The Gull

M&O
Serials
QL 671
G84

THE

GULL

GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY NEWSLETTER VOL. 87 NO. 10 DECEMBER 2002

FOUNDED 1917

A National Award for Arthur Feinstein

by Nancy Smith

CALIFORNIA |

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

NOV 2 7 2002

i

LIBRARY ;

rthur Feinstein, Golden Gate Audubon’s Ex-
ecutive Director, has been named one of
thirty “national heroes” by The Glean Water
Network for his “significant contributions to
protecting and restoring wetlands and coastal waters. ”

The Glean Water Network, an alliance of over 1 ,000 en-
vironmental organizations nationwide, honored “Thirty
Heroes for Thirty Years of the Glean Water Act” this fall to
celebrate the 30*'’ anniversary' of the Act. Besides Arthur,
the thirty include Senator Barbara Boxer, several U.S. con-
gressmen (both Democrats and Republicans), Wendell
Berry, Pete Seeger, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and other en-
gaged citizens across the country.

Arthur has focused on wetlands, and the wildlife depen-
dent on them, since he joined Golden Gate Audubon in
the 1980s. His dedicated efforts have led to important vic-
tories for San Francisco Bay wetlands
and federal wetlands regulation. We
cite just two examples:

• Over 70 acres of wetlands at the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional
Shoreline Park in Oakland, and
over 400 acres of wetlands at the
Oakland Airport, were threat-
ened with destruction until
GGAS, under Arthur’s lead,
sued and won protection for
both. The lawsuit also resulted
in restoration of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Park wetlands. Of those
wetlands, Arthur has said: “ 1 he
bird life is just incredible — there

are thousands of shorebirds and waterlowl, and
endangered species like the California Clapper
Rail and the California Least Tern.”

• Arthur was a co-founder of the “Campaign to
Save California Wetlands” to rally grassroots op-
position to congressional efforts in the early 90s
to weaken federal wetlands protection. Arthur
notes that the Clean Water Act has helped slow
the rate of wetlands loss nationwide, but he be-
lieves that lax enforcement and renewed efforts
to weaken the Act may undermine the gains.

“Arthur’s tenacity has resulted in many acres of wetlands
being restored and protected in San Francisco Bay. He’s a
true advocate for the program and he deserx'es this honor,
said Loretta K. Barsamian, Executive Officer of the San
Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality
Control Board.

Arthur's knowledge of wetlands and
wetlands regulations, as well as his te-
nacity, hav'e led to his success and
earned the respect of his peers. And his
commitment to wetlands protection
continues. As GGAS Executive Direc-
tor, he is working with the \osemite
Creek Watershed Restoration Group to
involve San Francisco youth in w ildlife
studies, reviewing wetlands actions of
the BCDC and the Army Corps of En-
gineers, and ad\'ocating protection of the
Bay from impacts of dredging - among

Ardiiir Feinstein

continued on page 9

ROSTER

President: Miles McKey '04
Second Vice President: Carolyn Kolka 03
Recording Secretary: Pat Gannon ‘03
Corresponding Secretary: Carolyn Kolka '03
Treasurer:

West Bay Directors
Nancy Smith '03. Allan Ridley '05
East Bay Directors

Kay Carney '03, Leora Feeney ‘04, John Luther ‘05
Director at Large
Leslie Lethridge '03

COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Conservation: Jacqui Smalley* 510.655,0998
Education: Allan Ridley
FAWR: Leora Feeney 510.522.8525
Field Trips: Susan Groves* 5i 0.654.5954
Finance:

Hospitality

Latin America: Bob Risebrough* 510.549.2476
Major Gifts: Allan Ridley 415.566.3241
Membership:

Nominating: Nancy Smith
Program: Anne McTavish*
Publications: Marjorie Blackwell, acting*
Publicity: Marjorie Blackwell*

'Board of Directors '03

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BIRD BOX
415.681.7422

OBSERVATIONS

JayWithgott 4 1 5.452.6763 wilhgott@pacbeil.net

GGAS WEBMASTER

Tomas Latham webmaster@goldengateaudubon.org

EDITOR

Eva Guralnick 415. 387. 8731 eva@egcommunications.com

COPY EDITOR
Marjorie Blackwell

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Arthur Feinstein 51 0.843.6551

Published each month except July and August by the Golden Gate
Audubon Society. Special third-class postage paid in Oakland. CA.

Send address changes to office promptly, Post Office does not for-
ward The Gull. Monthly meeting; second Friday West Bay: third Thurs-
day East Bay. 7:00 p.m. Golden Gate Audubon Society membership
$20 per year. Renewals should be sent to Golden Gate Audubon
office. Single issues of The Gull $2.00.

The Golden Gate Audubon Society was founded January 15, 1917,
and became a chapter of National Audubon in 1 948. The Cull deadline
is the first of the month for the following month’s issue.

The Gu//-ISSN0164-971X

Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc.

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G
Berkeley. CA 94702

Phone: 510.843.2222 • Fax; 510.843.5351

www.goidengateaudubon.org

ggas@goldengateaudubon.org

Office Hours; Tuesday - Friday 9-1 2. 1-4 (please call first)

DESIGN BY E.G. COMMUNICATIONS
^ PRINTED ON RECYCUED PAPER

FIELD TRIPS

Susan Groves

Strybing Arboretum,

San Francisco

Sundays, December 1 , January 5

Meet at 8 a.m. at the front gate of the
Arboretum (9th Ave. and Lincoln Way)
for this regular first Sunday of the
month half-day trip. Strybing
Arboretum is a delightful section of
Golden Gate Park, with several
“micro-habitats” attracting a varied
array of resident, migrant and vagrant
birds. Beginners and all others wel-
come. GGAS co-leaders: Allan Ridley,
Rick Ferrick. Strybing Arboretum
Docents: Helen McKenna, Linda
Lyons. 415.566.3241.

