President's Message
December is one of the important months for Yolo Audubon (YAS) in that two of our major activities occur. One is the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 17 (https://yoloaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count/). During last year’s count, 80 volunteers reported 131 species. Join the fun and come to December 6 Member’s meeting to sign-up for one of the 10 Count Teams, and be entertained and educated by Count Coordinator Steve Hampton’s “Bird ID Presentation”. Those interested in viewing past CBC data, can do on the National Audubon Society web site (http://netapp.audubon.org/CBCObservation/Historical/ResultsByCount.aspx - ); the Putah Creek Count Code is CAPC.
The second major event is our annual fundraising drawing, which will also be a feature of the December 6 meeting. The drawing features a variety of prize items from gift certificates to books, with the grand prize being a beautiful photograph of Long-billed Dowitchers taken and donated by Beth Savidge! Come to the meeting and sign-up for the bird count, enter the drawing and have some fun!
In closing, once again I am inviting members to consider joining the YAS Board of Directors. Before we know it, May 2018 will be upon us and the election for officers will be held. Being on the Board is an excellent opportunity to participate and be a part of YAS’ future!
Happy Holidays!
-- Ken Ealy, President
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Join us!
Christmas Count Preparation and
Annual Drawing
Wednesday, December 6th at 7:30
Christmas Bird Count coordinator and expert birder Steve Hampton will host our annual bird identification workshop and preparation for the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count to be held December 17, 2017. The evening will be fun, as well as educational! Steve will go over identification of bird species we expect to see on the count and you can sign up to join one of the ten count groups. Read more here...
We will also be holding our annual fundraising drawing for various nifty bird-related prizes. This year’s grand prize is a stunning framed photograph of Long-billed Dowitchers taken at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area by Yolo Audubon member Beth Savidge!
Tickets for the drawing will be available at the December 6th meeting, but members who donate through December 4th will be entered automatically. Join or renew at $10 for 5 tickets, or receive 10 tickets with your donation of $20 or more. You may donate through our website or by sending a check to Yolo Audubon Society, P.O. Box 886, Davis, CA 95617. If you have already donated this fall, thank you! You will be entered in the drawing as well.
Yolo Audubon meetings are held at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street, Davis.
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Conservation Corner
Friends of West Pond
Friends of West Pond is a volunteer organization of people who enjoy wildlife habitat at the West Area Pond in Davis, and have taken on responsibility for protecting and enhancing its natural and social values. In doing so, the Friends illustrate several aspects of a notion described here last month, community-based conservation.
The Friends, led by Yolo Audubon members Jo Ellen Ryan and Gene Trapp, build and disseminate knowledge and appreciation of nature around the pond. They offer monthly birding walks (on the first Wednesday), maintain an information kiosk and plaques, and have prepared lists of the various animal species of the area, from birds to butterflies. They maintain a site on Davis Wiki and a Facebook page to engage the wider public.
With permission from the City, the Friends converted a bare spot into a garden of their own design, with plant varieties chosen to draw native pollinators. They donated plant materials and benches. They organize weekly work parties to tend the garden, and these serve as venues for meeting people and making friends.
The Friends have taken care to stay in touch with the various City departments involved with the property. The garden plan was presented to the City, which has entrusted care of the garden to the Friends, at no cost to its ratepayers.
The Friends keep watch on wildlife and human activities, and share their findings, including reporting improper activities to the police. The Friends have a volunteer anti-graffiti team, and periodically pick up trash and recyclables.
A pond originally intended to catch storm-water runoff, and prevent flooding in the new development around it, now provides a focus for people to build community by working together to protect nature. While the City of Davis owns the area, the neighborhood has informally taken on much of the responsibility for its management, in the form of a commons.
-- Michael Perrone, Conservation Chair
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Recent Sightings
Rarities built through the month of November, seemingly coming in taxonomic order. First was a “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on Nov 8 (SH). Another was found at the Davis Wetlands on Nov 26 (SH). Pacific Golden-Plovers were discovered at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) on Nov 3 (SH) and another YBWA on Nov 11 (SHo). The former was enjoyed by many, eventually leading to the discovery of a Franklin’s Gull on Nov 20 (JD, EH, KH, DT). The gull played hide-and-seek with birders, leading to the discovery of a Palm Warbler there on Nov 24 (SHu), the first in the county in 17 years. Finally, an Orchard Oriole turned up in north Davis on Nov 30 (SH). Both the warbler and oriole were the first chaseable ones in the county and were enjoyed by many birders from far and wide.
At least one adult male Hooded Oriole and several Cassin’s Vireos and Black-throated Gray Warblers were reported from Davis through the month. Finally, an intriguing sapsucker photographed at Babel Slough on Nov 19 (MS) is either a female Red-naped or a Red-naped x Yellow-bellied hybrid. An inquiry is underway.
Thanks to the following for their reports: Jon Dunn (JD), Steve Hampton (SH), Ed Harper (EH), Karen Haylena (KH), Scott Hoppe (SHo), Stan Hunter (SHu), Mark Sawyer (MS), Dan Tankersley (DT).
Photos:
Orchard Oriole: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40830610
Palm Warbler: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40703604
Franklin’s Gull: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40710158
Pacific Golden-Plover: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40313718
sapsucker: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40600869
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The Burrowing Owl is a publication of Yolo Audubon Society, which is a chapter of the National Audubon Society and a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation of birds and conservation in Yolo County.
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