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By Daphne Smith The Sanctuary now has its first hired "staff". In July Curtis Kendall became the Mayacamas Mountain Audubon Sanctuary Manager. While new to our area, he is definitely not new to Audubon, having over 10 years of experience working at Audubon Sanctuaries. He was chosen from a number of in and out of state applicants in a selection process involving both Audubon California and Madrone Audubon's Mayacamas Committee. This new position is a dream come true for Curtis. He set sanctuary management as his career goal in 1990 during his first job with the National Audubon Society, as an intern at the NAS Research Ranch Sanctuary near Elgin, Arizona. Originally from a small farming town in Kansas, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in biology and later went on to earn a master's degree in ecology at San Diego State University, where his focus was on conservation and population biology. Curtis held several part time positions at the Research Ranch Sanctuary, including a summer as acting manager, and at Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County, California. In 1999 he was promoted to full-time assistant manager at Starr Ranch, where he was responsible for the day-to-day physical operations and also managed the field crew for a thistle eradication and grassland restoration project. On his first trip to the Sanctuary on a summer evening he found it "incredible", inspired by the beauty of the area and the variety of habitat he encountered on the way up Pine Flat Road. When asked about his reaction to the ongoing construction project, he admitted that it was a difficult thing to imagine, but "protecting the integrity of the Sanctuary really makes my job exciting and keeps me on my toes!" Curtis and his wife Tracy are pleased to the opportunity to live in a more rural part of California. They have settled in Healdsburg, where Tracy is a teacher with the Healdsburg School District. Madrone Audubon extends a very warm welcome to them both. Observations from the Construction Site Activity on the Mayacamas Sanctuary was not limited to construction work during the summer. There have been interesting sightings-some by the workers themselves. Seven Kestrels were spotted on the wire above Ferguson Spring, a coyote was seen with a ground squirrel in its mouth near Rob Roy, bluebirds in the box next to work area were carrying food in and fecal sacs out...business as usual for the local residents! Also at Ferguson Spring, a rattlesnake was seen positioned at the entrance to a ground squirrel hole, possibly waiting for dinner. A construction inspector, who happens to be a falconer and
very observant, had a young Cooper's Hawk mantle and approach
him. Another sort of "inspection" seemed to come from
a Golden Eagle that flew LOW over a group studying the pipeline
route. In mid-August, on his way out after dark, construction
manager Mark Matthew spotted four small owls along the roadside,
each peering into the bank as if staking out a claim to a rodent-run.
One early morning, he saw a bobcat cub further down Pine Flat
Road. What are the Costs? By Linda Haering Even the staunchest supporters of continued vineyard expansion are given pause by recent developments in the rural northwest part of Sonoma County. Six proposals to convert forest to vineyards are before the California Department of Forestry, representing a total of 279 acres. These projects destroy conifer forests, including redwoods and douglas fir, and represent a totally new land use. One project, the Campbell conversion of 88 acres of forest, has an approved THP (timber harvest plan) and has begun the countdown. Redwoods could begin to fall as soon as September 7 unless a full environmental impact report is required (see sidebar). While the projects purport to diminish just a fraction of timberland, the rate of loss is increasing. The pressures of vineyard expansion in the Annapolis area are enormous. Kathi Jacobs in the Permit and Resource Management Department of the county says in a letter dated July 19, "...almost daily our office receives phone calls asking about vineyard development in this area." Although the county General Plan's resource conservation elements indicate the county's goal to protect the quality of our streams, endangered species, and biotic resources, the County has not been involved in timber harvest or conversion issues. Current zoning does not disallow clearcut conversions in the type of resource and rural development zoning prevalent in Annapolis. While the forests in the northwest part of the county are becoming fragmented and degraded-dying the "death by a thousand cuts"-no agency is taking a larger view, least of all county government. "Conversions" seek to change the land usage from forests to another use, in this case the growing of wine grapes. This irreversible process is accomplished by clearcutting, extrication of the rootballs, which in redwoods may be the size of a swimming pool, deep