Redwood Regional Park,

Oakland

Sunday, December 1

We will be seeking resident and win-
tering landbirds in riparian, redwood
and coastal scrub habitats. We will
meet at 8 a.m. in the last parking lot.
Take Hwy. 13 to Redwood Road exit.
Go east (toward the hills) on Redwood
Rd. for 3 miles to park entrance on left.
Leader: Rusty Scalf 510.666.9936;
rscalf@jps.net.

Upper San Leandro Reservoir,

Moraga

Friday, December 6

Meet at 9 a.m. in the Valle Vista Stag-
ing Area for this half-day trip. Grassy
hills, pines, oaks and open water pro-
vide varied habitats for land birds
(mainly woodpeckers) and waterfowl,
hake Hwy. 24 to Orinda and exit on
Moraga Hwy. Continue approximately
4 miles to Canyon Road. 'Furn right at

the traffic signal and continue 1 .2 miles
to the Valle Vista Staging Area on the
left. Beginners welcome. Rain cancels.
Leader: Bob Lewis 510.845.5001;
RLewis0727@aol.com.

Monterey Ray &

Coastal Areas
Saturday, December 7

We will be looking for loons, grebes,
gulls, alcids and rocky coastline spe-
cies. Meet at 9 a.m. in Monterey at
the foot of the Coast Guard Pier at the
southeast end of Cannery Row. Bring
quarters for parking. We will bird this
area then drive north, stopping at vari-
ous spots including Moss Landing.
Beginners welcome. Bring lunch and
a scope if you have one. Leader: Don
Starks 408.266.2969 (eves) (^).

Arrowhead Marsh,

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Regional Shoreline Park
Sunday, December 8
Meet at 9:30 a.m. for this 3-hour trip.
Take 1-880 to Hegenberger Rd, e.xit.
Drive west about a half mile. Just past
Leet Drive, turn right into a small
parking lot just after you cross over
the estuary. Leader: Jeffrey Black
510.525.7068.

Aquatic Park,

San Francisco
Sunday, December 8

Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the foot of the
Hyde Street Pier (Hyde & Jefferson) for
this beginners bird walk. Discover birds
next door to the urban environment.
San Francisco Maritime National His-

2. THE GULL DECEMBER 2002

torical Park Ranger Carol Kiser will lead
this approximately 2-hour walk. Dress
in layers, d rip is wheelehair aeeessihle.
4 1 5.56 1 .7 1 00 or 56 1 .7 1 04.

Biking and Birding the
East Bay Shoreline
Saturday, December 14

We ll hike from Berkeley to Richmond
along the paved multi-use Bay derail,
stopping to view wintering ducks and
shorehirds along the way. Round trip
is about 15 Flat miles. Helmets re-
quired. Trip ends by 12:30 p.m. Meet
at 9 a. m. at the former Albany Middle
School at the corner of Buchanan and
Jackson Streets, one block west of San
Pablo Ave. Leader: Jeffrey Black
510.526.7068.

Long Billed Dowitcher at Lake Merced,
San Francisco.

Gray Lodge & Sacramento
Wildlife Refuges
Saturday and Sunday,

December 1 4 & 1 5

We will be looking for wintering geese
(four species), Tundra Swans, a variety
of ducks, raptors and Sandhill Cranes.
For this two-day trip, meet on Saturday
at 9 a.m. in lot #14 at Gray Lodge. Drive
east on 1-80 1 5 miles beyond Da^ds to

Route 99 exit. Co north 52 miles on
Route 99 to the town ol Cridley. diirn
left (west) on Colusa I Iwy. and continue
5 miles to Pennington Rd. Turn left and
lollow signs to Cray Lodge Wildlife
Reluge. Proceed through the checking
station (entrance lee) and continue to
l^arking lot #14. We will caravan
through Cray Lodge Wildlife Refuge on
Saturday, and then visit some other sites
in Sutter County and Butte County, so
make sure you have plenty of gasoline
before arriving at Gray Lodge. On Sun-
day, we will meet at 9 a.m. in the visitors’
parldng lot at the Sacramento National
Wildlife Refuge (entrance fee). To get
there from 1-5 take the Princeton exit
(the sign used to say Norman Road but
now says something like Road 68) just
north of the Glenn Co. line, and follow
signs to the Refuge. Allow 2.5 hours
driving time from the Bay Area. For ac-
commodations, try the Blue Gum
Willows Motel, the Best Western in
Willows or Jean’s Riverside Bed &
Breakfast in Oroville. There is no lodge
in Gray Lodge. Bring lunch, snacks, liq-
uids, scopes and clothes appropriate for
the Sacramento Valley in December
(cold, with wind and rain always pos-
sible). Heavy rain cancels trip. You may
join us for both days or just one day.
Leaders: Steve and Renee Margolin
530.342.6476 ($).

Oakland Christmas
Bird Count
Sunday, December 15

Contact GCAS office at 5 10.843.2222;
ggas@goldengateaudubon.org. See
page 9 for details.

San Francisco Christmas
Bird Count
Friday, December 27

Contact GCAS office (see above). See
page 9 for details.

Palo Alto Baylands &
Mountain View Shoreline
Saturday, January 1 1

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. I he wetlands, marshes
and (jpen waters at IClo Alto and
Mountain View are among the most
easily accessible sites l(jr birders on San
Francisco Bay. Levees and boardwalks
overlooking the preserves make this an
excellent spot to view 60 to 80 species
which winter in the south bay. Ducks,
shorebirds, waders, gulls, raptors and
many more make this a most ideal
birding experience. Meet at the duck
pond near the Baylands Preserv'e. From
Hv\y 101 in Palo Alto (just south of
Dumbarton Bridge), exit at Embar-
cadero Rd. East. Stay to the right and
be careful not to end up on the Or-
egon Expressway. Drive east over the
freeway to the end of the street, turn
left and continue to the duck pond on
the left. We will meet in the parking
lot immediately to the right of the gate
(the gate itself is locked until 8 a.m.).
Wear clothes appropriate for cold, wet
weather. If it has been raining wear
boots or waders since it can be quite
muddy on the levees. Bring lunch and
liquids. Restrooms may not be available
before 1 p.m. Leader: Dan Murphy
415.564.0074. ^

Trips marked with [$] go to parks or other
sites which require an entrance fee.
Carpooling arrangements will be attempted
by leader for trips marked with a [*}.

