB). Phyllis Browning (PMB). Al Eisner found locally was down from recent years Spreckles and Grand in Alviso on 15 Aug (AME). Tom Grey (TGr), Sue Kruse(SK),Nick with a peak count of 12 birds on the ponds (AME, MJM, NL) and was different from le1haby (NL), Mike Mammoser (MJM), Bob Reiling (RWR), Mike Rogers (MMR), Steve near Spreckles and Grand in Alviso on 15 the first bird. This female shifted back and Ronenhorn(SCR),TomRyan(TR), VivekTiwari Aug (MJM, AME, NL). Two adults and a forth from this location to the Calabazas (VI), Frank Vans/ager (FV) and Dave Weber recently-fledged juvenile Spotted Sand­ Ponds and finally the CCRS waterbird (DW). piperat the Ogier Avenue ponds on 7 Aug pond on 23 Aug (AME). On 16 Aug two (SCR) continues the record of breeding by females were seen together on the Calabazas this locally rare sandpiper. A juvenile Ponds (SCR, MJM), including the one RARITIES: Please drop me a note: RuddyTurnstone in the Palo Alto estuary found the day before at Spreckl es and Bill Bousman, 321 Arlington Way, on 24 Aug (MMR) represents a good find Grand, and one or both birds were found Menlo Park, CA 94025, or : this far down the bay. A Red Knot was locally through 18 Aug (v.ob.). An adult bousman@merlin .arc.nasa .gov seen at the mouth of Stevens Creek on 8 Sabine's Gullwas seen near New Chicago TheAvocet 4 Adventures in Warblerland, Pt 2: North to the Bay of Fundy by Garth Harwood SCVAS Chapter Manager However, the great liberty of birding New birds encountered at Fundy in­ solo is that you can be just about as irratio­ cluded Magnolia, Black-throated Green, As related in the September Avocet, nal as you please. Accordingly, I sat down Bay-breasted, and Northern Parula War­ my one full day at Mt. Monadnock Stale and fed myself to clouds of mosquitoes, blers. Almost all of the other warblers Park in New Hampshire started slowly, blackflies, no-see-urns, and who-knows­ I'd recently encountered for the first then came to a rolling boil of new birds whats as I attempted to move nothing but time were present as well, and as I re­ seen, seemingly at every turn. The re­ my binoculars for the next 45 minutes. ported earlier, the majority of them were mainder of my visit to Mt. Monadnock This brand of foolishness seen feeding fledglings in low went equally well, if the pace of discov­ was rewarded by my vegetation at ranges com­ ery slowed somewhat. The new birds of first-ever view of monly less than IO feet. the first morning were old friends by Eastern Kingbirds, Anyone seeking my that afternoon, and I picked up a pair of Eastern Phoebes, a advice on prime east­ Pine Warblers and a showy Chestnut­ Black-and-White ern warbler-watching sided Warbler along the way. The latter Warbler, and by a can expect this tip species affinned the useful tip in the certain amount of from me: late breed­ Stokes field guide that it was more readily insect-a ss isted ing season at Fundy found along roadsides than in unbroken weight loss. Fi­ Park offers all the ex­ forest-a good thing, since I'd decided nally , at the end of citement, with a lot to walk some nearby residential streets my wait, a female less awkward craning. for precisely that reason. Pileated Wood­ There were other Aware of a certain repetitiousness pecker dropped in to birds too, and plenty of creeping into my observations , I de­ see if I had left yet. I them, although I missed cided to diversify the habitats I explored. hadn't, so she did, but the most sought-after spe­ A low valley at the bottom of the moun ­ I'd had my look at last! cialty bird of the area, Bicknell' s Thrush. tain held a number of boggy beaver I noted with pleasure the new-to-me ponds with standing drowned trees. Even Bangor Bog and Fundy National Park species Blue-headed (formerly eastern from a mile away I could hear the drum­ I'll be brief about the rest of the journey, Solitary) Vireo,AiderFlycatcher,hordes ming and calling of woodpeckers. I because more of my time was spent so­ of noisy White-winged Cross bills, and a hoped above all that my chance to see a cially , and less of it birding; also because devilish, bland-looking sparrow which Pileated Woodpecker had come at last, ma_ny of the birds I saw after New Hamp­ after considerable vexation and study as I had never found time to make the shire were becoming familiar by that time . was positively identified as the Ipswich pilgrimage to Table Mountain to see our A brief morning excursion to the nonde­ race of Savannah Sparrow. All told, I local breeding pair this season (see Bill script Bangor Bog, just outside the city of now have plenty of fine memories to Bousman's September Field Notes for that name in central Maine, is worthy of mull over this winter, and a better chance details). note because it was the only location where at identifying any eastern vagrants that There were, I could tell by the sounds, I found Palm and Canada Warblers, and come flitting through my lenses locally . at least two or three different wood peck~ because I