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Altacal Audubon Society A California Chapter of the National Audubon Society

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Mission: To promote the awareness, appreciation, and protection of native birds and their habitats through education, research, and environmental activities.

Help Wanted!

In all our areas of interest (e.g., Field Trips, Education, Conservation, etc.) we are trying to get things done more efficiently and effectively by asking members to contribute in any way they can by contacting a Committee Chairperson or other Board member and offering to help in some area of interest.  There’s no need to sign on for a particular position or office and you can be sure you’d be appreciated.

Upcoming Programs

Program Meetings for the general community are normally held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 E. 8th St.  In December the meeting is held on the second Monday and in July and August there are no Program Meetings.

September Program - A Birder's Travelogue - Peru
Presented by Mac McCormick
Monday September 20, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center

As an avid birder I chose Peru as a destination due to the startling number of bird species within its border, a staggering 1792 at last count, and growing. What I didn’t expect was that I was going to be entering an enchanting country full of life and extraordinary vigor, aside from its well known history. From the ancient capital of the Incas, Cusco, we will travel up and over the Andes, and descend into the Cloud Forest of the east slope. Birding around the famous Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, and Amazonia Lodge, we will then travel on a six-hour boat trip down the Madre de Dios River to the magical Amazon Basin outpost of the Manu Wildlife Center. The Center is adjacent to the Manu Biosphere Reserve, which includes the 3.7 million-acre Manu National Park. It has been said that this park “represents the wildest, most wildlife-packed rain forest in the world”. And one can add the most pristine. Hopefully, my PowerPoint presentation will convey a bit of the essence of Peru, and why you should place it high on your list of “must see” places. Mac McCormick was a high school teacher in the Bay area for 37 years. Today he lives in Chico and spends much of his time in Sierra City where he maintains a mountain cabin.  Mac has been a Bird Banding Instructor for the Sierra Nevada Field Campus of San Francisco State University since 1990. Among his many birding accomplishments are:

•    Coauthor of Checklist of the Birds of Sierra Valley and Yuba Pass
•    Author of Checklist of the Birds of San Bruno Mt. State and County Park
•    Author of A Checklist of the Birds of Fort Mason
•    Contributor to Birder’s Guide to Northern California
•    Bird consultant to the new edition of Sierra Nevada Natural History

Mac is a regular contributor to Altacal Audubon and the Snow Goose Festival. His combination of knowledge, storytelling and humor, make his presentations some of the best received by our members. You won’t want to miss this program.

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Upcoming Bird Walks and Birding Trips

All of our field trips are open to beginning birders.  Anyone with a sense of wonder is welcome to participate.

Note that deposits for the Oct. 8-10 Eagle Lake Trip are due by Sep. 15!

September 3-5, Friday-Sunday - Juniper Lake Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten Juniper Lake is located in the southeastern corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park and is the park’s largest lake. We’ll be hiking, birding, swimming and don't forget your kayak or canoe. Camping is rustic with pit toilets, but no potable water. For further details and to reserve a space, contact Jennifer Patten at 345-9356 or jpchico@sbcglobal.net.

Point Reyes National Seashore is well-known for its excellent birding. The seashore and surrounding areas offer many different habitats from grasslands, estuaries, and coastal scrub to forests. The projection of the Point Reyes peninsula some 10 miles seaward from the "mainland" makes Point Reyes National Seashore a landing spot for many vagrants - birds that may have made errors in navigation and thus are unexpected in this area. Each fall these vagrants seek out resting spots along the peninsula on their way south. Some of these rarities have included Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, White-throated Sparrow, Palm Warbler and Prothonotary Warbler. We will visit these vagrant traps (resting spots), such as the Fish Docks, the lighthouse rocks and cliff areas, Abbott’s Lagoon, Tomales Bay, Drake’s Beach, Bear Valley, Olema Marsh and the famous historic ranches along the way. We will camp Friday and Saturday night at Olema Ranch Campground. Please contact Jennifer at 345- 9356 or Mike at 624-4777 if you are interested in going or for more information on what to bring, directions, camping, etc.

October 3, Sunday – Oroville Wildlife Area Kayak Trip Trip Leader: Gaylord Grams Enjoy the Feather by kayak! Along the way we’ll see spawning salmon and the usual cast of bird characters. Meet at the Chico Park ‘n Ride (lot nearest Rte 99) at 8:30 or at the Oroville Fish Hatchery at 9:00.   Contact Gaylord Grams at 533-1624 for more information.

October 9, Saturday – Upper Bidwell Park  (a “Second Saturday” Bird Walk) Trip Leader: Steve King On October 9th (and November 13th), we will have our first monthly field trips to Upper Bidwell Park. These dates are every second Saturday of the month (January may be skipped). By early October almost all of the birds that spent the summer in places north of us and in higher elevations should be back in the upper park. Let’s meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot on the left just past the gun club (follow Wildwood Ave for 1.75 miles and turn left just before the gate). Bring binoculars, water, snacks walking shoes and proper clothing for the expected weather conditions. Rain cancels. For more information contact: Nancy Nelson at 345-0580.

Altacal Audubon Society has had an exciting opportunity to create an educational brochure to inform landowners along the Sacramento River about Bank Swallows (Riparia riparia), their nesting habitat, and incentive programs to help protect them.    Members Carolyn Short, Raina King and I were awarded a grant to create the brochure and companion website by the Fund for Wild Nature. Go to Bankswallows.org to learn more about this species population on the Sacramento River.

Image copyright 2006: Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART

Submission of Articles Notices or articles submitted for publication consideration should be sent by e-mail message to the newsletter editor as Microsoft Word (if possible) attachments by the 1st of the month for the next issue of the newsletter (i.e., Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep and Nov 1st) - editor@altacal.org – Thanks.

Support us by becoming a member: Membership Application (PDF)