Each year at our annual potluck dinner Madrone Audubon announces the winners of three service awards. The winners are selected by a committee of board members. It is never easy to choose the award recipients with so many dedicated and active members contributing to our chapter, but we have a distinguished group this year.

The Evalyn and Les Bowen Award was established in 1988 to honor the memory of two very active people who helped found Madrone, and it honors members for outstanding contributions to the chapter. This year our selection was Gerald Moore, the chairman of the Petaluma Wetlands Committee. The committee has been running a successful docent program for Shollenberger Park and the soon-to-be Wetlands Sanctuary, giving many tours to adults and students and continuing a weekly bird survey. Gerald, an avid and talented photographer, has given two presentations at Madrone's general meetings this year and gave countless other presentations in support of the effort, recently declared a reality, to create Tolay Lake Park by acquiring the Cardoza Ranch property in southeastern Sonoma County. He is also a very active and productive member of Madrone Audubon's Board of Directors.

The Bewicks Wren Award was established in 1991 to acknowledge individuals who have given exceptional service to the chapter, supporting Madrone's activity and energy over a period of time. This year we have co-winners: Treasurer Elizabeth Desmond and Assistant Treasurer Becky Olsen. They will share the award, as they have shared the treasurer's duties for many years. Being the treasurer of any organization is normally a thankless job, so this is our opportunity to thank Elizabeth and Becky for their efforts.

In 2002 Madrone established the Martha Bentley and Ernestine Smith Award to honor the accomplishments of two of our distinguished charter members. As educators Martha (through Bird Rescue Center) and Ernie (through Bouverie Preserve) have reached untold numbers of children and adults. As environmental advocates they have worked tirelessly to protect wildlife and habitats.

This year the award went to Gay Bishop. With the coordinating efforts of teacher Terry Carroll, Gay provides Oak Grove School students with weekly bird watching field trips. In a program begun in 1995 at Willowside Middle School, and now in place at Oak Grove, six students (rotated throughout the year) accompany Gay and a parent volunteer driver for a one-hour class. The group is equipped with binoculars and field guides and the observations are recorded. Classroom bird studies continue throughout the year.

Gay, the author of A Class Trip to Miss Hallberg's Butterfly Garden, leads Madrone Audubon's Urban Bird Walk in Sebastopol each February, and is involved with Madrone's outings for Analy High School's Advanced Placement Biology students at the Laguna de Santa Rosa. She also participates in the Mayacamas Sanctuary's bird census and in the Tomales Bay Shorebird census for Cypress Grove Preserve.

Birds and people turned out in large numbers to enjoy Madrone Audubon's celebration of International Migratory Bird Day on May 14, held at the Summerfield Waldorf School on Willowside Road overlooking the Laguna de Santa Rosa. There were bird walks, programs on birds and migration, excellent food, music, activities for children, ongoing bird box construction and-did we already say there were a lot of people?

A perfect spring day, coupled with a beautifully illustrated Press Democrat article published a few days earlier brought a crowd of over 200 birdwatchers to an 8:30 AM guided walk along Santa Rosa Creek to Delta Pond, and over 100 gathered for the 3:00 PM walk. At the school, interest was high in the sales and displays of booths manned by volunteers from Madrone and its event partners: the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, California Native Plant Society, Redwood Regional Ornithological Society and Petaluma Wetlands Alliance.

And the bird participants? Majestic live raptors-a Swainson's Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk-were a big attraction during the morning's indoor presentation by WildCare, the Terwiliger Nature Education and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, while the "locals" continued to pursue their seasonal nesting duties apparently unfazed by the surrounding commotion. A bright-colored House Finch sang all day on a small tree near the Madrone booth, swallows flew in and out over the heads of the musicians, and a Black Phoebe brought insects to her young in a nest tucked under the corner of a nearby building.

