"Great Trans-Pacific Migrations-from Albatross to Turtles and Sharks to Shorebirds"

For this special evening we are pleased to have with us author and marine research scientist Peter Pyle, who will talk about the birds and marine mammals who migrate long distances across the often hostile territory of the Pacific Ocean. Satellite technology is helping to discover some amazing things about how far these animals travel and the methods they use to get there. We'll travel from Siberia to Baja California, the Gulf of the Farallones to Hawaii, and Indonesia to Point Reyes, in quest of some of these great trans-Pacific pathways.

Peter Pyle was raised in the Hawaiian Islands and worked for over twenty years studying birds, marine mammals and white sharks at Southeast Farallon Island. He currently splits his time between the Institute for Bird Populations and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Sanctuary program, continuing his interests in researching the population dynamics of birds and other marine organisms.

NOTE: The program will follow a potluck dinner and our annual awards presentation. Please bring a dish to share (entree, salad or dessert), along with your own plate and utensils. We will provide drinks-sorry, no alcoholic beverages allowed at the church. Help to set up before the dinner (or to clean up afterwards), is much appreciated. Please call Virginia McDonagh at 527-9115 if you can lend a hand.

Please join us for our First Annual Madrone Audubon International Migratory Bird Day Celebration on Saturday, May 14. The event will be from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Summerfield Waldorf School, 655 Willowside Road in Santa Rosa. International Migratory Bird Day is a worldwide annual event that celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. The purpose of the day is to increase public awareness and appreciation of migratory bird populations and to encourage habitat conservation.

Migratory birds are some of the most beautiful, observable and remarkable wildlife that share our world. In their honor, Madrone Audubon will host a fun-filled and educational day for everyone. The schedule of the day's festivities is as follows:

8:30 AM - Kick off the day with an Audubon bird walk along beautiful Santa Rosa Creek to Delta Pond. The walk will last approximately two hours.
11:00 AM - "Migratory Raptors": WildCare Terwilliger Nature Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and two of its Wildlife Ambassadors, a live Red-tailed hawk and a live Swainson's Hawk, will present the natural history and migratory habits of these two raptor species.
1:00 PM - "Birds across the Hemispheres": Long distance migration by birds is one of the great wonders of the natural order of our planet. Twice a year millions of birds of all shapes and sizes cross the vast distances between the northern and southern hemispheres. Ken Wilson, Madrone bird walk leader and owner of Talon Tours, will offer a presentation with slides to show some of these birds and their migration routes.
3:00 PM - End the day with another Audubon bird walk along Santa Rosa Creek.

Ongoing from 10 AM to 3 PM:

· Pee Wee Audubon kids' activities - games, art projects and bird walks,
· Nest box building for families and a display of entries in the Peewee Audubon Bird Art Competition,
· Bird questions answered by Madrone's local bird expert, Betty Burridge,
· Displays and activities by International Migratory Bird Day event partners including: Point Reyes Bird Observatory, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, California Native Plant Society, Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation & Redwood Regional Ornithological Society,
· Food, live music and free organic shade-grown coffee tasting!

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 546-7492 or visit the Madrone Audubon website: <audubon.sonoma.net>.

We look forward to seeing you on May 14th!

Spread the word! Help us advertise our International Migratory Bird Day event by posting the enclosed orange flier in a public place.

Collisions: Clear the Way for Birds
From the International Migratory Bird Day Website: <birdday.org>

Each year a team of International Migratory Bird Day coordinators and sponsors work together to select a theme to celebrate IMBD. This year's theme is "Collisions".

Flight is a magnificent means of transportation, allowing bats, insects, birds, and even humans to travel great distances. For many birds, however, a journey across the skies may be a veritable obstacle course of human-related hazards. In 2005, International Migratory Bird Day examines the obstacles birds may encounter in flight and explores the many ways we may minimize their impacts.

Some of the advances we have made in technology unfortunately contribute to loss of bird life. The towers erected for our cell phones and pagers, the lines that bring us power, our vehicles, the windows on homes and office buildings, and even sources of renewable energy, such as wind turbines, create obstacles for birds in flight. The number of birds killed as a result of aerial collisions each year in the U.S. alone is estimated to be in the billions. The facts about birds and collisions are alarming, but the collaboration of biologists, communities, and corporations to develop innovative solutions is promising.

