Spring 2018 Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page 1 PVAS MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: Thursday, March 1, 2018 Burrowing Owls — Richard Halsey Thursday, April 5, 2018 Surveys of Raptors in our Area — Peter Bloom Thursday, May 3, 2018 Local Hummingbird Studies — Dr. Elise Ferree and students Thursday, June 7, 2018 PVAS Members’ Slide Show — See some of our best… MARCH - JUNE 2018 58 #3 Time to Watch for Rufous Hummingbirds by Dan Guthrie As you know, rufous hummingbirds, at least the females and young, are hard to separate from Allen’s hummingbirds as these rufous also have a green back. Only adult male rufous have a completely rufous back and top of head with no hint of green. Rufous hummers migrate north from Mexico to Oregon through Alaska and, as is common for several species, males migrate first so they can establish territories before the females arrive. February and early March are the times when Rufous males pass through southern California. They are feisty and often chase other hummers from feeders. Unfortunately, at my feeder they sit facing me so I can’t see their backs. I am blocking the feeder holes on the opposite side of my feeders so the hummers have to feed with their backs to me. Any day now I hope to see rufous hummers stocking up for their continued migration. PVAS Bluebird Trails need Monitors One of our conservation activities is sponsoring several “bluebird trails.” A trail consists of several bluebird nest boxes in a single area that are maintained. We supply the boxes, you supply the monitoring. See below for some opportunities to participate. I am looking for someone to take over the monitoring of bluebird boxes at Bonelli Park in San Dimas. After 10 years I will be ending my monitoring of bluebird boxes in the park after the 2018 nesting season. There are 17 boxes in the park that are monitored two times a month during the nesting season. In 2017 90 bluebirds and 30 tree swallows were fledged. I will be available to train and assist the new custodian of the boxes. Rod Higbie at (909) 599-6526 We also have some boxes at the Claremont Colleges that need monitoring. If you are interested in taking over either area, or establishing a trail elsewhere, contact me. Dan Guthrie 909 239 5124 or [email protected]Spring Migrants and Summer Nesters are Arriving!!! 2017 PVAS Bird Count Tally page 4
Transcript
Spring 2018
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �1
PVAS MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Burrowing Owls — Richard Halsey
Thursday, April 5, 2018 Surveys of Raptors in our Area — Peter Bloom
Thursday, May 3, 2018 Local Hummingbird Studies — Dr. Elise Ferree and students
Thursday, June 7, 2018 PVAS Members’ Slide Show — See some of our best…
MARCH - JUNE 2018 58 #3
Time to Watch for Rufous Hummingbirds by Dan Guthrie
As you know, rufous hummingbirds, at least the females and young, are hard to separate from Allen’s hummingbirds as these rufous also have a green back. Only adult male rufous have a completely rufous back and top of head with no hint of green. Rufous
hummers migrate north from Mexico to Oregon through Alaska and, as is common for several species, males migrate first so they can establish territories before the females arrive. February and early March are the times when Rufous males pass through southern California. They are
feisty and often chase other hummers from feeders. Unfortunately, at my feeder they sit facing me so I can’t see their backs. I am blocking the feeder holes on the opposite side of my feeders so the hummers have to feed with their backs to me. Any day now I hope to see rufous hummers stocking up for their continued migration.
PVAS Bluebird Trails need Monitors
One of our conservation activities is sponsoring several “bluebird trails.” A trail consists of several bluebird nest boxes in a single area that are maintained. We supply the boxes, you supply the monitoring. See below for some opportunities to participate.
I am looking for someone to take over the monitoring of bluebird boxes at Bonelli Park in San Dimas. After 10 years I will be ending my monitoring of bluebird boxes in the park after the 2018 nesting season. There are 17 boxes in the park that are monitored two times a month during the nesting season. In 2017 90 bluebirds and 30 tree swallows were fledged. I will be available to train and assist the new custodian of the boxes. Rod Higbie at (909) 599-6526
We also have some boxes at the Claremont Colleges that need monitoring. If you are interested in taking over either area, or establishing a trail elsewhere, contact me. Dan Guthrie 909 239 5124 or [email protected]
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �2
Birding the Eastern Sierras Trip Report by Tina Stoner
Big Pine to Bridgeport
Our first birding field trip to the Eastern Sierra, lead by Eric Smith the weekend of November 17-19, 2017 was a wonderful success. On the drive up, 6 PVAS members, and two former members now living in Los Osos, were treated to beautiful vistas of golden cottonwood trees and snow-capped peaks thanks to a snow storm the night before. We met in Big Pine for owling Friday night where Barn Owls and deer were seen.
