Wandering Tattler

The Voice of SEA AND SAGE AUDUBON, an Orange County Chapter of the National Audubon Society

Volume 62, Number 4

President’s Message by Bruce Aird Itʼs the holiday season again, so the tryptophan-induced stupor from Thanksgiving should be fading and you should be ready for some action. I have just the thing in mind for you: Christmas Bird Counts! As usual, we have three counts in Orange County this year, starting with the San Juan Capistrano CBC on Saturday, 15-DEC-12. Because you canʼt get too much of a good thing, the Inland or Northeastern CBC is the day after. And this year, the Coastal CBC is on Sunday, 30-DEC-12. There are some important changes for this year. National Audubon has stopped reporting CBC results with a special issue of American Birds (ironic as I just got the 2011 issue in October). Thus relieved of the need to defray publication costs, they are passing the savings on to you, which means no more $5 participation. If you want to still donate to Audubon, you can, but it is no longer mandatory. A second change is that our own Darrell Wilson has taken on responsibility for organizing the San Juan Capistrano CBC. Darrell has been assisting Steve Alter for several years and has hopefully inculcated much of Steveʼs wisdom and experience in how to organize and track a major effort like this. Steve will continue in his role as compiler of the Inland and Coastal counts. I want to thank Sandy DeSimone and her crew at Starr Ranch/National Audubon for their years of service in organizing and running the San Juan count previously. Hopefully we will build on their success. To me, the CBCs are some of the best birding all year. I especially like the whole concept of citizen science, where even people who arenʼt wildlife professionals can make a valuable contribution to our knowledge about the status and distribution of birds nationwide. And you never know when something really interesting will turn out. I can still remember the rush when we first heard the persistent vocalizations of a young male Spotted Owl drifting down from a side canyon of Silverado. Last year, between the San Juan and the Inland counts, I had 3 Loggerhead Shrikes in just two days – now thatʼs an excellent CBC bird! So put away your wallets, pick up your binoculars and scopes and join us for this grand Audubon tradition.

General Meeting

January 18th - Friday evening - 7:30 pm

“Birders: The Central Park Effect”

Januaryʼs General Meeting will be a little different than normal. We will be showing a film entitled “Birders: The Central Park Effect.” The film reveals the extraordinary array of wild birds that grace Manhattan New York's Central Park and the birders who follow the rhythms of migration. Seven colorful New Yorkers including author Jonathon Franzen and Starr Saphir the "matriarch" of Central Park bird watching, follow the birds throughout a year. The bird photography is stunning and inspiring. The timing of this showing is just after Sea and Sage's three Christmas Bird Counts, and before we gear up again for the Spring Migration counts. Additionally, Sea and Sage has ongoing "Partners in Flight" counts year-round. We hope that this outstanding video inspires you to think about the connections between the birds we enjoy in our favorite local birding spots and the other places along migratory flyways where the birds spend time throughout the year. Audubon Society has a program of conservation for bird protection that is international. We hope you will join us for this delightful documentary film about bird watching in New Yorkʼs Central Park on January 18th. The program will be held in the Duck Club, at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. The doors open at 7:00 for refreshments and fellowship, and the meeting and program will begin at 7:30 pm. (See page 11 for directions to our regular meeting place.) Remember, you must access Riparian View from Campus Drive, not from Michelson. Bring a flashlight to light your way back to your car after the meeting since the parking lot is not well lit at nighttime. Audubon House will be open from 6:30 to 7:15 for those who arrive early. WE HAVE A SPECIAL MULTI-MEDIA PROGRAM, "ON ARCTIC GROUND", PLANNED FOR SAT, DEC 1st

at 7:30 PM. PLEASE COME! DETAILS ON PAGE 3. Pat and Dick Cabe, Program Co-Chairs

6 Remember to keep this issue of the Tattler until the end of January! 6

Conservation News Susan Sheakley Our Conservation Committee meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Blue House. Conservation Lectures are at 7:30 PM on the 4th Tuesday in the Learning Center. Additional Conservation information is on our webpage.

4th Tues. Conservation Lecture Tuesday, January 22rd – 7:30 pm

"Population Genetic Structure & Connectivity in the Coastal Cactus Wren: Results from San Diego & Orange Counties"

presented by Dr. Barbara Kus and Dr. Amy Vandergast We are excited to have as our guest speakers for the January Conservation Lecture, Dr. Barbara Kus and Dr. Amy Vandergast, who will discuss preliminary results of their genetic studies of Coastal Cactus Wren and the implications for ongoing restoration and management. They describe their study as follows: "We are examining population genetic structure and juvenile dispersal in coastal cactus wrens to determine connectivity among remaining aggregations in southern California, particularly to understand whether habitat fragmentation limits movement. Genetic data (microsatellite loci) have been collected for most major aggregations throughout southern Orange and San Diego Counties and re-sighting of banded nestlings is ongoing. " Amy Vandergast is a research geneticist with USGS. Her research focuses on conservation genetics of endangered and threatened animals, particularly in understanding how natural and human induced landscape change impacts the distribution of genetic variation within species, and shapes adaptive potential. Barbara Kus is a research ecologist with USGS. Her research focuses on understanding the factors affecting the distribution, abundance, and breeding success of rare song birds in southern California, and the effects of habitat restoration on population dynamics and community structure. 5th Annual Orange County Coastal Cactus Wren Survey: The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary and Sea and Sage Audubon are continuing our collaborative effort to recruit more volunteers for the Orange County Cactus Wren Survey Team. The volunteer-based, scientist-led team will assist in surveys to assess the long-term status of the Coastal Cactus Wren in Orange

County. In spring 2013, we also seek a limited number of experienced birders for our third season at Starr Ranch surveying for five other important songbirds of coastal sage scrub: California Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Wrentit, Black- chinned Sparrow, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. You have the opportunity to be a part of the 5th annual Coastal Cactus Wren survey. This is a unique chance for naturalists and birders, to learn survey methods from Cactus Wren scientists and to perform eight surveys from March through June in OʼNeill Regional Park and other sites to be determined. Training, data collection materials, field assistance, and plenty of encouragement will be provided.

