Is that a HEWA, a BUOR or a WETA? If you find this language mysterious, you haven't been a member of a census team observing the bird life on the Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary during the past four years. According to Sanctuary Chairman Bill Payne, over 75 Madrone Audubon members have participated in the census, recording data that, when computerized and studied, will be published as a checklist of the birds within the area of the Sanctuary.

There have been two census projects since the Mayacamas property was acquired by Madrone Audubon in 1994. The first one, done in 1996 and 1997, covered 12 plots of four different habitat types: oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and forest. After the Santa Rosa pipeline project became a reality in 1997, the need for another, larger census became apparent. Riparian areas were added, as well as sections that would be particularly impacted by pipeline construction. The second eighteen-month census of 17 new plots began in January of 1999 and included two major spring areas and the entire length of Little Sulphur Creek within the Sanctuary.

The methodology of the census is called an area search, an internationally standardized method of evaluation of bird populations. Once a month, at more or less the same hour in the morning, participants walk through plots of up to 7 acres in size and record every bird seen or heard during a 20-minute period. They use standard abbreviations for the names of the birds (the codes above refer to the Hermit Warbler, the Bullock's Oriole and the Western Tanager) and numbered categories for ambient conditions such as temperature and wind. They note whether a species was seen or heard, and pay particular attention to observations of breeding activity.

The Dark-eyed Junco was definitely the most numerous and widespread species found in the Sanctuary. Nesting birds of note included the Rufous-crowned Sparrow, the Yellow-rumped Warbler and the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The best views of young in and out of the nest were provided by a pair of Red-tailed Hawks who occupied the same tree in the upper portion of the Sanctuary for two years in a row. Coopers Hawks also nested successfully.

Pileated Woodpeckers were regularly sighted, with evidence of nesting, and Mountain Quail, true to form, were nearly always heard and rarely seen. Nashville and Hermit Warblers and Lazuli Buntings appeared frequently in spring, and the Pine Flat area seems to be one of the best places in Sonoma County to find the Western Tanager.

Wintering birds of note were a Rock Wren near the serpentine outcrop, and a Burrowing Owl near Ferguson Springs. Group leader Ian Morrison reported a close encounter with a Northern Pygmy-Owl that posed for viewing, and then "departed, pursued by a Nuttall's Woodpecker and a host of Bushtits".

The presence of large flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons was encouraging to see; much less so was the presence of increasingly large numbers of Wild Turkeys, not a native bird in Sonoma County. Finally, two species were worrisome by their scarcity or their absence-the Western Kingbird and the Loggerhead Shrike respectively.

Census volunteers enjoyed extras such as bobcat sightings and a fresh mountain lion track that was found in the sand of Little Sulphur Creek. They endured the side effects of poison oak, mosquitoes and ticks…and more ticks. However, as group leader Joan Dranginis noted, "We had the benefit of focusing attention on the diversity of bird species in this wonderful spot, and getting to know it better with each visit."

Greetings and welcome to Madrone Audubon Society. As we enter the fall of 2000 we are faced with a number of challenges and opportunities. The Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary is at an important crossroads. With Audubon-California, the Madrone Audubon Chapter will begin work on the Master Plan for the Sanctuary. At the same time the Santa Rosa Wastewater Project will be under construction. We will need to carefully monitor this project if it crosses our Sanctuary to ensure that a minimum amount of environmental damage occurs. With each challenge however, comes opportunity. As part of the environmental mitigation for potential pipeline construction, we will be able to restore critical habitat on the Sanctuary. This brings us back to the importance of the Master Plan for the Mayacamas Mountain Sanctuary.

We welcome and need your assistance in these efforts. The Madrone Audubon Chapter has always been a resource to the community for environmental activism. In fact, Audubon chapters around the United States have played a leading role in preserving the precious ecology of our world. When my wife Diane and I joined Audubon in 1969 in South Bend, Indiana, little did we know that it would open a whole new world to us. Audubon chapters are distinctive from other environmental groups. The strength of local Audubon chapters is in the vast array of ecological knowledge of its members and their willingness to share that knowledge. Whether on a field trip or at a meeting, whether it's about birds or flowers or butterflies or trees or rocks, Auduboners always have the time and patience to help a novice learn. From those interactions come life-long friendships and camaraderie while caring for this fragile planet of ours.

For those among the Madrone Audubon Chapter who are actively involved, thanks for participating. For those of you who are interested, come and join us on a weekend field trip or a mid-week walkabout or a general membership meeting. With your participation we can make a difference.