think any place one finds a Scar­ ers at work in the bog. Most of these, it let Tanager is worth remembering. It may It's Your Turn! turned out, were well-known friends also be the Common Yellowthroat capital I've written this account as a travel­ from home. However, as I approached of the universe. ogue, but without the usual names, con­ to within 50 feet, I could see a rain of As to the Bay of Fundy, I had somehow tact numbers, accommodations infor­ impressive chunks dropping from a forgotten that this is the place of the legend­ mation, etc. That's because I got my punky snag-a display of power and ary 50-foot tides. As you can imagine, that information from the books in our li­ appetite that could only mean "Pileated provides quite a spectacle, twice a day. brary, where it is available to you, too. at Work" . But I couldn't see the bird, However, despite miles of mudflats, once Remember, your Audubon membership and I couldn 'tapproach through the stiff again there was virtually no seabird or entitles you to check out books from our brush without giving myself away . I shorebird activity; and all the excitement library for up to three weeks. We have tried my best, but when I reached the was inland (well, OK, the Common Eiders a very good travel section with field water the bird had, of course, vanished . just offshore at low tide-that is, half a guides and site guides for most parts of Only a series of distinctivtly squarish mile acro ss the mud from the "beach "- · the world, and I love to see our books excavations were left to confirm the were pretty nifty). travel. Come on in and have a look depth of my disappointment. before your next trip. TheAvocet 5 Something To Work Against --­ The Alviso Master Plan continued from Page 1 • Storm water and sewage increases Dist 6, Frank Fiscalini-277-5166; vironmental Impact Report, is a list of the in an area with "aging and undersized" Dist 7, George Shirakawa-277-5226; "significant, unavoidable , unmitigated utility lines Dist 8, Alice Woody-277-5242; impacts" related to the Master Plan: • Growth inducement Dist 9, John Di Quisto--277-5275; • Loss of agricultural lands How's them apples! Even in San Dist 10, Pat Dando--277-5251; • Incompatible land uses near an es­ Jose-where we have come to expect a Mayor Susan Hammer-277-4237. tablished recreational area (the National City Council that caters to industry and In particular, Councilwoman Margie Wildlife Refuge) developers at the expense of nature and Fernandez deserves blame for this. She • Incompatibility between the natu­ established communities-I have never has presided over the Milpitas Master ral resources of the Baylands and future seen a large-scale development plan with Plan Task Force for years and has al­ development more potential for harm. lowed this plan to come forward without • Impacts from storm water drainage I should mention that there are other input from the environmental commu­ in excess of stormwater collection and impacts, such as increased flooding po­ nity despite the rich natural resources of disposal capacity tential or building near noxious landfill the area. To her credit, Margie has • Water quality degradation in New odors, that the document does not well devoted considerable time to the prob­ Chicago Marsh (home to endangered point out. lems of Alviso-a traditionally species) underserved community-and this has • Geologic, soil, and seismic impacts Tell the City Council resulted in some positive changes in the from building on landfill (illegally filled How You Feel area. That does not excuse her insensi­ wetlands now zoned for development) tivity to the environment embodied in What to do? We need you. If you 're • Significant loss of agricultural and this Master Plan. a birder, if you care about the National grasslands habitat in North San Jose Write a brief note to Mayor Susan Wildlife Refuge, if you're tired of traf­ • Impacts to wetland, aquatic, and Hammer and San Jose City Council fic, if you 're tired of the [un]affordable diked salt marsh habitats Members, 801 North First Street, San housing assault on lower and middle • Death of Salt Marsh Harvest Mice Jose, CA, 95110. Just mention a few of income workers, if you're tired of City · and/or Burrowing Owls the above list of impacts and tell them Council members wearing a silicon blind­ • Public health and safety impacts they could, and should, do better. Even fold chanting "jobs,jobs,jobs," we need from storage and handling of acutely a letter of a few sentences, from the you. hazardous materials on land "particu­ heart, will help. There are ways to de­ Start by calling a San Jose City Coun­ larly susceptible" to strong earthquake velop portions of Alviso that would be cil member, the day you read this article. impacts. sensitive to the land and the people who If you live in their district, all the better. • Significant visual impacts from live there. Even if you don't, please call; this is a development Write a brief letter (500 words or