Avocet photo by Dan Battaglia, USGS. Pelican photo (top) by Rich Stallcup.

Quarterly Journal of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Number 125, Summer 2001. $2.50

Tidal MarshLandscapes, p.10

This may be the 22nd AmericanAvocet that we have trapped thisweek, but my heart is still in my

throat. We paddle out to a small islandin San Francisco Bay, offshore of “saltevaporation pond 6b,” and carefully laythe spring-triggered bow trap. Strangely,little alarm or mobbing behavior occursat first. Then, there they go: a chorus ofadults is attempting to drive us away,swooping, circling, and otherwiseencouraging our speedy exit.

We cast off from the island andreturn to the truck. Hastily, we reversedown the dirt levee and secure a van-tage point far enough away that one ofthe adult pair will feel comfortablereturning to his/her genetic potential.

Now we wait: binoculars pressedagainst our eye sockets, small beads ofsweat building on the eyecups, fingersand palms becoming just a little bit slip-pery. An adult finally approaches thesacred cache of four eggs. He paces war-ily back and forth around the metal andnetting crescent shape of the unsprungtrap. We silently pray that he will nottake notice of the taut monofilament

that spans the top ofthe nest, secured to athin pliable stake atthe opposite end. Thisfishing line acts as akind of trip wire.When the bird sits, thetrigger releases, andvoila, you have your-self a bird.

This fellow is alittle too uncertainabout the new adorn-ments encircling hisnest, and he disap-pears to the other sideof the island. Tenmore minutes pass,and my heart ratefinally slows to a less frantic pace. Butwait! Instantly, my pulse quickensanew while I watch a female avocet flyin from a neighboring levee. Gracefullylanding a few feet from her clutch, she,too, is confounded by our unsightlyadditions to the nest’s décor. Eventual-ly, after a couple of laps around thenest, her parental instincts take over

and the bird determines that it is safeenough to resume incubation.

Seen through binoculars, the culmi-nation of our efforts now seems tounfold so silently: the invisible fishingline is tripped, and the restrained endof the trap springs up and over thebird, sealing itself flush against theground on the opposite side of the nest.

An adult American Avocet, held by Chris Rintoul, wears a new legband with a miniature radio transmitter.

2001 notes from the field

▼Avocet studies on South San Francisco Bay

Salt Pond SagaChris Rintoul

An important part of PRBO’s cross-programmatic San Francisco Bay Project is the investigation of birds’ use of bay habitats.Todocument the ways that breeding and post-breeding American Avocets use salt ponds (especially artificial ponds constructed for salt produc-tion) and other habitats, PRBO wetlands biologist, Chris Rintoul, in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), is track-ing radio-tagged avocets throughout South San Francisco Bay.This telemetry research augments our work in past years on other shorebirdspecies, and it complements current PRBO studies of tidal marsh birds (see page 4).The results will increase understanding of how habitatconversion in the bay (especially the conversion of salt ponds to tidal marsh) will affect bird populations, enabling PRBO to guide restorationprojects that benefit the greatest numbers and diversity of bird species.—Nils Warnock, Ph.D., Co-Director of PRBO Wetlands Studies

“Three Amigos”

p. 6

continued on page 2

Page 2 Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001

lion grant that covers a significant por-tion of costs over the next two yearsfor our major initiative, “AdaptiveConservation for Birds in Californiaand the West.”

We are very grateful to the PackardFoundation for its visionary leadershipat a time when biodiversity is severelythreatened, on land and at sea, owingto habitat fragmentation, pollution,overfishing, and development. Like thecanary in the coal mine, birds are won-derful indicators of ecosystem health.The Packard grant will enable prbo,working with numerous public and pri-vate partners, to expand our use ofbird conservation science to helpensure more effective habitat restora-tion and ecosystem managementefforts. This scientific foundation isnow more vital than ever in preventingspecies extinction and supporting sta-ble, healthy bird populations.

With Packard funds, we will beable to expand our songbird researchfor riparian, shrubland (coastal sagescrub and chaparral), oak woodland,grassland, and sagebrush (shrubsteppe)habitats, and also develop web-basedpredictive models to guide habitatmanagers in restoring and managingfor songbirds and biodiversity.

The grant provides funding forprbo Wetlands biologists to complete

Ellie M. Cohen

This issue of the Observer high-lights the work of our staff in thefield—from San Francisco Bay, to

California’s great Central Valley, to theFarallones. Our biologists and internsnot only are bright and dedicated; theyalso work very hard collecting multi-tudes of data for long hours outdoorsunder often arduous conditions.

Their efforts produce impressiveresults. I recently had the honor of vis-iting Aaron Holmes, prbo’s GreatBasin Shrubsteppe project leader, andhis dedicated team in eastern Oregon.From May to July, at 77 high desertsites from the California border to theCanadian border, they will haverecorded 60 miles worth of bird andvegetation data!

Prbo biologists truly are pioneersin a modern era, forging new groundevery day. In partnership with govern-ment agencies, nonprofits, and privateinterests, they are using science tounderstand birds and ecosystems andto provide recommendations for con-serving wildlife and critical habitatacross the West.

The David and Lucile PackardFoundation (Packard) recently recog-nized prbo’s hard-earned contributionsto effective conservation with a $1 mil-

and facili-tate imple-mentationof the U.S.ShorebirdConserva-tion Planfor theSouthernPacificregion(much ofCalifornia), and to develop two majorrestoration projects in collaboration withthe regional wetlands joint ventures.

Prbo will also apply Packard grantfunds to produce a first-of-its-kindseabird conservation plan for theCalifornia Current (from southernCalifornia to southern Canada) and toinitiate a California Current JointVenture that will engage a wide rangeof public and private interests.

Of course, we rely on the ongoingsupport of our members and the dedica-tion of our staff biologists and interns.Thanks to all of you, we really are mak-ing a difference!

PRBO Executive Director Ellie M. Cohenwas awarded a fellowship to attend a two-weekintensive program for nonprofit executives at Stan-ford University’s Graduate School of Business. Alongwith 49 others, from around the nation, Ellie partici-pated in this select program during summer, 2001.

still the far end once we near. Ahh, thebeauty of the bow trap: once sprung, itis tall enough that even a leggy avocetcan stand and walk about comfortablywithin its confines; the elliptical cham-ber of netting with its thin metal sup-ports prevents entanglement—in everyaspect a safe, effective design.

I kneel, bird in hands, at the sternof the boat while Dan Battaglia ofusgs paddles the short distance back tothe shore. There, while I support herbody and neck, Dan affixes the special-ly designed usfws band outfitted witha soft, rubber-coated radio transmitter

Quickly, we drive back down the leveeto the kayak’s hideaway. As we exit thetruck, the silence is once again piercedby the shrill alarms of a colony of adultavocets come to ponder the dome thatholds their fellow captive. Some fleewith their precocial broods to deeperwaters away from the shoreline; otheradults attempt to distract us with bro-ken-wing displays and near-miss, low-flying acrobatics.

Fortunately, American Avocets arequite calm when you handle them. Thefemale avocet in the trap, althoughactive during our approach, remains

photo: PRBO files

Ellie Cohen

PRBO biologists truly are pioneers in a modern era, forging new ground every day.

▼ Grant from Packard Foundation for PRBO “Adaptive Conservation”

Forging New Ground

around her leg. Just a few measure-ments now—of the beak, leg, wing,and weight—and she’s free.

