November 2008

Audubon California is in the process of doing a mid-year
evaluation of its five year plan. It is asking the chapters to
respond to the strategic plan related to three issues.

1 Climate change and the impacts on California people, wildlife,
and plant communities is of great concern.
2 The need to have effective partnerships with other conservation
entities in order to make an impact on conservation.
3 And Audubon California feels that as a conservation
organization its efforts should be dedicated to measurable
conservation outcomes.

Highlighted are: protection, stabilization and increase in
populations of at-risk birds; protection of birds and their habitats
from broad scaled threats; and the improvement and protection of
priority landscapes and important bird areas.

At the recent Ohlone board meeting we determined that our
response to the strategic plan would be emphasis on wind energy
and the need to protect birds from being killed by the wind
turbines. We also think there needs to be emphasis on growing
our membership so that we will have a strong group of members
interested in and willing to work on protecting birds we would
continue to have the pleasure of seeing for a long time to come.
You as an individual can go to the California Audubon website:
www.audubon.org, and click on the link to strategic plan to read
the complete document and record your comments.

Both Ohlone and California Audubon would be happy to hear
your comments. You can send your comments to the conservation
co-chairs, Rich Cimino: rscimino@earthlink.net, or Carin High:
howardhigh1@comcast.net or to me at evcormier@sbcglobal.net.
We are all in this for the pleasure of enjoying birds and the
environment.

January 2008

First of all Ohlone thanks all its members and friends for once
again generously responding to our annual appeal for funds which
is our major source of income for all the good work we do for
birds and other wild things.
California Audubon has provided us with a birding task that
you may want to help with. There are 22 areas on the list from
Napa Lakes in the north to Bolsa de San Felipe in the south that
Audubon would like to have boundaries verified for important
bird areas in our area. The question to answer is, “Do the boundaries
encompass all that should be encompassed at that site?”
The list and the maps can be provided to you at a member
meeting or by mail if you are interested in helping in this important
bird habitat protection effort. The list is as follows:
Alameda Naval Air Station, Año Nuevo Area, Benicia State
Recreation Area, Bolsa de San Felipe, Bodega Harbor, Bolinas
Lagoon, Brooks Island, Byron Area, Concord Marshes, Corte
Madera Marsh, East Diablo Range, Eastshore Wetlands, Jepson
Grasslands, Napa Lakes, North Richmond Wetlands, Point
Reyes-Outer, Richardson Bay, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,
San Francisco Bay-South, San Pablo Bay, Suisun Marsh, and
Tomales Bay. As you see by the list a number of the locations fall
into the jurisdiction of other Audubon groups. However you may
be familiar with the area as well and the more input California
Audubon has, the better to make sure the boundaries are complete.
Birds need all the help we can give them in providing
appropriate habitat.

A copy of the list and the maps can be provided to you at a
membership meeting or by mail if you are interested in helping in
this important bird habitat protection effort.—EC

December 2007

Evelyn attended the Audubon Assembly in early October and
returned with these comments:

The major topic of the assembly was global warming and its
known or anticipated impact on birds. The melting arctic ice cap
will change weather patterns, and ocean currents. CO2 absorption
in the ocean could change the acidity of the ocean. One of the
examples of the change is the pine beetle infestation in British
Columbia forests which has damaged a large swath of the forest
and is moving east because the usual cold winter temperatures
have not been present to kill off the beetles.
Polling data indicate a major concern about global warming.
The speakers stressed that there are some solutions at hand to
help us take action now. For instance using fluorescent light
bulbs, turning down the thermostat, driving less, or biking and
walking more, using energy efficient equipment and appliances,
driving low emission vehicles, and turning off the lights when not
needed. As a woman I notice that it is often said we should hang
our clothes to dry instead of using the dryer, but nothing is said
about men using hand tools instead of all those power tools.
HMMMM!
Audubon California listed conservation outcomes for discussion.
The four broad outcomes were: 1) Stabilize and increase
populations of at risk species of birds; 2) prevent persistent
declines or range contractions in populations of common native
birds; 3) improve and protect the health of landscapes that
support birds of the Americas; 4) build a culture of conservation.
There were subcategories in each of the major items. There
were a variety of responses to these topics from the small group
settings. Look for more results on the Audubon California
website, http://www.audubon-ca.org/index.html. —EC

Call Evelyn, 510.471.0475, evcormier@sbcglobal.net

April 2006

The Second Annual Audubon California Chapter Assembly
The second California Audubon Assembly with Glenn Olson
at the helm was held at Asilomar March 19-21. There were
approximately 160 Audubon people in attendance, representing
most, if not all 50 state chapters. The topics were varied-from nuts
and bolts of how to recruit members, invigorating field trips, and
successful fund raising, to a myriad of conservation topics
including lobbying on protecting the Salton Sea, the endangered
species act, and a number of other topics. All in all it was a lively
session.

