The Gull

M&O

0164^971X

the Qull

Volume 63 Berkeley, Calif. September 1981 Number 8

CALIFORNIA
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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library

Films and Condor Update for September

Two extraordinarily beautiful and thought- provoking National Audu-
bon Society films will be shown at our September general meeting and
Jerry Emory, GGAS’ foimer Executive Secretary will bring us up to date
on the status of the Galifomia Gondor captive breeding program. The
award-winning film, “Time for Survival,” is about protection of endan-
gered species, changes in the environment and how both man and wild-
life must adjust to them. “Last Stronghold of the Eagles” shows the
great annual gathering of Bald Eagles in Alaska’s Ghilkat River Valley
and discusses the danger to them if this area is allowed to be logged.

The meeting will be at the Noiibbrae Gommunity Ghurch, 941 The
Alameda, Berkeley, on Thursday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m.

Our first annual potluck dinner on June 19 was a rousing success even
though the weather was hot enough to melt your eyebrows. About one
hundred and twenty-five members attended and tlie food tliey brought
was gounnet fare. Hospitality Chair Hazel Houston sends special tlianks
to the musicians; Pete Allen, Dick Oxtot, Ray Sklelbred and P. T. Stanton,
as well as to those who helped in the kitchen and with setting up;
Delpha deTimofeev, Helen Chisim, Danne Jones, Jane and John Felker,
Jerry Emory and Paul Green.

Will anyone volunteer to help serve refreshments at the general
meeting in the East Bay? Please call Hazel Houston at 635-7347.

-PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Published each month except August by the Golden Gate Audubon
Society, office address 2718 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705.
Second class postage paid in Berkeley, CA. ( THE GULL - USPS 417-705)

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September 1981

Field Trips Calendar

Wednesday, September 9 — Mini trip to Alameda shore line. Meet
at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Shoreline to look for
shorebirds. Lunch optional. Leaders: Delpha deTiinofeev and Ruth Voss
(525-8032).

Saturday, September 12 — Coastal San Francisco. Meet at 7 ;30
a.m. at the parking lot between South and Middle Lakes (Chain of
Lakes) near the 41st Ave. and Lincoln Way entrance to Golden Gate
Park. We will bird in the park, Lake Merced and the Golden Gate
National Recreation Area in search of early migrants in the City. We
should also see many of the birds commonly found in the area. Bring
your lunch and be prepared for cold weather near the coast. Leader:
Dan Murphy (564-0074).

Saturday, September 19 — Point Reyes. Meet at 8 a.m. at the
Larkspur Ferry Terminal parking lot (section H). From Hwy. 101 exit
at Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and drive east to the terminal. From the
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge drive toward San Francisco and turn left
into the parking lot just before reaching Hwy. 101. We will carpool and
caravan from there. Bring lunch and liquids. It may be foggy and cold
near the coast so dress appropriately. We will look for vagrant birds in
the islands of trees near the coast. Leader: Mary Louise Rosegav
(368-1640). (V)

Saturday/ Sunday, September 19/20 — Yosemite National Park.

Saturday meet at 8 a.m. at Bridalveil Campground. Sunday meet at
8 a.m. at the Chevron Station at Crane Flat. Bring lunch and liquids.
Be prepared for any kind of weather. Leader: John Zablackis (642-2072,
work; 527-2083, home). (V)

Saturday, September 26 — Point Diablo. Meet at the top of Bunker
Hill where we will watch for migrating hawks and land birds between
10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. From San Francisco drive north across the
Golden Gate Bridge and take Alexander Ave. exit. Turn left as if to
return to San Francisco, drive under the freeway and bear to the right.
Go up the road to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, continue
along the road past the intersection with a road coming up from Rodeo
Valley to the large tunnels on the right. Park and walk up the trail to
the left of the second tunnel. We will bird from the observation point at
the north end of the hilltop. If it’s too foggy we’ll bird in nearby locations
for vagrants and waterbirds. Bring lunch, liquids and spotting scopes.

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Sun screen, a hat and a wind breaker may be advisable. Leader: Tony
i^riggs (282-3142) or ask for Tony by name at 626-3131, an answering
service. (\/)

Sunday, September 27 — Alameda and San Leandro Bay Shoreline.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. in Alameda at Broadway and Shoreline Dr. We wiU
bird the Elsie B. Roemer Bird Sanctuaiy and the San Leandro Bay
Regional Shoreline. Bring lunch and liquids. Shorebirds should be pre-
sent in numbers so bring a spotting scope. We should also see some land
birds. Leader: Leora Feeney (522-8525).