Excellent! The entire exercise, fromcapture to release, has taken only fiveminutes. As we drive off in pursuit ofeight more adults on known nest sites,we are pleased to see our just-releasedbird returning to her nest, adjustingsome nest material, and sitting down toresume incubating.

Chris Rintoul is a PRBO staff biologist in ourWetlands Research Program.

Avocets, from page 1

Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001 Page 3

Jeanne Hammond

It’s 7:30 am on a sunny Maymorning and already hot enoughto shed my sweatshirt during a day

of nest searching at the HospitalCreek nest plot. Until the flood of1998, this was an agricultural field,and though the trees (cottonwoodsand willows) are growing rapidly, theystill don’t provide much cover. I amhiding beneath the low branches of ablack willow sapling, watching a SongSparrow carry nesting material,when... I hear that elusive female BlueGrosbeak! And I can hear her matesinging behind me.

I’ve been trying to follow thispair, which I’ve glimpsed flying backand forth, for some time. The femalenow calls again, moving in my direc-tion, and sure enough, after a couplemore minutes… silence. I am guard-edly ecstatic, since this would be myfirst ever nest for this species (but oneshould not count chickens—or, in thiscase, grosbeaks—before they arehatched).

I pretend that the Song Sparrow ismy sole focus and, stepping forward,see its partially built nest just where Ithought it would be. Then I take a casu-al saunter toward the spot where thegrosbeak female suddenly went silent.About 15 meters away from my hidingplace, I flush the female off her nest!Elation... then misgivings. I soon realizethat these are not Blue Grosbeak eggsand that the nest has already been visit-ed by a Brown-headed Cowbird, or twoor three. All three eggs in the nest werelaid by the infamous recent colonist thatmakes its living parasitizing other song-birds in this manner.

I could be doing songbird researchalmost anywhere these days, since cow-birds occur virtually everywhere, butthe Central Valley has hordes of them.Here at the San Joaquin River NationalWildlife Refuge, we are surrounded bycattle ranches, dairies, and other agri-cultural lands in which the Brown-headed Cowbird now makes its home.

Although it is easy to blame thecowbird for songbird declines, prbo’sresearch in the Central Valley hasshown that what really affects produc-

tivity is predation. While nests maybe parasitized, many end up depre-dated by predators of all sorts,including black rats and otherrodents, jays, raccoons, and snakes.

In 2000, prbo and the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service (usfws) begancollaborating on a new project—tomonitor songbird response over thenext few years to ambitious restorationefforts within the Refuge’s large patchof Valley riparian habitat. The restora-tion has two main goals: to reconnectthe river to its floodplain by breachingthe existing levee in several places; andto restore 1,300 acres of adjacent for-mer agricultural fields within the flood-plain to riparian habitat.

Songbirds that prefer early-succes-sional and herbaceous vegetation fornesting, like the Blue Grosbeak andSong Sparrow, are already using thefallow fields. The two nests I foundthis morning are in a study plot whereriparian vegetation began to regrowafter the levee breached during the1998 floods. Fremont’s cottonwood

and black willow saplings are alreadyover my head. As this plot continues toregenerate naturally, results of monitor-ing songbird response will provide abase for comparison with areas to berestored using cultivated plantings.

I am already planning a returnvisit, in 15 years or so, to what will bea lush riparian oasis in an agriculturaland rapidly urbanizing region on theSan Joaquin River. By then, the areaswe are studying should be teeming withriparian obligate songbird species,including (dare I hope?) the now rareYellow-billed Cuckoo.

Jeanne Hammond is a biologist and projectleader in PRBO’s Terrestrial Research Program

In 15 years or so, this will be a lush riparian oasis teeming with songbird species....

▼ Riparian restoration projects in the San Joaquin Valley

Quest for Healthy Habitat

photo: PRBO files

Jeanne Hammond anticipates the return ofjungle-like riparian habitat (as pictured hereat Cosumnes River Preserve) on lands theUSFWS will restore on San Joaquin River

PRBO’s dedicated project leaders are invaluable on-site links for our efforts to conserve songbirds and restore habitat throughout theWest.They provide crucial scientific know-how to our many local land management partners working to enhance depleted bird popula-tions. Jeanne Hammond is one of seven current Terrestrial Program project leaders in regions across California and Oregon.With a degreefrom U.C. San Diego in Urban Studies and Environmental Planning, she began as intern bander at the Palomarin Field Station in March1996. After working in the field on PRBO projects from Montana to San Francisco Bay, she accepted a position heading up our riparianconservation efforts in the southern half of California’s Central Valley, which includes the the Cosumnes, Mokelumne,Tuolumne, and SanJoaquin river watersheds. Jeanne supervises a team of PRBO field biologists and interns collecting biological data, and she maintains con-stant contact with numerous agencies and collaborators on these rivers.—Geoff Geupel, Director of PRBO Terrestrial Research

Page 4 Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001

I will check this nest every two to three days, hoping to see the nestlings fledge.

▼ Monitoring nest success in San Francisco Bay’s remaining marshlands

Tidal Marsh TourJulian Wood

Welcome to today’s field tripto the marsh, where you willwitness firsthand the adven-

tures and misadventures of a field biol-ogist for the day. You will be assistingin my research on the breeding biologyof songbirds in the tidal marsh habitatof San Francisco Bay. This entails find-ing and monitoring nests and mappingterritories in the broad, wet landscapeknown as Black John Slough, five kilo-meters up the Petaluma River from thenorthern part of San Francisco Bay.

It’s 6:00 AM. Equipment check:rubber boots (essential); field notebook(with pen attached); binoculars; flag-ging (for marking nests); compass;water and a snack. We set out alongthe levee and hear the repeated kek-kek-kek clatter call of Clapper Rails (atleast five individuals!) coming from thenearby “lagoon,” created years ago toprovide homeowners with waterfrontproperty and now, due to sedimenta-tion, filled with tall alkali bulrush.

We arrive at my study site and stepdown into the marsh, recently inundat-ed by extreme high tides brought on bythe full moon. (One person has forgot-ten rubber boots and must turn back.)I am asked, what is that song that sayswhich-which-you, which-which-you,which-which? It is a Common Yellow-throat, a songbird that has a distinctiverace adapted to salt and brackishmarshes. The same is true of the SongSparrows nesting here, our quarry forthe morning. We walk on, hoppingacross a small channel hidden by pick-leweed. Two people slip and fall in, butthe tide is lower now and they arespared having to empty their boots and

wring out theirsocks.

We are nowheading for a “bark-ing” Song Sparrow.When they havenearby nests witheggs, femalesoften givethis distinc-tive call thatsounds like aminiaturelap dog. Imake amotion,and weform aphalanxsome dis-tance from the bird, hopingto follow her to the nest.Instead we watch her dive into a chan-nel and disappear, presumably to for-age on the plentiful invertebrates foundthere. Then I see the vegetation movein a spot near the gumplant lining thechannel, a preferred nesting spot forSong Sparrows. Of course, I have seenvegetation moving elsewhere, in per-fectly suitable nesting substrates, butthe spot along the channel seems thebest. As I approach, I step over a gartersnake about two feet long. The femalesparrow suddenly appears, looks at mesideways, and begins preening. Sheseems to know exactly what I am pro-posing and is visibly nervous about it. Ipoke around carefully with my “neststick” (used to probe and search vege-tation from a few feet away), and…yes! It’s a nest with three perfect eggs. Iquickly record the information in myfield notebook and retreat, covering my

tracks and leaving false trails to con-fuse predators interested in a meal.(Predation is, after all, the most com-mon cause of failure here.) I tie a pieceof flagging 10 meters and 320 degreesaway to mark the nest. Every two tothree days I will check this nest tomonitor its progress, hoping to bandthe nestlings and watch them fledge.