The birding community has lost a dear friend and beloved mentor with the recent passing of Dr. Jack Arnold. A California native raised in the Central Valley town of Coalinga, he studied biology at Fresno State University, earned his Master Degree at U. C. Berkeley in 1934, and his doctorate in ornithology from Cornell University in 1938.

He was the first scientist hired by Sonoma State University when it opened in 1961, and it was he who hired the scientific staff and designed and set up the School of Natural Sciences. He had full time tenure until he retired in 1976, then continued teaching part time and curating his vertebrate collection until he sustained a serious injury at SSU about 3 years ago.

He had long been active at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, having been named a Fellow in 1970. He continued his association there, which included working with the bird and mammal specimen collections and even accompanying travel groups, until shortly before his accident.

A long time member of Madrone Audubon Society, he taught a very popular and demanding Ornithology course at SSU attended by many local Audubon members. He is fondly remembered as a gentle, patient teacher who expected a maximum effort from each student.

He was a founder and patron of Redwood Region Ornithological Society, a non-profit bird study group that has done much to enhance the knowledge and skills of local birders.

Almost everyone who knew him has a favorite Jack Arnold story. One he often told on himself occurred while he was on a field trip in Mexico collecting small mammals. One morning as he was preparing to preserve a mouse on an outside table his attention was diverted briefly but just long enough for a Steller's Jay to swoop down and make off with his intended scientific specimen.

During WWII while in the U. S. Army in the European theater he was able to continue his passion for birding, and one of his war stories was to recount his first sighting of a Wall Creeper, on the castle of Chillon on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Everyone who knew him remembers him as a dignified and caring gentleman. His handsome features and gracious manner were equaled only by his vast scientific knowledge, which he shared so willingly with us all. He is survived by a son, John, and two grandchildren, and hundreds, if not thousands, of adoring and grateful friends and admirers.

By Betty Burridge

In 1996, the San Francisco District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received congressional funding to investigate and develop restoration opportunities within the Russian River watershed. The State of California's Resource Agency, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and the concerned residents of the Russian River watershed came together with the Corps to form the Russian River Watershed Council (RRWC). The Council's early progress has been exceedingly slow, but it is treading new territory in collaboration, and the issues at stake are complicated, with no easy answers.

The RRWC's mission is "to protect, restore, and enhance the biological health of the Russian River and its watershed through a community-based process, which facilitates communication and collaboration among all interested parties." The RRWC consists of four groups or caucuses: Environmental, Economic, Public, and Agency. It has 54 voting members (18 from each of the first three caucuses) and 20 non-voting Agency members. Madrone Audubon's Conservation Committee has been involved since the early days of the RRWC and is a member of the Environmental Caucus.

The Corps and the Resource Agency have signed an agreement enabling funding for RRWC purposes. It is the first agreement of this kind with a community-based group.

During the last fiscal year, the RRWC voted to fund a Watershed Coordinator position, initiated work on the Russian River Interactive Digital Library, and funded portions of the Department of Fish and Game's Graphical Information System habitat assessment and streambed mapping efforts. The RRWC has approximately $200,000 available for restoration work in this fiscal year, more if it can secure matching funds for federal grants.

Assemblywoman Pat Wiggins sponsored legislation that set aside $1 million in Proposition 13 water bond funds for Russian River watershed protection, restoration, and enhancement in Sonoma County. This is being administered by the Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Sonoma County Water Agency, on advice from a nine-member council representing the RRWA, agriculture, and state and national wildlife and water agencies.

What's next? The RRWC leans toward starting with restoration work in the Willow Creek watershed near the mouth of the Russian River, or a similar watershed, in conjunction with partners such as State Parks, Mendocino Redwood Company, Trout Unlimited, and local watershed groups. It is seeking funding for similar work in Mendocino County.

The RRWC meetings are open to the public, and participation on the workgroups is encouraged. The next RRWC meetings are September 9 and November 18 at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 205 First Street, Cloverdale. The meetings run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with the first half devoted to Council business and the rest for speakers and Russian River restoration-related presentations. For more information on the RRWC, its workgroups, and a full chronology of their meeting agendas and minutes, visit the RRWC web site: http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/russian/

Scott Barrow, Madrone's representative on the RRWC, can be contacted at sabarrow@pacbell.net or 876-3530.

Warm Springs Dam, Wednesday, May 31, 2000
Sixteen birders joined Lew Edmondson on a warm, sunny day at Warm Springs Dam Visitor Center, finding 38 species. Highlights were a California Thrasher and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the group section of the campground.

