News reports of "more rain ahead" did little to dampen the spirits of the 124 birders who participated in Madrone Audubon's 37th Christmas Bird Count on December 28. As the first raindrops fell, the reports rolled in, and counters and leaders alike shared their tales of a successful day.

This year the total number of birds seen was down, with 38,974 individuals noted. Last year's count reported 3,750 birds more, a rather sizeable difference. Our total would actually have been lower, but some species were present in record numbers. Over 2,000 Black Brant were reported by the counters along Highway One, and an additional 800 more by the group at Doran Beach. Bodega Head counters reported 500 Northern Fulmar, eclipsing last year's total of a mere 44 individuals. Also noted were large numbers of Pine Siskin- the Salmon Creek Road group alone had a total of 295, nearly the same number as the total for the entire count in 2002.

Despite the lower number of birds counted, we were a little luckier in the number of species seen. This year a total of 178 species were noted, up from 171 in 2002. These numbers include Pink-footed Shearwater, Bald Eagle, Spotted Owl, and Parasitic Jaeger, none of which were reported in 2002. Of rare sightings, Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (both of these sightings are subject to acceptance by the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count Compilers) and Rock Sandpiper were noted. If anyone has seen any of these unusual birds since the count, please contact a compiler and be prepared to give as many details as possible. Watch for a complete list of the species and numbers counted in a future issue of Madrone Leaves.

This report would not be complete without giving thanks to the many people who worked so hard to make it a success: Richard Hurley, who made dozens of phone calls and stuffed hundreds of envelopes in an effort to bring in as many counters as possible; Peter Leveque, who ensured that we had a warm, familiar place to hold our post count potluck; Virginia McDonagh, who hosted the potluck and oversaw the kitchen; and last but not least, the team leaders, some of whom were asked at the last minute to lead new areas. Leading their flocks of counters in the bitterly cold weather was no easy task, so thank them for their dedication when you see them next.

Special thanks must be given to Ken Wilson and Russ Agnew who generously shared their years of compiling experience and crates of paperwork and subsequently kept the mistakes to a minimum when it came to organizing this count. These two gentlemen, after 11 years of compiling the Christmas Bird Count, have now officially "retired." We thank them again for their years of hard work and dedication to this project, and wish them well in their newfound leisure time.

PLEASE NOTE: After careful consideration, it has been decided that the count for 2004 will not take place on the last Sunday of December. Adherence to this tradition would place the count on December 26, and it would be unreasonable to expect a high number of counters so close to Christmas. Therefore the count date has been moved to the following Sunday, January 2, 2005. Please make a note of this change and mark your calendars now so that you can join us next year for a great day of birding.

Jason Minton will present a sample of the projects that he worked on during his seven years with the Wild Bird Society of Japan. He participated in research and conservation projects around Asia, including satellite tracking of Demoiselle Cranes from Mongolia and Steller's Sea Eagles from northern Japan. He will discuss the efforts of field biologists to identify the migratory movements of these birds and the far away habitats they call home.

Jason was raised in Mendocino County. After his return from Japan he received a Master's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina. He also served two years with the North Carolina state office of the National Audubon Society as a warden for the North Carolina Colonial Nesting Waterbird Reserve Network. Presently, Jason is employed as a biologist with Garcia and Associates, a private biological and cultural resources firm based in the Bay Area.

Coming in March: "The Natural History of Our Local Raptors" with Alida Morzenti.

BODEGA BAY: Norma Jellison. FORESTVILLE: William J. Martin, Patricia L. Schuch. GEYESERVILLE: John C. Pogue, Jr. MONTE RIO: Douglas King, Jr. OCCIDENTAL: Elmarie Hutchinson. SANTA ROSA: Elaine A. Barnhart, Mary B. Delap, Moria P Gardner, Adolph N. Hofmann, Monica Schwalbenberg-Pena, Jean L. Tonascia, Jack W. Troutfetter.
SONOMA: Yvonne Barker, Ernestine Trujillo, Lawrence R. West, V. Lee Wilcox, Karen Nagel. WINDSOR: Donna A. Casey, Ronald & Helen Sundergill.