It was chilly but clear as we left Big Pine Saturday morning. Black-billed Magpies, one of our target species, were easily seen in town as we started our drive north on Highway 395. Near Crowley Lake, which we couldn’t see because of a pocket of fog, Eric called out to pull over. He had seen Greater Sage Grouse on the side of the highway. We jumped out of the cars with binoculars, cameras and jackets (it was 23 degrees) and stepped into a white wonderland; frozen fog had created hoar frost on the sage. Everyone got good looks at the grouse, all females, and when they flew away we counted 19 of them! A quick stop in Lee Vinning gave us our first look at Mono Lake which we would bird later, on our return drive. Our destination in Bridgeport was the surrounding cattle country and the grassland birds, especially raptors, that thrive there. The natural creeks are channeled into canals along the barbed wire fence lines and revealed unexpected treats like Great Egret and Belted Kingfisher, but our target was raptors and we saw lots! Red-tailed Hawks were abundant (we saw 21 Saturday) and Northern Rough-legged Hawks were plentiful as well, both on the ground and on fence posts. Northern Harriers were cruising low over the pastures as an immature Bald Eagle soared overhead. A Prairie Falcon was perched up on a water gate briefly before being displaced by another Rough-legged Hawk. A Cooper’s Hawk and an American Kestral rounded out or list of raptors. At Mono Lake we took the Tufa Boardwalk trail closer to the water which was dominated by Eared Grebes, Northern Shovelers and Rudy Ducks. We also visited the Fish Creek Hatchery and took a hike at Lake Crowley (now clear of fog) where we saw Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Loggerhead Shrike, Hairy Woodpecker, and Mountain Bluebirds. Saturday night we were treated to a delicious dinner at the Copper Top Bar-B-Que where Eric works. Sunday morning we met in Bishop before heading up into the mountains to the small residential community of Aspendale. While waiting for everyone to arrive, a flock of Tundra Swans flew overhead. Our goal was to find cabins with active bird feeders which attract another of our target species, the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. The search began with the “usual suspects” Mountain Chickadee, Steller’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Junco and Raven. About 40 minutes into our search, Eric spotted a small flock flying in and sure enough, we found our rosy finches. While in Aspendale we added Lincoln Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Great Blue Heron to our list. As a group we saw about 50 species with additional ones seen on the trip home including large flocks of Snow Geese and American White Pelicans. This trip was so enjoyable we plan to offer it again next fall. In addition, we are trying to schedule a Spring trip in April of 2018. TBA online.
“We got close to the Sage Grouse!” PHOTO: Eric Smith
Spring 2018
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �3
Bur
row
ing
Ow
ls b
y H
arse
y
New Lands Pass Required for Favorite Birding Locations in Southern California
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is expanding its “Lands Pass” program by adding new properties where the pass will now be required. These include 2 popular birding locations in Orange County, Upper Newport Bay and Bolsa Chica. Additionally, seven locations in San Diego County are being added.
On lands pass properties, each visitor who is 16 years of age or older is required to carry a daily (1 day) or annual lands pass while on the property. Those carrying a current hunting or fishing license are exempt, as are school and organized youth groups (including accompanying adults.)
Passes can be purchased on line as well as all the usual retails outlets like Big 5, Walmart, Bass Pros, Turner Outdoorsman, K-Mart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more. Day passes are $4.32 and annual passes are $24.33.
For complete information go to: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass
Eyes and Ears on Burrowing Owls 2018: Volunteer Opportunity In 2017, the dedicated volunteers in our PVAS owl project monitored Burrowing Owl nesting sites in Chino and Ontario during the nesting season. In addition to surveying owls and burrows, we worked on protecting the remaining nesting places so the owls are not totally extirpated from our area.
This year we will start monitoring the owls in March and are looking for volunteers to keep a record of the birds at some of the known sites in our area and look for additional burrowing sites. The extent of your involvement is up to you: either once a week or once a month is fine. Skipping a time for travel or other activities is doable. Also, unlike most owls, Burrowing Owls are often active during the day, so they are easier to observe.
If you would prefer to work directly on owl conservation, that is also an option. We will focus on how to improve the mitigation areas in Chino to do a better job of attracting nesting owls to those safe areas.
This is an opportunity to get to know Burrowing Owls better, to spend a little time observing these fascinating birds, and to help protect the owls to ensure that they will be nesting in our area for years to come.
