Wandering Tattler

March 2013

Volume 62, Number 6

President’s Message by Bruce Aird

In early January, I got to do a bit of citizen science when Roxie and I joined two close friends in Sonoita, Arizona to participate in “The Sparrow Roundup”. This project is run by Dr. Janet Ruth, from the University of New Mexico on the National Audubon property of Appleton Whittell Research Ranch. Each winter, they use volunteer “beaters” to drive ground-roosting sparrows into mist nets to be weighed, measured and, if previously uncaught, banded. For us, it was a chance to help with worthy science, to see Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows up close and hopefully, to see our first Baird’s Sparrows. The study features the Arizona endemic sub-species of Grasshopper Sparrow, ammolegus. So 18 of us including some students, some retired folks, and well-known local bird artist, Narca Moore-Craig, spent a cold Saturday setting up and taking down mist nets and walking through native bunch grass scattering elusive brown birds before us. Some flew over our heads, over the nets, or in rare cases, bounced off the nets or squeezed beneath the lowest tier. When you are a wildlife researcher, you must deal with a certain amount of disappointment!

But by day’s end, we had captured 2 Savannah Sparrows, 5 Grasshopper Sparrows and 4 Baird’s Sparrows. The rich colors and patterns on these surprisingly small birds in hand is a beauty that utterly defies description. I even got to hold very briefly and release one of the Baird’s Sparrows, a memory to treasure. The real prize of the day was not the lifer Baird’s Sparrows – it was a male ammolegus Grasshopper Sparrow, recaptured exactly where he nested and helped raise a brood last summer, precious first evidence that at least some of these birds winter on their breeding grounds.

It’s not often that regular citizens can assist with scientific research and collect the data that ultimately impact taxonomy and species conservation strategy. Simply counting birds in CBCs, Spring Migration Counts (ours is coming up very soon!), the Tree Swallow project, the Newport Bay and San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary monthly censuses – provide data on species demographics that help to shape policy. These data gain more impact when made public, through devices like eBird. This month, our guest speaker at the Annual Dinner will be Brian Sullivan, an eBird expert, who will help you understand why this is so important. I hope you will join us at the dinner, and in the field.

Come to our Annual Dinner on Friday evening, March 15th.

Socialize with friends and new acquaintances Bid for some nifty items at our Silent Auction

Rub elbows with the recipients of this year’s Conservation Award and Letters of Commendation Have fun browsing through our chapter displays Eat a delicious dinner

Enjoy Brian Sullivan’s program “What We Have Learned from eBird”

Space is limited so get your reservations in now! See page 5 for full information about this special event.

Conservation News Susan Sheakley Our Conservation Committee meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Blue House. Conservation Lectures are at 7:30 PM on the 4th Tuesday in the Learning Center. Additional Conservation information is on our webpage.

Diane Bonanno and Angela Lindstrom for their extraordinary efforts to protect the West Coyote Hills in the City of Fullerton.

Diane and Angela, with the support of many groups and individuals, have waged a heroic grass roots battle to save 510 acres of much needed open space – the last available in north Orange County. Their battle, which is still in progress, has lasted over 12 years.

The West Coyote Hills open space is not only important to the citizens of Fullerton as part of a balanced and healthy community, it is also a very special place for birds and other wildlife. It is home to an unusually high number of California Gnatcatchers and Coastal Cactus Wrens, as well as White-tailed Kites, wintering Burrowing Owls and many other special birds.

The Friends of Coyote Hills organization was formed in 1997 by conservationist and long-time friend of Sea and Sage, Connie Spenger. Diane became involved in 2001 and Angela joined shortly after. Diane and Angela have been instrumental in the long battle that has seen two Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and two additional revised EIRs. After the City Council approved the 2011 version of the EIR, the Friends launched and won a referendum in the fall of 2012 that rejected the councilʼs approval.

To learn more about the Friends of Coyote Hills and the ongoing efforts to protect this special place, go to www.coyotehills.org.

Kristen Bender, Ph.D. for her dedication and 25-year commitment to the protection and restoration of wetlands in Huntington Beach, especially her work to establish and maintain the wetlands native plant nursery. As “resident biologist” for the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, Kristen planned the restoration of the Brookhurst and Magnolia Marshes. She visits the native plant garden at least two times a week to do hands-on physical work, tending the plants that will ultimately be transplanted to the marshes.

Lena Hayashi for her enthusiasm and effectiveness as an ambassador for conservation, birds, wildlife and the acquisition and protection of natural resources. Lena has served on the Board of several groups, including the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, Shipley Nature Center, Sea and Sage Audubon, and Orange Coast River Park. She initiated a monthly survey in 2002 at the Shipley Nature Center, still ongoing, with both loyal and new surveyors. Last year, following strict protocol and using a cadre of experienced birders, Lena completed the 5-Year Post Restoration Quarterly Bird Monitoring of the Huntington Beach Coastal Wetlands.

See page 6 for “introductory” field trip information.

Huntington State Beach

Your help is needed to keep an eye on this active tern colony. Volunteers watch for breeding behavior, eggs, chicks, fledglings, predators, and record observations as well as watch for Western Snowy Plovers. On Wednesday, April 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, we will have our season kick-off and volunteer training with updates at Huntington State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters at PCH and Magnolia Ave. and PCH. Field Orientation for Volunteer Tern Monitors will be Saturday May 4, 2013 8:30-10:30 AM at the Least Tern Natural Preserve, Huntington State Beach.