New National Audubon Members:
BODEGA BAY: Shirlee Johnson. COTATI: Monique Bain, Ruth A. Johnson. GUERNEVILLE: Edith Coon. HEALDSBURG: Perry Beeson, Edward M Neal. MONTE RIO: Mary T. Mundal. PETALUMA: Pamela Asselmeier, Willy Beyerbach, Doris M. Biggs, George Bishop, Maurer Family, Constance Haracz, Diane Holmstrom, Alex Johnston, Ellis A. Rother, Marilyn Strom. ROHNERT PARK: Marie Fox, Phil Taylor. SANTA ROSA: Paul Baird, April Beach, Floyd Becker, Marcia F. Bitz, Misty M. Carstarphen, Roberta Coker, Katie Elliott, Yara Fallon, Connie Frederick, Kate Gajda, Briana Gilly, Georgette Goslovich, Laura Hall, Robert J. Halvorsen, Morris Hamm, Dick Hunt, Patricia Jones, Mr. & Mrs. John Knight, Renee Lopilato, Ryan Madruga, Carolyn Metz, Corinne F. Monahan, Daniel T. Murphy, Nancy Jean Naylor, Sue Schmitt, Everill Stevenson, Janet B. Tempel, J. Tonascia, Jack Troutfetter, Diane Watson, Diane Whitmire, Shirley Wright. SEBASTOPOL: Bronwyn B. Davis, Coy Family, Eric Fritsch, Ilya Sone, Pascale M. Webb. SONOMA: Anne K. Moller Racke, Elizabeth Sheela, Gina Tisell, Henry J. Wagner. VINEBURG: Constance L. Watts. WINDSOR: R. C. Higbee, Beverly J. Lomonaco, Charles Siebenthal.

"Nearly one in five Americans is a bird-watcher," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams. " Bird watching is very popular and contributes greatly to our economy, so it is important that we continue to work with our partners to restore and protect habitat to ensure healthy bird populations."

Forty-six million bird-watchers across America spent $32 billion in 2001 pursuing one of the Nation's most popular outdoor activities, according to a report from the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The report, "Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis," is the first of its kind analyzing data from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

Montana, Vermont and Wisconsin led the Nation in birding participation rates as a percent of total state population. California, New York, and Pennsylvania had the most birders. Birders spent their $32 billion on gear such as binoculars, travel, food and big ticket items such as canoes, cabins and off-road vehicles. This spending generated $85 billion in overall economic output and $13 billion in federal and state income taxes, and supported more than 863,000 jobs.

To qualify as a bird-watcher, an individual must take a trip a mile or more from home for the primary purpose of observing birds or must closely observe or try to identify birds around the home. Those who notice birds while mowing the lawn or picnicking at the beach were not counted as birders. Trips to zoos and observing captive birds also did not count as bird watching. Watching birds around the home is the most common form of bird-watching. Taking trips away from home counted for 40 percent (18 million) of birders.

The full report-and a second report, the 2001 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching Addendum-is available on-line at <http://federalaid.fws.gov>.

Streams are rushing, milkmaids are blooming, critters are munching on juicy spring greens, and birds of all tweets and squawks are cruising around looking for nesting sites-it's our coastal California spring! At ACR we are getting ready to welcome you to a season of hiking, learning, working and playing, and we hope you can join us for one of the following:

Bolinas Lagoon Preserve Public Season: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, March 13 through July 11, 10:00 AM to 4 PM. Come view the nesting herons and egrets and hike the more than eight miles of trails. Tuesdays through Fridays, the Preserve is open to the public only by appointment; call (415) 868-9244.

Bouverie Preserve Guided Nature Walks: February 7, March 20, April 3 and 17, May 8, 15, and 22; 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. You've heard about the spring wildflower display at this beautiful 500-acre preserve in Sonoma's Valley of the Moon. To apply for one of these hikes, call 938-4554 (at the last minute, you can call to check for any cancellations). No charge, but donations are much appreciated.

Bouverie Preserve's Resource Management Days: Feb. 9, April 5, May 10; 8:15 AM to 12:30 PM. Come help us work on trails and the native plant garden. Bring gloves, lunch and lots of energy; drinks, tools, and camaraderie provided. Call 938-4554 to register.