– Basic birding skills, ability to walk moderate distances, reliable transportation, a good pair of binoculars, readiness to learn, and enthusiasm about birds! (More experienced birders will be needed for the Starr Ranch study in the spring.)

• January 22 – Lecture by Dr. Barbara Kus & Dr. Amy Vandergast, on genetics of Coastal Cactus Wrens – 7:30 pm at Sea and Sage Audubon Education Center, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. • February (date TBD) - Training session led by ornithologist, Robb Hamilton - at Starr Ranch Sanctuary • March - Surveys begin. Surveys are done in the morning, twice per month from March through June (eight surveys). Volunteers work in pairs.

To sign-up and reserve a seat in the training session, or to ask questions about this project, contact Sandy DeSimone at Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary at 949-858-0309; sdesimone@audubon.org 6 Reminder: Donʼt forget the 4th Tues. Conservation Lecture on Nov. 27th at 7:30 PM on “Snakes 101” presented by Scott Gibson, Assistant Director of Research and Education at Audubon CA Starr Ranch Sanctuary at 7:30 PM in the Learning Center.

On Arctic Ground – a special program – Dec. 1

“On Arctic Ground “ a Multi-media presentation by Debbie Miller

Our speaker Debbie Miller describes Arctic Alaska as “the last of Americaʼs frontiers, an expanse that once extended across the Great Plains and beyond the Rocky Mountains where the thundering hooves of buffalo once filled the air and nomadic Indian tribes moved seasonally, living off the land to sustain their cultures.” Debbie arrived in Alaska in 1975 to teach in a Gwichʼin Athabascan Indian village on the south boundary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. For 37 years she has traveled though Alaskan wild lands and paddled the Arctic rivers. Author of a new book, with large-format photography from Alaskaʼs wildlife photographers, she will treat us to the sights and sounds of Alaskan wildlife including the birds.

The presentation is being offered by the Campion Foundation, an environmental organization. The program will be in the Learning Center (the big gray building) at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. The doors open at 7 p.m. for fellowship and the meeting and program begin at 7:30 p.m.

Sea and Sage Members Join NAS to Save Arctic Wetlands If you - like many of us - have had a "Save Teshekpuk Lake" magnet on your refrigerator for the past decade, you know that the National Audubon Society has been working for many years to preserve several areas in the National Petroleum Preserve- Alaska. Recently, the phrase "Think Globally, Act Locally" took on new meaning for Sea and Sage, due to NAS's continued diligence and some local efforts by Sea and Sage members, Chuck George and his wife, Mary. When Chuck learned that NAS had a new "Toolkit" to Save Teshekpuk Lake and that public comment was critical this fall, Chuck went into action. From the NAS Toolkit Chuck adapted the Powerpoint slide show and script, adding voiceover narration. He shared the 13-minute presentation at our October “4th Tuesday" Conservation lecture. The slide show and commentary made clear the global significance for wildlife of preserving the natural resources above ground in four areas within the Petroleum Preserve: the wetlands around Teshekpuk Lake, Colville River, Utukok River Uplands and Kasegaluk Lagoon. These areas are biologically sensitive and important areas for breeding and feeding land animals as well as waterfowl and shorebirds that migrate from many parts of the world. Several Sea and Sage members signed a poster-petition at the Conservation Lecture and the Pancake Breakfast. The poster-petition, which Chuck has mailed to Interior Secretary Salazar along with a letter from Sea and Sage Audubon, urges the Secretary to adopt his own proposed Alternative B-2, a plan to protect these areas. The Department of Interior will make the decision sometime in November or early December. If you want to add your voice, email your support of Alternative B-2 to Secretary Salazar at:

https://secure3.convio.net/nasaud/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1325

Chapter News & Announcements For more information about Sea & Sage activities, check our Calendar of Chapter Activities on our website (www.seaandsageaudubon.org). It lists the dates of Meetings, Field Trips, Special Events such as the Annual Dinner, Summer BBQ, Pancake Breakfast, Summer Nature Day Camp, Summer Bat Walks, Christmas Bird Counts, Great Backyard Bird Count, Orange County Spring Count, etc.

Audubon House Volunteers We would like to thank the following people for helping to staff Audubon House in November and December: Sonia

Appell, Pat & Dick Cabe, Carolyn Cooper, Joanne Cull, Tom Drouet, Fresia Escalona, Carol Freund, Judy Fritts, Lynne Hayes, Pat Heilig, Cindi Herrera, Sarah Jayne, Steve Jelnick, Lois Jones, Nancy Kenyon, Lauretta Kyle, Joann Lemberger, Joan McCauley, Bobbie

Miller, Eunice Morita, Shirley Price, Betty Purdy, Roberta Ray, Barbara Reber, Shirley Reynolds, Susan Sheakley, Bev Spring, Betty Swift, Don Thomas, Diana Van Horn, and Pat Wells. Audubon House is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our Volunteers greet visitors, answer the phone, sell merchandise, answer questions about birds, check out binoculars, etc. If you are interested in helping at Audubon House, please call Judy Fritts at 949-551-4513.