SAVE THE DATES! New and returning volunteers are welcome. Additional information about the program can be found on our chapter website. Please RSVP and direct any questions to Cheryl Egger, DC.EGGER@VERIZON.NET

Orange County Rarities by Doug Willick

This month I am initiating a slightly different approach to

the “Rarities” column. With the abundance of reports that are now posted each month to the Orange County Birding website, itʼs easy for birders to see for themselves whatʼs being found in our county. At the same time, however, it is becoming increasingly difficult to effectively summarize all the reports now being received. So, going forward with the Rarities column I am narrowing the focus to the more significant of the recent discoveries. This particular column will be covering occurrences over the last couple months (mostly December and January).

Although there have been a number of exciting finds this winter, one in particular stands out. Among the highlights of the Jan. 12 Sea & Sage winter pelagic trip out of Dana Point was a cooperative Manx Shearwater (initially picked out by Jon Dunn); this was the first ever recorded in Orange County (OC). This Atlantic species is a rarity in California waters, although it is being encountered with increasing frequency in recent years (and is now annual in small numbers, especially in northern California). Interestingly, the first accepted California record of Manx Shearwater did not occur until only about 20 years ago. Other highlights from the Jan. 12 pelagic trip included Scrippʼs (formerly Xantusʼs) Murrelet and a probable Short-tailed Shearwater. Oddly enough, another (or possibly the same?) Manx Shearwater was observed, among large numbers of Black-vented Shearwaters, from the Newport Pier, on Jan. 13 (Brian Daniels).

A bird that has been attracting a lot of attention from OC birders over the last few months is an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The bird was first noted on Nov. 11 (Joyce Waterman), and seems to have settled in for the winter; this is only the second known record of this species in the county. Although still quite rare, small numbers of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons seem to have become established at various sites in coastal San Diego County, and successful nesting has been documented in recent years. A Solitary Sandpiper at John Baca Park (JBP), Jan. 29-2 Feb.+ (Liga Auzins, Vic Leipzig), was significant, as this was a first winter record for OC. One other exceptional find for Orange County was a Pygmy Nuthatch, found in Lemon Heights during the countyʼs Northeastern Christmas Bird Count (CBC), Dec. 16 (B. Daniels). Very few Pygmy Nuthatches have ever been recorded in the county, with most occurring during rare irruption years involving this species. Interestingly, Lemon Heights was one of the sites where this conifer-loving species was previously discovered in OC. This has been a good winter for the appearance of a few other montane species, with Red-breasted Nuthatches being the most notable.

Observations of Zone-tailed Hawks have been above average, with individuals studied well in Lake Forest, northeast Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Ladd Canyon (good video recordings were obtained at the latter location). Although it is quite likely that more than one individual is involved, these wintering birds do seem to range fairly widely. Of much interest has been a young Harrisʼs Hawk, first found at Mile

Square Regional Park (MSP) on Jan. 5 (Mark Kincheloe), and seen by numerous observers over the next several weeks. Due to the popularity of this species with falconers, the origin of Harrisʼs Hawks in coastal, urbanized areas of So Cal has been in much debate in recent years (where they seem to be turning up more frequently). In addition, the MSP bird showed little fear of humans.

A quick rundown of some of the other more noteworthy winter period highlights for OC are as follows: A Long-eared Owl was photographed at Upper Newport Bay, Jan. 20 (Tom Ford-Hutchinson). There was an excellent showing of Glaucous Gulls in the county during January (all first-cycle birds, as typical), with one at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Jan. 21 (Tom Benson), and two at Doheny State Beach, 26 Jan. (Bruce Aird, Steve Sosensky, Robert McNab). The Hairy Woodpecker at Huntington Central Park, which turned up last fall, continued to be seen into Jan. Of the noteworthy flycatchers, a Least Flycatcher was found in JBP in late December (Pat and Dick Cabe, with ID help from Jim Pike), and a returning Eastern Phoebe continued at Mason Regional Park from last fall. A good number of Vermilion and “Western” Flycatchers were scattered around the county (e.g., five Western Flycatchers were tallied on the Coastal CBC).

Two exceptional vireo discoveries for winter included a Bellʼs Vireo at JBP, Jan. 12 (Tom Wurster), and a Warbling Vireo at Acu Canyon Park, Dec. 31 (Tim Ryan); there are only a handful of winter records in OC of each, perhaps as few as only two for Warbling Vireo. The list of warbler rarities this winter may have been slightly fewer than normal, but quality outweighed quantity: a Northern Parula at Tri-City Park, Dec. 29+ (J. Pike); two Pine Warblers at MSP, Nov. 27+ (J. Pike); a Black-throated Green Warbler continuing at the Santa Ana Cemetery since Nov. 1 (Doug Willick); and an Ovenbird at JBP, Dec. 30 (B. Daniels), which was only the second winter period record for the county. There seemed to be above average numbers of Black-and-white and Palm Warblers this winter.

Two Nelsonʼs Sparrows were wintering again at the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, and above average totals of White-throated Sparrows (eight or nine) and Swamp Sparrows (at least three) were found at various county locations, going back to early Nov. Two Black-headed Grosbeaks on the Dec.16 Northeastern CBC were a surprise (B. Daniels and D. Willick). Two Scottʼs Orioles were discovered at the Ramakrishna Monastery, Nov. 23+ (T. Benson), while at least one other returned to a Laguna Beach residence (where at least one wintered last year). A Red Crossbill at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Dec. 26 (Don Hoechlin), was completely unexpected, especially considering this was not a “flight year” for this species in So Cal.

