International Migratory Bird Day 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 event encourages bird conservation and increases awareness of birds through hikes, bird watching, information about birds and migration, public events, and a variety of other education programs.

Madrone Audubon is celebrating its second annual IMBD with a week-long series of events, beginning Sunday, May 14. The bird walks are open to everyone - all ages, all skill levels. NOTE: Please consult the May Calendar for times and meeting places.

Sunday, May 14: Bird walk at Bodega Bay, one of California's Important Bird Areas.
Monday, May 15: Madrone Audubon's Annual Meeting, with naturalist David Lukas. The program will begin at 7:30.
Wednesday, May 17: Bird walk at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Thursday, May 18: Evening bird walk for families at Spring Lake Park.
Saturday, May 20: Bird walks and other festivities at Shollenberger Park. Docent-led bird walks throughout the day, children's activites, nest box building and IMBD theme exhibit.
Sunday, May 21: PeeWee Audubon outing at the Mayacamas Sanctuary.

Do you realize Madrone has over 1700 members and Friends? We would love to get to know more of you! Perhaps you already enjoy Madrone's programs-we invite you to get actively involved and share your talents and experiences with us. A few Board positions are open for next year and we can use occasional help in many ways. Contact Sylvan Eidelman or Diane Hichwa, or any others listed on the back of this newsletter.

Audubon California's 2006 Chapter Assembly featured a familiar location and familiar topics, plus a new, encouraging look at Audubon's grassroots origin.

Representatives from 34 California chapters met March 19 through 21 at Asilomar's striking oceanfront grounds in Pacific Grove. It was the first Audubon meeting to be held there in six years and a much-appreciated return visit for many of those in attendance. With Audubon staff members, plus wildlife experts and government and conservation specialists, there were over 150 participants. Madrone Audubon sent three delegates, Gerald and Mary Edith Moore and myself.

The frequent downpours of this year's (in)famous rainstorms didn't dampen the energy and optimistic tone of the presentations. The Assembly's theme was "Saving the Endangered Species Act," familiar territory to be sure. A number of speakers evoked the successes achieved under this act since its passage in 1974-the dramatic rebounding of the populations of the Peregrine Falcon and the Brown Pelican, as well as the ongoing effort to reestablish the California Condor in the wild-even as they explored the means to defeat the current effort in Congress to weaken its provisions.

Major speakers were California Audubon Executive Director Glenn Olson and Brock Evans, president of the Endangered Species Coalition. Olson outlined the two major parts of the state strategic plan: conservation in five critical habitats identified statewide and education, including planning for more nature centers. Evans' message was to evoke a parallel between today's struggle with an administration hostile to environmental issues and the Republican administrations of the 70s and 80s, when significant victories were achieved in spite of formidable opposition. A "Citizen Mobilization Campaign" of National Audubon in 1982 was able to have a major influence.

Workshops under the title, "Conservation and Science" addressed the spread of avian flu, the effect of wind turbines on wildlife, and the progress of the California Condor recovery efforts. Fifty-six condors are reported to be alive at five sites in the state, though a discouraging number have died from lead poisoning, the result of ingesting bullet fragments in carcasses left by hunters.

A policy workshop on the Salton Sea led by Julia Levin, State Policy Director for Audubon California, made a convincing case for the restoration of this much-maligned body of water, all too often ignored as a "agricultural sump." In fact, it is the second most important bird area in the United States after the Gulf of Mexico-home for 90% of the eared Grebes and the western population of White Pelicans and 70% of California's Burrowing Owls. The air pollution from dust storms that would occur if the sea would actually dry up poses a severe threat to large numbers of Southern California residents. This threat has mobilized a cooperative planning effort, covering a wide range of alternatives from many state and private agencies, with a "preferred alternative" plan due by the end of this year.

Chapter building workshops discussed fund-raising, program planning and diversifying chapter memberships. Speakers from a Hispanic background enlarged upon how chapters might best attract and meet the needs of California's steadily increasing Hispanic population.

