SANTA CLARA VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter C 14 of the National Audubon Society 415 CambridgeAve ., Suite 21, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Non-ProfitOrg . Telephone: (415)329-1811 US Postage Paid San Jose, CA The Avocet Permit No. 5869 June 1989 Volume 36, Number 36 Bay Wetlands Vanishing Yosemite ~.ark:. __Needs Y~ur Help coalition of environmental groups, including SCVAS, released a landmark study on April 26, 1989 titled "Endan­ . The Yosemite Master Plan, a A gered Habitat: A Report on the Status of Seasonal Wetlands monumental.grassroots effort on in San Francisco Bay and a Recommended Plan for Their Protec­ the part of concerned citizens, gave tion" It is the first evaluation of the cumulative loss of seasonal wet­ a loud and clear message to all lands in San Francisco and San Pablo Bays_ And the results are branches or"the Federal Govern­ startling. Since 1956, 61 % of the seasonal wetlands found smith ment - MORE PARK, MORE of the Bay Bridge have been destroyed, by fill, degradation, or WILDERNESS, MUCH LESS DEVELOPMENT! That message . conversion. If all development projects that are currently in plan­ was delivered in the late 1970's, ning stages are built, total cumul~tive losses in the South Bay will and to date little _of that citizen reach 73%. That means we would have only 4,927 ~cres remaimng, mandate ,has been carried out. The of 17,953 acres present in 1956. April 23,-1989 issue of the San Wildlife are heavily dependent on seasonal wetlands. Recent -· Francisco Chronicle carried an studies suggest that Bay Area shorebird populations need seasonal · ~xcellent summary of the problem wetlands as a part of their daily feeding and resting grounds. In i_i1the This World section. addition ducks and other waterfowl use these habitats_ Wildlife If you have birded, backpacked, populations, including the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, that or photographed in the park, if you depend on seasonal wetlands, have declined due to loss and degrada­ have just sat by the Merced River, tion of their habitat. Continued on Page 8 Seasonal wetlands are supposed to be protected under the Clean Water Act. However, many seasonal wetlands are being lost on a piecemeal basis, pften through weaknesses in the regulatory process Inside This Issue or its enforcement. In many cases these losses take place illegally, with little or no penalty. This report gives the Corps of Engineers, Chapter News .................... 2 responsible for enforcing the Clean Water Act, the information that ANY additional fill allowed in San Francisco Bay is significantly Calendar of Events ............ 3 disruptive, and also shows just how much damage has occurred Annual Potluck Dinner ...... 3 illegally. Five major categories of recommendations are proposed in the Field Notes ....................... .4 report, the most sweeping is to the Environmental Protection Agency, whom we call upon to "declare as indispensable resources, Environmental Action ....... 6 all South Bay seasonal wetland and critically threatened North Bay Gifts and Memorials .......... 8 seasonal wetland sites,_and to protect them through the Clean Water Act. Non-Audubon Trips .......... 8 Continued on Page 7 TheAvocet 1 I Many Thanks to ... and to Volunteers Birdathon a Success Mark McEuen Many kudos are extended to The 1989 SCVAS Birdathon was This month, Mark McEuen will Patricia Mann and Rose Green, a big success! While some teams step down from his position as an Peter Leider, Sue Liskovec, Y ana did not quite find the number of officer, Recording Secretary, of Arnold and Tibby Simon for volunteering their time. Office vol­ birds they were hoping for, every­ SCV AS. Mark has been a Director one had a great time, and agreed to of the Chapter for three years unteers are still needed, to help with membership records, sales, return again next year. Ten teams (1984-87), and Recording Secretary are now collecting their pledged for two (1987-89). Mark organized answering the phone, and a variety of other tasks. If you have 2 hours a amounts from neighbors, SCV AS SCV AS' participation in KTEH, members and friends, so the final Channel 54, telephone membership week, or can occasionally come to the Palo Alto office, please call total of funds raised is not avail­ drives, and personally gathered able, but it looks like our goal of hundreds of signatures in SCV AS' (415) 329-1811. $5500 will be met or exceeded! All campaign to qualify the California Library Donations funds raised will go towards NAS' Parks and Wildlife Bond Act (Cal Mono Lake Legal Fund, SCVAS' PAW) for the ballot. He has been a Many books for the library Wetlands Legal Defense Fund, and member of the Grants Committee collection have been generously to the chapter's education projects. for over seven years, on the Fi­ donated over the last several And it is not too late