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. Exceptions: the December meeting is held on the second Tuesday to prepare for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) and the May meeting will be held on the fourth Tuesday. Refreshments available after the meetings. The public is always welcome.
| Board | Programs | Field Trips | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | September 20 | Bob Keiffer on Grizzlies, Wolves, and Condors in Ukiah? | September 24 | Mackerricher State Park |
| October 6 | October 18 | Greg Giusti on Awesome Oaks: Habitat not Just Wood | October 22 | Clear Lake State Park |
| October 27 | November 15 | Ron LeValley: Marine Birds and Mammals of the North Coast ******Silent Auction!****** |
November 20 | Covelo and Round Valley |
| December 1 | December 13 | Get to Know Your Local Birds! Christmas Bird Count Review | December 17 | Ukiah Christmas Bird Count |
| January 5 | January 17 | Lisa Hug on Birds of the Gulf Coast | January 21 | Sacramento Valley |
| February 2 | February 21 | Ed Harper: East Africa on Steroids | February 25 | Beginner's Walk at the UWTP |
| March 1 | March 20 | Matt Ritter: Wildlife and the Trees Among Us | March 17 | Ukiah Valley Trail Group Day |
| April 5 | April 17 | Gary Alt, Oh Deer! | April 21 | Hopland Research and Extension |
| May 3 | May 22 | Matthew Matthiessen on the Birds of Brazil | May 12 | Potter Valley |
| June 7 | June 16 | PAS Rummage Sale | ||
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 17 at 5PM in the Grace Hudson Meeting Room at 431 South Main Street.
Our Annual Rummage Sale will be held Saturday, June 17 from 8AM to noon at the 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 the 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
Bob Keiffer on Grizzlies, Wolves, and Condors in Ukiah?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Was Ukiah Valley really the home of grizzly bears, wolves and condors? Bob Keiffer is fascinated by the prospect that the Pomo lived for thousands of years with these legendary beasts in the beautiful hills and valleys of Lake and Mendocino Counties. Keiffer is a man of facts, who has gathered them for us to tell the story of wildlife in our community. On Tuesday, September 20, 7 p.m., in the Ukiah Civic Center, come see how this wildlife biologist, turned historian, tracks down the evidence for the fauna of Mendocino county before the intrusion of Europeans. Learn how Native Americans lived with these animals and how they used many common species (northern flicker, California quail, mallard, jack rabbits, turkey vultures) that still surround us today.
It was only a few years after his birth in Hopland that Keiffer's interest in animals was sparked. That has grown into 25 years of helping to manage the UC Hopland Field Station. He will share interesting stories about the species that once roamed our local environs and paint a picture of what the local fauna was like two hundred years ago. Then Keiffer will guide us through more recent times and introduce us to species that are still represented in Pomo culture and art.
After this presentation your walks will be more connected to shared Native American and European histories. A visit to our excellent Grace Hudson Museum will be even more vivid when you can identify the shimmering feathers that Pomo women used to adorn their famous baskets.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah City Council Chambers are in the Civic Center, located at 300 Seminary Avenue. To support 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 and conservation in Mendocino County please go to www.peregrineaudubon.org
Photos © Roger Foote (California Quail) and Penn Museum (Pomo Basket).
Greg Giusti on Awesome Oaks, Habitat, not Just Wood
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Oaks are mighty and majestic, historic and memorable, but also overlooked and ignored. Greg Giusti will tell us about these familiar trees at this month's Peregrine Audubon program on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 p.m. in the Ukiah Civic Center. Giusti says "its not about oak trees, its the oak forest, its structure and composition, which provides for multiple animal communities. It is about habitat, habitat, habitat".
He points out that after 150 years growing hops, prunes, pears and, now, excellent grapes we are left with only remnants of the previous almost ubiquitous oak woodlands. Are these pieces still viable? What benefit are they to us? What can we do as a community? Is there a role for the individual?
Giusti believes that we all have a part to play and education is vital. The more people who understand the importance of these forests and how they contribute to our quality of life, the better chance we have to enjoy the remaining oak woodlands for the next 150 years.
