Chapter Year Report

General Meeting

Russian River Water Wrangling

October Birding

Bird Walk Reports

Observations

Backyard Birding:
Water Gardening for Birds, Part One

Pee Wee Update

Related Activites

Eagle Feathers-a Legal Flap

North Coast Birds on Tape

British Birders for Corks

Protecting Coastal Rocks, Islets

New Edition of Field Guide

Magazines Benefit Audubon

This issue of the Leaves combines Madrone Audubon's yearly activities report with our annual fund-raising message. The chapter needs your support because virtually all of its conservation and community service programs are supported by voluntary donations.
Membership dues are much appreciated and help keep both National Audubon and the chapter running, but it is charitable gifts of all sizes that make possible the educational and environmental projects in which Sonoma County Audubon members take pride. A return envelope is enclosed to help encourage your support.
Here is a summary of what Madrone Audubon has done during the past year.
Bird Walks
The Madrone chapter now sponsors at least seven bird walks each month, except during the summer. Almost every weekend there is either a Beginners Bird Walk or a Field Trip, and Walkabouts are offered every Wednesday or Thursday (see Calendar). In addition, we have longer winter trips to the Sacramento Valley refuges, an evening vigil at the Vaux's Swifts roost near Healdsburg, and a series of nature walks at the Mayacamas Sanctuary in the spring and summer. That's a lot of birding, a lot of fun-and a lot of commitment by more than 20 Audubon trip leaders.
Monthly Programs
The chapter's monthly programs, arranged by program chairs Peter Leveque and Dan Kahane, have presented excellent speakers on topics of interest both locally and globally. During the past year, we've learned about Bald Eagles, hummingbirds, species at risk in California, the Headwaters Forest, birds of New Zealand, and birds of Britain, among other subjects. The meetings also offer an opportunity to meet other members, hear about recent bird observations in the area, and learn about local conservation issues and chapter activities.
Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary
A proposal by the City of Santa Rosa to run a wastewater pipeline through the Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary and up to the Geysers steam fields has demanded a lot of attention again this year from Madrone and from National Audubon-California. The Sanctuary, located north of Healdsburg, is the property of the National Audubon Society, but it is managed in "partnership" with Madrone Audubon. The chapter's Sanctuary Committee, co-chaired by Bill Payne and Peter Leveque, has been deeply involved in pipeline issues and negotiations.
At this writing, it still is not clear what route the pipeline will follow, but last September's legal settlement with the City is helping Audubon to safeguard the habitat values at the Sanctuary.
Numerous studies have been conducted on and around the property during the past year. Under contract with the Madrone chapter, Circuit Riders Productions of Windsor has undertaken ecological mapping and development of a restoration plan for the Sanctuary. The highly regarded non-profit firm, which specializes in ecological restoration, will also advise on control of invasive species and protection for areas disturbed by human encroachment. This project will continue into the year 2000.
Numerous engineering, archaeological, and biological studies, performed for the City of Santa Rosa as part of its pipeline project, will be of use to Audubon as well. As an extra safeguard against future pipeline problems, National Audubon recently hired a team of engineers to review the plans that have been drawn by engineers for the City.
The bird census study that was started by Madrone last year has been expanded to include some habitats that were not covered in the original study and additional areas that could be impacted by the pipeline. Volunteer census teams continue to monitor their study areas. The nest box project that was started in 1998 has had some success in encouraging cavity nesters; see the November Leaves for a full report.
A series of hikes guided by professional naturalists was offered at the Sanctuary during the spring and summer months. The hikes, co-sponsored by the Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District, were very well attended, and the Mayacamas Committee plans to offer even more hikes as the pipeline situation permits.
Despite the increasing presence of hikers, naturalists, and various consultants on the property, there continues to be evidence of damage by off-road vehicles and other inappropriate uses. Bob Palmer of Healdsburg, who has long taken an interest in the Sanctuary, has been appointed as its official part-time warden, and hopes to curb misuse by unwelcome visitors.
Conservation
Thanks to the involvement of several new volunteers, the Conservation Committee has had an especially productive year.
We supported the environmental contingent in long and gruelling negotiations that produced the county's compromise "hillside planting ordinance." This is the measure which attempts to curb vineyard planting and erosion on steep slopes within Sonoma County.
Other major issues this past year have been the Army Corps of Engineers' proposed Lake Sonoma land swap with the Cooley Ranch, and the planned displacement of Santa Rosa's Third Street wastewater ponds by an 83-acre athletic complex. Madrone volunteers continue to monitor bird activity at the ponds, which in winter play host to numerous waterfowl and shorebird species. In addition, we will continue to participate in the Russian River Watershed Council, as long as that alliance holds together.
The chapter also has signed on to phase one of a long-term effort to protect and restore wetlands on San Francisco Bay. Along with the other Bay Area Audubon chapters, we are funding a public information campaign to garner support for renewal of the Bay, a project which has been compared to the battle to save Mono Lake. Madrone's particular concern will be the Sonoma County shoreline on San Pablo Bay, from the Petaluma River to Sonoma Creek.
The Conservation Committee, co-chaired by Diane Hichwa and Clyde Nance, continues to meet at least monthly, monitoring and responding to conservation issues in the region.

Education
Pee Wee Audubon. Our successful Pee Wee Audubon program now sponsors one or two nature outings for children and their families each month. With outstanding professional leaders, and with strong involvement by parents and by Audubon volunteers, Pee Wee is an important weekend activity for dozens of Sonoma County families. Among the year's most popular programs were a dragonfly walk at the Laguna de Santa Rosa, a reptile demonstration, the annual nest box project at Spring Lake, and Bat Day. Our excellent Pee Wee organizers Marilyn Scott and Elham Rafla-Yuan had to resign for family reasons, and the very capable Janice Sinclaire has accepted the chair.
Youth Education Kits.
The chapter produced two new education kits this year, and now offers a total of eight kits on loan to teachers and youth group leaders throughout the county. Each kit is a large, wheeled suitcase full of interesting instructional materials and visual aids, on such topics as Owls, Bats, Nesting, Habitat, and Bird Identification, among others. The kits, which cost about $400 apiece, are in almost constant use throughout the school year. Education chair is Kathy Angell. For information on borrowing the kits, please call 823-1821.
Audubon Adventures.
The chapter and individual Madrone members purchased the Audubon Adventures science education program for dozens of classrooms in Sonoma County during the past school year. The package includes a series of six science newsletters for each child in the class, plus a teacher's guide, posters, and other visual aids. It costs $35 per class, per year. Signing up all the teachers and matching classrooms with donors is a big job, which has been taken on by Nancy Ryan, 996-6181.
Other Educational Services.
Because the Bouverie Preserve of Audubon Canyon Ranch offers many programs that further Madrone Audubon's goals and objectives, the chapter helps support the Preserve. Most recently, we purchased a "Bird Cam" video camera for Bouverie, which will provide close-up views of bird activity by children visiting the Preserve. The camera was funded by gifts in memory of our long-time Walkabouts leader, John McDonagh.
The chapter also provides experienced volunteers who can give presentations about birds in Sonoma County classrooms, upon request.
Outreach
Madrone Audubon's community education booth appears at events throughout the county, with free hand-out materials on chapter activities, landscaping for birds, and other topics. Despite a shortage of outreach volunteers, the booth was on hand this year at events celebrating the San Pablo Bay Flyway, the Russian River, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Earth Day, and Bodega Bay. The chapter also co-sponsored a photograph exhibit on "Natives by Locals" at the Finley Community Center, along with the California
Native Plant Society.