General Meeting info: The meeting begins at 7:30 PM on the third Monday of the month, except in June, July, August and December, at the First United Methodist Church 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.

The First United Methodist Church is on Montgomery Drive about one-half mile west of Montgomery Village between California Avenue and Talbot Avenue, and just two blocks east of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Parking is available on Montgomery Drive.

Thursday, January 19, 8:30 AM - Noon
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY. Bird Walk. We will bird the wetlands and adjacent areas of this facility in Petaluma. From Santa Rosa on Highway 101, take the Highway 116 exit (Lakeville Highway), go left under Hwy. 101, turn right (south) at the South McDowell traffic light, turn right on Cypress Drive, which ends at the facility gate. Information: Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, January 21, 8:30 AM to Noon
LAKE SONOMA. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Lake Sonoma Visitor Center. From Highway 101, take Canyon Road to Dry Creek Road, then Rockpile Road to the Center. Leaders: Bill Doyle, 483-8773 and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Saturday, January 21, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two children/family nature walks. One-to-two hours, dependent on age of children. Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. For the children/family walk in English, contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish, contact Connie Peabody at 338-2237.

Wednesday, January 25, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
BOLINAS LAGOON IN MARIN COUNTY. Bird Walk. Note 9:00 AM starting time. Meet at the first large turnout south of the Bolinas turnoff on Highway 1. Bring a lunch. Information: Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, January 28, 9:00 AM
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY, PETALUMA. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a walk at the Ellis Creek ponds. Go to the end of Cypress Drive and through the gates. Parking lot is on the left. Contact Bob Dyer at 763-2934.

February 1-28
BIRD-A-THON. Madrone's major fundraiser.

Wednesday February 1, 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa. For agenda information, contact Bob Speckels at robertspeckels@yahoo.com.

Thursday, February 2, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
HUICHICA CREEK UNIT OF NAPA-SONOMA MARSHES/HUDEMAN SLOUGH. Bird Walk. Meet at the Huichica Creek Unit parking lot. From Sonoma, take Highway 12 (Carneros Highway) toward Napa, turn right (south) on Duhig Road, turn left on Las Amigas Road, and turn right on Buchli Station Road, which leads to the wildlife area. We will bird the Hudeman area in the afternoon. Bring a lunch. Information: Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, February 4, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
BODEGA BAY. Come explore with us one of Sonoma County's richest bird areas. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1, turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff), turn right at the stop sign, and continue 0.3 miles to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Informal carpools leave Santa Rosa at 7:15 AM, from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Office, 747 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. To participate, please arrive by 7:05 to make arrangements. The parking lot is behind the office, accessed from Carrillo Street. Bring a lunch. Rain cancels. Leaders: Bill Doyle, 483-8773; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Saturday February 4, 9:00 to 11:00 AM
JUNIOR AUDUBON. We will join PRBO educators on this winter walk at Shollenberger Marsh and Ellis Creek Ponds to explore our local Petaluma wetlands and their importance to bird communities. Meet at PRBO's headquarters, 3820 Cypress Drive #11, Petaluma. Call Scott Campbell at 530-828-6115 for reservations and suggested donation.

Wednesday February 8, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1, turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff), turn right at the stop sign, and continue 0.3 miles to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Information: Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812. Bring lunch. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday February 11, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance/Madrone leads a nature walk. Meet at the first kiosk. Contact Bob Dyer, 763-2934.

Thursday February 16, 8:30 AM to Noon
SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK. Bird Walk. Parking fee ($7) for non-permit holders. From Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa, go east on Hoen Avenue, turn left on Newanga Avenue, turn right inside the park entrance gate, and meet in the parking lot near the restrooms at the top of the hill. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday February 18, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two children/family nature walks. One-to-two hours, dependent on age of children. Meet at the first kiosk. For the children/family walk in English, contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish, contact Connie Peabody at 338-2237.

Saturday February 18, 8:00 AM to Noon
SONOMA BAYLANDS. A variety of ducks, raptors, and shorebirds with good, closeup views. Meet in the parking lot of Port Sonoma Marina at the mouth of the Petaluma River. From Petaluma, take Lakeville Highway south to Highway 37. Go west on Highway 37, approximately one mile, and then turn left into the Port Sonoma entrance. Follow the entrance road west all the way to the lot on the river. Carpooling is encouraged. We will visit a number of productive spots. Rain at the meeting site cancels. Leaders: Bill Doyle, 483-8773 and Helen Kochenderfer, 484-2479.

Monday February 20, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. Shawn Smallwood will present "Wind Turbine Impacts on Wildlife." First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. Please see the Madrone Leaves for more information. The public is always invited to attend these programs.

Wednesday February 22, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
GRIZZLY ISLAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA. Bird Walk. Meet at McDonalds in the Sunset Shopping Center in Suisun City, located at the intersection of Highway 12 and Grizzly Island Road. Bring lunch. Driving time to meeting point from Santa Rosa is approximately 1-1/4 hours. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday February 25, 9:00 AM
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY, PETALUMA. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a walk at the Ellis Creek ponds. Go to the end of Cypress Drive and through the gates. Parking lot is on the left. Contact Bob Dyer, 763-2934.