After a hard day of workshops on Monday a very special evening outing was most welcome-a just-for-Audubon reception and quality time with the marine residents of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Overall the delegates-Madrone's included-felt an atmosphere of appreciation for the work of the individual chapters. We were pleased to hear the new chair of Audubon California's Board of Directors, Stephen Blank, emphasize National Audubon's desire to build on the grassroots nature of our organization.

NOTE: Audubon California urges all concerned with the current legislation in Congress concerning the ESA (the "Pombo Bill, HR 3824) to direct their comments to Senator Diane Feinstein,
United States Senate, One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104. For more information go to http://ca.audubon.org/action.htm.

Migration is one of the great wonders of the bird world. Noted writer and naturalist David Lukas will discuss the dynamics of bird flight and the western bird migration, the web of life that stretches from Canada to the tropics. The boreal forests of Canada are now known to be the breeding grounds for staggering numbers of North American songbirds. Although surveying these breeding populations is virtually impossible, there are opportunities to monitor these birds as they migrate north or winter near populated areas in the United States.

David Lukas is a lifelong student of the natural world. He has done research in Borneo and the Amazon and worked on field projects throughout the western United States. He writes regular columns for the L.A. Times and California Wild magazine, and has published several guidebooks on California birds.

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 Nancy Lowney at 528-4284 if you can lend a hand.

Groggily I walked towards the kitchen, anticipating my morning cup of coffee. I glanced at the tubular bird feeder just a dozen feet outside the glass door. As I looked, I saw a bronzy glow extending an inch or more off the surface of a bird's back. "Something must be wrong with my eyes." So, I balled up my fists and gave my eyes a good rubbing Well, doggone it - the bird still exuded a bronzy shine!

I grabbed my binoculars, put them to my eyes and gasped. What I was seeing was absolutely beautiful. The bronzy haze turned out to be light reflected off a metallic green-backed bird, that then peeked around the edge of the feeder at me, revealing a bright, dark blue head, a red eye-ring and a scarlet chest.

My husband Dave and I thought it must be someone's escaped pet, a cage bird. But then, as we marveled at its beauty, a memory slowly surfaced; this bird looked like a Mexican bird we'd seen years ago. However, we were in northern California and the Painted Bunting occurred in Mexico and southern Texas. What was it doing here?

We determined that our bird had one mark not shown in the guides and e-mailed several birders about it. Well, it turned out that the extra green collar it had was the exact mark that excited the more knowledgeable birders because only young spring males still had some of their green, "baby plumage" coloration left. A young bird was more likely to be a misplaced wild bird than a mature male would have been. Immediately they began asking questions concerning the condition of its feathers. If the bunting were an escaped cage bird, its feathers would show wear from being brushed up against the cage sides. Pristine feathers would be more of an indication of a wild bird, which had somehow gone astray. We invited them over to ascertain this for themselves.

The first visitors that next morning were Mike Parmeter and then Ruth Rudesill. Two hours later it graced us with an appearance, displaying its vivid colors and the pristine condition of its feathers.

"We need to document his feather condition," Mike suggested. "I know just who we need: Rick LeBaudour." Rick arrived carrying a cannon, meaning not the brand name, but a lens the size of a cannon. He watched for the bunting. One hour passed, then two. Other birds came and went, but the Painted Bunting didn't appear.

A half-hour later all the birds disappeared. Rick lamented, "An accipiter must have come into the area." Just 90 seconds later, a Sharp-shinned Hawk dove into the very bush where we'd seen the bunting first land. Quickly we drew our binoculars to the "Sharpie." Did it have blue feathers sticking to its beak? It didn't, but that wasn't totally reassuring.

After three hours, Rick had to give up the chase, but he vowed to be back the next morning, and he was. We reassured Rick that we had seen the bunting again, so it hadn't become Sharpie food. Again, no sign of the subject bird. On day four Rick made one last attempt at getting a photo. Forty-five minutes into his vigil, the bunting came in and literally posed for him; Rick clicked off about 100 shots. Rick's color photos of the bird can be seen on the web at <www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/Bunting.html>.

