Volume 62, Number 1 September 2016 September Program: Wildlife Photography ✦ Brent Paull Born in Redwood City in 1959, p h o t o g r a p h e r c o m e f r o m Brent was raised in Gilroy, the Garlic understanding light, composition, and Capital of the World. His family balance—skills he learned as a nature camped each summer in Yosemite photographer. National Park or at Lake Tahoe, and Brent has spent more than 700 also owned a cabin in the redwood days shooting in Yellowstone NP, and forests of Felton near Santa Cruz. He today, spends nearly 100 days a year Far L: Grizzly cubs and mom, spent countless hours exploring the l e a d i n g p h o t o Yellowstone NP; Center: Bobcat; Above: California coast and the Sierra Nevada safaris in the field Great Horned Owl, Brent Paull photos Mountains. around the West, magazine advertising, calendars, and In September 1985, during his i n c l u d i n g on product packaging, roadside senior year at BYU, he and a friend California, where billboards, and credit cards. made a trip to Yellowstone National he is best known Te Wi l d l i f e Ph o t o g r ap hy Park. Tat trip led to his first for his bobcat program will feature wildlife images published article and published photos photography. His from the American West with a and a re-awakening of his adventures photo safaris draw discussion of locations, photography as a youth in California. p h o to g r ap h e r s tactics , and image processing from around the world. techniques. He also teaches photography in 22 To learn more about Brent Paull’s cities , does some commercial photography: amwestphoto.com photography, and actively sells his images as stock and fine art. Currently, his stock library exceeds 250,000 Meeting Schedule images. Te next meeting of the Mount His images have been published Diablo Audubon Society will be throughout the United States and in Tursday, September 1 in the many foreign countries. Brent has had Camellia Room of Te Gardens at approximately 1100 publication credits Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. From that point on, Brent was and over 700 commercial image sales determined to create a life for himself as well as 28 published articles and 10 630 PM Doors open shooting nature photography in the magazine covers. Besides magazines 700 PM Birding Information western United States and by writing (including Bird Watcher's Digest and 725 PM Announcements about all he saw and discovered. Birder's World) and newspapers, his 740 PM Refreshments* and raffle After more than a decade of images have appeared in books, online 805 PM Program: Brent Paull shooting freelance for magazines, he magazines, business brochures, *Bring your own cup for tea or coffee. ventured into portrait photography. professional reports, nature guides, Brent’s strengths as a portrait government reports and brochures, NEXT MONTH’S PROGRAM: Tursday, October 6, 2016 A New Vision for the Salton Sea✦ Birding Information Andrea Jones, Director of Bird Marcia Grefsrud will talk about the American Bushtits nesting in her backyard, the Conser vation for Audub on life history of this species, and her observations of a breeding pair over a 5-year period. California DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Well, we are off to another year with MDAS and, once I have a new interest that I am going to pursue this again, it looks like a wonderful year with more great month: what I think about the collective names for groups of programs, field trips (see page 10 for the 2016-2017 Field Trip birds. We all know about a “murder of crows” to describe a Schedule by Hugh Harvey) and much more. I sure hope you group of crows and, of course, a “gaggle of geese.” I have also will take advantage of all that is being offered. read about a “parliament of owls.” And, as near as I can tell, I wanted to mention, even though it was some time ago, most birds species have a similar naming. Anyway, I am going an article by Tom Stienstra, Outdoor Editor for the San to try and track this down. If any of you know about these Francisco Chronicle. On June 12, 2016, Tom had a nice mention collective bird names and their history, let me know. It will be of Brian Murphy, MDAS Volunteer Coordinator. Te article interesting to find out more about this topic. had a photo Brian had taken of two baby foxes in a storm We have sold our house in the Oakland hills and are now drain in