The crowd cheers and lifts me, theWalter Mitty of field biologists, up onto their shoulders... that’s how greatyou feel when you find a songbird’snest in the marsh.

Well, my friends, the sun is nowblazing down and the tide quickly ris-ing, forcing us to beat a hasty retreatand call it a day in the field.

Julian Wood is a staff biologist in PRBO’sPopulation Ecology Program.

At Black John Slough, the self-described Walter Mitty offield biologists, Julian Wood, loses his cool (exhibitedabove) when probing the gumplant (inset, left) todiscover a Tidal Marsh Song Sparrow’s nest.

PRBO’s Tidal Marsh Bird Project aims to better understand the conservation biology of bird species that are dependent upon tidally-influenced saline marshes in the San Francisco Estuary.This critical habitat—for birds and other wildlife—has been degraded and reducedin extent by 80% or more in the Bay, as a result of human activities in the past century and a half. Our tidal marsh work (a major compo-nent of PRBO’s San Francisco Bay Habitat Project) includes the study of birds’ reproductive success, especially Song Sparrows, CommonYellowthroats, and Black Rails—all California threatened or species of special concern. By determining whether their populations are self-sustaining and identifying factors that increase or decrease their reproductive success—e.g., are nests nearer to the marsh edge more sus-ceptible to predation than those in the interior? (see page 11 of this Observer)—PRBO will be able to guide conservation and managementpractices for San Francisco Bay shore habitats.—Nadav Nur, Ph.D., PRBO Population Ecology Director

photos by Todd Eggert (inset) and Julian Wood

Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001 Page 5

It’s the early-morning commutehour, and I am on my way to work.My commute takes only about ten

minutes, and although I don’t have todeal with traffic on the freeway, I haveto run the “gull gauntlet,” dodging thedive-bombing Western Gulls that areprotecting their eggs and chicks. By thetime I arrive at the Murre Blind, I’vebeen hit three times in the head and myjacket sports a new brown patch ofgull food that passed quickly throughthe excited bird’s digestive system.

This is going to be a grand day, Ican already tell. The weather is clear,sunny, and windy, so I am armed withseveral extra layers of clothes and athermos of hot coffee. I arrive at theblind where I spend between two andeight hours every day. Prbo has stud-ied Common Murre chick diet andproductivity for more than 30 years onthe Farallon Islands. Learning whatchicks eat and how many young eachbreeding pair raises per year gives us abetter understanding of oceanecosystem dynamics and theeffects on seabird populationsin central California.

I open the blind’s windowand am instantly transportedinto the wonderful world ofmurres: 10,000 small black-and-white birds below me,leading murre lives—of which we canonly catch a small glimpse by studyingthem in their colonies. Above the howlof the wind, I hear the familiar murrecacophony... as if an opera singer witha cold were gargling salt water.

I raise my binocu-lars and focus on oneparticular murre thathas been incubating anegg for about 30 daysand may have a newlyhatched chick. Thoughmy nose is running, myeyes watering, and myhands starting to crampup, I continue to stareat this bird, becauseMurphy’s Law ofMurres says that assoon as I look away itwill stand up for thesplit second I need toconfirm that it has a chick. It takes me30 minutes to see under this one bird,but when I do, I catch a quick glimpseof a small gray fuzzball and I quietlysay a little cheer.

As I record this in my data bookand pour myself a cup of hot coffee, Ispot a murre flying in with a fish in its

bill. Before it quickly dis-appears into the mouth ofa hungry chick, I look atthe fish with my binocu-lars and identify it as arockfish. This is the firstyear in a decade that wehave recorded so manyrockfish, which, prior to

1989, made up most of the chick dietof Common Murres, RhinocerosAuklets, and Pigeon Guillemots.Beginning in the early 1990s, the over-all chick diet changed: rockfish becamea very small percentage, replaced by

anchovies, sardines, smelt, salmon, andother species.

At this point it is still too early tooffer a concrete explanation for thissudden abundance of rockfish in thediet of murres, but in combination withoceanographic data such as sea-surfacetemperatures, upwelling indices, andocean juvenile rockfish abundance, wehope to have a more definite answer inthe near future.

As I hike down from the MurreBlind later on that day, I pause for amoment and look out to sea. Althoughwe will never fully understand thecomplexities of the ocean, by studyingseabirds we at least have one morepiece to contribute to the enormouspuzzle. With this thought in mind, Ibegin my adventurous commute backhome.

Kyra Mills is the lead PRBO Farallon biologist inour Marine Sciences Program.

Farallon biologist Kyra Mills, wearing her summer work outfit,spends up to eight hours a day inside the Murre Blind (left)observing the murre and cormorant colonies below.

PRBO's climate science research includes assessing how interannual (between-year) and lower-frequency (between decades) changesin ocean conditions affect seabird and marine mammal populations on the Farallon Islands and elsewhere in the California Current. Recent-ly we have witnessed a major shift in the Gulf of the Farallones marine ecosystem: starting in late 1998–early 1999, the ocean became muchcolder than it had been for at least 25 years! Intense upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters and a strengthening of the California Current(the dominant spring/summer current off the Caifornia coast) undoubtedly contributed to this remarkable change. Seabirds of the FarallonIslands reproduced exceptionally well in 1999 and 2000, and in 2001 we see additional evidence of this shift—in dramatic increases in num-bers of breeding Brandt's Cormorants and Common Murres on the island. Also after three years of favorable oceanographic conditions,juvenile rockfish are being produced in sufficient numbers for seabirds to target them as prey. Establishing the links among environmentalconditions, prey populations, and predator populations is key to understanding how climate change (natural or driven by human-inducedglobal warming) will influence birds and their ecosystems.Time lags involved are often substantial, so we will continue to monitor Farallonspecies to deepen our understanding of their population dynamics.—Bill Sydeman, Ph.D., Director of PRBO Marine Sciences

I open the window and am instantly transported into the wonderful world of murres.

▼ Documenting a year of rockfish abundance at the Farallones

Vantage on a Seabird Colony

Page 6 Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001

Rich Stallcup

Each summer and fall, manythousands of large, colonial sea-birds immigrate from insular nest-

ing sites in Mexico to the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the California Pacific toforage. Three bird species are involved:Brown Pelican, Heermann’s Gull, andElegant Tern—“the three amigos.”

While they may not actually befriends, they do have a lot in common.Most individuals that we see useislands inside the Sea of Cortez fornesting. The bulk of the world popula-tion of Heermann’s Gulls, and manyElegant Terns, nest on Isla Raza off-shore of Hermosillo, Sonora. There arepelican and tern colonies in southernCalifornia, as well, and Heermann’sGulls have recently tried to colonizeMonterey and San Mateo Counties,producing eight young at Robert’sLake, Monterey County, in 2000.