Lake Ralphine, Sunday, June 11 - Dragonflies
No dragonflies were found at Airport Park, so Kathy and Dave Biggs took the PeeWee Audubon outing to Lake Ralphine. Seen were many Cardinal Meadowhawks, Flame Skimmers, Western Pondhawks, and 8-spotted Skimmers. Widow Skimmers and Common Whitetails were also abundant.
One male Blue Dasher was seen along with a few Pacific Clubtails (inc. one just emerging!) Blue-eyed, California and Green Darners were sighted. Also seen were a few Black Saddlebags.
Many damselflies were on the lake including Tule Bluets and some Dancers. We didn't try to ID the damselflies.

Spring Lake, Tuesday, June 13 - Dragonflies
Kathy Biggs and Doug Ellis led about16 hardy and eventually very HOT souls as they identified 15 species of dragonflies at Spring Lake on the Madrone Audubon Beginning Dragonfly Walk. When we ended the field trip around noon, it was over 100 degrees outside and even some of the dragonflies were seeking the shade.

The species of dragonflies we found were:
Tule Bluets - many, seen ovipositing. Examined in hand.
Northern Bluets - only a few
Pacific Forktails - only a few
Western Forktails - only a few
Blue-eyed Darners - many, seen in wheel
California Darners - some
Green Darners - many, seen in wheel
Western Pondhawks- many, seen ovipositing
8-spotted Skimmers - many, seen ovipositing
Widow Skimmers - many, including females
Common Whitetails - abundant, seen ovipositing
Flame Skimmers- many, seen ovipositing
One unidentifiable Darner with green thoracic side stripes
Blue Dashers - some, seen ovipositing
Cardinal Meadowhawks - a few
Black Saddlebags- many, seen ovipositing. Examined in hand.

Pine Flat Road, Thursday, June 15, 2000
Faced with the threat of a triple-digit temperature, seven intrepid birders joined Lew Edmondson to bird Pine Flat Road, finding 38 species. Highlights included a Lazuli Bunting, a Western Tanager and an adult and two young Red-tailed Hawks on a nest.

The Madrone Audubon Society wishes to thank the following persons for their donations to the Chapter:

Bonnie Hogue
Virginia McCarthy

In honor of the marriage of Missey Berliner-Brumund and Richard Berliner:

Patricia West and Richard Smith
William and Paget Lenarz

In memory of Shoji Ono:
Fred and Irene Hoshiyama

A Trip to the Spanish Pyrenees and Southern France

Travel for an evening with Bryant and Diane Hichwa as they share their slides and birding experiences in Provence and the high valleys of the Pyrenees Mountains. These regions are rich in history, architecture and unique cuisine, as well as being two of the best birding areas in Europe.
The Camargue is the delta of the Rhone River in France, a setting for many wetland birds, including many birds migrating from Africa, and a southern neighbor of the historic cities of Arles and Avignon.
In the Spanish Pyrenees there is a pristine region still sheltering the major birds of prey in Europe, the Griffon Vulture, the Egyptian Vulture and the elusive Lammergeier.

NEW LOCATION: 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. As always, the public is invited to these programs.

Madrone Audubon wishes to express appreciation to the First Presbyterian Church for its past hospitality. A delegation of your chapter's officers has made this change in response to a need for better acoustics at the monthly meetings.

Dragonflies - they aren't birds, but they are attracting the attention of many birders.
Madrone member Kathy Biggs' new book "Common Dragonflies of California, A Beginner's Pocket Guide" is now published. The softbound book has 96 pages and contains 117 color photographs covering a total of 77 of California's most common dragonflies and damselflies. A checklist of all California species is included. For each included species there is information on size, descriptions of the male and female, a comparison to similar species, habitat information, current known flight period, and remarks on behavior. This is the first dragonfly guide available for this western area. The book is designed to be small enough to be taken into the field in a pocket at 5.75" X 4.5".

The book has an award winning companion website with distribution maps, which are updated twice yearly, and additional information that is frequently updated: California Dragonflies and Damselflies <http://www.sonic.net/dragonfly >.

The book normally sells for $9.95 plus tax and shipping. However Kathy is offering it to Audubon members at a special discount rate of only $9.00 (tax included). Order it through the link on her California Dragonflies and Damselflies website (see link above and mention "AUDUBON" when you fill out the form), or order it by mailing to Kathy Biggs c/o Azalea Creek Publishing, 308 Bloomfield Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472-5161 or by calling Kathy at 707-823-2911. There is a $2.00 shipping fee for one book, $3.00 for two, and $4.00 for larger orders.