regional issue, and they should hear from • Impacts to habitats in and adjacent less) totheSanJoseMercuryNews. Your all sectors of the County. We've listed to New Chicago Marsh from lighting and words can reach thousands of people their numbers here for your convenience. glare who may feel like you. San Jose City Council: • Traffic congestion Call me at 408-252-3748 and ask District 1, Trixie Johnson-277-5438; • Noise impacts from pile driving what more you can do. We may want to Dist 2, Charlotte Powers-277-4282; • Potential releases of toxic air con­ walk neighborhoods, get petitions signed, Dist 3, David Pandori-277-5231; taminants and go to public meetings. Dist 4, Margie Fernandez-277-5320; • Regionally significant air quality Dist 5, Manny Diaz-277-5157; impacts from development

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TheAvocet 6 Salton Sea Adventure Field Trip Report--­ I finally made my first grounds, including Common Ground­ trip to the Salton Sea during Doves, White-winged Doves, three Ogier Ponds the first week of August. I Greater Roadrunners snatching up grass­ A recent weather front added sev­ was going to the Southern hoppers, and a Crissal Thrasher perched eral species to the list of birds seen on California deserts anyway to on a fence post. Not a bad beginning, but the first Wednesday SCV AS field trip visit my newest grandchild, Amanda, the temperatures were above 115 degrees! of the fall, Sept. 9 to the Ogier Ponds. born the end of July in Barstow, so I So on to Salton Sea the next morning. 48 species were seen which was up decided as long as I was going for the I spent most of my time along the south from the 37 seen by Frank Vanslager desert heat, I might as well bite the bullet shore around the Red Hill Marina, Salton and I on the day before. and try the Salton Sea. Sea National Wildlife Refuge, and farm Near the entrance to the ponds were I stayed overnight in Indio and found and levee dirt roads. The hot temperature four Wood Ducks. (Several Wood Duck some interesting birds right on the motel and high humidity were stifling, but the flocks were seen flying along the creek area was literally teeming with birdlife--­ during the morning, one with 8-10 <> <> <> <> <> <> hundreds of egrets, cormorants, pelicans, birds.) A few Gadwall joined the Mal­ Almaden IBM and Explorers gulls, terns, and shorebirds. My prime lards, American Coots, Double-crested Team Up for the Birds reason for visiting the Salton Sea at this Cormorants and a single Ring-billed Long-time SCVAS member Charles inhospitable time of year was to try to find Gull in the pond on the north side of the Wade reports that birdhouse assembling some southern species that often migrate entrance road. A single Ruddy Duck in parties at Charles and Kim Wade's house her during mid-summer, and I was not the ponds to the southeast completed in Los Gatos have resulted in the recent disappointed . Yellow-footed Gulls were the short list of ducks seen. donation of7 kestrel nestboxes, 24 blue­ foraging throughout the area; Wood Storks As we started walking •south, after bird houses, and 15 swallow houses to perched on dead trees by the water's edge; ticking off a few common species, one theSCV AS Bluebird Recovery Program. and I watched an immature Magnificent of our sharp-eyed birders found a Sora The volunteers from the IBM Almaden Frigatebird fly over. In one shallow pond rail walking along the reeds on the far, Research Center in San Jose included I found many terns, including Caspian, west side of the "South Pond". This scouts from Scouts Explorer Post 2100 Forster's, Black, and Gull-billed, as well bird and a second, closer Sora were (Cathy Balkon, Arthur Runyan, Neal as Black Skimmers, Wilson's Phalaropes, well seen by all. A Green Heron was Vora, Brian Armstrong, Nita Jenne, and an Osprey. In a nearby farm field I also visible on the west side of this Danielle Carlson, Jennifer Dutra and the saw many White-faced Ibis, Cattle Egrets, pond and a nice Red-shouldered Hawk post leader Charlie Balkon) and summer Black-necked Stilts, and Long-billed Cur­ was perched on a tree nearby. A sur­ interns working at IBM including Derek lews. prise to me were three Least Sandpipers Shon (Harvey Mudd College), Kane Jen These were my highlights. I wanted to feeding among the rocks where a branch (University of Texas, Drew Pomerantz spend more time exploring the area, but of Coyote Creek flowed into the south (Yale), Mike Scarpulla (Brown), Renee by mid day the oppressive heat was begin­ pond. Another branch of the creek Heuss (Viterbo College), and Charlie ning to get to me, so rather than risk heat nearby had two Willow Flycatchers Dalby (Vassar). Andy Kellock and Laura exhaustion, I opted to cut my birding short feeding from twigs leaning over the Mappin helped direct the many drills, and head back to Barstow. I only skimmed creek and just upstream was our only glue guns, and power drivers. A hearty the surface of this exciting birding habitat Spotted