One of the workshops focused on the anticipated Avian
Influenza epidemic or pandemic (a global epidemic). Avian flu
could arrive in California with the fall and winter migration of
birds. Workshop leaders outlined the characteristics of the virus
and how it could mutate and ways to protect birds and humans
against infection. They emphasized that this particular strain of
virus is still a number of steps away from mutating into a virus
that could threaten human lives. Viruses can mutate rapidly, so we
should disinfect all bird feeders monthly with a bleach or vinegar
solution. Laundry tubs or outdoors, not kitchen sinks should be
utilized for the cleaning. Recommended personal hygiene practices
include washing hands for at least 20 seconds using warm
water and soap, practicing good cough etiquette, and possibly
coughing into your bent elbow rather than your hand. Visit one or
both of the following websites for additional information:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqa/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/aviannd http://www.pandemicflu.gov.

Bay Area Audubon Council
The council met April 8, in Tiburon with representatives of the
nine Bay Area Chapters in attendance.
Bob Wilkerson of the Institute for Bird Populations presented
the upcoming state wide Burrowing Owl survey. Details of the
project can be obtained from Claudia Eyzaguirre , the Chapter
Coordinator, or Ron Barklow can be contacted. John Gurley, of
California Audubon, gave an update on his efforts to date with
the San Francisco Bay Projects he is working on. In the afternoon
session the various chapters gave reports on their activities and
Claudia brainstormed with the group on ways to implement an
Audubon at Home program to improve bird habitat and strive for
more conservation practices. Claudia can be reached at
ceyzaguirre@audubon.org and she keeps an excellent up to date
calendar of ongoing activities in the region posted on the website.
—Evelyn Cormier

Call Evelyn, 510.471.0475, evcormier@sbcglobal.net

Return to Ohlone Audubon Home Page

Opportunities and Challenges

Ohlone Audubon Society now can have a permanent place for public exposure at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. We can rent the space near the entrance, behind the Center’s store counter, where the HSIC library is located. The store sells items of interest to Hayward is open for public use when the building is open, presently on weekends. It would give us an opportunity to interact with visitors to the HSIC. We could augment the existing shelves to house the Bette Wentzel Memorial Library. It is a great place to see birds. That’s the opportunity.

Now for the challenge: we would need to have a volunteer to be there on weekends to greet the public and allow access to the BWML stacks. Will you help?

Call Evelyn, 510.471.0475, evcormier@sbcglobal.net —EC

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Message From the Past President

June 15, 2001

We would like to welcome our new Board of Directors for Year 2001-2002.  Reelected officers for one-year terms include: Howard Cogswell, Treasurer; Evelyn Cormier, Recording Secretary; and Margaret Emery, Corresponding Secretary.  Newly elected for a three-year term is Bill Rose as Director.  Marilyn Trabert replaces Marie Grubbe as Program Chair; Marie has served as Past President and now leaves the Board of Directors with our grateful thanks for a job well done.  Since we did not have any candidates for President, the Board recommended, and Director Helen Sowers kindly accepted, her appointment as acting President.  Helen replaces Viola Saima-Barklow who will serve as Past President.

I would personally like to express my appreciation for the cooperation and cheerful support given to me during my five-year tenure as Chapter President by the many fine Board of Directors and committee chairs.  Whatever successes our Chapter has achieved has to be credited to their dedication and support for the Audubon mission.  Thank you all. ——Viola Saima-Barklow

April 2001

President’s Message

The following information is from the report, Estuary 2000, Restoration Primer,of the San Francisco Estuary Project.
In urban areas, riparian habitat, even when fragmented or newly-restored, can provide important critical resting and refueling spots for neotropical migrants such as orange-crowned warblers, yellow warblers, Wilson’s warblers, and Swainson’s thrushes during spring and fall migration.
Most of our rural streams are subject to changing conditions of erosion and sedimentation. As the streams erode below their historical flood plains, their riparian forests are being lost. Most of our urban streams have been channelized which severely limits their potential for restoration as the integrity of levees or other structures allows only limited number of riparian trees. To restore riparian forests will require watershed management to reduce runoff and erosion. Restoration projects can be designed that provide flood control benefits and significant riparian functions as have already been demonstrated by Bay Area flood control districts and citizen-based creek restoration groups, e.g., projects on Coyote, Wildcat and Novato Creeks.
The Restoration Primer states:
“quality riparian forest habitat extends in a continuous corridor along a stream course; extends laterally from the stream channel across an unimpeded flood plain; forms a natural transitional ecotone with the adjacent uplands; is free of domesticated animals, human disturbance and invasive plants; and supports a diversity of native understory and canopy plant species. Likewise, high quality willow groves, once abundant in the Central Valley and South Bay, have hydrological conditions (including water quality) suitable to ensure long-term support of grove vegetation; have a natural transitional ecotone with the adjacent uplands; and should be free of domesticated animals and human disturbance.”
We often see development proposals in Southern Alameda County that would take grading and construction all the way to creek banks. Restoration Primer advice is to provide buffers at least 100 feet wide beyond the outer edge of the riparian vegetation, minimizing trails, grazing, and other disturbance within the riparian corridor. (Note: A wider buffer may be required if California red-legged frogs or other listed species are present.) Additional rehab advice and information or for copies of this report, access the SF Estuary Project Web site: http://www.sfei.org/, or call them at (510) 622-2321. —Viola Saima-Barklow, President, Ohlone Audubon Society.