What comes to mind when you think about the problems confronting wildlife? How about global warming, oil spills, habitat loss, poisons in the environment, collisions with windows, or the possibility of being shot or hit by cars? All these factors certainly impact our wildlife, but there is another danger that accounts for numerous wildlife injuries and deaths every single day-domestic cats.

Many cat owners are unaware of the dangers their feline companions pose to other animals. According to the American Bird Conservancy website, scientists estimate that hundreds of millions of birds are killed each year by domestic cats. Here's a small example of the impact free-roaming domestic cats have on a local level: in 2005 approximately 50% of the combined 4000+ songbirds brought into Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and WildCare Wildlife Center of Marin were attacked by domestic cats. Imagine the number of cat-caught birds brought to other rehabilitation centers, or worse, imagine the birds that were not rescued after being caught by a cat.

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I hear stories from cat owners about how their outdoor cat never hunts birds, or their cat may catch birds, but never harms them. Even if a bird has been freed from the jaws or claws of a cat without broken bones or deep flesh wounds, the bird likely received a puncture wound. A small puncture wound can prove fatal for a songbird as cats carry bacteria and viruses in their mouth and claws that can be lethal to birds and other wildlife. A significant portion of a bird's respiratory system is on the outside of their skeletal structure in the form of air sacs, making their respiratory system vulnerable. Birds also have a very fast metabolism, so bacteria introduced by a small puncture wound will rage like wildfire in a bird's body.

The cats that do the most damage to wildlife are usually well-fed pets. They are non-selective predators-they capture not only "pest" species such as rats and mice but also many species of wildlife including migratory birds, which are federally protected. Hunting is an instinctive behavior in cats that cannot be modified through training. Even cats that have been declawed are still able to hunt and kill wildlife.

As non-native, introduced predators, domestic cats compete with native wildlife for prey items such as rodents and reptiles. Populations of native predators are kept in balance by a variety of factors, but the number of domestic cats continues to grow. In 1997 a nationwide survey showed that there were 77 million pet cats in the U.S. and only a modest 35% were kept exclusively indoors. This statistic does not reflect the number of feral domestic cats, estimated to be as great in numbers as pet domestic cats. A recent article in National Geographic listed domestic cats as an invasive species and considered them one of the leading causes for declines in bird populations worldwide.

So what can we do to end the unnecessary suffering and death of birds and other wildlife caused by free-roaming domestic cats? We can educate cat owners, decision makers and the general public that free-roaming cats pose a significant risk to birds and other wildlife. We should encourage cat owners to keep their cats indoors, and we can advocate for laws, regulations, and policies to protect cats and birds including the humane removal of free-roaming cats from areas important to wildlife.

For more information about keeping cats indoors, visit American Bird Conservancy website at www.abcbirds.org.

2 Greater White-fronted Goose
618 Brant (nigricans)
42 Canada Goose
11 Wood Duck
cw Gadwall
cw Eurasian Wigeon
19 American Wigeon
164 Mallard
cw Cinnamon Teal
cw Northern Shoveler
15 Northern Pintail
2 duck sp.
31 Canvasback
1 Redhead
16 Ring-necked Duck
4 Greater Scaup
170 scaup sp.
201 Surf Scoter
2 White-winged Scoter
23 scoter sp.
267 Bufflehead
10 Common Goldeneye
43 Common Merganser
31 Red-breasted Merganser
30 Ruddy Duck
1 Ring-necked Pheasant
169 Wild Turkey
341 California Quail
3 Red-throated Loon
13 Pacific Loon
48 Common Loon
43 Pied-billed Grebe
84 Horned Grebe
5 Red-necked Grebe
139 Eared Grebe
25 Western Grebe

