Jan 2012 Stanislaus Audubon

8/12/2019 Jan 2012 Stanislaus Audubon

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Valley Habit1

The Valley Habitat January 2012

A Jo in t Pub licat io n of th e St an is laus Aud ubon Soc ie ty

an d th e Yo ku ts Group of th e Sie rra Cl ub

January 20 th , 2012 Program: Member Slide Show

From Optimism toCynicism to Activism in

30 Short Years

--by Anita Young, Yokuts Chair

email: [email protected]

I was born a cock-eyed optimist,raised by parents who quietly didgood deeds in church, school andthe community. The political assas-sinations in 1968 prompted me towork on the McGovern for Presidentcampaign and on social justiceissues. I agreed with the popula-tion bomb is everybodys babyand small is beautiful, and joined

the Sierra Club during JamesWatts time as Secretary of theInterior under Ronald Reagan, as a

protest against their anti-environmental policies.

Over the years, as I was exposed tothe world of politics and business-as-usual, I gradually became more

cynical, although never to thedegree of the famous Lily Tomlinquote: No matter how cynical you

become, it's never enough to keepup. I was content that my occa-sional letters to the editor and tomy Congress members would letmy voice be heard and influencedecisions for the common good.

Recently, however, I listened tocomedian Paul Mooney beinginterviewed on Capital PublicRadio. He had this to say about thecurrent political situation: I dontthink there is a Republican party,and I dont think there is a Demo-cratic party. I think theres onlyone party the 1% party. Every-

thing else is fakeThey are all foreach other, they are not for us.

Those words cause me deepdistress, even as I reluctantly agreewith them. We cannot count on our

politicians to act for the good ofthe nation, to protect our preciousnatural resources, insure domestic

tranquility and promote the generalwelfare. The Sierra Club supportsthe Occupy Movement. If we arethe 99%, we have to resume own-ership and stewardship of thosethings we hold near and dear.

This brings me to a call for activ-

ism. In our busy lives, it seems impossible to add even one more ac-tivity, but that is what I am askingyou to do. I am asking you to findthe one issue, the one true thing,that will motivate you to play arole in the Sierra Club. The Yokutsmanagement team will be meetingin mid-Janua ry to outline ouraction goals for the coming year.Please take a moment to call or

email any of the good people onthe team (contact information is on page 7) with your local concerns.Lets cast off cynicism, organizeour priorities and plan for action.

6:45 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Fellowship Hall of the College Ave. Church, 1341 College Ave. (atOrangeburg) in Modesto. Refreshments and socializing begin at 6:45 p.m. The program starts at 7 p.m. It is freeand open to the public .

The always popular Membership Slide Show starts off the New Year. Bring your slides on a disc orthumb-drive and share your outing and wilderness adventures. For more information, contact Alexandra

Hoffmann. Phone 985-1575, email: [email protected]


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Stanislaus Audubon Society

Valley Habit 3

One of the ways humanshave disrupted environments is by

introducing birds into places wherethey never occurred and would neverspread on their own. The reasons fordoing so are as diverse as human be-havior itself.

European immigrants had alonging for the sights and sounds of

birds familiar to them from theirhomelands. They believed that OldWorld birds were better songstersthan those of the New World. One

bizarre offshoot of this misguidednostalgia involved the release of 100European Starlings from Central Parkin 1891 because a group wanted to

bring to America every bird men-tioned in Shakespeares works. Whata mistake that was!

A second motive for releas-ing foreign birds is for hunting andsport, particularly game birds like

pheasants. In addition, some birdswere introduced as a natural meansof controlling insect pests; ironically,most of those birds have become

pests themselves. The House Spar-row, for example, was brought tocontrol drop-worm in the UnitedStates. Unfortunately, this sparrowacquired a taste for food left by peo-

ple, which is why we see them in ur- ban parking lots less conspicuousthan Rock Doves, but probably asnumerous.