If you need a ride or can take a pas-
senger (even if a trip is not marked
with an [*]), if you need information
and have difficulty reaching a field
trip leader, if you have suggestions
for trips, or if you are interested in
leading a trip, call Susan Groves,
Field Trips Committee Chair at
510.654.5954.

THE GULL DECEMBER 2002 3

BACKYARD BIRDER

Meg Pauletich

have long admired pho-
tographers. My family
snatches cameras from
my hands in fear that I
will once again waste film. For some
reason I was able to record my
children’s lives until they became
adults and then lost the ability to “push
here, stupid” as cameras became sim-
pler. Any thoughts of becoming a
wildlife photograher, specializing in
birds, in my declining years was
shouted down by family members, who
destroyed my confidence in that arena.
When we were in Africa with our two
children and their spouses 13 years
ago, I was so glad that I could just sit
back and enjoy the spectacle without
squinting into a camera. 1 began to
accumulate my own kind of scrapbook
from which 1 can retrieve memories
whenever I like. Too bad I can’t share
the sights — but I CAN describe some
of them. These are from my scrapbook.

• Against the brightest blue Califor-
nia sky, a large flock of White
Pelicans slowly wheels and circles
ever higher, disappearing and then
reappearing as the sun reflects off
their white feathers.

• One night I step out on my deck and
hear Creat Horned Owls chatting. I
am alone, so without embarrassment,
I answer them. Soon 1 am “talking”
to at least six owls in the hollow be-
low me. Wonder what I was saying?

• On a crisp, Irosty morning with an-
other bright blue sky overhead, a
flock of bright white Snow Ceese

with black-tipped wings honks from
their v-shaped pattern.

• A Ruby-crowned Kinglet scolds me
from a low shrub as he flares his
crown so that I can enjoy the rea-
son for his name.

Western Screech Owl

• As I pull down an awning, a small
object falls at my feet. A tiny bat had
been rolled up inside and was some-
what flattened but just dazed. I
carefully held him so he could not
bite me, then placed him on a deck
railing to warm in the sun before he
flew away.

• Flearing calls of distress, 1 find a
Scrub Jay has pinned down a
Nuttall’s Woodpecker on the patio.
The jay flies away and I pick up the
stunned woodpecker. Noticing a
feather protruding from its hill, 1 tug
and its tongue unfurls its full length,
much to my amazement and sur-
prise! After recovering its poise, it
Hies away.

• A pair of cheetahs, brothers, lie atop
a Hat rock above a grassy Kenyan

plain. It is nearing dusk and they
slowly rise and stretch while perus-
ing the herd of impala below. Which
one will be dinner? Somehow a plan
is formulated: one hides behind a
large shrub while the other strolls
in plain view toward the herd. With
perfect timing, the hunter charges
one impala and drives it past his
brother, who leaps on it and the two
work together to take it down. They
must kill and eat fast because they
are the smallest of the cats and ei-
ther a lion or hyenas steal away their
meals.

• There are many “pictures” of large
flocks of birds during winter in our
valleys: Sand Flill Cranes, Tundra
Swans, shore birds in fields, masses
of egrets. Bald Eagles and Roadru-
nners all in the same day at
Sacramento Wildlife Refuge. Near
San Francisco Bay, a winter storm
was gathering angry clouds with
shafts of sunlight peeking through
as the sky blackened with thousands
of birds seeking safe refuge from the
weather on the salt flats. 1 can imag-
ine it was a sight the Ohlone Indians
enjoyed years ago.

• A Western Screech Owl sought ref-
uge in a hush in front of me,
harrassed by an angr}' flock of jays
and other birds who had joined the
“mob.” Fie clicked his beak at me,
surprised that I was so elose, and
flew lurther from the gang of pur-
suers, leaving me delighted by sueh
a close encounter.

• Strolling along a Sonoma County
coLintiy road, my birding pal and 1
spot a bobcat lying in the morning
sun in a cow pasture. We enjoyed
the thrill of spying on this shy crea-
ture for 15 minutes or so before it
became tired of us.

4 THE GULL DECEMBER 2002

Pier 94

Wetland Restoration

Snow Geese

• On our Af rican adventure, we spent
a half hour or so in our vehicle, en-
gine off, completely surrounded hy a
herd of 50 or more elephants. We
couldn’t hear their amazingly soft foot
steps but could hear stomachs rum-
bling, along with the veiy low sounds
with which they seem to communi-
cate with each other. The grass was
green, the sky was blue and Mt.
Kilimanjaro was RIGHT there!

• As we ate lunch at our hotel in
Costa Rica, a huge troop of Capu-
chin monkeys entertained us,
sliding down poles, swinging from
trees and bouncing up and down on
the roof’s plastic surface. Then they
were gone in an instant.

• The thrill of a good day at Hawk Hill
overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge
cannot be matched. How often can
you see raptors from below AND
from above?

• The African moon rose at dusk, an
enormous blood orange red. Sud-
denly, a giraffe glides into view and
is silhouetted against that vivid orb.

Of course, I have many more men-
tal photographs, hut you get the picture
(no pun intended!). Perhaps many of
you have similar photo albums. Get
one out and have fun reminiscing. The
picture is always in focus!

by Nancy Smith

ature - with the
heljr of hard-work-
ing GGAS volun-
teers - is reclaim-
ing a hidden wetland, consisting of
several acres of isolated industrial land
near Pier 94 on San Francisco’s south-
ern waterfront. 'The wetland is evolving
naturally as the fill material dumped
there in the 1970s gradually subsides.
Native salt marsh has formed along the
shoreline and is attracting a variety of
shorebirds. GGAS and the Port of San
Francisco have joined in an effort to ex-
pand the wetland area and improve tidal
circulation and public access.

GGAS began the hardcore cleanup
on Earth Day in April 2002 when more
than 60 volunteers removed 300 old
tires, invasive plants (for composting),
and scrap metal (for recycling) from
the area. A second group returned on
a foggy morning in August and hauled
away over a half-ton of scrap metal.

several pickup truckfuls of star thistle,
and more than a dozen old tires.