Heermann’s Gulls derive much oftheir forage by picking up scraps fromplunge-diving pelicans. They grab sar-dines or anchovies that spill from thepelican’s bill, as well as “floaters”—fishstunned by the concussion of the peli-

can’s dive. Elegant Terns plunge-dive(like Brown Pelicans but more daintily)and catch their own fish, one at a time.All three species often participate innearshore “feeding frenzies” whensmall schooling fish come to the sur-face or are forced upward by biggerfish below them.

The pelicans and gulls come northtogether, beginning with mostly sub-adults and adults in May followed byjuveniles by late June. Elegant Ternsbegin to appear in late August and arevirtually gone by mid-October: back toMexico.

In recent years, all three specieshave been abundant along theCalifornia coast in September. Theirnorthward progression depends uponthe season’s incursion of warm water,which carries with it the obligateschooling fish and many other com-padres, such as pinnipeds and whitesharks. When El Niño surges up thecoast of North America, so do thethree amigos—to Oregon, Washington,and even southern British Columbia.During one of the major Niños in the

early 1980s, we found Elegants atVancouver during a birding tour; theywere the first ever for Canada.

It wasn’t always this way. ElegantTerns were absent from Californiabefore the 1960s (they have been expand-ing their range), and Brown Pelicanswere very close to extinction in the1950s and ’60s due to toxins in themarine food chain—pesticides used oncrops that were rain-washed into the sea.

In the mid-1960s, we sometimessat on beaches or cliffs watching north-bound “pellies” in the sunset. Within afew short years, people noticed fewerand fewer young birds in the flocks,and flocks that were drastically smallerand scarcer. Birders and activists raiseda hue and cry, playing a pivotal role inthe consequent banning of ddt and itschemical relatives.

Now, in the early 2000s, thingsseem to be going well for the threeamigos, but we must be ever vigilant toensure these marine birds safe passageover the waters between northernCalifornia and Mexico.

Photos by Rich Stallcup (left and right) and Peter LaTourette (center)

F O C U SThe Three Amigos

5 7

WANTED in the California Current marineecosystem: Heermann’s Gull (left), ElegantTern (above), and Brown Pelican (right).

Farallon Patrol Log

Through winter storms, springwinds, and the seabird breedingseason, the volunteer skippers of

the Farallon Patrol have transportedprbo personnel and supplies to ourfield station on Southeast FarallonIsland. Their expert support is vital toour Farallon research: thanks!

Jan 20 Burt McChesney La Storia

Feb 3 Doug Engelke Its a Wonderful Life

Feb 17 Al DiVittorio Solbritt

Mar 3 Alex Pop-Lazic Tamo Daleko

Mar 24 Fred Babian Temerity

Apr 3 Peter Ross Kidaly

Apr 15 Ed Kelly Desperado

Apr 28 John Gratton Nakia

May 13 Tom Charkins Kumbaya

May 26 Burt McChesney La Storia

June 9 Al DiVitorrio Solbritt

June 23 Greg Stach Lebenstraum

July 7 Dale Head Magic

Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001 Page 7

A new position at PRBO fits the per-son who fills it to perfection. SinceMarch 2001, Ann Chrisney has beenthe coordinator of the CaliforniaRiparian Habitat Joint Venture(RHJV). Nine of the RHJV partnersfund the position through PRBO. Annbrings talents that will doubtlessenhance—and also enlarge—the job!To get acquainted with our new col-league and her new role, the Observerrecently spoke with Ann Chrisney.—Editor

Observer: To start with, along withextending prbo’s warmest welcome toyou, Ann, tell us a bit about the pur-pose and make-up of the rhjv.

Ann Chrisney: It formed back in 1994as a component of Partners in Flight,and as the first-ever habitat-based jointventure—addressing the critical habitatfor neotropical migratory bird popula-tions in this state. All the key institu-tions in California belong to the rhjv,from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand California Department of Fish andGame to prbo, The Nature Conserv-ancy and Ducks Unlimited. The inter-ests of the rhjv finger into the realmsof the other joint ventures, which mayhave formed for waterfowl or a particu-lar geographic region. Because they arenow adopting an “all-bird” approach,we can clearly help. The rhjv couldultimately expand to include other birdhabitats, but first things first—imple-menting the rhjv strategy.

Observer: What will that look like? Isthere already a strategy in place?

Ann: Essentially, the strategy consists ofthe recommendations contained in theRiparian Bird Conservation Plan,developed under the strong leadershipof prbo.1 The implementation phasewill stem from this and includes gather-ing much more data about the state’sremaining riparian habitat and its con-dition. Nobody knows exactly howmuch is left, or where! We can use this

information to help priori-tize on-the-ground projectsand also to measure thePlan’s effectiveness, as car-ried out by land ownersand agencies.

Over the first year, Iwill be developing work-shops in each of California’sten bioregions. We want tolink up with many differentgroups and local interests toquilt together a statewideapproach to conservationand build collaborativework communities in eachbioregion to help meet ourmission. In addition, I willbe developing a relationaldatabase to track all theprojects, partners and fund-ing sources, as well as a gis2

layer for riparian habitat in the state.

Observer: This would seem the waytoward true effectiveness for the rhjv—but a rather large job for one person!

Ann: That’s right, but I’m very excitedabout the prospects. Prbo staff havebeen tremendously helpful—Geoff Geu-pel (Director of Terrestrial Research)and his entire team, (Executive Direc-tor) Ellie Cohen, of course, and espe-cially Gregg Elliott (prbo Policy Coor-dinator), with whom I work very close-ly—we’re based together in Sacramen-to. I’m so proud to be on the staff ofprbo. This is very dynamic organiza-tion, and I feel strongly aligned with itscore values. I am very pleased to beworking for the rhjv ManagementBoard (consisting of representativesfrom all 18 partner organizations),which is a very high caliber team andhas been very supportive of me.

I also love working with lots of dif-ferent people, to link up all their inter-ests and facilitate the necessary collabo-rations to meet our common goals. I’m

a big-picture person, but I also amgood at specific details. This job hasjust what I want: an opportunity tocontribute to the conservation ofCalifornia’s precious natural resourcesand to use my creativity and technicalskills to their full potential.

Observer: And you migrated to PRBOfrom...?

Ann: From 15 years in the federal gov-ernment, most recently the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service where I was awildlife biologist working on forestecosystem and Central Valley issues inCalifornia. I continue to live on thebanks of the American River, just out-side Sacramento, with my husbandPeter Stine, who’s a landscape ecologistand the Sierra Nevada science teamleader for the U.S. Forest Service, andour nine-year-old son Gavin, whosemany interests include the native frogsin our backyard!

Observer: Ann, it sounds like you andprbo and the rhjv all have very excit-ing prospects together.

Ann: I look forward to being part of theprbo work community and growing therhjv program to its full potential.

“Quilting together a statewide approach to conservation...”Staff Migrations

Meet Ann Chrisney

photo by Claire Peaslee

2 Geographic Information Systems, explained inObserver 122, Fall 2000, and further exemplifiedin this issue on page 10.1 See PRBO’s website at www.prbo.org.

Ann Chrisney (center), attending a PRBO landbirdmonitoring workshop, learns about aging a Purple Finch fromstaff biologist Peter Pyle.

Page 8 Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001

People meet birds and support conservation through science.