Those who took the bird walks had a clear view of the large rookery where herons, egrets and cormorants were busily tending and feeding their offspring. Some special excitement awaited the 8:30 AM walkers, when a Common Black Hawk was spotted flying over the Laguna. A raptor "common" only in its usual range in the American Southwest and Mexico, this was the first-ever confirmed sighting of one in Sonoma County.

Madrone's Vice-President Veronica Bowers is to be particularly congratulated for the planning and organization-and hard work-that she did to make the day enjoyable for all. Many thanks are due also to Madrone stalwarts Betty Burridge, the on-duty bird expert answering questions all day, Ken Wilson, Becky Olson, Betty Groce, Neal Connor and Jean Tonascia for leading the bird walks, Ken again for his illustrated talk on the wonders and mysteries of migration, Claire Shurvinton for her booth with kids' activities, and MAS President (and fiddler) Sylvan Eidelman, who brought his band of musicians.

Special thanks from Veronica to the Madrone booth staff-Phyllis Schmidt, Marilyn Scott and Daphne Smith-and to helpful volunteers Marcia Johnson, Patrick Woodworth, Mary Abbott and Joannie Dranginis. Much appreciated also were valuable goods and services donated by WildCare, Sprint Printing, Wild Birds Unlimited and the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association.

Madrone is looking forward already to the 2nd Annual IMBD in 2006!

Anderson Marsh and Clear Lake State Park, Wednesday, April 20
Fifteen birders joined Jean Tonascia on a nice, sunny day to bird at Anderson Marsh, Clear Lake State Park and Lakeside County Park. Seventy-three species were observed. Highlights were seeing a mother Wood Duck with 8 babies following her, Western Grebes performing their dramatic courtship dancing on the water, and beautiful White Pelicans flying overhead at Anderson Marsh.

Salmon Creek Road, Thursday, April 28
Seventeen birders helped leader Richard Hurley scope out Salmon Creek Road in Bodega. Fifty species were seen. The insect eaters were out: swallows, flycatchers, warblers and vireos. In the forested areas birdsong was abundant and challenging and the camaraderie among the birders conspicuous. It was a good spring birding day.

Pine Flat Road, Thursday, May 12
On a beautiful spring day 24 birders accompanied leader Betty Groce up Pine Flat Road through the Mayacamas Mountains Audubon Sanctuary. The number of species seen, even in the burn area, pleasantly surprised us. A total of fifty species were tallied, including many singing male Lazuli Buntings, Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks, plus a couple of Olive-sided Flycatchers. Mountain Quail were heard but not seen. Many different splendiferous wildflowers added to the enjoyment of the day.

TIDE POOLS AT SCHOOLHOUSE BEACH
Saturday, June 25, 8:30 to 11:00 AM
Announcement submitted by Melissa Carlson, Erica Robenalt and Alexandra Carlson

Love the ocean? Always wanted to explore tide pools? Schoolhouse Beach is just four minutes north of Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast. With a special minus tide, we will show you the wondrous world of tide pools and the creatures that live in them. Bring a sack lunch and wear layered clothing-rubber boots would be good too, so your feet don't get wet! Recommended for children 6 to 12 years old and a parent. Space is limited so make your reservations soon by calling Beth MacDonald at 935-8560 or by e-mail to bbmacrob@aol.com.

This Pee Wee event is coordinated by Cadette Scouts of Girl Scout Troop 413 who are earning their Silver Award, with mentoring by Claire Shurvinton and Debi Luce.

A PEE WEE SPECIAL REPORT

"Batty" at the Topolos
By Alexandra and Melissa Carlson
Cadettes, Girl Scout Troop 413

Saturday, April 23, was perfect for bat viewing (it did not rain!). The location at the Topolos Restaurant and surrounding grounds was spectacular, and we had the best group of folks-58 kids and adults, all very enthusiastic about seeing bats at the Topolos!