Rural Heritage Initiative Benefit Screening of
"Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western"

Winner of Best Environmental Film at Telluride Mountain Film Festival

Thursday, September 7, 7-9pm
Rialto Lakeside Cinema
551 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa

Tickets, $15 each or two for $25, are available at all Copperfield's bookstores.
Here is your chance to support the Rural Heritage Initiative Campaign by attending an exciting new movie relevant to our situation here in Sonoma County. Fred Euphrat of KRCB will host the presentation, and refreshments will be served. Bring your friends and family!

Madrone Audubon has officially endorsed the Rural Heritage Initiative, which will appear on the November 2000 ballot. Joannie Dranginis is Madrone's outreach representative for RHI. If you have questions or comments about the measure, or would like to help get the word out about RHI, please e-mail her at jhd880@metro.net.

The RHI Campaign Headquarters are at 404A Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa, telephone (707) 523-4744, website www.ruralheritage.net

Hey folks - it's that time of year again and another fantastic year of Pee Wee Audubon field trips awaits! Please note my new number: 857-3931.

Saturday, September 25th is the Hawk Hill migration observation. Our annual trip to Hawk Hill will coincide with presentations made by the Golden Gate Raptors Observatory. Docents of GGRO will also assist in the identification of the many raptors we are sure to see at this prime spot on the Pacific Flyway. Last year we even saw a young bald eagle! Bring water and dress in layers and stay long enough to see the banding demonstration at 1 PM! Call Janice Sinclair for directions and to RSVP at 857-3031 (Note the new number!).

Coming up: On Friday, October 20 we've scheduled another visit to Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge. This trip was marred last year by ash and smoke from fires at Lake Berryessa. Mark your calendars!

Bolinas Lagoon Preserve
The babbles, gurgles, and squawks from Year 2000's heronry have ceased. The fledglings from 11 Great Blue Heron nests, 60 Great Egret nests, and 2 Snowy Egret nests have dispersed. The 15 or so miles of the Preserve's trails are resting now from the thousands of visitors and schoolchildren this past spring and summer. It was a wonderful season, with many festive occasions honoring our volunteers, sponsors, and the 30th birthday of our award-winning docent program. Special thanks are due to all you chapter volunteers who were our weekend hosts during this past public season. Your time and energies spent greeting the public under the Squawking Heron Tree were greatly appreciated.

There may still be time to join a most special group of nature-lovers: The
18th Docent Training Program at Bolinas Lagoon Preserve will begin in September and run for 22 Wednesdays. Graduates of this program will join the 100 active docents already teaching and sharing their love of nature with 4th and 5th graders. Please call (415) 868-9244 for more information on this very special, award-winning training.

Bouverie Preserve
During the quiet and heat of summer, Bouverie's wild turkeys, coyotes, and bobcats have roamed freely, hundreds of newts have estivated in cool burrows, and myriads of wildflowers have gathered energy for another spectacular spring display. For the rest of this year, our beautiful 100-acre Preserve in Sonoma's Valley of the Moon is open only to schoolchildren, docents, and the fortunate persons who apply for the special Saturday nature hikes scheduled for Sep. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and December 9. Call (707) 938-4554 for a lottery form for these very popular trail days.

Audubon Canyon Ranch is an independent non-profit organization which
owns and administers 3 educational Nature preserves in Marin and
Sonoma Counties. It is supported by 4 Bay Area Audubon chapters
including Madrone Audubon Society.

The birds come to you when you visit the Vaux's Swifts roost at Rio Lindo Academy in Healdsburg. Leader Rodd Kelsey will meet all interested birders by the chimney on the Academy campus at 6:30 PM on Wednesday evening, September 20.

As part of their annual migration, these tiny birds arrive gradually at first, then form a whirling vortex just before sunset as thousands of them descend into their chimney for the night.

Directions: From Highway 101, exit at Old Redwood Highway/Healdsburg Avenue, south of the central Healdsburg exit. Proceed north to Bailhache Avenue, turn right on Bailhache, which becomes Rio Lindo Avenue, and follow it about 3 miles into the Academy's main entrance. Take a left at the first stop sign, and another left just before the dormitory. In half a block, turn right toward the rear of the campus. The chimney is on a side street west of the athletic field.

