Wandering Tattler

The  Voice  of  SEA  AND  SAGE  AUDUBON,  an  Orange  County  Chapter  of  the  National  Audubon  Society  

Dec.  2014  –  Jan.  2015  

Volume  64,  Number  4  

Christmas Bird Count 2014 by Vic Leipzig, President Every year, well over one hundred members of Sea & Sage participate in one or more of our Christmas Bird Counts. I always wonder why so few! For me, CBCs are among the great joys of the holiday season. Theyʼre an opportunity for expert birders to display their skills, an opportunity for novice birders to hone their skills by birding with experts, and an opportunity for us all to have fun birding with no guilty conscience because itʼs all for a genuinely worthy cause: the advancement of science. Collectively, these counts constitute the largest citizen-science undertaking on Earth, and the information gathered on CBCs is some of the most valuable data in field ornithology. If you have ever done a CBC in the past, I sure hope youʼll come out again this year. If you are new to CBCs, I invite you to join us for a great event that I am absolutely confident you will enjoy. Sea & Sage conducts counts in three separate areas: Inland Orange County (this year on Sunday, December 14), South Orange County (this year on Saturday, December 20), and Coastal Orange County (Sunday, December 28). For details on volunteering, see pages 6-7 of this issue and our chapter webpage. Some birders will bird all day long for CBC, others just for the morning hours. Some bird close to their homes, others take the opportunity to bird in areas that are new to them. One reason that some birders do NOT participate in CBC is that for many years, Audubon charged $5 (to cover the cost of printing and mailing the results) to every participant. Now that we have entered this digital era, Audubon has stopped charging and CBC is now completely FREE. How can you beat that offer? *** In last monthʼs column I told how Audubon California and Sea & Sage were supporting Proposition 1, the water bond. Well, it passed by a strong margin in the election on November 4. Now Audubon will work hard to see that those 7.5 billion dollars of taxpayer money are spent to really improve our water system and not just dam up more rivers. I promise you that Sea & Sage will do its part.

General Meeting

January 16th - Friday evening - 7:30 pm

“Should Birders Embrace the Federal Duck Stamp Contest?”

presented by Martin J. Smith

Our January speaker is Martin J. Smith who will be talking about the Federal Duck Stamp contest as chronicled in his book, The Wild Duck Chase: Inside the Strange and Wonderful World of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as “Duck Stamps,” are pictorial stamps produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, generating more than $750 million since 1934 to help purchase or lease 5.3 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the U.S., which is the core of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Each year, the stamp-design contest draws wildlife artists from across the nation submitting their work for judging by a panel of artists and wildlife experts. Mr. Martin reveals the microcosm of the duck stamp contest as an ideological clash between the hunters who buy the stamps and the birders and conservationists who decry the hunting of waterfowl. Our presenter is a veteran journalist and magazine editor who has won more than fifty newspaper and magazine writing awards. A former senior editor of the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Mr. Martin currently is editor-in-chief of Orange Coast, the monthly magazine of Orange County. He decided to write about the Federal Duck Stamp Contest and the landmark conservation program behind it because, in it, he sees “a ray of hope and a living reminder of what the American federal government once was, and someday could be again: visionary, idealistic, and inarguably effective.”

The program will be held in the Duck Club, at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. The doors open at 7:00 for refreshments and fellowship, and the meeting and program begin at 7:30 pm. Audubon House will be open from 6:30 to 7:15 for those who arrive early. We hope you will join us. (See page 11 for directions to the meeting.)

Doug Lithgow, Programs Chair

6 Remember to keep this issue of the Tattler until the end of January! 6

Conservation News for Dec. & Jan. Susan Sheakley, Conservation Chair Our  next  two  Conservation  Committee  Meetings  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  December  2    and  Tuesday,  January  6  at  6:30  PM.  The  next  two  Conservation  Lectures  will  be  held  on  Sunday,  December  7th  at  4:30  PM,  and  Tuesday,  January  27th  at  7:30  PM.    We  hope  you  will  join  us!    

     Wandering  Tattler   Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

 

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Conservation  Lecture  

6 Sunday,  December  7th  –  4:30  PM  SJWS,  Learning  Center  

 “Idaho and California: Our Shared Big White Bird”

 Since 2007, IDFG has banded over

2,000 pre-fledgling pelicans at the two main breeding colonies in the state, with the objective of documenting local movements, migration patterns, and colony fidelity. With theirs wings sporting tags, the young pelicans have been reported almost 500 times. What is the most common state to receive reports from? California! And, Orange County, California has almost 25% of the reports!!

Join IDFGʼs Colleen Moulton for a presentation on Idahoʼs pelican banding project. Learn what was expected, what they found, and what may be next! The doors open at 4:00 for snacks and social. The program begins at 4:30 PM. Meet in front of Audubon House at 2:30 PM for a quick walk to look for tagged pelicans at the Marsh.

   6th  Orange  County  Snowy  Plover  Survey  

January  18  –  24,  2015   Wonʼt you join our OC Snowy Plover Team in looking for wintering Snowy Plovers? Sea and Sage Audubon is continuing to host these important and successful surveys to determine which beaches the plovers are using. This survey coincides with the official USFWS “Winter Survey” and our data, is reported to USFWS and CDFW. Each segment takes approximately 1½ to 2 hrs to survey, with one or two surveyors per segment. Volunteer surveyors may choose their Orange County beach segment to survey by looking at the list of beaches on our website and contacting our Volunteer Coordinator, Cheryl Egger at ocsnplsurvey@gmail.com . The next 2-hour training session will be on Sat., Jan. 10th, at 10 o'clock at the Learning Center in the SJWS in Irvine. Anyone interested may attend, but prior registration is requested. Check-in will be from 9:30 to 9:50 AM. Please contact Cheryl at ocsnplsurvey@gmail.com to register. If you have not already attended a training session for these Snowy Plover surveys, we strongly encourage you to do so. Please visit our website for more information, the biologistʼs report compiled from our first four surveys, and a list of beaches. http://tinyurl.com/mzoq8ea

Conservation  Lecture  64th  Tuesday,  January  27th  –  7:30  PM  

SJWS,  Learning  Center    “Predicting  How  CA  Birds  Will  Be  Impacted  by  Global  Warming”  presented  by  Andrea  Jones,  Director  of  Bird  Conservation,  Audubon  CA    

-­‐  AND  –  "Sea  and  Sage  Audubon's  BirdSeasons  CA”  presented  by  Sandy  DeSimone,  Audubon  Starr  Ranch    

Our guests for the January 27th '4th Tuesday' Conservation Lecture are Andrea Jones, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon California, to talk about Audubonʼs climate change study, and Sandy DeSimone, Audubon Starr Ranch, to help Sea and Sage launch “BirdSeasons CA”, a study to observe any annual adjustments in the seasonal activities of selected birds at the Marsh.

