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.

February 1-28, 2010
BIRD-A-THON. Madrone's major fundraiser. (See Madrone Leaves for details.)

Wednesday, January 27, 8:30 AM to 3:00 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, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.

Saturday, January 30, 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. Rain cancels. Contact Gerald or Mary Edith Moore at 763-3577.

Wednesday February 3, 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa. For agenda information, contact Janeann Erickson at 795-2498.

Thursday, February 4, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
SEBASTOPOL AREA. Bird Walk. We will search for wintering birds in the northeast Laguna, Ragle Park, or other interesting local spots. Meet at the Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris Street. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, <sisyphus@sonic.net>, 546-1812.Hichwa at 785-1922 or dhichwa@earthlink.net.

Saturday February 6, 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 and turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff.) Then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the large, dirt 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 carpool, please arrive by 7:05 AM to make arrangements. The parking lot is behind the office, accessed from Carrillo Street. Bring lunch, liquids, and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

Wednesday February 10, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
POINT ARENA AND GARCIA RIVER AREA IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. Bird Walk. Meet in the parking lot at Arena Cove pier. In Point Arena, take Port Road down to the pier. In addition to the other local specialties, we will search for the resident Laysan Albatross-assuming it will frequent the Cove during our trip. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday February 13, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a nature walk. Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. Contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577.

Monday February 15, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. "Birding in the Land of the Thunder Dragon - Bhutan." Join Richard Kuehn for a visual tour of this magical kingdom at the First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive in Santa Rosa. Please see the front page announcement. The public is always invited to attend these programs.

Thursday February 18, 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 and turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff.) Then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the unpaved parking lot on the right. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday February 20, 8:00 AM to Noon
SONOMA BAYLANDS. Enjoy a wealth 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; 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. Bring layered clothing and a scope, if available. Rain at the meeting site cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bob Speckels, 569- 0563; and Bill Doyle, 483-8773.

Saturday February 20, 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 February 24, 8:30 AM to 2:30 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, liquids, and layered clothing. Driving time to meeting point from Santa Rosa is approximately 1-1/4 hours. For information, contact Tom McCuller at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday February 27, 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. Rain cancels. Contact Bob Dyer at 763-2934.

Thursday March 4, 8:30 AM to Noon
SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK. Bird Walk. Parking fee ($5) 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 at sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.

Saturday March 6, 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 on 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, liquids, and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.

April 23-26, 2010
FIRST ANNUAL POINT REYES BIRDING AND NATURE FESTIVAL
This event will feature 50 walks, presentations, and classes on birding, butterflies, wildflowers, and other nature subjects. Walks and presentations will be led by such well known and knowledgeable naturalists and birders as Rich Stallcup, Jules Evens, Lisa Hug, David Wimpfheimer, Steve Howell, Sarah Allen, Keith Hansen, Allen Fish, Ron LeValley, and David Herlocker.

Some events are free others are for a fee. Madrone Audubon is a co-sponsor. Find out more at the Festival website.

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>.