Spring Work Days: Come help spruce up our preserves with work on the trails, in the native plant gardens, in the libraries, or cooking lunch (which we provide). Bring your favorite tool for outdoor projects. Call ahead so we can plan on enough food!
Bouverie Preserve: Saturday, March 6, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, lunch at 1:00. Call 938-4554.
Bolinas Lagoon Preserve: Sunday, March 7, in Picher Canyon, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, lunch at 1:00. Call (415) 868-9244.

Sacramento Valley Refuges, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 3 and 4
Fifteen birders joined Richard Hurley for a two-day birding excursion to the Upper Sacramento Valley. At Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge ducks abounded and Snow Geese by the thousands seemed to lift off as one as if on cue. The sight and the sound were awesome. Next we traveled to "Z" Road and were treated to about 1,000 Tundra Swans floating in a flooded farm section immediately to the right of the road. This was the outstanding species of the trip. Further on at Llano Seco we had good looks at Sandhill Cranes as well as thousands of ducks. From there we drove to Colusa NWR, where we viewed and toured. Thursday we began our birding at the Live Oaks Cemetery, always a minor highlight of the trip. Our next stop was Gray Lodge Wildlife Management Area where we viewed thousands of geese and ducks and the occasional Snipe, Tree Swallow or Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Outside of Gray Lodge we looked for the Lewis's Woodpecker without success but further up West Butte Road we pished up a Rock Wren from a farmer's rock wall. Eighty-six species were identified.

If you couldn't make the outing this year, put it on your calendar for next year (about the same date). The trip was outstanding on many levels.

Shollenberger Park, Saturday, November 22
Twenty-seven birders toured Shollenberger Park on a cold, clear but blustery day. Andy LaCasse presided. 50 species were observed, including the Common Yellowthroat, Virginia Rail and Sora (heard, but not seen), Eared Grebe, Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, White-tailed Kite and Northern Harrier. With the central pond at almost a record height, it is expected that winter walks will feature many migratory waterfowl species.

Howarth Park and Spring Lake, Wednesday, November 26
Twelve birders joined leader Jean Tonascia on a cold, sunny day to bird at Howarth and Spring Lake Parks. Fifty species were observed. The highlight of the day was having an ardent birder from France join the group. Some of the birds were new to her, and she said she was very grateful to have the group help her identify the birds.

Isenberg Crane Preserve and Consumnes River Preserve, Thurs., Jan. 8
On a cloudy morning 17 birders met Jack Troutfetter at McDonald's in Fairfield for this lower Sacramento Valley trip. Driving Highway 12 between Rio Vista and I-5, hundreds of Tundra Swan and Sandhill Crane were sighted feeding in the flooded fields beside the road, so before the official time the count for the day was off to a great start. The first stop at the Isenberg Crane Preserve added 10 species of ducks, plus many more Tundra Swan and Sandhill Crane. Many more ducks, cranes, swans and a variety of small birds were found as the group continued through the Consumnes River Preserve. The highlight of the day was observing a pair of Sandhill Crane performing their ritual mating dance.

Nine teams are ready to do their part in support of Madrone Audubon's biggest fundraiser of the year. This is our chapter's major source of funds for conservation and education efforts. Some teams like the Gray-headed Seersuckers, the Roadrunners and the Feather Questers have been having fun and making a valuable contribution "forever", while several are recent additions to the roster of chapter supporters, such as the teams captained by Joy Mander and Veronica Bowers. For the past 6 to 8 years, the Healdsburg Herons have been an important part of the Birdathon success story, and we've received much-appreciated assistance from the Taylors of Sonoma, Daphne Smith & Joannie Dranginis, and our own Pee Wee team, too.

Sponsors of the teams are an integral part of any team's success. If you haven't been contacted to sponsor a team, you may use the sponsor form below to make a pledge for any of these teams, or call this year's Birdathon Coordinator, Carol Orme at 546-2324 to make the connection. Did you know we have sponsors from as far away as Michigan…and that some sponsors actually call team captains to tell them "it's time to sign me up"?