Andrea will discuss the research recently released by National Audubon predicting how North American birds will be impacted by climate change. She will share how Audubon scientists created models to predict future ranges of almost 600 species of North American birds and how they will fare in the future under predicted global warming scenarios. She will focus on California birds, and, in particular, birds in Orange County. Andrea will talk about how Audubon will use this research and how locally we can help ensure that birds have a chance for survival as conditions change.

Sandy will explain a new Audubon California pilot program – BirdSeasons CA - and help Sea and Sage launch its participation. BirdSeasons CA will study how certain birds at the San Joaquin Marsh respond to the changing climate. Training will be offered in February, the field study will begin in March 2015. We will contribute our data to a nationwide citizen science effort (see https://www.usanpn.org/).

Volunteers will track feeding and breeding activities as well as changes in arrival and departure dates for migratory species. Changes in seasonal events such as bird migration and nesting are among the most sensitive biological responses to climate change. Worldwide, many spring events are occurring earlier and fall events are happening later than they did in the past. Since not all species and regions are changing at the same rate, mismatches occur, such as food resources not being available at the right time for songbird nestlings. For questions or to volunteer for this project please contact Nancy Kenyon at nancykenyon@cox.net or 949-786-3160.

Orange County Rarities by Doug Willick To  report  a  RARE  or  UNUSUAL  bird,  or  to  receive  reports  from  other  birders  about  rare  or  unusual    bird  sightings  here  in  Orange  County,  send  an  email  to:    OrangeCountyBirding-­‐subscribe@yahoogroups.com  

   Wandering  Tattler   3   Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

 

Without a doubt, Orange County’s highlight of the fall, if not possibly the entire year, was the Olive-backed Pipit found at Yorba Regional Park (YRP), Nov. 1 (Jeff Bray). Still present as of this writing several days later, the bird has attracted what appears to be unprecedented numbers of birders for any one rarity in this county. Drawing birders from both near and far (including out-of-state), the bird for the most part seemed to be fairly cooperative, and offering its admirers good views. This rather distinctive Asiatic member of the pipit family breeds (in part) over large areas of Russia, China, Mongolia, northern Japan, Korea and higher elevations in India and Pakistan. They largely winter in south and south-east Asia. The Olive-backed Pipit is considered “a regular vagrant to the western Aleutian Islands”, and very rare to other Bering Sea islands off Alaska (per the California Bird Records Committee website). In the lower 48 states, this species had previously only been recorded twice--one other time in California, and once in Nevada! One fall record from Baja California is also significant. There were lots of other highlights since the last Rarities column (going back to mid Sept.), so the remainder of this column will attempt to squeeze in as many as possible. Pelagic birding off the OC coast continued to be productive this fall; for example, the Sept. 20 Sea & Sage trip out of Dana Harbor had lots of birds with highlights including 15 Least Storm-Petrels and an amazing 20 Craveri’s Murrelets. Shorebird highlights seemed below average this fall; during the last month, however, Pectoral Sandpipers were at least reported in relatively typical numbers. The Ruff found summering along the upper Santa Ana River in July, was last reported Sept. 26 (Mike Huang). Common Tern at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (SJWS) at the end of Oct. (J. Bray) was late. Adding to the two White-winged Doves earlier this fall, singles were in Irvine, Sept. 18-21, and Harriet Weider Regional Park (HWRP), Oct. 4 (Ryan Winkleman, J. Bray, respectively). A Common Poorwill in a Huntington Beach residential area, Oct. 6 (Roger Schoedl), was a migrant along the coast. Three Red-naped Sapsuckers included an early individual at Laguna Niguel Regional Park (LNRP), Sept. 30 (Robert McNab). A Prairie Falcon was observed from Irvine Regional Park, Oct. 17 (David Evans). Vermilion Flycatchers continued at Irvine Valley College and Mile Square Regional Park (MSRP). Plumbeous Vireos were at LNRP, Sept. 19, and MSRP, Oct. 27 (Zachary Perry, Jim Pike respectively).

