STERN

The Los Angeles Chapter of TANAGEF^ The National Audubon Society Volume 56 Number 5 March 1990

The Carrizo Plain by Rob Hansen, trip leader

On December 9 and 10, two separate groups of top of a hill before disappearing. Because feed leisurely near our lunch stop there. birders visited the Carrizo Plain (16 birders on this individual bird sported such a dark Later, we saw it pick up and swallow (only Saturday and 18 on Sunday) to see Sandhill plumage, many of the group assumed that after great effort and much gyration) the Cranes, raptors and the other specks that make it was a California Thrasher. The sparse dry, shed exoskeleton of a large tarantula. this grassland such an exciting winter destina- desert scrub of Crocker Grade and the Elk- After that crunchy morsel, it quickly found tion. horn Plain (areas where there are no pub- and captured a side-blotched lizard. One of lished records of California Thrasher) sup- the birders on Sunday caught one of these ports small but documented populations of lizards (out "strolling" in the balmy De- hree consecutive drought years have LeConte's Thrashers. Fall birds in this part cember sun) and showed it to all those produced extremely dry conditions of the species' range are darker than those nearby. (Afteradmiringbirders had stroked in this southeastern corner of San from Antelope Valley and other parts of the the little lizard's back, this cold-blooded TLuis Obispo County. Soda Lake was Mojave Desert. The Sunday group saw two reptile appeared to be in absolute rapture dry and there was almost no green vegeta- adult Golden Eagles just east of Crocker and was in no condition to escape from tion to be seen. Most of the typical winter- Summit. raptors or Greater Roadrunners; the birders ing bird species were at least present, but Both days' tours spent the morning on left the lizard under an improvised solar- the numbers of individuals were notably the Elkhorn Plain where we found a small oriented raptor baffle.) The Sunday group low. In fact, no Sandhill cranes were seen on flock of Mountain Plovers. The Sunday did not visit Painted Rock, so they missed Saturday, and only 17 were seen on Sun- group went further north on the Elkhorn the roadrunner. Instead, they crossed day. The variety of raptors (and raptor Plain and happened upon a group of Moun- Belmont Trail (north of the Official Carrizo plumages) was noteworthy. Participants on tain Bluebirds, including one male that many Plain Natural Area) where they watched both trips had a chance to see Ferruginous said was the most intense azure blue indi- Long-billed Curlews, saw a Burro wing Owl, Hawks (including one or two of the rarer vidual they'd ever seen. and heard the distant call of a Sandhill dark morphs) and Rough-legged Hawks. One highlight of the Saturday tour was Crane. A short while later, the Sunday group Most observers had never seen a dark a close-up view of a Greater Roadrunner at managed to find a small flock of 17 cranes Rough-legged Hawk, but both days' tours the parking area near Painted Rock. The feeding quietly along Soda Lake Road. Such had one or more views of this strikingly- bird walked right up to a blue VW bug (a low numbers testify to the extreme dryness contrasted arctic breeder. Say's Phoebe had landed on the door of the of this year and to the fact that many cranes The tour route was similar on both same car earlier that day) then continued to have been staying farther north this winter. days. After meeting at Grapevine on 1-5, we The final birding stop both days was drove west through Maricopa and north the Saucito Ranch (just north and uphill through Taft. After a drive through the from Painted Rock) where a Common Barn oilfields along Mocal Road, we veered west Owl was seen both days and a Great Horned on Crocker Grade Road to the top of the Owl was found by Sunday's group. Al- though the species total was only 31 on Temblor Range. This scenic entrance to the Bakersfield Carrizo is by dirt road and should only be Saturday and 34 on Sunday, most of the attempted in dry weather, but the birding Carrizo specialties were seen. As farming rewards are often great. on the Carrizo comes to an end and the The Saturday tour group got several number of cattle is reduced, the restoration :ier Park looks at a furtive LeConte's Thrasher at the of native vegetation will begin to accelerate. base of Crocker Grade (on the Elkhorn Plain If enough raincomes this season, next year's side of the Temblors). Three times the Carrizo scenery should begin to recover thrasher allowed us to stand at the edge of from 100+ years of overgrazing, and condi- the saltbush in which it had landed before it tions for next winter's birds may return to a flew to the next cover. It finally ran to the Los Angeles more normal situation. ^~ Western Tanager March 1990

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/ Twnfcs so wen/ mwcft f o «Z? wfe) responded to Books and Periodicals suggestion was to have more information our questionnaire in the last Western Tana- about local happenings. Foreign birding ger. The board of directors was generally sur- The total number of bird books in an seemed to be found interesting but less prised by the excellent response. If you didn't individual's library broke down like this: relevant. respond yet, we'd still appreciate your opinions. Several responses were critical of the Oftentimes the open-ended comments prove to 43% own about 10 length and number of conservation articles be most enlightening. 22% own about 25 and urged more orientation toward birding Somewhere between the harshest criticisms 19% own about 50 subjects in general. and the warmest pats on the back lay the feed- 15% own about 100 or more Birds of the Season by Hank Brodkin back we were looking for: approval, direction, seems to be the most favored section of the the specific needs of our members. If we are to Not surprisingly, the most popular type of Tanager, with Conservation Conversation maintain your support, expand and be effective, book owned is a field guide, 94% of us have by Sandy Wohlgemuth and the Field Trips then we need to be responsive. And starting with at least one. Next on the list (even though portion of the Announcements section this issue of the Tanager and the next general they may not be books) were bird check- compiled by Nick Freeman tying for sec- meeting, you will notice some changes toward lists. ond. that end. Locals were split 50/50 for carefully About two-thirds of readers save back One-sixth of the responses were from out- going through the booklist included in the issues of the Tanager; while more than half side the Los Angeles County area. These Tanager (twice per year), but more than save back issues of Audubon. On the subject out-of-towners included New York, Washing- two-thirds of the out-of-towners go of Audubon, 21 % read it cover to cover, 58% ton, D.C., Massachusetts, Louisiana, Texas, through it. Oddly, 57% of out-of-towners said they read some articles, 15% scan it Illinois, Maryland and throughout California. visit the bookstore (somewhere between quickly, and 6% admit to not reading it at Now let's get to the results: rarely and frequently) versus 67% of locals. all. Ninety percent say they usually can find Twelve percent of respondents sub- what they want from the bookstore. Many scribe to Audubon Activist and 5% to Audubon people complimented the bookstore and Wildlife Report. staff. Suggestions were basically about Most people said they don't care if and Birding expanding inventory, particularly on local National Audubon Society sells their name birding. As for receiving an LAAS book- and address to other conservation organi- Two-thirds of respondents maintain at least store gift certificate as a reward for recruit- zations, but the number of those who resent one bird feeder. The same number keep a ing new members, out-of-towners didn't it ran a close second. Markedly smaller record of birds seen. Curiously, 51%, locals have much interest (as to be expected) and were those who think it's a good idea. and out-of-towners alike, said they have locals were split. participated in LAAS birding field trips. The Western Tanager ranked highest Audubon House Pelagic trips are the most popular. Trips led among the magazines and newsletters about by either Kimball Garrett or Jon Dunn were birds. Next was Audubon, followed by The monthly meeting received exception- second in popularity. Eighty-five percent of Birding, Birdwatcher's Digest, and American ally high marks from respondents: 98% said readers look at the list of field trips in each Birds. they like the ID workshops before the Tanager. Although the workshops and Of those who read the Tanager, the meeting; 100% like the speakers; 100% like meetings scored quite high, only about 33% same number read it cover to cover as those the topics selected and the format; 98% like of the people say their birding skills were who read some articles, a small number the variety of programs. Still high was the sharpened by the ID workshops at monthly (8%) scan it quickly. It appears that the 86% who said they like the bird photograph meetings (see Audubon House summary). majority of out-of-town subscribers are contests held annually. Only 40% liked the One in five keep a pet bird; the most com- reading it cover to cover. banquets. Since this year the plan is to have mon are Parakeets. Museum and zoo exhib- A pleasant surprise was that 95% of a picnic rather than the semi-formal ban- its of birds seem to intrigue 87% of us, with our readers like the new look of the Tanager. quet, it will be interesting to note the par- most visiting the San Diego Zoo. One reader Readers' wish list for the Tanager had quite ticipation and popularity of this alterna- would not patronize any place that kept a few interesting items — some good ideas tive. birds in captivity or on display, yet admits for regular sections as well as some great Although almost half the respondents to keeping a pet bird. ideas for articles. One particularly frequent said they were comfortable attending eve- Western Tanager March 1990