Saturday, October 3 — Lands End, San Francisco. Meet at 8 a.m.
at the Palace of tlie Legion of Honor parking lot (Lincoln Park). From
Geary St. go north (toward tlie bay) on 34th Ave. to the top of the hill
(through the golf course) and i^ark in the large circular lot to the east
(right). Lunch optional. We’ll walk about two miles. Leaders: Donna
Lion and Alan Hopkins ( 585-5669 ) .

Saturday, October 3 — Beginners’ trip to Briones Park — This
trip is designed especially for beginning birders. We will concentrate on
field identification of common birds. Bring binoculars if you can. Lunch
is optional. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot past the Bear Valley en-
trance station.

From Hwy. 26, take the Orinda exit to Gamino Pablo and continue
north for about two miles to Bear Greek Rd. (there is a sign to Briones
Regional Park) . Turn right and drive four miles east to the park entrance.
Leader, Gene Hull (525-6893).

Sunday, October 4 — Point Reyes. Meet at 7 a.m. in the parking
lot by the market in Inverness. From there we will caravan to various
points on the Point Reyes peninsula. Bring lunch and liquids. (The
Inverness market won’t be open at 7 a.m.). We may see Pectoral Sand-
piper, vagrant warblers and longspurs. Leader: Ghris Garpenter (376-
6802).

Carpooling arrangements can be made for trips marked (y/)- Call
Kate Partridge at 236-9853 and leave a message. She wiU contact you.

Problems : If for any reason you have difficulty getting in touch mtli
a field trip leader or need information regarding a trip, call Shirley Kelly
(387-8290), or the GGAS office (843-2222).

-FIELD TRIPS COMMITTEE

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June and July Observations — through July 28

Jime’s weather spoiled the eastern vagrant season, but as always the
summer produced a fair share of other rarities. As the seabirds began
to fledge on Southeast Farallon their breeding season appeared to be
good but not great (PRBO). A veteran team of birders (DR, LCB, BDP,
JP) set new national Big Day records for both June (178 species) and
July (170) within Monterey County. Assuming they can break 167 in
August the sweep will be complete: the national Big Day records for
all 12 months wall belong to California and all but April to Central
California!

WORTHY WATERBIRDS

A Red-necked Grebe was by Doran Park, Bodega Bay, July 5 (BDP,
et al.). Two adult Little Blue Herons attended the Alviso egret/heron
colony, but nesting has yet to be confirmed this year. One appeared by
April 28. Meanwhile, the colony had a banner year, with 740 pairs of
Snowy Egrets and 540 pairs of Black-crowned Night Herons censused
(all RL, MR, et al.). An adult Little Blue Heron was seen July 11 at
its usual haunt. Charleston Slough, Palo Alto (KH), and is probably
an Alviso bird. Summering Blue-winged Teals were found on the small
pond north of Drakes Beach (two on June 6 - DS, MAS), at MoflFett
Field (four on June 9 - MR, fide RL), and at Alviso (one on July 9 - MR
fide RL). The large pond northeast of Drakes Beach had a Ring-necked
Duck July 20 (DS), a good find in summer. At Moss Landing tlie female
Oldsquaw remained through at least July 11 (RY, SC). Anotlier Old-
squaw was by the mouth of Tomales Bay June 28 (DS) and a third
frequented the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza beach July 7-25 (AG, WG, GH)
before moving to the Emeiyville Marina July 28 (AG, WG). More usual
were the two Harlequin Ducks at Aiio Nuevo July 25 (GGAS).

Juvenal Semipalmated Sandpipers at Palo Alto and the mouth of
Pescadero Creek were found on the same day (July 25) by the same
observer (TB). Both birds were seen the following day (re.spectively:
JG; AH, KH, DL). July 10-11 produced SE Farallon’s earliest Baird’s
Sandpiper (PRBO), sui*prisingly the only one to arrive before an early
Pectoral Sandpiper July 25-26 at Ano Nuevo (DJ, JZ, MW, GGAS). On
the same Ano Nuevo beach July 25 was a male Ruff so early that it still
carried traces of an orange ruff (MW, JZ, DJ, GGAS). A real surprise
was the Pomarine Jaeger flying south over the Bay past Alameda Naval

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Air Station July 13 (SFB), very early and not the jaeger species expected
inside tlie Bay. Two South Polar Skuas outside Monterey Bay July 25
(DLS, et al.) may represent regular' occurrence at this season. Similarly,
only more long summer boat trips will clarify the status of Sabine’s Gulls
such as the one seen July 25 (DLS, et al.). Gareful records of tlreir
plumages should help distinguish early migrants from non-breeders
summering off our coast. At Moss Landing, the strange plumage of a orre-
year-old Mew Gull puzzled observers June 19, but was subsequently
deciphered (DR, et al.). Was the Gommon Tern on a small pond north
of Drakes Beach June 6 (DS, MAS) a late spring migrant? Increasing
counts of Comrnorr Terns at Moss Landing in late June seemed to indi-
cate arrival: two on June 27 (BDP, JP), four on June 28 (KHa), ten on
June 29 (JM, AG, WG). Four Least Terns roosting on Doran Spit,
Bodega Bay, July 4 (LGB), with one there the next day (BDP, et al.),
constitute the first Sonoma Gounty record; there are very few from
farther north.

