Election Results
Donors
Bertillions Honored
President's Annual Message Soon after receiving this Kite Call there will be a changing of of willing volunteersthat keep us all moving forward. We do need to fill a couple of
vacancies because two of our members moved out of the area.
Christmas Bird Count Report 2008 The Ohlone Audubon Society recently completed its annual Christmas Bird Count, which documented 165 bird species in a 175-square-mile area from San Leandro to Fremont and east to Castro Valley. Read the article in the Contra Costa Times by clicking on this link.
Click here for more Ohlone Audubon Chapter News
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Apperson Quarry Plan In May, the Alameda Creek Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity announced a historic conservation agreement signed for the Apperson Ridge and Sunol Valley quarries. The agreement signed in December 2008 with Oliver de Silva, Inc. will dramatically change the Apperson Quarry project, provide substantial mitigations for wildlife, protect and enhance endangered species habitat, provide millions of dollars for fish-passage projects and restoration of Alameda Creek, secure habitat enhancements for tule elk, and address greenhouse gas emissions. —ACA |
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| Windmill Update The Stakeholders Group, formed to help the creation of a Habitat Conservation Plan for future modifications and operation of the Wind Resource Area on the ridge cut by I-580 through Altamont Pass. Rich Cimino attended the first meeting of the group in April. Some good ideas surfaced during the discussion, for example, repowering the whole 180,000 acres, which includes eastern Contra Costa County, reducing to 900 the 5000 turbines now spinning, by replacing them all with larger models to produce the same power output. The fact remains that most of the raptor killing is done in 50,000 acres of East Alameda County. “This is not pretty. Basically, it’s a plan to authorize raptor “Take” permits,” concludes Rich. The projected timeline will complete the Plan in a couple of years. The Plan will then be submitted to CF&G, CEC and USF&G for review and finalization. —DE |
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| Shadow Cliffs Land Use The heron rookery on the island south of the park boundary, visible from the levee south of the main lake, is on property owned by Cemex, a gravel operator. The Cemex five year permit renewal is now in process, and EBRPD appears open to entering discussions with the company and the County with the aim of protecting the island from future gravel operations. Rich Cimino attended the first public meeting on the Shadow Cliffs Regional Park Land Use Plan and participated in the discussion of the rookery. Ohlone was invited to join Friends of Shadow Cliffs, a group forming to identify conservation issues for the Plan planning. The steering committee is composed of a Zone 7 manager, an ex-Pleasanton parks director and representatives of the East Bay Trails coalition, California Native Plant Society and Ohlone Audubon. |
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Vote for the Birds! Remember to keep the environment in mind when casting your vote. |
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Contact Rich Cimino, Ohlone Audubon Conservation Chair at 925.462.6418 or email: rscimino@earthlink.net —RC |
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Join volunteers in the joy of gardening. |
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Calendar
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June 27-28, 2009, Annual Sierra
Campout - Carson Pass, Hope Valley, Caples Lake, and Jul. 7 NO MEMBERSHIP MEETING |
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Wood Ducks at Sunol Regional Wilderness? |
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Erica Herron (925) 862-2605 or email svisit@ebparks.org. |
Sandy Ferreira (510) 790-5541 or aferreira@ci.fremont.ca.us. |
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Guest Speakers & Membership Meetings
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Special Events
OAS BIRD-A-THON 2008 Information: Click Here
Birding Festivals
Return of the Swallows Festival Chabot Community College Hayward
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Click here for more |
SF Bay Area Nature Magazine |
BAY NATURE is a new quarterly magazine dedicated to the intelligent and joyful exploration of the natural places of the San Francisco Bay Area and the species that inhabit them. BAY NATURE articles interpret animal life, plant life, geology, weather, parklands, and all other aspects of the natural world around us-as it is now and as it was before. We'll also have photography, art, graphics and poetry from gifted local artists, as well as short news items and a calendar of the most important nature related events happening in the region. |
BAY NATURE baynature@baynature.com www.baynature.com |
Bird Watching Classes & Workshops
Field identification, life styles, and ecology of local birds Spring is a favorite time of the year to bird. The birds are in their most colorful plummage, they are singing, and exhibiting their breeding & nesting behavior. Also, the wildflowers and butterflies are beautiful, as is the weather. Alice Hoch's Spring Birding Field Trips class begins April 21st and continues through May 19th. THIS WILL BE ALICE'S LAST CLASS UNTIL FALL, EXCEPT FOR A 1-DAY CLASS JUNE 16TH. Alice's birding class is different because it consists of tutoring during actual birding, rather than sitting through lectures. The classes will bird a different good birding site each Tues. for 5 weeks from 9:30AM to 12:30PM. Alice has been teaching Birding Field Trips for over 33 yrs. and is an active member of Ohlone Audubon Society. Her classes are filled with friendly, helpful people at all levels from absolute beginner to very experienced. Many Audubon members have taken and are taking her classes.
