"The birds at my feeder have something terribly wrong with them. What should I do?" Several times a year the Madrone Bird Information Phone Line hears this and similar desperate calls for help. So what is happening?

Let's do THE LONG ANSWER first. (If it's an emergency, you can skip to the SHORT ANSWER three paragraphs below.)

Most of us don't realize that by encouraging birds to gather at our seed and nectar feeders, we are actually creating ideal conditions for promoting various diseases within a bird population. This also applies to feeding any wildlife, especially those cute duckies in the lake. In fact handouts of food to all wildlife can have unintended and often untoward effects on population growth as well as other health concerns.

But back to our original topic. Offerings of free food, including seed and nectar at backyard feeders, alter our wildlife's natural social and nutritional patterns. Ordinarily, back yard birds and other wildlife would be feeding singly, or in small family groups, at random, on widely varied food sources. But feeders encourage birds to flock to concentrated sources of food where disease or illness can be readily spread throughout the population. Add to this the unintentional danger we may introduce by not properly cleaning backyard bird feeders, or not providing the appropriate clean and dry food, and we have created a problem. We may also unintentionally allow bird food to become infested with molds and fungi, thus passing along serious bird health problems to our favorite feathered friends.

The most common diseases to befall backyard birds include salmonellosis, a bacterial infection that may cause abscesses in the esophagus, crop and other parts of the body. Fecal droppings in seed can spread this disease to other birds. Trichomoniasis is caused by a protozoan parasite causing sores in the mouth and throat that can prevent birds from being able to eat. Aspergillosis is a fungus that grows on damp feed. Birds that inhale the fungal spores develop bronchitis or pneumonia. And avian pox causes wartlike growths on featherless surfaces on bird's faces, wings, legs and feet. The pox virus is spread by direct contact with infected birds or shed viruses. All four of these diseases can lead to death.

Spotting a sick bird in a flock can be tricky, but the giveaway in the absence of physical lesions or deformities, is usually that a sick bird is less alert, less active, and reluctant to fly.

And now, THE SHORT ANSWER. The birds at your feeder probably have one of four common bird diseases described above.

Your duty now is, first of all, to carefully remove and dispose of any birds that may have died in your yard, along with all feed in your feeders, including any seeds that have fallen on the ground. Carefully place all this in a tightly sealed bag, and dispose of it in your garbage.

Secondly, all feeders should be carefully cleaned and disinfected. Wearing waterproof gloves use lots of soap and water, a good brush and elbow grease. Hummingbird feeders are notoriously difficult to clean. Toothpicks, Q-Tips and ingenuity are sometimes needed to do a thorough job. Finally, use a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to soak the entire feeder for 2 to 3 minutes. Allow to dry thoroughly.

You may want to stop feeding the birds entirely for a period of a few weeks after evidence of disease at your feeder. When you resume feeding it could be a good idea to move the position of the feeder.

We must remember, however, that just because bird feeding is not problem free, it does not mean that feeders are bad or that bird feeding should be stopped. Just remember to adhere to some common sense guidelines.

¨ Give birds space by having an adequate numbers of feeders.

¨ Clean up wastes of food and droppings. A broom and shovel are useful tools for this chore.

¨ Keep feeders safe by eliminating sharp points and edges, as even small scratches and cuts can cause infections in otherwise healthy birds.

¨ Keep feeders clean on a regular schedule. Twice a month is recommended

¨ Use good, clean, dry food that has been stored in clean storage containers. Replace nectar in hummingbird feeders frequently. Avoid contamination from rodents, which can transmit diseases to birds.

¨ Encourage your neighbors who feed birds to follow all of these precautions, so that the whole community can have a healthy bird population

There are many reasons for offering birds or other wildlife food and shelter in our backyards. Sometimes it is mostly for our own pleasure. Frequently we feel that we need to protect and promote the welfare of populations who have lost their habitat to urban growth. Whatever our motives, we all must remember that we have an ethical obligation to not jeopardize the wildlife we are trying to protect.

What is called for is intelligent and responsible bird feeding. And please carefully rethink intentionally feeding other wildlife.

New Local Members:
GLEN ELLEN: Rose Rhodes. HEALDSBURG: Steve & Wendy Smit. ROHNERT PARK: Diane Mc Colley. SANTA ROSA: Shirley Spina. SEBASTOPOL: Nancy Davison, Jerry Green, Cathy D. Torres. SONOMA: Patricia Coe, Dick Ashford.

