Volume 60, Number 1 September 2014 San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex From remnant sand dunes to tidal salt marsh, from rocky, offshore islands to verdant seasonal wetlands, the San Francisco Bay Na- tional Wildlife Refuge Complex is a collection of seven National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)—Antioch Dunes, San Pablo Bay, Marin Islands, and the Don Ed- wards NWRs in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Ellicott Slough and Salinas River NWRs in the Monterey Bay Area, and the Farallon Islands. These refuges are devoted to preserv- ing migratory birds, endangered species, and other fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. The refuges also offer wildlife-dependent public uses including hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, nature observation, interpreta- tion, and environmental education. Despite booming industries and growing populations in one of the largest urban areas in the coun- try, these National Wildlife Refuges preserve incredibly diverse and healthy ecosystems. Our guest speaker, Anne Morkill, will provide Osprey with fish. Photographed at Lafayette Reservoir by Kai Mills. an overview of each of the ref- FWS first in 1990, she worked as a Refuge Bi- BIRDING INFORMATION uges’ unique ologist for the Alamosa‒Monte Vista NWR in Kai Mills from our Young Birders Club natural and south-central Colorado. In 1992, she moved will share photos and talk about some of cultural histo- to Alaska to work as a Wildlife Biologist for his recent sightings. ry and discuss the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) how today’s and later rejoined the USFWS as Assistant challenges of Refuge Manager for the Arctic NWR and Meeting Schedule urbanization, subsequently as Deputy Refuge Manager for The next general meeting of invasive spe- the Alaska Maritime NWR Complex based Mount Diablo Audubon Society cies, and cli- in Homer, Alaska. In 2006, Anne moved to will be Thursday, September 4, in mate change the Camellia Room of The Gardens her home state of Florida to work as Project at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. are being met through habitat restoration and Leader for the Florida Keys NWR Complex. 7:00 pm Birding Information public engagement. In 2012, Anne returned west to manage the 7:25 pm Announcements Anne Morkill received a B.S. in Wildlife San Francisco Bay NWR Complex. Anne 7:40 pm Refreshments,* raffle Biology from Colorado State University currently resides in San Leandro with her 8:05 pm Speaker: Anne Morkill (1986) and a M.S. in Zoology from the Uni- partner Harry and dogs Molly and Daisy, * Please remember to bring a cup. versity of Wyoming (1990). She started her and they enjoy exploring the diverse natural, Thursday, October 2: Marie Read professional career with the Wyoming Game historical, and culinary venues that abound Birds of the Mono Lake Region and Fish Department in 1986. Joining the US- in the San Francisco Bay Area. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— September 2014 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Welcome I love to read newspapers. I subscribe birds. I have decided to resign from the to four daily papers including the New York board. It has taken more time than I real- New Members Times. It is a daily ritual for me to get up, ized and there are other folks in the wings retrieve my papers and sit in my chair with to serve. I will submit a letter of resignation Thomas Flaherty Clayton our cat Frida on my lap and read the papers. soon. It has been a great experience to see Bob Hislop Concord I always look forward to Joan Morris’ column what Audubon California is doing in our The Reese Family Pleasanton as she often gets questions about birds. I state. Grace Mannell Danville send her questions from time to time also. We are back in business at Mount Dia- Joe Schellenberg Concord The New York Times had a great article a blo Audubon. Our first meeting is coming couple of weeks ago, July 27 to be exact, up and it proves to be a great season again. about the actress Jane Alexander and the Our program chair, Ariana Rickard, has fact that she is an avid bird watcher. (I am put together a lot of great programs. Lots not a big movie buff so I am not sure I have of field trips are scheduled and our board Please Note ever seen Jane Alexander in a film.) It was a of directors is working hard for the chapter. The General Meeting for January, well written article and talked about many of I hope you will get to the meetings and go 2015, will be on the second Thursday, the places to bird in