The event began out in the green and white grapevine and jasmine covered courtyard as we introduced the evening by describing how Jerry Topolos and his family purchased the property over 20 years ago and immediately took steps to protect the small family of Mexican Free-tail bats that roosted there in the wood slats of the main house. These bat roosts have grown significantly over the years, now representing somewhere between 2,000 to 3,000 bats including the Mexican Free Tail, the California Myotis, the Pallet, and the Brown Bat.

After an hour of fun crafts and stories in the restaurant, Patricia Winters, Bat Expert from the Bat Conservation Fund, gave a fantastic presentation including a very informative slide show. Her presentation of "Live Bats" was really just the thing to bond us all with these small, tiny, endearing bats. Then it was time to head out to the garden courtyard just next to the main house to wait for the bats. It was just getting dark when Patricia Winters held up her bat echo-locator, indicating that if we were quiet and still they might come. And she was right…

The first of the Mexican Free Tails came out flying right through the courtyard towards the vineyard. More bats followed and we eventually all migrated to the parking lot, joining Claire Shurvinton where she pointed out dozens of bats at a time flying out from the side of the old house. It really was the grand finale of the evening. Soon it was dark and the guests drove off into the night, some of the youngest already heavy-eyed and dreaming about bats.

Although the Topolos family has just recently sold the property we have continued hope for many evenings to come with the Topolos Bats. Please write your good wishes and support for continued protection of the bats and their bat roosts to: New Owners, Topolos Restaurant, 5700 Gravenstein Highway, Forestville, 95436, 887-1562 OR 887-1575.

We want to thank Diane Hichwa so much for connecting us to this event as part of our Cadette Girl Scout Silver Award Project and also thank the others who helped make it a great success: Claire Shurvinton, Jerry and Christine Topolos, Barbara Carlson, Phyllis Schmidt, Beth MacDonald and Joyce Carlson.

ANNOUNCING-THE PEE WEE BIRD ART
COMPETITION WINNERS!
By Claire Shurvinton

Grand Prize:
Teresa Doan, Roseland School

Drawing Prizes:
Miguel Robles, Roseland School
Adrian Shader, Oak Grove School
Nicholas Elder, Oak Grove School
Abigail Reynolds, Oak Grove School
Leah Alman, Oak Grove School

Collage prizes:
Theo Saarinen
Shilpa Ati, Monte Vista Elementary

The Bay Area Audubon Council (or BAAC), a regional group of Audubon Chapters coordinated by Audubon California, held its quarterly meeting May 7. At these meetings, Audubon chapters from around the Bay Area update each other on conservation and education efforts in the local chapters. We work to coordinate our efforts with California Audubon's statewide focus on legislation and conservation. There is often an educational presentation as well.

Participating this month were President Sylvan Eidelman and Secretary Joyce MacLaury from Madrone, who joined representatives from Golden Gate, Ohlone, Sequoia, Napa-Solano, Santa Clara Valley, Marin, and Mount Diablo chapters. Attending from Audubon California were Executive Director Glenn Olsen, Legislative Analyst Julia Levin, and Graham Chisolm, Audubon California's new conservation director. The day's guest speakers were Acting Executive Director Karen Douglas and Attorney Bill Yeates, from the Pacific Conservation League.

Local chapter issues included AB 1296, the Bay Area Water Trail legislation, and a review of how impact to sensitive bird areas will be assessed when determining access to the bay for recreational watercraft. Each county is affected differently-for example, Marin has 24 potential access sites, and Sonoma only 4.

The regional conservation work at this month's meeting set the groundwork for a new San Francisco Bay program. An earlier San Francisco Bay program, administered by National Audubon, successfully preserved or restored approximately 50,000 acres of bay wetlands. New funding for a new San Francisco Bay program is expected to enhance local chapter efforts in preserving bird habitat around the bay by supporting a single focused effort that will encompass the entire bay region. It is expected that the program formation will be complete by this summer.