Black Skimmers created excitement by approximately equalling all
previous sightings. This began with two at Pajaro Dunes and Moss
Landing June 15-17 (JW, BR, DEk). From June 18 only one was seen
intermittently at Moss Landing, usually in the evening but also early
(DR, BW, JM, AG, WG, MS, SG, et al.), through at least Jrrly 26 (fide
DE). Apparently they roosted with terns on the Elkhom Slough salt
ponds. A single Black Skimmer roosting on Doran Spit, Bodega Bay,
July 3 (RS, et al.) was last seen flying noi*thwest over the harbor the
same day (HG, et al.). Skimmers were unusually mdespread along the
Southern Gahfomia coast this season. Nevertheless, the bird of tlie
season was our breeding plumaged male Least Anklet, the first ever
southeast of Kodiak Island, Alaska! This tiny alcid was picked up sick
and very thin on Thornton State Beach in Daly Gity June 15 and was
delivered to the Peninsula Humane Society, where it died overnight
(fide BG, SS). Undoubtedly many rare birds found dying have never
been reported to scientists, but in this case someone ( BG ) realized that
your Observations Editor should be informed. Thus I was able to confirm
the identification and secure tire specimen for preservation and study in
the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. Perhaps this early summer occurrence
is related to the presence of Homed Puffins in Gahfomia waters during
recent Mays and Junes. Tufted PuflBns were widely reported. At presumed
nesting sites, two were at Pt. Reyes June 4-7 (SL, et al.), one at Ghimney
Rock June 7 (HL), and about 20 at Fish Rocks, southern Mendocino
County, June 13 (JP, BDP). Two Tufted Puffins were outside Monterey
Bay July 25 (DLS, et al.), but the real surprise was one in breeding
plumage clearly sketched at Crab Cove, Alameda, July 9 ( IB ) .

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September 1981

FARALLON RARITIES

Several birds veiy rare or unseasoiial on Southeast Farallon Island
appeared there (all PRBO): Green Heron July 8, Sora July 3, Marbled
Godwit June 28 (eai'liest Island arrival), three Caspian Terns July 4
and Song Sparrow June 26.

MOSTLY INTERIOR LANDBIRDS

A Yellow-billed Cuckoo northeast of Drakes Beach stayed surprisingly
long; found July 20 (DS), it was resighted July 28 (TC). A Common
Nighthawk was well heard calling in flight over Codornices Canyon,
Berkeley, 10-11 p.m. July 15 (BU, AC). Swifts are often identification
problems, but imagine the albino reported from Wildcat Beach, Pt.
Reyes, July 11 (CM). An apparent Chimney Swift foraging low at the
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, July 18, was initially thought a Black-
Swift, despite its passing within a few feet of the observer ( BH ) . Besides
the well-known sites occupied by Black Swifts this summer, Ano Nuevo
and Lighthouse Pt., Santa Cruz (SC), add Anderson Canyon on the Big
Sur coast June 27 (DR, et al.). Nearby, at the mouth of Bixby Canyon,
both male and female Costa’s Hummingbirds were seen during June
(DR, et al.). Apparently absent from the north end of Mines Road,
Livermore, for several years, a probable family group of four Cassiris
Kingbirds July 18 was very welcome (AE). Both species of magpies
were reported only a week and about five miles apart on the Sonoma
County coast; perhaps one observer erred. These I'eports were “Black-
billed” at the Bodega Marine Lab May 22-23 (KS, et at, fide BDP) and
“YeUow-billed” at Wright’s Beach May 31 ( SC fide BDP fide DS) .