Chapter News & Announcements For more information about Sea & Sage activities, check our Calendar of Chapter Activities on our website (www.seaandsageaudubon.org). It lists the dates of Meetings, Field Trips, Special Events such as the Annual Dinner, Summer BBQ, Pancake Breakfast, Summer Nature Day Camp, Summer Bat Walks, Christmas Bird Counts, Great Backyard Bird Count, Orange County Spring Count, etc.

Audubon House Volunteers We would like to thank the following people for helping to staff Audubon House in February and March: Sherry Bass,

Pat & Dick Cabe, Deana Collins, Carolyn Cooper, Tom Drouet, Fresia Escalona, Judy Fritts, Lynne Hayes, Pat Heilig, Cindi Herrera, Sarah Jayne, Lois Jones, Nancy Kenyon, Lauretta Kyle, Donna Malloy, Joan McCauley, Bobbie Miller, Eunice Morita, Shirley Price, Betty Purdy,

Roberta Ray, Barbara Reber, Shirley Reynolds, Susan Sheakley, Bev Spring, Betty Swift, Diana Van Horn, Beryl Vogel, and Pat Wells. Audubon House is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our Volunteers greet visitors, answer the phone, sell merchandise, answer questions about birds, check out binoculars, etc. If you are interested in helping at Audubon House, please call Judy Fritts at 949-551-4513. News from our Bookstore Our bookstore inside Audubon House is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is also open 45 minutes before our monthly meetings. New arrivals this month include: Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide; The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors; The New Stokes FG to Birds: Western Region; The Unfeathered Bird; Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins; Pocket Naturalist: The Chaparral Shrublands of S CA. Also new: Sea and Sage cap and vest pins and mugs (owls; wading birds; wild flowers. March specials (50% off): Stokes FG to Birds of NA (pb+cd); CA Forests and Woodlands; Raptor Almanac (o/p); Chasing Warblers (o/p).

Raptor ID Workshops – sign up now! presented by Bill Clark There is still space available for the two workshops on raptor identification presented by Bill Clark, coauthor of HAWKS, the raptor field guide in the Peterson series, and the PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS. The Introductory Workshop will be presented March 1-3 and the Intermediate/Advanced Workshop will be March 8-10. Full info on these two workshops can be found on our chapter webpage and at Audubon House. Donʼt miss this great opportunity to learn more about our California raptors!

Silent Auction Items Are Still Needed!

Cheryl Thomas has been working diligently to obtain some special items for this yearʼs Silent Auction at our Annual Dinner, but she canʼt do it alone; she needs help! Theme baskets

are a great way to accomplish this. Here are some ideas: Dessert Loverʼs basket, Day to Be Pampered basket, Yoga Loverʼs Delight basket, Picnic in the Park basket, Chocolate Loverʼs basket, Knitting basket, Gardenerʼs Delight basket, Coffee or Tea Loverʼs basket, Bakers Delight basket, Herb Garden basket, New Birder basket, Culture Loverʼs basket, Birthday Party basket, etc. There are a lot of great websites with Theme Basket ideas; just Google “Silent Auction Item Ideas”. Then, if you find an interesting idea for a theme basket you want to put together for this yearʼs Silent Auction, please contact Cheryl Thomas right away at 949-294-2275 or cthomas1313@cox.net . Youʼll make her day and youʼll help our chapter raise money. Thanks for your help!

eBird Workshop with Brian Sullivan

March 16th

Wandering Tattler 5 March 2013

Sea & Sage Annual Dinner Friday, March 15th at Mile Square Park Banquet Center

Our Guest Speaker – Brian Sullivan Program “What We Have Learned From eBird”

Our Annual Dinner this year will again be held at the Mile Square Park Banquet Center on Friday evening, March 15th. Our guest speaker, Brian Sullivan, is the eBird Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Photo Editor for Birds of North America Online and ABAʼs North American Birds, and co-author of the forthcoming Crossley ID Guide on Raptors. His research interests include migration, conservation, and field identification, especially of seabirds and raptors.

The eveningʼs program will include the presentation of our chapterʼs Fern Zimmerman Conservation Award and Letters of Commendation and our ever popular Silent Auction. The Mile Square Park Banquet Center is located at the south end of Mile Square Park, at the intersection of Warner & Ward. Free parking is available. Below is the schedule for the evening:

No Host Bar: 6:00 p.m. Dinner: 7:00 p.m. Program: 8:00 p.m., sharp! Location: Mile Square Park Banquet Center Tickets: $45 for all reservations received before March 1st $50 for reservations received on or after March 1st Entrees: Chicken or Vegetarian

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY. Seating will be assigned in the order the reservations are received. If you wish to sit with friends, make sure they send in their reservations on the same date you do. To reserve a seat, make your check payable to: Sea & Sage Audubon; include the name of each person for whom a reservation is made. If you wish group seating, please indicate that on the reservation form; each table will seat 10 people. Mail your check and the reservation form to: Annual Dinner, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln., Irvine CA 92612. A message confirming your reservation will be sent back to you along with directions and a map. Be sure to include your email address and phone number on the reservation form. All reservations must be received by 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 11th.

2013 Annual Dinner Reservation Form

Name ________________________________________________Entree_________________________

Name________________________________________________ Entree_________________________ With whom do you wish to sit? ____________________________________________________________ Email address for confirmation & map Phone (in case we need to contact you quickly) _____________________________________ Entrees: [C] Chicken [V] Vegetarian. Detailed information about the menu will be available later. All dinners will include a salad, fresh vegetables, freshly baked rolls, coffee, tea, or decaf, and dessert. Mail your reservations to: Annual Dinner, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln., Irvine CA 92612

Chapter News & Announcements For more information about Sea & Sage activities, check our Calendar of Chapter Activities on our website (www.seaandsageaudubon.org). It lists the dates of Meetings, Field Trips, Special Events such as the Annual Dinner, Summer BBQ, Pancake Breakfast, Summer Nature Day Camp, Summer Bat Walks, Christmas Bird Counts, Great Backyard Bird Count, Orange County Spring Count, etc.