September and October are good months to find unusual warblers in So Cal, and this fall didn’t disappoint in OC. Here’s a quick summary of the rarer species tallied during this past month and a half: single Black-and-white Warblers at LNRP, Sept. 23-Oct. 3 (Anthony Gliozzo), and Huntington Central Park (HCP), Oct. 10 (Dick & Pat Cabe); single Virginia’s Warblers at MSRP, Sept. 25-27, and a fairly late bird at U.C.Irvine, Oct. 25-26 (J. Pike, Tom Ford-Hutchinson); four Tennessee Warblers: at LNRP, Sept. 24 (Don Hoechlin), at Centennial Park, Sept. 25 (J. Pike), in Silverado Canyon, Oct. 12 (Sherry Meddick), and in Irvine, Oct. 23 (Ryan Winkleman); four American Redstarts: at HCP, Sept. 20 (Brian Daniels), at SJWS, Sept. 27 (Mike Sanders), at LNRP, Oct. 13-14 (R. McNab) and at Serrano Creek Park, Oct. 23 (J. Bray); Northern Parulas at MSRP, Sept. 21 (J. Pike), and Mason Regional Park, Oct. 14-15 (R. McNab); an exceptional showing of Blackburnian Warblers, with one or two at LNRP between Sept. 22 and Oct. 8 (J. Bray, R. McNab, S. Meddick, et al.), and one at Arroyo Park, Oct. 18-19 (J. Bray); single Blackpoll Warblers at HCP, Sept. 21-22 and Oct. 4 (J. Pike, R. Schoedl), at LNRP, Oct. 3 (Mike Sanders) and at YRP, Oct. 5 (Brian Leatherman); a Black-throated Green Warbler at HCP, Oct. 14 (J. Pike); a long-staying Canada Warbler in Huntington Beach, Sept. 24-Oct. 14 (D. & P. Cabe); and an unprecedented three Painted Redstarts, including presumed migrants at U.C.Irvine, Oct. 5-6 (J. Pike) and Silverado Canyon, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 (S. Meddick), and an apparent returning bird in an Irvine residential, Oct. 20 (Dennis Hernandez), where one at this location in March, 2014, had very likely wintered in the area. Green-tailed Towhees included two at HCP, Sept. 17-21 (B. Daniels), and singles at HWRP, Oct. 16-26 (Barbara Boethling), and Santiago Park Nature Reserve, Oct. 31 (Doug Willick). A Brewer’s Sparrow was at LNRP, Sept. 30 (R. McNab), and Clay-colored Sparrows were at the Santa Ana Cemetery, Oct. 8 (Richard Thunen), and at HWRP, Oct. 13 (R. Schoedl). Other rare sparrows observed at HWRP included a Vesper Sparrow, Oct. 3-8 (B. Daniels), and a Swamp Sparrow, Oct. 18 (R. Schoedl). A Bell’s Sparrow was a surprise along the edge of the Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano, Oct. 11 (R. Winkleman). A female-type Summer Tanager was at LNRP, Oct. 13 and Nov. 4 (J. Bray). An adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in a Rancho Santa Margarita neighborhood, Oct. 15 (R. Winkleman). Two Yellow-headed Blackbirds were in Anaheim, along the Santa Ana River, Sept. 18 (M. Huang). An adult male Scott’s Oriole during October at the Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary (Sandy DeSimone, et al.) was likely an individual returning for another winter here.

T o m B e n s o n

 

Chapter News & Announcements For  more  information  about  Sea  &  Sage  activities,  check  our  Calendar  of  Chapter  Activities  on  our  chapter  webpage  (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,  Field  Trips,  Orange  County    Spring  Count,  Christmas  Bird  Counts,  4th  Tuesday  Conservation  Lectures,  Birding  Skills  Workshops,  Snowy  Plover  Surveys,  etc.  

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Wandering  Tattler  

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4   Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

Audubon House Volunteers

We would like to thank the following people for helping to staff Audubon House in November and December: Sherry Bass, Dick Cabe, Pat Cabe, Deana Collins, Bettina

Eastman, Fresia Escalona, Beverly Hargrove, John Hargrove, Lynne Hayes, Pat Heilig, Patti Henshaw, Cindi Herrera, Sarah Jayne, Nancy Kenyon, Lauretta Kyle, Doug Lithgow, Wanda McCargar, Joan McCauley, Bob McElhiney, Grace McElhiney,

Bobbie Miller, Eunica Morita, Susan Munson, Helen Nicholas, Roberta Ray, Barbara Reber, Susan Sheakley, Bev Spring, Beryl Vogel, Marilyn Walter, Pat Wells. 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 Bobbie Miller at 714-960-5724 or Nancy Kenyon at 949-786-3160, or leave your name and contact information with the Audubon House volunteer on duty.

News from our Bookstore Our bookstore inside Audubon House is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. We accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) with a $10 minimum purchase. The bookstore is a great place to start your holiday shopping with our great selection of nature books, from field guides to plants, to light reading and even mysteries. Check out the birding accessories section (straps, lens cleaners and more). Look through the shirt racks (including ladies scoops for a more tailored look, and 2XL/3XL shirts). You'll find books, plush toys, games, puzzles, and more in the children's corner. Browse through kitchen items (potholders, towel sets, coffee mugs, etc.), jewelry, aromatherapy candles and note cards. New items include salt and pepper shakers, shot glasses and carved wood jewelry boxes. And of course don't forget Christmas books, boxed greeting cards, ornaments and 2015 calendars. If you are taking Sylvia Gallagher's Waterfowl Class in January, be sure to take advantage of our $15 off coupon on selected books. You can pick up a coupon in the bookstore. Check the web site for more information.

Raptor Weekends With Bill Clark

Sea and Sage is again offering two full weekends of instruction and birding with renowned raptor expert William S. Clark. An introductory workshop will take place from Friday evening, Feb. 27, through Sunday afternoon, Mar. 1. An advanced workshop will follow on Mar. 6-8, same time schedule. Reservations will be accepted starting Jan. 12. For complete details and an enrollment form, check the Sea and Sage website at www.seaandsageaudubon.org

Chapter Volunteers Party - Feb. 14th Every year, we have a special party in the form of an Open House, to honor our wonderful Chapter Volunteers. This year, our party will be held on Saturday evening, February 14th. If you volunteered to help with a chapter activity in 2014, you are welcome to join us and will be receiving an invitation. We do hope you will be able to attend and look forward to seeing you there! Annual Dinner – March 20th Kimball Garrett will be the featured speaker at our March 20th Annual Dinner at the Mile Square Park Banquet Center in Fountain Valley. His program is entitled “Baffling Birders and Bedeviling Biotas: Avian Invaders in California.” Full information about this event will be in the February Tattler as well as on the chapter webpage. Be sure to mark this date on your calendar. We hope to see you there!