A market-driven reason for

introduction is the sale of domesticat-ed birds for caged pets. Birds of the Psittacidae Family (cockatoos and parrots) are appealing to own. Theircolorful plumages, vocal abilities,intelligence, and sociability makemembers of this family avidly sought

by collectors. During the bad olddays, there was virtually no regula-

tion on parrot importation. Millionsof them were removed from native

habitats and sold to any market thatwould traffic in them. It took an in-ternational treaty and the Wild BirdConservation Act of 1992 to end thisunsustainable trade. (Although most

pet birds sold here are captive-bred,there is still illegal trade of parrots tothe U.S.)

It is virtually impossible to prevent every caged bird from escap-ing, and often they are deliberately

released to fend for themselves.Sometimes, such release comes froma force of nature. In December of1977, a hurricane blew off the roof ofthe Happy Bird Aviary andliberated a few Rose -ringed Para-keets. There is now a flock of 500 ofthem in Hart Park, northeast of Bakers-field.

California, especially in its

southern regions, has proved habitablefor avian escapees, some of whichhave bred successfully and estab-lished permanent populations. TheCalifornia Parrot Project has docu-mented 13 species of free-flying par-rots. In 2001, Red-crowned Parrotswere added to the California Bird Rec-ords Committee list of countable

bird species, just like Ring-neckedPheasant or Eurasian Collared-Dove.

How do these birds from thetropics thrive? Many Southern Cali-fornia neighborhoods have non-native ornamental trees and shrubsthat provide year-round sustenance ofseeds, fruits and nectar for free-roaming parrots. The winters are rela-tively cool, and the rest of the year

balmy as the sunny Mediterranean.Suburban areas are free from preda-tors that parrots would have to endure

in tropical jungles. In Northern Cali-fornia, free parrots are mostly single birds that would probably not thrivein our colder winters. One exceptionis the Cherry-headed Conure flockthat Mark Bittner cared for and de-scribed in The Wild Parrots of Tele-

graph Hill .

What can you do if you see awild parrot in Stanislaus or MercedCounty? First, perhaps just take amoment to enjoy its beauty. Next,assess its condition and behavior. Ifthe bird appears injured or sick, orseems tame to your approach, itmight be a candidate for the Stani-slaus Wildlife Care Center. Thatwould depend on your willingnessand means to transport the bird, exer-cising due caution. If the parrot is on

public property such as a park, youcould call the appropriate authoritiesfor advice or help. If the bird is on

private property, you would let it be.

What if you encounter aflock, or a family of parrots nestingand breeding? First, take photos ofthe birds and note their location, andthen contact someone from StanislausAudubon. We may not be able tocount parrots, but we are alwayscurious of the feathered tribe.

PARROTS GONE WILD by Salvatore Salerno

RED-CROWNED PARROTS Daniel Lee Brown

www.naturestoc.smugmug.com


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Stanislaus Audubon SocietyBoard of Directors: Bill Amundsen, RalphBaker, Eric Caine, Joe Devine, LoriFranzman, Jody Hallstrom, David Froba,

Daniel Gilman, John Harris, Harold Reeve,Salvatore Salerno, Dale Swanberg.

Officers & Committee Chairs

President : Sal Salerno 985-1232([email protected])

Vice President : Eric Caine 968-1302 ([email protected])

Treasurer : David Froba 521-7265 ([email protected])

Secretary : John Harris 848-1518

([email protected])

Membership: Revolving

San Joaquin River Refuge Field Trips:Bill Amundsen 521-8256 ([email protected])Other Field Trips: David Froba 521-7265

([email protected])

Christmas Bird Counts:

Harold Reeve 538-0885How to Join Audubon

To become a member of the NationalAudubon Society, which entitles youto receive Valley Habitat and AudubonMagazine, send your check for $20.00 to:

National Audubon SocietyMembership Data Center

P.O. Box 51003 - Boulder, CO 80323-1003

Visit our web site at www.stanislausbirds.org

Valley Habitat 4

Stanislaus Audubon SocietyAUDUBON FIELD TRIPS

2012 STANISLAUS AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS In connection with and incelebration of Stanislaus Audubon just having produced the booklet, "TheBirding Sites of Stanislaus and Merced Counties" ( see page 6 of this issue),we will visit all the featured sites in the booklet in the course of 2012 . Wewill gear the trips to the time of year that is best for each site. The more of thetrips you attend, the better you will experience the extent of the wonderfulnatural history of our local area and if you have read the booklet before eachtrip you will have an even better experience.

