Peregrine Audubon Society's chapter meetings and programs are held the third Tuesday of each month, September through May, at 7PM in the City Council Chambers of the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah. Exception: the December meeting is held on the second Tuesday to prepare for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Refreshments available after the meetings. The public is always welcome.
Board meetings generally take place the first Thursday of each month, September through June, at 7 PM with a few exceptions noted below. Contact a board member for details. Board meetings are open to the membership. You are always welcome and encouraged to participate.
The CBC potluck is held Saturday December 15 at 5PM in the Grace Hudson Meeting Room at 431 South Main Street.
Our Annual Rummage Sale will be held Saturday, June 1 from 8AM to noon at Alex Thomas Plaza.
Directions to City Council Chambers in the Ukiah Civic Center from Hwy 101:
Take Perkins St. west to North State St. Turn left and head south. Take the third right (Seminary Ave) and go to the end.
Directions to Grace Hudson Museum from Hwy 101:
Take Perkins Street west to the stop sign at Main Street. Turn left and proceed south for three blocks. After you cross Clay Street, look for a driveway on the left. Drive to the back and park. The Meeting Room is on the west side of the museum.
Directions to Alex Thomas Plaza from Hwy 101:
Take Perkins St. west to North State St. Turn left and head south. The plaza is two blocks down at the corner of Clay and State Streets.
Chapter Meetings and Programs
Steve Shunk: Tongues, Toes, and Tales of California Woodpeckers
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Pileated Woodpecker, Steve Shunk, Northern Flicker, and Downy Woodpecker photos © Steve Shunk.
Join Oregon naturalist, Steve Shunk, for a guided tour of the fascinating woodpecker anatomy along with stories of their dynamic lifestyles, on Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 7:00 p.m. in the Ukiah Civic Center.
Imagine for a moment slamming your face into a brick wall at 16 miles per hour. This self-destructive (and foolish) act would require about 1,200 g of force, almost certainly resulting in your death. Yet, a Pileated Woodpecker exerts the same force up to 20 times per second, and as many as 12,000 times per day, pounding its head into trees. The woodpecker anatomy is perfectly suited for its climbing and excavating lifestyle. Some woodpecker species also possess adaptations for aerial acrobatics, for drilling sap wells, or for extracting ants from underground burrows. And woodpecker adaptation goes well beyond the anatomy. Cavity excavation, drumming, and food storage are just a few examples of their amazing specialization.
Stephen Shunk recently completed the Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America. He leads birding tours and workshops and delivers presentations across North America through his company, Paradise Birding. Steve co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy, through which he coordinated various field studies on the eastern slope of Oregon's Cascade Mountains. He has spent the last two summers studying Black-backed Woodpeckers in the northern Sierra Nevada.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah Civic Center is located at 300 Seminary Ave. To join Peregrine Audubon Society and receive a newsletter with regular announcements about programs and field trips, please send $20 to PAS, P.O. Box 311, Ukiah, CA 95482. For more information on a wide variety of topics related to birding in Mendocino County and to sign up for email notifications please go to peregrineaudubon.org.
Julie Jedlicka on Bluebirds, Red Wines, and Oak Forests
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Bluebirds help ranchers make red wine. Really. Come to the Ukiah Civic Center on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. and learn from Dr. Julie Jedlicka how these thrushes contribute to your dining pleasure. Natural habitats are essential for native species. Is it possible to artificially add nest sites and increase the populations of some bird species? Jedlicka asked this question and conducted experiments to test the hypothesis. She now has answers and methods for agriculturists to get help from voracious insect predators like bluebirds and swallows to control pests.Bluebirds help ranchers make red wine. Really. Come to the Ukiah Civic Center on Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. and learn from Dr. Julie Jedlicka how these thrushes contribute to your dining pleasure. Natural habitats are essential for native species. Is it possible to artificially add nest sites and increase the populations of some bird species? Jedlicka asked this question and conducted experiments to test the hypothesis. She now has answers and methods for agriculturists to get help from voracious insect predators like bluebirds and swallows to control pests.
Two hundred years ago Ukiah valley was covered with a layer of emerald oak woodlands inhabited by a wide variety of animal species. During the past three decades, vineyards have become the predominant agricultural crop, replacing oak woodlands. Jedlicka is bringing back the study of ornithology to control pests and was the first to test the degree to which oak-vineyard habitats continue to support birds associated with the original oak woodlands
Her work in vineyards has shown that grape farmers can greatly increase the abundance of natural insect predators by providing nest boxes in their vineyards. She found that the abundance of bluebirds nearly quadrupled using this method! Furthermore, the birds were fast, occupying over 75% of the boxes provided within the first year they were made available.