Did you know…

§ Tower lighting often confuses birds migrating at night, resulting in collisions with towers or the guy wires that support them. Biologists are working to encourage construction of towers that are less than 199 feet tall, avoiding the requirement for safety lighting.
§ Glass kills more birds than any other human related factor. Architects are working to develop new methods of installing glass windows in homes.
§ Power cables may not be very visible to birds in flight. Markers, such as metal triangles, help to significantly reduce collisions when placed on the cables.
§ Raptors often perch on wind turbine towers and blades, which may lead to collisions. Turbine blades that are easily visible and that discourage perching help to reduce bird collisions.
§ As many as 50 to 100 million birds are killed by cars and trucks on U.S. highways each year.

Birdathon team captains for the seven '05 teams have entered their final counts of species, and some have also sent the total for their collected sponsor donations. Number one for total species again this year is the five-person team of the Grey-headed Seersuckers, lead by Betty Burridge, with a species total of 133. Following closely is the Roadrunner Team of Betty Groce and Jean Tonascia with a species count of 126. The third place for species seen goes to the Featherquesters, Diane Hichwa and Karen Nagel, for 120.

Also breaking the one hundred mark were Team Nuthatch members Veronica Bowers, Phyllis Schmitt and Linda Haines, with a total of 102. Just about every team reported a lower total than the previous year and several groups bemoaned the loss of "regulars" that had frequented a favorite and well-known hangout. However, no one reported a bad day of birding! I think it is safe to say, "a good time was had by all."

We owe our team captains a huge measure of gratitude as they continue to do a great job both before and after the day of birding by putting creative energy into correspondence with their sponsors and following up on collecting and submitting pledges. Their and their teams' efforts enable Madrone's continued endeavors in support of local projects in education and conservation.

We hope to have additional teams in 2006, as we need to boost the number of our members participating in this important and fun fundraising event. If you're considering being a team captain next year, remember that there are sample letters and the current Birdathon birders to help you jump-start a reporting and collecting system. Don't wait until next Spring to think about it…talk to your friends this fall. You might even do a warm-up by trying out the Christmas Bird Count.

The final donation total will be published in a future edition of the newsletter, but we've passed the $6,000 mark as of mid-April! The Roadrunner Team of Betty Groce and Jean Tonascia are leading the contribution collection to date with a total of $2,488. These two ladies are a Birdathon powerhouse, as each year they deliver generous and much needed financial support to our Chapter's good work in community education. As I tallied contributions this year, I was surprised by the number of Audubon members and friends who generously support not just one, but several of the teams. A special thank you to all those people who support their friends on different teams…that's going beyond the call and we appreciate it! A listing of all sponsors will appear in this or future Madrone Leaves.

Our chapter's biggest fundraiser of the year is a success only because we have members who participate…if you've pledged, thank you. And think about being a team member yourself for Birdathon 2006.

What's in a Name?

Perhaps the only thing holding you back from participating in the next Birdathon is finding the right name for your team. Here are some extravagant examples from the San Diego Audubon's lineup:

Dowitcher Humps
Wandering Totallers
Silent Siskins
Raven' Lunatics
Hawk-eyed Harriers
Julian Jaybirders
Submitted by Andrea Bond

Marci Alvey, Gail Arata, Richard & Janis Arendt, Judy Barcelon, Ruth Barcelon, Nanci Barker, Martha Bentley, Sheila Betts, Gay Bishop, Donna Bley, Mr. and Mrs. Walt Bodley, Noelle Bon, Judy Brinkerhoff, Margaret Brubaker, Liz & Jeff Bundschu, Denise Cadman, Marianne Caratti, Theresa Carroll, Donna Casey, Mike and Nolan Center, Curt & Bernadette Chadwick, Richard Cuneo, Linda Curry, Betty Dericco, Debbie Eakins, Ted Eliot, Mr. & Mrs. George Ellman, Mike & Linda Escobar, Robin Fautley, Delynn Fitts, Ginny Fletcher, Jeanne Gotelli, Eleanor Guilford, Karlene Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Harper, Rebecca & Mike Hengehold, Diane Hichwa, Pat Hildreth, Mr. & Mrs. Don Johnston, Jane Kleimo, Ellen Krebs, Andy Lacasse, Eleanor Laubly, John & Gaye LeBaron, Peter Leveque, Susan Luber, Marie Ludemann, Carla Miles, Jim Moir, Cindy Monges, Gerald Moore, Mike Nelligan, Clyde Nelson, Ted Nagel, Mrs. Clark Nattkemper, Dr. Mike Parmeter, Linda Petrulias, Celeste & Roger Phillips, Gail Pippi, Sally Pola, Kathryn Provost, Kathy Rathbun, John Reese, Rossi??, Bob Rubin, Maggie Salenger & Peter Haywood, Phyllis Schmitt, Richard Shipps, Daphne Smith, Jean Smith, Shirley Spina, Barbara Stewart, Carole Sunlight & Linda Allen, Jim & Elinor Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. Don Toms, Cheryl Traendley, Deborah Votek, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Wagner, Rosie Wagner, Arlene Weis and Valerie White.