Currently, Greg Guisti is the Forest and Wildlands Ecology Advisor in Mendocino and Lake Counties and the director of Lake County UC Cooperative Extension. He was a guest lecturer at Stanford and worked as a biologist at the Marine Ecological Institute. He has advised on many wildlife problems from bears to squirrels.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah Civic Center is located at 300 Seminary Avenue. To support 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.
Article and photo by Roger Foote.
Ron LeValley on Marine Birds and Mammals of the North Coast: Our Offshore Neighbors
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
The offshore rocks and the ocean that surround them support a magnificent collection of sea birds and marine mammals, from the stately California Sea Lion, to the clown-like Tufted Puffin. Ron has been studying these animals for over four decades, and will share his perspective on their lives. Many of these birds depend on the offshore rocks of our Coastal National Monument for breeding, while others travel incredible distances around the Pacific Ocean to take advantage of our productive waters. Their stories are at the same time amazing and inspirational. Ron will illustrate his presentation with his photographs that capture the essence of these creatures.
Pelagic Cormorant, Common Murre, and Harbor Seal photos © Ron LeValley.
Silent Auction
The 2nd annual Peregrine Audubon Society Silent Auction will be held on Tuesday, November 15th. Be sure to come early (6:00) to browse and bid on your favorite items and visit with friends. This year's Auction features some world class bird books and photographs. We have a large variety of other items as well and here are a few just to whet your appetite:
Photography/Art
- Mallard in Virtual Frame by Roger Foote
- Yellow Warbler by Jack Booth
- Geese and Moon by David Menasian (double matted in black anodized frame)
- "Surfin' Bird" Triptych by Ron LeValley
- "Blustery Day", 12"x15" water color by Tom Johnsone
Trips
- Bird trip for up to 3, including lunch, with Chuck Vaughn at the Hopland Field Station
- Canoe Trip and Lunch with Peggy Backup (somewhere local)
- Private tour of the Sun House including gourmet hors d'ouevres
Bird Books
- The Field Guide Art of Roger Tory Peterson, 2 volumes, leather bound
- John James Audubon's Birds of North America, leather bound, edited by Roger Tory and Virginia Marie Peterson
Misc.
- Home Well Test Package
- Hand dyed silk scarves
- Kiln fired earrings
- Catered Dinner
- Bird Houses
- French Oak Cutting Board
- Case of Frey wine
- 2 bottles of critically acclaimed (SF Chronicle) Pinot Noir from Vaughn-Duffy winery in Santa Rosa
- Power Pilates class by Gina Greco
- 2 dinner certificates to the Asian Villa Restaurant
All donations are tax-deductible. Phone Hafsa Stewart (707-485-8022) for information
Get to Know Your Local Birds! Christmas Bird Count Review
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 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 13, 2011 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 13 meeting at 7:00 p.m. and sign up with Bob Keiffer for the Count, which takes place on Saturday, December 18. 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 13 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.
Pelagic Birds of the Gulf Coast
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
The Gulf of Mexico is teeming with wildlife including, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Hammerhead Sharks and Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Since the Deepwater Horizon Oilspill in 2010 there has been a lot of publicity about the Gulf. But how much does anyone really know about this body of water? On Tuesday, January 17 at 7 p.m. in the Ukiah Civic Center Council Chambers, Lisa Hug will be Peregrine Audubon's guest and tell us about her experiences as an ornithologist in 2010 and 2011 aboard the federal research vessel, the Oregon II, in the Gulf . Hug is a Sonoma County biologist and educator. Come to the talk and see her photographs of this interesting and relatively unexplored area of the world
Oregon II's first mission in July 2010 was to do groundfish surveys. In August 2010, the crew researched a longline shark project. In March, 2011 it was used to conduct plankton research. During these three cruises, Lisa was perched on the bow of the ship, watching for, identifying and counting all of the birds present during these survey missions.
The Gulf of Mexico has not been studied much in the past by ornithologists. The Oregon II made a total of 215 hours of in-transit strip transects and over 9,129 kilometers during these three cruises . They were part of a larger study that included more than 565 hours of survey and made up the most in-depth study of the birds of the Gulf of Mexico ever conducted.
The Gulf of Mexico is an enormous body of water approximately 615,000 sq mi (1.6 million sq km). It is nearly cut off from the Atlantic Ocean by the Caribbean Islands, connects with the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida and with the Caribbean Sea through the Yucatan Channel. Almost half of the basin is made up of shallow continental shelf. In addition, the narrow connection to the Atlantic creates very small tidal fluctuations.
