Volume 58, Number 5 February 2013 Plume Hunters in Oregon ✦ Renée Thompson In 1885, more than five Renée writes from million birds were killed in Northern California about the United States for the wildlife, her love of birds, millinery industry, prompt- and the people who inhabit ing the formation of the the American West. Her National Audubon Society. husband, Steve, worked Author Renée Thomp- as a wildlife biologist at son will present a slide Malheur National Wildlife presentation detailing the Refuge, and Renée and plume-hunting trade in the Steve have lived on or near marshes of southeast Ore- wildlife refuges nearly all gon. Renée will discuss how of their adult lives. Renée’s her research inspired her first novel, The Bridge At novel, The Plume Hunter, Valentine, was hailed as and will touch on the men “very original and very ap- who shot the birds, the spe- pealing” by Pulitzer Prize- cies of birds they killed, and winner Larry McMurtry, the hats worn by women author of Lonesome Dove. during the mid-to-late Her short stories have ap- 1800s. She will also discuss peared in Narrative, Literal Oregon naturalists Wil- Latte, Arcadia, 10,000 Tons liam Finley and Herman of Black Ink, and Chiron Bohlman, the men who Review. inspired her characters Renée will sell and sign Fin McFaddin and Aiden copies of The Plume Hunter Elliott, and explain why she Cover photograph from The Plume Hunter, by ($15) after the presentation. fictionalized Frank M. Chapman–the real-life Ren e Thompson.. Photo by Greg Downing. curator of birds at the American Museum of é BIRDING INFORMATION Natural History in New York City–and gave Presentation of the Al McNabney En- him a role in her novel. vironmental Distinction Award to Gary David Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide Meeting Schedule Bogue. The legendary Gary Bogue, every- to Birds, said Renée’s novel “offers a fascinat- The next general meeting of one's favorite (but retired) nature columnist, ing glimpse into the life of a bird hunter and Mount Diablo Audubon Society will entertain us with his memoirs of 42 years will be , in the complex social, economic and personal Thursday, February 7 with the Contra Costa Times, and before that the Camellia Room of The Gardens as curator of the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, issues swirling around the birth of the con- at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. servation movement.” Bill Thompson III, 7:00 pm Birding Information and even before that as animal lover and editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, said, “Renée’s 7:25 pm Announcements naturalist. gripping novel transports the reader to a time 7:40 pm Refreshments,* raffle Among Bogue's lifetime achievements, when our nation was trying its best to grow 8:05 pm Speaker: Renée Thompson he can be acclaimed for mobilizing his loyal up, yet seemed mired in its own awkward * Please remember to bring a cup. readership to give generously to Lindsay ‘teen’ years. I read this book in one sitting, Thursday, March 7: Dr. Reg Barrett Wildlife Museum, to Save Mount Diablo, finding it no easier to put down than Fin did Muir Heritage Land Trust, and other con- his hunting guns.” servation organizations. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— February 2013 President’s Corner By Jimm Edgar Pinnacles National Park Our Mount Diablo Audubon chapter I did were fairly small counts with only WelcomeWith President Obama’s signature, Pin- has been without a Conservation Chair since 12 or 15 counters (Marysville, California nacles National Monument, designated as 2010. We have had a number of folks step count). Others were large such as the Santa a nationalNew monument Members in 1908 by President forward to tackle specific issues: the Concord Barbara count that had 250 volunteers in TheodoreValerie Colber Roosevelt, has becomeMoraga America’s Naval Weapons Station transfer, Mount Dia- the field on January 5 for their count! They 59thChuck National Deutschman Park. Walnut Creek blo land issues, development projects in the had 215 species of birds that day which will KathyRising Gilman out of the GabilanWalnut Mountains Creek east of central California's Salinas Valley, county, Burrowing Owl protection, etc., but put them at the top four or five counts in Linda Hughes Lafayette no one person to direct and coordinate any of North America. I was with one other birder Pinnacles is the result of millions of years of DeAnna Martin Walnut Creek these issues. We are very pleased that Nancy all day in the Santa Barbara cemetery and erosion, faulting and tectonic plate move- Wenninger, a long time member, has volun- the east beach area. We had the only Black ment.Dita Within Rasper the park's nearlyPleasant 27,000 Hill acres teered to take on the role of Conservation Skimmers seen on