9 Brown Pelican
13 Brandt's Cormorant
13 Double-crested Cormorant
30 Pelagic Cormorant
5 Great Blue Heron (Blue form)
26 Great Egret
13 Snowy Egret
3 Green Heron
3 Black-crowned Night-Heron
169 Turkey Vulture

2 Osprey
9 White-tailed Kite
4 Northern Harrier
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
4 Cooper's Hawk
5 accipiter sp.
15 Red-shouldered Hawk
38 Red-tailed Hawk
2 Golden Eagle
27 American Kestrel
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine Falcon
1 Black Rail
cw Virginia Rail
3 Common Moorhen
198 American Coot
1 Black-bellied Plover
12 Killdeer
57 Black Oystercatcher
cw American Avocet
75 Willet
82 Marbled Godwit
4 Ruddy Turnstone
86 Black Turnstone
7 Surfbird
175 Sanderling
6 Western Sandpiper
27 Least Sandpiper
25 Dunlin
108 peep sp.
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
12 Wilson's Snipe
206 Red Phalarope
46 Heermann's Gull
219 Mew Gull
299 Ring-billed Gull
876 California Gull
23 Herring Gull
3 Thayer's Gull
995 Western Gull
249 Glaucous-winged Gull
14 Glaucous-winged Gull X Western Gull (hybrid)
1996 gull sp.
43 Forster's Tern
2 Pigeon Guillemot
1 murrelet sp.
2 Rock Pigeon
6 Band-tailed Pigeon
36 Mourning Dove
3 Barn Owl
2 Great Horned Owl
cw Burrowing Owl
2 Long-eared Owl
22 Anna's Hummingbird
9 Belted Kingfisher
4 Acorn Woodpecker
2 Red-breasted Sapsucker
13 Nuttall's Woodpecker
4 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
29 Northern Flicker
5 Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker
1 Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker
47 Black Phoebe
3 Say's Phoebe
1 Hutton's Vireo
37 Steller's Jay
91 Western Scrub-Jay
363 American Crow
69 Common Raven
3 Tree Swallow
147 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
9 Oak Titmouse
55 Bushtit
4 Red-breasted Nuthatch
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
26 Pygmy Nuthatch
3 Brown Creeper
1 Bewick's Wren
6 Winter Wren
2 Marsh Wren
8 Golden-crowned Kinglet
102 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
87 Western Bluebird
14 Hermit Thrush
994 American Robin
19 Varied Thrush
7 Wrentit
7 Northern Mockingbird
275 European Starling
2 American Pipit
24 Cedar Waxwing
cw Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
121 Yellow-rumped Warbler
32 Townsend's Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
35 Spotted Towhee
144 California Towhee
15 Savannah Sparrow
33 Fox Sparrow
42 Song Sparrow
270 White-crowned Sparrow
446 Golden-crowned Sparrow
2 sparrow sp.
579 Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco
238 Red-winged Blackbird
44 Western Meadowlark
1070 Brewer's Blackbird
2 Brown-headed Cowbird
48 blackbird sp.
27 Purple Finch
92 House Finch
15 Pine Siskin
10 Lesser Goldfinch
53 American Goldfinch
30 House Sparrow

14,719 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS COUNTED
149 TOTAL SPECIES REPORTED
NOTE; Birds listed as "cw" were seen during the count week, but not during the actual count day. Bird entries not counted as species are indented.

Mark your calendars! On Sunday, May 21, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, we will host a special PeeWee outing to the Mayacamas Mountains Audubon Sanctuary. So grab your binoculars, gardening gloves, and sack lunch. Join us as we plant a tree and take a special nature and birding hike through the sanctuary.
Meet at 10:00 AM at the Sausal Bridge (just past the Jimtown Store). We will carpool to the sanctuary. Each child and his/her parents will have the opportunity to plant a tree to help restore the sanctuary, and then we will take a short, guided hike. We will end with a sack lunch and a short talk from Mayacamas Sanctuary Manager Curtis Kendall.
To register, please e-mail Madrone Audubon member Liz Thach at LizThach@aol.com or leave a voice mail message at 664-4212.

