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California Audubon News Blog
Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp
Among birders and wildlife watchers, there’s little disagreement about supporting our 560 National Wildlife Refuges, along with the habitat and wildlife they sustain. Most wildlife watchers are anxious to contribute their resources toward that end. Disagreements tend to occur, however, when the subject of the Federal Duck Stamp arises. A Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp would provide a robust, parallel revenue stream for National Wildlife Refuges, preserving habitat and wildlife, while giving non-extractive users a funding tool and a stronger voice in habitat and wildlife decisions on our shared, public lands. A 2011 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted 71.1 million wildlife watchers in the U.S., and 13.7 million hunters. Wildlife watchers outnumber hunters significantly, and they spend $55 billion dollars each year in the pursuit of wildlife activities. In other words, there is a large and enthusiastic source of untapped revenue from wildlife watchers, one that could be rendered viable through this dedicated funding stream.
WildlifeConservationStamp.org is a collaborative effort to promote a new wildlife stamp and funding stream for our National Wildlife Refuges. Supporters are composed of birders, photographers, conservationists, wildlife rehabilitators, scientists, teachers and artists joined by a common passion and concern for our nation’s wildlife and wild habitats.
Ohlone Audubon Society joins Mount Diablo, Palomar, Plumas, Wintu and Fresno Chapters to endorse the Wildlife Conservation Stamp program.
To learn more about the program and how you can support this effort visit WildlifeConservationStamp.org.
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Lost Bird Project: National Television Broadcast & Grassroots Screening Series
The Lost Bird Project, a film about five bird species driven to extinction in modern times and sculptor Todd McGrain’s project to memorialize them, will be airing on Earth Day, April 22, 2013. The film will be carried on more than 200 public television stations across the nation so check your local listings for exact dates and times. The TV broadcasts mark the launch of a nationwide grassroots screening series which will make the film available to local chapters through an exclusive offer from Audubon.
The film follows McGrain and his brother-in-law, Andy, from the tropical swamps of Florida to Martha’s Vineyard to the rocky coasts of Newfoundland over a period of two years as they search for the locations where these birds were last seen in the wild, talk to park rangers, speak at town meetings and battle bureaucracy in their effort to gather support for the project. The film is a moving elegy to five extinct North American birds -- the Passenger Pigeon, the Heath Hen, the Carolina Parakeet, the Labrador Duck and the Great Auk -- and a thoughtful, sometimes humorous look at the artist and his mission.
Check your local public television listings for specific screening times or visit the Lost Bird Project website: www.lostbirdfilm.org
For more information about the Lost Bird Project:
Fran Laks or Scott Anger
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
212.213.8747
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Why Birds Matter
Watch this great video as Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold opens a window into the wonderful world of birds - and what Audubon is doing to protect them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlQorS7KIJ4
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Recording Nest Data
During the breeding season we will all make observations of birds on nests. That information contributes to our knowledge of bird distribution. You can participate in producing a country-wide breeding bird atlas. Ebird has developed an excellent way to make a national breeding bird atlas, each year, every year! It is a fantastic tool for us to record all of our nesting observations and contribute to citizen science. Ebird coordinators are currently working on this information being searchable. Until then, start populating the database so your 2012 data will be useful!
Ebird is so easy to use!
- Go to http://ebird.org/ebird.
- Sign Up (takes under 5 minutes) – one time sign up.'
- Submit Observations (very intuitive, no training is really necessary).
- After you enter the number of birds sighted at a location, either use the shortcut (one click on the space bar) or mouse over to the "details" section and click on the "details" tab.
- Click on the "Breeding Observation" tab.
- Select the best code.
Happy E-Birding!
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Volunteer at Alviso Community Park
The site of our June meeting is a relatively new park in Pleasanton. The park plays a big part in the city's nature education. Helping with this effort would be a good deed benefiting Pleasanton, children, the natural world and yourself. Here is an invitation to do a lot of good.
There are many volunteers at the park that contribute in many different ways. For example:
- Gardening volunteers work to beautify the park or to work in our native garden.
- Volunteers assist Eric Nicholson during his Environmental Education Programs which are offered to elementary schools from Pleasanton and nearby cities. These programs are typically held each Thursday and Friday during the school year and cover such topic as Ohlone culture and history, archaeology, astronomy and plant and animal studies.
- Volunteers are also assigned to assist at our special events on weekends, like ou.r upcoming Annual Ladybug Release or our Halloween celebration.
- Depending upon the type of opportunity, your time commitment will vary from a flexible hour or two a month for gardening volunteers to a regular weekly or monthly schedule for program volunteers.
You can find our volunteer opportunities by visiting www.myvolunteerpage.com and searching for Pleasanton. You will be directed to the Lend A Hand Tri Valley site which lists all volunteer opportunities for the City of Pleasanton. New volunteers are invited to attend our regular volunteer orientations and to meet with Eric to discuss how your abilities and desires match the needs of the park.
If you have any questions or need additional information please contact:
Stephanie Carman
Alviso Adobe Community Park
City of Pleasanton
Phone (925)931-3479
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Inside Bay Area Article Featuring Ohlone Audubon's Own - Phil Gordon
Excellent article about OAS's Education Chair, avid birder and overall naturalist.
