Great birds, great counters and great weather were the order of the day for Madrone Audubon's 34th annual Christmas Bird Count on December 30, 2000.

The total species seen this year was 192, and 38,028 individual birds were counted, approximately 9,000 less than last year. Some birds were noticeably low in numbers, such as Ruddy Duck, both Scaup, and all three Scoters. Some of the shorebirds with low numbers were Killdeer, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling and Dunlin. Forster's Tern and Common Murre were also rather sparse. On the other hand, we had many birds that showed up in higher numbers than they have in the past twenty years. Some of these were Snow Goose, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, White-tailed Kite, Least Sandpiper, Pileated Woodpecker, Stellar's Jay and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Unusual birds seen included Long-tailed Duck, Glaucous Gull, Wilson's Warbler and Red Crossbill.

Our 2000 Christmas Count turned out 137 birders, including one counter under the age of 18. From this time on, there will be no fee for anyone under the age of 18, since Audubon hopes to encourage younger birders to participate.

For comparison, here is a little detail from last year's count. The official figures, as listed in National Audubon's "American Birds", were 186 species, 46,987 birds and 144 counters. This ranked us 11th among the 1779 counts north of the US-Mexican border, amassed by a total of 42,442 counters and 9231 feeder watchers. For further information on this or any other count over the past 10 years, log on to birdsource.com.

Our report would not be complete without giving thanks to the many who contribute to this day: Russ Agnew, who spends many hours at the computer; Pete Leveque, who ensures that we have a place for our post-count potluck; Olive Corey and Virginia Mcdonagh, who host the potluck; the team leaders; and of course the many counters who return year after year. Special mention must be made of Doug Ellis, who passed away in early January. Doug spent many a Christmas count, including this past one, out in the cold and dark, searching out the owl population and boosting our count totals. He will be missed and hard to replace.

For a list of birds from this year's Christmas Bird Count click here.

The 2001 count will take place on Sunday, December 30, so mark your calendars.

The dry, warm weather of last November and December provided spectacular viewing days at all northern Sacramento Valley locations, from the Davis area north to the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge and east of Sacramento.

The undisputed star was the albino Red-tailed Hawk that was seen on each of several trips at Scott/Payen Road, east of Sacramento. When first seen in November 1999, it was mottled with occasional white patches. This year there are few colored feathers, a dull gray wash to the tail and wings, and the black spot on the nape of the neck which was present last year also. Probably close to two and a half years old now and looking quite robust and healthy, this unusual bird seems restive and shy for a Red-tail, moving from tree to tree within its territory.

In the same area there were spectacular views of Lewis' Woodpeckers and female Phainopeplas, and in one 20 minute period, a Merlin ate a Horned Lark while Prairie Falcons and Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks did flyovers. All this, even though the rolling, open oak woodlands of eastern Sacramento County are being transformed quickly into the greater Sacramento urban complex.

In the northern valley, the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR and the roads leading to it (Road Z and the Butte City Highway) provided some of the most spectacular birding of the early winter season. Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Bald Eagles, White-tailed Kites, Rough-legged and Red-shouldered Hawks and Northern Harriers were frequently seen, as were a flock of more than 200 White-faced Ibis. A slough along Road Z was a haven for some 60 Black-crowned Night Herons, along with about 200 Wood Ducks.

Llano Seco provided great views in spectacular light of all the dabbling ducks from the first of two overlooks. Sandhill Cranes also frequented this spot, as did Dunlins, Dowitchers, and many sandpipers. Bald Eagles, up to six per trip, were also in this area of flooded fields and riparian habitat. Roadside views of thousands of cacophonous Tundra Swans and geese were particularly stirring.

Unfortunately for birders and other groups studying and enjoying natural history, Sacramento NWR is now enforcing (with patrols) a policy of not allowing anyone out of cars on the auto tour, except at two designated spots. This precludes being able to opportunistically stop for unusual or especially interesting sightings. Still, blue morph Snow and Ross' Geese, Eurasian Wigeons, Black-necked Stilts, and American Bitterns, along with all the more common waterfowl and waders, can be seen from a car, if not shared on the spot with the occupants of other vehicles.

Colusa NWR has been the best place my daughter Sarah and I have found for Sora and Virgina Rails. Taped calls and patience provided incredible looks at both on several occasions. The transmission towers here remain the favored haunts of both Peregrine and Prairie Falcons.

Expect the Violet-green Swallows back this month! Have you opened up their nesting boxes and cleaned out last year's debris? Do it now, so they return to a tidy homestead.