Our Pancake Breakfast Word got out that we were having another Pancake Breakfast this year and an unprecedented 239 people showed up for it. The food was delicious, especially those wonderful pancakes and Pete DeSimoneʼs famous potato, onion and pepper mix. Mary Joseph was the guiding light behind this event and she put countless hours into preparing for it and had everything planned down to the very last detail. Gretchen McCausland was in charge of the food and her planning and expert guidance in the kitchen were also responsible for the success of the breakfast. We could not have done it without our wonderful volunteers who helped us by putting up signs, directing parking, food preparation and afterwards clean up, collecting tickets, cooking the food, refreshing the condiments, leading bird walks, staffing scope stations, all areas of the popular book sale, staffing the Ambassadors Table, the Education Table, the Welcome Table, Audubon House, and more. The weather was perfect and even the birds were cooperative. We want to thank everyone who helped with this event and those who attended. Pictures and more info about this event will soon be posted on our webpage. -NK

Sea & Sage Audubon

The Waterfowl of North America An Intermediate/Advanced Visual Workshop

presented by Sylvia R. Gallagher

How often have you gone to a local lake, looked at the brightly colored male ducks swimming around--and simply ignored the cryptically colored females? Most beginning birders "identify" female ducks just by the company they keep. Here's your chance to learn to identify both sexes of all the waterfowl that have occurred in California. After we finish them, we'll look at the few remaining species that have occurred in North America only outside of California. The term waterfowl refers only to members of the order Anseriformes, the DUCKS, GEESE and SWANS. They will be the featured birds in a series of workshops, starting Jan. 6-8, 2015.The duration will probably be two or three months. These workshops are for relatively experienced birders. If you know the males of a dozen or so familiar species, you should have sufficient preparation. Those who have finished Sylvia's series of introductory workshops can move right into this series. Since molt in waterfowl has been a topic of confusion for many years and has only recently been sorted out, at least partially, the workshop will spend about one session on the Humphrey-Parkes system of describing plumages and molts and then apply it to waterfowl. Be prepared for some surprises. Five sections will be offered —see enrollment form below. The workshop will probably last two or three months, with the actual duration to be decided later. You will select one of these sections; the days and times are listed below: Evening classes (Wednesdays & Thursdays): 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (The  Monday  night  class  has  been  cancelled.) Tuesday mornings: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday mornings: 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon A donation of $175.00 or more is requested, if you can afford it. Installment plan OK. Bring money to first session. Two books are required:

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th ed. The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd ed.

You must have these editions, the newest ones. Many other books are recommended. Some are new general references on various topics. Others are out-of-print books just on waterfowl. A complete list of references is available on the Sea and Sage website. All of the books that are still in print are available at Audubon House. ASK FOR A DISCOUNT COUPON, valid only for workshop members. Please try to buy your new books from Sea and Sage, for all the profit goes to our important conservation and education work. There seems to be a plentiful supply of used, out-of-print titles on Amazon. Field trips will be led by you, the workshop participants. A few places are visited by birders all the time, but there are many parks with lakes and sometimes a really interesting bird turns up at a seldom-visited park, river channel, pier, etc. If everyone adopts one or two of these places and checks them out, we'll have a good idea of where the birds are. Get started now! Send your reservation for the workshop, postmarked no earlier than Dec. 1 (2-day penalty for early reservations) to Sylvia Gallagher, 21562 Kaneohe Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Enclose a LONG (4" x 9½") self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Confirmations will be mailed Dec. 29, including the exact starting date, preliminary information, and a map to the meeting place, the Gallagher home in Huntington Beach. For further information email or phone Sylvia, sjrgallagher@yahoo.com or 714-962-8990.

Enrollment  Form  -­‐  Birding  Skills  Workshops  (Waterfowl)  –  Winter,  2015  Names of all participants

Address(es)

City & Zip Code SASE enclosed? ____

Phone(s)

Email WORKSHOP starts the week of Jan. 6-8 (possibly a week later). Check or rank at least two choices of section: Tues. AM ___ Wed. PM ___ Thurs. AM ___ Thurs. PM ___ (The  Monday  night  class  has  been  cancelled.)

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CBC Counts: We need everyone’s help! SAT, Dec. 20: South County CBC

Christmas Bird Counts - 2014 We  hope  you  will  join  us  this  year  on  one  or  more  of  our  Christmas  Bird  Counts.  Maps  of  the  count  areas,  data  from  past  counts,  and  lists  of  birders  who  have  participated  in  the  counts  are  on  our  webpage.    

My late brother used to say there were three types of people in the world. Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who open up their eyes and say "What happened?" When it comes to participation (or lack of it) in the annual Christmas Bird Counts, those categories seem to fit well.

There are a cadre of birders, in the minority when compared to the memberships we see in birding Yahoo groups and local Audubon Societies in our area, who carry the "load" and participate in not just one, but multiple Christmas Bird Counts each year. These birders not only get a "high" by using their skills for citizen science, but also use the occasion as a learning and social experience. There is always something to learn from the experienced field observer to the beginning birder, and there is always a place for both on Count day.

A Google search on reasons for participating in the Count and my own thoughts on the matter include: by force of numbers we make our presence known among the citizens and politicians of our communities and thus represent a political force; publicity generated by such counts appears in newspapers and other media and elevates public awareness of conservation problems and land preservation; we show that non-consumptive use of wildlife is just as important to a large segment of the public as people who hunt the same species we might tally; population data accumulated from the Counts support bird conservation initiatives; the information can be used to test success rates of reintroduction efforts; information accumulated is used to determine the effects of disease (such as the West Nile Virus) and weather on bird populations; as urbanization increases, the information is crucial for seeing population trends in our native and introduced species; it continues a tradition started December 25, 1900 by Frank Chapman and 26 other concerned citizens in 13 states as a response to a traditional indiscriminate killing of birds around the same date; you join over 50,000 other birders doing over 1800 count circles who show their love of bird watching with their participation; one individual can make a difference in these types of counts; it is a holiday tradition, and for our own mental health, we need to participate, encourage others to participate, and maintain such events; it's a small payback we can make to a hobby that gives many of us a great amount of satisfaction; it gives us a chance to try out our new gadgets... digital cameras, new binoculars, ipods, etc. and justify the cost to our families (and ourselves); it gets us away from our televisions and computer monitors and into the field, and improves our mental and physical health; and everyone who participates probably has additional reasons and individual stories of past events (and good species and friendships found). So...don't be in the group that watches things happen by others or procrastinates about missing happenings; contact the regional coordinators of Orange County's Christmas Bird Counts for placement on coverage teams. It's not too late and many teams I know could use an extra pair of eyes and data-takers