A scattering of irruptive Red-breasted Nuthatches appeared at coastal
vagrant traps: Fish Docks June 2 (KC), Pt. Reyes July 3 (AG, WG), SE
Farallon July 5 (PRBO), and two Bodega Bay spots, July 5 (BDP, et al.)
and July 6 (NC). With tlie July 5 nuthatch was a very unseasonal Ruby-
crowned Kinglet (BDP, et at). This might be taken as circumstantial
evidence of a montane origin of the nuthatches; will fall support this
idea? On June 14 Sea Ranch had two species scarce on the coast, Yellow-
headed Blackbu'd and Lawrence’s Goldfinch (JP, BDP). The pair of
Great-tailed Grackles became more conspicuous in San Francisco
Aquatic Park for several months before July 2 when they were discovered
nesting slightly east of last year’s failed nest (SGI, GLu). At this
writing the outcome is unknown.

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September 1981

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FARALLON VAGRANTS

The late May vagrants on our coast (table in last Gull) were mirrored
on SE FaraUon (all reports by PRBO). After a male Indigo Bunting
May 26, a miniature wave on May 28 brought a Veery, Worm-eating
Warbler, two Ovenbirds and a Brewer’s Sparrow. Very few Veery reports
have been accepted by the California Records Committee. The two
Ovenbirds remained to the next day, when a female Northern Parula
was banded. Four warblers dropped in June 1: male Northern Parula,
Palm Warbler, male Hooded Warbler and young male American Red-
start. The Palm Warbler was banded and seen intermittently through
July 15.

The next few days were choked by dense coastal fog and the only
vagrant was a Red-eyed Vireo on June 8. Thereafter virtually the entire
vagrant season was stifled by the record-setting hot spell. Only a Yellow-
breasted Chat of the eastern race strayed to SE Farallon during this
endless clear weather. Finally a Swamp Sparrow June 24-27, a Chestnut-
sided Warbler June 25, a Magnolia Warbler June 30- July 1 and a
Tennessee Warbler July 3-5 broke the drought as coastal clouds returned.
Also mentioned was an unidentified bunting seen June 29 and described
as a “probable Varied Bunting” ( ! ) .

MAINLAND VAGRANTS

Three coastal vagrants were found June 2. An Eastern Kingbird at
Bodega Marine Lab (KS fide BDP) was typically a one-day visitor. The
singing male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Pioneer Log Cabin, Golden
Gate Park, stayed overnight (NB), and the singing male MagnoHa
Warbler at Fish Docks (KC) was still there June 4 (HG). During the
heat wave tlie coast was virtually devoid of landbirds. A Palm Warbler
[banded?!] did visit Fish Docks June 17 (JE). The Bird Observatory
banded a second-year male Indigo Bunting at Palomarin June 14
(PRBO) and the one previously reported along the Fort Ross Road was
singing on territory through at least June 19 (DEI, et al.). In Tilden
Park, a male Hooded Warbler was singing June 15 along Wildcat Creek
where one spent much of last summer (GH). This years (the same
individual?) was never refound, however. An Ovenbird in Monterey June
19 ( CB, RB, et al. ) completes the picture of the few vagrants avoiding
the outer coast and finding more attractive places a few miles inland.
If male and female find each other in an acceptable site they may breed
here, as has been done two or three times by Nortliern Parula. It is
perhaps through long-distance vagrancy and not simple range expansion

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September 1981

that a breeding population of American Redstarts has apparently become
established in the extensive riparian vegetation of the Klamath River
Mouth. Up to nine singing males and several females \vere found during
June (GL).

After clouds reformed on the coast, vagrant American Redstarts
stopped at Fish Docks July 1 (DS) and Drakes Beach July 3 (AG, WG).
Also on July 3 there was a female Indigo Bunting at Bodega Bay (RS).
Perhaps tire last spring vagrant was the Eastern Kingbird at Olema
Marsh JrJy 10 (BB), because the Brown Thrasher at a feeder in Carmel
since July 24 ( DR, et al. ) is not yet classifiable.

Observers; Stephen F. Bailey, Dr. C. Bates, Laurence C. Binford,
Neil Blank, Ira Bletz, Bill Bowsman, Ron Branson, Tony Briggs, Arthur
Campbell (AC), Kurt Campbell, Scott Carey, Tom Casti'O, Nancy
Conzett, Alton Crooks, Art Edwards, David Ekdahl (DEk), Doug Ellis
(DEI), Dick Erickson (DE), Jules Evens, Steve Getty (SC), Al Ghiorso,
Wilma Ghiorso, Sue Glazer (SGI), Bob Graf, Helen Green, Jeff Green-
house, Kem Hainebach (KH), Keith Hansen (KHa), Lola Harris, Bob
Hirt, Alan Hopkins, George Hugenberg, Dick Johnson, Gary Lester
(GL), Donna Lion, Helmut Loring, Roy Lowe, Gerald Luckham (GLu),
John Luther, Susanne Luther, George Martin, Tom Morell, Joe Morlan,
Point Reyes Bird Obseiwatoiy (Farallon reports thanks to Joe Morlan
and Craig Strong), Benjamin D. Parmeter, John Panneter, Bob Ramer,
Elsie Richey, Mike Rigney, Don Roberson, Debra Love Shearwater,
Dave Shuford, Kimberly Smith, Golden Gate Audubon Society, Marin
Audubon Society, Sandi Stadler, Rich Stallcup, Maury Stern, Bertha
Underhill, Bruce Walker, John Warriner, Derek Watson, Mike Wihler,
David Yee, Russell Young, Bob Yutzy, Jon Zablackis.