Barn Owls are nature's answer to gopher control. If you're lucky and live where Barn Owls might reside (near an open area), put up a box or two for them. You may tempt one of these beauties to move in. Barn Owls are losing habitat as large trees with holes, and especially old open hay barns, are being removed from our landscape.

Barn Owls and their brood are large, the adults being about 16" tall and weighing about one pound. The box should be a good 22" wide and deep, and maybe 24" tall. It should have a roof overhanging the front hole, and the entrance hole should be about 10" square. Dimensions do not need to be exact. Barn Owls build no "nest", but you can put an inch (not more) of pine shavings on the floor when you hang it. Use no sawdust, as it is breathable.

The box can be constructed of just about any wood, such as exterior plywood, 3/8" to 1/2" thick. Don't paint or finish off the inside. The box should be mounted high in a tree, a barn, or on a pole. Place it 15-25' high, with the hole facing away from the wind, and as far away from human clatter as possible. The Bird Rescue Center in Santa Rosa has more information if you need it.

Now is the time to expect our little Allen's Hummingbirds back from their winter migration below our borders. They're the tiny ones that leave in late summer; they have a fiery red throat and a green and rusty-brown body. They're much smaller than our year-round Anna's, which have a fuchsia-purple throat. Just a quick reminder to clean and fill your feeders with white sugar water (four parts water, one part sugar); no red dye or honey, please!

Plant something native, beautiful, and utilitarian for our birds: one of the Rhus species. This is the sumac family, and for us easterners, they are NOT like the sumac we're familiar with. Our California sumacs have leathery evergreen leaves, and are attractive for the leaves alone. But they also give us pretty, nectar-filled flowers, followed by fruit for the birds.

The native sumacs are from dry chaparral country, so give them full sun and no summer water after they've become established. You can use one as a specimen tree, or use them as hedges, as foundation plantings-anywhere you need a barrier or a hedgerow.

I'll digress here and define hedgerow (as compared to "hedge"). I think of a hedge as a row of shrubs, all the same kind, used as a barrier, a divider, or a fence. A hedgerow IS a hedge, but its purpose in gardening for wildlife, for one thing, is to supply many types of food sources for wildlife: nectar, berries, fruits, insects. So you might have one or two shrubs of toyon, a couple of Rhus spp, a wild rose, a manzanita, etc., all growing in a line together. Hedgerows also provide cover for nesting. But a hedgerow has another purpose in the grander scheme of things; it can link your yard to your neighbor's yard, and his yard to the next yard. This gives wildlife a corridor, a freeway, where it can safely travel under cover, from one territory to the next. It is an interlace, rather than a divider, and helps wildlife maintain genetic diversity, so islands of populations don't become stranded in the midst of human disturbance.

Back to our native sumacs: look for lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia); laurel sumac (R. laurina), which can be used in a container or as a tree; sugar bush (R. ovata); and squaw bush (R. trilobata), which is deciduous in winter and will accept some shade. Call our native plant nurseries for availability. Planting them while the ground is moist will lessen your watering chores for now, but they will need some watering this summer.

Madrone Audubon stalwarts Ken Wilson, Betty Burridge, Joan Dranginis and Diane Hichwa will present slides of their recent fascinating trip to New Zealand.

Topics will include: a major habitat restoration project on TiriTiriMatangi, a semi-tropical island off the coast of the North Island; the volcanic regions of the North Island; a celebration of the Maori culture; the birds and sea mammals of Queen Charlotte's Sound; the spectacular Alps and fjords of the South Island; and the ever changeable weather and elusive kiwis of Stewart's Island.

The program begins at 7:30 PM on Monday, March 19, at the First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. As always, the public is invited to these programs.

Join us at Goat Rock Beach, 12 miles north of Bodega Bay, to learn all about our harbor seal population. Local expert Julie Woodruff will talk to us about these fascinating creatures, and since this is the breeding season, we should see plenty of newborn seal pups! We have set Sunday, April 29, as a rain date, only in the event of heavy rain on the 8th. Please call Amy Kelsey at 473-9785 for directions and to RSVP.

Just when so many threats to our fragile ecosystem are mounting at an alarming pace, the month of March brings fresh hope to our struggle to save habitats and humanity… On March 7th the Bolinas Lagoon Preserve at Audubon Canyon Ranch will graduate 40 new docents, who will convey a respect and love of nature to over 3000 schoolchildren this year. Imagine the ever-growing sphere of influence these bright, energetic, and committed volunteers will spread over 4th and 5th graders in the Bay Area. Inner-city children will have a chance to explore food webs, walk on trails instead of concrete, examine a banana slug instead of stepping on it. Congratulations, new docents, and Godspeed!