FORESTVILLE: Elizabeth Sample, Dr. & Mrs. Roger Stewart. NAPA: Mike & Ann Barrett. PETALUMA: Karen Buchanan. SANTA ROSA: Barbara McAuliffe & Patrick Coyle, Joseph & Kathleen Gaylord, Donna Horner, Betty Vess, Connie Weber. SEBASTOPOL: Richard Lemon, David Minium, Claire Styliandides.

Rain, rain, rain has brought so many changes to our three preserves this spring-havoc from streams and bay waters spilling over their banks, blocked and altered trails from fallen trees and mudslides, delayed arrivals and nesting for some migrant birds, notably PicherCanyon's Great Egrets and Cliff Swallows.

The muddy trails and sodden meadows, however, have delighted hundreds of schoolchildren with countless earthworms, newts, banana slugs, and late-blooming jelly fungi. The sounds of rushing streams, happy tree frogs, and squishy walks on pond banks have competed with the normal 4th-grade squeals and chatter. Our docents are waterlogged but happy and anxious to discover what those late rains will mean to all our plant and animal communities.

We urge you to come see a somewhat different spring. ACR's Bolinas Lagoon Preserve is open to the public on weekends and holidays 10 AM-4 PM, through July 16. Weekday visits can be arranged by appointment only, Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 AM-4 PM; call (415) 868-9244 to reserve a time.

ACR's Bouverie Preserve will, for sure, have a wondrous bloom of wildflowers this year. There is one Guided Nature Walk remaining this spring, on Saturday, May 6. Audubon Chapter members receive priority in reserving a space; call 938-4554 as soon as possible to apply for a chance to join this popular half-day walk with a Bouverie Preserve docent.

GENERAL INFORMATION: No reservations are required. The field trips are free and open to the public. Bring your lunch and refreshments for the day; wear layered clothing, hats, and sun protection. Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots are recommended. Heavy rain cancels the hikes unless otherwise indicated. Meet on Pine Flat Road between Red Winery Road and the Sausal Creek Bridge. Pine Flat Road begins 1/4 mile past the Jimtown Store where Highway 128 makes a sharp right turn.

Sunday, May 7, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Bob Evans has recently published "Pine Flat," a history of the community, now being prepared for a second printing. He will lead an easy-to-moderate walking trip, about five miles total, through "metropolitan" Pine Flat and Pine Flat Cemetery, down Foss Stage Road to Whiskey Springs and back. Limited to adults.

Saturday, June 3, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Some of Madrone Audubon's finest birders-the Beginners Bird Walk team-will lead this walk through the Sanctuary and along Pine Flat Road. Parking is available at the Alexander Valley Community Church, two doors west of the Jimtown store.

Sunday, June 4, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Kathy and Dave Biggs will help us find and identify the dragonflies found along Pine Flat Road and on the Mayacamas Sanctuary. Behavior and biology will be explained. We'll visit seeps, springs, ponds and creeks and end at the Russian River. Each habitat should present us with a different Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) fauna. Close focus binoculars are best, and a 10-power or higher hand lens would be helpful.
Please wear shoes and clothes that can get wet. Children 12 and over OK. NOTE: Any rain cancels this easy hike.

Madrone's annual Birdathon lacked a chairperson this year, but four teams continued the tradition. Here is a first listing of their generous sponsors.

From Betty Burridge of the "Gray-headed Seersuckers":
Martha Bentley, Sandra and Walt Bodley, Marianne Caratti, Richard Cuneo, George and Phyllis Ellman, Eleanor Guilford, Jack and Deyea Harper, Don and Louise Johnston, Ellen Krebs, Marie Ludemann, Carla Miles, Jo (Mrs. Clark) Nattkemper, Mike Nelligan, Dr. B. D. (Mike) Parmeter, Linda Petrulias, Earl and Kathy Rathbun, Carole Sunlight, Bob and Sherrie Thomas, Don and Marilyn Toms, Jerry and Karen Wagner, Larry and Mary Yabroff.