—STEPHEN F. BAILEY, Observations Editor
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720

(phone 548-9507; or Karen L. Bailey at 642-3327 8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.)

CLASSES ON MARINE MAMMALS

College of Alameda is offering a unique course, “Marine Mammals of
California,” during the fall quarter, September 16-December 9. Excur-
sions to areas near tlie Bay Area to obseiwe marine mammals will include
a free aU-day boat trip in Monterey Bay to observe dolphins, porpoises
and California Gray Whales. Lectures will be held on Wednesday even-
ings from 7-10 p.m.

For more infonuation contact Tom Southworth at 522-7221, ext. 297.
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September 1981

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Conservation Notes

CONDOR PERMIT GRANTED

On August 7 the California Fish and Game Commission granted a
pennit allowing tire eapture of up to nine California Condors - three
for captive breeding and a possible total of six for a year-long radio-
telemetry study. The Commission, at the recommendation of the Depart-
ment of Fish and Game (DFG), stipulated that after one year of
activities in the field the program is to be evaluated and any further
handling of condors will be assessed at that time. Additionally, entrance
into active nests was prohibited.

The pennit was scheduled to be voted on in Los Angeles on July 28.
After nine hours of testimony and debate, however, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) stated that they would revoke all funding
for the condor recovery program if they did not get appx'oval to capture
15 condors the first year — six for radiotelemetry and nine for captive
breeding. Approval was also sought to enter active nests and inactive
nests after a one-year period.

DFG’s Director, Charles Fullerton, stated tliat 15 birds were too many
and both the DFG aird USFWS were ordered back to the negotiating
table by Commissioner Venrick, who called USFWS’s threat “blackmail.”
The DFG’s recommended program, which stressed a cautious approach,
came about through conferences with the Cahfornia State Condor
Advisory Committee and because of last year’s death of the condor chick.

—JERRY EMORY for the Condor Subcommittee

MONO LAKE DISASTER

Starvation evidentally killed 97% of the California Gull chicks at Mono
Lake this summer. The probable cause is that brine shrimp, the gulls’
main food source, were not able to reproduce normally due to the
increase in the lake’s salinity.

Even if you’ve already contributed to the GCAS year-long effort to
save Mono Lake and the gulls, now is the time to redouble your efforts.
Send contributions to suppor t the lawsuit against the Los Angeles Depart-
ment of Water and Power to the GCAS office (please mark them for
Mono Lake), or help sell tickets for the November Mono Lake benefit
drawing. Tickets, at a recommended donation of $1 each, are available
from the GCAS office or by calling (evenings) Nicld Spillaine, 524-5102,
Afton Crooks, 848-7513, or Helen Green, 526-5943.

— AFTON CROOKS, Mono Lake Subcommittee

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September 1981

LEAST TERN NESTING SUCCESS

The Alameda Naval Air Station once again hosted the largest Cali-
fornia Least Tern breeding colony in nortliem California. Laura Collins,
with the aid and counsel of Stephen Bailey, studied and managed the
colony for a second consecutive season, thanks to support from GCAS,
the Navy and the Department of Fish and Game.

Of the 82 nests recorded at the colony at this season, it appears that
only five or six failed to hatch any young.

Chick mortality was much lower this year than in 1980. The new fence
around the colony site kept the tern chicks from wandering into trafficked
areas. The fence may also have excluded cats, that might prey upon the
colony. This year the number of chick deaths attiibuted to hypothermia
was considerably lower, and American Kestrel predation was also re-
duced. As opposed to nine chicks fledged in 1980, over 100 chicks fledged
successfully this year!

The causes of fledgfing mortality appear to be American Kestrel
predation and, occasionally, air traffic. The adults and fledglings grad-
ually dispersed from the site until July 21st, when the site was deserted.
At this writing, post-fledging roosts and foraging sites have not been
discovered.

An estimate of the reproductive success of the colony will be made once
all post-fledging observations are complete. However, reproductive suc-
cess was certainly the highest it has been since at least 1978.

