Newsletter of the Marin Audubon Society. Volume 55, No. 5 January 2013 THE ClapperMARIN AUDUBON Rail SOCIETY MAS is saddened by the untimely death of Rich Stallcup. We will have a tribute to him in next month’s Hooray! Drakes Estero newsletter. His last Birdlog appears on page 7. Established as a Wilderness SPEAKER SERIES Free and Open to the public Richardson Bay Audubon Center 376 Greenwood Beach Road Tiburon, California 94920 Information: 415/789-0703 THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 7:30 PM Central and Coastal Alaska: Birds, Wildlife and Natural History With David Wimpfheimer Photo courtesy of David Wimpfheimer Wimpfheimer courtesy Photo of David n November 29, 2012, Interior was likely introduced through the non-native Secretary Ken Salazar announced his oysters. With the oyster operation removed, decision to allow the operating permit attention can be given to stopping the spread Photo courtesy of David Wimpfheimer Wimpfheimer courtesy Photo of David Ofor Drakes Bay Oyster Company (DBOC) to Arctic Tern of Didemnum (see article in the December Alaska is a huge state with a wonderful expire thereby establishing Drakes Estero as a Clapper Rail ). assortment of dramatic landforms and Federally designated wilderness. With publication Point Reyes National Seashore was formally fantastic wildlife not seen anywhere else of the notice in the Federal Register on December established in 1972. The enabling legislation in the country. Many of our wintering 4, 2012, the action became final. It’s a victory authorizes ranching, but not mariculture. shorebirds, waterfowl and other birds breed there. This program will focus on for native wildlife, for the environment and for Also in 1972, Charles Johnson who had been coastal and interior habitats that are future generations. operating an oyster farm on land the Federal easy to travel to. Birds of Denali, Glacier Vacating the use permit allows nature to government purchased at Drakes Estero, Bay and Kenai Fjords National Parks restore the Estero ecosystem. The decision conveyed fee title to his property to the United including White-winged Crossbill, Long- brings an end to motor boat traffic in harbor tailed Jaeger, Tufted and Horned Puffin, States and was granted a permit to continue Willow Ptarmigan and mammals such as seal haul-out areas thereby eliminating to use the site for 40 years. The reservation Grizzly Bear, Moose, Caribou and Wolf disturbances and protecting eelgrass beds that of use included a possibility of a new permit will be the main focus of this program. provide foraging and resting habitat for native after the 40-year David has had a love affair with Black Brant. Getting rid of the racks and bags expiration but did Alaska since 1969 when as an impres- IN THIS ISSUE sionable teenager he first visited the used to grow non-native oysters will return not suggest that one President’s Message 2 state. Its wildlife and landscapes the intertidal habitat to fish and shorebirds would definitely shaped his career as a naturalist. He as well as limit the places where Didemnum be issued. Kevin Field Trips 3, 7 has been leading birding and natural can grow. Didemnum is a highly-invasive Lunny purchased the history tours in the state for the last twenty years. In the summer of 2013 tunicate (sea squirt) that grows embedded in property from the Conservation Report 4 he will be leading an Alaska birding tour a gelatinous membrane and attaches to hard Johnsons in 2004, for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. surfaces including oyster shells. Didemnum continued on page 6 Birdlog 7 JANUARY 2013 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS All phone numbers are in the 415 area code President’s Message unless otherwise noted. Questions? Please contact the appropriate Board member. By Barbara Salzman President Barbara Salzman 924-6057 Marin Audubon is saddened by the death of Cindy has made important volunteer contacts Vice President Lowell Sykes 388-2821 Rich Stallcup on December 15 from complica- for us and helped us get more plugged in to Secretary Mariah Baird 456-3355 tions of leukemia. Rich was an extraordinary electronic communications. Thank you, Cindy, Treasurer Josephine Kreider 381-1910 birder, field trip leader and a fun person to be Finance Chair Greg Block 479-8254 for your input and help. Conservation Phil Peterson 898-8400 around. His last Birdlog appears in this issue. We now need a volunteer coordinator. If you Barbara Salzman 924-6057 We will miss him greatly. like to connect with people this may be the job Earthshare Jude Stalker 668-1242 The holidays are always a busy time of year, for you. It would also help, but it is not neces- Field Trips Vicky Van Meter 299-2514 but this year they are extra busy for those of us sary, for you to have computer skills. Call me at Membership Ruth Pratt 453-2989 at MAS. We are occupied