Tag Archives | Wintu Audubon Society

Anderson Christmas Bird Count

This very successful count features much public land with ample opportunities for walking. Meet at the amphitheater parking lot in Anderson River Park for assignments and location of the dinner and compilation. Contact Ed Pottmeyer (edward.pottmeyer@chw.edu) for further information on the Anderson Christmas Bird Count.

Second Saturday Bird Walk at Lema Ranch

Lema Ranch, an oasis of open space in Redding, is excellent year-around birding. The ponds, orchards, and fields of the McConnell Foundation Headquarters provide an abundance of bird species. We will look for Common Gallinules, Marsh Wrens, Great-tailed Grackles, Lark Sparrows and other Lema Ranch specialties. This will be a 2-3 hour walk on paved trails with fine public restrooms. Meet our leader, Chad Scott, at the north parking lot off Hemmingway Street. Hemmingway Street is across from Mountain View school on Shasta View Drive.

Christmas Bird Count: A Forty-Year Record of Citizen Science

Bill Oliver and Randy Bush will display intriguing trends gleaned from this long study of the populations of our wintering birds. Species that are increasing (some spectacularly) and others that are decreasing or maintaining their populations will be discussed. Bill and Randy hope the audience will share their experiences on these species trends.

Discover Birding at Turtle Bay

This Youth/Beginner walk will be structured as a mini Christmas Bird Count. We will start and stop at our regular times, 9-11am, but we will attempt to tally the number as well as the species of every bird we find. Come see what’s tucked away at Turtle Bay! Call Dan Greaney, 276-9693, with questions or for more information.

Audubon Northern California Council Meeting Members Share Information and Experience

Northern California Audubon Council 2015

2015 Audubon Northern California Council

The event began with a leisurely bird walk around Lema Ranch, where 14 of the 25 attendees found 41 species in a little over an hour, including two Snowy Egrets previously not on the Lema Ranch Bird List! They returned to the beautiful meeting room at the McConnell Foundation headquarters to find a continental breakfast waiting for them as they tallied their list.

The meeting was kicked off with an enlightening report on the “Status and Nesting Ecology of Purple Martins at Shasta Lake” from our resident fisheries and wildlife biologist and long time Wintu Audubon member, Len Linstrand. Several questions followed regarding the largest of the Swallow species and the possible effects of the raising of Shasta Dam.

Daniela Ogden, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications for Audubon California, gave us an enlightening summation of all the social media opportunities we all may be missing and why they are so important. Her presentation was a call to action for all of us to increase our online presence, thereby increasing the possibility of gaining more chapter members.

Desiree Loggins, Chapter Network Manager, followed with important updates from Audubon California. We are so fortunate to have such an active state organization with great leaders like these.

There are eight chapters that comprise the Northern California Council and seven of those chapters had representation at this meeting. Fortunately we also had a guest speaker from Yolo Audubon Society to give us insight into a recent proposal to create an “Inner Coast Range Conservancy.” Chad Roberts, Yolo’s Conservation Chair, gave an intriguing presentation supporting legislation to create a conservancy to protect this globally significant area which includes world renowned geological, biological and cultural resources; a national monument; and many large, pristine areas that are open for public use. The reaction from the members to his proposal seemed to be unanimously positive.

Our President, Chad Scott, and Plumas Audubon’s Outreach and Education Coordinator, Teresa Arrate, reported on “Chapter Incentives and Programs on Birds and Climate Change.” Important to this endeavor is being active with Audubon Works. There are many resources we can use to further our conservation efforts.

The catered lunch was followed by highly energetic reports from the attending chapters with lively conversation on some very important topics. I think that all participants had some excellent input on ways to increase membership, create a more collaborative organization and steer clear of some possible pitfalls while we try to make the most out of our abilities to conserve our wildlife and wild lands for future generations to enjoy.

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In the photo from left to right: Chad Scott, President Wintu Audubon; Teresa Arrate, Outreach and Education Coordinator, Plumas Audubon; Dan Greaney, Education Chair, Wintu Audubon; Linda Aldrich, Program Chair, Wintu Audubon; Ryan Keiffer, Peregrine Audubon Member at Large; Esther Cox, Past President, Wintu Audubon; Connie Word, Treasurer, Wintu Audubon; Janet Wall, Conservation Chair, Wintu Audubon; Jeanette Carroll, Recording Secretary, Wintu Audubon; Dave Jensen, President Mendocino Coast Audubon; George Horn, Membership Chair, Wintu Audubon; Desiree Loggins, Chapter Network Manager, California Audubon; Chet Ogen, Board of Directors, Redwood Region Audubon; Jennifer Patten, Program Chair, Altacal Audubon; LeAnn McConnell, Treasurer, Altacal Audubon; Chad Roberts, Conservation Chair, Yolo Audubon; Bill Oliver, Newsletter Editor, Wintu Audubon; Catherine Camp, Conservation Chair, Wintu Audubon; Beth Brockman, Finance Committee, Wintu Audubon; Ken Sobon, Vice President, Altacal Audubon; Daniela Ogden, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, Audubon California; Larry Jordan, Webmaster, Wintu Audubon; and Rebeca Franco, Education Chair, Mount Shasta Audubon