-LAURA COLLINS

( Editor’s note: It has come to my attention that in both the Jime and the July-
August Gulls the birds discussed above were identified as “Least Turns.” Strange
terns of events such as this are what make editors tern old before their time.)

OF PASSING FRIENDS AND MARSHES

The passing in July of Fred Garretson of the Oakland Tribune re-
moved from our scene a dedicated and able friend of conservation and
tire environment. “Skip” Garretson’s reports in the early 60’s awakened
the public to the erosion of our bay shores and marshes and mustered
support to save them. He also wrote effectively on threats to the Sacra-
mento-San Joaquin Delta. As an expert writer on seismic events he
more recently covered the Mt. St. Helens eruptions. It is hard indeed to
accept the loss at age 47 of such a friend of our land. We heartily support
tlie suggestion that some new marsh or shoreline of the Bay be named
for Fred Garretson.

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September 1981

THE GULL

Nature continues to mock and thwart the engineers, hydrologists and
other experts who manage recreational lakes, beaches — even commer-
cial harbors. So this year finds still another study of the alga and widgeon
grass problems of Lake Merritt costing nearly $100,000. Probable
recommendation — dredge it deeply and completely at a cost of one
million dollars. The birds don’t seem to mind the present condition;
Snowy Egrets from the duck islands’ colony tiptoed over the muck and
fished tlirough it.

At Alameda South Shore, where tides and winds have demolished a
once-popular beach, the City Council seeks pennits to deposit up to
200,000 cubic yards of new sand. Meanwhile, the marsh at the Elsie B.
Roemer Sanctuary grows and prospers.

Another “little marsh worth saving” belongs to tlie city of San Le-
andro; it may be reached by a short walk from tire west end of Lewelling
Street. That this small salt marsh survives, diked ofiF from tidal action, is
remarkable. It was much larger, until the City Council, with approval of
the U.S. Ami)^ Coi-ps of Engineers, used it to deposit spoils from San
Leandro Marina dredging. These could have been taken to deep waters
off Alcatraz, but that would have cost more money.

“Bay Watehers” of the Olrlone Audubon Society have challenged the
city of San Leandro over the issue of these illegal fills and the continued
cutoff of tidal access to this surviviirg marsh. The Department of Fi.sh
and Game and tire State Lands Commission have takeir critical positions
agaiirst the city’s actions. The GCAS Conservation Committee will do
everything in its power to support Ohlone on this issue.

—PAUL COVEL, South Bay Regional Committee

A Mono Lake Guidebook

Have you ever wondered how tufa tower's are formed? Why Mono
Lake is salty? Who hatched chickens in Paoha Island’s steam vents?
How to prepare brine fly soup? You’ll find these answers and many
more in The Mono Lake Guidebook, written by David Gaines and the
Mono Lake Committee.

The guidebook is the first autlroritative biography of America’s most
extraordinary lake. From tufa to v'olcanoes, biiire shrimp and gulls,
aqueducts to water conservation, it delves into Mono’s geology, wild-
life and history and the alternatives to its destruction.

Order now; $4.95 per copy (plus $1 postage; California residents add
240 sales tax) from the Mono Lake Committee, P.O. Box 29, Lee \ining,
CA 93541.

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September 1981

GGAS-sponsored Classes for Fall

ALBANY

Dr. Stephen F. Bailey, Gull Observations Editor, will repeat his
most popular class for Albany Adult School, Raptors. An extra evening
class has been added to provide improved instruction in identification
of California species of hawks and related birds of prey. National history
discussions will emphasize migration. Evening sessions will meet 7-9 p.m.
on five consecutive Tuesdays from September 15 through October 13.
We 'will observe migrating raptors on two Saturday field trips to the
Point Diablo hawk lookout.

Dr. Bailey’s new class will cover our many migrant and wintering
Salt Water Smmmers, ducks, loons, grebes, cormorants, alcids, and
others. It begins October 27. Details will follow in the October Gull.

To register call the school at 526-6811. For more information call
Steve at 548-9507.

SAN FRANCISCO

This faU GGAS is again sponsoring free evening field ornithology
classes, taught by Joe Morlan, in conjunction with the Galileo-Marina
Community College Center in San Francisco. Each class consists of a
weekly two and one-half hour slide lecture. All evening classes are free
and last 18 weeks. No pre-registration is necessary — enroll by going
directly to tlie classroom, room 254, Marina Middle School, on the day
and hour indicated below. The school is at the comer of Fillmore and
Bay streets. There is convenient free parking in tlie school lot off Bay
Street just east of the school.