ripping of the forest soil, addition of amendments including lime to change the pH, and, possibly, fumigating the soil. Within the redwood/douglas fir forests, hardwoods will be destroyed as well. Tanoaks, on which so many species rely, are the bane of timber managers and will be destroyed along with madrone, other oaks and chinquapin. But the huge concern is for the redwoods. This tree, which elicits awe from visitors throughout the world to its forests and which grows in such a limited place on the planet, may be cut and replaced by wine grapes. The magnitude of the loss of biodiversity can be seen by contrasting the number of species in the forest and the number of species in a vineyard, particularly a non-organically managed vineyard. Unfortunately no neutral biologic study has been made of this area and we are reliant on the notoriously skimpy, owner-financed Timber Harvest Plan biologic reviews. Our own Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas has four of its unsurveyed blocks in the Annapolis region. It is not commonly birded due to remoteness. An overall study plan is needed; if any region cries for a habitat conservation plan, this is it. One birder who has lived for 30 years adjacent to the proposed 105-acre Artesa conversion, has made a list of bird, mammal and reptile/amphibian species he has observed on the properties. It includes several species of concern such as Spotted Owl, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Kite, Swainson's Thrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Brown Creeper. The loss of prey, particularly small mammals, caused by the clearcut/vineyard progression, especially impacts raptors and owls. His list includes 78 bird species, 28 mammal species and 24 reptile/amphibian species including the rare western pond turtle and yellow legged frog. While the imminent loss of "just" 279 acres of Coast
Redwood forest may not seem a threat to valuable habitat, water
quality or species diversity, it is the cumulative impact of
these and future projects which is of concern. For thousands
of years only forests have grown on this land. Wildlife is struggling
to retain limited denning and nesting space in an increasingly
marginal, fragmented and degraded forest. Vineyards may be the
last straw for some of them. Ways to express your concern for the impact of forest to vineyard conversion: ¨ Contact CDF Director Andrea Tuttle and ask for a full environmental impact report on all conversions. Ask that your comments be placed in the public files for each conversion (the Campbell file is #1-00-147). Her address is California Department of Forestry, 135 Ridgway Avenue, Santa Rosa, 95401. ¨ Contact the Coastal Forest Alliance, a group of Annapolis residents concerned about the conversion of the forest to vineyards. You can use Linda Haering's address (P.O. Box 1931, Santa Rosa, 95402) to convey any information you might have on biological resources. ¨ Ask the Board of Supervisors to strengthen its role in protecting Sonoma County timberlands. Anderson Marsh and Clear Lake State Park, Wednesday, May
16 Lake Berryessa and Solano County Park, Thursday, May 24 Pine Flat Road, Wednesday, May 30 Annadel State Park, Thursday, June 7 Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Thursday, June 14 Debbie and Doug Eakins In memory of Clark Nattkemper: Marianne Shepherd Birdathon contributions: Gloria Shay Ann Young Claire Green Autodesk (Employer match for employee Dennis Center) Debbie and Doug Eakins Donation to benefit the Mayacamas Sanctuary: Ann Howard Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Training. Four sessions: Friday, September 7, 5 to 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday, September 8 and 9, 9 AM to 4 PM, and also Saturday, September 15, 9 AM to 4 PM. This is a project of the National Wildlife Federation, co-sponsored by Luther Burbank Home & Gardens of Santa Rosa and Wild Birds Unlimited. Learn to create backyard or school Wildlife Habitat Gardens. For information or sign-ups, contact Becky Montgomery at 573-0103 or by e-mail at: montgomeryrebecca@hotmail.com. Fairfield Osborn Preserve Staff Training Program. Four weekends, September 8-30 (eight meetings), 8:30 AM to 1 PM. An orientation meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 5 from 5 to 7 PM in room 1056 in Stevenson Hall on the SSU campus. Call 795-5069 for information. Graton Day. Saturday, September 15, from 2 PM. This year's theme is "Swallows". For information call Anna Ransom at 829-2781 or Anne Hudgins at 538-8871. Russian River Appreciation Festival 2001. Sunday,
September 16 from 3 to 6 PM at Hop Kiln Winery, 6050 Westside
Rd, Healdsburg. A benefit for Friends of the Russian River,
Environmental Center of Sonoma County, and Russian River Environmental
Forum. Barbecue, wine tasting, silent auction, booths and displays,