The Pacific Conservation League presented their stunning publication, "Everyday Heroes Protect the Air We Breathe, the Water We Drink, and the Natural Areas We Prize - 35 Years of the California Environmental Quality Act". The publication gives real world examples of how our major environmental protection law works, and whom it benefits. A local example involves the city of Richmond. Through CEQA's requirements allowing public comment, citizens were able to voice concerns to community leaders about a development of a commercial technology park in Breuner Marsh, historically used as public access to the bay in a region south of Point Pinole near Richmond. With added information about the environmental impacts of the loss of this resource, the city of Richmond was able to look for alternatives, such as purchasing the property for added parkland. This excellent publication from the Pacific Conservation League will be available through the library at the Environmental Center, 404 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa.

Despite the fact that we were two teams short of last year and that donations to non-profits have been down everywhere, we've managed to meet last year's total. Reported collections to date total $9391-amazing! All the teams should be applauded... and the sponsors, too. The top fund-raising team this year was the Featherquesters, Karen Nagle and Diane Hichwa. Not so far behind came the Roadrunners, Betty Groce and Jean Tonascia. Third and fourth place in monies brought in were the Grey-headed Seersuckers and Team Nuthatch.

As this is Madrone's major fundraiser of the year, we should give accolades to everyone who participated in the 2005 Birdathon.

2005 Sponsors, Part II
Karen & Jay Abbe, Clinton & Dorcas Allison, Rebecca Anderson-Jones, Susan Porter Bass, Evelyn & John Berger, David & Jean Marie Black, David & Kathy Biggs, Jayne Brogan, Trent Brown, Lynn Cominsky & Garrett Jernigan, Mark Crowley, Kit & David Daine, Don & Donna Friedrich, Jim & Glenda Gentile, Claire Green & Steve Sapers, Val Hanelt, Linda Hanes, Jean Sargent Hanks, Stephen Hemenway, Robert S. Herman, Bryant Hichwa, Katherine Hichwa, Tim Hicks, Emile & Linda Houle, Wendy & Chris Iaconis, Karen & Mike Kasper, John & Jo Kleis, Rich Kuehn & Dean Schuler, Laurel O. Luebs, Alida Morzenti, Guy Nicholas, Craig & Kelly Olson, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, Tom Pierce, Dave & Chris Powell, Linda Reichel, Jim Seeser, Michael Slater, Ernestine Smith, Juan Soberanis, Redford Spoeth, Tom & Lavetta Stankus, Ruth Stanton, Judy & Phil Temko, Liz & Mike Thach, Russ & Terry Van Horn, Craig & Tammie Vough, Danna Vough, Janice Vough, Kathryn Wright, Nancy & Bryan Yamasaki, Allan Young, Cathy & Larry Zbikowski.

BRYANT HICHWA
Bryant, a past president of Madrone Audubon who is currently our Audubon Canyon Ranch Representative, as well as a member of the Mayacamas Sanctuary Steering Committee, was recently named Teacher of the Year at Sonoma State University. Bryant teaches physics at SSU.

SYLVAN EIDELMAN AND JULIE MILLER
Sylvan is Madrone's President and a driving force behind North Bay environmental issues, including the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance. Sylvan and Julie are soon to be married-here is the story from Sylvan himself:

"This article is about birds-love birds. I was lucky enough to meet Julie at a poetry festival in Tuolumne Meadows three years ago, and we have had a long distance relationship since then. We share many things like our love for nature (and birds), backpacking, snowshoeing, gardening, and music making. Julie has been a resident of Yosemite for the past 15 years. She was an interpretive ranger for ten, and for the past five has been the interpretive services manager for the concession service in the park.

We will marry on May 19 in the Chapel at Yosemite Valley, and take a short honeymoon. Although we have no immediate plans for either of us to give up our present residences, we both desire to live together, and we plan on it in the future. Until that day we are thinking of petitioning the governor to see if he can make the state somewhat narrower, to shorten the distance between us."

KEN WILSON AND BECKY OLSEN
A little bird hovering around the Annual Dinner conveyed the message that Ken and Becky, two of Madrone's top birders and dedicated volunteers, are getting married sometime right around June 9!