This Peregrine Audubon sponsored presentation is free to the public, though donations will be welcome. The Ukiah Civic Center is located at 300 Seminary Avenue. To support 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 and conservation in Mendocino County please go to www.peregrineaudubon.org.
Sandwich Tern photo © Lisa Hug.
East Africa on Steroids
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
We will be spending the evening with Ed Harper as we visit East Africa and learn about the birds and large mammals of this wonderful area. Ed is a retired mathematics professor from American River College in Sacramento. His interest in birds began during his early childhood while growing up in Montana. An excellent birder and photographer, he has traveled to every continent. His exquisite photographs have appeared in many books and publications. His lively and informative talks are in high demand from many birding festivals, community groups, and Audubon societies. Ed first started leading bird tours for Massachusetts Audubon Society in 1980. Presently, he leads many tours with his wife, Susan Scott, a biologist who teaches at Sacramento's Cosumnes River College. Their company, Sandpiper Journeys, specializes in small groups and one of their favorite destinations is East Africa.
Wildlife and the Trees Among Us
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
This month's speaker is Dr. Matt Ritter, a Professor of Botany at Cal Poly and a native of Potter Valley. Matt will be discussing is new book, "A Californian's Guide to the Trees Among Us", which features more than 150 of California's most commonly grown trees. Whether native or cultivated, these are the trees that muffle noise, create wildlife habitats, mitigate pollution, conserve energy, and make urban living healthier and more peaceful. Ritter took all the photos and did the graphic design and layout for the book. David Sibley, author of "The Sibley Guide to Birds", had this to say about the book: "Matt Ritter's fascination with trees shines through in this wonderful book. Accurate and thorough but also very readable and well-illustrated, this is an excellent identification guide and at the same time a celebration of the trees that grow in California's cities and towns. Anyone who is curious about trees is sure to find education and inspiration in these pages." We hope that Matt will have copies of his book for sale.
Oh Deer!
Tuesday, April 15, 2012 at 7PM in the Ukiah City Council Chambers
Gary Alt will be making a return engagement as he talks to us about Black-tailed Deer, a ubiquitous resident of the Ukiah area. If you attended Gary's presentation last year on Black Bear, he needs no introduction. A professional biologist and amateur stand-up comic, he is a captivating, and hilarious, speaker. We will have more details on Gary's presentation in the next newsletter.
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.
Mackerricher State Park
Saturday, September 24, 2011
We will be making our annual fall birding trek to beautiful Mackerricher State Park in Fort Bragg. Meet Hafsa Stewart and Brian Winter at the CVS parking lot in Ukiah prior to our departure time of 7:30AM, or at the Lake Cleone parking lot at 9:00AM. Hafsa and Brian will be leading us to Mackerricher where we will meet and bird with Dave Jensen of the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society. Dave is an experienced birder and leader, and he is familiar with the best birding spots on the coast. There is a good possibility of seeing some locally rare migrants, in addition to to a number of birds we don't ever see in the Ukiah area. Remember to bring a lunch and something to drink for our customary picnic!
Clear Lake State Park
Saturday, October 22, 2011
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 20, 2011
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 17, 2011
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 21, 2012
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.
Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant
Saturday, February 21, 2012
Roger Foote will be leading a field trip designed for beginning birders. Roger leads a similar effort on our Christmas Bird Count, and that has generated lots of interest for more opportunities for starting birders. We will be visiting the oxidation ponds at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant. This will give us the opportunity to see lots of visiting ducks and other water birds which use the ponds during the winter. The pace will be relaxed. If there is time and interest, we may continue to Lake Mendocino or Mendocino College. We will leave from the CVS parking lot at 8 am, or you can meet us at the Treatment Plant parking lot at 8:15.
Ukiah Valley Trail Group
Saturday, March 17, 2012
As we have done the past 3 years, we will be devoting the March trip to assisting the Ukiah Valley Trail Group. We have worked on two different trails in the past, and will be providing details for this year's trail day in the next newsletter
Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC)
Saturday, April 21, 2012
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.
Last revised January 10, 2012.