A Special Invitation for Our Audubon Friends

Bouverie Preserve cordially invites all Audubon members and their families and friends to a private Audubon Hiking Day on Saturday, May 19. Because this occasion is so popular, we must choose participants by lottery. Please call for a lottery form at 938-4554; or e-mail a request to nancy@egret.org. Don't miss this once-a -year opportunity to see our beautiful preserve in Sonoma's Valley of the Moon in all its spring glory!

Conn Dam and Lake Hennessey, Wednesday, January 17
Nineteen birders joined Jean and Jim Tonascia on a sunny, cool day at Conn Dam and Lake Hennessey, finding 58 species. Highlights included two Bald Eagles flying over the Conn Dam spillway and one at the top of a tree on the south end of Lake Henessey. Three Ospreys were also seen. In Pope Valley, twelve Hooded Mergansers and several Ring-necked Ducks were observed at a farmer's small irrigation pond.

Point Reyes, Thursday, January 25
The Madrone Audubon walkabout group braved gale force winds and thunderstorms with heavy rain during the excursion to Point Reyes. After the earthquake trail we went to the fish docks. The highlight of the trip was finding a Long-tailed Duck (formerly Oldsquaw), a lifer for many of the group. Weather forced the breakup of the trip about noon but all agreed it was an exciting day. Many thanks to leader Betty Groce.

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday and Sunday, January 27 & 28
Clear skies and sunshine showed off the plumage of many of the numerous species we saw this weekend, though a cold wind reminded us that it was still winter. On Sunday, the wind dropped and the temperatures rose to a very comfortable level. The number of birders in our group was very low, so we are considering changing this trip to a November weekend.
Saturday at Sacramento NWR produced the usual suspects, with four Bald Eagle flybys and large numbers of Northern Harrier and hawks. Geese numbers were low with most birds either in the air or out in the surrounding fields. Northern Pintails seemed to be especially numerous. A Rough-legged Hawk and a Merlin started our day off by cruising the parking lot. Becky Olsen was sharp-eyed enough to get a brief look at a Black Rail. Later in the day a tour of the back roads north of the refuge produced Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans.
At Gray Lodge we got good views of two American Bitterns, a Bald Eagle, two Great-horned Owls and a Loggerhead Shrike. Total count for the two days was 77 species. Leaders: Ken Wilson and Rebecca Olsen.

Bodega Bay, Thursday, February 1
On a glorious, spring-like day, 30 birders joined leader Betty Burridge to bird various areas at Bodega Bay. A total of 82 species were observed. The highlights included wonderful looks at two Rough-legged Hawks as they hovered close by and a female Merlin, which was perched in a tree in the distance. There was a lot of discussion over the identification of the Merlin, which elicited the following comment from one of the participants: "With all these good birders here, you'd think they could agree on what that bird is." We finally did agree, although it took quite a bit of studying and a lot of discussion from all observers.

Sebastopol, Thursday, February 8
On a sunny day, 26 birders joined leader Gay Bishop for the Sebastopol outing. The Community Center ponds provided great looks at Moorhens, Cinnamon Teal and Snipe. At the dairy nearby many Cattle Egret hunted. The bike trail gave us a look at a Red-tail Hawk carrying off dinner, and Ragle Park afforded us a California Thrasher singing. A total of 65 species were seen.

You are cordially invited to visit Madrone OnLine's latest addition, the Bird Art Aviary, a multimedia collection of bird art by famous artists, naturalists and ornithologists. The site includes the work of John James Audubon, J. Buffon, John Gould, Thomas Bewick (for whom our mascot bird, the Bewick's Wren, is named), Alexander Wilson and Roger Tory Peterson.

You can reach the site from Madrone Online's front page: <http://audubon.sonoma.net> or go directly to "The Bird Art Aviary" at <http://audubon.sonoma.net/art/aviary1.html>

MMS Committee Chair Bill Payne announced that the clean-up at Horse Trough Springs, an important wetland site in the Sanctuary, has been completed. This prepares the area for restoration and re-seeding, which is now in the planning stage and will take place next year.

With year-round water available, Horse Trough Springs is a valuable birding site. It will be easily accessible when restoration is completed, with a large turn-out for vehicles and short, easy trails for observations.