Jedlicka's presentation is an opportunity for our community to learn, first hand, from a scientist who has devoted her career to investigating biological control of pests. She will be able to address questions about the implications of expanding viticulture and the importance of the remaining oak forests to the overall health of natural and human communities.
Dr. Jedlicka is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California Berkeley where she continues to use sophisticated techniques to model the conservation potential of bird-friendly agricultural landscapes.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah Civic Center is located at 300 Seminary Ave. To join Peregrine Audubon Society and receive a newsletter with regular announcements about programs and field trips, please send $20 to PAS, P.O. Box 311, Ukiah, CA 95482. For more information on a wide variety of topics related to birding in Mendocino County and to sign up for email notifications please go to peregrineaudubon.org.
David Lukas on the Mystery of Bird Song
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
American Goldfinch and Song Sparrow photos © Roger Foote. Photograph of David Lukas © David Lukas
All of us have wondered how birds learn to sing such beautiful songs? And how and why do they produce so many different types of vocalizations? Naturalist David Lukas, in his slide presentation “The Mystery of Birdsong”, will answer some of these questions this evening, and share his insights into the magical world of birdsong—from the ways we study birdsong, to the anatomy of how birds produce sounds, to some of their social behaviors. Lukas’s presentation includes images of birds, visual representations of their songs and recordings of birdsongs that exemplify his talking points. His talk focuses not on how to identify birds by their sounds, but how to understand different types of bird calls we hear and the social behaviors behind those calls. David is a naturalist and author and has been leading bird trips in California for 20 years. Signed copies of his latest books will be available for purchase.
Get to Know Your Local Birds! Christmas Bird Count Review
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Please note that this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month!
Winter is here, the holidays are with us, and our local birds are helping themselves at our feeders again. Every year I am determined to identify those little critters, each and every one! Sure I make some progress, but what of those tough ones that look so similar, those little brown jobs hopping around under the feeder? Yes, I know most are sparrows and surely those feeding above are finches, but which species is each? I definitely need an expert!
Peregrine Audubon's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has those experts who can help bring us a step closer to our goal. Join Bob Keiffer on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ukiah City Council Chambers when he will point out distinguishing field marks of our Ukiah area birds. He will discuss and illustrate the sparrows and finches, jays and blackbirds, ducks and waders, as well as the raptors, the hawks and owls, all in living color.
Bring your tough questions for the experts. What birds can I expect in my back yard this winter? How do sparrows and finches differ? Is it really possible to see eagles in the Ukiah Valley? What are the ducks and gulls at Lake Mendocino? Anyone interested in birdcalls? Bob can help with that too.
Peregrine Audubon also offers help in the field. Beginners and experienced birders can come to the December 11 meeting at 7:00 p.m. and sign up with Bob Keiffer for the Count, which takes place on Saturday, December 15. Bob will explain how the Christmas Bird Count works, introduce team leaders, and match you with a group that can best help take you that next step toward better bird biology. He will also give a presentation that he and Matthew Matthiessen have put together over the last few years.
The really avid begin before daybreak and in all kinds of weather. The rest of us can participate for parts of the day or even count at home if we live within the 15-mile diameter count circle (which includes Ukiah). There will be a beginners' count starting at 10 a.m. and meeting at the gate to Mendocino College on Hensley Creek Road. By all means, contact Bob Keiffer (744-1160) to get details.
We meet after the CBC for a potluck dinner in the Grace Hudson Museum Public Room on South Main Street. Bring a dish, something to drink, and your eating utensils and join us at 6:00 p.m.
Directions to the Ukiah City Council Chambers for the December 11 meeting at 7:00 p.m. and slide show: from Hwy 101: take Perkins St. east to North State St.; turn left and head south; take the third right (Seminary Ave) and go to the end.
Peregrine Falcon photo © Roger Foote.
Ron LeValley on the Birds of Midway
Laysan Albatross, Red-tailed Tropicbird, and Short-tailed Albatross photos © Ron LeValley
Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
In February of 2012, Ron visited Midway Atoll, part of the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument. Much has changed since his last visit in 2001. The Fish and Wildlife Service has greatly improved the condition on the island for the native wildlife. Ron will share his stories of the positive changes that have been made to the refuge along with his pictures of “Wisdom” the oldest wild bird known in the world and the increasing Short-tailed Albatrosses. He will augment the many bird pictures with images of the increasing number of Green Sea Turtles, the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal and some of the beautiful underwater inhabitants of the National Monument.
Ron LeValley is a founding member of the Mendocino Coast Photographer Guild in Fort Bragg where his work can be seen. He is also the founder and Senior Biologist of Mad River Biologists, a biological consulting firm in Eureka, California. Best known for the identification and distribution of birds along the Pacific Coast, he also has an extensive understanding of a natural history subjects.