ning meetings at Plummer Park, most our members actually stand on some of the weren't happy with the meeting room it- issues the board of directors spends a good self. Over one-half of those who responded amount of time debating. Consistent with At The have never attended a monthly meeting. feedback from the Books and Periodicals Other comments/suggestions were: reluc- summary, 92% want more emphasis on tance to come to the park at night (want a local conservation such as creating a wild- Last Board better, safer area); preference for a meeting life area at Sepulveda Basin. Less emphatic place closer to downtown or the westside or was a 78% response for increasing the con- in other locations to cut travel times and tribution of funds toward international Meeting distances; use of an historic building; more problems such as rainforest conservation. comfortable seats and improved A habitat restoration project such as the audio-visual facilities. We know the meet- "adopt a refuge" program should be started ings themselves are good, so, should all else according to 96% of the respondents. Well stay the same, attendance would probably over two-thirds wanted to increase politi- Fourteen members of the board of directors rise if the facility was in a better location and cal actions like the "Save Mono Lake" law- were in attendance (January 4, 1990). The better furnished. suit. Collecting aluminum cans at Audubon meeting began with President Robert Van Several members would utilize ride- House was about 60/40 for. Seventy-eight Meter bringing members up to date with sharing if it were available. We will make percent felt that letter writing campaigns to announcements including a thanks from some efforts to get that started immedi- influence politicians' votes should be in- Whittier Narrows Nature Center and Asso- ately. creased. The awarding of research grants to ciates for our recent monetary donation. In Only one-third expressed a desire to graduate students in bird biology and re- addition, our chapter received an Outstand- meet on Saturday mornings following a lated fields should be increased (57%) or ing Education Achievement Award from bird walk. One frequent observation was stay as is (39%). Awarding scholarships for National Audubon for our support of the that local respondents will travel hundreds study at Audubon's Ecology Camp of the Audubon Adventures Youth Program of miles to see a rare bird but not even 20 West should increase (60%) or stay as is (along with only 10 other chapters). This is miles to attend the monthly meeting. (35%). A strong 91 % favored an increase in a direct result of the last Birdathon which The most heart-warming responses providing nature education programs to Melanie Ingalls chaired; next Birdathon to were from the disabled and the elderly who elementary schools. By a 2-to-l vote, the take place from April 1 through May 15. support LA AS totally in spirit, even though annual Christmas Bird Counts should stay Discussion continued from last meet- unable to attend meetings. the way they are. ing about a possible book project our chap- The Bird Alert Tape is a telephone And finally on fund-raising drives such ter may underwrite; negotiations are still in service to birders that informs callers of as the Birdathon, responses were split be- progress. recent sightings of species generally not tween increase and stay as is. This is a The board approved a grant of $1,000 common to either the area or season. Al- positive note because it shows we aren't for student research of Brown-footed and most 75% of respondents said they use the asking for too much money too many times. Blue-footed Boobies. taped message and, of those, 90% approved The board allotted $1,000 for student of the format. There were requests that the travel to the AOU/COU Convention in Los tape be updated more often than once per Angeles this June. week, some would like to see: daily up- There is some minor correcting to do, but A decision was made to amend the dates; slower speech rate; notification of overall the organization's direction seems bylaws to change the position of Registrar seasonal arrivals of more "common" birds; somewhat cohesive with its members as a from an elected one to an appointed one. and better directions including a Thomas whole. This survey has been extremely California Wildlife Protection Initia- Bros, map book page number and coordi- helpful in bringing those needs and desires tive will be on the June ballot partly due to nates (which will also be added to the Field of our supporters to our attention. The re- our signatures on recent petitions that Sandy Trips section of the Tanager). Sincethe infor- sults of this effort are sure to have several Wohlgemuth and others circulated. The mation on the tape is provided by persons long-range effects that will undoubtedly board contributed $50 to promote the meas- calling in when they see a bird of interest in bring the goals of our members closer to ure. the field, perhaps more information can be fulfillment. Thank you for your participa- LAAS will try a plan with Union Fed- given, particularly more explicit directions tion. eral Savings wherein LAAS members who to the exact location. Special thanks to Charles Schoettlin, have accounts there may designate LAAS Millie Newton and Kathy Hirsh for their to receive a small amount of interest on Conservation help with the task of sorting out this ques- their accounts. tionnaire. %*» LAAS bookstore business is continu- The first question in this section was de- ing to do well. signed to get a feel for our members' pres- A contributor has now enabled us to ent conservation efforts and their priorities. purchase the new copy machine for the Fortunately, it appears that 98% of respon- LAAS office. dents are recycling and conserving wher- We need a new answering machine for ever they can. The next highest tendency is the office. to donate to worthy conservation projects. The "Picnic Committee" will pursue The last query was actually a series of suggestions from the board for a member- value questions trying to establish where ship birding picnic in early summer. ^- Western Tanager March 1990