Holiday Shopping at our Bookstore Our bookstore inside Audubon House is open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is also open 45 minutes before our General Meetings. Lots of new arrivals for the holiday season: Sea and Sage cap; Sea and Sage license plate holder; Sylvia Gallagher's Learning CA Mountain Bird Sounds (revised edition includes flashdrive); 2013 calendars (wall, page-a-day, engagement; tidelines); origami (books, paper and complete kits). Christmas items include: boxed cards; glass bird ornaments; stickers; labels; party place cards and picks; mini note pads; CDs and children's books. Holiday gift items for the house (mugs; spiced mug and pot mats; hot pot holders; towels; trivets; sachets; gift tote bags; wine caddies; birdsong clocks); stockings; coffees; jewelry. And for children (plush animal purses; puzzles; projectors; plush toys). New books: Laws Guide to Drawing; Hawks in Flight (2nd edition); The Great Washington State Birding Trail; Nat Geog FG to Birds of Eastern NA; Naturescaping Workbook; CA Guide to Trees Among Us. Back in stock: Birds of NA and Greenland; Lives of Wolves; DVD Bring on the Birds; CDRom Build a Pond for Wildlife (by Kathy Biggs). We now accept credit cards (Visa & Mastercard) with a $10 minimum purchase.

Orange County Rarities The informative monthly bird reports by Doug Willick have been discontinued while Doug recovers from foot surgery which prevents him from sitting in front of a computer with his feet down on the floor. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Doug. In the meantime, those of you who are interested in bird sightings here in the county should subscribe to OrangeCountyBirding. Annual Dinner – March 15th Brian Sullivan will be the featured speaker at our upcoming Annual Dinner in March. His program will be about eBird and he will conduct a workshop on it the following Saturday. Full information on these special events will be in the Feb. Tattler and on posted our chapter webpage. Be sure to mark this date on your calendar! We hope to see you there! Raptor ID Workshops - March 2013 presented by Bill Clark Two comprehensive workshops on raptor identification will be presented during the first two weekends in March by Bill Clark, coauthor of HAWKS, the raptor field guide in the Peterson series, and the PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS. The Introductory Workshop will be presented March 1-3 and the Advanced Workshop will be March 8-10. Full info on these two workshops is posted on our chapter webpage, and will also be available at Audubon House and at our General Meetings. Registration opens Dec. 17, 2012.

Our Pancake Breakfast 187 people attended our Pancake Breakfast this year. The weather was perfect and the food was delicious! Due to the meticulous planning of Mary Joseph AND THE HELP OF OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS, the event ran like clockwork. Pictures and a report about the event will soon be posted on our chapter webpage.

Silent Auction Items Needed Cheryl Thomas is working diligently to obtain some special donations for our silent auction at this yearʼs Annual Dinner. Do you know a person or business who might have something special to donate? We are looking for unique items that would appeal to a large crowd. Please contact Cheryl if there is anything you can contribute or if there is someone you know who can. Cheryl Thomas: 949-294-2275; cthomas1313@cox.net

Sea and Sage Audubon The Deserts of North America and Their Birds

an Intermediate/Advanced Visual Workshop presented by Sylvia R. Gallagher

For many people the word DESERT produces an image of desolate, barren sand--or else glorious

carpets of spring wildflowers among towering green saguaros. Both images are correct, but they are far from the whole picture. Starting the week of Jan. 7-10, 2013, Sylvia Gallagher will present a comprehensive

workshop on the DESERTS OF NORTH AMERICA. The major focus of the series will, as always, be the BIRDS. In addition, a substantial amount of time will be devoted to the deserts in general. Lecture material will address such questions as: • How many deserts are there, and why are there distinct deserts? • How have desert plants and animals evolved to live in the desert environment? • What are some distinctive features of the desert landscape? • What plants and birds are typical of each desert? • What impacts have humans had on the deserts? The BIRDS will be presented using the usual approach, with worksheets one week and practice slides the following week. You should know the common birds of the coastal zone of southern California before enrolling. If you have completed Sylvia's ten-week introductory visual workshop series, BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, you should be well prepared for this one. We'll cover at least 80 new species of birds in a wide variety of families--woodpeckers, hawks, hummingbirds, sparrows, etc. We'll do some groups in a rather general way, covering a few of the most useful field marks and omitting the less common plumages. For advanced birders, we'll do several families in detail, especially the orioles, tanagers, nightjars, thrashers, a few groups of sparrows, and probably several others. Five sections will be offered--Mon. evenings, Tues. mornings, Wed. evenings, Thurs. mornings and evenings. You will select one of these sections. The workshop will last several months, with the actual duration to be decided later. A donation of $175.00 is requested, if you can afford it. Installment plan OK. The only essential book for the workshop is the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th ed. This edition is much improved over previous ones. The Sibley Guide to Birds will also be useful. Other books will be recommended from time to time. Field trips will be led by workshop participants. Do you have a favorite desert spot you'd like to show people? You don't have to be a bird expert to lead a field trip; familiarity with the area is the main thing. This workshop will be followed up in spring, 2014, with LEARNING DESERT BIRD SOUNDS, featuring the sounds of desert birds. Send your reservation for the workshop, postmarked no earlier than Dec. 3 (2-day penalty for early reservations) to: Sylvia Gallagher, 21562 Kaneohe Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Enclose a LONG (4" x 9.5 ") self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Confirmations will be mailed Dec. 28, including preliminary information and a map to the meeting place, the Gallagher home in Huntington Beach. For further information email or phone Sylvia at sjrgallagher@yahoo.com or 714-962-8990.