▼ Thanking our volunteers & your invitation to Bird-A-Thon

Becoming Involved at PRBO

Characteristics: Flycatcher, 16–18 cm. Entirely black aboveand on throat, breast and flanks. Rest of underparts white.Eyes, bill, legs and feet black.Distribution: Resident (non-migratory) from south-

western U.S. to northern Argentina.Habitat: Riparian areas, ponds and marshes;shaded, brushy canyons, farmlands, urban andsuburban areas. Prefers to nest near water.

Feeding: Almost exclusively on insects, occasionallysmall fish and berries. Often feeds just above watersurface. In winter, gleans insects from the ground.

Song: A four-syllable song, a rising pee-wee followed by a descending pee-wee. Call is aconstantly repeated loud tsee, and a sharper tsip accompanied by a flick of the tail while thebird is perching. ■ Life Span: 8 yearsBehavior Notes: Usually seen in the open “flycatching” for insects.Typical of phoebes, bobstail while perched. Builds a cup-shaped nest made of mud pellets, grasses, plant fibers andhair and lined with grasses hair and bark.The nest is usually stuck to a rough vertical surfaceof a building, canyon wall, or under a bridge. Females incubate their eggs; both sexes tend toyoung and feed them by regurgitating pellets. —Melissa Pitkin, Education Coordinator

bird bio BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)PRBO BIRD-A-THON 2001Join us for a great day of birdingthat supports research, conserva-tion and education. Participantswho enlist the ten highest pledgetotals will have the chance to birdwith Rich Stallcup (which meansyou’ll see more than 100 differentspecies). Help us to surpass lastyear’s Bird-A-Thon record of$104,000!

For more information, contactMatt Leffert at (415) 868-1221,ext. 10, or e-mail us at bir-dathon@prbo.org.Also see ourwebsite—www.prbo.org.

Please Mark Your Calendar!

Bird-A-Thon 2001 kicks-offSeptember 15, 2001

Landbird Area Searches—East Bay: CindyBossi, Marianne Constable, Lewis Cooper, DeniseDefreese, Pam Drake, Peter Dramer, JudithDunham, Anthony Fisher, Lillian Fujii and SteveHayashi Dorothy Gregor, Susan Hampton, AnneHoff, Mark Lamoureaux, Kay Loughman,Martha Lowe, Melanie Lutz, Bruce Mast, SaraMathews, Jocelyn McFaul, Jill McIntire and PatKline, Marty Morrow, Sue Moyles, CollinMurphy, Marilyn Nasitir, Charlotte Nolan, KathyRobertson, Karen Rosenbaum and BenMcClinton, Karen Peterson, Dolores Siegenthaler,Sylvia Sykora, Inge Svoboda, Larry Tunstall, LisaViani. Putah Creek: John Wagonitz. Sea Ranch:Judy Butts, Ken Holmes, Rae Hudspeth, RichKuehn, Dean Schuler, Evelyn Wadsworth. LakeAlmanor: S. McDonald, M. Smith, Wilma Taddei,M. Taddei. East Park Reservoir: Brian Williams. Central Coast Project—Gary Allen, JimBanks, Helen Banks, Eli Bernstein, Laura Carter,Walter Cocking, Maya Conrad, Barbara Costa,Toni Danzig, Jim Davis, Kevin DiNoto, JudyDonaldson, David Ekdahl, Julie Engell, RobFowler, Winifred Frick, Garth Harwood, MaryBeth Manning, Peter Metropulos, Carol Miller,David Powell, Karen Ritchie, Nicole Salgado,Patty Scollan, Robin Smith, Judy Spitler, DaveWerner, Linda Willis.Eastern Sierra Riparian Project—Joel Ellis,Bob Toth, Barbara Toth, Bob Hudson, Jim Parker,Debbie Parker, Jeannie Sassin, Dave MarquartPalomarin Banding—Anastasia BlahaErath,

Regan Brooks, Christopher Haugh, LuannaHelfman, James Langan, Jill Marten, LindaO’Connell, Mike Parmeter, Kathryn Poetter,Andrew Rush, Walter Sakai, Cyndy Shafer, WillWade.San Clemente Island Shrike Project—PaulAigner, Allison Alvarado, Tim Anderson, DeenaArnold, Fred Beaudry, Deborah Bieber, AshleighBlackford, Kelly Brock, John Brollini, DonBrukaker, Kathleen Brubaker, Chris Burney, LarryButcher, Heather Carlisle, Kevin Clark, TammyConkle, Dan Cooper, Doug Cooper, ChristinaCouroux, Jonathan Dunn, Bridget Fahey,Catherine Fields, Mike Gellerman, Ian Gillespie,David Gutoff, Amy Hammond, Robb Hirsch,Todd Hunter, Michelle Johnson, Ian Kaplan,Suellen Lynn, Tracey Mader, Bill Markle, PhilipMarkle, John Martin, Robert McMorran, MelissaMersey, Karly Moore, Tawna Morgan, Eric Mruz,Chris Mullen, Ted Mullen, Tom Mulroy, NicoleMunkwitz, Chris Murphy, Samantha Musgrave,Bill Ostheimer, Bruno Peeters, Jon Plissner, IngriQuon, Dan Rabosky, Ryan Rumelhart, GarySantolo, Tara Schoenwetter, Tom Scott, Les Stone,Diana Stralberg, Eric Stromberg, Jennifer Turner,Mark Van Scoy, Sandy Vissman, Dustin Volmuth,Nils Warnock, Mike Wellik, Adrian Wolf, CabotWolford, Tracy Wurth, Julie Yamamoto, JamesZimmer.Snowy Plover Project—Jean Adams, Barbara& Wade Akle, Joy Alberson, Chuck & LillianAlmdale, Mary Ann & Jerry Ambrose, TomApplegate, Danielle Beaharnois, Marj Bourret,

Ron Branson, Christine Collier, Dan Cordova,Mike & Lynne Cropper, Virginia DeWolfe, JackDineen, Dave Dixon, Tom Edell, Brian & KarenFitch, Brian Foster, Harry Fuller, Kimball Garrett,Marilyn Green, Robert Hansen, Fred Hanson, Sid& Jay Harrison, Cynthia Hartley, Mitch &Kathleen Heindel, Bambi & Bill Hopkins, LisaHug, Peter Knapp, Marianne Kjobmand, KevinLafferty, Dave Lauten, David Lawrence, JayneLesley, Ron LeValley, Jan Lewison, Nelle Lyons,Meg Marriott, Sean McAllister, Lucille McKenzie,Tom Miko, Neil Multack, Tom Murphey,Christopher Obaditch, Paula Odor, Linda O’Neil,Regina Orr, Carol Paquette, Liz Patrick, RobertPatton, Phil Persons, Lu Plauzoles, Mary Prismon,David Pryor, Jan Roletto, Wally Ross, BarbaraScharfenstein, Nancy Schultz, Michelle Scott,Victoria Seidman, Grace Smith, Reed Smith,Susan Smith, Rico Tinsman, Jill Tirp, DorothyTobkin, Barbara Vanderwerf, Brian Weed, WalterWehtje, Irwin Woldman.Farallon Patrol—Mike Alfred, Fred Babian,Seth Bailey, Tom Baty, David Benjamin, RickBoyce, Tom Camp, Lou Campbell, Tom Charkins,Tom Charron, Oscar Cook, Henry Corning, PaulDines, Al DiVittorio, Doug Engelke, Bill English,Bill Foss, Bill Fraser, John Gratton (Farallon PatrolChief), Frank Hall, Dale Head, Dick Honey, EdKelly, Burt McChesney, Rod McInnis, MickMeningoz, Alex Pop-Lazic, Jim and Petra Reed,Peter Ross, Greg Stach, Peter Schultz, RichardSponholz.Library—Janet Wessel

2000 VolunteersA key to PRBO’s success are the many skilled, dedicated volunteers who receive training and assistin our projects. Here we thank all those who were active during the calendar year 2000. In case ofoversight or error, our apologies; please contact Matt Leffert at (415) 868-1221, ext. 10.

Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001 Page 9

Ann Stone, with typical conci-sion, says she put prbo in herwill “because I felt I had to.”

Urged to elaborate she adds: “I was onthe board at the time, and one of ourmajor goals was establishing anendowment fund to give prbo somefinancial security. If we were going toask others to remember prbo in theirestates, we needed to sign up first.”

Encouraging others to supportprbo is not new to Ann. The plain-speaking, former board president talksof prbo’s difficulty, years ago, appeal-ing to a number of traditional fundingsources. Prbo was doing field researchin the 1960s, when very few under-stoon the need, Ann recalls.

With the public growing more sen-sitive to environmental threats, shefeels, “Now, prbo is at the right placeat the right time.” She adds that thegrowth of the environmental move-ment, along with increased awareness

Bay Nature Website The new naturalhistory magazine for the San Francisco BayArea, Bay Nature, has launched an excellentwebsite worth visiting: www.baynature.com.

Photo Puzzler The South Farallon Islandphoto in our 2000 annual report wasaccidentlly reversed NW to SE! Two expertreaders reported the strange geography—Dr. Howard Cogswell and former Farallonbiologist Bob Boekelheide.

that changes in birdpopulations can signalserious ecologicalproblems, has madefoundations far moreresponsive. She hopesthat a rising publicunderstanding of howvital prbo’s work iswill cause individualswho are environmen-tally-minded to becomebequest-minded, aswell.

Ann disclaims anyelaborate theory on therewards of birdwatch-ing, much less on whypeople should put prboin their estate plan. “I got into bird-watching because I liked it,” she says.“Then I learned the importance of fieldresearch. Later I made my bequest.”

Widely traveled, with a curiosityand love for birds, Ann recalls her first

birding trip tosoutheasternArizona—withprbo, years ago—saying, with feeling,“That trip was veryimportant.”

Prbo research,conservation, andpublic outreachhold importance forincreasing numbersof our valuedfriends and sup-porters. Prbo ishonored to haveAnn Stone as amember of its TernSociety.

For information on the Legacy Circle,bequests, and charitable trusts, pleasecall Ellie M. Cohen at (415) 868-1221extension 18.

Grand ListThe Grand List highlights some prbo priority projects that are in need of funds. If you can help in any way to supportthese projects, please contact Ellie M. Cohen at (415) 868-1221, extension 18. Thanks!

❥ Effects of Converting Salt Ponds to Tidal Marsh: Funds a computer-based model to assist San Francisco Bay habitat man-agers evaluate different restoration alternatives to support the greatest diversity and abundance of birds. Cost: $30,000

❥ Farallon Island Conservation Interns: Funds six graduate level biologists for three months each to assist in prbo’s researchon seabirds, marine mammals, and the white shark. Cost: $15,000 or $3,000 each

❥ Songbirds and Vineyards: Seed money to initiate a new project evaluating how vintners can develop bird-friendly prac-tices. Cost: $10,000

❥ Palomarin Visitor Center Renovation: Construction has begun but we are still $28,000 or 15% short of the goal. Namingopportunities for gifts of $2,500 or more are still available. All gifts are welcome.

Ann Stone, birding to the far north.

“Now, prbo is at the right place at the right time.”

▼ Ann Stone lets bequest to PRBO speak for itself

Eloquent Legacy

Please Save this Date

♦ October 15, 2001♦ OSHER SYMPOSIUM♦ 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Golden Club

at the Presidio in San Francisco♦ Recognizing the Bernard Osher

Foundation for its support of prbo’sinternship program. Special guestspeaker Joelle Buffa, FarallonesRefuge Manager & Chief Biologist,U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Partners in Flight Workshop 2002

♦ The third international pif conferenceand workshop ♦ On implementationof landbird conservation using BirdConservation Plans.

♦ March 20–24, 2002, at AsilomarCenter near Monterey, California.

See www.prbo.org/pif/npif2002.html.Contact Sandy Scoggin at (415) 868-1221, ext. 16; sscoggin@prbo.org orTerry Rich at terry_rich@r1.fws.gov

Page 10 Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001

Diana Stralberg

Tidal marshes on SanFrancisco Bay exist in avery different landscape

context today than that ofeven 150 years ago. Reducedto 15% of their historicextent, marshes that remainare often reduced in size andisolated from others. Manyare also surrounded by urbandevelopment or agriculture—a dramatic change in themarsh-upland ecotone (transi-tion). Now that a number ofrestoration projects are work-ing to increase the amount ofmarsh habitat in the SanFrancisco Estuary, the greatestthreats to tidal marsh speciesmay be related to changes insurrounding uplands. Landsbordering marshes may beexposed to urban runoff, con-taminants, invasive plants,and introduced predators.

Prbo has been studying songbirdsand rails in marshes throughout theSan Francisco Estuary since 1996, inour Tidal Marsh Project. We collectdata on species’ habitat preferences andpopulation status that will informrestoration and management activities.In 2000, we added a landscape ecologyfocus. Integrating regional GeographicInformation System (gis) data withfield-collected bird and vegetationdata, we can test certain restorationrecommendations.1 For example,should large areas of interconnectedtidal marsh be maintained, and theinterface between marsh and urbanupland be minimized? These princi-ples, while well accepted tenets of con-servation biology and reserve design,have not yet been tested in SanFrancisco Bay tidal marsh—an inher-ently fragmented system with manyunique qualities.

Using simple gis tools, each marshand each point sampled within a marshcan be characterized in terms of sur-rounding landscape pattern and compo-sition at multiple scales. For each surveypoint, we calculated the proximity tovarious types of upland edges and quan-tified the composition of the surround-

ing landscape within circles ofincreasing size (Figure 1). Wealso calculated various metricsof size, shape and isolation foreach tidal marsh surveyed.

Recognizing that land-scape pattern and composi-tion are interrelated withmarsh vegetation, we com-pared the relative influence ofmarsh vegetation and land-scape factors for each of threespecies examined (SongSparrow, Saltmarsh CommonYellowthroat and MarshWren). Results vary by species(Figure 2), but in each caselandscape factors explain sig-nificant additional variationabove and beyond what canbe explained by differences invegetation features alone. Allthree species responded posi-tively to the proportion oftidal marsh remaining withinthe surrounding landscape (atseveral scales), and the Song

Sparrow showed an additional negativeresponse to the proportion of urbaniza-tion. These findings suggest that land-scape characteristics may be highlyimportant to tidal marsh birds andshould be considered in the conserva-tion and restoration of marsh lands.

In addition to continuing work onthese analyses, we are beginning tolook at the influence of the surround-ing landscape on shorebirds and water-fowl that use salt ponds and tidal flatsin the San Francisco Estuary. We planto further explore the wetland-uplandinterface by monitoring birds thatmove between tidal marsh and ripari-an habitats. Details on methods andresults to date can be found on the webat www.prbo.org/tm/landscape.html.