they reach the tropics, spend the winter in monastic isolation: males in one place, females in another. A biologist in Missouri noticed that in his area there were no nest- ing ovenbirds—only males could be found. Had the winter habitat of female ovenbirds been destroyed? by Sandy Wohlgemuth The cards seem to be stacked against wildlife as the century draws to a close. Lest we become holier-than-thou toward our igrating songbirds have never had Perhaps, we said, it was just a local affair; Latin neighbors, remember that we North an easy time of it. In this hemi- next year would prove our worries to be Americanos are scarcely blameless. Ancient M sphere, simply flying the thou- baseless. There didn't seem to be any solid forests are under attack in our northwest sands of miles from their breeding areas in evidence to confirm or deny our fears. and in British Columbia. The old benign Canada and our more northern states to Then in June 1989, the curtain of doubt policy of sustained growth is being replaced winter in Latin America is a perilous jour- was lifted and the unpleasant statistics were by the greed of take-over pirates who ney. They run the gauntlet of predatory published. The National Academy of Sci- demand immediate liquidation of forest owls and accipiters. Long flights over open ences released the results of a study made assets to pay off junk bond debt. The clear- water maybe too much for some individu- by Chandler Robbins and Russell Green- ing of our eastern forests for the last 300 als, particularly if the winds are unfavor- berg. Populations of 56 species of birds years has taken its toll on the hapless mi- able. Hurricanes, especially over theGulf of were surveyed from 1978 to 1987. Seventy grants. Although there appears to be con- Mexico, can devastate a fall migration. Many percent of the species showed a decline of siderable forest left in the East, it has been fly at night and in fog that obscures tall 1% to 2% a year. Greenberg, a research reduced to small fragments. Nesting birds buildings and radio towers that become scientist at the National Zoological Park, no longer have the protection of a deep formidable obstacles. Even if none of these said, "It doesn't sound like much, but if it is expanse of wooded habitat. Cowbirds can perils existed, the physical demands on a a persistent loss, that percentage could be move easily from open fields nearby, pene- tiny bird covering all those miles on a thim- important." The number of Wood Thrushes trate theskimpy forest for hundredsof yards bleful of fat are extraordinary. has gone down by 40% in ten years, a fright- and lay their eggs in the nests of their vic- And then there are cowbirds. We're all ening indication of what is happening to tims. A survey in Illinois showed that 100% aware of the nest predation of these indo- many of the 120 species of passerines that of the nests of thrushes and Summer Tana- lent invaders who trick smaller birds into migrate between temperate and tropical gers had been parasitized. The fragmenta- raising cowbird offspring as their own. (A America. So our worst fears have been tion also made it easier for predators like recent PBS nature film showed the gut- confirmed; the graph line of bird popula- raccoons and snakes to raid the nests. wrenching maneuver of a blind, featherless tions seems to be downhill all the way with Far more devastating to bird habitat cowbird shoving a warbler chick out of its no promise that it will bottom out. here at home is the explosion of land devel- nest to its death. The cowbird is hatched The assault on the tropical rainforests, opment: more people — more houses — with a special structure on its back that where so many of "our" birds winter, seems more shopping centers. Nesting areas gives it the leverage to perform the eviction. to be the most obvious cause of the songbird around cities have decreased by half over An evolutionary development that achieves decline. For several years, we have been the last 30 years. Birders know perhaps thisbizarre method of perpetuating the spe- told of the wholesale destruction of habitat more acutely than others what "develop- cies is truly a marvel to behold.) Brown- to provide short-term cropland and pas- ment" can mean. The quiet wooded canyon headed Cowbirds can lay ten or more eggs ture. The list of disasters — present and with chattering woodpeckers and the and have parasitized 200 different species projected — has become too familiar: 25 scream of a Red-shouldered Hawk can be of birds. million acres of forest lost every year; the replaced with the wave of a zoning change These multiple pressures on migrants extinction of little-known species and the by roaring trucks dumping garbage into the have been going on for millennia. The losses consequent loss of biological diversity; new landfill. The mountains of southern to these hazards are normal and, like moun- sources of medicines that may never be California are being paved over with a tain lions culling deer, weed out the weak discovered; the profound loss of trees that pattern of roads connecting expensive and the old, keeping the populations vigor- capture carbon dioxide, thus inhibiting homes to fashion malls and ten-story office ous. But recently there have been ominous excessive warmingof the earth; the decima- buildings. There is so much asphalt and changes. tion of irreplaceable ecosystems. Many of concrete under foot that when the rains A few years ago, dedicated birders the reasons for the decline can only be eventually come, the water cannot soak began to experience an uneasy feeling that guessed at. Some migrant species, when into the earth but runs off with a ferocity they were seeing fewer songbirds, espe- cially in migration. As time passed, there seemed to be poorer birding days than we remembered. The occasional good day in the field with many warblers and vireos Birds are ... indicators of and an outstanding vagrant or two was clouded by a gnawing concern that things weren't really like the good old days. Some our health and safety/' of the hot spots were cooling down, we thought, but we were never quite sure. Western Tanager March 1990

that carries mud and debris into bedrooms 50-80 species. Participants are — sometimes taking the bedrooms with it. Birdathon '90 To asked to bring a minimum of $25.00 What to do about all this? We are being in pledges. told from many quarters that this is the Age Raise Funds For For more competitive types, there are of the Environment. Governments and citi- Environmental the BIG DAY COMPETITORS and BACK- zens alike are becoming more sensitive to YARD BIRDERS. the accumulation of the sins of this over- Education • BIG DAY COMPETITORS populated world. The media are full of form a team, sign up sponsors and stories of acid rain, ozone holes, the green- challenge LAAS's board of direc- house effect, oil spills, toxins in the water, in April 1 - May 15 are the dates for Birdathon tors for prizes based on the most the air and in our bodies. (Have we left '90, Los Angeles Audubon's annual fund- species seen and most money anything out?) Will we have the guts to raiser to support environmental education. raised during a single 24-hour change our self-destructive ways in time to Organizers haveplanned a variety of activi- period. save the animals, the birds and our own ties and hope to raise $10,000 to support • BACKYARD BIRDERS souls? Will we increase the amount of wild youth education programs in Los Angeles pledge $1.00 or more per species areas here and everywhere that can still be schools. The event is fun, and you don't and then count the birds at their rescued from destruction? We need more have to be an expert birder to participate. backyard feeding station. Prizes, Nature Conservancies and World Wildlife There are many ways to get involved: including seed, feeders, and plants Funds, more aggressive government action FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS have are given for most species seen to set aside or buy wilderness, to forgive an opportunity to bird with an expert: and most money raised. Third World debts in exchange for wildlife • Sunday, April 29, ornitholo- Everyone who participates in the event, protection. gist Kimball Garrett (Natural His- and sponsors who contribute$50.00 or more, The metaphor is a little tired, but it still tory Museum of Los Angles will receive an official Birdathon '90 t-shirt. holds: birds are like the miner's canary, County) will stage a "Loonathon/ 'The Birdathon is a great opportunity indicators of our health and safety. Although Scoterthon" at Point Dume to to involve new people in Audubon's activi- there are still millions of birds, their num- watch spring migration in full ties," says Melanie Ingalls, Birdathon Chair- bers and varieties are falling. Chandler swing. Participants are asked to person. "People are intrigued by the event Robbins of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv- find sponsors who will pledge a and very willing to pledge when they hear ice says, 'There are going to be big de- few cents per bird. He estimates where the money goes." Birdathon '90 will creases in populations and some will van- the group will see 500-1,000 Pa- support LAAS's education programs, in- ish altogether." To prove him wrong will cific Loons and about the same cluding teacher workshops, environmental take a heap of doing. ^~ number of Surf Scoters. education fairs, scholarships for teachers to • Saturday, May 5, author Audubon Camp of the West, and theaward- REFERENCES: Chuck Bernstein (The]oyofBirding) winning Audubon Adventures program for World Watch Magazine, will reprise last year's popular trip grades 3-6. January-February 1990, pp. 11-12 in Malibu for beginning birders. To register for Birdathon '90, return the Smithsonian Magazine, The group will bird at Malibu form attached to this month's Tanager or February 1990, pp. 28-36 Creek State Park and Malibu La- call Audubon House at (213) 876-0202 for goon and will see approximately more information, t^.