A team of six workers did the clean-up in late fall. Since the location had previously been used as a hunting camp, there was considerable debris to be removed and hauled away. Carl Hansen and Peter Leveque shared leadership of the project, and their enthusiastic and dedicated assistants were Bram Glaeser, Neil Connors, Ken Magoon and Gordon Nannally.

Some writing, greeting and record keeping, but no math required… We need your participation! Would you like to contribute to your chapter's continuing success and involvement in the environmental concerns of our community? Madrone Audubon has several openings for the upcoming 2001-2002 year. We would especially like to encourage new members to become active.
Current Board openings include membership chair, program chair, publicity chair, general meeting "greeter", recording secretary and corresponding secretary. To learn more about these positions please contact one of the following members of the nominating committee: Claire Shurvinton (527-6118), Diane Hichwa (579-1182) or Lew and Marilyn Edmondson (763-9264).

Wild on Wetlands Weekend. March 10-11 in Los Baños. A wildlife festival in the 160,000-acre Grassland Ecological Area of California's Central Valley. Tours to see migratory waterfowl, workshops, demonstrations and family activities. For information, contact the Los Baños Chamber of Commerce at (800) 336-6354 or www.losbanos.com.

Aleutian Goose Festival. March 23-25 in Crescent City, Del Norte County. Celebrate spring with the entire world population (35,000 +) of Aleutian Canada Geese. Also a great time to see winter-lingering waterfowl and experience the peak of whale migration. Registration information: (800) 343-8300 or www.delnorte.org/soar.

Fairfield Osborn Preserve Hikes. Naturalist-led hikes on the western slope of Sonoma Mountain every Saturday at 10 AM, March 10 through May 19 (no hike April 14). Two to three hour excursions, appropriate for families. No reservations required; for directions, call 795-5069, or consult www.sonoma.edu/org/preserve.

7th Annual Heron Days Festival. April 14-15 at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and Rodman Slough on Clear Lake. Festival includes pontoon boat rides, guided kayak tours, hikes, and educational programs. Information from the Lake County Visitor Information Center, (800) 525-3743, or http://www.lakecounty.com.

Maintaining a 27-year tradition among area environmental interests, the Sonoma County Conservation Council and the Sierra Club again co-host this gathering of friends and supporters, to share a repast and honor people whose efforts to protect our natural treasure have been especially noteworthy.
Brock Dolman, of the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, will make an illustrated presentation on "Thinking like a Watershed". There will also be exhibits and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Environmental Center of Sonoma County.
No host bar; dinner catered by A La Heart. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door. For reservations and information, call 578-0595 or 544-7651

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Sonoma State University (Extended Education), 664-2394
Owls. Five meetings, Thursday, March 8-Saturday, March 17. After an introduction to owls at the first evening meeting, we will head to the field to observe owls in west Sonoma county, Yolo county, and Grizzly Island in Solano County.

Point Reyes Field Seminars, (415) 663-1200
An Evening with Owls. Saturday, March 24, 5-9 PM. We will discuss the natural history of owls and attempt to call and see owls, both at Point Reyes and Tomales Bay State Park.

Santa Rosa Junior College (Community Education), 527-4371
Grizzly Island Wildlife. Saturday, April 7, Noon to 7 PM. Meet at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma. Grizzly Island features waterfowl, spring migrants, birds of prey, including owls, elk, and otter.

SRJC Department of Natural Resources, 527-4408, 527-4685
Park Volunteer and Docent Training. Six meetings (three Wednesday evenings and three Saturday field trips), April 25-May 12, 2001.
A class featuring trailside teaching techniques, natural and cultural history education, with field trips to coastal and inland parks and preserves.

The University of California's Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program has published a number of free or low-cost brochures and manuals concerning birds and other wildlife in oak woodlands.
One, "Vineyards in an Oak Landscape", was the primary source of an article in the last issue of Leaves. It costs $4.50. Another, "Wildlife among the Oaks" is free.
A full list and description of the publications is available online at http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/oakpubs.html or by writing to Joni Rippee, 163 Mulford Hall, No. 3114, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114.

In mid-April, the Bird Rescue Center hopes to reopen its baby bird ward for the 2001 nesting season. But the outlook for staffing is very iffy. PLEASE HELP US! Each week we will need 15 volunteers a day, five each during three four-hour shifts, just to keep the baby ward running. And you can't reduce hours in a baby clinic because of staff shortages. You either operate seven days a week, 14 hours a day, or you close down and refuse all babies, as we had to do for part of last summer.