Laguna Niguel Reg. Park & vicinity Area Leader: Sharon Harrow sharrow@cox.net San Clemente Area Leader: Sachi Fukuman svfukuman@earthlink.net San Clemente hillside area Area Leader: Kim Lopina Starr Ranch Sanctuary & Caspers Park Area Leader: Holly Garrod hmg20@humboldt.edu Upper San Juan Creek & vicinity Area Leader: Dwight Mudry dwight.mudry@cox.net Saddleback College & vicinity Area Leader: Mark Kincheloe kinch824@aol.com Aliso-Wood Canyons & Ziggurat-Costco Area Area Leader: Gary Meredith 949-218-7575; couchs7@cox.net Richard & Donna OʼNeill Conservancy Area Leader: Diane Etchison 949-388-0709; Detchison22@cox.net Dana Point: Doheny State Beach, Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point Headlands, Salt Creek Beach, local parks, golf course Area Leader: Joel Weintraub jweintraub@cox.net Pelagic Areas along the coast Area Leader: Tom Ford-Hutchinson tfordhut@uci.edu

If you took part in this CBC last year and plan to do so again this year, please contact your Area Leader to let him or her know you will be there to help out. If you are new to the CBC, contact Darrell Wilson, CBC Coordinator, at darrellwilson@cox.net or 714-401-7852; Darrell will assign you to an area which needs your help. For information about this Christmas Bird Count, visit our Sea & Sage Christmas Bird Counts webpage at: http://tinyurl.com/yf7nxnn

—Joel Weintraub

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Christmas Bird Counts – 2014

We  hope  you  will  join  us  this  year  on  one  or  more  of  our  Christmas  Bird  Counts.  Maps  of  the  count  areas,  data  from  past  counts,  and  lists  of  birders  who  have  participated  in  the  counts  are  on  our  webpage.    

WWW

Irvine Regional Park Area Leaders: Jan Gaffney (562-439-5631) & Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) nancykenyon@cox.net

Irvine Lake & vicinity Area Leader: Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) nancykenyon@cox.net

Silverado Canyon Area Leader: Steve Alter (714-669-9482) oriole05@roadrunner.com Upper & Lower Black Star Canyon Area Leaders: Al & Janet Baumann (949-859-5081) Aljanetbaumann@aol.com Mountain Areas Area Leader: Brian Leatherman (714-779-7077) bleathermanwlb@aol.com Modjeska & Harding Canyons Area Leader: Bruce Aird (949-458-1520) bruceaird@gmail.com OʼNeill Regional Park & Plano Trabuco Area Leader: Jerry Tolman (714-539-8040) Lion Country & Areas south of the 405 Area Leader: Bettina Eastman (714-293-1079) bettinae24@gmail.com Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, El Toro & foothills Contact: Steve Alter (714-669-9482) oriole05@roadrunner.com El Toro Marine Base & foothill areas Area Leader: Lucy Lee (949-581-4349) pygmy_owls@yahoo.com Rattlesnake & Siphon Reservoirs Area Leader: Christine Tischer (714-955-1000) clmukai@netscape.net Peters Canyon Reg. Park & Lemon Heights Area Leaders: Linda Oberholtzer (213-840-5546) lindaoberholtzer@gmail.com Brad Dawson (562-438-8898)

Westminster Mem. Park, Corner of the Seal Beach NWR. Area Leader: Vic Leipzig (714-848-5394) vicleipzig@aol.com HB Pier, Beach Areas north to edge of Sunset Beach, HCP, Wintersberg Channel, Seapoint Area Leaders: Pat & Dick Cabe (714-960-1683) cabepiano@verizon.net Bolsa Chica Area Leader: Terry Hill (714-756-0168) terrynjohn@earthlink.net Mile Square Park Area Leader: Linda Oberholtzer (213-840-5546) lindaoberholtzer@gmail.com SA River Mouth, 19th St. Willows, Canyon Park, SA Golf Course. Area Leader: Jim Pike (714-968-7977) jpike44@earthlink.net Older Areas within Santa Ana Area Leader: Carol Getz (949-559-5219) tandcgetz@earthlink.net Centennial Reg. Park, former MCAS Blimp Base. Contact: Steve Alter (714-669-9482) oriole05@roadrunner.com Upper Newport Bay - West Side Area Leader: Bettina Eastman (714-293-1079) bettinae24@gmail.com Upper Newport Bay - East Side Area Leader: Marian Alter (714-669-9482) maralter@pacbell.net San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, UCI Marsh Area Leader: Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) nancykenyon@cox.net Mason Reg. Park, UCI Foothils, Corona del Mar. Area Leader: Bruce Aird (949-458-1520) bruceaird@gmail.com Newport Harbor & Beaches Area Leader: Gary Meredith (949-218-7575) couchs7@cox.net Pelagic Areas along the coast Area Leader: Jerry Tolman (714-539-8040)

SUN, Dec. 14: Northeastern CBC SUN, Dec. 28: Coastal CBC

If you took part in the CBC last year and plan to do so again this year, please contact your Area Leader to let him or her know you will be there to help out. If you are new to the CBC, contact Steve Alter, CBC Coordinator, at oriole05@roadunner.com or 714-669-9482; Steve will assign you to an area which needs your help. For information about these Christmas Bird Counts, visit our Sea & Sage CBC webpage at: http://tinyurl.com/2e6239y