Sea & Sage Summer Camp Reunion On a soggy but sunny Sunday, 42 former campers (alumni of 2012 Sea & Sage Summer Camps) reunited in the Education Building for five hours of fun. Our “outdoor” bird walk was a big success, with sightings of 55 species. Early signs of spring included brazen male Common Yellowthroats right out in the open, throngs of swallows swooping over Pond C, and Mallards pairing up in the bulrushes. This was followed by an “indoor” bird walk, (not really necessary due to the co-operative weather, but almost as much fun as the outdoor one.) The campers had to identify painted models made in Advanced Camp, pictures, and taxidermy specimens during the Indoor Walk. Prizes were won by the first team to finish, and the teams that identified 23 and 24 of the 25 species correctly. The two vagrants had to be defended with correct field marks to the ABA committee of three. Alison George and Hunter Craft led the campers to artistic excellence with their acrylic canvas paintings. The back counter looked like a Nature Art Gallery as the small works of art dried. Finally, we wrote and shared aloud “Mad-Libs”, (fill-in-the-blank story with an adjective, noun, adverb, etc.) about How to Handle a Tarantula as we waited for the 12 pizzas to be delivered. Dinner consisted of those anxiously-awaited pizzas and a huge tub of delicious salad, with brownies and cookies for dessert. As we bid each other farewell, we began the long wait for June and July to arrive. We canʼt wait to be in camp again. Please join us!

—Teresa Cullen

List of Donors In next monthʼs Tattler, we will publish the list of all the donors who so generously gave financial support to our chapter through the fund appeal. Itʼs not too late to add your name to the list.

Camp Scholarships Needed

We are looking for chapter members who would be willing to make donations or sponsor a scholarship for a child who wants to attend our Summer Nature Day Camp this year, but needs financial assistance in order to do so. For questions about our camp and its scholarship program, please contact Grace McElhiney at 714-969-9617, or see our chapter webpage for information on our camp program.

See Snowy Plovers at one of their

Winter Roosts! Sat, March 23, 9:00 am Huntington State Beach

This field trip is to celebrate and introduce you to our new Orange County Snowy Plover Survey, beginning in May 2013. Sea & Sage is very excited to have the opportunity to participate in this science-based survey for USFWS and CDFW. More details about the survey itself will be available in future announcements. Members, friends, students, and all interested will have the opportunity to participate in Quarterly Beach-wide Surveys. Snowy Plover Field Trip on March 23, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Huntington State Beach. Local Snowy Plover experts will be on hand to share their knowledge of Snowy Plovers, help us to find these well-camouflaged birds, distinguish males from females, read any color bands and just enjoy observing Snowy Plovers. You must enter using the Magnolia Street entrance off of PCH. Bring this notice or a copy of this month's Wandering Tattler with you for a waiver of the entrance fee between 8:30 and 9:00. We will meet in the parking lot just north of the Brookhurst Street gate, between lifeguard towers 4 & 5. Hope to see you there. Bring your binoculars. We will provide some scopes.

— Conservation Committee

Special Tour for Home School Students Our Outdoor Adventures science program is well-known in Orange County as a high-quality environmental education program for elementary school children. This spring, we will offer this experience for students who are home-schooled on Thursday, May 9 at 9:30 AM. The two hour tour includes a (1) one-hour nature walk that emphasizes bird identification, behaviors and adaptations for their environment; (2) half-hour lesson on comparison of bird beaks and feet; and (3) half-hour microscope study of pond life that includes water quality. The overall theme is that the wetland habitat provides food, water, and shelter for a variety of wildlife. The program covers many of the California state educational standards for 4-6th grade. Your students will love it, so enroll today! Program fee of $5 per student includes individual use of microscopes and binoculars, student worksheet, plus a copy of “Birds of San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary” to keep. We will accept a total of 60 students between grades 3-7, first-come, first-served. Please RSVP your attendance to Trude Hurd at seaandsage@sbcglobal.net.