Questions about class and registration information:
Birds of the Bay Area Spring ensues, changes powered by shifting light*; The clock we hope, continues as verily right. Plumages of winter no longer true, Behavior goes to attack and woo! --Phil E. Gordon WHERE: Castro Valley Adult School. Classroom session meet on campus in the Main Center Bldg., Room 16. When meeting for trips away from campus, car pooling will be encouraged. Phil Gordon will teach a spring bird identification class, “Birds of the Bay Area”, through the Castro Valley Adult School, on Alma Street off Redwood Road. 4430 Alma Avenue, Castro Valley, 94546, Phone (510)-886-1000 Fax (510) 537-8537. WHEN: Phil Gordon is offering Birds of the Bay Area through the Castro Valley Adult School.
INSTRUCTOR: Phil Gordon, Naturalist, Ornithologist, Wildlife Photographer, Conservationist and State Credentialed Teacher. Member of: American Birding Assoc. & American Ornithologists Union; Ohlone Audubon Society; Calif. Academy of Science; Point Reyes and San Francisco Bay and Big Sur Bird Observatories; Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Over 45 years birding; over 25 years with Acalanes Adult Education. Field Trip Leader and Guide, incl.: Trinidad & Tobago, Canadian Arctic and Northwest Territories, Darien' Panama', Costa Rica, Florida, South & Central Texas, Arizona, Yucatan and Central to South Mexico, Guatemala; and much of Western U.S. Field Trip Leader and Guide. Tel.#: 1(510) 538-3550. For more information: Wild Wednesdays
Wild Wednesdays conducts ongoing leisurely explorations of diverse natural communities found in federal, regional, and city parks and wildlife refuges in southern Alameda County and beyond. Participants will learn to identify characteristic plants and wildlife occurring in salt marsh, freshwater pond, creek, grassland, chaparral, woodland, and urban habitats. Fall topics will include native and urban trees and shrubs, late-summer wildflowers and returning migrant and resident birds. Uses of plants for food and medicine and creation of backyard habitat for birds and butterflies will be discussed. Information gained will assist participants in making informed decisions about environmental legislation and policies. Bring binoculars, a hand lens, sun/rain protection, appropriate footwear, liquids, and a snack. You are responsible for your own transportation and entry fees, if applicable; there may be opportunities to carpool. Instructor: Lee Ellis, MS Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (510) 793-7383 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Meeting Place: contact instructor (510) 676-7283 Cell - Wednesday a.m.only Fee: $10/person/class attended. Previous Classes: Roadside Arboretum, Centerville District, Fremont. Meet at 9:30am in the parking lot of the Centerville Community Center at the corner of Hastings and Country Way (vic. Washington HS). We will take a leisurely walking tour of Centerville to observe a number of specimen, landmark, and heritage trees with origins in Asia, Australia, Europe and tropical regions. There will be opportunities for a restroom stop and cold/hot drinks or snacks. Urban birding along Mission Creek. The reach of Mission Creek downstream of Driscoll is a good area in which to observe a variety of urban birds due to the availability of water, a diversity of flowering plants, and a number of households with bird feeders. The resident red-shouldered hawk is often seen here at close range. Upon completion of the reconformation and meandering of the upstream reach between Driscoll and Palm, flow has been restored to Mission Creek. Meet at 9:30am under the large black walnut tree in the visitor parking lot of Hopkins Jr. HS on Driscoll. As usual, please let me know if you will attend so that I'll have enough handouts for everyone. I'd like your suggestions for future November classes. ** This class is held EVERY Wednesday - contact Lee for current schedule **
Beginning Birding for Livermore Adult Education
In March, Rich Cimino will teach Beginning Birding for |
West Nile Virus in the Bay Area |
West Nile Update: September 2005 West Nile Virus in Alameda County As of September 6, the California WNV information website http://www.westnile.ca.gov has reported 53 counties have reported WNV activity in California this year. · 521 individuals from 35 counties have been infected with WNV in 2005. To date in 2005, there have been nine human WNVrelated fatalities. · 321 horses have tested positive for WNV in 37 counties, of these 139 have died or been euthanized. · 1,968 dead birds in 50 counties have tested positive for WNV. · 1,002 mosquito pools from 28 counties have tested positive for WNV. · 571 sentinel chickens from 30 counties have tested positive for West Nile/Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) antibodies. (The two antibodies are indistinguishable in