The 2004 Team List:

Feather Questers Diane Hichwa
Karen Nagel

Gray-headed Seersuckers Betty Burridge
Becky Olsen
Ken Wilson
Ian Morrison
Bill Payne
Erik Lichtwardt

Healdsburg Herons Barbara Stewart
Valerie White

(Name pending) Joy Mander

Northern Pygmy-Owls Claire Shurvinton

Roadrunners Betty Groce
Jean Tonascia

Surf Scooters Daphne Smith
Joannie Dranginis
Andrea Bond

Taylors of Sonoma Elinor & Jim Taylor

Team Nuthatch Veronica Bowers

Name ____________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________
Phone ____________________________________________________________
My pledge is $ __________ per bird or a flat amount of $ _____________
Team or individual you are sponsoring (if any) ____________________________

We will contact you after February to redeem your pledge. If you would like us to send you a report on your team's or the overall results check this box:

Please return this form to Madrone Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1911, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, Attn: Birdathon.

Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology invite you to make an extra contribution-join the 7th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, February 13-16. Whether you do your Birdathon count on one of these days, or whether you simply count the birds you see in your garden or local park for 15 minutes or more on any or all of the four count days, your bird list can help answer questions about the health of our bird populations.

Almost 50,000 checklists were submitted in 2003, giving important information about 512 species of birds. It's easy to participate-you can enter your count online following the instructions at the Great Backyard Bird Count site, <www.birdsource.org>. Then visit the Maproom on the site and see results from across the continent.

THE BIG YEAR: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession
By Mark Obmascik
(Free Press, a February 2004 release)

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mark Obmascik recounts the wild and crazy exploits of three rivals, obsessed birders in one of the world's wackiest contests-a North American birding competition known as The Big Year. By not revealing the outcome until the end of the book, Obmascik keeps the reader guessing in this lively account of a whirlwind pursuit of birding fame.

Mark Obmascik will speak at Copperfield's Books in Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa on Saturday, February 28, at 7 PM. Madrone Audubon will have a table at this event, and a portion of the book's sales will go to benefit the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center. ( For information, call Copperfield's at 578-8938.)

Rivers and Birds
by Merrill Gilfillan
(2003, Johnson Books)

In these fourteen essays, Colorado poet and nature writer Merrill Gilfillan reflects on moments in the world of birds and on the essence of birds in the human landscape. From the Massachusetts shore to Wyoming's mountains, from the Catskills to southern Arizona, and along the banks of the Mississippi, the Musselshell and the Cimarron, these sketches of days-in-place and memory invoke American spaces, some of the streams that sustain them, and the birds always there to lend grace and good sense.

AUDUBON IN EDINBURGH: The Scottish Associates of
James John Audubon
By John Chalmers
Published by the National Museums of Scotland (available through Woodstocker Books, <www.aschwartzbooks.com>).

It was in Edinburgh that James John Audubon's superb bird paintings were first engraved and he realized his ambition of having them published. This comprehensive book is based largely on the artist's own writings from journals and his prolific correspondence with his associate, the naturalist William MacGillivray, who supplied scientific data and supervised the production of Birds of America.

Madrone Audubon would like to express its appreciation to Veronica Bowers for donating to Madrone Audubon a portion of the proceeds from her holiday season Songbird Bars. They were a "sweet" success-our chapter received a total of $300, and the bars were delicious!

Welcome to New Board Member Gerald Moore

Gerald Moore is now representing the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance on the MAS Board. PWA, the grass-roots citizens group supporting the expansion of the Shollenberger Park area, has become a non-profit committee of Madrone Audubon and will work with our chapter to promote restoration, education, and stewardship of these very important Sonoma County wetlands.

You may not have noticed a change in the address label on your December issue of the Madrone Leaves, but you probably did notice that it arrived VERY late! Your membership committee sincerely apologizes, and hopes that the new system of printing names and addresses directly on the newsletter itself is now up and running, after causing this unfortunate delay. The good news is that Madrone Audubon should realize a significant cost saving from no longer having to print and apply individual labels for each mailing.