Download the Inside Bay Area Article here: One-time "Boy Paleontologist" is now senior volunteer
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Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Settlement
December 11, 2010 - Golden Gate Audubon, Santa Clara Valley Audubon, Mt. Diablo Audubon, Ohlone Audubon, and Marin Audubon joined the Attorney General's Office in negotiating the agreement that addresses the state's need for renewable wind energy and the state's obligation to protect resident and migratory birds. Under terms of the settlement, 2,400 turbines on the hills of the Altamont Pass operated by NextEra will be replaced in the next four years or shut down completely by Nov. 1, 2015.
Read the full artciles online at:
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The Bette Wentzel Memorial Garden
Ohlone Audubon designed and built the beautiful Bette Wentzel Hummingbird and Butterfly garden in memory of our former
president. It was sited in Shinn Park, Fremont many years ago. The garden was designed with plants to attract butterflies and
hummingbirds.
All beautiful gardens need help and we are responsible for the upkeep of ours. We meet each Tuesday morning with the Heirloom Garden Club at 9:30 a. m. to do maintenance work, followed by tea and cookies at noon.
More information can be found on the OAS Garden webpage.
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Feather River Trust Viewing Platform
Ohlone Audubon Society congratulates the Feather River Trust on the creation and placement of the viewing platform at Sierra Valley. The unique design was dictated by the regulations and requirements of the governing bodies. A permanent platform was
impossible so the wheeled version fills the bill admirably. Connecting to the platform are hiking trails enabling a closer look at the thousands of avian visitors to this great basin wetland on the east side of the Sierra.
OAS individuals and field trip groups have visited the area frequently over the past 30years and OAS donated to help produce the platform. A photo of the viewing platform is available in our August 2010 Kite Call.
Don Emery, Editor
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Trust helping to preserve ranchlands -- and wildlife
Local rancher Tim Koopmann's efforts to preserve open rangeland in the Bay Area is highlighted in this article from the Bay Area News Group. Tim has hosted several Ohlone Audubon bird walks to see nesting tree swallows, western bluebirds, golden eagles and more on his ranch.
Download the Inside the Bay Area article here: Trust helping to preserve ranchlands -- and wildlife
Notes from your President - Evelyn Cormier
November 2012
At the October membership meeting, Dr. Robert Meese illustrated several aspects of Ohlone Audubon Society’s reason for existing. Along with describing the Tri-colored Blackbirds’ life cycle, behaviors and threats to survival, Dr. Meese also pointed out the critical need for habitat conservation to allow the Tri-colored Blackbirds to thrive. California is home to at least 98% of Tri-colored Blackbirds. The birds have been utilizing farm and ranch locations where there is an adequate insect and seed supply and appropriate nesting locations. From a high of 500,000 in 2006 the Tricolored Blackbird population has declined to about 200,000. Use of insecticides on farms reduces the insect supply. Timing and method of harvesting can wipe out thousands of birds. Siting of solar arrays can also severely impact foraging territory. If these bird populations continue to decline they may be qualified to be listed as endangered in California and then on the FWS Endangered Species listing. Doing our part, Ohlone Audubon Society has been diligent in efforts to preserve and protect habitat in Alameda County, although Tri-colored Blackbirds are not known to currently have any colonies here. Audubon chapters all over California support efforts to make sure that all our bird populations have the necessary resources to continue to survive. We need our feathered friends for many reasons, not the least of which is our joy in going birdwatching.
July 2012
The Center for Biological Diversity recently published statistics showing that protecting endangered species has been
a success. The programs, field trips, and the conservation efforts of our group have certainly contributed to that effort. Now let me tell you about some of the efforts Ohlone Audubon folks have put forth that have contributed to the success of the
endangered species effort as well as preserving all the other species in our environment.
Since my heart resides strongly with conservation, let me tell you how diligently Carin High and Rich Cimino labor doing research, attending countless meetings, talking to appropriate officials, and writing myriad letters on Ohlone's behalf. Then there are the educational and enriching programs Marilyn Trabert provides for us on a monthly basis. She has to contact potential presenters, arrange meeting places and make sure all is in place for each meeting. Truly a labor of love.
Getting out and about to many field trips hither and yon you can go searching for all the delightful birds this area is blessed
to have year round or passing through on their annual migratory routes. Mona Brauer and now Stephanie Floyd will continue to take us on outings to favorite locations as well as some new and exciting ones.
We also have people like Pat and Phil Gordon, Margaret and Don Emery, Jackie and Allen Bertillion, and Arlene Chin who step in whenever and wherever needed to take on all the tasks that are necessary but not always visible to everyone. Of course Helen Sowers manages our money with great care and skill. Leslie Koenig keeps our website filled with current news and information we want or need to know. Michael Mortenson has been in the process of providing Ohlone with a sound system for all those who like to sit in the back rows at meetings.
As president all these people make my job easy. As lovers of the natural world and all that entails Ohlone Audubon Society continues to provide all the things I have mentioned and much more on a totally volunteer basis. You too can be a part of the Ohlone Board of Directors as we have a vacancy for one Director to serve for a three year term. It is something you will never regret.
Audubon California Conservation News and Notes
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