Volume 59, Number 7 April 2014 California Condors ✦ David Moen California Condors, North America's largest flying land bird (by wingspan, 9.5 feet), are scavengers which feed exclusively on carcasses, and they can be poisoned by contaminants in those carcasses. Lead poi- soning, as a result of lead bullet fragments in game carcasses or waste piles, remains foremost among threats, despite the recent ban on lead bullets in the condor's range. How does lead poisoning happen in condors and other scavenging birds? Scavengers eat many different types of animals, some of which are shot with lead projectiles. Animals either left behind in the field, such as ground squirrels and coyotes, or animals shot and unable to be recovered, contain lead fragments left behind in the shot animal. Condors and other wildlife cause wild populations in both California BIRDING INFORMATION often ingest large chunks of flesh and some- and Arizona are still below this target, and times bone and cannot distinguish between require management assistance to sustain Meghan Hertel, Audubon California’s a tiny lead fragment from a bullet versus a growth in the population, there is still much Associate Director of Public Policy, will pebble, for example. Once ingested, the di- work to be done. discuss the steps being taken to restore the second largest river in California, the San gestive system interacts with the lead bullet David Moen has worked in avian moni- Joaquin River. This presentation will take which leaches the lead into the bloodstream toring and environmental education since viewers on a photographic journey that of the animal that ingested it. Lead in blood 1998. David has been actively engaged in highlights the river’s history, its importance rises dramatically after ingestion of a lead California Condor research and manage- to birds, wildlife and humans, and efforts object and within days the animals feels the ment since 2002, when he joined Ventana to save this river. effects. Every individual condor lost to lead Wildlife Society. His interest in condors poisoning greatly affects the population developed into a graduate degree program recovery program. at Portland State University focusing on In 1987, the California Condor was condor restoration. He conducted the first Meeting Schedule extinct in the wild and there were only 26 California Condor habitat assessments The next general meeting of condors left in captivity. Because of the in the Pacific Northwest and designed Mount Diablo Audubon Society will be Thursday, April 3, in the efforts of the Ventana Wildlife Society and research methods to search for former Camellia Room of The Gardens at the staff at Pinnacles National Park, the nesting sites in Oregon. During that time, Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. California Condor population in central David partnered with the Oregon Zoo, pro- 7:00 pm Birding Information California now exceeds 50 birds. The viding tours of the condor breeding facility 7:25 pm Announcements overall wild population approaches 200 and outreach presentations to over 2,500 7:40 pm Refreshments,* raffle birds. The goals for the California Condor people. David rejoined Ventana Wildlife 8:05 pm Speaker: David Moen Recovery Program are two self-sustaining Society's Species Recovery Program in Please remember to bring a cup. wild populations (California and Arizona) 2011 after assisting with nest entries, field Thursday, May 1: Michael Starkey and one captive population, each with at observations, and condor trap-ups at the Save the Frogs! least 150 birds, and 15 breeding pairs. Be- Santa Barbara Zoo. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— April 2014 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Spring is upon us. Perhaps it is starting As most of you know we have been Welcome a little too early for a lot of us and we also taking a fairly firm stand on the feeding of are seeing our migrating birds arriving a feral cats. Our conservation committee has New Members bit earlier. Some of our members who keep put together a great brochure that states the Rochelle Fortier Walnut Creek pretty close tabs on arrivals and departures problems very well. One of the items in the Kevin Lin San Ramon have told me of many early arrivals. We brochure concerns cat colonies and how Carol Livingston Walnut Creek don’t know much yet of what all of this well-meaning people tend them. It talks David & Janet Rose Pleasant Hill means, but we do know some and it will about how this seems humane but in fact affect many species of birds. I know all of creates greater problems. On March 25 the us will want to keep abreast of findings. Antioch city council will decide whether Code of Birding Ethics I was flying home a few days ago and to adopt a new ordinance that would allow had brought the current issue of Audubon 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their the feeding of feral cats only on one’s own magazine with me to read. The cover shows environment. Support the protection of property. We plan to be there and speak for a picture of a Snowy Owl and has a great important bird habitat. To avoid stressing article about these amazing birds. I saw my the ordinance. We will have our brochures birds or exposing them to danger, exercise first SNOW (the shorthand code for Snowy there to distribute. restraint and caution during observation, Owl) just east of Spokane, Washington on a photography, sound recording, or filming. cold winter day some 25 years ago. Anyway, Limit the use of recordings and other this has been a banner year for Snowy Owls methods of attracting birds, and never use coming south. A little town in Newfound- such methods in heavily birded areas, or for land which hosted a few every year had 18 attracting any species that is Threatened, on November 22, 2013 and by December Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is 8 had 206! These birds have been recorded rare in your local area; as far south as Florida and one was in Ber- Keep well back from nests and nesting muda. It is great article with a lot of new colonies, roosts, display areas, and impor- information about these beautiful birds. tant feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, More will follow as the winter progresses. if there is a need for extended observation, Be sure to read the article. Lange's Metalmark butterfly is found in no photography, filming, or recording, try to place in the world except in Contra Costa use a blind or hide, and take advantage of County at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife natural cover. Clean-up Refuge, the only NWR created to save an Use artificial light sparingly for filming Join our Mount Diablo Audubon endangered insect. or photography, especially for close-ups. Society Conservation Committee on Our March general meeting was again Before advertising the presence of a rare Saturday, May 10 from 9 am until noon well attended and an excellent program bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance for the annual Walnut Creek clean- to the bird, its surroundings, and other up. Help remove trash and improve was provided by MDAS member Michael Marchiano on butterflies of Contra Costa people in the area, and proceed only if wildlife habitat in downtown creeks access can be controlled, disturbance mini- with Friends of the Creeks and the County. Our scheduled program speaker mized, and permission has been obtained City of Walnut Creek. We will meet had a family emergency and had to cancel. from private land-owners. The sites of rare at the Gazebo in Civic Park in Walnut Mike stepped in at the last minute. Creek; free continental breakfast at nesting birds should be divulged only to the What a great chapter we have! I hope proper conservation authorities. 8:45 am for all participants. Wear old you can get to one of our general meetings Stay on roads, trails, and paths where sneakers, bring gloves, and plan to get at Heather Farm. wet! If you do not want to walk in they exist; otherwise keep habitat distur- the creek, you can help weed in the Good birding, bance to a minimum. butterfly garden near the Iron Horse 2. Respect the law, and the rights of oth- Trail. More information and required Every year adults of this larg- ers. Do not enter private property without waiver forms are available at www. est American waterfowl go the owner's explicit permission. FriendsoftheCreeks.org. Please con- Q through a flightless period Follow all laws, rules, and regulations tact Ariana Rickard (rickard@post. in which they molt all their governing use of roads and public areas, harvard.edu; (347) 754-0143) if you feathers at once thus making them are interested in participating. both at home and abroad. flightless for a 1‒2 month period of time. Practice common courtesy in contacts This typically occurs during the warmest with other people. Your exemplary behav- months, namely July and August. The Quail is published monthly except ior will generate goodwill with birders and January and August by Mount Diablo Unscramble these letters, or turn to non-birders alike. Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut Page 8 3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed to learn more. and other artificial bird environments are on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. AEEMNPRRSTTUW safe. The deadline for the May issue is April 8. Continued on Page 3 » the Quail —2— April 2014 Submit Contra Costa County sightings to [email protected] or (925) 284-5980 or Observations By Maury Stern send to EBB [email protected].