The OBSERVER Sacramento Audubon Society General PROP 21: IMPORTANT FOR WILDLIFE AND FOR PARKS The Sacramento Audubon Board fully supports Proposition 21 Meeting The Sacramento Audubon Society urges a YES vote on this measure by its members to secure a stable and sustainable future for California’s State Parks for present and Thursday, October 21 future generations. Shepard Garden and Arts Center If California voters support Proposition 21 – the State Parks Access Pass – we 7pm General Meeting will have not only a stable funding source for state parks, but a much-needed boost of $35 million annually for our state wildlife areas and ecological reserves. The measure The Saga of Sibbaldus would give every Californian free day use of state parks in exchange for a new $18 Slide presentation by Ron LeValley vehicle license fee, and seven percent of this revenue would go to public lands man- Sibbaldus was the genus of the blue aged by the California Department of Fish & Game (DFG). whale when it was first named. This pre- There are 240 of these properties scattered throughout California, totaling almost a sentation will review the biology of this million acres and providing habitat for more than 1,275 species of birds, mammals, fascinating and beautiful animal. Blue reptiles, amphibians, and fish, including many that are listed as threatened or endan- whales are the largest known living ani- gered. These lands also provide Californians with excellent opportunities to enjoy the mals on earth. The largest blue whale ever outdoors through wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting. recorded was a female who weighed 190 If you have ever visited Mendota Wildlife Area, Los Banos Wildlife Area, or Yolo tons and measured 110’, 2” long. Blue Wildlife Area, you have witnessed the rich abundance of wildlife that DFG works hard whales have the largest mouth in the his- to preserve. In fact, DFG manages these lands to provide diverse habitats such as tory of the world and can take the biggest seasonal wetlands, permanent ponds, semi-permanent and standing grain, flooded bites ever known, which is why they can riparian woodlands, and flooded pastures. At Shasta Valley Wildlife Area in Siskiyou grow so large. They also have hearts the size County, managed grazing systems have created a diverse mix of shortgrass pasture of Volkswagens habitats for both geese and cranes. At Upper Butte Basin Wildlife to pump blood Area, restored riparian habitat is benefiting a host of neotropical to their mas- migrant songbirds and a variety of other wildlife. Planting of native sive brains and willows and cottonwoods at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, enhanced bodies. Blue habitat for all wildlife and provided greater opportunities for wild- whales roam life viewing. PROP 21 continued on page 6 all the oceans, but the 2-3,000 whales that occur along the Pacific Coast constitute the whale that came ashore near Fort Bragg last fall. Ron spent many world’s healthi- weeks watching blue whales in Baja California over a twenty year est population. Blue Whale period. He will review what is known, and what is not known Ron LeValley Many mysteries remain about blue whales. The presentation will include many slides of about the endangered blue the “Mendocino Blue Whale” as well as shots of blues from Ron’s whales, including where they mate and give recent Baja trip. Ron’s talk will also include recordings of the deep, bone-vibrating sounds birth. Biologist Ron LeValley will present that emanate from blue whales (great for kids!). most of what is known in an illustrated Ron has been photographing nature for over 40 years. He is a founding member of the presentation focusing on a recent trip to Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild and Gallery in Fort Bragg. As a professional pho- see the blue whales in Baja California and the effort to save the skeleton of a blue General Meeting continued on page 7 VOLUME 62 • NO. 8 OCTOBER 2010 Field Trip Findings Sacramento Regional County Sanitation the morning at Five Brooks, where winds Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area/Davis District Bufferlands (9/15) — Leader were calm and birding was good. Bird Wetlands (8/22) — Leader Frank Chris Conard reported: “On a nice morn- activity was high and included Western Gray Reported: “Our group had a good ing 18 of us enjoyed a three-mile walk Wood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, 4 morning birding, although birding was through the Bufferlands. Migrant song- species of warbler, 3 species of vireo, somewhat slower than last year at this birds were in moderate numbers, and Winter Wren and Hairy Woodpecker, time due to less areas being inundated. many were not too visible. Perhaps the among others. Although birding was rela- Nonetheless, there was a good variety best observation was of two groups of