Enrollment Form - Birding Skills Workshops (Deserts) – Winter, 2013 Names of all participants Address(es) City & Zip Code

Phone(s) SASE enclosed?

E-mail WORKSHOP starts the week of Jan. 7-10. Check or rank at least two choices of section: MON pm ___ TUES am ___ WED pm ___ THURS am ___ THURS pm ___

Sea & Sage Audubon and Starr Ranch Sanctuary

Christmas Bird Count - 2012 We hope you will join us this year on one or more of our Christmas Bird Counts. Maps of the count areas, email addresses of the Area Leaders, & data from past counts are on our website.

The annual Christmas Bird Count is a 112 year old tradition that happens across the US and Canada, as well as Central & South America, the Pacific Islands, West Indies, and Bermuda. It is the longest continuously running bird survey, and has provided irreplaceable information on species status and distribution. Here in Orange County, we have three count circles covering three different areas within the county: Sat, Dec. 15th - San Juan Capistrano (South County) CBC Sun, Dec. 16th - Northeastern (Inland) CBC Sun, Dec, 30th - Coastal CBC Detailed information for each circle can be found on the Sea & Sage website at: www.seaandsageaudubon.org where a separate page is devoted to each count. There you will find count data for each yearʼs CBC, contact info for the Area Leaders, and the actual CBC count forms. We are always in need of more counters to join us. No matter what level birder you are, we can use your help! What better way to end 2012, and begin 2013 than to enjoy the birds? We hope you will join in the fun and take part in one or more of our CBCʼs this year! NOTE: If you participated in last yearʼs CBC, contact the Area Leader in charge of your area and let him or her know that you want to help out again this year. If you did not participate last year, fill out one or both of the forms at the bottom of pages 6 and 7, and mail them to the Compiler whose address is listed at the bottom of the form. Theyʼll find a good spot for you. After each count, we get together for supper and time to socialize before doing the tally to find out which species were found on the count. The San Juan Capistrano CBC group meets in a pizza parlor in Capistrano while the Northeastern & Coastal count groups hold their tally party at the SJWS in Irvine.

Dec. 15: San Juan Capistrano CBC 01 Laguna Niguel Regional Park Sharon Harrow 02 San Clemente Sachi Fukuman 2a San Clemente hillside area Kim Lopina 03 Starr Ranch Sanctuary & Caspers Park Jen Wilcox 04 Upper San Juan Creek & vicinity Area Leader: to be announced later 05 Saddleback College & vicinity Mark Kincheloe 06 Aliso-Wood Canyons & Ziggurat-Cosco area

Gary Meredith 07 Richard & Donna OʼNeill Conservancy Diane Etchison 08 Dana Point: Doheny State Beach, Dana Point

Harbor, Dana Point Headlands, Salt Creek Beach, local parks, golf course.

Joel Weintraub 09 Pelagic Areas along the coast Area Leader: to be announced later

2012 Christmas Bird Count Sign-up Form

San Juan Capistrano (South County) CBC - Sat, Dec. 15

Name Address City, State & Zip Phone E-mail Address Please classify your birding ability: (This will help us assign you to the proper section.) [ ] NOVICE [ ] AVERAGE [ ] PRETTY GOOD [ ] EXPERT

MAIL THIS FORM TO: Darrell Wilson, 48 Foxhill, Irvine CA 92604 or contact Darrell by e-mail at: darrellwilson@cox.net or by phone at (949) 559-4542

7

Sea & Sage Audubon

Christmas Bird Counts - 2012 We hope you will join us this year on one or more of our Christmas Bird Counts. Maps of the count areas, email addresses of the Area Leaders, & data from past counts are on our website.

Dec. 16: Northeastern (Inland) CBC 01 Irvine Regional Park

Jan Gaffney (562-439-5631)

02 Irvine Lake & vicinity Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) 03 Silverado Canyon

Steve Alter (714-669-9482) 4a Upper & Lower Black Star Canyon Al & Janet Baumann (949-859-5081) 4b Mountain Areas Brian Leatherman (714-779-7077) 05 Modjeska & Harding Canyons Bruce Aird (949- 568-1520) 6/7 OʼNeill Regional Park & Plano Trabuco Jerry Tolman (714-539-8040) 8a8b Lion Country & Areas south of the 405 Bettina Eastman (714-293-1079) 9/10 Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, El Toro & foothills Dick Purvis (714-776-8878) 11/12 El Toro Marine Base & foothill areas Lucy Lee (949-581-4349) 13 Rattlesnake & Siphon Reservoirs Christine Tischer (714-955-1000)

14/15 Peters Canyon Reg. Park & Lemon Heights Linda Oberholtzer (562-699-9738) and Brad Dawson (562-438-8898)