Northeastern CBC Report – 12/16/12 The Northeastern CBC covers inland areas in Orange County and is divided into 12 sections ranging from OʼNeill Reg. Park on the southern end of the count circle to Irvine Reg. Park on the northern end of the circle. Detailed count information can be found on our chapter webpage at: www.seaandsageaudubon.org/BirdInfo/BirdCounts/CBC/CBCnortheastern/birdcountsCBCne2.htm SPECIES Total SPECIES Total SPECIES Total SPECIES Total Rossʼs Goose 1 Zone-tailed Hawk 2 Northern Flicker 135 Spotted Towhee 213 Cackling Goose 1 Red-tailed Hawk 137 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 California Towhee 365 Canada Goose 197 Ferruginous Hawk 2 Black Phoebe 242 Rufous-crowned Sparrow 30 Wood Duck 159 American Kestrel 45 Sayʼs Phoebe 67 Chipping Sparrow 12 Gadwall 41 Merlin 10 Cassinʼs Kingbird 88 Lark Sparrow 34 Eurasian Wigeon 2 Peregrine Falcon 1 Loggerhead Shrike 4 Savannah Sparrow 39 American Wigeon 407 Prairie Falcon 1 Huttonʼs Vireo 18 Fox Sparrow 11 Mallard 774 Virginia Rail 1 Western Scrub-Jay 367 Song Sparrow 216 Blue-winged Teal 2 Sora 1 American Crow 1770 Lincolnʼs Sparrow 13 Cinnamon Teal 8 Common Gallinule 3 Common Raven 371 Swamp Sparrow 1 Northern Shoveler 120 American Coot 2601 Horned Lark 27 White-throated Sparrow 2 Green-winged Teal 3 Killdeer 1 Mountain Chickadee 40 White-crowned Sparrow 1423 Canvasback 14 Black-necked Stilt 5 Oak Titmouse 196 Golden-crowned Sparrow 97 Redhead 34 Spotted Sandpiper 14 Bushtit 1119 Dark-eyed Junco (gray-headed) 1 Ring-necked Duck 220 Western Sandpiper 30 Red-breasted Nuthatch 21 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 327 Lesser Scaup 60 Least Sandpiper 30 White-breasted Nuthatch 35 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 147 Bufflehead 64 Long-billed Dowitcher 15 Pygmy Nuthatch 1 Western Tanager 3 Hooded Merganser 7 Wilsonʼs Snipe 1 Brown Creeper 4 Black-headed Grosbeak 2 Ruddy Duck 305 Mew Gull 1 Cactus Wren 14 Red-winged Blackbird 214 California Quail 149 Ring-billed Gull 343 Rock Wren 2 Western Meadowlark 22 Common Loon 1 California Gull 453 Canyon Wren 4 Brewerʼs Blackbird 189 Pied-billed Grebe 24 Caspian Tern 1 Bewickʼs Wren 64 Great-tailed Grackle 24 Horned Grebe 5 Rock Pigeon 83 House Wren 36 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 Eared Grebe 19 Band-tailed Pigeon 256 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Bullockʼs Oriole 5 Western Grebe 263 Eurasian Collared-Dove 26 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 244 Purple Finch 1 Clarkʼs Grebe 7 Mourning Dove 394 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12 House Finch 1327 American White Pelican 62 Common Ground-Dove 14 California Gnatcatcher 27 Pine Siskin 11 Double-crested Cormorant 110 Red-crowned Parrot 31 Western Bluebird 153 Lesser Goldfinch 578 Great Blue Heron 18 Greater Roadrunner 3 Hermit Thrush 108 American Goldfinch 66 Great Egret 19 Barn Owl 9 American Robin 110 House Sparrow 97 Snowy Egret 38 Western Screech-Owl 12 Wrentit 261 Green Heron 1 Great Horned Owl 8 Northern Mockingbird 114 Exotic Species: Black-crowned Night-Heron 27 White-throated Swift 156 California Thrasher 143 Mandarin Duck 1 White-faced Ibis 5 Annaʼs Hummingbird 453 European Starling 761 Common Peafowl 40 Turkey Vulture 128 Costaʼs Hummingbird 2 American Pipit 70 parrot sp. 25 Osprey 8 Allenʼs Hummingbird 116 Cedar Waxwing 395 Nutmeg Mannikin 55 White-tailed Kite 5 Belted Kingfisher 8 Phainopepla 37 Bald Eagle 1 Acorn Woodpecker 728 Orange-crowned Warbler 53 Northern Harrier 6 Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 Nuttallʼs Woodpecker 120 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Aud)4345 Cooperʼs Hawk 15 Downy Woodpecker 13 Townsendʼs Warbler 32 Red-shouldered Hawk 49 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Common Yellowthroat 98

The names of all the birders who helped with this count are posted on the webpage. Unfortunately, there is not room enough to post all of them on this page.

Monthly & Bi-Monthly Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair

®

Monthly Wildlife Walk at the SJWS 1st Sat: March 2 - 9:00 to 10:30 am Weʼll be exploring the birds, plants, and creatures of the marsh on this wildlife walk at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Watch winter at the marsh. Meet in front of Audubon House at 9:00 am for a 1½ hour nature walk. (See directions to the SJWS on page 11.) Leaders: Audubon Naturalists Bi-Monthly: Irvine Reg. Park Bird Walk Alternate 1st Sun: March 3 - 7:30 am to 11:00 Join Linette Lina for an early spring bird walk at Irvine Regional Park at 7:30 am. Irvine Park supports a large number of resident species as well as spring migrants and breeding birds. Directions: Take Jamboree NE towards the mountains) and follow it across Santiago Canyon Rd. and into the park. Or, from the 55 Fwy, exit on Katella & drive east. Katella turns into Villa Park Rd, then Santiago Cyn Rd which you will stay on until it intersections with Jamboree. Turn left on Jamboree & follow it into the park. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you donʼt have a county parks pass. Meet in the 1st parking lot on the right as you enter the park. Leader: Linette Lina Bi-Monthly: Riley Wilderness Park Alternate 1st Wed: March 6 - 8:00 am to 11 Join Mike Clayton on a bird walk at Riley Wilderness Park. This park has many old Sycamores and Coast Live Oaks which border the park's two seasonally flowing creeks; it also has grassy hillsides and extensive areas of Coastal Sage Scrub and prickly pear cactus, all of which support a wide variety of bird life. Wear shoes with good traction; some of the trails are quite steep. Directions: From the #5 Freeway, exit on Oso Pkwy. and drive inland towards the mountains. Watch for the park entrance on the right just before the road ends at Coto de Caza. For those without a wilderness park decal, the parking fee is $3 and you will need to purchase a day-use permit from the parkʼs ticket machine. (This park closes when it rains.) Leader: Mike Clayton

Monthly: Bird Walks at the SJWS

2nd Sun: March 10 - 8:00 am to 12 Join Chris Obaditch for a monthly bird walk around the ponds of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine at