Anne Ehrlich To Speak Now On @ Recycled Paper Anne Ehrlich, Associate Director for the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University, will speak on THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF PREPARING Starting with this issue of the Western Tana- FOR WAR. She is national chair of the Sierra Club's Military Impacts on the Environment ger, we are now using 100% recycled paper, Committee. Ms. Ehrlich will speak at the Santa Monica Unitarian Church, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 16,1990. The event is sponsored by the Nuclear Issues Subcommittee of the Sierra Club's Angeles Chapter and by the Environment and Peace Ridesharing To Committee of the Unitarian Church. Ms. Ehrlich has written or co-authored many technical articles in population biology Help Members and has written extensively on issues such as environmental protection and the environ- mental consequences of nuclear war. She is co-editor, with John Birks, of a Sierra Club book LAAS will promote ridesharing to our to be published this year, Hidden Dangers: The Environmental Consequences of Preparing formonthly meetings. The idea was suggested War. She co-edited the article which appeared in the January-February 1990 Tanager, 'The by the recent survey. A program will help Challenge of Growth." In March, 1985 she received the Humanist Distinguished Service coordinate riders and rides. Potential ride- Award, jointly with Paul Ehrlich, from the American Humanist Association. In 1988 she was sharers can call Audubon House to try to elected Honorary Fellow in the California Academy of Science. In 1989 she was selected for connect with someone or can look for oth- the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement. ers from their part of town at the monthly For further information, call Florence McKenna at (213) 395-6762. V- meetings (areas will be noted on name tags). Western Tanager March 1990

produce funds needed to accomplish the are a result of the astoundingly dedicated Society's goals. team of volunteers that man our bookstore Bookstore We operate on much the same prin- and office five days a week. And our steady ciples as any retail store, but profits go to growth over the last few years attests to the News healing the environment, not into private confidence birders all over the world have pockets. in us! by Charles Harper Because we are in competition with We do not have any discount differen- other nature shops and bookstores, we tial between members (either local or na- any visitors at Audubon House ask naturally try to keep prices as low as pos- tional) and the general public. Because our Mabout our pricing and service policies; sible; but our size does not let us compete customers are scattered so widely and most so at the risk of boring some readers, I with such major marketing strategies as the of our business is mail order, it would be would like to outline our operations. Pathway Book Club or with the "camera extremely difficult to monitor current The bookstore is the greatest single warehouses" back east. Other small retail- memberships and still be fair to all. fundraising mechanism for LAAS conser- ers have the same problem and must rely on Please keep in mind that when you vation programs. All net income after oper- other means to attract customers. shop at Audubon Bookstore, you are not ating expenses goes to our environmental In our case, we try to do a much better only getting value for dollar but are also and educational efforts. job of getting you what you want when you helping save the Ballona Wetlands and the Unlike the LAAS share of your annual want it. We pride ourselves on the com- tropical rainforest, the Sepulveda Basin and dues—which almost covers production of pleteness of our stock of birdfinding and the California Condor, educating thousands the Western Tanager—or the fees you pay for identification guides, on our ability to ad- of Los Angeles school children on conser- field and pelagic trips which are calculated vise you accurately on the best book or vation issues, and participating as a mem- to offset the cost of these services, monies equipment for the task, and on the speed of ber in the impact LAAS is making in solving raised from bookstore sales are meant to our response to your needs. These abilities some of our environmental woes. t^»

Giant Kangaroo Rat Salton Sea (endangered) Quality Birds Drawing courtesy of Success Alison Sheehey, at Mugu Kern Audubon Society The February 4 field trip to the Salton Sea The January 27 field trip to Point Mugu got turned up a good assortment of wintering off to a shaky start as birders arrived with birds, local specialties and a couple of Ari- pitted windshields, had their door springs zona birds that had recently been "staked sprung, and frequently refused to emerge out." from their cars to scan the wintering water- Wintering birds included 150 Sandhill fowl, harriers and shorebirds that made up Cranes, thousands of White-faced Ibis, a the majority of sightings. At times, the wind Glaucous-winged Gull, Canada Geese, lots was so fierce that only our fearless leader of Snow Geese and a smattering of Ross' Daniel Cooper braved the elements to be Geese, about six Lewis' Woodpeckers, and rewarded with a stunning male Black Sco- Stilt Sandpiper. ter balancing that little orange ball on the Local specialties included Abert's base of his bill! In fact, we saw all three Towhee, Vermillion Flycatcher, Gila Wood- scoters during the day and a female Com- pecker, Verdin, and Yellow-footed Gull. mon Goldeneye and a Pelagic Cormorant to The proverbial cherry on top was a boot! The cormorant was as cooperative as Curve-billed Thrasher recently located near the Black Scoter, swimming quite close to Brawley and five Inca Doves in the same the shore and giving everyone a good look area. Bylaws at its dark face, slender bill and long tail. Amendment

Easy for The board of directors proposes the following amendment to the bylaws of the Los Angeles Audubon Society to be voted upon at the meeting on April 10,1990: LAAS Article 4: OFFICERS Section 1 (elective officers) would be amended to eliminate the post of Registrar of Members. If you bank with Union Federal Savings, all Section 12 (duties of the Registrar of Members) would be stricken from the bylaws. you need do is register your account with Article 7: STANDING COMMITTEES "charity number 199" to generate an auto- Section 2 shall add the word "Membership" to the list of standing committees. matic donation of 15 base points to LAAS at Section 4 shall add a "Membership" paragraph following the paragraph "Headquarters." no cost to you! This amounts to about $30 The "Membership" paragraph shall read as follows: The Membership Committee shall for a $20,000 account and could well gener- maintain membership records of the Chapter and, by itself and in cooperation with the ate thousands with a good response. A National Society, shall take all appropriate action to maintain the existing membership and phone call to your local branch is all it takes. to acquire new members. ^~ Western Tanager March 1990

San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel (threatened) Drawings courtesy of Alison Sheehey, Kern Audubon Society

Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (endangered)

Audubon Trout Camp Western Regional Conference In The Sierras

The 1990 Western Regional Conference will take place April 7-10 at Audubon's conference Week-long Audubon Golden Trout Work- center at Asilomar, California on the Monterey peninsula. The theme will be "Protecting shops will be held in the Sierras July 29- Ecological Landscapes." There will be a variety of workshops and discussions on conserva- August 18,1990. This is the fourteenth year tion, nature study and Audubon chapter activities. of an informal field natural history pro- Conservation issues such as wetlands protection, water quality, state non-game pro- gram in the Golden Trout Wilderness of the grams, ancient forests, marbled murrelets and spotted owls, and Audubon's international eastern high Sierras, providing accessibil- conservation agenda will be the subject of workshops. ity to these ecosystems for better under- Chapter leaders will have sessions on organization and fundraising, computer appli- standing of these unique habitats. Thecamp cations and environmental education. is at 10,100 feet in the Cotton wood Lakes The conference offers top-flight workshops on nature photography and bird identifi- basin south of Mt. Whitney and is reached cation. only by trail. The program is similar to the Seven field trips will explore a forest, field, ocean, aquarium, and the historic San Audubon Camp of the West, with more Andreas Fault. Field trips have limited capacity and should be signed up for early. hiking, and is flexible to suit the interests of each group. Most campers are adults, and interests are not confined to birding. National Audubon Ecology Camps The camp is sponsored by the Golden Trout Committee, composed of members of National Audubon Society offers a variety of ecology workshops that get glowing praise several Audubon chapters in southern and from alumni. The camps, at various seasons, are located in Yellowstone area of Wyoming, northern California. Cost for the camp, the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, Big Bend National Park in Texas, the Chiri- Sunday through Saturday, is $195 for adults, cahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, Muscongus Bay in Maine, coastal Connecticut, $135 for children age 10-13, and $110 for Sanibel Island in South Florida, and cloud forest and rain forest of Costa Rica. The camps and children age 3-9. For details, call or write workshops last from one week to twelve days. Cindi McKernan, 1230 Friar Lane, Redlands, Audubon Camp of the West, in Wyoming's Wind River Mountains, is the most remote CA 92373, (714) 793-7897. of the Audubon Camps, and the one best known in this part of the country. Week-long The Golden Trout Committee is now sessions begin on June 23, July 29 and August 5. Twelve-day sessions begin on July 1 and offering the David Gaines Sierra Scholar- July 15. The cost is $525 and $725, respectively. ship. To apply, submit a 300-word essay For information, contact Audubon Ecology Camps & Workshops, National Audubon regarding your interest in the Sierra Ne- Society, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831, (203) 869-2017. vada (and its conservation) by June 1,1990. Western Tanager March 1990