plus entertainment. Hawk Hill: It is truly a unique opportunity to observe a variety of these wonderful land birds as they circle overhead, seeming to hesitate before striking out southward over the open water of San Francisco Bay. If you have trouble distinguishing a Cooper's Hawk from a Sharp-shinned (who doesn't?), volunteers from the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory are there to help on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. At noon there is a "Hawk Talk" and at 1 PM docents give a banding demonstration. You can even customize your visit by consulting the excellent GGRO website, www.ggro.org-the "Timing" page has a guide to the frequency with which certain raptors appear during the fall months. Vaux Swifts in Healdsburg: Directions: From Highway 101, exit at Old Redwood Highway/Healdsburg Avenue, south of the central Healdsburg exit. Go 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. There's still time to help us put Audubon Adventures, National Audubon's environmental education program for fourth through sixth graders, in local classrooms. If you have children or grandchildren in a class that might appreciate these materials, simply call Nancy Ryan at 996-6181 and give her the name of the school and the teacher, and we will make it happen. Madrone Audubon has funds for this purpose, but if you would like to be a sponsor and cover the cost, a one-year subscription is $35. Checks may be mailed to Nancy Ryan at P.O. Box 1003, Glen Ellen, 95442 By Karen Nagel Bodega Bay: Jane Ciuchta Cotati: Bonny Russell El Verano: Ardith Waters Forestville: Lin Hartley, Roxanne Jordan, Deborah Petersen, Kim Sliger Glen Ellen: Susan K Braito Graton: Catherine Sharp, Jack Travis Gualala: Lita Gitt Guerneville: Albert Brawley Healdsburg: Debra L. Hernandez, Lisa K. Hunter, Patty Okeefe, Denise Rose, Larry G. Tiller, H. Wendt, Valerie White Monte Rio: Patrick Craig Occidental: Willard Foster Petaluma: Michael Anderson, Thomas M. Ayers, Kathryn Gigirolamo, Nicole Haake, Helen Blair Heal, Kay Karidis, Robert Long, Frederick Seydel, Irma Sozanski, Sally Walton Rohnert Park: Ann Barbaro, Herman Johnson, Margo J. Kirk, Susan Kirkbride, John W. Munsey, Barbara Novak Santa Rosa: Martin Bauman, Cynthia H. Beecher, Norma M. Bramstedt, Maureen Cecil, Dee Clancy, Ernest Comalli, John Condon, Diana Cussins, Stephen Michael Deards, Mary E. Dodsonn, Howard Golden, Mary W. Graefe, Valarie Heck, Ella Hofst, Mark Hullinger, Barbara Isaksen, B. Kennedy, J. Lunceford, Leslie Merrill, Kathleen Miller, Vicki Nelson, D. Nunn, Alan L. Phelps, Rhea Pitchard, B.A. Rowan, Peggy Rust, Betsy T. Seinors, Patricia Sherman, Richard J. Sklenicka, R. Tuttle, Zoltan Vasvary, Corinna Zanolini Sebastopol: Ebe Cerqua, Elmer Dudik, James A. Goodwin, Grovia L. Nehm, Deborah Ann Prager, Hilma Schaffer, Deirdre Shideler Sonoma: Robert Alexander, Crowell Family, Kassy Fatooh, Priscilla Hinks, D. Keith, Glenda Y. Ross, Sally O. Stinson, Fred Tedsen, Eva E. Thune, Doris Waldo Windsor: Anita Gallegos. "Birds and Sharks at the Farallones" The Farallon Islands, despite their small size and intimidating rocky shoreline, teem with a variety of wildlife, from birds to sharks, seals, bats, dragonflies and butterflies. Madrone Audubon launches a new year of interesting monthly programs on Monday, September 17, with an armchair visit to this local wildlife "paradise". Peter Pyle, a marine sciences researcher with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory, has been studying the islands' creatures for over 20 years. He has published more than 30 papers on land bird migrations and sea bird breeding biology, while researching great white sharks, migratory seals and sea lions. He promises to bring this special place to life for us in an illustrated talk entitled, "Birds and Sharks at the Farallones". In addition to slides of some of the 402 species of birds recorded at the Farallones, he will show a special short videotape of few of the 50-100 shark attacks on seals and sea lions observed on the islands. The meeting will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. As always, the public is invited to these programs. Two activities in September will inaugurate our new year of events: I. "Following Day into Night" is a local activity on Friday evening, September 14, starting at 7:30. Watching and listening as the light fades and the night sounds come alive. Space is limited. Call leader Diane Hichwa at 579-1182 for meeting location. II. Raptor viewing at the Golden Gate. We will meet at Hawk Hill in Marin County at 11:30 AM on Sunday, September 23. Take the Sausalito exit off Highway 101, just before the bridge. Turn left on Conzelman Road and continue up the hill about a mile to the sign for Hawk Hill. Golden Gate Bird Observatory docents present a "Hawk Talk" at noon and a banding demonstration at 1 PM. Reservations are required-call leader Claire Shurvinton at 527-6118 to sign up. NOTE: This outing is not recommended for active toddlers because of the steep and uneven terrain. Pee Wee Audubon offers guided experiences in nature for children ages four through 12 and their families. It is open to the public and free to all participants.