Dec. 30: Coastal CBC 02 Westminster Mem. Park, Corner Seal Beach NWR Vic Leipzig (714-848-5395) 03 HB Pier, Beach Areas north to edge of Sunset Beach, HCP, Wintersberg Channel, Seapoint Pat & Dick Cabe (714-960-1683) 04 Bolsa Chica Terry Hill (714-756-0165) 05 Mile Square Park Linda Oberholtzer (562-699-9738) 06 SA River Mouth, 19th St. Willows, Canyon Park SA Golf Course. Jim Pike (714-968-7977) 07 Older Areas within Santa Ana Carol Getz (949-559-5219) 8/9 Centennial Reg. Park, former MCAS Blimp Base Dick Purvis (714-776-8878) 10/11 Upper Newport Bay - West Side Bettina Eastman (714-963-3751) 12 Upper Newport Bay - East Side Marian Alter (714-669-9482) 13 UCI San Joaquin Marsh, SJWS Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160) 14 Mason Reg. Park, UCI Foothils, Corona del Mar Jim Roe (562- 431-9874) 15 Newport Harbor & Beaches Gary Meredith (949-218-7575) 16 Pelagic Areas along the coast Jerry Tolman (714- 539-8040)

2012 Christmas Bird Count Sign-up Form

[ ] Northeastern CBC (Sun, Dec. 16) — [ ] Coastal CBC (Sun, Dec. 30)

Name Address City, State & Zip Phone E-mail Address Please classify your birding ability: (This will help us assign you to the proper section.) [ ] NOVICE [ ] AVERAGE [ ] PRETTY GOOD [ ] EXPERT

MAIL THIS FORM TO: Steve Alter, 18001 Bigelow Park, Tustin CA 92680 or contact Steve by e-mail at: scalter1@pacbell.net or by phone at (714) 669-9482.

Monthly & Bi-Monthly Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair

®

Monthly Wildlife Walk at the SJWS 1st Sat: Dec 1 & Jan. 5 - 9:00 to 10:30 am Weʼll be exploring the birds, plants, and creatures of the marsh on this wildlife walk at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Watch winter come to the marsh. Meet in front of Audubon House at 9:00 am for a 1½ hour nature walk. (See directions to the SJWS on page 11.) Leaders: Audubon Naturalists Bi-Monthly Santiago Oaks Bird Walk Alternate 1st Sun: Dec. 2 & Feb. 3 - 7:30 am Join Linette Lina for a winter bird walk at Santiago Oaks Reg. Park at 7:30 am. The mix of oak riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats make Santiago Oaks one of the best places in Orange County to find a variety of songbirds. Directions: Take the 55 freeway to Katella Ave in Orange. Exit and drive east on Katella 3.2 miles to Windes Dr. Turn left on Windes Dr. and follow the signs to the park. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you donʼt have a county parks pass. Meet in the upper end of the parking lot. Leader: Linette Lina Bi-Monthly Irvine Park Bird Walk Alternate 1st Sun: Jan. 6 & Mar. 3 - 7:30 am Join Linette Lina for a winter bird walk at Irvine Reg. Park at 7:30 am. Irvine Park supports a large number of resident as well as wintering species, and it does not close when it rains because the connecting roads are all paved. Directions: Take Jamboree NE (toward the mts.) and follow it across Santiago Canyon Rd. and into the park. Or, from the 55 Fwy, exit on Katella & drive east. Katella turns into Villa Park Rd. & then Santiago Cyn Rd. which you will stay on until it intersects with Jamboree. Turn left on Jamboree & follow it into the park. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you donʼt have a county parks pass. Meet in the 1st parking lot on the right, after you enter the park. Leader: Linette Lina

Bi-Monthly Riley Park Bird Walk Alternate 1st Wed: Jan. 2 & Mar. 6 - 8:00 am (Alternate 1st Wed: Feb. 2 – Caspers Park) Join Mike Clayton for a bird walk at Riley Wilderness Park. This park is home to an abundant number of native plants and old groves of Western Sycamores and Coast Live

Oaks which border the park's two seasonally flowing creeks. Wear shoes with good traction; some of the trails are quite steep. Directions: From the #5 Freeway, exit on Oso Pkwy. and drive inland towards the mountains. Watch for the park entrance on the right just before the road ends at Coto de Caza. For those without a wilderness park decal, the parking fee is $3; you will need to purchase a day-use permit from the park ticket machine. (This park closes when it rains.) Leader: Mike Clayton Monthly Bird Walks at the SJWS 2nd Sun: Dec. 9 & Jan. 13 - 8:00 am to 12 Join Chris Obaditch for a monthly bird walk around the ponds of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine at 8:00 am. This is a good time to watch for unusual winter vagrants. The walk, which is open to interested birders of all ages, will meet by the front porch of Audubon House. Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. (See directions to the SJWS on page 11.) Leader: Chris Obaditch

Monthly Upper Newport Bay by pontoon boat ® 3rd Wed: Dec. 19 & Jan. 16 - 8:15 am Join us for the rare chance of birding the Upper Newport Bay from the deck of a pontoon boat. Spotting birds from the water offers one a different perspective and the birds seem to view us differently also. Trip duration is 2 1/2 hrs. Trip is limited to 15 persons and there is a $10 trip fee payable in cash on the morning of the outing. Advance reservations are necessary; contact Nancy Kenyon to reserve a spot on the boat. Directions will be provided to those with reservations.