most comprehensive in the U.S. on the on one of our field trips to try to find out Back To Base world's birds, and from which we mail how to watch and identify birds. During the books absolutely anywhere. The book de- trip a flock of specks flew across the sky and by Dorothy Dimsdale partment always needs help. We also have the leader of their group looked up and a small library which covers every area of announced, "Cedar Waxwings!" Art said it "Can you tell me how many trees there are in ornithological interest. was hard to tell they were birds, let alone California?" Then there are our field trips. Even if what species. Then a single bird dived like "I'm afraid I don't know the precise num- you're not very interested in birds, the places lightening into a bush, and the leader called ber of species." we visit are often fascinating parts of Cali- out its identity immediately. This happened "No, not species. How many trees are fornia, from the desert to the mountains on several occasions, though all Art saw there?" and the sea, including the Salton Sea. Best of were flocks of birds zipping by or a flash of "I have no idea." all the people are friendly without being ag- a bird diving into a thicket, which was "Well, how many bushes would you say gressively so, and with all our present-day somewhat boring. As the bird or birds were there are?" scary feelings regarding the future of our almost impossible to see, let alone identify, planet, the Audubon Societyisa very worth- he and Jean told me that they decided be- harles, our only full-time worker at while place to give a hand, if only for a few tween themselves that the leader made up Audubon House, took thiscall. While hours. the identification just to impress the group C he enjoys, and is excellent at finding It isn't necessary, but it helps to be a - or to put it more bluntly, they thought he answers to difficult phone questions, he birder as there's great satisfaction in being was lying. Only after a few field trips and needs time to get on with the overall run- ableto help people identify theiryard birds. questioning the leader as to how he/she ning of 'The House." As volunteer help is They're so delighted to give that "new" knew what species they were seeing, did needed, I'm back into the fold after a respite bird a name. However, when I first volun- Art and Jean realize how it was indeed of a few years, just for one day a week. teered I knew nothing at all about birds possible to name a fast flying and disap- You may be surprised to learn that I'm except that they were covered with feathers pearing bird, and then to their great pleas- not the most fascinating or knowledgeable and flew and were nice to have around. It ure, finally finding they were able to do the person to work at Audubon House, but I'm didn't matter. There were (and still are) same. This really got them into a hobby the only one (at the moment) who is willing plenty of jobs to keep me occupied while which now consumes most of their spare to write about my experiences there. others answer the phone. At first, I thought time. Of course, a part-timer can't know the the birders at Audubon House were a truly Part of the attraction (and frustration) answers to all the questions, but almost, if odd lot. Of course, like most people, I have of birding is that it's almost impossible to not all the people who call are pleasant and al ways thoughtthatsingingbirdsare lovely, know every bird in every situation. I have easy to talk to, and one can always holler to and very often pretty to look at, but why taken Arnold Small's superb classes and Charles for help. I fielded this one early in would anyone want to know every little field trips at UCLA Extension, which are January 1990. sparrow species? What I discovered was invaluable to all interested in birds and "What's happening to the environment?" that it's rather like doing a jigsaw puzzle - birding from beginners to those further "In what way?" once you start, you want to see the complete along. Try one session and you'll find your- "There's a Robin in my garden." picture. In fact, curiosity as to why people self eagerly looking forward to the follow- "How very nice." choose to pursue this weird hobby was the ing one. I have listened enthralled to Jon "I've lived here for twenty years and this is undoing of me, and now I'm as eager a Dunn's lectures, held often at LAAS eve- the first time I've had a Robin. What's going birder as the rest of them. ningmeetings, and then, havingtaped them, on?" Art Pickus, whose wife Jean also works played them over and over at home. Yet out My answer is too long to detail here one day a week at The House was telling me in the field it can be another story. but, I hope, satisfied the caller that the about his introduction to birding several There was a Tree Sparrow in Fullerton "greenhouse effect" had not yet singled out years ago. Neither he nor Jean could tell the in January 1990. It was in with a flock of her yard. difference between a duck and an ostrich at Chipping Sparrows. When I arrived at the A very important part of the services that time (and I hope they'll forgive me for scene, Jon had found the bird (that's always we provide comes from our bookstore - the making that public), so they decided to go a good start) and then for a brief moment

Furnace Creek Ranch and its environs, of species leaving Furnace Creek Island O'PIN IONS a small green patch in the middle of 1,500 overthe same length of time. In other words, by MacArthur Wilson square miles of gravel, functionsin the same in a mature biogeographic "island," species way as an oceanic island. It attracts plants colonization rate equals species extinction and animals flying over or swimming by rate, and both rates are higher than on the because it stands out like a green thumb, vaster continents. Eor the past couple of winters, birders and they stay because it offers certain During a visit one weekend in Novem- have been trooping to Death Valley to har- amenities not available for a long way in ber, friends of mine saw an Eastern Phoebe ass a small, marginal population of a gentle any direction: food and shelter. and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, but missed and innocuous species of ground-dove. Because it attracts a lot of animals for a Lapland Longspur, a LeConte's Sparrow There have never been more than a handful its size, it gets relatively crowded, and just and a Bufflehead that had been seen there (unplucked) of individuals there, who seem as there are inordinate numbers of surpris- only a day or so previously; the following to decimate over the course of the winter, ing species arriving over time, there are week's bird alert tape announced sightings only to be replenished the next fall. (theoretically) equally inordinate numbers of Harris' and White-throated Sparrows at Western Tanager March 1990

got it in the scope. I looked in the scope and be intimidating). However, I really felt for disgustingly little. If you can tell a joke, saw three birds, all more or less alike, then the newish birder on a recent field trip who share your lunch; or just keep quiet while they flew. With a strong feeling of inade- gaveawayhis newness whiletryingto cover the big birders have their say (and the last quacy I knew I'd have to follow the flock it up. I think he was just eager to seem to be move is the best), you'll find that they get so until I was able to pick out the bird for a knowledgeable birder and was very en- used to seeing you around, the fact that myself. This was where the learning part thusiastic. Someone remarked that we your knowledge is bordering on zero is came in. hadn't seen any Northern Mockingbirds forgotten. I've been shuffling around the At that moment my friend Millie ar- that morning. The newish birder said, "I edge of the crowd for so long, even my rived (also a House volunteer, that's how I saw one fly over when I arrived. It was a fe- paranoid fear of being ostracized for saying met her), and as she hadn't yet seen the bird, male." Those last four words gave him away, something like "Water Pipit!" when it's she was just as eager as I to pursue and though no one was unkind enough to chal- been decided that the bird's name is "Ameri- identify it for ourselves. After studying the lenge him on the matter. There is no way to can Pipit" has left me. Then, of course, birds feeding in the grass, all we could see differentiate there's always the possibility that they well were their backs. Their breasts were the sex of a haven't even noticed your presence in the buried in the grass as were their heads. free flying first place - and even that isn't all bad. Find Then we realized that a piece of information not yet universally one of the known, e.g., "I had no idea that the Hoatzin is a ruminant!" and announce it as though you were the source of the information, and you're in! (Don't use the Hoatzin bit, every birder of note knows more than the Hoatzin itself about its functioning at the present time.) So, it's a frustrating, time consuming, exhilarating and exciting way to spend time. When birding, one can find oneself among those who know so much more, as well as those who know less than oneself - and one learns from both groups. Seeing a new bird is wonderful for a birder, but being able to San Joaquin Kit Fox (endangered) Drawing by Alison Sheehey, Kern Audubon Society positively identify it as well, is the supreme high. birds had more prominent and much whiter Northern Mockingbird. To be certain, I Perhaps I should apologize for all this wing bars. By keeping this bird in our bin- asked Kimball Garrett of the L.A. Museum chat about birdwatching and hope it has oculars we were able to follow it as it slowly of Natural History (who also gives really not taken away from the inside working of moved out of the grass, then we saw the excellent lectures at our Society). He said Audubon House. However, as we all know gray face and rufous smudges at the sides of that only in very special circumstances can now, unfavorable trends from our careless- the breast, and finally, the dark spot in the the sexes be decided, and usually not in a ness in the treatment of the environment center of the breast. Yeah! We had it. free flying bird. Maybe our fellow birder very often first manifest themselves in birds, The good feeling was that we had been did see a Mockingbird, but those last four e.g., DDT, Selenium, and ocean dumping of able to identify it for ourselves and not just words made his sighting suspect. waste, to name only a few. taken someone else's word for it, even Jon The main thing to remember is that The nitty-gritty of this wandering dia- Dunn's (though if he'd said it was a nestling you don't have to be a brilliant identifier of tribe is to say that Audubon House needs Double-striped Thick-knee, I expect I'd birds, you just have to enjoy trying to figure help. If you have some time, we can use it. believe him). them out, and the ability to identify will I'm happy to say that I have been tolerated It's no shame to know less than every- come naturally in time. I've been birding and accepted with all my faults and igno- one else in your group (though I agree it can seriously for fifteen years and I still know rance. So what are you waiting for?! 1^