New National Audubon Members:
BODEGA BAY: Helen Fulton. GLEN ELLEN: Phyllis Ellman. GUERNEVILLE: Stephanie Whitney. HEALDSBURG: Carolyn Fuller, Inga Muller. PETALUMA: Jean Carroll, Julie L. Griffith, Paul Lauricella, Audry Thompson, W.B. Toft. ROHNERT PARK: Barbara Mac Kenzie. SANTA ROSA: Julie Beery, Margaret Brittle, Robert Crane, Suzanne Cussins, F Denny, Charles Dunkel, Stacie Erickson, Burton Fohrman, Lucille Forest, Bill J. Gannon, Esther Meskis, Linda Sicard. SEBASTOPOL: Barbara Eakin, Ms. Teddy Olwyler, Craig Rosser, John J. Weaver, Patrick Woodworth. SONOMA: James Geagan, Dorian Leigh, Jane Fletcher Wicklund. WINDSOR: Harry N. Hamm, Margee West.

Shollenberger Park, Thursday, September 25
Twenty-seven people did a walkabout led by Bob Dyer. It was overcast and a bit cool. There is a lot of water in the central pond as a result of renewed dredging of the Petaluma River. The weirs to the freshwater side channels have been opened to allow overflow to run through the channels, into Adobe Creek and back to the river. This has raised the salinity of the side channels and inconvenienced freshwater-loving species. Although a bit early for migratory duck, there were Northern Shoveler and Ruddy Duck present. A good representation of shorebird species were seen, including: Long-Billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher and both Western and Least Sandpipers. Also seen were a Loggerhead Shrike, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harrier and White-tailed Kite. Fifty-four species were spotted.

Point Reyes, Sunday, September 28
Fallout is fabulous and September is the month for it at Point Reyes. Warblers abound and our intrepid group of 13 birders led by Richard Hurley was not disappointed. At Nunez Ranch we saw the Blackpoll Warbler and the Green-tailed Towhee. At the Fish Docks there seemed to be more birders than birds on this beautiful Sunday but we homed in on the Cape May Warbler with cell phones and walkie-talkies. Only in Marin. We were also treated to the Black-throated Gray Warbler and the American Redstart. Fifty-one species were seen. Our motto: We'd rather be pishing."

Duncan's Landing and Bodega Bay, Wednesday, October 1
Although extremely heavy fog and high winds limited bird sightings, nineteen birders found 69 species of birds at Duncan's Landing and around the Bodega Harbor area. The harbor was still relatively empty of wintering grebes and ducks. Unusually large numbers of Black-bellied Plovers were feeding on the sandy beaches of Doran Park. Highlights of the bird walk included sightings of Elegant Terns at Duncan's Landing, many Snowy Plovers, and a hybrid American/Eurasian Wigeon.

October 9, 2003, Howarth Park and Spring Lake
On a clear morning, 17 birders joined Jean Tonascia at Howarth Park and Spring Lake. Forty species were recorded, including two Ospreys, a White-breasted Nuthatch, a Hermit Thrush and both Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were heard.

Bodega Bay, October 11, 2003
Seven birders joined Jean Tonascia at Bodega Bay on a clear day in the morning. The afternoon was windy. 75 species were observed, including 10 species of ducks and many shorebirds. A birder from Menlo Park saw his first Surfbird at Bodega Head.

Bring some magic to your backyard! Kathy and Dave Biggs, long-time Madrone Audubon members, will take us on a visual slide tour of their beautiful Sebastopol pond, which was featured in the June/July 2003 issue of Audubon Magazine ("A Liquid Noah's Ark," Backyard Section, pages 83-86).

Kathy and Dave's pond has been visited by 24 species of dragonflies, 54 species of birds, two dozen species of butterflies and several species of mammals. Slides of many of the critters who have visited will be included and the Biggses will discuss the pond's layout and native plant life. Handouts detailing the steps needed to create such a pond, and also a list of native species of plants appropriate to use in a Sonoma County pond, will be available.

Birders for over 30 years, Kathy and Dave served as officers for Madrone and instigated our very successful Pee Wee Audubon group before embarking on the pond project which led them into dragonfly research. Kathy is the author of Common Dragonflies of California, A Beginner's Pocket Guide" and its soon-to-be released companion, Common Dragonflies of the South West. They now do presentations and workshops about dragonflies and wildlife ponds all over the west.