December & January Field Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair For  trip  updates  &  additional  trip  information,  check  our  chapter  webpage  at:    http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org  .  Trips  marked  with  an  ® require  advance  reservations.    Questions  about  field  trips?    Contact  Nancy  Kenyon,  Field  Trip  Chair,  at  949-­‐786-­‐3160  or  nancykenyon@cox.net        

   Wandering  Tattler   8    Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

 

Caspers Wilderness Park Bird Walk WEDNESDAY: Dec. 3 - 8:00 to 11:00 am Join Diane Etchison for a bird walk at Caspers Wilderness Park. The park is home to an abundant number of native species of birds and mammals. The walk may meander through old grove Sycamores, Coast Live Oak, Riparian, or Coastal Sage Scrub habitats. Directions: Take the I-5 Fwy south to Ortega Hwy and turn left (toward the mts.). Drive 7.6 miles to Caspers Park, which will be on your left. Be prepared to pay the $3 entrance fee if you don’t have a county parks pass. Meet in the Old Corral day use area at Caspers Wilderness Park, 33401 Ortega Hwy (#74), San Juan Capistrano. Leader: Diane Etchison

Wildlife Walk at the SJWS SATURDAY: Dec. 6 & Jan. 3 - 9:00 to 10:30 am We’ll be exploring the birds, plants, and creatures of the marsh on this wildlife walk at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Meet in front of Audubon House at 9:00 am for a 1½ hour nature walk. (See page 11 for directions.) Leaders: Audubon Naturalists Laguna Niguel Regional Park WEDNESDAY: Dec. 10 & Jan. 14 - 9 to 11 am Join Mike Clayton for a morning of birding at the Laguna Niguel Reg. Park. (This field trip is for beginning and intermediate birders.) The park attracts a wide variety of birds due to the availability of water and landscaped vegetation. We will look for resident and seasonal species. The park is located at 28241 La Paz Rd. in Laguna Niguel. Directions: Take the Santa Ana Fwy (5) to the La Paz Rd. exit. Head west 4 miles to the park entrance. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you don’t have a county park pass. We will meet at the Shelter #3 parking lot which is located 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. Leader: Mike Clayton Bird Walk at the SJWS SUNDAY: Dec. 14 & Jan. 11 – 8 am to 12 pm 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 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. Directions to the SJWS are on page 11. Leader: Chris Obaditch

Christmas Bird Counts Sun, Dec. 14th; Sat, Dec. 20th; Sun, Dec. 28th Although the Christmas Bird Counts at not, technically, field trips, they do constitute one of the highlights of any birder’s season. (See pages 6-7.) This year, our 1st Count will be on Sun, Dec. 14th, our 2nd Count will be on Sat, Dec. 20th, and our 3rd Count will be on Dec. 28th. Join the fun and support our chapter by participating in one or more of our Christmas Counts this year! Upper Newport Bay by pontoon boat 3rd Wed of every month; both Dec & Jan trips are full. See webpage for available dates & sign up early. Contact Nancy Kenyon; see top of page for her contact info. Upper Newport Bay Bird Walk

Sun, Dec. 28 – cancelled due to conflict with CBC Sun, Jan. 25 – 8:00 am 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 CBC Specialties Trip Saturday - Jan. 3rd - 7:00 am The purpose of this trip is to search for some of the more unusual birds seen on this yearʼs CBCs. We will meet either at the SJWS or HCP. Be sure to bring an Orange County map with you. The length of the trip depends on the weather and the number of birds to be seen. Trip meeting location will be decided by Jan. 1. To verify meeting location, contact FT Chair Nancy Kenyon at (949-786-3160; nancykenyon@cox.net); or check our webpage: www.seaandsageaudubon.org Dana Point Headlands, Harbor & Strand WED: Jan. 7th – 8:00 am to 11:00 am (See  webpage  for  last  month’s  trip  list.)  Join Diane Etchison for a bird walk at the Dana Point headlands, harbor & strand. Directions: Take the San Diego Fwy [5] to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Dana Point where you will take the PCH exit. Follow PCH. After you cross the San Juan Creek, the road youʼre on

January Field Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair For  trip  updates  &  additional  trip  information,  check  our  chapter  webpage  at:    http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org  .  Trips  marked  with  an  ® require  advance  reservations.    Questions  about  field  trips?    Contact  Nancy  Kenyon,  Field  Trip  Chair,  at  949-­‐786-­‐3160  or  nancykenyon@cox.net        

   Wandering  Tattler   9    Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

 

Dana Point Headlands - continued will merge with the Coast Hwy 1. Drive north on Hwy 1 a short distance to Dana Point Harbor Drive, where you will turn left. Park in the lot at the corner of Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive. We will carpool up the hill to the headlands, back down the hill to the Ocean Institute parking area, and then on to Doheny State Park. Be prepared to share expenses for the entrance fee at the state park. Leader: Diane Etchison

Antelope Valley Hawk Banding Trip SUN: Jan. 11th — 7:00 am to 2:00 pm In the fall and winter months, migratory raptors flood

into the Antelope Valley and upper desert regions. Red-tailed Hawks are a sure bet with many others such as Prairie Falcons, Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks, American Kestrels, Northern Harriers, and even Golden Eagles. Unlike most birding trips, this one offers close-up views of the raptors because Pete Bloom & Scott Thomas are going to be banding those they catch.