“We’ve made a great start,” said Boh
Bennett, GGAS volunteer leader, "hut
there is much more to be done.” In ad-
dition to the Port, Sunset Scavenger
Gompany and Hanson Aggregates
Marine have co-sponsored GGAS's
work at the site.

The wetland is not currently open
to the public; access lies through Port
properties leased to private tenants,
mainly hea\y industries. But on sched-
uled workdays, GGAS volunteers can
explore this hidden tidal marsh and
obser\^e the returning bird life.

This fall we expect to plan further
restoration efforts with the Port of San
Francisco, including new plantings on
site. If you would like to take part in
the planning - or be added to the Pier
94 notice list - please call or email the
GGAS office. Also watch the GGAS
Web site for further developments.-^

THE GULL DECEMBER 2002 5

A Bridge Between Social Justice
and Environmental Education

by Amiko Mayeno

s a child, I dreamed of
becoming a naturalist,
but by the time I was in
high school, I had long
given up that dream in order to pur-
sue my passion for social justice. Yet I
always knew that my basic physical and
spiritual well-being depended on regu-
larly escaping into wilderness.

When I took the job as the East Bay
Education Director for GGAS, I saw it
as a nice short-term break from my com-
munity organizing and social justice
related work. At my new job, I was re-
sponsible for working with a group of
dedicated volunteers to administer an
existing project in Alameda and develop
new programs in Alameda and East
Oakland. One of my first projects was
to complete a needs assessment of en-
vironmental education programs in East
Oakland. The findings demonstrated
deep support and appreciation for wild-
life, wilderness and environmental
education among predominantly Latino
and African American East Oakland
community members.

The needs assessment also pointed
out that local East Oakland schools
faced many barriers to accessing envi-
ronmental education. These harriers
included lack of funding for transpor-
tation and science materials, lack of
time, and lack of access to knowledge
about existing programs (the full text
of the needs assessment is available at
www.goldengateaudubon.org/
EnvironEduc/index.html).

In response, we developed a program
that removed these harriers by provid-

ing free buses, offering field trips acces-
sible by public transportation, actively
recruiting teachers through person-to-
person contact and developing a class-
room curriculum that required virtually
no equipment or supplies. We developed
strong partnerships with the school dis-
trict, community centers, the East Bay
Regional Park District, and a joint col-
laboration with the Martin Luther King,
Jr. Ereedom Genter.

Amiko Mayeno (front) with volunteers at a
community program day

This year we have added a new
schoolyard ecology component to our
wetlands program. This component
makes use of the free science materi-
als that nature provides, and tunes stu-
dents in to the wildlife they encounter
on a daily basis. Ghildren explore the
cultural uses of plants, discover medici-
nal and edible plants growing wild on
their schoolyard, learn about the intel-
ligence of ravens and crows, which
manipulate and use tools, see how the

Hover Fly mimics a bee to avoid ha-
rassment, and learn how they them-
selves are an interdependent part of
this schoolyard ecosystem.

This summer I went with Anna
Martinez, a GGAS high school intern,
to Arroyo Greek Recreation Genter in
East Oakland to pilot-test one part of
the new schoolyard curriculum. Upon
arrival, we found a group of 6- to 11-
year-old children huddled around a
computer, deeply absorbed in a video
game. Timothy Hughes, the Recreation
Genter leader, told the children in no
uncertain terms to turn off the game and
give their attention to the “bird lady.” I
could hear their loud cries of disappoint-
ment and took a deep breath. Eventually
they all came to the table, looking quite
angry and uninterested.

After a brief presentation, we went
outside to assess the viability of their
yard as hummingbird habitat. They
looked for materials a hummingbird
might use to build a nest and food
sources such as flowers and insects.
Before long, they were excitedly point-
ing out hummingbirds, one of which
hovered right above us, looking territo-
rial. Soon we were all down by the creek
finding fish and other creatures. As we
left, Anna told me she planned to re-
turn to the center on her own to
volunteer. A 9-year-old boy took my
hand and told me he was soine to be a

O O

scientist when he grew up. As I left, I
let the children know they could go
back inside if they liked, but they were
all too involved in discovering the mys-
teries of the creek to he bothered with
a computer game. At the end of the day
I knew why I was still at GGAS years
longer than I had ever imagined.

This job has given me an opportunity
I did not expect, the opportunity to build
a bridge between my passion for social
justice and my intense love of nature.-^

0 THE GULL NOVEMBER 2002

Chapter Wish List:
Volunteers Wanted

CiClAS volunteers make us one of the
Bay Area’s leading conservation, envi-
ronmental education and birding

O

organizations. Please consider joining
our large and enthusiastic group of vol-
unteers who do good things and feel
great doing them.

Treasurer and Membership
Chair

GGAS seeks to fill two important po-
sitions on its Board of Directors that
were recently vacated — Treasurer and
Membership Ghair. The Treasurer
helps prepare the annual budget and
monthly financial statements for the
Board, and makes sure our financial
bookkeeping is in order. The Member-
ship Ghair oversees a committee
devoted to member services and re-
cruitment. See tbe GGAS Web site for
details, or call the office if you might
be interested in volunteering and want
additional information.

Help Us Recruit
New Members

db he as effective as possible as an ad-
vocate lor preserving our natural world,
GGAS needs as many members as pos-
sible. It’s time for us to go out and
recruit new members and we need
your help!

Intern Tim Aguon teaching elementary
students about invertabrate life in the mud

Office volunteers

Office volunteers work a three-hour
shift once per week during our office
hours of Tuesday through Friday from
9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. I he tasks
are easy. You’ll help us answer the phone
and field questions about birds (we
have cheat sheets and hooks to help you
answer tough questions so its a great
learning opportunity, and if you can t
find the answer no one gets upset). You
also will greet people when they come
to the office and help with mailings and
other office activities in our congenial
and uplifting atmosphere.