to donate!! nance Committee for three years, months. Special thanks goes to Jo Choose one of the teams below - led field trips, been a tremendous Pettit and Manette Wittgenstein. any contribution will be gratefully help in organizing, setting up, and accepted. cleaning up for SCV AS' CBC and The total number of species seen ....J. June Potluck Dinners, and ably Student Award Winners The following students won 1989 per team follows the team name: assisted Judy McEuen, for the two "If You've Seen One Bird, years she was President. His great SCV AS Science Fair Awards, for outstanding exhibits on subject You've Seen Them All", 20; 'The sense of humor, and objective Poorwills", 118; "Eagle-eyed concerns for the chapter's welfare matters relevant to SCV AS' concerns. As prizes, each received Goatsuckers", 162; "The Eagle will be sorely missed at Board Eyes", 94; "Sapsuckers", 110; "The Meetings, but he has promised to an Audubon field guide of their choice, a SCV AS membership and Vagrants", 146; "Un-Common stay involved, and we will hold him Loons", 102; "Me, Myself and I", to that promise! a pin. Entries were judged by SCV AS President, Dave Johnston. 109; "Mangrove Cuckoos", 69; Dan Shattuck,"Meadowlark", 45. Thanks for Donations ... Lam Phuong, 8th grade at J.W. Fair Prizes for the most species seen, The following donations have School, "Changes in ~"; most money raised and other been gratefully received: Beau Fernald, 8th grade at Rolling categories will be presented at the Wine for CBC and Annual Dinners, Hills School, "How Does Light Annual June Members' Potluck from J. Lohr Winery; Slides for Affect Daphnia?"; Kelly Camar­ Dinner, to be held at the Palo Alto SCV AS slide shows, from Jerry linghi, 6th grade at Queen of Baylands on Wednesday , June 21 Waldorf, Doug and Gail Cheese­ Apostles, "Are Birds Attracted to (see article on page 3). Prizes have man, Russ Lavenson, Dr. Denny Color?" been donated by the following Mallory, Esther Snively, Jim and generous businesses and individu­ Sue Liskovec, Glenn Herreman, als: California Academy of Sci­ Rigdon Currie and Ray Hosler; SCVAS Grants Awarded ences/Steve Bailey; REI, Inc.; Slide carousels and trays, from In May, the SCV AS Board of Hummingbird Gardens/Karen Catherine Maxwell, and Doug and Directors, upon recommendations Sullivan; Yerba Buena Nursery; Gail Cheeseman; Rolodex, from of the Grants Committee, awarded Yamagami's Nursery; National Teresa Kasza; Bookends, from Dr. Continued on page 8 Audubon Society; Smith & Eve Case. Hawken; Philias Fogg 's. IV TheAvocet2 I On all field trips CARPOOL and share expenses. Bring binoculars, field guides, warm clothing, lunch (optional on half-day trips) and liquids. If you can provide or need transportation, call Gail Cheeseman (408) 741-5330. June Field Trip Coordinator: Saturday, June 17 Intro Birdwalk for Beginners Rod Norden (408) 255-3033 Predatory Bird Research Leader: Rod Norden (408) 255- Center, 3033 Directions: See June 11 fieldtrip. Wed, June 7, 7:30 PM Santa Cruz Bay Area Bird Photogrophers Leader: Nick Yatsko (408) 865- Baylands Interpretive Center. Two 4831 Sat-Sun, August 19-20 speakers on Rwanda, Namibia, and Reservations required. Please Call PRBO Shorebird Census Zimbabwe: Luis Tam with a slide Nick for more information Call SCV AS for more info. dissolve show set to music and Doug Cheeseman featuring mam­ Sat-Sun, June 24-25 June Membership mals and birds. Yuba Pass & Sierra Valley Meeting & Potluck Leaders: Paul Noble (415) 949- Sunday, June 11, 9 AM 1743 & Grant Hoyt (415) 969-7892 SCV AS members are invited to Charleston Slough High Sierra birding and Great set aside the evening of WEDNES­ Intro Bird walk for Beginners Basin specialities. DAY, JUNE 21, for the annual Leader: Rod Norden (408) 255- Directions: Meet at Yuba Pass@ potluck dinner, to be held at the 3033 8 AM on Saturday. Motels avail­ Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Directions: Meet at the east end of able in Downieville and Sierra City. Interpretive Center, end of San Antonio Rd. in Mtn. View. Camping at Wild Plum camp­ Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. Trip stresses the basics of birding. ground in Sierra City and at Yuba Beginning at 6 pm, meet for hors Easy walk of 1-2 miles. Half day Pass proper. Call leaders if plan­ d'oeuvres, dinner and a short ning to attend. program. A slide program on the Tuesday, June 13, 9:30 ~------------ Department of Fish and Game's new interpretive facilities will be Bird Discussion Group Sat-Sun, June 24-25 shown, and Bill Bousman will Meet at home of Eve Case, 20537 National Audubon Society present up-to-date results from the Verde Vista Lane, Saratoga, to Conference Breeding Bird Atlas Program. For carpool for birding at home of Jean Reno.NV the first time, we will present and Pat Dubois, 17150 Buena Vista "Beyond the Diving Rod: the commendations for environmental Ave, Los Gatos.