Bi-Monthly Laguna Niguel Reg. Park Bird WalkAlternate 3rd Sun: Jan. 20 & Mar. 17 – 8 am (Alternate 3rd Sun: Feb. 17 – Carbon Canyon) Join Garett Lepper for a morning of birding at Laguna Niguel Reg. Park at 8:00 am. This park attracts a wide variety of birds due to the landscaped park vegetation and lake. We will look for resident birds as well as wintering species. Directions: Take the Santa Ana Fwy (5) to the La Paz Road off ramp. Head west 4 miles to the park entrance. Be prepared to pay the $5 entrance fee if you

December & January Field Trips Nancy Kenyon, Field Trip Chair

®

Laguna Niguel Reg. Park Bird Walk donʼt have a county parks pass. Meet at : Shelter #3 parking lot at the far end of the park where there is ample parking and a nearby restroom. Ask for directions to Shelter 3 at the park entrance kiosk. (The park is located at 28241 La Paz Rd. in Laguna Niguel.) Leader: Garett Lepper Upper Newport Bay Monthly Bird Walk

Last Sunday: Jan. 27 – 8:00 am (The Dec. 30 walk is cancelled due to the coastal CBC on that day.) Join Mark Kincheloe for a monthly bird walk in Upper Newport Bay to check out the seasonal shorebirds, ducks, grebes, herons & egrets, etc. that frequent the bay. Bring binoculars, a field guide, and a scope if you have one. Directions: We will meet in the Big Canyon parking lot in Newport Beach. This is easily reached from Jamboree. Take San Joaquin Hills Road west toward the bay where it intersects with Back Bay Drive. Turn right on Back Bay Drive and follow it to the Big Canyon parking lot on your left. Leader: Mark Kincheloe

Antelope Valley Hawk-banding Trip Sat, Dec. 1st – 7:00 am This trip is one of the highlight trips of the year for those who like to get very close to raptors. See trip info and directions in the Nov. Tattler & on the chapter webpage. Leaders: Pete Bloom & Scott Thomas Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Friday - Jan. 4th - 8:00 am Bolsa Chica is one of the best wetland areas in Southern California to watch grebes, loons, pelicans, shorebirds of all sizes, gulls and terns, waterfowl, egrets and herons, foraging raptors, etc. Bring: binoculars and a scope if you have one. Dress in layers. It can be cold and breezy there in the morning but the birding is well worth it! Directions: Meet in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve parking lot on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway at the only signal between Seapoint Ave and Warner in Hntington Beach. Pat & Dick Cabe, Leaders

CBC Specialties Trip Saturday - Jan. 5th - 8:00 am The purpose of this trip is to search for some of the more unusual birds seen on this yearʼs CBCs. We will meet either in the parking lot by Audubon House or by Huntington Central Park. (Be sure to bring an Orange County map with you.) The length of the trip depends on the weather and the number of birds to be seen. Trip meeting location will be decided by Jan. 2. To verify meeting place, call Audubon House (949-261-7963), FT Chair Nancy Kenyon (949-786-3160); or check our chapter webpage at: www.seaandsageaudubon.org

Salton Sea weekend trip ® Sat. & Sun., Jan. 19-20 — 9:00 am (Sat.) The Salton Sea area provides some of the best year round birding in Southern California. In species diversity alone, the area is one of the leading localities in the country; some 360 species have been sighted there. Advance reservations are necessary; trip size is limited and it is almost full. Trip fee is $25. Make check payable to Sea & Sage Audubon and mail to: Salton Sea, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Be sure to include your phone number & e-mail address, or a stamped, legal sized envelope for trip information & confirmation. (Check webpage for space availability before sending in your reservation.) Leader: Vic Leipzig

San Luis Obispo county north coast & Carrizo Plain weekend trip Sat. & Sun., Feb. 2-3 - 7:00 am Our field trip will begin at 7:00 on Sat. in Morro Bay. We will spend much of the day exploring areas along the north coast of SLO county. Target birds will include: rocky shore birds, sea ducks, loons, Marbled Murrelets. On Sunday, we will drive from Morro Bay to the Carrizo Plain which should take about 1 ½ hours; itʼs an interesting drive! Target birds on the plain include: Long & Short-eared Owls, Mountain Plovers, LeConteʼs Thrasher, Rough-legged & Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Mountain Bluebirds, etc. (Additional trip info can be found on our webpage.) Trip is limited to 15 person; the fee is $25. Make check payable to Sea & Sage Audubon and mail to: Carrizo Plain Trip, c/o Nancy Kenyon, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612. Be sure to include your phone number & e-mail address, or a stamped, legal sized envelope for trip information & confirmation. Leader: Maggie Smith

10

Marsh Education News Trude Hurd, Project Director of Marsh Education For more information about our Education Program, please visit our chapter website at http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/Education/Education.html

Western Digital Sponsors Education Microscopes Sea and Sageʼs Marsh Education Project is pleased to report that Western Digital Foundation has sponsored half of the new student microscopes recently purchased for our Outdoor Adventures Science Discovery Programs. This is the third grant in twenty years that Sea and Sage has gratefully received from Western Digital to support science education at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. The WD Foundation, funded by Western Digital Corporation, provides grants to non-profits in several California and Colorado counties, and this type of community giving demonstrates their dedication to science, technology, engineering and math education. We appreciate Western Digital Foundationʼs support of our environmental education programs! Still Time To Sponsor A Microscope For School Children This fall, Outdoor Adventures Naturalists, teachers, and school children began using our new stereomicroscopes to look closely at what lives in pond water. Weʼre all excited to see living copepods, amphipods, water boatman, midge fly larvae, dragonfly nymphs, pond snails and more. These are what the birds are eating in the wildlife sanctuary ponds! Without healthy pond water, these small creatures would die and the birds that depend on wetlands could not exist. We are grateful to have microscopes that enable us to see the food chain in action. We also appreciate Ann Sakai & Stephen Weller and Kate Grabenstein for their very generous donations to our Microscope Scholarship Fund. If you believe science education is important for school children, please make a donation to our Microscope Scholarship Fund. We accept all denominations. Mail your check to Microscopes, Sea and Sage Audubon, 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612. Important Dates to be Announced Soon Dates for our Summer Bat Walks & Spring Brunches will be announced in early 2013. However, reservations for these events will not open until March 1st. Watch the Chapter Webpage and the February Tattler for full information. Both of these activities are very popular and fill up quickly. To insure that you will be able to participate, make your reservations as soon as registration opens!