Art Haschak on Falcons and Falconry
Art flying his Peregrine, Art Haschak, and Peregrine Falcon photos © Art Haschak
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
This evening we welcome Art Haschak of Willits, a falconer for 41 years. During that time he has flown many of our native raptors, but has concentrated on Peregrines and Prairie Falcons for the last twenty years. His present falcon (Sis-sis) is a captive bred female Anatum Peregrine that he has flown on ducks, pheasants and sage grouse for the last six years. Art has bred Peregrines and Harris hawks in captivity for release back to the wild as well as for his own use in falconry. His talk will be an informal talk on Falconry, raptor identification and raptor conservation. Unless something unforeseen happens Art will bring his Peregrine Sis-sis. This will be an interesting presentation for all ages, and one you won’t want to miss!
Kat Anderson on California Indian Land Stewardship
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Peregrine Audubon offers the public a new opportunity to hear Kat Anderson on March 19 when she will describe her work and experiences with indigenous peoples and their uses of plants and landscapes and how wildlife has benefited from these practices. The talk will be in the Ukiah Civic Center at 7 p.m.
Kat Anderson is the national ethnoecologist of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Davis. She is also the author of Tending the Wild, a book about Native American knowledge and the management of California's natural resources. Her studies focus on plant uses, harvesting strategies and traditional land management practices of indigenous peoples of California. Her talk will focus on how these practices may have benefited birds, mammals, insects, and plants by providing habitats abundant with biodiversity within these managed landscapes, as well as other ecological services. She discusses a Native cultural philosophy that regards birds as kin, and explores the exchange that generate knowledge, respect, and a beautiful co-existence between Native Americans and their environment.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah Civic Center is located at 300 Seminary Ave. To join Peregrine Audubon Society and receive a newsletter with regular announcements about programs and field trips, please send $20 to PAS, P.O. Box 311, Ukiah, CA 95482. For more information on a wide variety of topics related to birding in Mendocino County and to sign up for email notifications please go to peregrineaudubon.org
Gary Alt on Great Nature and Photographic Destinations
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Matthew Matthiessen on the Birds of Peru
Emerald-bellied Puffleg and Golden-bellied Grosbeak photos © Matthew Matthiessen
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Last Oct Matthew visited Northern Peru and birded from the coast to the crest of the Andes. This area is rich in endemics and range-restricted birds like White-winged Guan and Gray-bellied Comet. This area also has some of the most beautiful birds in the world like Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Marvelous Spatuletail. Matthew’s engaging presentations and World-class photography will make this an evening you don’t want to miss!
PAS Rummage Sale
Saturday, June 1, 2013 from 8AM to noon at Alex Thomas Plaza
We will be holding our annual rummage sale in conjunction with the Ukiah Farmer's Market at the Alex Thomas Plaza this Saturday morning. This is a major fundraiser for PAS. We would appreciate the donation of any good salable items, new or used, and any assistance you can provide. We are an incorporated non-profit, so all donated items are tax deductible. Setup at 7:00 a.m. cleanup at noon.
Field Trips
Field Trip Guidelines: Everyone is welcome! These guidelines apply to all Peregrine Field Trips. Please take a moment to read them if you are new, or use them to refresh your memory if you have birded with us before. The times listed are the departure times - not the assembly times. Please arrive early! Many of the trips are out of the area and require an hour or more of driving, so promptness is necessary. We encourage carpooling and also alternating of the driving from one trip to another. If at all possible, come prepared to drive with your vehicle already fueled up, but also be prepared to ride with someone else with your lunch and gear compactly together. If you do not drive, please remember that you are expected to help pay for gas. Most trips are all day affairs, but at times various people need to get back sooner. By arriving 15-20 minutes early such necessary travel arrangements can be made. You will probably want to take a pack with lunch, water, hat and appropriate clothing - coats, rain gear, etc. - , binoculars*, camera, and perhaps notepad and field guides.
*Binoculars are important, but loaner pairs may be available for newcomers. If you have some to loan, please bring them along.
Field Workshop: Woodpeckers in the Wild
Saturday, September 16, 2012
Join professional naturalist and North American woodpecker specialist, Stephen Shunk, for a day in the field with woodpeckers of Northern California. On these dynamic outdoor excursions, you will explore a wide variety of habitats as Steve provides detailed natural histories of the region’s woodpeckers. He will also discuss the ecological roles that each species plays in its respective habitats, as well as historic and current conservation challenges
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fort Bragg, Lake Cleone, rendezvous details will follow. Space is limited to 12 people. Fee: $35; Pre-register by contacting Steve at 541-408-1753 or steve@paradisebirding.com.