January 14 Shoreline at Mountainview/Palo Alto Baylands. Made up ofmany varied habitats, these are two of Santa Clara County's best known andmost frequently birded areas. First we will visit Shoreline at Mountainviewwhere we will look for waterfowl and gulls on the ponds of the Cargill SaltCompany and shorebirds on the mudflats of Charleston Slough. Next we willmake the short drive to Palo Alto Baylands for a picnic lunch and then bird

the area. The Baylands is home to four species of rail which we may be ableto see as the rising tide flushes them from the marshes. Meet at 7:00 a.m. atthe Stanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. This will be an all day tripso bring lunch and fluids, and dress warm because the wind coming off the

bay can get a might chilly. All of the birding will be on foot with a fairamount of walking on smooth, level trails. Restrooms are available at bothlocations. Contact trip leader Ralph Baker@ [email protected] with any questions.

January 15, February 19, and March 18 San Joaquin River National Wild-life Refuge. Trip leader Bill Amundsen ( 521-8256, [email protected] ) advises that on each of these trips we'll be visiting parts of the Refuge bothnorth and south of Highway 132. White Lake, on a part of the Refuge notgenerally open to the public, is a place where you can see the famous matingdance of the Western Grebes as the year moves on toward spring. Meet at theStanislaus Library parking lot at 1500 I Street. We'll be back early afternoon.

January 21 Cooperstown Road/Woodward Reservoir. (booklet, pp. 13-17)This area is superb in the winter for raptors, especially. Also, being in theeasternmost part of the county nearest the Sierra, it regularly has altitudinalmigrants like Lewis' Woodpecker and Mountain Bluebird that spill over fromthe Interior West in the dead of winter. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the StanislausLibrary parking lot at 1500 I Street. We'll be back early afternoon. Trip lead-er, Dave Froba, who wrote the part in the booklet about CooperstownRd.. 521-7265, [email protected] .

February 18 Santa Fe Grade Road/San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.(booklet, pp. 51-57) Both sites are in Merced County. Santa Fe Grade is agravel, easily-birded road that runs through duck hunting clubs and offersexcellent access to water birds of all kinds. We'll be there after hunting sea-son. The San Luis site has grassland and riparian forest habitats, An extra isthe Tule Elk that live there. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Stanislaus Library park-ing lot at 1500 I Street. We'll be out until mid afternoon. Trip leader, our Na-tional Wildlife Refuge specialist,

Bill Amundsen, 521-8256, [email protected] .

FIELD TRIP LISTSERV

If you would like to be on a groupemail to advise you of all

Audubon field trips, please email:

Dave Froba at [email protected] .
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Valley Habit 5

Yokuts Group of the Sierra ClubJanuary 3, TuesdaySnowshoe Hike (2B)

Crabtree Road Area, Emi-grant Wilderness (Yokuts)

Meet at Dennys parking lot inOakdale at 8:00am to carpool.This hike was going to be at Ca-laveras, but high winds have top-

ples numerous trees there andclosed the park. Here's another

possible venue, but please notethat it could change. Well start atthe far end of Crabtree Road notfar from Dodge Ridge, park wherethe snow cuts off the road and fol-low nordic ski trails on and off theroad. There will be a couple ofsteep climbs at elevations of about7,000+feet. Bring water, sacklunch, ten essentials, and moneyfor dinner on the way home andfor the drivers. Contact MonicaCasey at 209.996.0058 or

[email protected] .

Co-leader Alan Bernikoff209.768.5881,

[email protected]

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Day hike (1A)

4-mile hike along theTuolumne River.