The Gabilan Fund and Crocker Trusthave provided financial support forthis project.

Diana Stralberg, PRBO’s GIS specialist, is partof the Population Ecology Program and assists in avariety of research projects.

Findings: scientific questions, methods, results.

▼ Quantifying the urban-wildland interface in San Francisco Bay

Landscape Effects on Tidal Marsh Birds

graphs prbo files

Figure 1: Sample Calculation of Landscape Metrics for Benicia StatePark (Photo: USGS 1993). Landscape composition for center point wascalculated based on concentric circles shown. Distance from point tourban edge indicated with dashed red line.

1 We are examining various recommendationscontained in the Baylands Ecosystem HabitatGoals Report, 1999.

0.70

0.60

0.50

0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0.00Song

SparrowCommon

YellowthroatMarshWren

Landscape only

Landscape orVegetation

Vegetationonly

Figure 2: Model explanatory power for distri-bution or abundance of three species, compar-ing vegetation and landscape factors on ascale of 1 to 10.

Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Summer 2001 Page 11

MembershipsOur thanks to the following new memberswho have joined prbo (January–15 June 2001):

Jim Alford, David Saxe Ambuster & Judy Kahn,Elaine Anderson & Peter Thorne, Dr. Wylie C.Barrow, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce D. Bajema Jr., DavidBeaudette, Stewart Bolinger, John Borg, LyndaBrothers, Leslie Browne, Maryann Danielson,Donald R. Dann, Denise M. Defreese, L.B. &Connie Fodor, Mr. & Mrs. William Fontana,Rick Fournier, David Froba, ElizabethGarsonnin, Holly Goodale, David Greenwood &Mary Doyle, George Griffeth, MeredithHamilton, Jeff Hill, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hirt,Patrick Laherty, Joan Lamphier, JaneMatthewman & Kevin Barrett, Lydia Mendoza,Margery & Iain Nicolson, Sally Peck, Paul J.Revier, Deanna Scoggin Torra, Mr. & Mrs.Robert Shaw, Sheila Byrne Sousa, Lucile Taber,Stephen Walker, K.C. Wylie.

ContributionsWe are grateful to the following contri-butors of gifts of $250 or more (January–15 June 2001):

Gayle A. Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Avenali,Mr. & Mrs. Gerson Bakar, Janice D. Barry,M.D., Thomas C. Benet, Robert Boehm, LindaBrownrigg, Roy Churchwell, Mary Ann Cobb &Peter Wilson, Dr. Howard Cogswell, Dr. Jean W.Cohn, Preston & Donna Cook, Thomas R.Davis & Ellyn Bush, Phyllis & William Draper,Sharon B. Duvall, Joelle Fournier, Mr. & Mrs.Robert Friend, Alexander Gaguine, Fred Grafton,Richard Grand Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. ScottHein, Doris B. Hughes, Dorothy B. Hunt, RobertE. Hunter, Jr., Sue Johnson, Sarah Jones, NancyKittle, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Knox, Philip A.Lathrap, Anadel Law, Ginny Loeb, ParkLoughlin, Charles & Mimi Lowrey, Mr. & Mrs.Robert L. Mayer, Kate Merriman, Dr. & Mrs.Benjamin D. Parmeter, Dr. & Mrs. OliverPearson, Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Petz, Helen Pratt,Mr. & Mrs. Willis J. Price, Mr. & Mrs. RobertK. Rains, Mr. & Mrs. John Rathkey, Mrs. ElliottSnyder, Dr. & Mrs. Stuart Stephens, LangdonStevenson, Marilyn M. Strand, AdolphSuehsdorf, Peter J. Watkins, Mrs. RobertWeinstock, David Whitridge.

In-Kind DonationsWe are grateful to the following individualsfor recent donations to prbo:

For our annual meeting silent auction: Bill Fossfor a San Francisco Bay boating trip; Solipaso ofAlamos, Mexico, for a week-long birdingexcursion. And: Anna Hamilton for a tripod;Anthony Hill for books for Palomarin FieldStation; Maria Kaymen for a Compaq Presariokeyboard; Jack & Adrienne Ladd for lunch forthe Stanford Alumni Consulting team; BuckyMace for a large framed map for our WetlandsProgram; Terri & Caleb Miller for a coffee-maker; Ben Saenz for a computer hard drive.

Gifts HonoringPrbo is grateful for the following memorialgifts (January– 15 June 2001):

In memory of John Carson: AmericanProviders, Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Byers, Mr. & Mrs.Alexander J. Glass, John L. Lineweaver, ElizabethOrtega.

In memory of David Johnson: Anonymous.

In memory of Doug Ellis: Dr. & Mrs.Benjamin D. Parmeter.

In memory of Lyman Lacy: Mr. & Mrs.William Hosken, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Buckley,Sally D. Durrie, Mary Franck, Theo DappSamuels, Mr. & Mrs. Edovard C. Thys, Mr. &Mrs. H. S. Briggin, George Hall, Mr. & Mrs.Gordon Jack, Mr. & Mrs. Dean G. Jacobs, LusiaW. Ries, Thomas C. Benet, Marilyn Cooper,Daniel G. Volkmann Jr., Shirley Cahill, Mr. &Mrs. R. James Diepenbrock, Jean Harrold.

In memory of John Ladd: Stephen & BrittThal.

In memory of Martha Wolfskill: Friends atChampion Expo.

Wish ListPrbo seeks donations of equipment includingthe following. For more information, pleasecall Melissa Frakes at (415) 868-1221, ext. 11.

Satellite internet access! office needs: picnictables & benches; desks & office chairs;bookcases; radiant heaters; 250-mb Iomega Zipdrives; laser printer; flatbed scanner; laptopcomputers (minimum 500 mhz with 128 mbram); teleconference phone units; fireproof four-drawer file cabinets. for data collection: two-way radios, at least two-mile range; 10-12'stepladders; barometer; MrSID ImageCompression Software; differential GPS unit; roll-up digitizing tablet. For Field Stations: 8' sofas& living room chairs; refrigerator; stove; kitchentables & chairs; toaster ovens, coffeemakers, etc.;twin beds & sheets; dressers; 8x10' or largerstorage shed.

PRBO Field BiologistsJanuary–June, 2001: Rafael Pesantes Aguirre,Kenda Anderson, Dan Barton, Jill Bluso, PaolaBouley, Andrew Campomizzi, Sean Casto, RoyChurchwell, Capucine Deltour, David Dixon,Anthony Dotolo, Jennifer Durbin, Robert ToddEggert, Pete Erwin, Sharon Farrell, Dale Fiess,David Figueroa, Michael Freiberg, David Gardner,Matt Genova, Pierre Geoffrey, Eric Grant, ManuelGrosselet, Noah Hamm, Jill Harley, Robert Haupt,Michael Hayden, Jodi Hilty, Robin Hirsch-Jacobson, Rickey Holt, Russell Japuntich, ElseJensen, Eric Holt, Kim Hruska, Mary Huang,Andrew Jobes, Dennis Jongsomjit, Heidi Kirk,Quresh Latiff, Kirsten Lindquist, Yen Luc, ChrisMcCreedy, Anthony McGuire, Michael Palladini,Catherine Peterlein, Peter Pintz, Mark Pollock, AlexPort, Mike Prather, Mai Yasue, Sue Prentice, TrinaSchneider, Geoff Schwilk, Jennifer Wang, MissyWipf, Eliza Woo, Nolan Zeide, Douglas