Beginning Field Ornithology is designed for tliose with no previous
birding experience. It serves as an inti'oduction to the biology and identi-
fication of the common Bay Area birds. Meets Tuesdays starting Sep-
tember 15 from 7-9:30 p.m.

Intermediate Field Ornithology is for those who already know
most of the common species but who wish to sharpen their birding skills.
It systematically treats water birds. This season the course will start witli
storks and will include shorebirds and gulls. Meets Wednesdavs starting
September 9 from 7-9:30 p.m.

Advanced Field Ornithology is a continuation of Intermediate for
those who want to develop a liigh level of competence in field identifi-
cation. It systematically treats land birds. This season the course will
start with thrashers and will include warblers and sparrows. Meets
Thursdays starting September 10 from 7-9:30 p.m.

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September 1981

THE GULL

All class participants are invited to attend a series of optional field
trips arranged on weekends to observe wild birds in natural habitats.
Each class has its own series of trips. The cost of each series is $30 per
person. Details will be announced in class. Please bring binoculars and
field guides to class if you have them. For further information call the
college at 931-3595.

Backyard Birders’ Question Box

A pair of Brewer’s Blackbirds created havoc on my lawn this summer.
They dug holes and ripped up the grass. What were they after?

Brewer’s Blackbirds feed on vegetable matter, usually seeds, and
animal matter, chiefly insects. Many of the insects eaten are pests that
plague agricultural areas, so the birds are generally welcome when they
visit fields and orchards.

While these birds are very common in the Bay area, they are not
ordinarily seen in urban back yards. Their presence on lawns is a warn-
ing that sod web worms have made tunnels under tlie grass. The black-
birds dig out these large, woiTnlike larvae and carry them oflF as food
for their nestlings. It is fairly easy to fill in the holes made by the birds
with a little fresh grass seed and a handful of soil. Otherwise, if the
birds are chased away, the lawn owner may soon find ugly brown
patches caused by the webworms.

As in this case. Brewer’s Blackbirds are nearly always seen in pairs.
The bright, metallic black body and the golden eye of the male, in
contrast with the grayish brown plumage and brown eye of the female,
make it easy to identify a pair. Once the pair is formed, the partners
are seldom separated. Even when in flocks, pairs may be detected within
the group, walking and foraging together, each pair slightly apart from
the others. When the flock alights on wires, there is much moving about
and resettling until the pairs have found one another.

While feeding in a group, the male Brewer’s constantly guards his
mate and warns o£F any other blackbird who walks between them or
who tries to “muscle in” on their food supply. This is done by eitlier a
ruff-out or a bill-pointing display. A person passing by such a group
needs only to stand quietly for a few minutes to observe at close range
one or both of these threat displays.

In the ruff-out, the feathers of the head and neck are ruffled, tlie wings
are slightly spread, and the tail is depressed. A sharp, high note is
sounded and the display, lasting only a second or two, ends. Bill-pointing

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THE GULL

September 1981

lasts longer. The bill is held almost vertically and the body is stretched
upward, giving the bird a long, slim appearance. In either case, the
threat itself seems enough to cause the offender to move away.

This summer, several people who were watching swallows in the
early evening over Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park observed that a
dozen or so Brewer’s Blackbirds were also out over the middle of the
lake. The blackbirds fluttered their wings rapidly as they hovered over
the water. Their legs dangled and their feet almost touched the surface
as they dipped their bills quickly into the water. A little patient sleuth-
ing disclosed that the birds were snatching midges emerging from the
immature stage. The edges of the lake were awash with the transparent
empty casts of thousands of midges. It seemed to the observers that the
birds were making a tremendous expenditure of energy for a small
amount of food until it was seen that birds leaving the lake with mouths
full of midges were headed for the Monterey pines in the area where
hungry young ones waited. This behavior continued every evening for
over a week until the supply of newly metamorphosed midges diminished.

If you would like to share information on bird behavior that you have observed,
or if you have a question about the birds that are commonly found in our area,
write to or call Kay Steinberg, 850-38th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121, (751-4293).

ACR CLASSES THIS FALL

Audubon Ganyon Ranch will hold weekend seminars for adults and
families this fall, beginning September 20. Courses include everything
from an equinox hike along the Bolinas Ridge to sessions involving
illustration of biological subjects and a course dealing with migrant and
wintering birds. All participants will stay for tlie weekend in the beau-
tiful, secluded Volunteer Canyon, with use of the Hubbard Education
Center Friday night through Sunday. For full information write Volun-
teer Canyon, 4800 Hwy. 1, Stinson Beach, CA 94970, or call (415)
868-0611.