Coming in January: "San Pablo Bay Restoration" with Audubon Policy Director Mike Sellors

LAGUNAKEEPER WORKDAY
Saturday, November 15, from 9:00 AM to Noon. LagunaKeepers is the volunteer corps that helps to maintain the Laguna de Santa Rosa in Sebastopol. Meet behind the Youth Annex (the building next to the Community Center on Morris Street) and bring tools, gloves, water and a friend. This year CLIF Bar, Inc. is sponsoring the group by offering free CLIF Bars to LagunaKeepers.

ORIENTEERING MEET
Sunday, November 16, 9:00 AM to Noon at China Camp in San Rafael. Practice with map and compass; clinics for beginners. For information call the Bay Area Orienteering Club hotline at (408) 255-8018 or go to <www.baoc.org>.

CENTRAL VALLEY BIRDING SYMPOSIUM
November 20-23, at the Radisson Hotel in Stockton. Hosted by the Central Valley Bird Club. There will be field trips, workshops, and a Birding Nature Fair and Art Show with over 25 vendors selling nature-related items. Keynote speakers are Ed Harper, Keith Hansen and John Hendrickson. The schedule and registration form are on the website: http://www.cvbs.org, or contact Frances Oliver at (209) 369-2010.

FAIRFIELD OSBORN PRESERVE
Naturalist-led hikes continue every Saturday at 9 AM and 11 AM, through December 13 (no hike on November 29). The Preserve is located on the western slope of Sonoma Mountain. For more information consult <www.sonoma.edu/org/preserve>.

Field Workshop. "Walk for Wild Mushrooms," Dec. 20, 10 AM to 2 PM, led by mushroom naturalist Charmoon Richardson. A hike on the Preserve in search of wild mushrooms to collect, with discussion of the basic techniques of mushroom identification and uses. Advance registration required; call the Preserve at 795-5069 for information.

Madrone Audubon Society will hold it's 37th annual West Sonoma County Christmas Bird Count on Sunday the 28th of December. All are invited to join the count, which has consistently registered a high enough number of species to often be placed in the top ten counts for Northern America. We would once again like to have your help to continue this tradition, a tradition which gathers vital data that contributes to the conservation of our county. If you have counted before we will send you an invitation in the mail. If you have changed your address since the last count or have not counted with us before, please contact Joy Mander 778-7865 or Richard Hurley 833-4286.
Our count center is in the Salmon Creek watershed and ranges from west of Sebastopol to the coast and from just north of the Russian River to the Estero Americana. We expect to divide about 140 counters amongst 20 groups, so join with old friends or meet new ones for a great day of birding that will finish up with a delightful potluck at the end of the day. The potluck provides an opportunity to listen the oratory skills our courageous leaders as they create a vivid picture of their team's version of 'no leaf unturned'. If you live within the count circle and would rather stay home and count the birds at your feeder please let us know.

In land conservation, it's about saving one small property at a time.

Madrone Audubon members Al and Yolanda Wood put their 10-acre property off Bodega Highway in Sebastopol into a conservation easement last February, and feel so good about it that they want to share their story with others in the community who might have a similar goal.

Supporters of many environmental organizations and conscious of the necessity of maintaining corridors for wildlife, the Woods had considered a conservation easement for their property for a number of years. Their land, while not necessarily unusual habitat, does include a forested area adjoining an undeveloped section of Ragle Ranch Park. The conservation easement will protect a corridor to the riparian habitat of Atascadero Creek, although unfortunately, as Al Wood pointed out, the creek now only has water running through it during the rainy season.

The relatively small size of their property made it a bit more difficult to find an organization to handle the easement. However, about a year ago, the Woods made contact with the Wildlife Land Trust, an affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States based in Washington, D.C. They found dealing with the Wildlife Land Trust a truly pleasant experience. Al Woods described their work as "very professional" and very thorough. "I think they counted every blade of grass," he said, and added that they made frequent visits in spite of the fact that their representatives were coming from the East Coast.

The Wildlife Land Trust does have some properties in California and are in the process of acquiring more. The Trust welcomes smaller properties. As their brochure states: "Even if the property that a landowner can protect is relatively small, it becomes an important contribution to a cumulative conservation effort.

The Woods have counted at least 50 species of birds and some small mammals on their acreage, which not only adjoins the Park, but is flanked by an abandoned orchard on one side and largely undeveloped land on the other. They don't know the future of these properties, but they are most pleased to have made a permanent place for wildlife on theirs.

Since the Wildlife Land Trust is relatively unknown, Al Wood would be happy to discuss their "success story" with anyone who might be interested. He can be reached at 823-8841

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Phyllis Schmitt has signed up 16 classrooms to receive the Audubon Adventures environmental education packet from National Audubon this year. These include classes from Shepherd, Oak Grove, Salmon Creek, Helen Lehman, Brook Hill and Olivet Schools. These classrooms will be sponsored by Madrone at a cost of $35 each, plus postage and handling.