This issue of the Madrone Leaves marks the debut of two new members of its editorial team: Susan Webb as Calendar Coordinator and myself, Daphne Smith, as Features Editor. Susan and I are joining veteran workers Mary Haller, Production Editor, and Jackson Rannells, Copy Editor. We value their experience and we are grateful to be part of a team effort!

Items for inclusion in the monthly Leaves Calendar should be sent to Susan either by e-mail at mmwsw@metro.net or by phone at 823-0810. Any other items, such as articles, coming events of interest to MAS members, observations and bird walk reports may be sent to Daphne at dwarsm@aol.com or at 546-7808. IMPORTANT: Information should be submitted by the 10th of each month to guarantee inclusion in the following month's issue.

Working in another dimension, Jeff Holtzman is the webpage editor of the Madrone Audubon society's award-winning webpage, "Madrone OnLine". Jeff would like to encourage everyone to keep checking in for new features. Members can contribute by sending in rare birding alerts, backyard birding observations, travel notes, and bird pictures. There's an email link at the website, but our email address is Madrone707@hotmail.com.

Black-footed Albatross (100+) 7/15 Cordell Bank RS, RR,BDP et al
"Salvin's" Albatrosst (1) 7/29 Cordell Bank DSh, et al
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (20) 6/28 Cordell Bank DN, TCN
Dark-rumped Petrel 7/15 Cordell Bank RS,RR,BDP et al
Magnificent Frigatebird (2) 6/1 off Bodega Head CO, fide VO
Red Knot (2) 8/7 Limantour DR
Pomarine Jaeger (sub ad.) 6/25 Hudemann Slough DS
South Polar Skua (4) 7/15 Cordell Bank RS, RR,BDP et al
Least Tern 7/21 N. end Bodega Harbor PC,AW
Black Tern 6/17-18 N. end Tubbs' Island LH, AW
Black Skimmer Jul.-Aug. Corte Madera bird ponds RS, et al
Peregrine Falcon 7/2 Adobe Canyon Rd. IM
Peregrine Falcon 7/4 Doran Park DN
Short-eared Owl (2) 8/4 Tubbs' Island DS
Rufous Hummingbird 7/2 Furlong Rd.; Sebastopol NB
Anna's Hummingbird (albino) 8/7 Breeze Wy., off Pet. Hill Rd DR , EB
Olive-sided Flycatcher 5/16 Bodega Dunes Campground NC
Townsend's Solitaire 7/9 2.2 mi. up Ida Clayton Rd. DS
Black-and-White Warbler 7/2 Woodward Valley trail, Pt. Reyes N.S. DS
Chestnut-sided Warbler (fem.) 6/5 Bodega Bay Marine Lab entrance DN, BDP
Magnolia Warbler (singing male) 6/4 Campbell Cove DN,DS,GR
Hooded Warbler (singing male) 6/3-4 Owl Canyon DS, TE, DN et al
Northern Parula Warbler (fem) 6/3 Owl Canyon ST, LT, DN
Golden-winged Warbler (male) 6/4 Pt. Reyes Lighthouse (1st on outer PT.) M.Ob
Yellow-breasted Chat June Wohler Rd. DN
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male) 6/3 Campbell Cove BDP
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6/16 2 mi. W. of Occidental SH
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6/16 Ronne Dr., S.R. BT
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6/22 Hillcrest Dr., Sebastopol GG
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8/11 off Old Redwood Hwy., S.R. DS
Blue Grosbeak (2) 6/18 Tubbs' Island AW, DS
Indigo Bunting May-June Burdell Mtn. (N. of Novato) RS, et al
Black-chinned Sparrow May Geysers Rd. BDP, DH, DE
Sage Sparrow 6/25 off Adobe Canyon Rd. IM
White-throated Sparrow 4/27 Proctor-Terrace neighborhood GH

CONTRIBUTORS: Elaine Barnhardt, Nikka Bingel, Peter Connors, Nancy Conzett, Ted Eliot, Doug Ellis, Gene Gaffney, Grace Harris, David Hofmann, Lisa Hug, Sharon Huyck, Ian Morrison, Dan Nelson, Tyler Cannon-Nelson, Cathleen and Vince Orsini, Benjamin D. Parmeter, Dave Rahl, Don Reinberg, Gail Roper, Ruth Rudesill, Doug Shaw, Monica Schwalbenberg-Pena, Debbie Shearwater, Rich Stallcup, Scott and Linda Terrill, Barbara Tomin, and Alan Wight.

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