preliminary testing.) Human WNV statistics: · To date in 2005, there have been 521 human WNV infections from 35 counties in California. · 65 of the 521 infections were first detected in asymptomatic individuals through screening done at blood banks - 26 later became symptomatic. · Three asymptomatic individuals were detected via local public health agencies. · Of the 479 WNV cases with symptoms, 150 are classified as West Nile neuroinvasive disease, 290 are classified as West Nile fever cases, and 39 are of unknown clinical presentation. · There have been nine West Nile virus-related fatalities to date in California this year from Butte, Fresno, Kings, Riverside, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties. In Alameda County: (as of 8/26): The Alameda County mosquitoes.org site reveals that West Nile virus also has been confirmed in one horse, which was euthanized Aug. 7, as well as ten birds and one mosquito pool. A mild case in an Alameda County citizen was diagnosed in late August, and believed to have been contracted on a July trip to the northern Sacramento Valley. Although there have been no human cases with sources known to bein Alameda County, the numbers from neighboring counties should attract our attention. The Mosquito abatement District promises to take all minimal necessary steps to assure our safety. Their efforts are mainly concentrated on large bodies of water, thohe they can be very helpful to property owners. It is clear we can’t leave prevention to government. Mosquitoes can breed in very small containers of standing water. Emptying, frequent replacing, and adding pre-emergence agents are effective means of assuring that you don’t host a virulent strain. Take pity on your older neighbors (who are most likely to die from the disease). Monitor and reduce the chance you host the insects--DE. April 2005 Human infection with the West Nile Virus has mixed effects. Only about 1/150 of those infected notice more than the itchy bite. Adults over 50 and people with compromised immune systems are in increased peril of serious complications. Anyone who experiences flu symptoms, high fever, rash, convulsion, muscle weakness, severe headache or stiff neck, should seek medical care immediately. It behooves us all, therefore, in special consideration for our elder neighbors and recipients of transplants, to reduce the chances for mosquitoes to breed in our environs. At home, change the water in birdbaths frequently (three days in hot weather) and eliminate or treat standing water. Controls include screening, oiling, introduction of mosquitofish, reduction of organic matter in ponds and pools, such as leaves, fruit, or excess plants. Additional information and suggestions can be found at http://mosquitoes.org There is no immunization for humans against WNV infection. There are shots for other mosquito-borne infections. Travelers should consult their physicians and the Center for Disease Control for precautions appropriate for their destinations. Advice can be found at the CDC website: http://www.hhs.gov/safety/index.shtml#travel . —DE Fall 2004:: The Virus is upon us! Santa Clara County recorded the first Bay Area bird fatality and Orange County recorded California’s first fatal human case of diagnosed West Nile Virus in late July. By July 20, there had been 28 human cases diagnosed in California this year. Although a fatality is unlikely unless one is old or infirm, this landmark case underscores the necessity to take extra precautions to reduce mosquito reproduction and to avoid being bitten. To reduce mosquito reproduction, add Bacillis Thurengensis or light oil to the surface of standing water, or empty small containers weekly. Your county Mosquito Abatement District often will provide free mosquito fish for larger ponds. Their use is controlled so they won’t escape to the wild. The Alameda County district maintains a helpful website: www.mosquitoes.org. To avoid exposure, stay indoors, or keep covered and use DEET, especially in the morning and evening. Infected birds serve as vectors, ensuring the survival and spread of the virus. Mosquito agencies monitor flocks of “sentinel” chickens and ask that dead birds be reported (1-877-968- 2473) so they may be collected and tested. The death of a crow, a particularly susceptable bird, was witnessed and reported in late July by OAS member Rick Ellis, perhaps the Santa Clara WNV fatality. Alameda residents received a newspaper insert supplied by the county Mosquito Abatement District that merits careful study. It has additional protective measures you may take. —DE. |
Contacts |
Click here to Contact the Ohlone Audubon Society |
Web site: http://www.OhloneAudubon.org |
NAS California, 555 Audubon Place, Sacramento, 95825 1-916-481-5332 |
The Ohlone Audubon Society web site was last updated on June 24, 2009 |
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