If you know a teacher who would like to receive Audubon Adventures, please contact Phyllis at 544-1029

If you would like to be a classroom sponsor, please send a check for $35 to Madrone Audubon, PO Box 1911, Santa Rosa, 95402, marked "for Audubon Adventures".

Carole Lane's students from Salmon Creek School will explain the workings of a watershed to us, including some nifty demonstrations of streambed erosion problems. I first saw this presentation at the Watershed Day held at the school last May, and was very impressed by the knowledge, creativity and commitment of these 11-13 year olds.

The school grounds are beautiful, with a redwood grove and a creek trail that we may be able to explore after the presentation, weather permitting!

As usual, Shona will be taking reservations at 869-1577

Copeland Creek, Windsor Creek and Cloverdale Creek are among the creeks in a water quality study we are doing this Fall when the first big winter storm hits our watershed. The project is called the Russian River Basin First Flush 2003 study.

The study is conducted by an alliance of individuals and organizations, including State Clean Water Team (State Water Resources Control Board), the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Community Clean Water Institute, Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, Riverkeeper, Laguna Foundation, West County Watershed Network, and others.

Like a doctor who takes a patient's vital signs before diagnosing a health problem, this study gathers important data to assess the health of the Russian River, helping cities, water quality regulators and community groups identify problems and propose solutions to combat non-point source stormwater pollution.

Over a hundred volunteers from Ukiah to Cotati to Sebastopol and Occidental will go out during the rain event and collect water samples to be tested for Diazinon, nutrients, bacteria and some other parameters.

Result will be presented to city hall meetings and will give direct input to local officials for follow-up action.

You can be part of this study. We are still looking for more volunteers!

Zeno Swijtink
Volunteer Coordinator
Russian River Basin First Flush 2003
swijtink@sonoma.edu

Most California native plants feed and house some type of wildlife, so planting the natives just about guarantees you'll find pollinators, such as bees (both native and honey), moths, butterflies, flies and so on, and their larvae, as they have all evolved together.

Birds come to plants for seeds, nuts, berries or nectar…and attendant insects. The pair of titmice that raised a brood of babies in my bluebird nest box this spring fed their young on little green caterpillars they hunted in the oaks. You never really know, without close observance, WHO is feeding on WHAT! Of course, birds also use shrubs and trees for nest sites, places to rest, and cover from predators, and as highways to move from one area to another.

Many of our natives, either during their bloom or after it, produce nectar or berries. Toyon, for example, blooms with white flowers that the hummingbirds and pollinators visit; red, holly-like berries that the Robins and Cedar Waxwings flock to, follow the blooms. Toyon is a full sun shrub, drought tolerant, and evergreen. Boggy or poorly drained soil will kill it, so find a slope or dry area to raise it. Toyon also makes a great hedge or is useful in a hedgerow.

Since our manzanitas, salvias and wild lilacs (ceanothus) are fairly well known, I won't cover them here. But they continue to be the best shrubs for full sun and well-drained areas that provide pollinators and birds with cover, food, and nest sites.

A tough and unusual shrub is the mountain mahogany (Cerocarpus betuloides). I planted one about seven years ago on a hot, dry hillside and it's thriving. I love the open, airy structure of the twiggy branches. The leaves are small, dark green and veined. I never really notice the flowers, but the fruits are plumes of white and the bark is silver.

Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is a stunning, multi-trunked shrub, the branches of which are covered in the spring with fuchsia-purple, pea-like flowers. A redbud in full bloom is a unique sight, loved by hummingbirds. Plant it with a fremontodendron nearby. Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) shouldn't be planted where you could brush against it, as it's covered with little rust colored bristles that irritate the skin. But as a background to redbud and perhaps a blue-blooming ceanothus would provide a color riot to brighten any gray spring day.

Coyote bush is an unprepossessing shrub that many folks pull out, thinking it's just weedy brush. Coyote bush attracts many native pollinators and insects, which in turn bring in birds. As wildlife habitat, it excels, so if you have room, put some in the background. It's green year-round, takes full sun, any soil, and no summer water.

One of my very favorites is relatively unknown…it's called chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana). I first saw it on the slopes where I was hiking around the Robert Louis Stevenson park area in Napa County. When it's in bloom it will take your breath away with the abundance of rosy-purple flowers that cloaks the stems. Glenn Keator, our authority on CA natives, suggests keeping it in a moveable container, as it's not especially pretty when it's out of bloom. I would plant it in among ceanothus and manzanitas.