the count. Other great of Teddiverse Rubin wild lands, visitors Sandelight Ramon in the Chair for the chapter. This comes at a time sightings for their count were Northern beautyCarsten and Schroeder variety of its spring Walnut wildflowers Creek when we and the conservation community Waterthrush, Spotted Owl, Red Crossbill, andBram more Sonneck than 400 species ofPleasant native Hillbees. Vermilion Flycatcher and Brewer’s Sparrow. are struggling with the large issue of pesticide/ ReneeThe ThompsonPinnacles NationalGranite Park Act Bay rec- rodenticide use. The damage to much of our It was a fun time to be at their countdown ognizes the significance of park resources, Pamela Trees Concord wildlife, with birds of prey in particular, has dinner and hear the reports. Amazing. specifically the chaparral, grasslands, blue become hugely apparent. It is the “Silent I read a very good article in Birdwatching oakMelanie woodlands, Walas and majestic Lafayettevalley oak Spring” of the 21st century. There will be a lot magazine called “The true cost of coffee.” It is savannaPalma ecosystemsYou of the area,Alameda the area's more discussion of how you and our chapter about the terrible loss of habitat that accom- geomorphology, unique flora and fauna, might help on this issue. Stayed tuned. panies most coffee plantations. Mike Elliot’s and the ancestral and cultural history of I once again participated in a lot of column in this Quail talks about the problem. native Americans, settlers and explorers. Audubon Christmas Bird Counts this year; I hope all of us might consider using the bird seven to be exact. Two were our own Con- friendly coffee. tra Costa county counts. (Reports on these We have some great programs planned counts are in this issue of the Quail in the for this spring and of course our field trips. Trip Report section.) Some of the counts Hope to see you at one of them. Backyard Bird Count The 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to will take place Friday, February 15, through get the “big picture” about what is happen- Monday, February 18. This is an annual ing to bird populations. California 4-day event that engages bird watchers of all • How will changing weather patterns Condor ages in counting birds to create a real-time influence bird populations? NPS photo snapshot of where the birds are. Everyone is • Where are winter finches and other welcome—from beginning bird watchers to “irruptive” species that appear in large experts. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps numbers during some years but not others? Pinnacles National Park is also well the birds. Participants tally the number of • What kinds of differences in bird known as one of three California Condor individual birds of each species they see diversity are apparent in cities versus sub- release sites in the country. The park man- during their count period. They enter these urban, rural, and natural areas? ages 31 free-flying condors. Each bird is monitored after its release to increase its numbers on the GBBC website. If you do not wish to submit your ob- chances of survival. Park biologists and Each participant must set up a free servations on the Internet, take your tally volunteers monitor chicks hatched in the GBBC account to submit their checklists. sheets to Wild Birds Unlimited in Pleasant wild. They check blood and feather samples You’ll only need to do this once to partici- Hill, and they will relay the data to GBBC. for signs of poisoning from ingestion of pate in all future GBBC events. The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the lead-contaminated food. Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National The rock formations of Pinnacles a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird Audubon Society, with Canadian partner National Monument and the Gabilan populations are dynamic; they are con- Bird Studies Canada and sponsorship from Mountain Range divide the park into East stantly in flux. No single scientist or team Wild Birds Unlimited and West Districts which are connected of scientists could hope to document and is published monthly except by trails, but not by a vehicle road. More understand the complex distribution and The Quail January and August by Mount Diablo than 30 miles of trails access geological movements of so many species in such a Audubon Society, P.O. Box 53, Walnut formations, spectacular vistas and wildland short time. Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed communities. Pinnacles National Park is a Scientists use the GBBC information, on 30% post-consumer waste recycled day-use park, with occasional full moon along with observations from other citizen- paper. The deadline for the March issue hikes and dark sky astronomical observa- science projects, such as the Christmas Bird is February 12.