The Newsletter of the Santa Clara Audubon Society Jan. - Feb. 2004 Good news, bad news Young Audubon BurrowingOwls take a big hit; promisingnew California State Park Rangers wlzale-watclziug restorationgroup convenes - all in one day Association filed the petition to excursion list the Burrowing Owl. We by Craig Breon knew we faced an uphill battle , Sec Page 5 Executive Director but we also believed we had the scientific information needed to What a day - it would be tough to imagine one of greater meet the applicable legal standard- "threatened with extinction contrasts. On the morning of December 4th the California Fish overall, or a significant portion of its range" in the State and Game Commission voted 4-0 to reject our petition to list the (emphasis added). , Burrowing Owl as a Threatened or Endangered Species in the We could show that the owl was extirpated (i.e., locally state, ending yet another chapter in the sad demise of Santa extinct) or nearly extirpated in 10-20% of its historic range in Clara County 's Burrowing Owl population . On that same California. We could also show that the owl was in severe, or afternoon of December 4th the California Coastal Commission at least significant , decline in another 40 % of its range . convened the first meeting of the South Bay Salt Pond Nonetheless, we also admitted from the beginning that the Restoration Stakeholders Forum, designed to help guide the Burrowing Owl retains healthy populations in several areas­ restoration of 16,000 acres of wetlands and associated habitats in particular the Imperial Valley , where more than 70% of the in the South Bay. Whiplash! - stinging defeat and then radiant statewide breeding owl pairs likely reside, the Palo Verde hope within a few hour s ! Valley along the Colorado River , and the Southern San Joaquin SCV AS has been and will continue to be an integral part of Valley . these two major conservation effort s. Exactly where we go The Fish and Game Commission , consisting of four men from here I cannot tell you. Frankly , I could use some advice. (the fifth having been recently appointed to a position in the new Schwarzenegger administration) would decide the future The Petition direction for the owl: continued decline and eventual In April of 2003, SCV AS and the Center for Biological disappearance from much of the state, or a renewed focus of our Diversity , Defenders of Wildlife, San Bernardino Valley conservation energies, perhap s leading to recovery in some Audubon Society, Tri-County Conservation League , and areas and stability statewide. We were dealt a significant setback by the Department offish General Membership Meeting and Game (DFG ) staff , who in "Woodpecker Wonderland" October issued a staff report recommending denial of the with Steve Shunk petition . The staff report hardly Palo Alto Arts Center, Newell & Embarcadero Rds. discussed the "significant portion of its range" issue, focusing instead Wednesday,Jan.14 continued on Page 10 Doors open 7:30; program 8:00 On the east slope of Oregon's Cascade Mountains stretches a 15-mile swath of forest where 11 species of woodpeckers, half of those occurring in North America , annually • 1st countyPinyan Jays raise their young . The region 's volcanic soils and extreme elevational variation in rainfall -Field Notes,Page 6 support tremendous habitat diversity , the key to its woodpecker variety . White-headed Woodpeckers abound in the ponderosa pine forest; Lewis 's breed in snags at thejuniper­ • Birdingin Kauai- Page8 pine interface ; Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers range from subalpine forest into the blackest of burns ; and three different sapsuckers hold territories throughout the ♦ EPA- Wetlandscause region . Join Oregon naturalist Stephen Shunk for this exciting introduction to the ecology pollution(?!)-Page 11 cont 'd on Page 5 TheAvocet 1 Jan. - Feb. 2004 Field Trips raptors. San Francisco 's second largest park, McLaren Park, features land birds and a few Please carpool if possible ; bring binocu­ Saturday Jan. 17, 8:30 AM lars, field guides, layered clothing. dabbling ducks . Other lesser known but birdy Coyote Point/Foster City parks may be visited, time permitting. From LO = Lunch optional Half day . Leader : Al Eisner (days and Hwy 101 exit just past Brisbane Lagoon at RC= Heavy rain cancels voicemail: (650)926-2018; evenings : Candlestick/3Com Park off-ramp . Continue NF = No facilities available (650)364-3 686). Meet at parking lot adjacent east along Hamey Way , tum right onto Saturday Jan. 3, 7:30 AM to yacht club at Coyote Point. From 101 Jamestown/Hunters Point Expwy. Watch for County Chase northbound , exit at Dore Ave; immediately entrance to Candlestick State Recreation Area Half day . Leader: Bob Reiling (408)253- tum north along frontage road. After about a on right and enter (no fee). Meet at end of mile, follow road as it bears rightaroundagolf 7527. Get a head start on your County Year paved road that runs through the park . RC course . Enter park (not golf course) through List for the new year with some vagrant chas­ ing. Bring a full tank of gas, lunch, and field the kiosks (likely admission charge), continue Sunday Feb. 1, 9:00 AM along go! f course fence lo end of road . Good guides as we attempt to track down some of Charleston Slough trip for shorebirds (including "roc kbirds ") the unusual birds seen on Christmas Bird Half day . Leader : Allen Royer (408)288- and waterfowl , but we' II also look for Counts in Santa Clara County . Meet in the 7768 . Meet at Terminal Way at end of San landbirds . A scope will be very useful. Alviso Marina parking lot. From Hwy 237 in RC Antonio Rd . north off Hwy 101 in Mt. View . San Jose take Gold St. north to end of street, Birding and discussions geared toward begin­ Sunday Jan. 18, 8:00 AM bear left on Elizabeth St. then right on Hope ners . A good place to bring your scope. RC St. to Marina parking lot. Be preparedto car Almaden Lake Park, Alamitos Creek pool. RC Half day . Leader : TBD (questions· call Bob Saturday Feb. 7, 8:30 AM R. 253- 7527). Meet in west parking lot of Coyote Reservoir Sunday Jan. 4, 9:00 AM Almaden Lake Park. From Hwy 85 take Half Day. Leader: Bob Reiling (408)253- Charleston Slough Almaden Expwy south . Park is on east (left) 7527. From Hwy 101 inGilroytakeLeavesley side of Almaden Expwy . Continue just past Half day . Leader: Roxie Handler (408)730- Rd. east for 1.5 miles , tum left on New Ave. Coleman Rd. (and Park); return northbound 1745. Meet at Terminal Way at end of San then right on Roop Rd. Go left at "T" intersec­ on Almaden Expwy to park entrance on right. Antonio Rd. north off Hwy 101 in Mt. View. tion, then after 1.3 miles left again on Coyote 3 miles of easy walking . Waterfowl, raptors, Birding will be geared toward the beginning -Reservoir Rd. and on to Lakeview Picnic and a wide variety of riparian birds . LO, RC birder but al I are encouraged to attend . Don't area. LO, RC forget to bring your spotting scope and your Saturday Jan. 24, 8:00 AM enthusiasm. RC Sunday Feb. 8, 8:30 AM Ogier Ponds Alum Rock Park Saturday Jan. 10, 8:00 AM Half day . Leader : Kirsten Holmquist Half day. Leader : Dave Cook (408)275- Oka Ponds (408)747-0988 . From Hwy 101 in Morgan 1492. From Hwy 101 or 1-680 take McKee Hill take Cochrane Rd. west to Monterey Half day . Leader : Pat Kenny (408)725-0468. Rd. northeast toward hllls then left on Toyon Hwy, tum right, go north 2.6 miles, tum right From Hwy 17 in Los Gatos take Lark Ave exit Ave, right on Penitencia Creek Rd. and on on unnamed road toward Model Airplane west. Tum right on Oka Rd, left on Mozart into park. Continue under bridge and meet at Park where power towers cross Hwy . Meet at Ave and immediately right on Oka Lane . far end of upper parking lot. Moderately gated entrance to ponds. RC Meet just inside gate . RC strenuous 3 to 4 mile walk . Resident breeding birds, possible Rufous-Crowned Sparrow , and Sunday Jan. 11, 8:00 AM Sunday Jan. 25, 8:00 AM Canyon Wren , early migrants, lingering win­ Panoche Valley Fremont Lagoons ter birds . Be prepared for some mud! LO, RC Half day . Leader : Bob Reiling (408)253- Full day. Leader: Clay Kempf (831 )761-8260 . 7527. From 1-880 north of San Jose take Meet at Paicines Store on Hwy 25 approx . 11 Wednesday Feb.11, 8:30 AM Gateway Blvd exit west, tum left on Fremont miles south of Hollister. One of the better trips Alum Rock Park Blvd. Park in lot on right at end of street. of the year, traversing oak woodland and open Half day. Leader: Rick Page (408) 377-1092. Come prepared to help me ID gulls. Possible grassland via back roads . Targeted _speci~s See directions above. May be muddy . LO, RC Thayer 's, Glaucous Gulls . Be sure to bring include Phainopepla, Mountain Bluebird, Prai­ your scope. RC rie Falcon , Ferruginous Hawk , Golden Eagle ; Saturday/Sunday Feb. 14 - 15 other possibilities include Mountain Plover , San Luis Obispo County Wednesday Jan. 28, 9:00 AM Bald Eagle, Vesper Sparrow, Greater Road­ Two days. Leader : Jim Royer (e-mail address Charleston Slough runner and Chukar . Bring lunch and a full tank below , questions call Bob Reiling (408)253- Leader : Rose Green (650) 493-8378. Meet at of gas, carpooling is strongly recommended 7527). Two full days of birding by car cara­ Terminal Way at end of San Antonio Rd.