Volume 58, Number 10 July/August 2013 Good News for the Pacific Flyway Geese in migration. USFWS photo. Each year at least a billion birds migrate along the Pacific Flyway, which stretches from the North Slope of Alaska to Central and South America. But these birds are only a fraction of those that used the flyway a century ago. Some species, such as the Black-footed Albatross and the Least Tern, are in serious trouble, and even many com- mon birds, such as the Western Sandpiper, have become far less common. Habitat loss, water shortages owing to diversion for agri- culture and development, diminishing food sources, and climate change all threaten the birds of the Pacific Flyway. MILLIONS OF THESE BIRDS migrat- ing along the Pacific Flyway come through California's Central Valley. Once, they found vast wetlands where they paused to rest and feed on their long journey. Now, are. The combined results identify priority Ramsar sites benefit from increased they find some wildlife refuges, but most of areas and provide a basis for coordinating conservation status and recognition, and the traditional places no longer invite them. with farmers to flood their fields when can be eligible for greater conservation Science and technology now are avail- migrating birds need it most. funding. They also typically benefit from able to help alleviate this problem. Audubon SAN FRANCISCO BAY/ESTUARY, increased tourism, fishing, recreation and California and the Nature Conservancy which includes four national wildlife ref- public support. Birds benefit from them. have been working with PRBO Conserva- uges, has been named Wetland of Interna- SONOMA LAND TRUST/SEARS tion Science* and Cornell Lab of Ornithol- tional Importance under the Ramsar Con- POINT. At its June 4 meeting, the Wild- ogy to predict when and where migratory vention. This is the 35th such wetland in life Conservation Board of the California birds need habitat along the Pacific Flyway. the United States, sixth in California. There Department of Fish and Wildlife approved Satellite images develop a comprehen- are more than 2,000 such sites worldwide. over $20 million in grants to help restore sive picture of the water available in the The Ramsar Convention is an interna- and protect fish and wildlife habitat valley in the fall, a time especially challeng- tional treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 Continued on Page 6 » ing for shorebirds. Simultaneously, a map to encourage voluntary protection of wet- generated by Cornell's eBird citizen-science lands. The San Francisco Bay is the largest project shows when and where the birds estuary on the Pacific Coast. It accounts for Meeting Schedule 77 percent of California’s remaining peren- There are no meetings during July As of June 2013 PRBO has changed nial estuarine wetlands. The Bay/Estuary or August. Please join one of the its* name to Point Blue Conservation Ramsar site is home to more than 1,000 birding field trips; see Page 4. Science. Their mission remains the species of animals. It hosts more wintering The next general meeting of same—to conserve birds, other wild- shorebirds than any other U.S. Pacific Coast Mount Diablo Audubon Society will be , in life and ecosystems through innova- estuary south of Alaska. It is also important Thursday, September 5 the Camellia Room of The Gardens tive scientific research, restoration, to more than 130 species of resident and at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. outreach and partnerships. migratory marine, estuarine and migrating fish species. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— July/August 2013 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Perhaps the most exciting thing that showed slides of the birds they saw and the Welcome happened this past month was our first places they visited. What a great trip. meeting of the MDAS Young Birders Club Summer is upon us. We do not have a New Members that Tracy Farrington is heading. Be sure general meeting until September. We do Sherill Borg Pleasant Hill and read Tracy's article on this page. The have some fields trips this summer. If you Betty Nelson Lafayette Bay Area Audubon Council met on June 8 have an idea for a new place to have a field Fred Payne Concord at Richardson Bay Audubon Center. Rep- trip please let us know. See the planning Rachelle Mazar Pleasant Hill resentatives of the eight Bay Area Audubon session notice on Page 4. chapters come together to hear what other chapters are dealing with and how we can perhaps help one another. We heard from Young Birders Club Meets Audubon staff member Anna Weinstein By Tracy Farrington who works with issues of seabirds off the to achieve and what they would like to get California coast. There are some tough is- out of the club; planning field trips; the pos- sues—overfishing and climate change are sibility of using social media, i.e., Facebook just a few. We hope to have Anna speak and blogs; subject matter for meetings soon at our general meeting. (sightings, trip reports, presentations, bird Our conservation committee continues identification, instruction for beginners, to grow and take on some tough conserva- etc.), and the importance of emphasizing tion issues. Our new brochure talking about mentoring while improving the skills and the issues of second-generation rodenticide building enthusiasm among younger, less use has proved to be a great success. If you experienced birders. Chick suggested creat- have a group you would like to use it with. Young Great Horned Owls ing a young birders club tab on the MDAS let us know. The committee is also trying On Friday evening, June 7, the Mount web site. It was very well received. It was to address the feral cat issue. As you know, Diablo Audubon Young Birders Club also proposed that as things progress, we feral cats account for a lot—70%, studies conducted its first meeting in the upstairs establish a page in the Quail written and show—of bird kills. classroom, generously provided by Michael illustrated by club members. This followed Our end of the year potluck dinner on Eliot, at Wild Birds Unlimited in Pleasant from the concept that the club be run by June 6 was a great success and a lot of fun, Hill. and for the young members with adults as it always is. We had about 100 folks at The meeting was attended by a core acting as advisors and providing support. the dinner. It always amazes me that we group of six young birders ranging in The discussions were lively and in- never assign anyone what to bring and yet age from 8 to 22 years old, and three of cluded several thoughtful and important we always have exactly what is needed and the younger kids were joined by parents. contributions from parents. Most wanted some wonderful dishes of great food. The MDAS was represented by President Jimm to place, at the outset, a good deal of em- program was the trip to Chile that Hugh Edgar, Ethan Chickering, Ariana Rickard phasis on birding. And, yes, this should be and Rosita Harvey led. I think about eight of and myself. the case. After all, it is the fundamental, our chapter members went on the trip. They We began with introductions and then necessary and passionate activity that welcoming remarks by Jimm. He also pro- brings us together in the first place. Males and females of this vided to all a copy of an article from the To keep things headed in the right species sing different, though January–February, 2013, issue of Birding direction, then, we all agreed upon our Q similar, songs. The song magazine. This story inspired him with inaugural birding trip. It is to be on Sat- of the female ends differ- the desire to have us establish our own urday, June 22, at Castle Rock Regional ently and with harsher notes. Before and young birders group. I think it’s fair to say Park in Walnut Creek. This trip will focus during nest-building, the female may sing that the first meeting was always intended on improving the skills of our younger, more than the male.. to remain general in tone. Bearing that in novice birders. Instruction will, no doubt, Unscramble these letters, or turn to mind, I followed with an overview of ideas become a feature of nearly all the club’s Page 8 to learn more. and activities discovered while exploring future outings. BCEIKLLLOOORSU the member-created newsletters and web It was agreed that our second meeting sites produced by young birder clubs in would take place on June 28, again at Wild Ohio, Indiana and Illinois as well as the Birds Unlimited in Pleasant Hill. The Quail is published monthly except January and August by Mount Diablo invaluable Cornell Young Birder Network Those of you who have questions, sug- Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut on-line. What became important at this gestions and, most importantly, know of a Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed point, however, was that the conversation young person with an interest in birding, on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. be guided by the young members. beginning or otherwise, please contact The deadline for the September issue is Several ideas and topics were touched Tracy Farrington at: tracy_farrington@ August 13. upon, for example: what young birders wish yahoo.com, phone: 925‒788‒6223. the Quail —2— July/August 2013 The first known Great-tailed Grackle of West County was at Wildcat Creek Trail in Observations By Maury Stern Richmond 5/13. LL. Hooded Orioles with young were com- Submit Contra Costa County sightings to mon through the area.