Stephen Shunk recently completed the Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America. He leads birding tours and workshops and delivers presentations across North America through his company, Paradise Birding. Steve cofounded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy, through which he coordinated various field studies on the eastern slope of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. He has spent the last two summers studying Black-backed Woodpeckers in the northern Sierra Nevada.
Clear Lake State Park
Sunday, October 21, 2012
We will be visiting Clear Lake State park. This beautiful park has a variety of habitats that support a great variety of birds, and it is a great time to be out in the oaks enjoying the fall colors. Expect to see some birds we seldom see in Ukiah like American White Pelicans, Bonaparte's Gulls, and an abundance of other water birds. We depart from the CVS parking lot at 8:00AM, and should arrive at the Visitor Center parking lot by 9:00AM if you want to meet us there. Be sure to bring a lunch and something to drink for our picnic in the park. for those wanting to continue birding in the afternoon, we will probably be visiting the Lakeside County Park and Rodman Slough areas on our way back to Ukiah.
Covelo and Round Valley
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Join us for a fall visit to Round Valley, one of our favorite destinations. This beautiful valley with its open grasslands and large valley oaks is home to a number of winter visitors not commonly seen in the Ukiah area. In past years birds of note here have included Bald Eagles, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Merlins, Lewis's Woodpeckers, and Canyon Wrens. Time and weather permitting we will continue east to Black Butte/Eel Rier campground for a picnic and more birding. Meet before our 7:30AM departure from the Ukiah CVS parking lot, or at 8:00AM at the Willits High School. We should reach Covelo and Keith's market by 9:30AM.
Christmas Bird Count and Compilation Potluck Dinner
Saturday, December 15, 2012
If you wish to participate in the CBC, please attend the December 13 meeting for details. Our traditional Compilation Potluck dinner will be held at the Grace Hudson Museum Community Room at 6:00PM. Bring your own place settings and beverages as well as a main course, salad, or dessert to share. Assistance in setting up at 5:00 to 5:30PM and cleaning up after dinner would be appreciated.
Sacramento Valley
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Join us on our annual trip to the Sacramento Valley waterfowl refuges. Depending on weather and road conditions, we will be visiting either the Sacramento refuges on the west side, or Gray Lodge, north of the Sutter Buttes. Both of these areas host tens of thousands of waterfowl during the winter, in numbers and diversity far beyond anything in Mendocino County. We can count on seeing such locally rare birds as Snow and Ross's Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, Sandhill Crane, Loggerhead Shrike, and others. This is a long drive and we will leave from the Ukiah CVS parking lot at 7:30 AM sharp! Dress in layers and bring food and drink for our picnic lunch.
Beginners' Walk at Riverside Park
Saturday, February 23, 2013
This walk will be led by Dave Bengston. Riverside Park is located along the Russian River at the east end of Gobbi Street. This is the only publicly accessible stretch of the main-stem Russian River in all of Mendocino County. The City of Ukiah has been developing trails in the park, as well as managing the vegetation to widen the riparian corridor and introduce more native plant species. It is an excellent birding location. We will begin the walk at 8:30 am. Parking will be available at the park.
Work Day on the Blue Oak Trail at Lake Mendocino
Sunday, March 17 2013
PAS is sponsoring our fifth annual Ukiah Valley Trail Group day this Saturday and will provide lunch for all participants. We will be improving the Blue Oak Trail at Lake Mendocino. We may even see some birds: the spring migrants are beginning to appear. Bring gloves, UVTG will provide tools. Mud or rain will cancel. We will meet at 9AM at the parking lot on the east end of the upper Mill Creek Pond. Please RSVP Cheryl at cwatson@pacific.net or 462-4289 so we can notify you of any last minute resheduling.
Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
We will be making our annual spring visit to the HREC. This is a beautiful time of year as wild flowers should be in full bloom and spring bird migration at its peak. What a great place and time for a picnic! We will be leaving the CVS parking lot at 8:00, or meet us at the HREC office area at 8:30.
Potter Valley and the Eel River
Saturday, May 11, 2013
This trip will be led by George Chaniot. The primary birding is done along the scenic main stem of the Eel River with stops at the Pioneer Bridge, Trout Creek, and possibly Burris Lane. Both MacGillivray's and Hermit Warblers are usually seen on this trip, and they can be difficult to find elsewhere in the county. Other possible birds include Bald Eagle and American Dipper. We will leave from the Ukiah CVS parking lot at 8:00 am, or you can meet us at the old Potter Valley bridge site along the Russian River (1/4 mile north of Hwy 20 on Potter Valley Road) at 8:30. Bring your lunch, water, binoculars, and favorite field guides.
Last revised May 7, 2013.