Save These 2013 Camp Dates!

(*includes an overnight)

For more information or to register, pick up a camp brochure at Audubon House in early January, or visit our chapter webpage. Questions? Call Bev Spring at 714-505-9980. Thanks To Our School Bus Sponsors Almost seventy percent of the school children attending our Outdoor Adventures Science Discovery Programs come from the Santa Ana Unified School District. These children have few opportunities for field trips, hands-on science experiments, and first-hand exploration of the natural world. Sea and Sage is dedicated to providing our wetland discovery program to them, and is now paying for buses for classes that cannot find funding through their school or grants from FEDCO or Target Stores. We have raised $555 in donations so far for 2012-13. We are grateful to the following sponsors of our School Bus Scholarship Fund: Eleanor Dunning, Denny Geiler, Chuck & Ce Leavell, Joan McCauley, Ramona Richardson, and an anonymous donor. Itʼs not too late to make your own donation to help bring school children to the wetland for an awesome experience. Any amount is acceptable; please smail your check to School Bus Fund, Sea and Sage Audubon, 5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612. OCCF Awards Education Grant We are happy to report that our request for funding from the James Irvine Endowment Fund of the Orange County Community Foundation was approved for $5,500. Along with other grants, these funds will provide scholarships for 45 Santa Ana classes to personally experience nature at a local freshwater wetland. Teachers and students receive a free guided trip to the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, student bird books and nature newsletters, and the loan of our wetland curriculum and taxidermy bird specimen. This grant will also subsidize bus transportation so 2 new schools can participate. We are grateful for this generous grant from the Orange County Community Foundation and the positive impact it will make on local school children!

Directions and Membership Directions to Audubon House, Chapter Meetings, and the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Audubon Membership Form, Tattler subscriptions & delivery, and Remember Us in Your Will or Trust

11

Tattler Subscriptions

Non-Audubon members or members from other Audubon chapters who wish to subscribe to our chapter newsletter, may do so for $12.50 per year. Make check payable to “Sea & Sage Audubon” and mail to: Tattler Subscriptions, 32 Almond Tree Ln, Irvine CA 92612

Go Paperless! Sign up to receive your newsletter via email — get your issues faster, help save natural resources, reduce waste, and help our chapter save money! You can read it online or print out the pages you need to refer to more frequently. It is in pdf format and will look and print exactly like the original ones. Photos will be in color. Send an e-mail to nancykenyon@cox.net to start your paper-free Tattler delivery today! (offer good only for chapter members in good standing)

Remember Us in Your

Will or Trust

Please remember to include “Sea and Sage Audubon Society” by name (tax ID#23-7003681) in your will or trust.

Directions to Audubon House, our Chapter

Meetings & the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Our entrance is now from Campus Dr., not Michelson

From the San Diego Fwy (405): Exit on Jamboree, south toward Newport Beach. At the 1st signal, Michelson, turn left. Continue on Michelson (past the old entrance to the SJWS) to the 5th signal which is Harvard and turn right. Drive to University & turn right. Drive to Campus Drive & turn right. Stay in the far right lane and immediately turn right onto Riparian View which will enter the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. The entrance road is marked by a green sign. If you miss the turn and reach Carlson, turn right and go around the block again to Harvard. The sanctuary is open every day from dawn until dusk.

Audubon House Open daily: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

949-261-7963

Your Membership Payment

If you are signing up as a new Audubon member, be sure and use the membership form below that has the code C9ZC150Z in the lower right hand corner. This tells National Audubon who to credit for your recruitment. Sea & Sage gets 100% of a new memberʼs dues, even if you sign up for more than one year. If you are feeling generous at renewal time and you want Sea & Sage to benefit, you should send your renewal fee to National Audubon and a separate check to Sea & Sage for your donation to the chapter. If you have any questions, please contact Membership Chair, Chuck George, at cgeorge@george-sd.com Temporarily Away or Moving?

Please notify Membership Chair, Chuck George, of your new address if you are temporarily, or permanently, moving from your current address. If you do not want to continue receiving the Tattler at your new address, let him know. This will save us from paying return postage fees.

Audubon Membership Application Membership: we invite you to become a member of the National Audubon Society and the Sea & Sage Audubon chapter. To join: Please pay by check only; do not send cash. Make your check payable to: NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, complete this form, and mail it along with your payment to: Sea & Sage Audubon, PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616. National Audubon Society Membership: Check one [√] [ ] NEW MEMBERSHIP: $20 - Individual or Family members [ ] RENEWAL: $35 - Regular Membership [ ] NEW MEMBERSHIP: $15 - Senior (62+ yrs) or Student [ ] RENEWAL: $15 - Senior or Student Members receive: AUDUBON magazine as well as the WANDERING TATTLER newsletter.

