Volume 57, Number 3 November 2011 Burrowing Owls in California Jack Barclay Jack Barclay has devoted twenty years to Burrowing Owl conservation. He com- ments, “Ecologically, Burrowing Owls are like weeds. They move in and out of disturbed areas depending on the natural habitat. They move into developmental projects and stay for a year or two as long as the vegetation is short, but when the vegetation begins to grow they will leave.” Burrowing Owls are playful, nine-inch- tall birds with bold, lemon-colored eyes. They are the only North American bird of prey that nests exclusively underground. They are called “Burrowing Owls” but the birds prefer to let other animals, such as ground squirrels, do the digging. They often decorate their burrow entrances with dung, animal parts, bottle caps, aluminum foil and other trash. This behavior may benefit the birds by attracting insects or signaling Burrowing Owls. Photo by Scott Hein that the burrow is occupied. Burrowing habitat. Mr. Barclay is a senior wildlife Owls are active during the day, and dur- and San Jose and has created plans for an biologist who specializes in the biology ing breeding season a sun-bleached male artificial burrow that is used in many loca- and conservation of Burrowing Owls. As stands guard at the burrow entrance. He tions. In 2003, he organized and chaired the cofounder of Albion Environmental, he brings food to the female as she cares for first California Burrowing Owl Symposium. devotes his time to inventory and impact six to eight chicks in the burrow. Prior to coming to California, Mr. assessment of special-status wildlife spe- Jack Barclay first studied these birds Barclay spent eleven years at the Cornell cies as defined by the California Environ- University Laboratory of Ornithology as in the close-cropped fields near airport mental Quality Act and the Endangered runways that offer good Burrowing Owl coordinator of the Peregrine Falcon rein- Species Act. In addition, his work involves troduction program for the eastern United mitigation planning and environmental States. He has published many articles and compliance management for special status contributed chapters to books on raptor Meeting Schedule projects such as pipelines and airports. biology, conservation, and management. The next general meeting of Since 1989, Mr. Barclay has managed Mount Diablo Audubon Society the San Jose International Airport’s bird BIRDING INFORMATION will be Thursday, November 3, in monitoring program that includes Bur- Last spring, Jimm Edgar, Kent Fickett the Camellia Room of The Gardens and Bill Chilson flew to Maui to attempt at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. rowing Owl management. He provided a a new record for most species seen in one 7:00 pm Birding Information Burrowing Owl management plan for the 7:25 pm Announcements airport that integrates long-term mainte- day of birding on the island. Did they meet 7:40 pm Refreshments,* raffle nance of the owl population with airport their goal? Come and find out as they share 8:05 pm Speaker: Jack Barclay maintenance and development. He has also their "Big Day in Hawaii" experience. It was * Please remember to bring a cup. developed citywide Burrowing Owl miti- quite an adventure. gation plans for the cities of Morgan Hill [Oh, by the way, of course they did!] DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— November 2011 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar I recently bought a small book a friend had recommended called A California Welcome Bestiary. I have to admit that I had to look up the meaning of the word “bestiary.” It New Members means “a collection of descriptions of real Dayna Beaubien Pleasant Hill or imaginary animals.” The book is written Edith Black Orinda by Rebecca Solnit whom many of you prob- ably know from some of her other works. Richard Bogaert Martinez One of our members, Maury Stern, was Katie Jahns Pleasant Hill quite familiar with her work, particularly Christy and Norm Lundberg Martinez her book Wanderlust: A History of Walking. A California Bestiary has 14 chapters each Mary Elizabeth Sanyal Walnut Creek taking a few pages to talk about a particular real animal. Everything from Tule Elk to Monarch Butterflies to Acorn Woodpeck- ers. The friend who had told me about the book thought I would find interesting the The Quail is published monthly except chapter on Acorn Woodpeckers. It says this: Acorn Woodpecker January and August by Mount Diablo “These small black-backed woodpeckers Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut with their red yarmulkes are extraordinary read some of the news surrounding the Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is for what they do with acorns: gathering movie. It