OK, it's payback time! A lot of you, from all reports, and your offspring have enjoyed Pee Wee Audubon programs in the past. We want very much to continue and even expand these programs in the coming year. MAS Vice President Claire Shurvinton has taken over the Pee Wee leadership, but she would very much like to make it a cooperative effort. She can use help with ideas, organizers, leaders and a phone reservations volunteer. If more people are involved, there will be less for one or two individuals to do. Please call Claire at 527-6118 if you can help. By Betsy Stafford The serene summer calm that has descended upon our three preserves belies the hubbub that characterized our spring and summer public seasons. Gone for now are the Golden Eagle (came twice in April), the 2000 schoolchildren (taught by our 160 docents), the approximately 100 fledglings from our Bolinas Lagoon heronry (Great Blues, Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets), and the 6036 public visitors to our Bolinas Lagoon Preserve (welcomed by our ranch guides and you, our wonderful host volunteers). Still hanging around (in mid-August) are a few ravens (laid
back after feeding their brood with chicks from 12-20 egret nests)
and one out-of-sync heron nest with two "teenage" chicks
(it's a mystery why the two adults started their nest four months
later than normal). The buckeyes at Bouverie and Bolinas Preserves
are festooned with their bulbous fruits, and the grasses are
heavy with food for the field mice and sneezes for the allergic.
The Pileated Woodpeckers are satiated with ripe grapes. In
short, it's late summer (or what our biologists call the northern
California coastal "fall"). At Bolinas Lagoon Preserve: At Bouverie Preserve: At Cypress Grove Preserve: A recent article in the Bodega Bay Navigator raised concerns about a project of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department to create recreational playing fields on a piece of county property located next to the Children's Bell Tower, just north of the town of Bodega Bay. Old dredging material ("spoils") from the bird walk spoils basin would be trucked in to provide fill under the fields. At a Bodega Bay Community Association meeting in July, many questions were brought up about the impact of this project and whether it is really in the best interests of the community. Of particular concern is the fact that the area to be covered is an important, relatively undisturbed area of native plants and habitat for birds and wildlife. Seeds from native grasses at the site have been used to replant other coastal areas, and the site in question has been considered for some time for the creation of a Nicolas Green Community Park, with hiking trails, nature walks, and picnic tables--maintaining the natural vegetation and views. Meetings have been scheduled in with Regional Parks and the Community Association, and more information will soon be available. To get an update, contact Kathy Thompson in Bodega Bay at 875-3916. Dan Nelson 762-3811 "Salvin's" White-capped Albatross 7/27 Bodega Canyon,
Marin County DN Note: This bird was closely
photographed and will likely be a second record for North America.
It remained around the boat for 2 hours. CONTRIBUTORS: Dennis Beall, Betty Burridge, Ken Burton, Dennis Cavallo, Christine Cohen, Pam Conley, Kathleen Crawford, Liz Donath, John Ferrari, Kathryn Hall, Kim Heinz, Susan Hirsch, Carter Lake, John Luellen, Mike Nelligan, Dan Nelson, Benjamin D. Parmeter, Dave Rawle, Ruth Rudesill, Doug Shaw, Celia South, Laurence Taylor, Joe Taylor, Jim & Jean Tonascia, Gwendolyn Toney, Georgia Tripp, Glo Wellman, Jerry White, Alan Wight, Dianne Williams, Judy Withee, Giel Witt, David Woodward, and Nancy Woodworth. |
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