8:00 am. The walk, which is open to interested birders of all ages, will meet by the front porch of Audubon House. Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. (See directions to the SJWS on page 11.) Leader: Chris Obaditch

Bi-Monthly: Laguna Niguel Reg. ParkAlternate 3rd Sun: Mar. 17 – 7:30 am to 11:30 Join Garett Lepper for a morning of birding at Laguna Niguel Reg. Park at 8:00 am. This park attracts a wide variety of birds due to the landscaped park vegetation and lake. We will look for resident birds as well as wintering species. Directions: Take the Santa Ana Fwy (5) to the La Paz Road off ramp. Head west 4 miles to the park entrance. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you donʼt have a county parks pass. Meet at the Shelter #3 parking lot at the far end of the park where there is ample parking and a nearby restroom. (Ask for directions to Shelter 3 at the park entrance kiosk. The park is located at 28241 La Paz Rd. in Laguna Niguel.) Leader: Garett Lepper

Monthly: Upper Newport Bay by pontoon boat

® Trip duration is 2 1/2 hrs. Trip is limited to 15 persons and there is a $10 trip fee payable in cash on the morning of the outing. Advance reservations are necessary; contact Nancy Kenyon to reserve a spot on the boat. (nancykenyon@cox.net; 949-786-3160) Directions will be provided to those with reservations. Leader: Nancy Kenyon

Monthly: Upper Newport Bay Bird Walk

Last Sunday: March 31 – 8:00 am to 11 Join Mark Kincheloe for a monthly bird walk in Upper Newport Bay to check out the seasonal shorebirds, ducks, grebes, herons & egrets, etc. that frequent the bay. Bring binoculars, a field guide, and a scope if you have one. Directions: We will meet in the Big Canyon parking lot in Newport Beach. This is easily reached from Jamboree. Take San Joaquin Hills Road west toward the bay where it intersects with Back Bay Drive. Turn right on Back Bay Drive & follow it to the Big Canyon parking lot on your left. Leader: Mark Kincheloe

Upcoming Field Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair

®

Owl Prowls at Starr Ranch ® 6:30 - 8:30 pm ®Fri. evening, March 8 Fri. evening, March 22 Sat. evening, March 9 Sat. evening, March 23 (FULL) The Owl Prowl is a short nighttime excursion into Starr Ranch Sanctuary in search of owls. Our evening will start with a short orientation by Pete DeSimone who has been manager of Starr Ranch since the mid 1980’s and knows all about the owls and hawks which inhabit Bell Canyon. He may show us the resident Great Horned Owl and/or the Barn Owls which are currently nesting in a tall eucalyptus tree & are featured on the live owl cam. We will then board the big open bed truck for a short ride down Bell Canyon to search for some owls. At each stop, Pete will play some recordings of owl calls while we listen carefully for owl responses and watch for any sight of them. Advance reservations needed; trip size limited. Trip fee: $20. Make check payable to Sea and Sage Audubon and mail to: Owl Prowl, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Include your email address & phone number, or a stamped self-addressed envelope for trip confirmation & additional info. Check webpage for space availability; these owl prowl trips fill quickly! Leader: Pete DeSimone Heise Park & Anza Borrego weekend ® Sat/Sun, March 23/24 - 8:00 am The Heise Park day trip will highlight desert and mountain birds as well as migrating vireos, warblers, flycatchers. The Anza Borrego day trip will focus on desert species only. You can sign up for one or both days. See webpage for additional trip information. Hikes in Heise Park are moderate to strenuous; hikes in Anza-Borrego will be shorter . Reservations are needed; trip size is limited. Trip fee is $10 for one or both trips, payable to Sea and Sage Audubon. Mail to: Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Include phone number & email address or stamped legal- sized envelope for trip info & confirmation. Leaders: Dick & Pat Cabe Peters Canyon Regional Park Saturday, April 6 – 7:30 am Peters Canyon is a regional park which has a variety of habitats and birds and is a great place to find spring migrants. Directions: From #5 Freeway, take Jamboree east. Turn left on Canyon View Ave., not far from Santiago Cyn Rd. From #55 Frwy, take Chapman east. Turn right on Jamboree and right again on Canyon View; the park will be on your left. Be prepared to pay the $5 parking fee into the machine if you don’t have a regional parks decal. The regional parks card/pass cannot be used. Leader: Linda Oberholtzer

Southern Utah 3-day Trip Fri-Sun, May 3-5 – 7:00 am

Former Sea & Sage member, Larry Tripp, has led this outing for us two years in a row and everyone who has gone on the trip has come back raving about the beautiful scenery and wonderful variety of birds seen on it. Many of the trip participants have signed up for repeat visits.

We will meet in St. George at 7:00 AM each morning and also end there around 7:00 PM on Sunday. We will be birding in everything from desert scrub, riparian, pinyon juniper, to montane habitats. Weather won't be a problem as far as getting to the places, but it obviously could make birding difficult. Larry says it's usually pretty good weather in early May but you never know. People will need to be prepared for both hot and cold temperatures since they will be in both the desert and the mountains regardless of what the weather is like.

We will bird beautiful southwestern Utah during spring migration, birding desert habitat as well as high elevation mountain areas. Zion National Park will be one of the places we will go to along with other scenic areas. We will see a lot of the Great Basin birds in breeding plumage. Some of the birds you can expect to see will be Common Black Hawks, Crissal Thrashers, Brown-crested Cordilleran and Dusky Flycatchers, Virginia, Grace’s and Lucy’s Warbers, Gray and Plumbeous Vireos, Green-tailed Towhees, Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrows. You will also see many desert & montane species in these areas.