Please volunteer to staff a table for
us — it’s an easy and enjoyable way to
help bring in new members. GGAS
provides a small table at a hot birding
spot that is also a place where people
walkjust to be outdoors. Possible sites
in San Francisco include Golden Gate
Park’s Stow Lake, and the Gliff House
on Ocean Beach; other good locations
include the perimeter trail on
Alameda’s Harbor Bay Isle, Lake
Merritt in Oakland, the Albany Bulb
and Berkeley’s Tilden Park.

At the table we provide binoculars

and a scope with which to watch the
birds along with membership and
birding inlormation. Your job is to in-
troduce pef)ple to the joys ol birding
and encourage them to join GGAS.

You d(jn't have to be a great birder
to do this — your visitors will know less
than you do. J\vo or three hours on a
weekend once a month or once ever\'
two months is all we ask. Please join
our membership recruitment team.
Meet nice people, get a little sun (rain
cancels) and have a great time bring-
ing the joys of birding to our
community.

If you are interested please call the
Golden Gate Audubon Society office
at 510.843.2222. Thanks!

Become an Environmental
Education Volunteer

If you enjoy being wath kids and shar-
ing their enthusiasm for the outdoors,
then you are a candidate for the GGAS
environmental education program. No
previous experience is necessary.

Volunteers are trained by GGAS staff
and work with a team of naturalists,
park rangers and high school student
mentors. Activities take place at the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shore-
line Park in Oakland and the Alameda
Wildlife Refuge, as well as in elemen-
tary' school classrooms and schoolyards
in Oakland and Alameda. Classroom
visits and field trips are held on week-
days, pi'imarily in the morning hours.
Volunteers are required to commit to a
minimum of sLx hours per month.

Here’s a wonderful chance to pass
on your love of the natural world to
children w ho ai'e experiencing it for the
first time. For more information, con-
tact Audubon staff members Patti
Garcia at 510.434.1898 or Tsahai
Godner at 510.434.1927 or e-mail
Tsahai at Tcodner@audubon.org. ^

THE GULL NOVEMBER 2002 ~7

Become a GGAS Supporting Member and
Make a Difference Locally

Most people don’t realize that the
Golden Gate Audubon Society
(GGAS) and the National Audubon
Society (NAS) are two separate orga-
nizations. Although we share a name
and have the same mission of conserv-
ing our natural world, NAS looks at
issues from a national level and leaves
it to GGAS to address our local Bay
Area issues.

When you join NAS you automati-
cally become a member of GGAS but

almost all of your money goes to NAS.
This year, out of your basic $35 NAS
membership only $2.50 goes to GGAS.
If you give NAS more money GGAS
still only gets $2.50.

You do have a choice. You can join
GGAS directly and become a GGAS
Supporting Member. If you do so, all
of your $20 membership dues go to
GGAS, staying here in the Bay Area
where it will be used to save our local
wetlands, streams and other bird habi-

tats and to support our innovative en-
vironmental education programs, our
field trips and nature programs.

If you want your Audubon member-
ship dollars to help solve our local Bay
Area problems, please use the form
below and become a GGAS Support-
ing Member.

Remember, if you also want to sup-
port NAS and its efforts at a national
level you can always join both organiza-
tions. We thank you for your support.-^

I I

Golden Gate Audubon Society Supporting Membership Application I

Name |

Address i

City State Zip

Phone Email I

A contribution to Golden Gate Audubon in addition to your membership will provide significant support to our ,

conservation, education and recreation programs. I

Membership (Family $35) (Individual $20) $ ,

Yes, I also want to donate $ i

Total Amount $ i

Please make your check payable to Golden Gate Audubon Society or join by using your credit card: \

□ VISA □ MasterCard |

Your credit card # - - - Credit Card Expiration Date / I

Mail with this form to: I

Golden Gate Audubon Society |

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G |

Berkeley, CA 94702 |

□ Please do not give my name to any other organization |

I 1

8 THE GULL NOVEMBER 2002

Christinas Bird Counts

Oakland: Sunday, December 15
San Francisco: Friday, December 27

Golden Gate Audubon s two counts, San Francisco and Oakland, are well
along in preparation. Join us if you are looking for a healthy, social, environ-
mentally friendly activity for the holiday season. Beginners are always
welcome. If you are one of our long-time participants, we look forward to
seeing you again.

The Oakland Count is on Sunday, December 1 5. The Oakland count circle
contains a variety of habitats that always produce a good number of spe-
cies. Bird for the day with a group or be a feeder watcher in the comfort of
your own home.

The San Francisco Count is on Friday, December 27. Join a team in one of
the San Francisco Peninsula areas for a full day of birding; help for a few
hours by covering your neighborhood park or square; be a midday birder
for a few hours in downtown San Francisco, or watch in your backyard for
as little as 30 minutes.

Both of the counts finish the day with a group dinner which we encourage
everyone to attend. Hot, nutritious food and drink at a reasonable price
with other birders is reason enough to join us. You also get entertained with
stories of the day’s birding adventures, some of which are quite amusing.
The final countdown of the birds seen and missed is always fun.

Both counts would welcome more participants, so if you’re interested but
haven’t signed up, phone the appropriate contacts listed below. Folks who
let us know early are very much appreciated by the compilers! Neither count
will be able to place counters at the last minute. If you have sent in a form but
haven’t received an assignment yet, you can expect to hear from us soon.
We look forward to seeing you in the field and at the count day dinner.

Oakland CBC Contacts: Joelle Buffa & Clyde Morris 510.494.1098
San Francisco CBC Contact: Alan Hopkins 415.664.0983

continued from page I

Other projects.

In announcing the awards, The Clean 'Water Network wrote: ‘Wetlands - so
crucial for habitat, flood control and pollution reduction - continue to be lost at
an alarming rate. . . .Thirty years aftei its passage, we need the Clean W^atei Act
more than ever. And it needs us.” We congratulate Arthur on his award, and wish
him many more years of wetlands advocacy with GCAS. We need him."^ ^

'^See the GGAS Web site at ggas@goldengateaudubon.org for more information on Arthurs
work and the awards.

Donations

Thank you all for your donations to sup-
port the many activities of Golden Gate
Audubon Society.