New Local Madrone Audubon Members
BODEGA BAY: Jackie Sones. MILL VALLEY: Max & Mary Rodel. PETALUMA: Sharron & Richard Cosby. ROHNERT PARK: Linda Moorhead. SANTA ROSA: Kay Beatty, Christine Engel & Hugh Helm, Dennis Luz, Judy Filippa, Patricia Gilmore, Diana & Robert Speckels, Richard Woodman, Kenneth Wright Family, Anna Young. SEBASTOPOL: Norma Halbersma. SONOMA: Betsy Adams, Lombard Hunter. VALLEY FORD: Laura Erickson. WINDSOR: Pat Reed.

National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and other conservationists around the globe joined in celebration at the announcement that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been found in eastern Arkansas. The last accepted sightings of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker were in Cuba in 1987 and 1988, and the last fully documented United States sighting occurred in Louisiana in 1944. While there have been a number of reports of possible Ivory-billed Woodpecker sightings since then, none have been confirmed prior to this announcement.

"All of us who share this planet owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the individuals and organizations, especially The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Nature Conservancy, whose tireless efforts led to the rediscovery of this bird," said John Flicker, president of the National Audubon Society. "Thanks to their dedication, we all have a second chance to save this magnificent woodpecker from extinction. As it inspires our hopes, this resilient Ivory-billed Woodpecker must also inspire our commitment to protect the habitat it needs for survival."

"This extraordinary rediscovery provides hope for the 18 species classified as Potentially Extinct, such as Jamaican Petrel, Javan Lapwing and Pink-headed Duck," says Dr. Michael Rands, director and chief executive, BirdLife International.

A large, approximately 20-inch bird, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is dependent on old-growth forests of very large trees, such as cypress, for its habitat. Destruction and fragmentation of virgin bottomland forests throughout the southern United States, including floodplain forests along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, led to its decline and eventually to its believed extinction.

"The discovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker will make this site an Important Bird Area of global significance," said Flicker. Launched in 1981 by BirdLife International, the Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is a global effort to identify and protect critical bird habitat. Audubon fosters the protection of more than 1,800 IBAs coast to coast by engaging individuals, communities, organizations, and agencies in the stewardship, restoration, and conservation of Important Bird Areas.

Audubon and BirdLife International are urging members of the public to ensure the safety of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker by respecting its privacy. Stress from human disturbance poses a threat to its survival.

More information online:
Audubon Arkansas: http://ar.audubon.org/press/news_release_20050429.html
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology:
http://birds.cornell.edu/ivory/
The New York Times:
"The Woodpecker In All of Us": www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/opinion/03rosen.html
"Found in Arkansas: Hope on Wings"
www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/science/03bird.html
"The Lord God Bird"
www.nytimes.com/2005/04/30/opinion/30sat4.html