Furnace Creek, but no Eastern Phoebe or from before the eyes of its admirers by one flutter likely to attract the eye of any accip- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. of thebold roadrunners that strut the green- iter hidden nearby. In a constricted envi- Anyone familiar with the area will sward. This November, my friends found ronment, this effect too is exacerbated. know that in birding it, one does not simply the remains of a Long- or Short-eared Owl, This unfortunate phenomenon will miss seeing these birds; with assiduity one done in by a bird larger and fiercer than remain a contentious issue in birding circles should miss little or nothing, because the itself. and is a paradigm for the dilemma facing area is painfully finite and totally acces- Other birds suffer the side effects of the human race as a whole. A rarity is sible. It is that the birds come and go. distraction caused by the great numbers of discovered; if you get to see it, why shouldn't Many of them fall prey to raptors and humans that Furnace Creek Island also at- I, as a fellow member of this aggressively other predators. There is an unusually large tracts. Some of these people just talk loudly democratic society, get to see it too? So number of birds of prey — obeying the and drive golf carts about; others silently everyone flocks to see the bird until critical same island rules above — including follow the birds around all day. Both kinds mass is reached and the rarity becomes an Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Last of people interrupt the birds' feeding, bath- extinction, one way or another. ^~ winteraRuddyGround-Dove was snatched ing and resting, and send them up with a Western Tanager 10 March 1990

Bird Quest '89 Wind-U p

L by James F. Clements, Ph.D. L

. ecember was an active finale for bloom. The blossoms were red, white, pink, on the way up to the mountain, Kenn and Bird Quest '89. After the frus- yellow and purple, and no fewer than nine Ted pointed to the spot where they had seen jtrating overlaps of Kenya and species of hummingbirds were feeding at the bird the previous day. / Thailand, it was more like a fine the same time . . . without any apparent No sooner had I played the tape than surgical operation dragging out violation of one another's territory. Bob Karen and I were bombed by an angry pair 'the last remaining bird s of the year. went out of his mind with this eye-level of Oaxaca Sparrows . . . my 3,630th (and The Los Angeles Audubon rare bird opportunity to photograph such elusive final) bird of the year, and a real skulking tape was right on target with a small flock of quarry ... especially two incredibly coop- Mexican endemic for my 6,124th life bird. Lewis' Woodpeckers at Malibu Creek State erative male Bumblebee Hummingbirds. It was quite an ending to 265,000 miles Park. Then Arnold Small and Bruce Broad- I was reminded of Henry Walter Bates' of circling the globe in my dual pursuits of books joined me for a day's birding in remarks as he watched a hummingbird raising funds for the L. A. Museum of Natu- Orange County, which added five species bathing in a heliconia patch along the ral History and breaking the world record ... including California's second Sprague's Amazon River: "I thought, as I watched it, for number of bird species sighted in a Pipit (studied from 25 feet away in the that there was no need for poets to invent calendar year. scope). elves and gnomes, whilst Nature furnishes Despite my not reaching my goal of I next flew to Seattle for a quick week- us with such marvelous little sprites ready 4,000 species, my brother Bob reminded me end, adding ten species on a long drive to on hand." that on the dust jacket of the second edition Anacortes and Whidbey Island. Only a last- I flew home for a quick two days for of Birds of the World: A Checklist, I was de- minute sighting of a Black-capped Chicka- Christmas and then back to southern Mex- scribed as "one of a handful of naturalists dee at my son Dan's feeding station saved ico to end up with VENT's annual Christ- who has identified over 3,000 species of me the embarrassment of missing one of mas Oaxaca tour. The southern Mexican birds in their natural habitat." North America's best-known birds! highlands adjacent to Oaxaca harbor an Even more poignant, however, was the Fortunately the Evening Grosbeaks and incredible 26 endemic species of birds and ABA's Birding magazine summary of May- Red Crossbills that regularly frequent Dan's Kenn Kaufmann, Ted Parker and Rick Bow- June 1969, in which the top world list was feeding trays put in an appearance for me ers did their best to drag out each of the Stuart Keith... at 3,170 species! and my brother the following week in the skulking critters for the Bird Quest '89 tally. My fiancee and I spent the first week of mountains of central Mexico. One by one they fell... Dwarf Vireo, Slaty the new year at Las Hadas in Manzanillo, Bob and I spent a week birding the Vireo, Boucard's Wren, Bridled Sparrow, while I re-involved myself in Hartmut wilds of the state of Guerrero . . . adding Dwarf Jay, White-throated Towhee, Gray- Walter's Socorro Island Dove rehabilitation some uncommon birds like Lucifer Hum- barred Wren. project. Watching the Brown Pelicans from mingbird, Colima Warbler, Red-faced War- I was astounded by the lack of parrots my balcony each morning was a silent bler and the elusive Sierra Madre Sparrow. and took two days off to drive to the coast at reminder of ho w much Bird Quest '89 would We added a total of 30 species for our Puerto Escondido for the coastal and low- have meant to the person most responsible intense efforts in this wild and remote part land birds that were not to be hoped for in for it... Dr. Ralph Schreiber. of Mexico. We missed the quest bird of the highlands. This added another ten spe- Guerrero, the rare Omilteme Jay, but at the cies to the trip list, including the beautiful Postscript: This summary was delayed due Filo de Caballo study site Bob and I were Orange-breasted Bunting and the Least to the necessity of having my failed hip treated to one of the most spectacular Pygmy-Owl. replaced. The operation was successfully hummingbird displays I have ever wit- But the piece de resistance was provided performed at St. John's Hospital in Santa nessed. on December 31, the final day of birding. Monica, and I am now home and healing In an opening in the pine-oak forest, a Rick Bowers lent me a pre-recorded selec- according to plan. Quo vadis? 'r$*. one-hectare field of flowers was in full tion of the rare Oaxaca Sparrow's song, and