For more infor- mation, please contact Suzanne Thompson, sthompson@ pomona.ed or call 909-767-9079.
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �4
Participants 75
2017 Christmas Bird Count2017 2017 2017
Species TOTALS Species TOTALS Species TOTALSCanada Goose 276 Ring-billed Gull 33 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7 Egyptian Goose 4 ! California Gull 432 California Gnatcatcher 1 Muscovay Duck (Domestic) 1 ! Caspian Tern 3 American Dipper 2 Wood Duck 6 Rock Pigeon 25 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 118 Gadwall 46 Band-tailed Pigeon 344 Wrentit 48 Eurasian Wigeon 1 Eurasian Collared-Dove 23 Western Bluebird 250 American Wigeon 1415 " Mourning Dove 756 Mountain Bluebird 5 Mallard 270 Greater Roadrunner 1 Townsend's Solitaire 4 Blue-winged Teal 3 Barn Owl 3 Hermit Thrush 51 Cinnamon Teal 1 Great Horned Owl 5 American Robin 92 Northern Shoveler 112 White-throated Swift 48 California Thrasher 27 Northern Pintail 6 Anna's Hummingbird 223 Northern Mockingbird 136 Green-winged Teal 4 Costa's Hummingbird 3 European Starling 356 Redhead 1 Allen's Hummingbird 68 American Pipit 26 Ring-necked Duck 18 Belted Kingfisher 4 Cedar Waxwing 589 Bufflehead 53 Lewis' Woodpecker 1 Phainopepla 27 Hooded Merganser 1 Acorn Woodpecker 255 Orange-crowned Warbler 8 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 Common Yellowthroat 6 Red-breasted Merganser 1 ! Nuttall's Woodpecker 49 American Redstart 1 !Ruddy Duck 520 Downy Woodpecker 2 Yel.-rump. Warbler (Aud.) 1116 Peacock 1 ! White-headed Woodpecker 1 Northern Parula 1 California Quail 47 Northern (R.S.) Flicker 89 Townsend's Warbler 6 Pied-billed Grebe 30 American Kestrel 10 Spotted Towhee 65 Horned Grebe 2 Merlin 1 Rufous-crowned Sparrow 7 Eared Grebe 28 Red-masked Parakeet 35 ! California Towhee 235 Western Grebe 53 Red-crowned Parrot 4 Chipping Sparrow 71 Clark's Grebe 20 Gray Flycatcher 3 " Lark Sparrow 81 Double-crested Cormorant 32 Pacific Slope Flycatcher 0 Savannah Sparrow 5 American White Pelican 3 Black Phoebe 192 Fox Sparrow 11 Great Blue Heron 5 Say's Phoebe 29 Song Sparrow 48 Great Egret 19 Cassin's Kingbird 68 Lincoln's Sparrow 9 Snowy Egret 24 Hutton's Vireo 4 White-throated Sparrow 1 Green Heron 4 Steller's Jay 38 White-crowned Sparrow 611 Black-crowned Night-heron 5 California Scrub Jay 238 Golden-crowned Sparrow 31 Turkey Vulture 25 " American Crow 184 Drk-eyed Junco (Oregon) 152 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Common Raven 46 Red-winged Blackbird 27 !Cooper's Hawk 21 Tree Swallow 17 ! Western Meadowlark 74 Red-shouldered Hawk 10 Barn Swallow 2 ! Brewer's Blackbird 101 Red-tailed Hawk 82 Mountain Chickadee 17 Great-tailed Grackle 9 Sora 1 Oak Titmouse 51 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 American Coot 763 Bushtit 377 House Finch 547 Black-necked Stilt 26 White-breasted Nuthatch 15 Purple Finch 24 American Avocet 3 Brown Creeper 2 Cassin's Finch 24 Killdeer 18 Rock Wren 7 Pine Siskin 81 Spotted Sandpiper 4 Canyon Wren 9 Lesser Goldfinch 293 Greater Yellowlegs 5 House Wren 5 Lawrence's Goldfinch 5 Least Sandpiper 81 Bewick's Wren 56 American Goldfinch 36 Long-billed Dowitcher 5 Cactus Wren 5 House Sparrow 92 Bonaparte's Gull 5 Scaly-breasted Munia 8
Total Species Count Day 142 Total Individuals 13381 <<Sub-species/FormsCount Week Only (CW) - New to CBC this year 3
Participants 75
Christmas Census 2017 Results by Dan Guthrie
142 species seen by 75 participants, a very good participation. We had three new species; peacock and Egyptian goose and a northern parula warbler. We also missed several species. Glendora Mountain road was closed so golden eagle and mountain quail were not found. Lack of grasslands meant that harrier, kite and loggerhead shrike could not be found. American wigeon was our commonest species, followed by Audubon’s warbler, coot, mourning dove and white-crowned sparrow. Only one bird was seen for fifteen species on our list. Thanks to all our counters and to Sheila White for the compilation chore.