Meet at 9:30 AM at the AmericanLegion Hall parking lot,1001 S.Santa Cruz Avenue. Dogs andchildren welcome. Heavy raincancels. Info: Dorothy 549-9155

Saturday, January 28, 2012Day Hike (2A) New Melones RecreationArea (Yokuts)

Meet at 10 am at Glory Hole En-trance Station, Whittle Ranch Rd.(south of Angels Camp, off high-way 49).Enjoy a hike in the Sierra foothillsin the winter. We will hike ap-

prox. 8 miles at two locations inthe Glory Hole Recreation Area of

New Melones. We will likely seewintering/migrating birds. Bring

warm clothes, good hiking shoes,rain gear, lunch, beverage, binoc-ulars, other essentials, and $8

parking fee. HEAVY RAINCANCELS. Optional dinner inColumbia. Contact leader ElaineGorman at 209-586-9640 [email protected] to sign up.Check out www.usbr.gov/mp/ ccao/ newmelones / for more info.

Saturday, February 4, 2012Dayhike (1B) Yosemite Falls (Yokuts)Hike Yosemite Falls Trail fromthe valley floor (elev 4000 ft) tothe cascades at the base of the Up-

per Falls (elev 5000 ft) for greatviews of the valley in Winter, thelower falls from above, the cas-cades, the upper falls and the icecone formed around it. Round tripabout 4 mi. Bring rain gear, warmclothing, lunch, beverage, carpool$$, hiking boots, hiking poles,other essentials. Experienced hik-ers only. Please call leader DerekCastle at 209.529.7816, or co-leader Jim McGurrin at209.538.6765 for meeting timeand place (Modesto area).

April 29-May 5, Sunday - Sat.Service Trip/Backpack (2B)Glen Canyon National Rec.Area (Delta-Sierra Group)

Escalante River Canyon,Utah. We will assist the NationalPark Service in an ongoing Rus-sian Olive eradication program.This project started in the fall of2000 and with the help of manyvolunteers have eliminated over42 miles of Russian Olive fromthe Escalante River. We will beworking at the direction of ParkRanger Bill Wolverton, our jobwill be to do initial clearing ofrussian olive trees using loppers,small hand saws and herbicide.We meet in Escalante, Utah Sun-day morning, April 29, caravanout to the trailhead and hike in viaSilver Falls Creek about 7 miles to

our base camp. Expect knee tothigh deep river crossings, andsome bushwhacking. We work 4days, day hike 1 day and hike outSaturday morning May 5. Partici-

pants will be required to meetwork clothing requirements, pro-vide their own food and gear onthe trail and travel expenses to thetrailhead. For more information

contact the leader, Paul Plathe at209-476-1498.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Valley Habitat 6

Stanislaus Audubon Society

BIRDING SITES BOOKLET NOW AVAILABLE

"The Birding Sites of Stanislaus and Merced Coun-ties" is now available for birders. This 90-page book-let contains a description of forty locations for

birding in those two counties, including habitats andthe birds found there during different seasons.

This collaborative effort also has photographs, illus-trations, and an updated bar graph showing the statusand distribution of 310 bird species. This booklet can

be purchased at the Great Valley Museum.

It can also be obtained from Audubon field trip lead-ers for a suggested donation of $10.00. Birders fromother areas who would like to have the booklet mailedto them may contact me at [email protected] formailing information.Sal Salerno, Editor

Stanislaus/Merced

Collaborative Big Year Update

Since the last ne wsle tter , our spec ies total for the 2011collaborative Stanislaus/Merced Big Year has grownto 253 species! This total exceeds the 2009 total by two.

Nearly 30 observers have contributed to the effort. Most ofthe recent addi tions a re birds that are rare in the CentralValley, as one would expect at the end of the yearsobservations. A special highlight was a Pacific Loon atWoodward Reservoir on November 30, a species not

previously recorded in Stanislaus County. A Red-breastedMerganser was seen there on the following day. Some of

the other rare species observed included BarrowsGoldeneye and Surf Scoter, both seen during CentralValley Bird Symposium field trips at Turloc k Lake andONeill Forebay , respectively. Modesto SecondaryWastewater Treatment plant continued to yield newspecies for the year; a Little Gull was seen there on

November 13. Other rare birds seen in the last month arementioned elsewhere in this newsletter.