spotted and observed perching on telephone The next morning, the rainy cold snap Raptor Workshop poles or wheeling overhead? Whatever the snapped just in time to make for an unex- answer, a healthy crowd of birders demon- pectedly pleasant, if cool, day for our bus Revisited strated their common fascination with tal- trip into the Antelope Valley. The group got by Nick Freeman oned avifauna by showing up at Ned Har- good-to-incredible looks at many of the ris' workshop on the diurnal raptors of raptors expected in the area, including plen- What makes raptors so popular among hard- California. The lecture was presented in an tiful Ferruginous and Red-tailed Hawks core and casual birders alike? Is it some- accessible format, stressing reliable and a curious Golden Eagle wheeling over- thing about their throne at the top of the fieldmarks but also hitting on the newer head. Ned was also able to draw on the food chain? Their regal demeanor as they holistic methods. Ned's slides beautifully expertise of top raptor specialists Peter soar, stoop and survey their domain? Or illustrated the characteristic markings of Bloom and his co-workers to make this trip simply the ease with which they can be the 22 species discussed. a particularly memorable event. ^- Western Tanager 11 March 1990

the chained lot at 7.00 a.m. and finish before noon. [LA, p.127, H-4] WESTERN TANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS Published 10 times a year by Sunday, April 22 - Malibu Lagoon. See March 25 Continued from page 22 for details. Los Angeles Audubon Society 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard Saturday, April 14 - Ballona Wetlands. Until a Sunday, April 29 - Mojave Narrows. Harold (Plummer Park) new leader is found, this may be our last trip to Bond will lead his band of merry birders through West Hollywod, CA 90046 Ballona. Wintering waterfowl and shorebirds this prime birding oasis to see what spring desert should be giving way to early migrants. Black specialties the lake, marsh, fields and woods of EDITOR: Jesse Moorman Oystercatchers are usually seen. Meet at 8 a.m. at this extensive area can produce. Rails, Vermilion ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Hank Brodkin the Pacific Ave. footbridge. Take the Marina Fwy Flycatchers and wayward vagrants have been CONSERVATION EDITOR: (90 West) to Culver Blvd., turn left to Pacific Ave., known to augment the more usual freshly molted then right to the bridge at the end. Street parking migrants. Take Hwy 15 toward Victorville, and Sandy Wohlgemuth is usually available. [LA, p.55A, D-l] take the Bear Valley cut-off east (right) for about ORNITHOLOGY CONSULTANT: 4 miles. The entrance road to the park will be on Kimball Garrett the left. Bring a lunch and dress for the possibility Friday, April 20 - Chatsworth Park South. Join DESKTOP PUBLISHING: WP Plus leader Allan Keller for a morning of prime mi- of cold and wind. Bring a scope if you have one. gration birding. We will seek warblers, orioles, Bird with Harold after lunch as well if you like. PRINTING: Marcotte Printing grosbeaks and others in this chaparral-oak wood- Overnight camping in the park and lodging in land habitat. From Topanga Canyon Blvd. go Victorville are available. Meet at 8.00 a.m. at the Los Angeles Audubon Society is a chapter of west on Devonshire and continue into the park- Mojave Narrows Boathouse. National Audubon Society. Opinions ex- ing lot by the Recreation Center. Meet at 8.00 a.m. pressed in articles or letters herein do not [LA, p.6, B-2] Sunday, April 29 - Kimball Garrett leads a necessarily express the position of this pub- "Loonathon" at Point Dume for lication or of LAAS. Saturday, April 21 - L.A. River Walk for Begin- Birdathon '90. See attached flyer or ners. Daniel Cooper will lead this urban morn- call Audubon House for details and PRESIDENT: Robert Van Meter ing bird walk in coordination with the Friends of to register. the Los Angeles River, in an effort to see some 1st VICE PRESIDENT: Jean Brandt birds on less than a full tank of gas, and to show Saturday, May 5- ChuckBern stein 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: that there are still stretches of the river that con- will lead a trip for beginning birders Richard Webster tain enough wildlife habitat to enjoy and be con- at Malibu Creek State Park and EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: cerned about. Take Fwy 5 to Los Feliz, head east Malibu Lagoon for Birdathon '90. See attached over the river, then park at the cafe adjacent to the flyer or call Audubon House for details and to Mildred Newton golf course on the north (left) side of the street. register. Meet at 8 a.m. [LA, p.25, B-6] Annual membership in both societies is Saturday, May 5 - Santa Anita Canyon. Leader $35 per year, $21 for seniors, and presently Saturday, April 21 - Whittier Narrows Regional Mary Carmona. Take the 210 Fwy east toward $30 for new members for their first year. Park. See March 18 for details. Arcadia and take Santa Anita Avenue north to Members receive the Western Tanager the very end. Meet at the trailhead at the bottom newsletter and Audubon magazine, anational Sunday, April 22, EARTH DAY - Placenta Can- of the parking lot at the end of the road. A publication. yon. Catch the migration with perhaps our most moderately strenuous 4-mile round trip through Renewals of membership are computer- renowned birdsong aficionado, Kimball Garrett. oak and chaparral canyons. Good selection of ized by National Audubon and should not The group will explore the oak woodlands and breeding and migrant passerines. Bring a lunch. normally be sent to LAAS. New member- May be cool. Meet at 7.00 a.m. [LA, p.20A, F-l] ships and renewal of lapsed memberships grasslands of the canyon and adjacent Walker may be sent to Los Angeles Audubon House Ranch. Take Hwy 14 to Placerita Canyon Road at the above address. Make checks payable to and drive east (right) about 3.5 miles to the Plac- Sunday, May 6 - Topanga State Park. SeeMarch 4 the order of National Audubon Society. erita Nature Center lot on the right. Meet outside for details. %~ Non-members may suscribe to the Western Tanager for $12 per year. The newsletter is sent by first class mail to subscribers and RESERVATION TRIPS members who pay an additional $5. Make D WP Employees ? (Limited Participation) checks payable to Los Angeles Audubon Are any of our LAAS members employees Policy and Procedures Society. of the Department of Water and Power? If Reservations for LAAS trips will be accepted so, please contact Steve Hirsh at (213) ONLY if ALL the following information has been supplied: 255-5515. We'd like your help with a spe- (1) Trip desired National Headquarters, New York cial project. (2) Names of people in your party (3) Phone numbers: (a) usual and (212) 832-3200 (b) evening before event, in case of Los Angeles Audubon Headquarters, Research emergency cancellation or changes Library and Bookstore are open (4) Separate check (no cash please) to LAAS Volunteers for exact amount for each trip Tuesday - Saturday (5) SASE for confirmation and associated 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wanted trip information. (213) 876-0202-office Send to: Reservations, LAAS, 7377 Santa (213) 874-1318 - bird tape Breeding biology of Western American Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046 Crows ongoing research for UCLA Ph.D. If there is insufficient response, the (updated Thursdays) dissertation, needs volunteers few hours trip will be cancelled two Wednesdays prior To report bird sightings, to the scheduled date and you will be so per week mainly in April and May at Balboa notified and your fee refunded. Your cancel- before 9:00 p.m. Golf Course, Encino. Spotting scope help- lation within that time will bring a refund (818) 788-5188 - Jean Brandt ful. Contact: CaroleeCaffrey (213) 825-0087 only if there is a paid replacement available. (213) 827-0407 - Hank Brodkin or (213) 396-7882 before 10:30 p.m. Western Tanager 12 March 1990 ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENING MEETING take Burbank Blvd. west, turn right onto Woo- Saturday, March 31 - Starr Ranch Sanctuary. Meet at 8:00 p.m. in Plummer Park dley Avenue and continue to the Woodley Park We will meet Park Ranger Pete DeSimone at