BIRDERS’ PROGRAMS WITH PRBO

Point Reyes Bird Observatoiy wiU sponsor three programs of special
interest to birders this fall. Led by Bob Yutzy, PRBO Education Director,
they are: Saturday Morning at the Palomarin Banding Station, 8-10:30
a.m. each Saturday, A Fall Migration Experience, September 19-20, and
Vagrants, where to look for them and how to identify them, September
27 and October 4. Write PRBO, 4990 Shoreline Hwy., Stinson Beach,
CA 94970, or call (415) 868-1221 for full details.

Don’t forget the PRBO — Mono Lake Birdathon on September 26.
Its fun birding to raise funds for these two worthy causes and you
could win valuable prizes. Details at the address above.

September 1981

THE

GULL

GIFTS AND BEQUESTS

For GGAS

In memory of

Dr. Eric Reynolds

In memory of

Gift of

Josephine J. Hughes
Gertrude Bialos
Betty Olds
Gertrude Machlis

Dr. and Mrs. Jefferson Larkey
Sylvia McLaughlin
Eleanor Allison and
daughters: Gwyneth, Anna,

Natalie, Amanda

Hermine H. Van Gelder

Aileen Pierson

Dorothy W. Goblentz

In memory of

Garnetta Veitch

Herman Blau

Kan and Jan Graik

In memory of

Jean Lindsay Rand

Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Beatty

In memory of
Ruth Arnold

George Homem

In memory of

Robert Cristofani

Karl and Beverly Treffinger

For Audubon Canyon Ranch

Gift of

In memory of

Jean Simonds

Fairmont Elementary School P.T.A.

In memory of
Dr. Eric Reynolds

Dorcas and Gope MacGlintock

For Mono Lake

In memory of
Dr. Eric Reynolds

Mr. and Mrs. Travis Bogard

For the California Condor

Eric Gaine

Memorial and honorary gifts and bequests will be used as specified by the

donors. Acknowledgments will be made in The Gull and personally by the
Corresponding Secretary, Minnie Groshong. Please send checks made out to

the Golden Gate Audubon Society to

Corresponding Secretary, GGAS, 2718

Telegraph Avenue, ^205, Berkeley, CJA 94705. All gilts are tax deductible.

123

Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc.
Office: 843-2222
2718 Telegraph Avenue, #206
Berkeley, California 94705

Return Postage Guaranteed

Library

Calif. Academy of Sciences

Golden Gate Pa^k

San Francisco, CA, 94118

THE GULL

September 1981

OFFICERS

President, Jon Zablackis (527-2083)*

First Vice President, Dan Murphy (564-0074)*

Second Vice President, Robin Pulich (848-3594)*
Treasurer, Joan Zawaski (771-5335)*

Recording Secretary, Helen Green (526-5943)*
Corresponding Secretary, Minnie Groshong (526-8443)*

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Conservation, Joyce Davis (524-1506)*

Education, GGAS office (843-2222)

Field Trips, Shirley Kelly (387-8290)*

Extended Field Trips, GGAS office (843-2222)

Finance, Ellen Sarbone (396-3951 )*

Emeryville Crescent, Shirley Taylor (845-2415)*
Hospitality, Hazel Houston (635-7347)*

Membership, Maybelle Groshong (526-8443)*

'Members of the Board of Directors

Program, GGAS office (843-2222)

Publicity, GGAS office (843-2222)

Christmas Bird Count, Doug Gomke (845-1480)

DIRECTORS

Joyce Davis (524-1506)*

Maybelle (jroshong (526-8443)*

Ellen Sarbone (396-3951)*

Directors-at-large;

Shirley Taylor (845-2415)*

Robert Hirt (383-5337)*

GULL Editor, Nancy Conzett (527-2593)*

Observations: Stephen Bailey (548-9507)

and Joseph Morlan (524-7421)

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RARE BIRD ALERT (recorded) 843-2211
Executive Director, Jerry Emory (843-2222)

Mail for all individuals listed above should be sent to the GGAS office.

Send address changes to office promptly: Post Office does not forward THE GULL. Monthly
meetings: second Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Joint membership — local and national $20 i>er year
(individual); $25 (family): includes AUDUBON Magazine and THE GULL; to join, make
checks payable to National Audubon Society and send to GGAS office to avoid delay in
receiving THE GULL. Membership renewals should be sent directly to the National Audubon
office. Subscriptions to THE GULL separately $5 per year; single issues 75^. High school and
college student membership $13.50 per year. Senior citizen individual, $13.50, senior citizea
family, $15.50.

The Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc. was established January 25, 1917, and became a chapter of
National Audubon in 1948.

The Gull deadline is the first of the month for the following month.

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