(Photos from past hawk-banding trips are on the webpage.) DIRECTIONS: We will meet at Ave. A and Hwy.14 in the Antelope Valley. From Orange County, take the #5 Fwy. north to #14 (Antelope Valley Fwy.); exit on #14 and drive north approximately 45 miles (through Lancaster) until you reach Avenue A. Turn left on Avenue A and park. Morning temperatures can be very chilly! Dress in layers; bring lunch, a map, and a full tank of gas. Donʼt forget your binoculars, scopes, and cameras. We will be out until at least 2:00, rain or shine. If bad weather is predicted, the trip may be cancelled. Call Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) the day before the trip, or check the chapter webpage. Leaders: Pete Bloom and Scott Thomas Bolsa Chica bird walk Thursday, Jan. 15th- 8:00 am to 12 noon Come prepared for a great morning of birding. Bring: binoculars, a field guide, and a scope if you have one. We will meet in Harriet Wieder Park in the lot off Garfield. Directions: From Pacific Coast Hwy, turn

inland on Seapoint Ave. Follow Seapoint to its terminus at the corner of Garfield. Continue straight across Garfield into Harriett Wieder Reg. Park where there is plenty of free parking. Follow the drive lane (shown on some maps as Overlook Drive) about 1/4 mile to its end and park. Leader: Vic Leipzig Carbon Canyon Reg. Park bird walk SUN: Jan. 18 - 7:30 am to 12:00 Join Garett Lepper to explore the local birds of our canyons and foothills at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. This is an interesting park to bird because it offers different habitats and some birds that are uncommon throughout most of the county. Directions: From the 57 Fwy, exit on Lambert. Go east on Lambert to Carbon Canyon; the park will be on your right. Upon entry to the park, turn left and park in the 1st parking area on the right, in front of the pond and the childrenʼs playground. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you donʼt have a county parks pass.    Leader: Garett Lepper

Salton Sea weekend trip ® Sat. & Sun., Jan. 31-Feb. 1; 9 am on Sat. The Salton Sea area provides some of the best year round birding in Southern California. In species diversity alone, the area is one of the leading localities in the country; some 360 species have been sighted there. In the past, weʼve had woodpeckers, Verdins, Abertʼs Towhees, Burrowing Owls, American & Least Bitterns, Sandhill Cranes, White-faced Ibis, and vast numbers of geese, pelicans, ducks, grebes, gulls, and shorebirds. At the start of the trip on Saturday morning, Vic will discuss the trip itinerary which always involves a number of locations we will drive to in order to see the special birds of the Salton Sea. Sunday morning, we will get up before itʼs light and drive out to Unit 1 to listen and watch the awesome spectacle of thousands of geese, Sandhill Cranes & White-faced Ibis rising from the surrounding fields at sunrise. Many of us consider this the highlight of the trip. (See webpage for a list of birds seen on last yearʼs trip.) Advance reservations are necessary; trip size is limited and it will fill quickly. Trip fee is $25. Make check payable to Sea & Sage Audubon and mail to: Salton Sea, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Be sure to include your phone number & e-mail address, or a stamped, legal sized envelope for trip information & confirmation.

Glenn Price

Glenn Price

Leader: Vic Leipzig

Glenn Price

Summer Nature Day Camp – 2015 Thank You Education Binocular Sponsors  

   Wandering  Tattler   10   Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

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Thank You to Education

Binocular Sponsors Do you remember the first time you looked at a bird through a pair of binoculars? You might recall how amazing it was to clearly see the beautiful colors and details of the wild feathered creature you were observing. For our Outdoor Adventures science discovery program, we hand each school child one pair of binoculars to observe the birds of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our trained naturalists begin their questions: What shape is the birdʼs beak? What colors do you see on the head? How long does it stay underwater? What do you think it is doing? Which one is the male and which is the female? How many do you see? All of these questions are more easily answered when using binoculars. For most young children, this is their first time holding binoculars. For others, it is their first time using “real” binoculars instead of plastic toys. Teachers frequently tell us that the bird walk is their studentsʼ favorite part of the field program. In the past 23 years, nearly 48,000 children have walked the trails around the freshwater ponds during Outdoor Adventures and discovered how wetlands provide food, clean water, and a safe place for birds. They learn about migration, adaptations, food webs, and other scientific principles. Binoculars are a vital part of this program. When it was time to buy a new set of 40 Kowa youth binoculars, I looked no further than our own Audubon Naturalists for sponsors. They responded quickly: Dejoie Blumberg, Kate Grabenstein, Steve Jelnick, Vic Leipzig, and Pat Sparks immediately pledged money for one pair of binoculars each. Then came the big donor, Judy Gordon, who contributed $2,500 for 25 binoculars. She was “very excited to know that her contribution is making an immediate impact for the school kids!” Judyʼs donation made my day! Then came the final news: Grace McElhiney announced that Summer Camp restricted funds would provide for the final 10 binoculars. We are very grateful to these supporters of our Marsh Education Project for sponsoring 40 new youth binoculars. If you would like to come along on one of our Outdoor Adventures programs to see how excited and respectful elementary school children are about nature, please call me at 949-261-7964 to arrange a date. You will personally witness how a childʼs eyes light up when they look at a wild bird through binoculars. Itʼs a beautiful thing to see, and Audubon is making it happen.  

—Trude Hurd

Summer Fun For Children

Sea and Sage Audubonʼs nature day camps are a great way for your child to experience the wonderful world of birds and bird-watching at the beautiful San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our experienced naturalists love nature and children, and each camp program is designed for maximum fun and discovery. Start planning now for these dates in Summer 2015:  •  FLEDGLING  CAMP    (7-8 year olds)  – June 22-26  •  MARSH  CAMP  I    (7-8 year olds)    –  June 22-26  •  MARSH  CAMP  II   (9-12 year olds)  –  July 6-10 •  COASTAL  BIRDS    (11 years & up)  –  July 13-17 •  ADVANCED  CAMP  I    (11 years & up)  –    July 20-24  •  ADVANCED  CAMP  II*    (11 years & up)  –  July 27-Aug. 1          (*includes  an  overnight)    Be aware that our camps are very popular and fill up quickly, so enroll your children as soon as possible so they donʼt miss out. Enrollment begins on February 1; look for the forms in the February Tattler, at Audubon House, and on our website at www.seaandsageaudubon.org. What a wonderful gift of life-long memories about nature discovery to give to your children and grandchildren!  

BIRD BANDING WORKSHOPS at Starr Ranch

Beginning & Advanced Banding Workshops March 14-15 and March 21-22, 2015

Audubon Californiaʼs 4000-acre Starr Ranch Sanctuary in SE Orange County invites you to our spring bird banding workshops for adults. Starr Ranch Bird Observatory runs two long-term bird monitoring programs, one in winter and one during breeding season in spring and summer.

