Wrapping Up a Productive Year

Annual Meeting

Pee Wee Audubon

Summer Vacation

Thank You

Observations

Midweek Walkabout Results

Pee Wee Report

Volunteers Needed

Planning for Pee Wee

City Backs Off Kelly Farm

Welcome New Members

Annual Financial Report

Birdathon Sponsors

Backyard Birding: Birds in Your Yard

Wrapping Up a Productive Year

MADRONE AUDUBON'S YEAR officially turned over at our annual meeting in May. Here are some highlights of our 1997-98 achievements as a chapter. Each is due to the support and participation of Audubon members. If you want to know more about any of these activities, please contact one of the Board members listed on the back page of the Leaves.

Conservation
Conservation issues came to the top of the agenda this year, when Madrone and the National Audubon Society had to file suit to keep Santa Rosa's proposed Geysers Pipeline out of the Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary. As Leaves readers know by now, the issue for us is preserving the Sanctuary's "Forever Wild" conservation easement; we will withdraw our suit if the City elects to keep the project off the Sanctuary. This issue could be settled any day, or go on for months.

Other major issues this year were the City's notion of locating a golf course on the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the State's proposal to lease open space at the Sonoma Developmental Center for development as vineyards. During the planning of the new Third Street "Place to Play" ball fields, our representatives successfully promoted some habitat conservation measures that will somewhat reduce the project's adverse environmental impact. The City is now seeking funding for the project.

Madrone has joined with the Sierra Club and other groups in monitoring the Santa Rosa Water Agency's proposal to draw more water from the Russian River. This issue won't go away. We've also lent our support to Marin Audubon in its effort to curb a proposed development at Black Point, and to the Bird Rescue Center for implementing its long-time policy of serving only native species. The Watershed Protection Alliance is struggling to draft an ordinance that will provide some protection for hillsides in the conversion of open space to vineyards. On numerous other issues the Conservation Committee has sent letters and testified in public hearings.

For the Chapter's effectiveness in these matters, special thanks to Conservation Co-chairs Clyde Nance and Diane Hichwa, Mayacamas Committee Chair Bill Payne, our representative to the Sonoma County Conservation Council, Joanne Dranginis, and the others who have participated in the many vital issues that have arisen this year.

Mayacamas Sanctuary
A continuing series of topical field trips to the Mayacamas Sanctuary began in May. The trips, led by specialists in various fields of natural history, stress the Sanctuary's potential in education and research. Topics include Native Plants, Grasses, Birds, and Geology, among others. According to Robert Evans, who organized the events, each trip is limited to 30 participants and most were fully booked within two weeks of the announcement in last month's Leaves. The most popular trips will be repeated, in an effort to accommodate all who wish to attend.

The Mayacamas Committee has arranged for a handsome new sign at the Sanctuary, identifying it as a property of the National Audubon Society, managed in cooperation with Madrone Audubon. Thanks to Peter Leveque, spring and fall camp-outs have become regular Madrone events, and about two dozen nest boxes have been mounted around the meadows. Some cleanup and habitat improvement projects have also have been carried out by Madrone volunteers. A bird census of the Sanctuary was completed this year, and is being prepared for publication.

Nest Boxes
Our nest box crew helped Sonoma County have a productive breeding season this year, building and selling more than 160 nest boxes in addition to those they mounted at the Mayacamas Sanctuary. The effort earned $2,500 for other Madrone Audubon projects.

PeeWee Audubon also did its part, setting up six new nest boxes at Spring Lake Park and assembling 24 others to be placed in back yards and other locations. Using donated, reclaimed lumber, Carol Bojarsky cut 30 nest box kits, which were assembled and mounted by PeeWee children and their families.

Education
Audubon Adventures
Madrone Audubon, its members and friends funded subscriptions to Audubon Adventures for more than 90 classrooms in Sonoma County this school year, and at least another 50 were provided by other sponsors. About 140 classrooms in the county---more than 3,500 children---now are benefiting from this valuable science enrichment program of the National Audubon Society.

For the second time this year, Madrone sponsored Audubon Adventures workshops for teachers during the county schools' Spring Inservice Education Day. Sixty new teachers participated, and will be receiving free Audubon Adventures subscriptions from the Chapter next year. The workshops, led by Kathy Angell and Robert Evans, included small-group sessions in which the teachers shared ideas for creative ways of using Audubon Adventures materials in the classroom.

Teachers' Resource Kits
Madrone Audubon now has seven resource kits available for use by teachers and youth group leaders. New kits on Bats and on Owls have been added to the original kits on Birds and Habitat, Identification and Nesting, Visual Aids, and Bird Storybooks. The kits were assembled by the Education Committee, and are available on loan from Resource Kit coordinator Judy Hartwig.

Judy reports that the kits were checked out dozens of times this year, and some are in constant use. To preview or borrow one of the kits, please call her at 823-4093.

PeeWee Audubon
The number of PeeWee Audubon family outings has been doubled this year to accommodate a growing number of participants. Because some winter programs were postponed due to rain, PeeWee actually had a total of four events in April!

PeeWee's successful expansion is due, in large part, to several parents who have volunteered to help set up and supervise the activities. PeeWee also wishes to thank the many people whose donations help pay the professional naturalists who conduct these programs, and enabled PeeWee to purchase several new sets of binoculars for use by the children.

PeeWee organizers Marilyn Scott and Elham Rafla-Yuan, along with Elham's young son Eric, were invited speakers at a workshop on youth programs during the Audubon Western Regional Conference at Asilomar this spring. This is the only family Audubon program in the Western Region.

Bird Walks
Our bird walks this year have begun to explore some new territory, as well as the County's popular birding hot-spots. With seven walks per month to choose from, there should be something for everyone. Thanks to Lew Edmundson for organizing the Field Trips and Walkabouts earlier in the year, and to Laurence Taylor and Betty Burridge for filling in. Field Trips and Walkabouts take a vacation in July and August. The bi-weekly Beginners Bird Walks, led by Bill Payne, Ken Wilson, and Jon Ferrari, will continue through the summer. As many as 100 people per month participate in Madrone bird walks.

Christmas Bird Count
Madrone's west Sonoma County territory should rank among the top territories in the national Christmas Bird Count again this year, with a total of 191 species seen. Our 132 counters had a beautiful day and a great evening potluck and tale-telling. Compilers again were Ken Wilson and Russ Agnew.

Breeding Bird Atlas
Madrone's Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas, edited by Betty Burridge, remains an essential reference for birders in the County. The book is available at local book and nature stores and Madrone Audubon events; about 150 copies were sold this year.

Membership
The Madrone Chapter now has its own handsome decal, thanks to the efforts of the Membership Committee. Decals are available to members at no charge, at Chapter meetings and events.

The committee also sponsors special bird walks for new members from time to time. These invitational events are hosted by some of Madrone's best birders, and include a brief introduction and welcome to the Chapter.

According to Membership Chair Karen Nagel, Chapter membership varies from month to month, but is generally around 1,800. "Some join mostly to receive Audubon magazine, while others are primarily interested in our bird walks or conservation activities," Karen says. "We especially appreciate those who are active participants in Chapter activities, but we value each person who shows their support by being an Audubon member."

-JSB