PVAS Field Trips SPRING 2018
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �5
PVAS
F I ELD TR I P S
PVAS
FIELD
TRIPS
PVAS
FIELD
TRIPS
SUNDAY, March 4, 2018
SUNDAY, April 8, 2018
SUNDAY, May 6, 2018
June, July, August - No Walk
SUNDAY, September 2, 2018
PVAS Field Trip Difficulty Levels – Trips rated Mild through Strenuous involve walking and standing for several hours. Birding usually occurs at a pace of 1 mph or less so you can use the trip description to estimate the distance if not listed.
Minimal – Little or no walking, option to exit car and walk short distances over relatively level terrain. Example: Birding By Car series.
Moderate – Some elevation change, stairs, walking on sloped grass, rolling hills, open fields or groomed hiking trails with mild trip hazards (tree roots, rocks, etc.) Example: Regional Parks with lakes and hiking trails.
Strenuous – Irregular or rocky terrain, > 500ft. elevation change, some off trail walking. Example: Natural areas and preserves (North Etiwanda Preserve.)
SUNDAY, March 25, 2018
SUNDAY, April 22, 2018
SUNDAY, May 27, 2018
June, July, August - No Walk
SUNDAY, September 23, 2018
l
Volunteers needed for any and everything!!! Check out the committees, projects, conservation issues, etc. —- or imagine your own way to help.
[email protected] June 7 - End of Year Celebration… 6 P.M. to 9 P.M.
Members Power Point Presentations ++ plus…, Awards, Silent Auction and Election of Officers $5.00 per person Check webpage for possible change of location.To present slides or other contact Dan Guthrie 909 239-5124 or [email protected]
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �6
April 19, 2018 – Thursday Prado Regional Park 16700 Euclid Ave., Chino, CA 91708 – Difficulty: Minimal. This is a Birding By Car trip with very little if any walking and radio communication between the cars. This popular park in Chino with its extensive roads, provide great chances of seeing returning nesters like Vermillion Flycatchers and swallows. Wintering vagrants and migrating favorites are also in our notes. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. $8 vehicle entry fee. (Est. drive 33 mi.) Leaders: Dan Guthrie and Judy Sugden (909) 239-5124
April 26, 2018 – Thursday North Etiwanda Preserve 4890 Etiwanda Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 – Difficulty: Strenuous (3.5 mi.) This will be our second of two bird population surveys for the NEP this birding season and a great opportunity to give back to the community by doing what we love – birding! It will be a long, but fun day. Bring enough water for a 6 hour walk on rocky terrain, snacks, and a portable lunch. Sun protection and appropriate shoes recommended. Recent parking issues make it more essential that you contact the trip leader if you plan to attend. (Est. driving 16 mi.)
May 5, 1917 – Saturday Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 11055 East Dr, Morongo Valley, CA 92256 – Difficulty: Moderate (up to 4 mi. but optional feeder watching only.) A famous desert oasis at the height of western migration with lots of local nesting activity too. Great photo opportunities during our lunch stop at the bird feeders. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont (Note earlier start time!) After the preserve, we’ll visit Covington Park next door. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day trip. (Est. driving 167 mi.) Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or [email protected]
March 3, 2018 – Saturday Peck Road Water Conservation Park 5401 Peck Rd., Arcadia, CA 91006 – Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (up to 3 mi.) This hidden gem in Arcadia boasts a surprising variety of year-round and migrant species as well as an occasional surprise vagrant species. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day trip. (Est. driving 38 mi.)
March 15, 2018 – Thursday San Jacinto Wildlife Area 17050 Davis St., Lakeview, (Perris) CA 92567 - Difficulty: Minimal. This is a Birding By Car trip with very little if any walking and radio communication between the cars. A good trip for wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. Depart Memorial Park in Claremont at 8 a.m. and return by 1 p.m.. (Est. drive 110 mi.)