Beginning Bird Banding Workshop March14-15, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily. $200

Advanced Bird Banding Workshop March 21-22, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily. $200.

BYO Lunch; morning coffee & bagels provided. $205 if camping

FULL INFORMATION is on our Sea & Sage webpage under the heading of “Bird Classes.” For Reservations and Questions: contact Holly Garrod, hmg20@humboldt.edu or call her at 949-858-0309.

Directions and Membership Directions  to  Audubon  House,  our  Chapter  Meetings,  and  the  San  Joaquin  Wildlife  Sanctuary,  Audubon  Membership  Form,  Tattler  subscriptions  &  delivery,  Remember  Us  in  Your  Will    or  Trust,  and  Who  to  Notify  if  you  are  going  to  be  temporarily  away  from  home  or  are  moving.  

11  Wandering  Tattler   Dec.  2014  –  Jan.  2015  

Tattler Subscriptions

Non-Audubon members or members from other Audubon chapters who wish to subscribe to our chapter newsletter, may do so for $14.00 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 C4ZC150Z 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. Let him know if you do not want to continue to receive the Tattler at your new address. This will save us from paying return postage fees.

Use Membership Form on page

Audubon Membership Application 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 the form below, & mail it along with your payment to: Sea & Sage Audubon, PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616 Members receive the AUDUBON magazine as well as the WANDERING TATTLER newsletter. [ ] Go Paperless! Get your newsletter faster, help save natural resources, and help our chapter save money! National Audubon Society Membership: Check one [√] [ ] NEW MEMBERSHIP: $20 Only one membership required per household. Membership is good for 1 year. [ ] RENEWING MEMBERSHIP: $35 (Discounted membership renewal dues may be obtained via campaigns by the National Audubon Society through their mailings, Audubon magazine, or website.) Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ____________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________________________________ E-mail ___________________________________________________________________

C9ZC150Z

C4ZC150Z chapter code

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 Wandering  Tattler  W 12   Dec.  2014/Jan.  2015  

BOARD MEMBERS

Executive Committee: President ........................... Vic Leipzig ................... 714-848-5394 Vice President ................... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Secretary ........................... Chris Byrd ................... 714-639-0967 Treasurer ........................... Kate Grabenstein ........ 714-540-6768 Director 2015 ..................... Garett Lepper .............. 714-921-9375 Director 2015 ..................... Shirley Reynolds ......... 949-429-2161 Director 2016 ..................... Jonathan Aguayo ........ 805-204-6986 Director 2016 ..................... .......................................................... Director 2017 ..................... Claire Readey ............. 949-679-7167 Director 2017 ..................... Chris Johnson ............. 714-528-9928 Past President ................... Bruce Aird ................... 949-458-1520 Committee Chairpersons: Audubon House ..................... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Audubon House Volunteers ........ Bobbie Miller (interim) . 714-960-5724 Bird Information ................. Sylvia Gallagher .......... 714-962-8990 Christmas Bird Counts ...... Steve Alter ................... 714-669-9482 Conservation .................... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Counsel ............................. Sean Sherlock ............. 714-427-7036 Development ..................... Cheryl Thomas ............ 949-294-2275 Education .......................... Carolyn Noble ............. 714-731-9091 Events ............................... Jay Miller ..................... 949-707-1287 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 .... Darrell Wilson .............. 949-559-4542 Partners in Flight ............... Janet & Al Baumann ... 949-859-5081 Programs ........................... Doug Lithgow .............. 714-962-4145 Raptor Research ............... Scott Thomas .............. 949-293-2915 Science ............................. Amber 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

AUDUBON HOUSE ..... .............................. 949-261-7963

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

OTHER CONTACTS Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center – for injured or sick birds and other native wild animals in need of help (corner of Newland & PCH in HB) 714-374-5587. http://www.wwccoc.org/

CALENDAR OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES December 2014 02 Tues Conservation Com. Mtg. ................................ 6:30 pm 03 Wed Caspers Wilderness Park bird walk ............... 8:00 am 06 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 07 Sun Special Lecture on Banded White Pelicans ... 4:30 pm 09 Tues Board Meeting . .............................................. 7:30 pm 10 Wed Laguna Niguel RP bird walk for beginning birders . 9:00 am 14 Sun San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary bird walk ...... 8:00 am 14 Sun Northeastern Christmas Bird Count .................... early 17 Wed UNB by pontoon boat ® (Full) ........................ 8:15 am 19 Fri NO GENERAL MEETING in December ...................... 20 Sat San Juan Capistrano Christmas Bird Count ....... early 28 Sun Coastal Christmas Bird Count ............................. early January 2015 03 Sat CBC Specialties Trip ...................................... 7:00 am 03 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 06 Tues Conservaton Com. Mtg. ................................. 6:30 pm 07 Wed Dana Point Headlands & Harbor bird walk .... 8:00 am 10 Sat Winter Pelagic Trip ® (Full) ............................ 6:30 am 11 Sun Antelope Valley Hawk Trip ............................. 7:00 am 11 Sun San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary bird walk ...... 8:00 am 13 Tues Board Meeting . .............................................. 7:30 pm 14 Wed Laguna Niguel RP bird walk for beginning birders . 9:00 am 15 Thurs Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve bird walk ..... 8:00 am 16 Fri GENERAL MEETING .................................... 7:30 pm 18 Sun Carbon Canyon Reg. Park bird walk .............. 7:30 am 21 Wed UNB by pontoon boat ® (Full) ........................ 8:15 am 25 Sun Upper Newport Bay bird walk ........................ 8:00 am 27 Tues ‘4th Tues’ Conservation Lecture ..................... 7:30 pm 31-1 S-S Salton Sea weekend trip ® ............................ 9:00 am

Sea & Sage Audubon PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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Non-Profit Org

U.S. Postage Paid Santa Ana, CA Permit No. 164

pphoto by Trish Gussler on 9/23/12 at the SJWS