front of his house. Te article is really quite touching living in the Walnut Creek Manor, a senior living spot in and the photo is great too. (see July/August Quail, page 3 Walnut Creek, so I am much closer to all of our MDAS article and photos) Brian is one of our chapter’s best activities and events. We are going to have a second home in photographers and we use lots of his pictures in the Quail. I southern Alabama and I recently came across a brochure on hope you can go back and archive this article. (http:// an upcoming birding festival there the weekend of October www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Spring-gives-birth-to- 5-8. I hope I can get in on some of it—should be fun. new-wildlife-8051430.php) I hope to see you at an MDAS event this year! Good News For Volunteer Thanks Welcome California Wildlife Te MDAS booth at the Martinez New Members Tanks to the support from Beaver Festival was a huge success thanks to the efforts of Brian Murphy Bernard Della Santa Walnut Creek advocates like you, Audubon California Bryan McElderry Lafayette energized our network to advocate and and Nina and Leary Wong. Initially, most attendees came by the MDAS table Juan Rodgriquez-Paris Walnut Creek fight for nontoxic, nonlead ammunition Steven Tornburgh Berkeley for all hunting in California, helping to with their children to collect charms for ensure the continued survival of their bracelets, a festival activity, but scavenger species like the iconic many returned because Leary simply MDAS on the Web California Condor. asked, “Do you like going on bird walks?” www.diabloaudubon.org Lead ammunition has also poisoned www.diabloaudubon.org/mobile eagles, owls, and dabbling ducks as well (mobile only) as mammals like bobcats and coyotes. www.facebook/mtdiabloaudubon But because of your support, we got www.meetup.com/Mount-Diablo- the lead out! In October 2013, Assembly Audubon-Society/ Bill 711 was signed into law requiring the use of nonlead ammunition by Ti s b i r d s i n g s a hunters in California. Sponsored d i s t i n c t i v e “ D aw n by Audubon California, Defenders of Song” before sunrise Wildlife, and Te Humane Society of the Q stopping when the sun United States, the law took effect in appears. Although not phases. Phase 1, implemented last year, a local species, this bird re quire d the use of nonleade d has been observed in Contra Costa ammunition on Nelson Bighorn Sheep County each winter since 2012. A and all wildlife on CDFW lands. Pierre and Dimitry Bull had a dam good group of these birds is called a Effective July 1, 2016, Phase 2 took time at the Beaver Festival in Martinez, coronation. effect. California hunters are required to Ariana Rickard photo Unscramble these letters or turn use nonlead shot with a few exceptions Leary Wong said, "Nina and I had a to page 7 to learn more. for certain birds on the land of licensed lot of fun meeting possible birders at the ABCDGIIIKLNOPRRT game bird clubs. Tis is a major Festival. When we asked the people milestone YOU helped us accomplish. stopping by if they were interested in the Te Quail is published monthly In Phase 3, coming in 2019, all lead Audubon walks, their eyes lit up. Te except in January and August by the shot will be prohibited completely for all idea of walking with knowledgeable Mount Diablo Audubon Society, P.O. species. ~Brigid McCormack, Exec. birders in a safe group was a key B o x 5 3 , Wa l n u t C r e e k , C A Director, Audubon California element. Te description of field trips in 94597-0053. Te deadline for the And, that’s good news for California the Quail nicely explained the details of October Quail is September 16. wildlife our trips.” ~Maren Smith the Quail —2 — September 2016 A Canyon Wren was seen and Observations By Maury Stern heard by JH 7/12 about ¾ mile below the Mt. Diablo South Gate Ranger Te big event of the summer was Sandpipers at Meeker Slough 7/31. Station. the discovery of a Hooded Warbler in LK, EM A Yellow-breasted Chat was at Redwood Regional Park by Logan A Pigeon Guillemot was off shore Bethel Island 6/13 and 7/2. LK, JL Kahle, on June 29 on the Stream Trail of Ferry Point in Pt. Richmond from TH saw a Rufous-crowned just up from the Eucalyptus Trail. At 6/6 to 6/24. MP, HB, DQ, AL, ESo, SD Sparrow at Sibley Preserve 6/16. least 60 people reported seeing the Two hundred Caspian Tern were A very early Golden-crowned warbler.