with planting, sched- 924-6057 if you are interested. Fundraising Flinn Moore Rauck 892-7554 uling contractors and organizing work days to Programs Helen Lindqvist 789-0703 We express our special appreciation for the plant, and there are Christmas Bird Counts and bequest from the Lubersky Trust, left by one of Special Projects Jude Stalker 668-1242 development projects that need to be dealt with. Nominating Martha Jarocki 461-3592 our members; the final distribution was received We would welcome your help on our work days Editor, The Clapper Rail Bob Hinz, 383-8688 this month. Remembering Marin Audubon in or let us know if you can do another time, and Volunteer Coordinator Bob Hinz, 383-8688 your will is another important way you can fur- we will try to accommodate your schedule. Property Management Ed Nute 457-9241 ther the work of your local chapter. Thank you, thank you to our members who Publicity Martha Jarocki 461-3592 We have some exciting field trips coming up, BAAC Reps Lowell Sykes 388-2821 have made a contribution in response to our Barbara Salzman 924-6057 holiday appeal. You are truly our heroes, making so please join us to take advantage of the oppor- DIRECTORS MEETINGS it possible for us to continue our programs and tunities to learn about and how to identify our Meetings open to members. If you wish to work to bring you field trips that are instructive migratory water birds while they are overwinter- attend please call 924-6057. ing in the Bay Area. 7:30 PM, First Tuesday of the month and enjoyable. As you have heard from us Richardson Bay Audubon Center before, the funds we get from National Audubon By the time this newsletter reaches you, our 376 Greenwood Beach Road are a minor part of the costs of the programs we Christmas Bird Counts will likely be over. We Tiburon, California 94920 bring to you and the conservation advocacy and hope to bring you a comprehensive report of all MAS telephone: 721-4271 (for messages only) environmental restorations that we accomplish. three counts in the next newsletter. Marin Audubon Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) We say good-by to Cindy Fatura who has The Marin Audubon Board wishes you a organization. All memberships and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. resigned from our Board due to work demands. happy and healthy New Year. The Clapper Rail is published ten times a year by the Marin Audubon Society on 100% recycled paper; edited by Bob Hinz [email protected], December 8 Field Trip 383-8688; assisted by other members of MAS; and designed by Studio NaCl (www.studionacl. com). Deadline is the first of each month. Hamilton Wetlands Restoration Project, Novato ©2012 Marin Audubon Society By Vicky Van Meter Web site: www.marinaudubon.org Northern Calif. Bird Box: 681-7422 Thirty of us met on a foggy morning at the Salt Marsh (Provided by Golden Gate AS) Skateboard Park at Hamilton where Barbara Harvest Mouse Members can receive The Clapper Rail Salzman gave us an overview of the massive 78- electronically instead of a hard copy by and Black Rails, e-mailing [email protected] acre sports project proposed for the area on land among other owned by the Army and the City of Novato. DONATIONS APPRECIATED! important species. Marin Audubon Society welcomes gifts of funds, The complex would include an array of lighted The marsh should stock, or property, and bequests in general, playing fields, several buildings including a or in honor or memory of someone. Gifts may be fully developed 130,000 square-foot lodge and bunkhouse, a be directed to any MAS project. Unspecified in about 30 years gifts of more than $100 will be placed in the 40,000 square-foot club facility, and 1,700 Endowment Fund for conservation, the protec- parking spaces. Several of those in attendance but is already tion of wildlife species and the preservation attracting wildlife. and enhancement of wildlife habitats. Since were residents who are concerned about the MAS is an all-volunteer organization, 100% of impact of this huge project on their neighborhood Eric then took your donation goes to its projects. All gifts are and were interested in learning more about us on a backstage Pavek courtesyPhoto of Richard tax-deductible and will be acknowledged in The Rough-legged Hawk Clapper Rail, as well as personally on behalf of the impacts on the wetlands being restored. tour of areas the Society. Checks should be made out and Eric Jolliffe, Biologist and Environmental usually closed to the public. We proceeded to mailed to: Marin Audubon Society, P.O. Box Planner with the US Army Corps of Engineers, 599, Mill Valley, CA 94942. the native plant nursery where volunteers help then explained about the Hamilton Wetlands to grow tens of thousands of plants, many of Restoration Project, one of the largest such which are being planted along a levee wildlife undertakings on the West Coast.