Golden Eagle ($1000 and more)

Anonymous

Peregrine Falcon ($500-$1000)

Miles and Mel McKey (stock)

Least Tern ($200 to $500)

David Young and Donald Bird 1 Dog/Park
Issues), Susan Groves and Eric Anderson
(yard sale proceeds for Education Programs)

Clapper Rail ($100 to $200)

Raymond Sukys and Amy J Powell (Dog/
Park Issues)

Gifts (to $100)

Barbara Armstrong, Bernice Biggs, Mary
Brezner, Tom Condit, John Conley, Ernest
A, Dernburg, MD, Judith Dunham, Michelle
Enochson, Kathy Erickson, Satoru Fujii (in-
cluding a gift subscription), Pat Gannon, Jim
and Ruth Gravanis, Derek Heins, Roger
James, Robert and Caroline Lichtenstein.
Jamie Marantz, Barbara Maynard, Eileen C.
Odegaard, Jo Ann Ogden, L. Oppenheim,
Emilie Strauss, John Sudall, Mildred M. Twin-
ing, Eleanor Visser, Edward F. Walsh, Jr.,
Marian Whitehead (2), Ellen F. Yamamoto

In-Kind

Richard Cooper (Birding CD-ROMs). Nancy
Mennel (Color Printer)

Foundation Grants

East Bay Regional Park District. $15,000
for MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline Park Bird
Census

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. $5,000
for Alameda Education Project

A bequest to the Golden Gate Audubon Society
helps make it possible for us to continue the good
work we do in helping preserve our natural world for
future generations. If you are interested in setting
up a bequest, we have a team of experts who will
be glad to help you. Please call Arthur Feinstein at
our GGAS office for more information. Our phone
number is 51 0.843.2222, Thanks.

THE GULL NOVEMBER 2002 9

OBSERVATIONS

October 1-31, 2002
Jay Withgott

utumn hireling contin-
ued to be rewarding
through the month of
October, although
relatively few mega-rarities were found.
As the latter half of the fall passerine
migration pushed through, many breed-
ing birds bid us adieu, while early
winterers trickled in. Migration was
steady, with no particular fallout days.
Numbers of eastern warblers were half
what they were in September.

Loons to Ducks

Our region’s first Red-necked Grebe re-
turned on 26 Oct. off Rodeo Lagoon,
MRN (WL). Black-footed Albatrosses
numbered 145 on a SJPT at Cordell Bank,
MRN, 14 Oct. This trip also reported 2
Flesh-footed Shearwaters among its 5
shearwater species, and 380 Ashy, 1
Black, and 1 Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (DSh,
TM). Seawatches from land in Oct. pro-
duced high counts of 10 Pink-footed, 107
Buller’s, and 343 Black-vented Shearwa-
ters from Pigeon Pt., SM, 27 Oct. (RT).
As far as we know, no wayward Ashy
Storm-Petrels put in PacBell Park appear-
ances during the World Series, but this
species was spotted over the Bay ( 1 on
the 3'''*, and 2 on the 4'*’) from Coyote Pt.,
SM (RT).

Everyone’s favorite Cattle Egret re-
turned to E. Merritt in downtown
Oakland, AEA, for another winter,being
first reported on the 20''’ (BM). And an
even stranger sight than a Cattle Egret
among skyscrapers was the leucistic Tur-
key Vrdture seen several times from
Hawk Hill and other spots in southern
MRN. A photo of this light-beige vul-
ture is online at www.ggro.org.

"Fhe Eake Co. Emperor Goose {Chen
canagica) continued throughout the

month, as did the male Harlequin Duck
at Coyote Pt., SM. Migrant White-fronted
Goose flocks were noted on several occa-
sions, and uncommon wintering waterfowl
including Eurasian Wigeons, Wood
Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers began to
trickle in this month. The first Barrow’s
Goldeneye was reported 29 Oet. at E.
Merritt, AEA (BB), an apparent female
Tufted Duck was reported from Eive
Brooks, MRN, on the 26'*’ (BS, oob), and
a Eong-tailed Duck was at Limantour,
PRNS, 15-18 Oct. (EW;JC).

Raptors to Alcids

Hawk Hill, MRN, continued to post good
flights this month, including all expected
late fall raptors, and a late Broad-winged
Hawk on the 29'*’ (TB). At other locales,
3 Broad-wings were reported (CC, P‘,
SC; SF, 6'\ mob; MRN, 19'\ DMc). A
Swainson’s Hawk flew over San Carlos,
SM, on the 19'*’ (RT), and several Fer-
ruginous and Rough-leggeds were seen in
the final days of the month in MRN and
SM. In San Mateo Co., a Crested Ca-
racara {Caracara cheriway), possibly the
same bird seen recently in Santa Cruz
Co., was reported feeding on roadkill on
Hwy 1 just S of Half Moon Bay (EB). That
sighting, on 21 Oct., followed a handful
of second-hand reports from the
Pescadero area in previous weeks. The
CBRC has not yet issued judgement on
whether this year’s spate of Caracara
sightings represent wild vagrants or es-
capees from captivity.

On 2 Oct., a Sandhill Crane flew over
Ano Nuevo SR, SM (GS). Fhe month’s
several Golden Plover sightings included
1 American at Bodega Harhor, SON, 19
Oct. (MP); 2 Americans at PRNS, 13,
14, 19 Oct. (moh); a Pacific at PRNS,

MRN, 12 Oct. (DvN), and a Pacific at

Ano Nuevo SR, SM, 19 Oct (PM).
Golden Plovers unidentified to species
were at Bolinas Eagoon, MRN, 22 Oct.
(KFl, DL), and the Gazos Cr. mouth, SM,
26 Oct. (AE). Beyond our region, a Com-
mon Greenshank [Tringa nehiilaria), a
yellowlegs relative from Asia, was found
at Klopp E., Areata, HUM, on 18 Oct.
and seen again the 23''‘‘-24‘'’ (PL; mob).
Amazingly, this was determined to be a
different individual than last year’s Green-
shank, which occurred only 6 miles away
— and that bird was the first record for
the Lower 48 states. A Solitary Sandpiper
was seen 1 Oct. at Castro Reg. RA, ALA
(KHi; DB, PB). Single Baird’s Sandpip-
ers stayed late at Abbott’s Lagoon, PRNS
(RS), and Shollenberger Park, SON (JT,
oob), both seen on the 24'*’. Live Pectoral
Sandpipers were reported from MRN and
SCL (mob). A Stilt Sandpiper was last
reported at Alviso on 1 Oct. (ADM).