Red-necked Grebe (3) 11/27 Doran Park jetties (JM, RF)
Northern Fulmar (many) 11/27 Offshore from Bodega Head (JM, RF)
Northern Fulmar (200+) 1/11 Offshore from Bodega Head (DN)
Ross' Goose (4) 1/10 Shollenberger Park (TE)
Barrow's Goldeneye (2) 1/10 Petaluma River, So. of Hwy 37 (DN)
Eurasian Wigeon (2) 11/27 Bodega Harbor (JM, RF)
Cattle Egret (120+) 11/27 Sanford Road off Occidental Road (JM, RF)
Magnificent Frigatebird 12/24 Alpha Farm (!), overhead (SE, PP)
Golden Eagle (ad.) 11/8 Gericke Road (LB)
Golden Eagle (imm.) 11/1 Middle Road (LB)
Ferruginous Hawk (juv.) 11/1 Estero Road (LB)
Ferruginous Hawk 12/30 Stage Gulch Road BM)
Ferruginous Hawk 1/10 Wiggins Hill, W. of Petaluma (DN)
Bald Eagle (ad.) 1/4 Laguna de SR at Guerneville Road (SK)
Sharp-shinned Hawk 11/27 Bodega Hwy at Furlong Road (LB, JH)
Cooper's Hawk 11/27 Valley Ford, Freestone Road (LB, JH)
Cooper's Hawk 11/27 Martinoni Road (LB, JH)
Northern Goshawk (imm.) 12/28 No. Harbor Drive, Tom Jones Court (DS)
Peregrine Falcon 12/7 Valley Ford, Freestone Road (LB, JH)
Merlin 11/27 Hwy 12 near Napa County line (LB, JH)
Common Snipe (3) 12/4 Marsh Road (LB, JH)
Red Phalarope (1) 12/10 Bridgehaven (LH)
Pileated Woodpecker Dec. Graton area (locally unprecedented) (CdlC)
Common Poorwill 12/5 Petaluma, golf range (DN)
Barred Owl 11/14 Near Point Reyes Station (RS)
Long-eared Owl (roosting) 12/2 Livermore Marsh, Cypress Grove Pres. (KB)
Long-eared Owl (calling) 12/27 Tennessee Valley, Marin County (KB)
Broad-billed Hummingbird 11/25 Sonoma, Palmer residence (JS, KP)
Costa's Hummingbird 11/25 Sonoma, Palmer residence (JS, KP)
Phainopepla (male) 1/4 Foothill Park (T&SM)
Common Grackle 12/21 Sylvan Road, Monte Rio (LP)
Palm Warbler (continuing) 12/29 Daniel Drive, Petaluma (RH, JM, KW)
Harris' Sparrow (ad.) late Nov. St. Helena residence, 2nd yr. returnee (BF)
White-throated Sparrow 11/20 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa (PC)
White-throated Sparrow (2) 11/27 Ragle Park (JM, RF)
Vesper Sparrow 12/27 Port Sonoma (since late Oct.) (DN)
Summer Tanager (fem.) 12/25-1/1 Shadow Lane, near Summerfield (SB)

CONTRIBUTORS: Fran Begun, Ken Burton, Sara Blauman, Larry Broderick, Pam Conley, Catherine de la Cruz, Ted Eliot, Sandy Etchell, Robbie Fischer, Bob Frescura, Jesse House, Lisa Hug, Richard Hurley, Sean Kalloway, Joy Mander, Shirl and Tom Maxon, Joe Morlan, Bill Miller, Dan Nelson, Karen Palmer, Paula Perrety, Linda Petrulias, Doug Shaw, Rich Stallcup, John Sterling, and Ken Wilson.

Saturday, February 28, from Noon to 2 PM and
from 2 to 4 PM (two shows)

"All About Bats," with Patricia Winters, the Bat Lady

The amazing bat lady will be with us again, this time at the Rincon Valley Library at 6959 Montecito Boulevard, in Santa Rosa (the downtown library meeting room is closed for remodeling). Pat will talk about the lives and times of bats and show us some of her furry friends. Both she and they are very entertaining and this is a show not to be missed! Before and after the presentation there will be time for bat snacks and other batty activities.

We like to keep the numbers for each show relatively low to allow everyone to easily see the bats. Please plan to attend either from Noon to 2 PM or from 2 to 4 PM. Call Lana McNamara at 887-0571 to make a reservation for this program.

Saturday, March 6, 9:00 to 11:00 AM
Bird walk at Howarth Park

Claire Shurvinton will lead a bird walk for kids as part of Madrone Audubon's Birdathon month. The Birdathon is a yearly competition run by Madrone whereby teams of birders go out and count as many bird species as possible and raise money for our chapter's educational programs. There is no charge to come on the bird walk-all our Peewee events are free-but we encourage participants to collect pledges, or sponsor the Pee Wee team if they are able to.