Institutional Giving

We deeply appreciate the cor-porate and foundation grantsthat support prbo’s increas-

ingly successful conservation-through-science efforts. For gifts over the past sixmonths, special thanks to:The David and Lucile Packard Founda-tion made a significant grant to expandour flagship project, “Adaptive Conser-vation Planning for Birds and Habitat inthe West” (also see page 2).National Fish and Wildlife Foundationcontributed matching funds in supportof prbo’s research and conservationpartnerships for our California CurrentMarine Protected Areas, Great BasinShrubsteppe (sagebrush) Conservation,and Inland Breeding Seabird projects. The Bernard A. Osher Foundationrenewed support for our internationallyacclaimed Conservation Intern Program,in which more than 500 interns havereceived training in bird and ecosystemconservation biology.The Elinor Patterson Baker Trust gavegenerous support for prbo’s work—onthe Farallon Islands and at sea—onmarine wildlife and the complex ecosys-tems they depend upon.The Mary A. Crocker Trust made amajor gift in support of prbo’s popula-tion ecology studies and gis project toguide major restoration efforts on SanFrancisco Bay (see page 10).We greatly appreciate funding recentlyreceived for our Great Basin Shrub-steppe conservation studies from theBullitt Foundation, as well as supportfor critical capital projects from theBothin Foundation. Foundations andcorporations that have generously sup-ported prbo year to date also include:lvmh, Richard and Rhoda GoldmanFund, Rose Foundation (through TheBay Institute and Center for Ecolitera-cy), padi Foundation, Pentax Corpora-tion, Fair Isaac Fund (Marin Communi-ty Foundation), March Foundation, Pro-ject Aware Foundation and Shark Trust.Many thanks.

As always, PRBO is deeply grateful toAudubon Canyon Ranch, Point Reyes

National Seashore, and the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service for providing facilities and

field stations where we work.

CONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE

Board of DirectorsWilliam S. Foss, ChairmanBenjamin D. Parmeter, MD,

Vice-Chair Langdon R. Stevenson,

Secretary F. Rigdon Currie, TreasurerJack W. Ladd, Immediate

Past ChairEllen BlusteinArden Bucklin-Sporer Preston CookChristina DesserTotton P. Heffelfinger John H. Jacobs Stuart Jacobson Robin L.C. Leong A. Ewan Macdonald Thomas E. Martin, PhD Harold C. Nathan, PhD James F. Quinn, PhD Thomas B. Smith, PhD Stephen A. Thal

Executive DirectorEllie M. CohenMarine SciencesWilliam J. Sydeman, PhD,

DirectorChristine AbrahamAdam BrownNatalia CollierMeredith ElliottMichelle HesterDavid Hyrenbach, PhDKyra Mills Jerry Nusbaum Cornelia OedecovenPeter Pyle Mark RauzonDan Robinette Jennifer Roth Ben SaenzJulie ThayerPeter WarzybokPopulation EcologyNadav Nur, PhD,

DirectorHildie SpautzDiana StralbergJulian WoodTerrestrial ResearchGeoffrey R. Geupel

DirectorGrant BallardRyan BurnettMary Chase, PhDJim DeStaeblerKatie FehringMoe FlanneryTom GardaliJoanne GilchristJeanne HammondSacha HeathAaron HolmesDiana HumpleCody Martz

Sandy ScogginStacy SmallViola TonioloJennifer WhiteWetlands ResearchGary W. Page, Co-DirectorNils Warnock, PhD,

Co-DirectorSue AbbottMichael EstabrookCarleton Eyster Diony GamosaDoug GeorgeRyan GillSue GuersCatherine Hickey Kriss Neumann Chris RintoulMiko Ruhlen Eric (Zed) RuhlenW. David ShufordLynne E. StenzelBrett WalkerSan Clemente Island:

John Plissner, PhD,Ashleigh Blackford, ChrisBurney, Heather Carlisle,Christina CourouxConservation Policy Gregg ElliottRHJV CoordinatorAnn ChrisneyEducation Melissa Pitkin, DirectorRich Stallcup,

PRBO NaturalistDevelopment &Communications Matt LeffertMieko ImaiClaire PeasleeFinance & AdministrationBob Hunter, Director Judi BlackMelissa FrakesGareth PennResearch AssociatesSarah Allen, PhD Frances Bidstrup Anne Black, PhDMalcolm C. Coulter, PhDJules G. Evens Steve N. G. Howell Jon KingA. Peter Klimley, PhD Borja MilaScott Newman, DVM Helen M. Pratt Mark RauzonJane C. Warriner John S. Warriner Sophie WebbDavid W. Winkler, PhD Jon Winter Steve Zack, PhD

Point Reyes Bird Observatory is a non-profit 501(c)3organization with headquarters at Stinson Beach, California.All memberships and contributions are tax-deductible to theextent allowed by law. Annual memberships are as follows:

Benefactor: $1,000 & more Family: $50Sponsor: $500 Regular: $35Sustaining: $250 Student & Senior: $20Contributing: $100

C Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks

The PRBO Observer is published quarterly by the PRBO

Board of Directors. Edited and designed by ClairePeaslee, assisted by members of PRBO’s staff. Copyright © 2001 Point Reyes Bird Observatory.

Point Reyes Bird Observatory4990 Shoreline HighwayStinson Beach, CA 94970Telephone (415) 868-1221

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDNorth Bay, CAPERMIT NO: 1

PRBO online :: WEB SITE www.prbo.org :: E-MAIL prbo@prbo.org

PRBO — working to conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystemsthrough objective, innovative scientific research and outreach.

PRBO BIRD WALKS are morning outings, in or near Point Reyes National Seashore, free toPRBO members or $5 donation for non-members • Call 415/868-0655.

September 9 ■ Snowy Plovers. On-site with a prbo plover biologist, learn about workunder way to protect this threatened shorebird and preserve its habitat.

October 7 ■ Birds of No Fixed Address. Investigate bird migration and search forvagrants at a world-renowned birding hotspot, outer Point Reyes.

November 4 ■ Winter Birds of Bear Valley. Walk a wooded valley where the VariedThrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Sapsucker and others winter.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST Please mark your calendar!

October 15 ■ 2001 Osher Symposium. Highlighting the achievements of prbo’s out-standing intern biologists and honoring The Bernard Osher Foundation for its support ofour intern training program. Keynote speaker Joelle Buffa, usfws Farallones RefugeManager & Chief Biologist, will provide an inside view of “Seasons and Seabirds of theFarallon Islands.”

September 15–October 15 ■ Bird-A-Thon 2001. In any 24-hour period between thesedates, your quest for birds helps support prbo conservation through science! Watch fordetails in the mail. Also see page 8 of this Observer.

December 1 ■ Bird-A-Thon Awards Dinner. Our annual classic: a gathering of prbofriends for food, music, laughter, and tales of Bird-A-Thon prowess. All are welcome.

PRBO MEMBERS’ EVENTS

YOU ARE INVITED TO PRBO’S

Palomarin Visitor Center Grand Re-Opening Saturday, October 27 • 10:00 AM–12:00 noon

EXPLORE OUR RENOVATED EXHIBITS

OBSERVE MIST-NETTING OUTDOORS

AND BIRD-BANDING IN OUR NEW BANDING LAB

Please Join us for a Celebration!