Leaders: Dan Guthrie and Judy Sugden (909) 239-5124
March 17, 2018 – Saturday Prado Regional Park 16700 Euclid Ave., Chino, CA 91708 – Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (up to 4.5 mi.) So close, yet so diverse, visiting this popular park in Chino will increase our chances of seeing Vermillion Flycatchers, hawks and wintering vagrants. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring water, snacks, and lunch for a full day trip. $8 vehicle entry fee. (Est. drive 33 mi.) Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or [email protected]
April 7, 2018 – Saturday Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve 19400 Clinton Keith Rd., Murrieta – Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (up to 5 mi.) The plateau protects unique ecosystems such as Engelmann oak woodlands, riparian wetlands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, bunchgrass prairie, and vernal pools as well as more than 200 species of native birds. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring water, snacks and lunch for a full day of birding. $4 per person entry fee. (Est driving 115 mi.)
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �7
May 12, 2018 – Saturday Prado Wetlands 14980 River Rd, Corona, CA 92880 – Difficulty: Moderate (up to 4 mi.) Closed to the public we are fortunate to have Bonnie Johnson, Orange County Water District biologist, conduct a private tour of the Prado Wetlands for PVAS. It’s 45 shallow ponds provide ideal habitat for wading and shore birds, waterfowl, raptors and more including its large population of endangered Least Bell’s Vireo. Walk from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with option to picnic lunch there. Meet at Prado Wetlands. Trip is limited to 12 people so please contact trip leader to reserve your spot and discuss the need for carpooling. (Est. driving 38 mi.)
May 17, 2018 – Thursday Chino Hills State Park 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709 - Difficulty: Minimal. This is a Birding By Car trip with very little if any walking and radio communication between the cars. A trip for grosbeaks, buntings, tanagers, vireos and flycatchers as well as spring migrants, and raptors. Depart Memorial Park in Claremont at 8 a.m. and return by noon. $5 State Park vehicle entry fee ($4 if 62+) (Est. driving 37 mi.) Leaders: Dan Guthrie and Judy Sugden (909) 239-5124
June 3, 2018 – Saturday Big Bear Lake Area (multiple locations) – Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (up to 4 mi.) Beat the summer heat and head up the mountain. Enjoy birding the Big Bear Lake area during the breeding season of montane species. Meet at 6:00 a.m. (Note earlier start time!) at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day of birding. (Est. drive 150 mi.)
The Chaparral Naturalist is published tri-yearly by the Pomona Valley Audubon Society. Copy deadline is the middle of the month before publication. Articles may be reprinted without permission, however we require the author and Chaparral Naturalist be credited. We encourage members to submit articles and photos by email to Judy, [email protected]. Photos should be saved at 300 dpi and in jpg format. Articles should be provided in .doc, .rtf, or .xls format. Sorry, we cannot retype your copy. Chapter only memberships are available for $20 per year. Make checks payable to PVAS and mail to:
Pomona Valley Audubon 2058 N Mills Ave., PMB426
Claremont, CA 91711
Gosh but you missed a marvelous
PVAS general meeting if you missed Keri Dearborn’s talk on the Channel Island fox in February. —- and we missed you!
Pomona Valley Audubon Society Everyone is WELCOME !!! Page �8
PVAS General Membership Meetings
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Burrowing Owls — Richard Halsey
Thursday, April 5, 2018 Surveys of Raptors in our Area — Peter Bloom
Thursday, May 3, 2018 Local Hummingbird Studies — Dr. Elise Ferree and students
Thursday, June 7, 2018 PVAS End of Year Celebration — See some of our best photos and most inspirational moments of the year, elect new officers, Cheer award winners, shop the Silent Auction and enjoy our closing meeting.
Thursday, September 6, 2018 —- TBA
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Owls, Owls, My Kingdom for a Burrowing Owl — Richard Halsey
Join us as we discuss the wonderful natural history of the Burrowing Owl in California and what we can do to help reverse their dramatic drop in population.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Surveying Raptors - HAWKS & OWLS in our Area Peter Bloom More description online…
Thursday, May 3, 2018 Our Local Hummingbird Studies — Dr. Elise Ferree Dr. Ferree and her students have recently investigated how hummingbirds balance the risk of predation against the need for energy gain. Hummingbirds are interesting organisms for exploring this question because of their great caloric needs. In their study, Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds were given a series of choices between artificial flowers that varied in terms of predation risk and energy yield. Come hear about their findings along with other research Dr. Ferree and her students are conducting on these fascinating local birds.
Thursday, June 7, 2018 Our Annual End of Year Celebration See page 5 for details to show your slides, read your poetry…