We will meet at the boat ramp at Howarth Park, by Lake Ralphine. Please note that parking in the lot by the lake can be a problem if it is a nice, sunny day. You might want to leave extra time to park on the street and walk up. Some loaner binoculars will be available for kids, or parents, to borrow. No previous expertise with bird identification is required! Contact Claire at 527-6118, or at <cshurvin@earthlink.net> if you are interested in the walk.

How to Support the Pee Wee Birdathon Team
Use the sponsor form on page 7 of this newsletter or send your pledges for a small amount per bird sighted, or a fixed sum, directly to Claire before March 6. The Peewee team usually spots about 30-40 species overall. Funds raised will go to support the Pee Wee programs and allow us to keep them free for families and children of all means to attend. Families can also form their own Birdathon teams and bird their yards and neighborhoods, or local parks. Send collected pledges to MAS, PO Box 1911, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

The Education Committee is beginning work on a CD Rom for teachers, introducing birds of Sonoma County to local elementary school children. If you have photos of common Sonoma County birds in digital form, or if you have copyright-free sound files, please e-mail Jeffrey Holtzman at <Madrone707@hotmail.com> and tell him what you have. Please do not send any files at this point!

If anyone out there has experience in educational computer programming, and would like to help with this project, please contact Jeff. We are especially interested in including educational games on the CD.

Annual Sonoma County Environmental Dinner. Saturday, February 7, at 5:30 PM at the Sebastopol Community Center, at 390 Morris Street (new location). The Sonoma County Conservation Council and the Sierra Club invite you to hear Larry Fahn, National President of Sierra Club Board of Directors speaking on: "A Good Time for a Change!"

Shollenberger Park tours. February 14 thru June 12. Shollenberger Park, along the Petaluma River south of Petaluma, has a large and varied population of wintering waterfowl, many of whom go on to nest and raise their young in the park's shallow ponds and wetlands. Members of the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance sponsor public tours at the park on the second Saturday morning of each month between October and June. The tours start at 9:00 AM from the Shollenberger parking lot. School tours can be arranged through Bob Dyer, 763-2934.

Aleutian Goose Festival. March 26-28 in
Crescent City, Del Norte County.
Celebrate Spring with the return of the once-endangered Aleutian Canada Goose. Back from the brink of extinction, this little goose now numbers over 50,000. Our three day festival offers 65 workshops and field trips highlighting the birds, animals and awesome natural beauty of California's North Coast. Visit our web site for complete information and online registration, <www.aleutiangoosefestival.org>, or call to receive our program booklet, (800) 343-8300.

Spring Classes with John Klobas
Offered through SRJC Community Education (Call 527-4371 for information and registration):

Eagles, Saturday, February 21, from 9 AM to 5 PM.
This annual day trip is for birding South Davis, Cache Valley, Rumsey Canyon, and Colusa National Wildlife Refuge around the time of almond bloom.

Let's Go Owling, Saturday, March 13, 10 AM to 6 PM.
We will bird Shollenberger Park and Grizzly Island, observing both bird and mammal life. Four owl species are possible (Great Horned, Barn, Short-eared, and Burrowing).

Offered through Point Reyes Field Seminars, (415) 663-1200:

Owls, Saturday, March 20, 4 to 9 PM.
After a short introduction to owls, we search the habitats of Point Reyes for Great Horned, Spotted, Screech, and Barn owls.

Offered through the SRJC Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 527-4408:

NRM 280.14-Volunteer and Docent Training, Three Thursday evenings and three Saturday field trips, beginning April 29 and ending May 15.

Audubon Camps Offer Great Escapes for 2004
Get an early start by registering yourself or your family for one of National Audubon's summer camp programs for adults, youth, families and educators. Camps in Maine, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin offer weeklong sessions of outdoor adventure from June to September. Camp activities vary widely, but sessions include kayaking, canoeing, ornithology, nature photography, ecology, environmental education, and herpetology. Additional activities may include ropes courses, overnight camping, bird and wildlife viewing, canoe building or workshops, and presentations by camp leaders and instructors, many of whom are unrivaled naturalists, biologists, ecologists, and local guides. Online information and registration is available at <www.audubon.org/educate/cw/>.

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