Please help us do it right-volunteer yourself and/or interest others in volunteering. Can you spare four hours a week? Age limits are 15 years and up; some of our volunteers are in their seventies. Would you need to work the entire summer? No, though we would like a commitment to at least four shifts. If you have further questions or if you would like to volunteer, call 523-BIRD (523-2473).

A reminder to those who made pledges: please get your checks, made out to Madrone Audubon, back to the persons you sponsored as soon as possible. Birdathon results will be provided in the next issue of Madrone Leaves.

Laysan Albatross (10-12) 1/28 Cordell Bank DN
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (2) Feb. off Bodega Head RL
Red-necked Grebe (1) 1/28 Entrance to Bodega Harbor DN
American Bittern (1) Jan. Schollenberger Park DN
Long-tailed Duck (1) continuing Feb. Bodega Harbor M.Ob
King Eider (imm. male) continuing Feb. Point Reyes fish docks M.Ob
Hooded Merganser (5) continuing 2/7 Bodega Highway at Tomales Road PL
Hooded Merganser (fem.) 2/3 Mouth of Cheney Creek KW
Barrow's Goldeneye (4) Feb. Mouth of Petaluma River DN
Barrow's Goldeneye (1) Feb. W. of Lucerne, Lake County JW
Tufted Duck (1) Feb. E. of Lucerne, Lake County JW
Tufted Duck 2/3 Bolinas Lagoon BG,et al
Canvasback (36) 2/10 Schollenberger Park G&AW
Redhead (1) Jan. Marin County Civic Center RS
Blue-winged Teal (4) Feb. Schollenberger Park DN
Greater White-fronted Goose (3) 1/9 Hudemann Slough BDP
Merlin 2/3 Spud Point KW
Peregrine Falcon (sub-ad) 1/19 D Street Bridge, Petaluma DN
Peregrine Falcon 2/8 Ragle Ranch Park, Sebastopol BG, et al
Prairie Falcon 2/13 Helen Putnam Park DT
Golden Eagle (imm.) 1/18 Hudemann Slough DH, KM
Golden Eagle 1/21 Hudemann Slough IM
Thayer's Gull (100+) Feb. Tomales Bay at Vision Road RS
Heermann's Gull (1) 1/23 Bodega Head BDP
Heermann's Gull (1) 1/23 Salmon Creek BDP
Heermann's Gull (1) 1/23 Schoolhouse Beach BDP
Sand-Plover * sp. (still unidentified) Jan-Feb Seabreeze, Stinson Beach SH, M.Ob. Band-tailed Pigeon (4) 1/13 Pine Flat Road BDP
Burrowing Owl 1/30 Ferguson Springs, Pine Flat Road J&BG
Short-eared Owl (3-4) continuing Feb. Bodega Head DN
Short-eared Owl (18)!! 2/1 Laguna Farms SM, PL, GW
Thick-billed Kingbird Feb. Ocean Colony, Half Moon Bay GR
Steller's Jay 1/20 Pepper Road DS
California Thrasher 2/8 Ragle Ranch Park BG, et al
Blue-winged Warbler 1/8 Cherry Street, Petaluma DT
Cape May Warbler (male) Dec.-Feb. Seabreeze, Stinson Beach M.Ob. Wilson's Warbler 1/2 Diekmann's Store TE
Hooded Oriole (overwintering) 1/13 Bodega Avenue at King Road SJ
Western Tanager 1/23 Bodega Bay, at feeder NC, BDP
Summer Tanager (male) 11/24-2/3 Forestville MH
Purple Finch (numerous) Feb. Lagunitas Lake, Marin County RS
Cassin's Finch (few) Feb. Lagunitas Lake, Marin County RS

* Editor's Note: This bird has been confirmed as the first North American Record of a Greater Sandplover and has been present at this location as of 2-27-01. Click here for more information on this rare bird.

CONTRIBUTORS: Dennis Cavallo, Nancy Conzett, Ted Eliot, Betty & Jack Groce, Deyea Harper, Mike Heffernon, Steve Howell, Shirley Jewel, Rick Lebadour, Scott Matheson, Ian Morrison, Kathy Mugele, Dan Nelson, Benjamin D. Parmeter, Gail Roper, Doug Shaw, Rich Stallcup, Don Tanner, Karen Wagner, Glo & Al Wellman, Jerry White and Giel Witt.

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