Thursday March 1, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
SONOMA COAST: DUNCAN'S LANDING TO GOAT ROCK. Bird Walk. Meet at Duncan's Landing (within the Sonoma Coast State Beach), approximately three miles south of the Russian River on Highway 1. Bring lunch. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday March 3, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
PUTAH CREEK/LAKE SOLANO. Sample the wealth of bird life in Solano County. Meet at Lake Solano Park, 8685 Pleasants Valley Road, Winters CA. Take Calistoga Road (becomes Petrified Forest Road) to Highway 128. Turn right onto Highway 128, left onto Deer Park Road, right onto Silverado Trail North, and then left onto Sage Canyon Road/128. Follow Highway 128 until you reach County Road 86/Pleasants Valley Road. Turn right. The park is immediately over the bridge to your left. There is a $5 day-use fee at Lake Solano Park. To carpool, please arrive by 7:30 AM at our Santa Rosa meeting place, the Safeway parking lot at the northeast corner of Highway 12 and Calistoga Road. We will park at the edge of the parking lot bordering on Calistoga Road. Bring lunch. Leaders: Bill Doyle, 483-8773 and Helen Kochenderfer, 484-2479.

Wednesday March 7, 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa. For agenda information, contact Bob Speckels at robertspeckels@yahoo.com.

Wednesday March 7, 8:30 AM to Noon
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Bird Walk. Half-day search for birds at the Shollenberger Park ponds and wetlands in Petaluma. Meet in the Shollenberger Park parking lot. From Santa Rosa, take the Highway 116 exit (Lakeville Highway), go left under Highway 101, turn right at the South McDowell traffic light, proceed 1/3 mile to the City Park sign, and then turn right into the parking lot. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday March 10, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Mayacamas Mountain Audubon Sanctuary Field Trip. Terry Wright, professor emeritus of geology at Sonoma State University and president of Terry Wright Geology, an educational consulting company, will help us become more familiar with the dynamic geological history of the sanctuary and the Mayacamas Mountains. We will travel by car and make stops along Pine Flat Road, with short moderate hikes to geologic features. Bring pocket magnifiers and binoculars. Please no small children and no dogs. Meet on Pine Flat Road between Red Winery Road and the Sausal Creek Bridge. Heavy rain cancels.

Saturday March 10, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance/Madrone leads a nature walk. Meet at the first kiosk. Contact Gerald Moore, 763-3577.

Thursday March 15, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
POINT REYES AREA. Bird Walk. Meet in the parking lot across from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, which is just west of Olema. Bring lunch. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday March 17, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two children/family nature walks. One-to-two hours, dependent on age of children. Meet at the first kiosk. For the children/family walk in English, contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish, contact Connie Peabody at 338-2237.

Saturday March 17, 8:00 AM to Noon
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY and SHOLLENBERGER PONDS. A morning high tide should produce good shorebird conditions. Meet at Ellis Creek promptly at 8:00 AM; the group may decide to go to Shollenberger first. From Highway 101 in Petaluma, go east on Highway 116 (Lakeville Highway), right on Pine View Way, and then left on Cypress Drive. Go to the end of Cypress Drive and through the gates. We will meet at the large signboard at the beginning of the trail. Informal carpools meet at Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Office, 747 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, at 7:20 AM. The parking lot is behind the office (access from Carrillo Street). Leaders: Bill Doyle, 483-8773 and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Saturday March 17, 9:00 AM
JUNIOR AUDUBON. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Scott at Howarth Park (free parking) and a walk to Spring Lake. All that is required is good walking shoes, lots of questions, and binoculars (if you have them). The walk is about 1 ½(a fraction) miles. Let's see what we can find. Meet at the west end of the Howarth Park parking lot close to Lake Ralphine. Call Scott Campell at 530-828-6115 for reservations.

Monday March 19, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. Ron LeValley will speak about "Black Oystercatcher Research on the California Coast." First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. Please see the Madrone Leaves for more information. The public is always invited to attend these programs.

Wednesday March 21, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1, turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff), turn right at the stop sign, and continue 0.3 miles to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Bring lunch. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Saturday March 24, 9:00 AM
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY, PETALUMA. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a walk at the Ellis Creek ponds. Go to the end of Cypress Drive and through the gates. Parking lot is on the left. Contact Bob Dyer, 763-2934.

Thursday March 29, 8:30 AM to Noon
CRANE CREEK REGIONAL PARK. Bird Walk. Parking fee ($7) for non-permit holders. From Petaluma Hill Road, immediately east of Cotati, go a short distance on Robert's Road to the park's parking lot. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.

Wednesday April 4, 8:30 AM to Noon.
HUDEMAN SLOUGH WETLAND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. Bird Walk. There are no restrooms at this facility. Meet in the project parking lot. From Petaluma and Sonoma, turn right from Highway 12/121 onto Ramal Road. Continue 2.4 miles on Ramal Road to the gravel project parking lot on the right. For information contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
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CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. The Conservation Committee exchanges information by phone and e-mail as soon as possible when an issue surfaces. Please contact Diane Hichwa at 785-1922 or dhichwa@earthlink.net>.