Ann Anderson, Avis Anderson, Judith Barker, George Batchelder, Jim Batchelder, Dennis Beall, Peter Bellman, Ellen Bingel, Malcolm & BJ Blanchard, Janet Bosshard, Sam & Viola Brown, Owen & Jayne Buscho, Laura Camm, Jim Clegg, Diane Cobb, Christine Cohen, Jane Collins, Beth Combs, Neal Conner, Rachel Corso, Beverly Cowden, Steve DeSalvo, Harriet Draper, Louise Eddy, Marilyn & Lew Edmondson, George & Phyllis Ellman, June England, Nora Ernst, Florence Evans, Janette Evans, Bob Frescura, Sara Gerboth, Sandy & Jim Gilmer, Jules & Barbara Glaser, Stan & Hedda Gold, Leslie Goodrich, Gary & Terry Haag, Gordon Harlander, Susan Harris, Catherine Hickey, Claramae Hoffman, John & Barbara Hopper, Don Howard, Richard Hurley, Connie Joachim, Juhani Klint, Bill Knill, Helen Kochenderfer, Francis Kohn, Tony Kroha, Andy Lacasse, Shirley Leaphart, Pat Marsh, Sandy Martensen, Shirl & Tom Maxson, Don McCarthy, Tom McCuller, Virginia McDonagh, John McMahon, Edith Moran, Judy Morrison, Doug & Barbara Murray, Charlotte Oldaker, Carol Orme, Margaret Owles, Benjamin Parmeter, John & Polly Post, Bob & Bertha Rains, Eldon Ramsland, Cynthia & John Rathky, Marilyn & Frank Rathman, Rhio Reigh, Jacqi Reinicker, Jerry Ricard, John & Betty Richardson, Maureen Rumford, Jack & Joy Ryan, Marilyn Sanders, Bunny Schmitt, Phyllis Schmitt, Jack Schuyler, Dorothy Small, Bobbie Sparrow, Laura Stanley, Lise Stevens, Cy Stewart, Virginia Stewart, Marilyn Strand, Ardis Talburt, Barbara Taylor, Jean Tonascia, Barbara & Gene Toschi, Jack Troutfetter, Ernestine Trujillo, Frances Waska, Mary Winkler and Betty Witchey.

Point Reyes, Wednesday, March 9
On a warm, atypical day at Point Reyes 16 birders joined Don McCarthy on a jaunt to Sky Trail, Muddy Hollow and Limantour Beach. Fifty-two species were found, most notable being 250 Pine Siskins, a Red-breasted Sapsucker and a Great Horned Owl.

Shollenberger Park and Lakeville Treatment Ponds, Thursday, March 17
On a warm, cloudy and calm day Andy Lacasse and 16 birders saw 71 species, including three species of teal, Sora and Virginia Rails, Common Merganser, White Pelicans and two Snow Geese. It was another great day of birding.

Howarth Park and Spring Lake, Thursday, March 31
On a warm, sunny day 20 birders joined Jean Tonascia to bird at Howarth and Spring Lake Parks. At Howarth Park the highlights were seeing the Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey, and Common Mergansers. At Spring Lake we saw three Green Herons, four Black-crowned Night-Herons, a Common Goldeneye and a Common Moorhen. We heard the Wilson's Warbler, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and Hutton's Vireo. A total of 69 species were observed.

Duncan's Mills, Wednesday, April 6
Dennis Beall and 27 birders had a warm, clear day of birding in the Duncans Mills area with lunch at Jenner and a finish on Willow Creek Road. Highlights included Northern Oriole, Nuttall's Woodpecker, five species of warblers, five species of swallows, two species of vireos, and at the end of the day a magnificent display of mating by a pair of Red-tailed Hawks with a Marsh Wren singing side accompaniment.