There will be quite a bit of walking involved but nothing really strenuous. We will do some driving on dirt roads but high clearance vehicles aren’t needed.

On FRIDAY, we will bird along the Santa Clara River starting just outside St. George all the way to the headwaters in the Pine Valley Mountains. On SATURDAY, we will bird the main canyon in Zion National Park and then move into the higher elevations. On SUNDAY, we will head to Lytle Ranch, a lower elevation migrant trap in the very corner of SW Utah. From there some people will head for home while others will return to St. George for the evening.

Advance reservations are needed; trip size is limited. Trip fee is $25 per person. Make check payable to Sea & Sage Audubon and mail it to: Utah Trip, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Be sure to include your phone number & email address, or a stamped self-addressed envelope for additional trip info & confirmation. See our webpage for bird lists from our previous trips. Leader: Larry Tripp Reservations: Nancy Kenyon 949-786-3160; nancykenyon@cox.net

Sea & Sage Audubon Invites You to our 2013 Spring Brunches & Summer Bat Walks

Wandering Tattler 10 March 2013

Dates: Saturday, April 6 Sunday, April 14 Saturday, April 27 Saturday, May 11 Time: 10:00 a.m. to Noon Cost: $24 per person, pre-paid registration

Having brunch with friends at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine is a perfect way to enjoy the beauty of a spring day. Registration for our series of 4 gourmet Spring Brunches begins on Friday, March 1. Each brunch is on a Saturday or Sunday morning from 10 AM-12 noon, at the covered picnic area behind the Duck Club. When you arrive, you will receive a selection of beverages, fruit and some pastry and some quiet conversation while surrounded by the morning beauty of the meadow. A naturalist will then take you on a guided tour of the Marsh for about 45 min. Upon returning to the picnic area, an entrée salad, bread and beverages (the menu may vary) will be

waiting for you, and we then end the morning with a delectable dessert. All in all, everyone who has attended in the past has enjoyed the event and the surroundings. Attendance is limited to 15 adults (no children) to make social interaction easy. So, send in a registration form for yourself or consider giving a gift of brunch to someone special, perhaps to celebrate a birthday or a wedding anniversary. Enrollment is $24 per person.

THURSDAYS: FRIDAYSMay 16 May 31 May 30 — June 13 June 14 June 20 — July 11 July 12 July 18 July 19 Aug. 8 Aug. 9 Aug. 22 Aug. 23 Sept. 5 Sept. 6 Sept. 12 Sept. 13

TIME: 6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Start times vary according to time of sunset.

COST: $18 per adult and $10 for children ages 7-12 Due to the length of the program and the fact that anyone leaving early must be escorted back to the parking area, we have a minimum age of 7 years for participants.

Participants must be pre-paid; walk-ins are not accepted.

Come discover first-hand that this freshwater wetland is a magical place at dusk. We begin with an indoor presentation by Stephanie Remington, a local bat biologist. We then take a short walk along the ponds to watch the sun set and listen to night sounds. The highlight is locating the two species of bats that come in small numbers to the marsh to feed. This popular Irvine event fills up quickly, so register early!

~ Registration Form ~Spring Brunch Bat Walks

* RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE PRE-PAID *

Directions and Membership Directions to Audubon House, Chapter Meetings, and the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Audubon Membership Form, Tattler subscriptions & delivery, and Remember Us in Your Will or Trust

Wandering Tattler March 2013

Tattler Subscriptions

Non-Audubon members or members from other Audubon chapters who wish to subscribe to our chapter newsletter, may do so for $12.50 per year. Make check payable to “Sea & Sage Audubon” and mail to: Tattler Subscriptions, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612

Go Paperless! Sign up to receive your newsletter via email — get your issues faster, help save natural resources, reduce waste, and help our chapter save money! You can read it online or print out the pages you need to refer to more frequently. It is in pdf format and will look and print exactly like the original ones. Photos will be in color. Send an e-mail to nancykenyon@cox.net to start your paper-free Tattler delivery today! (offer good only for chapter members in good standing)

Remember Us in Your

Will or Trust

Please remember to include “Sea and Sage Audubon Society” by name (tax ID#23-7003681) in your will or trust.

Directions to Audubon House, our Chapter

Meetings & the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Our entrance is now from Campus Dr., not Michelson

From the San Diego Fwy (405): Exit on Jamboree, south toward Newport Beach. At the 1st signal, Michelson, turn left. Continue on Michelson (past the old entrance to the SJWS) to the 5th signal which is Harvard and turn right. Drive to University & turn right. Drive to Campus Drive & turn right. Stay in the far right lane and immediately turn right onto Riparian View which will enter the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. The entrance road is marked by a green sign. If you miss the turn and reach Carlson, turn right and go around the block again to Harvard. The sanctuary is open every day from dawn until dusk.

Audubon House Open daily: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

949-261-7963

Your Membership Payment

If you are signing up as a new Audubon member, be sure and use the membership form below that has the code C9ZC150Z in the lower right hand corner. This tells National Audubon who to credit for your recruitment. Sea & Sage gets 100% of a new memberʼs dues, even if you sign up for more than one year. If you are feeling generous at renewal time and you want Sea & Sage to benefit, you should send your renewal fee to National Audubon and a separate check to Sea & Sage for your donation to the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Membership Chair, Chuck George, at cgeorge@george-sd.com Temporarily Away or Moving?

Please notify Membership Chair, Chuck George, of your new address if you are temporarily, or permanently, moving from your current address. If you do not want to continue receiving the Tattler at your new address, let him know. This will save us from paying return postage fees.