From Karen Nagel of the "Feather Questers" team:
Nancie Barker, Gay Bishop, Noelle Bon, Judy Brinkerhoff, Margaret Brubaker, Liz and Jeff Bundschu, Ginny Fletcher, Karlene Hall, Jean Hanks, Maggie Salenger and Peter Haywood, Rebecca and Mike Hengehold, Pat Hildreth, Peter Leveque, Susan Luber, Jim Moir, Cindy Monges, Ted Nagel, Celeste and Roger Phillips, Sally Pola, John Reese, Richard Shipps, Ernie Smith, Shirley Spina, Deborah Votek, Kathryn Wright.

Huichica Creek and Hudeman Slough, February 15
Fifteen birders joined Don Howard on a beautiful clear mid-winter day to bird the Huichica Creek and Hudeman Slough units of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. Sixty-three species were seen. Highlights included more than 20 Greater Yellowlegs feeding at the edges of the shallow ponds at Huichica Creek and a distant kiting, immature Ferruginous Hawk at Hudeman Slough. The hawk was identified only after a long study and discussion by the group.

Bodega Bay, Thursday, March 9
A flock of 23 birders helped Richard Hurley identify 62 species during a clear windy day at Bodega Bay. Some locals call it "Blowdega Bay." There weren't any standout birds seen, just the usual ample amounts of species. The trip had to be called off after lunch due to the cold wind. Still, we'd rather be pishing.

Howarth and Spring Lake Parks, Wednesday, March 15
A handful of optimistic birders disregarded threatening rain clouds and joined Betty Groce at Howarth Park on March l5. The bird list was pretty typical of the season, tallying 63 species between the two parks, some of which were regaling us with their spring songs. It was unusual to see and hear at least six Brown Creepers singing. Fortunately, the rain held off until after we were finished.

Point Reyes, Wednesday, March 29
Four intrepid folks braved the elements to get to Bear Valley and join leader Don McCarthy. We found 43 species at Bear Valley, Muddy Hollow, Limantour Beach and Olema Marsh. Two Peregrine Falcons were the most notable sightings.

The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa needs volunteers as the spring nesting begins in earnest. The most important positions are at the admissions desk, to answer phones and check in visitors, and help with feeding baby birds. Call Martha Bentley at 545-5501 or the Center at 523-2473 for more information.

A baby bird's best chance of survival is its mother-a Bird Rescue story: Martha Bentley responded to a call on March 21 from Nina, a 12-year-old who had found a baby hummingbird. Martha arrived and found the baby calling "eep, eep, eep." She explained that babies leave the nest and perch nearby while mother continues to feed. They put the baby up on a twig, stepped back eight feet to watch, and within 30 seconds mom zoomed in and fed! Nina and her mother were ecstatic! THIS is what we like to see.

Sonoma Valley Spring Bird Festival
Saturday, May 13, 6:00 AM-1:00 PM

Attention all Wine Country birders! www.sonomabirding.org will team up with co-hosts Viansa Winery & Wetlands and Sonoma Ecology Center to offer a major new half-day spring birding event in celebration of the "2006 International Migratory Bird Day." The festival will conclude with a great lunch and celebration at Viansa Winery, 25200 Arnold Drive in Sonoma. For more information or to sign up, contact us at www.sonomabirding.org or phone Tom Rusert at 939-8007.

Delta Pond Heron Rookery
Sunday, May 21, four walks, starting every 45 minutes from 8:30 AM on.

This is a special day of easy three-mile walks led by the Laguna de Santa Rosa docents. Last year the heron rookery had 90 nests! The walk is being offered as a special fundraiser for our Learning Laguna Bus Transportation Fund: $10 adult, $5 kids. Advance reservations are required. Send donation, names and time preference with e-mail address (for confirmation) to: Laguna Foundation, 50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 609, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. NOTE: Please be sure to put "Delta Pond" on the envelope.

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