Annadel State Park, Thursday, April 14
Twenty-three birders joined Jean Tonascia on a nice, sunny day to bird at Annadel Park. A total of 44 species were observed. Highlights were seeing a baby Bewick's Wren on a nest and the Black-headed Grosbeaks building their nest, plus sightings of a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and a Townsend's Warbler. It was a very nice day for hearing many species of birds singing.

Take this short quiz and see how many of the blanks you can fill in correctly. You can check your responses with the answers that appear somewhere in this Leaves issue.

1) How many flowers must a bee tap to make a pound of honey? Two million; 200,000; 200; or one big daisy?

2) How much body fat do worms have? One percent; 10%; 20%; or 90%?

3) The number of animals that will support (or "carry") without damage to the habitat or other wildlife is called: Biological surplus; renewable resource; carrying capacity; or breeding stock?

4) Which of the following could be a limiting factor for a wildlife population? Food; predators; nesting locations; or all mentioned?

5) Tower lighting confuses birds migrating at night, resulting in collisions with towers or the ________ that support them.

6) ____ kills more birds than any other made-made object.

7) As many as ____ birds are killed by cars and trucks on U.S. highways each year.

8) Do birds have belly buttons?

9) When buying coffee, chocolate and some teas, why is it important to support shade-grown, organic products?

10) Which bird has the longest migration for its size?

1: Two million (easy on that honey!). 2: One percent. 3: Carrying capacity. 4: All. 5: Guy wires. 6: Glass (via collisions as noted by IMBD website). 7: Fifty million to one million (as noted by IMBD website). Any answer within this range gets you a pat on the back. 8: No, animals that lay eggs do not have belly buttons (courtesy of a Snapple cap). 9: To protect rainforest habitat, especially for neo-tropical migratory bird species. 10: Rufous Hummingbird (although the Arctic Tern has the overall longest migration of any animal known).

Leader Peter Leveque is a revered local naturalist, retired professor of biology from SRJC, world traveler and dedicated grandfather. He will lead an exploration at Audubon's wildlife preserve in the Mayacamas Mountains east of Healdsburg. There are critters in the creek, birds in the bushes, snakes, lizards and wildflowers in the grass and maybe the signs of some large mammals, too! It may be hot, so bring water, hats and sunscreen as well as a picnic lunch. This is a repeat performance by popular request, as last year's walk was so well received!

Reservations are required. Please call Claire at 527-6118 to reserve your spot and to get directions to the meeting place.

And coming in June at a beach near you…

Pee Wee Audubon tide pool study and exploration on Saturday, June 25, at School House Beach on the Sonoma coast-with roving naturalists/Girl Scouts Melissa Carlson, Erica Robenalt, Alexa Carlson, and others. See the Summer issue of the Leaves for details.

EVENING LAGUNA WALK
Wednesday, May 4, 6:00 PM
Enjoy a lovely spring evening in the Laguna-join a Laguna Foundation docent-led walk! Meet at the Sebastopol Wetlands Preserve behind 425 Morris Street. Please call Mary Abbott, 527-9277 x2, to reserve spaces.

2005 STATEWIDE TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD SURVEY
June 3 to June 5
Qualified volunteers needed for this survey, to be conducted all over California. Contact Leo Edson, Coordinator, for more information at (916) 414-5813 (e-mail: edsonl@edaw.com).

SIERRA NEVADA BIRD CLASSES
June 20 through July 29
San Francisco State University's Sierra Nevada Field Campus, located in Carman Valley along the North Yuba River near Sierra City, has been monitoring bird populations for the past 20 years. Their five-day class sessions cover bird watching, bird identification and bird banding, as well as other topics on the ecology of the area. For more information, call Jim Steele at (650) 738-1814 (jsteele@sfsu.edu) or consult the web site: <www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/courses/htm>.

Bouverie Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch is accepting applications for the Fall Docent Training Program at the 530-acre nature preserve located in the Valley of the Moon at Glen Ellen. The training consists of 23 weeks of courses in natural history and environmental education, emphasizing indigenous species in plant and animal communities, plus a broad spectrum of ecological concepts, geology, biology and Native American culture. The goal of the Bouverie Preserve is to instill a love of nature and conservation in children. Graduates commit to two years of seasonal nature hikes and classroom visits with 3rd and 4th grade children in Sonoma County and Napa County schools.

The Bouverie training program is offered every second year. It will begin in late August of this year and will run through February 2006, with breaks for holidays. Tuition is $120, with partial scholarships available. Class size is limited. For applications and information, call the preserve at 938-4554.