Long-tailed Duck 4/15 Shollenberger Park AW et al.
Wood Duck (with 7 young) 5/2 Spring Lake RR
Red-necked Grebe (2) April Doran Park jetty area M. Ob.
Black Tern (adult) 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Forster's Tern (10+) 5/9 Shollenberger Park - nest there again? AW
Bonaparte's Gull (200+) 4/17 Bodega Harbor, north-bound DN
Bonaparte's Gull (110) 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Red-necked Phalarope (30+) 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Red Phalarope (alternate plumage) 5/1 Salmon Creek Beach DF
Spotted Sandpiper (alternate plumage) 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Whimbrel (7) 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Red Knot (5; alternate plumage) 4/26 North Beach, Point Reyes DF
Cattle Egret (5) 4/26 Stony Point Road DN
Cattle Egret (1; alternate plumage) 4/30 100 meters east of Carmody Road DN
American White Pelican (39) 4/15 Shollenberger Park AW
American Bittern ("singing") 5/9 Shollenberger Park AW
Common Black-Hawk (adult) 4/16 Mirabel Road at Giusti Road EK
Gray Hawk (adult) 4/25 Fort Baker promenade, Marin County RS
Swainson's Hawk (dark adult) 4/29 Over Jamison Canyon Road near Highway 12/29 JM, RF
Swainson's Hawk (4) 5/1 Soscol Ferry Rd.at Devlin (near restaurant) RL
Golden Eagle (immature) 4/15 Near Occidental/ High School Roads JE
Bald Eagle (sub-adult) 4/22 Laguna de SR at SR creek confluence DJ
Crested Caracara 5/2 Mendocino Coast fide DT
Crested Caracara 5/4-6 Point Reyes, junior Mendoza trees fide LL, RS, KH
Crested Caracara 5/7 Over Rodeo Lagoon JC
Barred Owl 4/17 Bothe-Napa Valley State Park BG, HH, R. Leong
Cassin's Kingbird (1) 4/27 Vallejo, Nicole Street at Crest Ranch Park B. Lewis
Cassin's Kingbird (2) 4/29 Vallejo, Crest Ranch Park JM
Western Wood-Pewee 4/26 West County trail near Forestville MH
Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/16 West of Willowside Road KW et al.
Hammond's Flycatcher 5/5 Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo County RT
Gray Flycatcher 5/6 5/6 Mt. Davidson (near summit), San Francisco BF
Wilson's Warbler 4/25 SSU at Copeland Creek DS
Wilson's Warbler 5/9 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Black-throated Gray Warbler 5/9 Paula Lane, Petaluma (during stormy weather) DN
Yellow Warbler 4/22 Russian River at Steelhead Beach DN
Yellow-breasted Chat 4/30 Spring Lake (after several year absence) JT
Yellow-breasted Chat 5/2 Spring Lake R. Reigh
Yellow-breasted Chat 4/30 River Road MH
Black-headed Grosbeak (pr.) 4/21 Geyserville (mishap with window) TE
Black-headed Grosbeak 4/22 Russian River at Steelhead Beach DN
Black-headed Grosbeak (3) 4/25 SSU at Copeland Creek DS
Black-headed Grosbeak (female) 5/9 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Black-headed Grosbeak (male) 5/9 Owl Canyon DN
Lazuli Bunting (heard only) 4/25 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Lazuli Bunting 4/25 SSU at Copeland Creek DS
Hooded Oriole (4) 4/21 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Bullock's Oriole (male) 5/9 Owl Canyon DN
Western Tanager 4/18 Yard, Forestville MH
Western Tanager (2) 5/9 Paula Lane, Petaluma DN
Western Tanager 5/9 Yard, Sebastopol Barbara Arbunich
Great-tailed Grackle April-May Rooster Run Golf Club, Petaluma DN
Great-tailed Grackle 4/30 Crest Ranch Park, Vallejo AW, DH, BDP and.....
IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER (yes!) Cache River Forest, Monroe County, Arkansas.

There is no doubt THIS is the most exciting thing I've ever written in the Observations. They have been photographed and videotaped, as reported by the United States Department of the Interior. One of the first observers in 2004 was Mary Scott, who as a visiting birder from Massachusetts attended a "Mollymawk" pelagic trip from Bodega Bay. It (they) were seen again by "experts" who canoed to the known locality. The last reliable sightings in the US were in the 1940s or (maybe) 1950s.

Wow, how great is that??

CONTRIBUTORS: Barbara Arbunich, Juan Carlos, Tiffany Erickson, Janette Evans, Robbie Fischer, Brian Fitch, Dea Freid, Bill Grummer, Keith Hansen, Mike Heffernon, Herman Heisel, David Hofmann, Don Jackson, Erin Koski, Robin Leong, Bob Lewis, Les Lieurance, Joe Morlan, Dan Nelson, Benjamin D. Parmeter, Rhio Reigh, Doug Shaw, Rich Stallcup, Ron Thorn, Dorothy Tobkin, Jean Tonascia, Alan Wight, and Ken Wilson.

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