Native plums and cherries provide berries for birds and pretty flowers in the spring. Look for holly-leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) and the island cherry (P. lyonii). They are evergreen and "produce showy racemes of plumlike flowers". Quote is from Keator. Grow in full sun and give them occasional summer water.

Two native spiraeas, Spiraea densiflora and S. douglasii, with their pretty summer flowers of pink, are grown for pollinators, especially butterflies.

Other choices for sunny shrubs include bush lupines. Lupinus arboreus blooms yellow; Lupinus chamissonis blooms bluish-purple. Currants and gooseberries (the Ribes spp.) are great, and should have a bit of shade. Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) is wonderful for wildlife habitat and will take a bit of shade also. Blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) needs lots of room to spread out and a fair amount of water. Birds love their berries. I have never grown any of the native sumacs, but they look interesting as habitat plants and our local habitat nurseries carry them. The genus is Rhus. The last sun shrub I'll mention is our own California wild rose (Rosa californica). I'm sure the deer nibble on them; however, we ARE growing for wildlife, right? The shrub will get quite large, up to 9' around.

Madrone Audubon Society provides our community with access to nature, education and preservation of our natural habitat. While Madrone Audubon works cooperatively with National Audubon and California Audubon, members of Madrone make the critical difference in our local community. We are asking that you support our good works with a donation to Madrone Audubon Society.

For example, this past year, our members lobbied local government and garnered support within the community to establish a combined parkland, wastewater treatment and marsh restoration project in Petaluma. While this wonderful project is part of the S.F. Baylands Project, a combined effort of National Audubon, California Audubon and a broad base of environmental organizations, it requires local effort to see it through. This year, we took 500 people on guided bird walks, gave monthly programs on topics such as the history of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and had 400 people at our excellent PeeWee program for children and families. These programs are all open to the public and are extraordinary opportunities to learn about our environment and connect with nature. Did you know that both our Leaves newsletter and our website have won awards for their excellence?

We now rely solely on local support. Due to the high cost of membership drives, National Audubon no longer shares the dues collected from local residents who join National Audubon and receive an automatic Madrone Audubon membership. In 2002, National Audubon provided 43% of the Madrone Audubon budget, cut back to 26% in 2003, and will go to zero in 2004. To give you an idea of our budget, our biggest expense - mailing the Leaves to our members - consumes 50% of our budget. The rest of the budget goes to support our programs and volunteer efforts, such as conservation and outreach.

Please help keep our programs strong and our outreach efforts vibrant by making a donation to Madrone Audubon Society. To emphasize our special effort this year, we are mailing a letter directly to each of our members instead of putting a donation envelope in our newsletter this winter. Please look for our letter and make a donation to support your local Madrone Audubon chapter. Help us keep up the good work.

The beautiful Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) has invaded our ecological island of California. In the words of Dr. Dan Gluesenkamp, ACR's Habitat Protection and Restoration Specialist, "They are spreading rapidly across our region and eating large amounts of something. Nobody knows how rapidly they spread, what they eat, or what the impacts will be."

Since it's likely that the turkeys' rapid population increase poses a real threat to our native plants and animals, Dr. Gluesenkamp recently initiated a Turkey Invasion Program to conduct scientific experiments to evaluate the ecological impacts of introduced turkeys, to map the distribution and abundance of the birds, and to work with other researchers, resource managers, and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to learn more about this ongoing invasion.

Where did these birds come from? As Dr. Gluesenkamp explains, "In the early 1970s and '80s the DFG began importing and releasing birds of the Rio Grande subspecies (M. gallopava intermedia). The turkeys were wild caught in Texas, in habitats comparable to those found at the California release sites, and Rio Grande introductions have been very successful. Populations increased very rapidly, ranges spread dramatically, and turkeys have become a common component of California west of the Sierra Nevada."

Surprisingly, very little is known about the population and severity of their impact. Dr . Gluesenkamp explains, "Turkeys may negatively affect native systems indirectly (by competing with native species for resources, or by disturbing soil and litter during foraging), or may directly impact native species by eating them. Cursory diet studies have shown that introduced turkey diets are extremely broad, including acorns, insects, salamanders, and the like. A recent DFG publication lists 300 plant genera consumed by turkeys, and 35% (64) of these genera contain species that are rare or endangered in Marin and Sonoma counties! Even in states where turkeys have been managed for a century, most research has focused only on management for hunting.