Madrone Audubon needs a new editor for the Leaves newsletter, beginning in the fall of 2005. As the occupant of this post since September of 2000, I'm offering a brief job description here, and I would be most happy to answer questions from anyone interested either by phone or e-mail (see information below). I will also be available in the next few months to help make the transition.

It really is a team effort. Madrone Board members and committee chairs regularly submit material, and the editor checks and revises it for form, content and space considerations, then sends it on as a document file to a production editor (currently Diane Cobb) who then sends the formatted file to our printer. For the past few years Mike Seddon has been compiling the monthly calendar and doing a good bit of proofreading and copy editing for me.

The amount of actual writing of articles is variable-it could be more or less, but it helps to have reasonably good computer skills and to enjoy "working with words"! The issues are compiled between the 5th and 15th of each month, approximately, and nine issues are published each year. Attending Board meetings on the first Wednesday evening of the month, plus one yearly planning meeting, is very helpful, though not 100% necessary.

This position is a great way to learn about Madrone Audubon, to meet interesting people and make a real contribution to the ongoing success of our organization.

Daphne Smith, 546-7808, e-mail: dwarsm@aol.com.

Red-necked Grebe (2) March-April Doran Park jetty area M. Ob.
Snow Goose (2) 4/7 East of Lakeville treatment ponds RRu
Baikal Teal (male) 4/9 Oregon (seen by many observers) GR
Tufted Duck (male) 3/20 Bolinas Lagoon (south end) BP
Eurasian Wigeon (male) 3/20 Bolinas Lagoon BP
Peregrine Falcon (tundrius) 4/8 Stage Gulch Road RRu
Common Black-Hawk 3/31 Marin Headlands SB, GG
White-tailed Kite (2) 4/2 Atascadero Creek area (courting) AR
Bald Eagle (at nest) March Lake Sonoma RG
Bonaparte's Gull (1) 3/28 Port Sonoma DN
Bonaparte's Gull (3) 4/10 Bodega Harbor DN
Caspian Tern (4) 4/9 Tomales Bay DN
Pigeon Guillemot (3) 4/10 Bodega Bay DN
Marbled Murrelet (2) 3/22 from Bodega Head DN
Rufous Hummingbird 3/1-2 Oakmont BG
Rufous Hummingbird (male) 3/20 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Rufous Hummingbird 4/11 Paula Lane (still present) DN
White-throated Swift 3/28 Petaluma Boulevard South, entering nest cavity DN
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3/23 Kenwood (singing) RRu
Cassin's Kingbird (calling) 3/21 Westside Park (1st Sonoma County record) RL
Western Kingbird (many) 4/3 Laguna de Santa Rosa KW
Western Kingbird 4/10 Chileno Valley Road DN
Mountain Bluebird (male) 3/12-14 Outer Pt. Reyes, various places JL et al.
Warbling Vireo (singing) 3/10 Burdell Mountain, Marin County DE
Palm Warbler 4/1 Shollenberger Park, near kiosk PC
Wilson's Warbler 3/20 Five Brooks, Marin County BP
Grasshopper Sparrow 4/3 Burdell Mountain, Marin County DE
Chipping Sparrow (2) 3/28 Pine Flat Road PL
Black-headed Grosbeak 3/25 Spring Lake RRe
Black-headed Grosbeak 4/9 Russian River, Steelhead Beach area MH
Black-headed Grosbeak 4/11 Brush Creek, Santa Rosa KW, IM
Great-tailed Grackle (male) 4/5 Rooster Run Golf Club, Petaluma DN
Bullock's Oriole (male) 3/16 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Bullock's Oriole (female) 4/7 Paula Lane DN
Bullock's Oriole (male) 3/25 Spring Lake RRe
Bullock's Oriole (3 male, 2 female) 4/10 Paula Lane, mobbing Scrub Jay DN
Hooded Oriole (male) 3/21 Santa Rosa yard JT
Hooded Oriole (female or immature) 4/9 Paula Lane DN
Western Tanager 4/9 Steelhead Beach, Russian River MH
Western Tanager 4/11 Brush Creek, Santa Rosa KW, IM

CONTRIBUTORS: Steven Bauer, Sara Blauman, Peter Colasanti, Daniel Edelstein, Randy Gibbons, Greg Gothard, Betty Groce, Mike Heffernon, Rick Lebadour, Peter Leveque, John Luther, Ian Morrison, Dan Nelson, Bob Power, Anna Ransome, Rhio Reigh, Gail Roper, Ruth Rudesill, Jean Tonascia and Ken Wilson.

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