Sandpiper of the day. Two thanks to all. and would like to revisit the Salton Sea, Greater Yellow legs were later seen and but perhaps at not such an intensely hot heard flying into the creek. time. -----Ann Verdi The biggest miss of the day was a SPACE STILL 1998 CBC's small, low-flying egret seen around 8:00 AM that was identified as an immature AVAILABLE When Ann Verdi is not birding in exotic Snowy Egret but which was observed IN BIRDING CLASS parts of the state, she's taking care of bird by another birder to have a yellow bill­ The single-session, three-hour business here in Santa Clara County. She --a possible Cattle Egret? At the end of birding class to be taught by wants to remind all local birders that our the trip about half of the birders went to Sandy Cortright on Saturday, San Jose Christmas Bird Count will take the park below Anderson Reservoir to Oct. 10 still has plenty of room at place on Sunday, December20---get your have lunch and talk about all those neat press time. Call the office at shopping done early so you can spend that things we did over the summer. day counting birds! (408) 257-3747 for details, or ----Bob Reiling send a $20 check to reserve your Garth Harwood reports that the Palo spot today. Alto CBC will be held the following day, Monday, December 21st. Both counts are always in need of additional volunteers, so mark your calendar and invite a friend! TheAvocet 7 Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Non-Profit Organization 22221 McClellan Road U.S. Postage Paid Cupertino, CA 95014 San Jose , CA Permit No. 5869

**AUT0**************J-D~S ~40 MR. ALAN M. CISNER 3538 FARMHILL BLVD APT 4 REDWOOD CITY CA 94061-1247

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OFFICERS CHAIRPERSONS GENERAL MEETINGS are held on the President Avocet third Wednesday of each month except David McIntyre 650/856 -6671 Editor: Grant Hoyt 650/969- 7892 July, August and December and are open to Past Pres. Graphics: Bonnie Bedford-White the public. Nick Yatsko 408/24 7-5499 408/261 -8210 BOARD OF DIRECTORS meetings are 1st VP Education open to all members. Call the office at (408) (Vacant) Bobbie Handen 408/356-4263 252-3747 for times and directions. 2nd VP Environmental Action Mary Simpson 408/370-2177 (Vacant) Treasurer RAREBIRD ALERT: (415)681-7422 Douglas McLendon 408/288-9254 Field Trips: Weekend Dave Cook 408/871-9552 SCV AS welcomes gifts, including those made Secretary in honor of or in memory of friends or rela­ Ann Verdi 408/266-5108 Field Trips: Weekday tives. Such gifts will be used at SCV AS' Shirley Gordon 408/996-9863 discretion for its programs and activities un­ BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rosalie Lefkowitz 650/494-6358 less specified otherwise by the donor. Tax­ Finance deductible donations may be made in the form Dave Cook '98 -'01 408/871-9552 Don Price 650/327-1254 of a check made out to SCV AS and sent to our Charles Preuss '98- '01 650/326 -6451 Membership Cupertino address. In addition, we gratefully Bobbie Handen '96 -'99 408/356 -4263 accept bequests, which should specifically Debbie Thompson 408/227-4604 Grant Hoyt '96- '99 650/969 -7892 identify Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Leda Beth Gray '96-'99 650/424-8573 Library as recipient. Gifts and bequests will be recog­ Debbie Thompson '97-'00 408/227-4604 Joyce Chang 650/965-9682 nized by the Chapter in The A vocet unless the David Drake '97-'00 650/424 -8575 PhotoClub donor prefers otherwise. Pete LaTourrette 650/961-2741 Programs The Avocet is published monthly (except for STAFF July and August) by the Santa Clara Valley Cindy Handen 650/363 -9324 Chapter Manager Audubon Society, 22221 McClellan Rd., Garth Harwood 408/252-3747 Christmas Bird Count Cupertino, CA 95014. Deadline is the 25th of Ann Verdi 408/266-5108 two months prior. Send contributions to The Environmental Advocate Kathy Parker 408/358-2832 Avocet, c/o SCV AS at the above address. Craig Breon 408/252-3748 Bay Area Audubon Council SCVAS isthechapteroftheNationalAudubon Society for Santa Clara County . Office Fax 408/252-2850 Delegate E-mail scvas.scvas.org Leda Beth Gray 650/424-8573 1998, Volume 45, Number 8 Website www .scvas.org

We invite you to join the National Audubon Society and its Santa Clara County Chapter (SCVAS). To join, complete and mail this form with payment to: Join us! SCVAS, 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino, CA 95014

SCVAS Membership: (Check one) 0 Subscriber$12 0 Supporter$25 0 Donor$35 0 Patron$50ormore Members receive The Avocet newsletter. Make check payable to SCVAS. or National Audubon Society Membership: (Check one) □ New Members $20 0Membershiprenewal$35 Members receive Audubon magazine and The Avocet newsletter. Make check payable to National Audubon Society.

Donation: □ SCVAS greatly NAME GIFT FROM appreciates your tax-deductible dona- ADDRESS tion. Your gift helps fund Amlubon's birding, education and conservation CITY STATE ZIP programs. PHONE 7XCH Cl4