Historical highlights of events and additional volunteer contribution

1975

• Lou Carufel, a Shasta-Trinity National Forest Wildlife Biologist, began working with a cadre of folks interested in birds to form an Audubon chapter.

1976 

• Wintu Audubon Society, with tribal permission to use the name, came into existence as a chapter of the National Audubon Society –Lou Carufel, Chapter Board
• Second Saturday Birdwalks were instituted for educational outreach –Chapter Board
• The chapter began an active schedule of field trips and programs –Chapter Board
• Began an annual chapter dinner, which soon evolved into an annual picnic (which is now held each June at Tower House) –Chapter Board

1977

• Bill Oliver became chapter president and remained an active leader in the chapter for over forty years

1978

• First Checklist of Birds af Turtle Bay and Vicinity was issued

1981

• Annual campout at Lassen Volcanic National Park began. Bill Oliver 

2005

• First Checklist of Birds of Shasta County was issued and subsequently updated in 2016 and 2021. Bob Yutzy

2006

• Booths and activities began at Redding’s Watershed and Earth Day Festival.  Activities grew to include the making of quail calls (George Horn, Dan Greaney), examination of a variety of bird nests (Jeannette Carroll), and the making of nesting boxes with scores of young fair-goers (Larry Jordan).

1996-2014

• Monitoring of Dye Creek birdlife response to plantings.  Bill Oliver 

2016-2020

• Monitoring of Lake California birdlife at newly created Rio Alta Treatment Ponds.  Bill Oliver 

2010-ongoing

• Burrowing Owl restoration, recently handed over to Altacal Audubon, who are in closer proximity to the restoration site. Larry Jordan

2020-ongoing

• Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding Erika Iacona

2023

• Considering usefulness in digital searches and our place in history, the chapter changed its name to Shasta Birding Society–A Wintu Country Chapter of the National Audubon Society  –Chapter Board

Other Activities Over the Years

• Ongoing monthly programs and field trips – numerous volunteers
• Ongoing Christmas Bird Counts –  numerous volunteers
• Development of Bird Blind at Turtle Bay – Dan Greaney, Stephanie Hughes
• Monitoring, advocating, and taking legal action to protect Turtle Bay and other local areas from development. Bruce Webb, Rebeca Ladron de Guevara
• Technology development (web, social media, newsletter, etc.) Larry Jordan
• Ongoing efforts to build capacity through volunteers

Thanks to all the many volunteers who have helped bring Shasta County the joys and understandings of bird-watching and the hope of sustaining those joys and understandings into the future.