and around New York on a field trip. January 8, and not on January 1, New City. Fun reading. Year's Day. Speaking of Joan Morris, she is seeking input on the issue of keeping your cat in- _ doors or not keeping it indoors. Our Mount Diablo Audubon chapter has taken a pretty One More for Your Life List By Steve Glover strong position and advises not letting your The annual Ameri- cat outside. As you know studies have been can Ornithologists’ Union done that probably over two billion birds Checklist Supplement, are killed a year by cats. Seventy percent are published online on July killed by feral cats, but people’s house cats 30th, includes a revision kill the other 30%. If you have an opinion let of the taxonomic status of Joan know your thoughts. the “large rails,” which we As most of you know I was asked a have traditionally called couple of years ago to serve on the Audubon the Clapper and King Rails. California board of directors. The board The King Rail has been meets four or five times a year for two to split into two species: The three days. We meet all around the state familiar King Rail of the east- to see what is happening with habitats and ern U.S. retains its English and scientific names (Rallus elegans), while populations in BY ELLIS MYERS PHOTO BAYLANDS, ALTO PALO This is a somewhat secretive Mexico’s interior and western coast are now Coast from Santa Barbara County south bird of the grasslands, and as known as “Aztec Rail” (Rallus tenuirostris). to extreme northern Mexico. The “Yuma Q grasslands become shopping Rail,” of the form yumanensis, is found centers and housing devel- Of greater interest to California birders in freshwater marshes in southeastern opments, it has become a species of is a three-way split of the Clapper Rails. The California, including at the Salton Sea and special concern in California. It is listed Clapper Rails on the east coast (including along the Colorado River. The “California as endangered in some other states. Texas) have retained the name Clapper Rail but the scientific name is now Rallus Rail,” of the form obsoletus, now occurs only Unscramble these letters, or turn to crepitans. Our local Clapper Rails are now around the shores of San Francisco, San Page 6 to learn more. known as Ridgway’s Rail and have been Pablo and Suisun Bays, though it formerly AAEGHOOPPPRRRRSSSW given the scientific name Rallus obsoletus. ranged at least as far south as Morro Bay So if you have seen a Clapper Rail back east and as far north as Humboldt Bay. This is and a Clapper Rail in California, pat yourself the subspecies one would see (with patience on the back (or clap!)—your life list grew by or a very high tide) at the Palo Alto Bay- The Quail is published monthly except one without leaving the house! The third lands or at Meeker Slough in Richmond. January and August by Mount Diablo species, the Mangrove Rail (Rallus longiro- For many, the new name Ridgway’s Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut stris), is confined to coastal South America. Rail will take some getting used to. Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed on 30% post-consumer waste recycled Ridgway’s Rail includes three known However, we might all take comfort in paper. The deadline for the October issue subspecies, each of which occurs in the fact that Robert Ridgway, one of is September 9. California: The “Light-footed Rail,” of the America’s greatest ornithologists, finally form levipes, is found along the Pacific has an English bird name to his credit! the Quail —2— September 2014 Buy a Duck Stamp! Observations By Maury Stern The big event of the period was the finding On 7/22, LK and AL saw an adult Pecto- of Contra Costa’s first Red-necked Stint by ral Sandpiper. Usually the juveniles arrive Logan Kahle at the West County Waste- early, but this year a number of adults have water Ponds in Richmond on 7/20. Many appeared around the Bay Area. people saw the bird before it left in a few JA and LK found about 100 Wilson’s days. LK, BD, JS, RCu, TL, CS, GC, DM, Phalaropes and two Red-breasted MR, CD, LH, MP, DS, AL Phalaropes at the Waterbird Way ponds The Arctic and mountain migrants have just over the hill from McNabney Marsh started to return with some early shore- on 7/20. There were four Red-breasted birds and warblers arriving. Phalaropes there on 7/23. MP. The new 2014-2015 Federal Duck Stamp is now on sale. The 81st Federal Up to 7 Brant have been near the viewing About 150 Elegant Terns were roosting Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation platform along Meeker Slough in Rich- on Brooks Island on 7/30.