March 1997, Volume 30, Number 6

The Return of the Osprey March General Meeting Pee Wee Audubon NewAppointments Thank You Attention Birdathoners Madrone Turns Thirty Requesting an Address Change Pee Wee Report Observations MidweekWalkabout Results Beginners Bird Walks Audubon on the Air Birding's Economic Impact Audubon Day at Bouverie Bouverie Docent Training Audubon On Line Welcome New Members Help for Burrowing Owls Russian River Flood Dynamics

Help for Burrowing Owls by Bob Evans According to the Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas, the last confirmedobservation of nesting Burrowing Owls in Sonoma County was on Skaggs Islandin 1986. We've had erratic winter sightings since, but the owl seems tohave been extirpated from the county as a breeding bird. It also seems to be under increasing stress throughout the state. A 1993Burrowing Owl census conducted by Dave DeSante showed that approximately7,000 of the 9,000 total California breeding pairs were located in ImperialCounty, yet recent observations show that the population there is rapidlycollapsing. As recently-appointed chairman of the Madrone Audubon Burrowing Owl subcommittee,I'd like to initiate three programs: * An on-going census of the Burrowing Owl. Volunteers will survey a smallassigned grid six times during the year. * A Burrowing Owl nest box program. The boxes are simple to make, andsuccessful projects have been implemented in counties throughout California. * Advice and consultation to construction projects in areas of currentor possible Burrowing Owl residence. Please call me at (707) 823-0609 with current or recent sightings ofthe Burrowing Owl, and/or to volunteer for the census or nest-building project.

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