Chapter Code

Name Address City, State, Zip Phone E-mail

C9ZC150Z

Chapter Mission Statement: Sea and Sage Audubon is a leader in creating an understanding of nature in Orange County, through conservation, research and environmental education programs for children and adults. This is accomplished with classes, field activities, publications and volunteer opportunities.

12 Wandering Tattler Dec. 2012 – January 2013

BOARD MEMBERS

Executive Committee: President ........................... Bruce Aird ................... 949-458-1520 Vice President ................... Vic Leipzig .................. 714-848-5394 Secretary .......................... Linda Davis ................. 949-643-3789 Treasurer .......................... Bart Beckman ............. 714-633-3419 Director 2013 .................... Star Howard ................ 949-770-3177 Director 2013 .................... Amber Oneal .............. 714-812-2430 Director 2014 .................... Cheryl Egger ............... 714-842-9232 Director 2014 .................... Bobbie Miller ............... 714-960-5724 Director 2015 .................... Steve Kaye ................. 714-528-1300 Director 2015 .................... Shirley Reynolds ......... 949-429-2161 Past President .................. Jay Miller .................... 949-707-1287 Committee Chairpersons: Audubon House Co-Chair ....... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Audubon House Co-Chair ........ Steve Jelnick .............. 714-925-9128 Audubon House Volunteers ....... Judy Fritts ................... 949-551-4513 Bird Information ................ Sylvia Gallagher ......... 714-962-8990 Christmas Bird Counts ...... Steve Alter .................. 714-669-9482 Conservation Co-Chair ..... Susan Sheakley .......... 949-552-5974 Conservation Co-Chair ..... Vic Leipzig .................. 714-848-5394 Counsel ............................. Rick Derevan .............. 714-427-7016 Development ..................... Cheryl Thomas ........... 949-294-2275 Education .......................... Carolyn Noble ............. 714-731-9091 Exhibits ............................. Mary Joseph ............... 714-848-8362 Facebook .......................... Chuck George ............ 714-319-6166 Field Trips ......................... Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Finance ............................. Hal Sheakley .............. 949-552-5974 Membership ...................... Chuck George ............ 714-319-6166 Newsletter Editor .............. Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Orange County Spring Count .... Al Baumann ................ 949-859-5081 Partners in Flight ............... Janet Baumann .......... 949-859-5081 Programs .......................... Pat & Dick Cabe ......... 949-960-1683 Science ............................. Amber Oneal .............. 714-812-2430 SJWS Liaison ................... Chris Obaditch ............ 949-640-7234 Starr Ranch/Envir. Liaison Pete DeSimone .......... 949-858-0309 Webmaster ....................... Nancy Kenyon ............ 949-786-3160 Webpage: http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org

STAFF

Marsh Education Project Director Trude Hurd ................. 949-261-7964 Marsh Educ. Project Director’s Assist .. Deborah Brin ............. 949-261-7964 Administrative Aide .............. Rebecca Craft ........... 949-261-7963 Sales Manager .................... Debby Thyssen ......... 949-261-7963 Audubon House .......... .............................. 949-261-7963

OTHER CONTACTS Bluebird Nest Box Info ......... Dick Purvis ................ 714-776-8878 Slide Lending Library ........... Claudine Casey ......... 714-968-3463 Report ALL Banded Birds to: ............ http://www.reportband.gov/

CALENDAR OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES December 2012 01 Sat Antelope Valley Hawk-Banding Trip .............. 7:00 am 01 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 01 Sat SPECIAL PROGRAM on the Arctic ............... 7:30 pm 02 Sun Santiago Oaks Bi-monthly bird walk .............. 7:30 am 04 Tues Conservation Com. Meeting .......................... 6:30 pm 08 Sat Seal Beach NWR bird walk (Sorry, trip is full) ...... 7:30 am 09 Sun SJWS monthly bird walk ................................ 8:00 am 11 Tues Board Meeting . ............................................. 7:30 pm 19 Wed UNB by pontoon boat .................................... 8:15 am 15 Sat San Juan Capistrano (south county) CBC ......... early 16 Sun Northeastern (inland) CBC ................................. early 30 Sun Coastal CBC .... .................................................. early January 2013 tbd Tues Conservation Com. Meeting .......................... 6:30 pm 02 Wed Riley Park bird walk ....................................... 8:00 am 04 Fri Bolsa Chica bird walk .................................... 8:00 am 05 Sat CBC Specialties Trip ..................................... 8:00 am 05 Sat Wildlife Walk at the SJWS ............................. 9:00 am 06 Sun Irvine Reg. Park bird walk ............................. 7:30 am 08 Tues Board Meeting . ............................................. 7:30 pm 12 Sat Winter Pelagic Trip (Sorry, trip is full) ................... 7:30 am 13 Sun SJWS monthly bird walk ................................ 8:00 am 16 Wed UNB by pontoon boat .................................... 8:15 am 18 Fri GENERAL MEETING .................................... 7:30 pm 19-20 S-S Salton Sea weekend trip ............................... 9:00 am 20 Sun Laguna Niguel Reg. Park bird walk ............... 8:00 am 22 Tues 4th Tuesday Conservation Lecture ................ 7:30 pm 27 Sun UNB monthly bird walk .................................. 8:00 am

Sea & Sage Audubon PO Box 5447, Irvine CA 92616 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org

U.S. Postage Paid Santa Ana, CA Permit No. 164