"I am currently planning a project that will map the abundance and distribution of turkeys in Marin and Sonoma Counties. The mapping work is supported by the Sonoma Ecology Center. To measure the impacts, I am using cage exclosures to manipulate turkey abundance at Bouverie Preserve. We are also working with others to develop and share information, including university researchers and graduate students. And, importantly, we have helped convince the DFG to institute a moratorium on additional turkey introductions and have met with leaders of DFG's turkey program to discuss conservation concerns.

"It is our hope," he concludes, "that this approach - developing sound scientific evidence and then presenting well-supported conclusions to citizens, conservationists and decision-makers - will help minimize the impact of this new threat to California's native biological diversity."

For more information on ACR's Turkey Invasion Program and other research and habitat protection programs, please go to our website http://www.egret.org, or call Cypress Grove Research Center (415) 663-8203. And have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cattle Egret (7) 10/7 High School Road, Sebastopol LH
Cattle Egret (24) 10/9 Llano at Ludwig Road LH
Golden Eagle (3) 9/16 North of Bay Hill Road DN, DH
Bald Eagle (imm.) 10/10 Marin Headlands M. Ob.
Broad-winged Hawk (4) 9/24 Marin Headlands KW, et al.
Broad-winged Hawk (27) 10/5 Marin Headlands KW, et al.
Broad-winged Hawk (2) 10/10 Marin Headlands DN, et al.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (15+) 9/24 Bay Hill Road LH, DN, DH
Sharp-shinned Hawk (23+) 9/30 Bay Hill Road DH, DN
Sharp-shinned Hawk (8) 10/6 Bay Hill Road DN
Cooper's Hawk (5) 9/15 Bay Hill Road DN, DH
Cooper's Hawk (16) 9/30 Bay Hill Road DN, DH
Northern Goshawk (ad.) 10/5 Marin Headlands KW et al.
Ferruginous Hawk 9/15 Bay Hill Road DN, DH
Ferruginous Hawk 10/12 Bay Hill Road DN
Swainson's Hawk (1) 9/21 Marin Headlands KW et al.
Merlin 9/15 & 23 Bay Hill Road DN, DH
Merlin (2) 10/4 Doran Beach RS, LJ, DN
Prairie Falcon (1) 9/25 Bay Hill Road DN, LH, DH
Stilt Sandpiper (1st basic) 10/6 E. of Petaluma River, S. of Highway 37 RS
Common Tern (8) 9/16 Portuguese Beach TE, DA et al.
Marbled Murrelet (8) 9/16 off mouth of Russian River TE, DA, et al.
Band-tailed Pigeon (100+) 9/22 Bay Hill Road DH, DN
Common Nighthawk 9/21 South of Sebastopol WP
Common Poorwill 10/11 Bay Hill Road (injured by car) SLeB
Vaux's Swift (500-600) 9/22 Bay Hill Road DH, DN
Lewis' Woodpecker (2) 9/21 Marin Headlands KW et al.
Willow Flycatcher (3) 9/14 Lower Colgan Creek IM, KW
Philadelphia Vireo 10/5 Pine Gulch Creek, Marin County RS, KH et al.
Red-throated Pipit 9/22-28 Abbott's Lagoon (several birds) M. Ob.
Red-throated Pipit 10/4 Doran Beach - "close fly-by; calling" RS et al.
Red-throated Pipit 10/6 Ponds E.of Petaluma River, S. of Hwy 37 RS
Black-and-white Warbler late Sept. Owl Canyon DH
Black-throated Blue Warbler (male) 9/21 Owl Canyon RR
Hermit Warbler 9/29 Bay Hill Road (in roadside scrub) DN, DH
American Redstart 9/6 Campbell Cove DN
American Redstart 9/6 Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory entrance DN
Green-tailed Towhee Sept.-Oct. Point Reyes, Nunes Ranch M. Ob.
Lark Sparrow 9/10 Bay Flat Road DN
Lincoln's Sparrow 9/14 Campbell Cove DN
White-throated Sparrow 9/30 Bay Hill Road DH, DN
Rusty Blackbird 10/8 Point Reyes SA

CONTRIBUTORS: Steve Abbott, Dick Ashford, Ted Eliot, Keith Hansen, David Hofmann, Lisa Hug, Louise Johnstone, Susie LeBaron, Ian Morrison, Dan Nelson, Wendy Peterson, Ruth Rudesill, Rich Stallcup, and Ken Wilson.

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