February 7, 2001

President's Message

More than thirty years ago the shoreline of San Francisco Bay was under threat of over development. In the Hayward area, a group of citizens, conservationists, and elected officials joined forces to protect and restore thousands of acres of Hayward’s eight miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline.

A public agency was formed in 1971, the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA), to establish an environmental management program for the enhancement of thousands of acres of acquired shoreline properties.

To ensure the consistency of future shoreline activities, HASPA was established under provisions of an intergovernmental, joint exercise of powers agreement. The agencies that are signatories to this agreement and members of HASPA are East Bay Regional Park District, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, City of Hayward, Hayward Unified School District, and San Lorenzo Unified School District. HASPA receives technical advice and policy guidance from two committees, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). HASPA celebrates its 30-Year Anniversary in March 2001.

HASPA’s planning jurisdiction includes the area bounded on the north by the City of San Leandro, on the east by the Southern Pacific railroad tracks and the City of Union City, on the south by the City of Fremont, and on the west by the City of Hayward’s most westerly limits. A portion of Hayward’s industrial corridor exists on the easterly side and above the tidal marsh zone but some 8,500 acres of marshes and former marshes exist on the Bayward side. A highly conspicuous water bird population is one of the most dominant features of the Shoreline. Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds find food and resting areas here and there is a large year-round bird population.

HASPA accomplishments include: acquisition of over 3,156 acres of shoreline property, the enhancement of the environment on many of those sites, the construction of a shoreline interpretive center, the establishment of 8 miles of shoreline trails, the institution of shoreline educational and research programs. Current projects include: restoration of Oliver salt ponds north of Highway 92, restoration of the former Cargill Baumberg Tract (now, the Eden Landing Ecological Preserve), and parking and street improvements in front of the center and construction of a pedestrian/bike bridge over Highway 92 associated with the Hayward-San Mateo Bridge widening project. Future projects may include restoration of Cargill salt evaporation ponds if sale to federal and state agencies takes place; about 5,100 acres of the 19,000 acres under consideration are in HASPA’s planning jurisdiction. These ponds have long been identified for acquisition for inclusion in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge or purchase by other land conservation agency.

While HASPA’s planning program provided guidelines that prevented unsuitable shoreline development such as a large race track and a housing development, baylands protection and restoration are not guaranteed. For example, in 1998 the City of Hayward approved a housing development of over 500 homes (not yet built) on 12 feet of landfill in an area HASPA recommended be maintained for its seasonal wetlands and upland meadows and for ultimate inclusion in DE SFBNWR.

Many members of Ohlone Audubon participated in HASPA’s planning efforts over the past three decades and many continue to serve. If you live in the communities served by the member agencies of HASPA or have a special interest in the Hayward Area Shoreline, please consider CAC membership and join fellow Audubon members in this important effort. For more information, contact Viola Saima-Barklow at (510) 886-4730, or e-mail Rnvbar@cs.com.

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January 1, 2000
 

President’s Message

The future of Audubon in California
 

Audubon-California and the 51 affiliated California Audubon Chapters, including Ohlone, are currently engaged in developing a strategic plan to address how Audubon will collectively function over the next decade. The goal is to identify a common vision for Audubon in California based on our values, beliefs, and guiding principles. Our mission will continue to focus on preservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitat. The strategic plan will allow us to address how Audubon should respond in the face of population growth and destruction of farmland, wildlife habitat, and wilderness.

We think Audubon can be the conservation leader in California. We have a well-informed, educated, dedicated membership, and a collective will to make conservation work. California chapters are already doing much good work protecting the local environment and providing education programs, depending on their level of financial and membership resources. Some chapters are small with few members and limited funds, others are very large having paid employees, thousands of members, and generous funding sources. Ohlone falls toward the smaller chapter category. We do have a small core of dedicated volunteers who are very resourceful at leveraging funds in order to achieve our chapter goals. Our main sources of income are the annual appeal and the April birdathon.