Two South Polar Skuas, all 3 Jaeger
species, 41 Sabine’s Gulls, and a Black-
legged Kittiwake were on the 14 Oct.
SJPT to Cordell Bank, MRN. Reported
from shore were all 3 species, including
2 Long-tailed, 4 Pomarine, and numer-
ous Parasitics. A Franklin’s Gull at the
Farallons was a 3"^-ever record for that
site, on II Oct. (PP). From Pigeon Pt.,
SM, 6 Common Terns were seen on the
5'*’, (PC), 2 on the 27*'’ (RT), and a late
Caspian on the 19''’ (PM). Three
Xantus’s Murrelets and 3 Tufted Puffins
were at Cordell Bank on the 14''’ (SJPT).

Doves to Thrashers

A Chimney Swift was at the Farallon Is.,
SF, b/w 7-1 1 Oct. (PP). A phenomenal
report was of a Black-hacked Woodpecker
in Sonoma Co., on 4 Oct. in Jack Lon-
don SP (MMo) — a very long way from
the Sierras, where this species is uncom-
mon and local at best! Only 3 historical
records exist for the Coast Ranges, at least
1 of which may have been mistaken (SC).
No further sightings of the SON bird were
reported, unfortunately. Other woodpeck-
ers sightings included 2 Lewis’s at Tilden
Park, CC, 3 Oct. (SC), and 1 of each of

1 O THE GULL DECEMBER 2002

the 3 unusual Hay-area Sapsuekc-rs: a
Williamson’s at OPR, MHN, 6()cl. (PC:);
a Red-napetl in Portola Valley SM, 9 Oel.
(PM); and a Yellow-bellied al San Bruno
Ml. Park, SM, 8-19 Oei. (RT; AP, |)A).

A Least Idyeateher was al OPIR
MRN, on the 8‘'’ (RS), and I lammond’s
Plyeatehers were at the same site on the
6''’ (LI I), and at Past Wash, SP, on the
2"^^ (I ICA. Pour Tropieal Kingbirds were
reported, along with 2 Kingbird sp. likely
Tropieals, during the month, from MRN,
SF, SM, & SON.

A Plumbeous Vireo was at OPR, MRN,
on 8 Oct. (RS); a Philadelphia was reported
from Coyote Hills RP, ALA, 4 Oct. (PC);
and single Red-eyed Vireos were at Ano
Nuevo SR 30 Sept. (GS) and SR Farallon
Is. 7-1 1 Oct. (PP). ATovATisend’s Solitaire
wandered coastward to Mt. Davidson, SF,
on 2 Oct. (PS, SR), and another contin-
ued to the Farallons, 7-11 Oct. (PP). A
Phainopepla was in SF on the 7'-'^ (BF),
and a japonic us-subspecies American Pipit
on the Farallons on the 1 1‘*' (PP).

Wood Warblers to Finches

Birders in our region reported 2 1 warbler
species during October, half of them va-
grants from eastern North America (see
chart). Numbers of individuals of rare
warblers were half of September’s total.

A Summer Tanager was at Sutro Hts
Park, SF, 13 Oct. (FIC), a Blue Grosbeak
continued at Stevens Creek, SCL, on the
1 (VT), and a Lazuli Bunting was late on
the at Pilarcitos Cr., SM (DS, RT).

Sparrows always pour in from the north
in October, with the occasional White-
throat among the thousands of
White-crowns and Golden-crowns. Re-
ports of an American Tree Sparrow came
from two locations at OPR, MRN, 8-9
Oct. (RS; PS) and 26-27 Oct. (CL; MI I);
no word on whether these were confirmed
to be different birds. Bight Clay-colored
Sparrows were found in the region this
month, from ALA, MRN, SF, & SM. A
Brewer’s Sparrow was at Half Moon Bay,
SM, on the 13‘'^ (RT), while a Swamp
Sparrow was at SP Farallon Is. 7- 1 1 Oct.

Wood Warbler Sightings

Golden-winged Warbler

1 bird, Nunes Ranch,

1-3 Oct. OPR, MRN

Tennessee Warbler

1 bird, Muir Beach, MRN

1 9 Oct.

Nashville Warbler

3 birds SCL. SF

Chestnut-sided Warbler

10 birds MRN, SCL, SF, SM

Magnolia Warbler

4 birds SF

Black-throated Green Warbler

1 bird, Lobos Dunes, SF

1 9 Oct.

Blackburnian Warbler

1 bird, Farallon Is., SF

7-11 Oct.

Prairie Warbler

2 birds, MRN, SON

19-21, 26 Oct.

Palm Warbler

20 birds f\VA, MRN, SF,

SM, SON

Blackpoll Warbler

9 birds MRN, SCL, SF, SM

Black-and-white Warbler

2 birds, SCL

7,12 Oct.

American Redstart

4 birds MRN, SF, SM

Canada Warbler

1 bird, Pescadero, SM

27 Oct.

JR, DnN, AW

DMc

mob

mob

GM, PP, PS,
RF; oob

PS

PP

WL, DW; oob

mob

mob

BA, BR

ES, LC, PP, DSi
RT

Abbreviations for Observers: BA.