"Woodward Reservoir Birders, 11-12-11"

EARLY BIRDERS CLASS,

SPRING 2012

Salvatore Salerno is offering more EarlyBirders classes through the M.J.C. Communi-ty Education Department. This course is de-signed for the beginning or intermediate birdwatcher in the identification of birds. Class#1 meets on Thursday, February 9. Thefield trip is to Merced National WildlifeRefuge on Saturday, February 11. Class#2 meets on Thursday, April 12. The field

trips are to Knights Ferry on Saturday,April 14 and to La Grange on Saturday,April 21. Look for Early Birders in the up-coming mjc4life catalog. Register atwww.mjc4life.org or call 575-6063
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.mjc4life.org/http://www.mjc4life.org/http://www.mjc4life.org/mailto:[email protected]


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Valley Habit7

Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

Yokuts Group of the Sierra Club

Management CommitteeChair Anita Young 529-2300

([email protected])Treasurer Sylvan Bupp 524-0074

([email protected])Secretary Maryann Hight 417-9114

([email protected])Programs Alexandra Hoffmann 985-1575

([email protected]) Conservation Brad Barker 526-5281

([email protected])Membership Kathy Clarke 575-2174

([email protected])Hospitality Candy Klaschus 632-5473

([email protected])Publicity Dorothy Griggs 549-9155

([email protected])Outings Randall Brown 632-5994

([email protected])Newsletter Nancy Jewett 664-9422Mailing Kathy Weise 545-5948Political Jerry Jackman 577-5616

([email protected])Population Milt Trieweiler 664-1181Fundraising Leonard Choate 524-3659Website Jason Tyree

( [email protected])

Check out our Website:http://motherlode.sierraclub.org/yokuts

To send stories to the Habitat , e-mail: [email protected]

Sierra Club MembershipEnrollment Form

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Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are not tax-deductible; they supportour effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your dues include $7.50for a subscription to SIERRA magazine and $1 for your Chapter newsletter.

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John McCutcheon

Concert Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012

7pm, Modesto Church of the Brethren, 2301

Woodland Ave., Modesto6-time Grammy nominated folk musician inhis 11th annual benefit for Modesto Peace/

Life Center, , $20 advance, $23 door, $15 forgroups of 10 or more, $5 youth 18 and under,tickets available at the church, 523-1438, andat Anderson Frame Shop and Gallery, 1323 J

St., 579-9913, www.stanislausconnections.org
http://www.stanislausconnections.org/http://www.stanislausconnections.org/http://www.stanislausconnections.org/


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The Valley Habitat January 2012

Yokuts Group

Mother Lode Chapter

Sierra Club

P.O. Box 855

Modesto, CA 95353

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Modesto, CA

Permit No. 139

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

MJC's Science Colloquium

All to be at Science 208, MJC East Campus, 3:30-4:30 p.m. admission free and open to the pub-

lic. Parking: off campus free, on-campus must pay.

Jan 24 John Buckley, Central SierraEnvironmental Resources Center

"The Dynamic Central Sierra Nevada: A RegionAt Risk, and Our Need to Conserve It"

Jan 31 Horacio Ferriz"A Marriage of Geology, Physics, and Wine "

Feb. 7 Julia Sankey, Ph.D.,CSU Stanislaus Geology Dept.

"Dinosaur Discoveries and Extinctions"

Sunday, January 8, 2012 2p.m.

Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock

Livingston, California, native Glen Denny will bespeaking at the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock onSunday, January 8 th at 2 p.m. His book Yosemite inthe Sixties chronicles the adventures of Denny as heclimbed in Yosemite with many famous adventurers,including Royal Robbins, Warren Harding, TomFrost, Yvon Chouinard, and Chuck Pratt. Glen willshare not only his experiences scaling the vast granite

walls in Yosemite, but also what life was like forthem at Camp 4. This lecture is sponsored by theTuesday Reading Club and is free.

Jan 2012 Stanislaus Audubon

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