Audubon Membership Application Membership: we invite you to become a member of the National Audubon Society and the Sea & Sage Audubon chapter. To join: Please pay by check only; do not send cash. Make your check payable to: NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, complete this form, and mail it along with your payment to: Sea & Sage Audubon, PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616. National Audubon Society Membership: Check one [√] [ ] NEW MEMBERSHIP: $20 - Individual or Family members [ ] RENEWAL: $35 - Regular Membership [ ] NEW MEMBERSHIP: $15 - Senior (62+ yrs) or Student [ ] RENEWAL: $15 - Senior or Student Members receive: AUDUBON magazine as well as the WANDERING TATTLER newsletter.

Chapter Code

Name Address City, State, Zip Phone E-mail

C3ZC150Z

Chapter Mission Statement: Sea and Sage Audubon is a leader in creating an understanding of nature in Orange County, through conservation, research and environmental education programs for children and adults. This is accomplished with classes, field activities, publications and volunteer opportunities.

12 Wandering Tattler March 2013

BOARD MEMBERS

Executive Committee: President ........................... Bruce Aird ................... 949-458-1520 Vice President ................... Vic Leipzig .................. 714-848-5394 Secretary .......................... Linda Davis ................. 949-643-3789 Treasurer .......................... Bart Beckman ............. 714-633-3419 Director 2013 .................... Star Howard ................ 949-770-3177 Director 2013 .................... Amber Oneal Heredia . 714-812-2430 Director 2014 .................... Cheryl Egger ............... 714-842-9232 Director 2014 .................... Bobbie Miller ............... 714-960-5724 Director 2015 .................... Steve Kaye ................. 714-528-1300 Director 2015 .................... Shirley Reynolds ......... 949-429-2161 Past President .................. Jay Miller ..................... 949-707-1287 Committee Chairpersons: Audubon House ..................... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Audubon House Volunteers ........ Judy Fritts ................... 949-551-4513 Bird Information ................ Sylvia Gallagher ......... 714-962-8990 Christmas Bird Counts ...... Steve Alter .................. 714-669-9482 Conservation Co-Chair ..... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Conservation Co-Chair ..... Vic Leipzig .................. 714-848-5394 Counsel ............................. Rick Derevan .............. 714-427-7016 Development ..................... Cheryl Thomas ........... 949-294-2275 Education .......................... Carolyn Noble ............. 714-731-9091 Exhibits ............................. Mary Joseph ............... 714-848-8362 Facebook .......................... Chuck George ............. 714-319-6166 Field Trips ......................... Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Finance ............................. Hal Sheakley ............... 949-552-5974 Membership ...................... Chuck George ............. 714-319-6166 Newsletter Editor .............. Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Orange County Spring Count .... Al Baumann ................ 949-859-5081 Partners in Flight ............... Janet Baumann .......... 949-859-5081 Programs .......................... Pat & Dick Cabe ......... 949-960-1683 Science ............................. Amber Oneal Heredia . 714-812-2430 SJWS Liaison ................... Chris Obaditch ............ 949-640-7234 Starr Ranch/Envir. Liaison Pete DeSimone .......... 949-858-0309 Webmaster ....................... Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Webpage: http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org

STAFF Marsh Education Project Director Trude Hurd ................ 949-261-7964 Education Assistant ......................... Deborah Brin ............. 949-261-7964 Administrative Aide ............. Rebecca Craft ............ 949-261-7963 Sales Manager ................... Debby Thyssen .......... 949-261-7963 Audubon House .......... .............................. 949-261-7963

CALENDAR OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES March 2013 1-3 Fr-Su Bill Clark’s Introductory Raptor ID class ........ 7:15 pm 02 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 03 Sun Irvine Park bi-monthly bird walk ..................... 7:30 am 05 Tues Conservation Com. Meeting .......................... 6:30 pm 06 Wed Riley Park bi-monthly bird walk ..................... 8:00 am 8-10 Fr-Su Bill Clark’s Intermed/Adv Raptor ID class ..... 7:15 pm 08 Fri Owl Prowl at Starr Ranch .............................. 6:30 pm 09 Sat Owl Prowl at Starr Ranch .............................. 6:30 pm 10 Sun SJWS monthly bird walk ................................ 8:00 am 12 Tues Board Meeting . ............................................. 7:30 pm 15 Fri ANNUAL DINNER ........................................ 6:00 pm 16 Sat eBird Workshop ............................................. 8:00 am 17 Sun Laguna Niguel RP bi-monthly bird walk ......... 8:00 am 20 Wed UNB by pontoon boat (full) ............................ 8:15 am 22 Fri Owl Prowl at Starr Ranch .............................. 6:30 pm 23 Sat Snowy Plover field trip ................................... 9:00 am 23 Sat Owl Prowl at Starr Ranch (full) ...................... 6:30 pm 22/23 Fr/Sa Owl Prowls at Starr Ranch ............................ 6:30 pm 23 Sat Heise Park field trip ....................................... 8:00 am 24 Sun Anza-Borrego field trip ................................... 8:00 am 31 Sun UNB monthly bird walk .................................. 8:00 am April 2013 03 Wed Caspers Park bi-monthly bird walk ................ 8:00 am 06 Sat Peters Canyon Reg. Park bird walk ............... 7:30 am 06 Sat Spring Brunch .. ........................................... 10:00 am 06 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 07 Sun Santiago Oaks bi-monthly bird walk .............. 7:30 am 10 Wed UNB by pontoon boat .................................... 8:15 am 13/14 S/S Eastern Sierra weekend trip .......................... 7:00 am 14 Sun Spring Brunch .. ........................................... 10:00 am

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