tively slow on the Outer Point, we did of species in varied habitats. Highlights Vaux’s Swifts totaling about 10 birds. We record Pacific and Common Loons, and included a great close-up look at a Sora, had multiple views of Wilson’s, Yellow, Pigeon Guillimot on the water; and some which provided great photo opportunities. and Orange-crowned Warblers, great good finds in the trees including several Wilson’s Phalaropes and a large flock of looks at a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, a species of warbler, including Hermit, one Long-billed Curlews were among species couple of Western Wood-Pewees, and or two selasphorus hummingbirds, and of note at the Davis Sewage Ponds. An lots of good views of Swainson’s Hawks a Barn Owl, as well as 2 Great Horned adult Least Bittern that was reported and a cooperative White-tailed Kite and Owls. After lunch, we decided to head in the prior two weeks didn’t appear at Cooper’s Hawk.” inland to Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, the Yolo Bypass, nor did some Baird’s Sunrise Area, American River Parkway having heard of some rarities being sight- Sandpipers. We went to the heron/egret (9-12) — Leader Mark Martucci reported: ed there. We were not disappointed. rookery on Road 103 near the end of the “Fifteen birders had 50 species of birds Besides numerous shorebird and water- trip and viewed large numbers of Cattle on a morning trip that started out cool and fowl species, we found at least 3 Pectoral Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and ended up very warm. Highlights included Sandpipers, 1 Pacific Golden-Plover, and other species there. A good time was had Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood- an unexpected Solitary Sandpiper. Over by all.” Pewee, Western Tanager, Phainopepla, all, 13 of us tallied about 105 species Marin County Shorebirds (8/21) — Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, for the day.” Leader Dan Williams reported: “Our day Wilson’s Warbler and Black-Throated Sacramento Regional County Sanitation started out foggy and cool, but pleasant. Gray Warbler.” District Bufferlands (8/29) — Leader Our first stop at Rush Creek Wetlands in Reichmuth Park (9/11) — Leader Tim Chris Conard reported: “We had a nice Novato was very slow with only a few of Manolis reported: “We had excellent morning with 15 participants. It was an the most common shorebirds present, weather, sunny and mild with no wind average to good day for migrants, with so we pressed on to Inverness and Point to speak of. About 20 folks showed up 3 Pacific-slope Flycatchers, 3 Warbling Reyes. At Abbotts Lagoon the tide waters (a bit larger group than I like to have, Vireos, a Violet-green Swallow (rare for were a bit high, and shorebird numbers because it is just about impossible for this location), 2 Orange-crowned, 3 Yellow, were again rather low, but early return- everyone to see every bird in the often 2 Black-throated Gray, 2 MacGillivray’s, ing dabbling ducks (Shovelers, Pintail, tight confines of the park’s trail sys- and 10 Wilson’s Warblers, 6 Common and Green-winged Teal) were interesting tem). Migrants were present in modest Yellowthroats, 2 Western Tanagers, and to see, as well as a few Surf Scoters, numbers. Flocking to feed on grapes, 4 Blue Grosbeaks. A few of us toured and a few Heermann’s Gulls among the Eucalyptus lerps, and other fruits were the available shorebird habitat after thousands of Californias. Our next stop American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and most of the group left, but aside from was the Drake’s Bay Oyster Farm where Western Tanagers. Warblers seen includ- a Lesser Yellowlegs and good looks at we were finally able to track down a few ed Yellow, Orange-crowned, Wilson’s, Least and Western Sandpipers, there Godwits, Willets, and peeps. From there Townsend’s and Black-throated Gray. were no standouts, like the previous we decided to try the Estero Trail after a Flycatchers seen (beside the ubiquitous day’s 5 Snowy Plovers.” kayaker mentioned she saw many shore- Black Phoebe) were Pacific-slope and Bodega Bay (8/28) — Leader Andi Salmi birds in that vicinity from the water. Willow flycatchers, Western Wood Pewee, reported: “Our group of 15 enjoyed a Sure enough there were thousands of and Olive-sided Flycatcher. Good num- sunny, breezy day at Bodega Bay, with Marbled Godwits and Willets, as well as bers of Hummingbirds, mostly Anna’s a stop at Shollenberger Park. Ed Harper several Semipalmated Plovers, and a few but including some Black-chinned and provided expert ID help as we viewed Spotted Sandpipers, and Whimbrels. This Rufous/Allen’s types, were seen. Foraging Least and Western sandpipers, Whimbrel, was supposed to be a shorebird trip, but overhead were Barn Swallows and White- Willets, and Marbled Godwit, among oth- the songbirds along the Estero Trail stole throated Swifts.