Brian Acord; DA, David Armstrong; BB,
Bob Brandriff; DB, Dennis Braddy; LB.
Lucas Brug; PB. Patricia Braddy: TB. Tim
Behr; JC, Josiah Clark; HC. Hugh Cotter;
LC. Les Chibana; ADM, Al DeMartini; AE.
Al Eisner; BF, Brian Fitch; RF. Rich Ferrick;
PG, Phil Gordon; SG. Steve Glover; KH.
Keith Hansen; KHi, Kevin Hintsa: LH, Lisa
Hug; MH, Merry Haveman; AJ, Alvaro
Jaramillo; DK, Dan Keller; CL, Cindy
Lieurance; DL. David Lukas; PL, Paul
Lohse; RL, Randy Little; WL, William
Legg; BM, Bruce Mast; DMc, Dave
McKenzie; GM, Glona Markowitz; MMa,
Michael Mammoser; MMo, Mark
Morrissette; PM, Peter Metropulos: TM.
Todd McGrath; DnN, Dan Nelson; DvN,
David Nelson; ER Eric Preston; MR Mike
Parmeter; PP, Peter Pyle; BR. Bob Reiling;
JR, Jean Richmond; SR, Siobhan Ruck:
BS, Byron Stone; DSi, Dan Singer; DSh,
Debi Shearwater; ES. Emilie Strauss; GS,
Gary Strachan; PS, Paul Saraceni; RS,
Rich Stallcup; JT, Judy Toober; RT. Ronald
S. Thom; VT, Vivek Tiwari; AW. Alan
Wight; DW, Denise Wight; LW, Leigh
Woodson.

Semicolons separate original observeKs)
from subsequent observerts). Abbrevia-
tion "mob" = many observers; "oob" =
other observers. Information is compiled
from BirdBox transcripts and regional
listsen/s; the author apologizes for any
errors or omissions.

Abbreviations for Counties and
Others: ALA. Alameda; CBRC,

California Bird Records Committee; CC,
Contra Costa; Co., County; Cr, Creek:
HUM. Humboldt; L.. Lake; MRN, Marin;
OPR, Outer Pt. Reyes; PRNS, Pt. Reyes
National Seashore; RP. Regional Park;
SCL. Santa Clara; SF. San Francisco;
SJPT, Shearwater Journeys pelagic trip:
SM, San Mateo; SON, Sonoma; SP. State
Park; SR. State Reserve.

(PP). Of Dark-eyed Juncos, I “Pink-
sided” and 4 “Slate-colored ” individuals
were reported (RS, PP, RT, BR, CL).

A handful of Longspurs, those winter
denizens of barren fields, also showed
up this month. Two Lapland Longspurs
were at North Beach turnoff, PRNS,
MRN, 6-13 Oct. (RS; ooh); 1 flew over
Wavecrest Rd., SM, 1 1 Oct. (AJ); 1 was
at Pillar Pt., SM, 27 Oct. (EP); and 1
provided good looks from the 26'*' on at
Bayfront Park, SM (DK; moh). With the
Laplands at PRNS was a Chestnut-col-
lared Longspur (RS, ooh).

Pt. Reyes’ North Beach turnoff was also
the sole spot for Bobolink this month, with

2 birds there on the 6*- 7*'’ (LC, D\ N). A
\ellow-headed Blackbird at Calero Res.,
SCL, 27-29 Oct., was the county’s latest
fall record (MMa, mob). An Orchard Ori-
ole lingered at OPR, MRN on the 3'^'*
(DnN), and another was at Montara, SM.
on the 6''’ (AJ). Exceptionally late were 2
Hooded Orioles Hsiting RL’s Milpitas,
SCL, feeder, 17-18 Oct.

Scattered Lawrence’s Goldfinches
returned to SCL locales, and a Cassin's
Finch stopped briefly at Mt. Davidson,
SF, on the 2P‘ (PS). Evening Grosbeaks,

3 each, were seen at Hawk Hill, MRN,
on the 25'’' (JC), and at Phipps Ranch,
SM, on the 27^'^ (RT).

THE GULL NOVEMBER 2002 1 1

GGAS 2003 Election

The GGAS annual election will be held by mail ballot due April 17, 2003.

The GGAS Board of Directors includes (1) the elected Officers. (2) up to six
Directors elected for staggered 3-year terms (our East and West Bay Direc-
tors), (3) one “at-large" Director (if designated by the Board), and (4) the Chairs
of Standing Committees (appointed by the President each year with the ap-
proval of a majority of the elected Officers and Directors). The GGAS President
serves for two years and other Officers for one year. The current President,
Miles McKey, is in the first year of his term.

The following positions may be filled in the 2003 election: President-Elect
and First Vice President [combined position]. Second Vice President, Treasurer,
Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, East Bay Director (2003-2006),
West Bay Director (2003-2004) [one year remaining of a 3-year term], and
West Bay Director (2003-2006).

Members may nominate candidates to be included on the ballot by comply-
ing with the following rules: ( 1 ) The nominee must agree to serve and his or her
candidacy must be supported by the signatures of at least 1 0 GGAS members
in good standing; and (2) the nomination, with the required signatures, must be
received by the Chair of the GGAS Board of Directors Nominating Committee
by January 23, 2003.

The Nominating Committee members are: Nancy Smith — Chair, Arthur
Feinstein, Dana Kokubun and Leslie Lethridge. Correspondence to any of them
should be sent in care of the GGAS office in Berkeley.

Gull On-Line

We want to remind you that you can
save paper and trees by reading The
Gull online at our Web page at
www.goldengateaudubon.org. By
doing this you also save us post-
age and printing costs and allow us
to spend our precious dollars on
conservation, our environmental
education programs, and all the
other good things we do.

If you are happy reading The Gull
online, please call our office and let
us know that we can take you off
our Gull mailing list. Thanks.

WELCOME

NEW

MEMBERS

As a member of National Audubon Society, you are automatically enrolled in the local chapter,
Golden Gate Audubon Society. Chapter benefits include receipt of The Gull, access to field
trips and programs, and the opportunity to volunteer. Call the office if you have any questions.

GOLDEN GATE AUDUBON SOCIETY

2530 SAN PABLO AVENUE, SUITE G
BERKELEY, CA 94702

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Library California Rcademy Of Sciences

Golden Gate Park
San Francisco Cft 94118

NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

OAKLAND, CA
PERMIT NO. 1702

TIME SENSITIVE MAIL

Printed on Processed Chlorine-free Paper
iNBwom 60% Post-Consumer Waste, Vegetable-based Inks