is taken from the book of the printed on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. them, one at a time and placing them in same name written by Mark Obmascik The deadline for the December/January issue is November 8. holes they have drilled in tree bark, tele- that chronicled the lives of three men who phone poles, fence poles and most recently, in 1998 set out to see how many birds each amid much ruckus, the sides of buildings could see in the year and who could see would not have sold many tickets probably. in an affluent retirement community in the the most birds. Audubon magazine in the You can watch a trailer on the movie at East Bay.” (Emphasis added.) This is refer- September-October issue did an interview www.thebigyearmovie.com, or for theaters ence to the infamous dealings our chapter with the actors who play the three. Steve and showtimes, see www.imdb.com/show- had with Rossmoor re: their permit to kill Martin is the lead actor. National Audubon times. The Audubon logo appears a number 50 Acorn Woodpeckers that were drilling is suggesting it might be a way to attract of times in the movie. It will be interesting the holes in buildings. So we made it into a new members to local chapters. The movie to see what response people have to “The book. It is a great little book. is what the studio calls a “buddy comedy.” Big Year.” Also of note is the opening in October It does take some liberty with the original I hope to see you at a meeting this fall of the movie “The Big Year.” You may have story, but the original story, if stuck to, or on one of our great field trips. New Rules for Gray Lodge at dusk Wildlife Watchers cal Reserve, which will Californians who enjoy visiting the continue to sell daily and state’s wildlife areas and ecological reserves annual passes at its Visi- are reminded that day-use and annual pass- tors Center. es are no longer sold at on-site checkpoints. Visitors who have a As of Monday, October 3, visitors to these valid California hunting areas must make an advance purchase of or fishing license may a $4.32 daily lands pass or a $22.68 annual obtain an entry permit by lands pass, either online at www.dfg.ca.gov/ presenting their license licensing or at one of the California De- at the area, and are not partment of Fish and Game’s 1,500 license required to purchase a agents or license sales offices. (Please note pre-paid daily or annual that daily passes purchased online cannot pass. However, hunters be printed immediately and require mail are reminded that license delivery. If those items are needed imme- include Gray Lodge, Grizzly Island, Los sales at the checkpoints have also been dis- diately, they should be purchased directly Banos, San Jacinto and Imperial Wildlife continued, and all licenses and stamps must from a license agent or at a DFG counter.) Areas, and Elkhorn Slough and Upper be purchased ahead of time (also online or The areas that require day-use or Newport Bay Ecological Reserves. The only from an agent or sales office). annual passes for non-hunting visitors exception is the Elkhorn Slough Ecologi- California DFG, October 5, 2011 the Quail —2— November 2011 Art Show a Grand Success The Art Exhibit at the Lynn House Gallery in Antioch from September 10‒24 presented the work of fourteen MDAS members and received a warm welcome from the community. Paintings and wa- tercolors were shown by Gloria Cannon, Debra Kirshen, H. Dave Kwinter. Meg Sandri, Julia Starr, Maury Stern, and Joel Summerhill. Photographs were displayed by Hugh Harvey, Scott Hein, Jean Matuska, *Gloria Cannon and Third Place entry David Merrill, Wendy Murphy, Ellis Myers, Antioch Breakwater; and Paul Schorr. The Best of Show award was given to Julia Starr for her painting "Hunters". First Place belonged to Scott Hein for a photo "Ocean Sunfish". Jean Matuska's "Burrowing Owl, Cesar Chavez Park" took Second Place, and Gloria Cannon's paint- ing " Antioch Breakwater" took Third Prize. Honorable Mention ribbons were awarded to H. Dave Kwinter for his painting "Night Bird" and to Ellis Myers for his photo "Antelope Canyon II". The show was held in cooperation with the The Arts and Cultural Foundation *Jean Matuska and Second Place of Antioch, its Executive Director Diane Burrowing Owl, Cesar Chavez Park; Gibson-Gray, and was organized for MDAS by Joel Summerhill. Upper left: Best in Show, Hunters, by Julia Starr; Center left Scott Hein's Checker Lily, Mitchell Canyon. Scott won First Prize for his photo Ocean Sunfish Lower left *Jillian,11 and Christian Cooper, 7, friends of Meg Sandri, enjoy the exhibit Lower right Night Bird by H. Dave Kwinter (below), American Dipper by Meg Sandri, (above left) Coffee Pot by Deborah Kirshen, (above right) * Photos by Diane Gibson-Gray.