ad- entrance on the right. Meet in the first parking jacent Casper Park at 8.30 a.m. and carpool into Tuesday, March 13 - Dr. Michael Wallace, Di- area. [LA,p.l5, B-6] park in private vehicles, heading north through rector of The Captive Breeding and Release Pro- Bell Cany on in to Starr Ranch. We should glimpse gram for the California Condor as well as the Sunday, March 18 - Upper Bee Canyon. Leader Grasshopper Sparrows along the way. An un- Curator of Birds at our own L.A. Zoo, will pres- Dustin Alcala. A 6-mile strenuous walk through strenuous walk through fairly untouched oak ent a program on The California Condor. This is real wilderness, impressive, rugged oak-wood- woodlands may be good for passerines and a topic of national interest. His talk will include land habitat with a fair chance of seeing Purple young raptors. Take Fwy 5 south to the Ortega details about the current use of Andean Condors Finch, Varied Thrush, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Hwy (74), then head east out of San Juan Capis- as experimental surrogates (female Andean Con- Band-tailed Pigeon, Nuttall's and Lewis' Wood- trano on Hwy 74 for about 8 miles to the Casper dors were released in the Los Padres National peckers, and deer and other mammals. Dustin is Park entrance on your left. Sign in at the gate and Forest this year). The Captive Breeding Program also familiar with the native plants and trees in park in the lot immediately left of the gatehouse. is moving ahead successfully and Dr. Wallace the area. Not for lightweights, but not a forced Reserve by phone with Audubon House. Rain will give us a behind-the-scenes look at how it march. Layered clothing, hat, long sleeves and cancels. $5 donation to Starr Ranch not manda- works. Please join us and get reacquainted with durable lug-soled footwear suggested. Pack light, tory. Do not send money to Audubon. Participa- the magnificent California Condor and the bring lunch and water. Take 405 Fwy north to tion limited. [OR, p.66,0-3] struggle to bring it back from extinction. 118 Fwy west; take the Balboa Blvd. offramp north, turn left onto Jolette Avenue then right Sunday, April 1 - Topanga State Park. See IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP on to Meado wlark Avenue. Park at the side of the March 4 for details. There will be no identification workshop. At street where Meadowlark dead ends at Van 7:45 p.m., Birdathon chairperson Melanie Ingalls Gogh Street. Meet at 7a.m. Call Dustin before the Thursday, April 5 - Point Dume Seabird Watch. will present National Audubon Society's trip at (818) 767-0558 (before 9 p.m.) for recent One of our masters of field I.D., Jon Dunn, will Birdathon slideshow and discuss plans for this sightings and more info. [LA, p.l, E-3] be watching the world (of seabirds) go by from years event which will support L.A. Audubon's this prominent promontory. Loons, scoters and education programs. Sunday, March 18 - Whittier Narrows Regional gulls should provide the meat of the observa- Park. David White will lead a morning walk to tions. Take PCH north past Malibu, turn left onto NEXT MONTH check in on their resident birds and renowned Westward Beach Road, which divides the bluff Tuesday, April 10-Don Roberson, "Birding the waterfowl. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Nature Center, from the south end of Zuma Beach, and continue Bounding Main," seabirds and mammals of the 1000 N. Durfee Avenue in South El Monte, off to the parking lot at the end of the road. Take the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean Fwy 60 between the Santa Anita and Peck Dr. trail to the top of the bluff, veering right at the T exits, west of Fwy 605. [LA, p.47, D-5] in the trail. 1.30 p.m. to 5-ish. Dress warmly and bring a scope if possible. [LA, p.110, B-6] Tuesday, March 21 - L.A. Arboretum. Barbara FIELD TRIPS Cohen will lead a morning walk through varied Sunday, April 8 - El Dorado Park. Jim and Betty CALL THE TAPE! habitat looking for quail, owls, herons, raptors Jo Stevenson will show us around the extensive Before setting out on any field trip, call the and early migrants. Meet at 8 a.m. in front of the nature center and parkland that comprise their Audubon bird tape, (213) 874-1318 for special gatehouse in the parking lot on Baldwin Ave- home turf. Meet at 7.30 a.m. in the grassy area instructions or possible cancellations that may nue, Arcadia, just south of Fwy 210, on the west behind the Nature Center parking lot (major have occurred by the Thursday before the trip. side of the street. No admission fee. [LA, p.28, bucks to park here!) To get to the park and find C-4] free parking, take the 605 Fwy south to Spring Notations in parentheses after trip listings refer Street; head west and make a U-turn, then park to Thomas Bros, map page an d grid coordinates Saturday, March 24 - Bolsa Chica and Newport along Spring before the flood control channel. (county, page number, grid coordinates). Back Bay. Irwin Woldman will lead this trip to Take the sidewalk over the channel to the park- the best-known estuaries in the L.A. Basin. ing lot on your right, then proceed to the back of Sunday, March 4 - Topanga State Park. Leader Wintering and early migrant shorebirds should the lot. [LA, p.72,F-l] Gerry Haigh will guide participants through this be looking dapper by now. Other birds to look beautiful nearby area. The group will look at for include scoters, rails, ducks, gulls and Sunday, April 8 - Providence Mts. and Vicinity. wintering and resident species in the sycamores, Belding's Savannah Sparrow. Meet at 8 a.m. in Leader Chet McGaugh. If you are intrigued by grassland, scrub oak and chaparral. This is an the Bolsa Chica estuary parking lot on the east the eastern Mojave Desert but wouldn't know ideal trip for a beginning birder or for someone side of the Pacific Coast Hwy. Take the 405 Fwy where to start on your own, this trip may be of new to the area. Meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot past the 605 Fwy to Valley View. Exit and follow special interest. Chethas spent considerable time of Trippet Ranch. From Topanga Canyon Blvd. Valley View south as it becomes Bolsa Chica in these areas and hopes to find Crissal and heading south, take a very sharp turn east (left if Road, turn west at the end onto Warner, then left Bendire's Thrashers singing on their nesting heading south from the San Fernando Valley) onto PCH. You will pass the small parking lot for grounds. The far reaches of the desert are pres- uphill onto Entrada Drive (7 miles south of the Bolsa Chica estuary on your left and will ently under severe legislative scrutiny. Aside Ventura Blvd. and 1 mile north of Topanga Vil- have to make a U-turn farther down to get back from seeing early breeding and migrating birds, lage). Follow the signs to the state park. $3 park- to the lot. A large turnout of participants may you can firm up your knowledge and apprecia- ing fee. [LA, p.l 09, D-4] require some paid parking across the street. A tion of this very scenic desert area. Plan to do a fee may be charged at Newport Back Bay. Bring lot of driving Saturday afternoon (and Sunday Saturday, March 10 - Ballona Wetlands - a lunch and scopes. [OR, p.25, D-2] evening), as we will meet at 6 a.m. Sunday CANCELLED. See April 14. morning at Pike's Coffee Shop in Baker. Take Sunday, March 25 - Malibu Lagoon. Fourth Sun- Hwy 15 east 60 miles past Barstow; take the Sunday, March 11 - Sepulveda Basin Natural day of each month. Meet at 8.30 a.m. in the lagoon Baker turnoff (Hwy 127) into town, and Pike's Area. Leader Dustin Alcala hopes to find fair parking lot (daily fee) on the ocean side of PCH, will be on the left side of the road. Reserve with numbers of the waterfowl and raptors that ex- just north of the lagoon bridge. You can also turn Audubon House. Fee: $16. 20 maximum. Call ploded into this area when the lake bed was into town for street parking. This walk is under Nick Freeman at (213) 596-6172 with yourname, finally filled with water. There should also be the leadership of a member of the Santa Monica phone number and address for accommodation some grassland/riparian/shorebird activity. Audubon Society. [LA, p.114, B-5] information as it becomes available. Meet at Woodley Park at 7.30 a.m. To get there, Continued on page 11