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Cooperation and Conflict in the World of Acorn Woodpeckers

By Larry Jordan on October 26, 2022 in

Acorn Woodpecker Female

Dr. Walt Koenig was a Research Zoologist at Hastings Reservation, a field station located in the upper Carmel Valley run by the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, from 1982 to 2008. He subsequently was a Senior Scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, from 2008 to 2016. He retired in 2016 and returned to upper Carmel Valley, where he currently studies acorn production by California oaks and continues to contribute to the Acorn Woodpecker study.

Acorn woodpeckers, best known for their unique habit of storing acorns by the thousands in special structures known as “granaries,” exhibit one of the most complex social systems of any bird. Family groups of this species, sometimes numbering a dozen or more birds, contain multiple breeders of both sexes, a rare phenomenon called “polygynandry,” along with young from prior years that serve as “helpers-at-the-nest.” Based on a study of this species at Hastings Reservation in Monterey County, Dr. Koenig will explain some of the strikingly cooperative and surprisingly competitive behaviors of this species that he and his colleagues have discovered during their 50+ year field study.

Wintu Audubon Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Dr. Walt Koenig, Cooperation and Conflict in the World of Acorn Woodpeckers
Time: Nov 9, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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Meeting ID: 851 9651 9044
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Purple Martins in the Central Valley: Going, Going, Gone

By Larry Jordan on February 3, 2022 in

Take a tour of the birding hotspots in Pt. Reyes: there are such diverse habitats, from grasslands, estuaries and sandy beaches, lagoons to coastal chaparral and hardwood/conifer forests, and this leads to a great diversity of bird species. This program will highlight many of the past Altacal trips and all the rare migrants and other cool birds that have been seen at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Altacal has been leading camping trips to Pt. Reyes for decades, and we have seen some really interesting birds (as well as other wildlife) there over the years. During fall migration, some eastern warblers and other birds somehow get off track and end up migrating south along the west coast, and Pt. Reyes is the perfect stopping point. Mary will introduce you to the main birding spots with maps and photos and share stories about them all. If you have never joined Altacal on one of these trips, you will want to after watching this presentation! Black-throated Blue Warbler by JT Lewis Purple Martins have been in long-term decline in California due to factors such as habitat loss, competition with the European Starling, disturbance from construction projects, and declines in their insect food supply due to neonicotinoid insecticide use. Dan Airola has been studying and working for over two decades to conserve the last Central Valley population of Purple Martins, which nest in elevated freeways and overpasses in Sacramento. This program will present his study results and describe conservation measures that have been implemented and are needed to protect this species and help it recover. Dan Airola is a wildlife biologist and ornithologist who has worked for over 40 years on bird conservation issues in Northern California. His recent research addresses status, ecology, migration, and conservation of at-risk species including the Tricolored Blackbird, Swainson’s Hawk, Yellowbilled Magpie, fire-adapted forest species, and migrant songbirds. Dan also serves the Central Valley Bird Club as a Director and Conservation Chair.

Tree Death on the Mendonoma Coast

By Larry Jordan on February 3, 2022 in

Over the past two decades, tree mortality in coastal Mendocino and Sonoma Counties has picked up noticeably. This phenomenon is creating hazards for people and their homes, threats to power lines and roads, and changes in coastal ecology that make future vegetation development harder to predict. In this online talk, Cal Fire Forest Pathologist Chris Lee will explore the nature of the mortality—including tree species affected, hard-hit locations, and mortality patterns—and what we know so far about the varied causes behind it. Spoiler: there are a lot of different factors, from past land-use choices to a changing climate to a spectrum of pests both native and non-native. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your own observations to this discussion as we sum up what is known up to this point about the mounting tree mortality problem and ponder what can be done about it. Chris Lee has been pursuing a deeper understanding of forest ecology and pathology since 1999, when he began a master’s degree in Natural Resources from Humboldt State University. He later gained a PhD in Forestry at the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying tree pathogens common to both the Midwest and California. He worked for seven years as a sudden oak death Research Associate for the University of California Cooperative Extension, and for the past eight years he has worked as a Forest Pest Specialist for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Forest Entomology and Pathology Program.

You must pre-register for this event at https://www.mendocinocoastaudubon.org/

Get to Know Your Local Birds!

By Larry Jordan on December 9, 2021 in

Peregrine Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has those experts who can help bring us a step closer to our goal to bird identification. Join us on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom when George Gibbs will point out distinguishing field marks of our Ukiah area birds. He will discuss and illustrate the sparrows and finches, jays and blackbirds, ducks and waders, as well as the raptors, the hawks and owls, all in living color.
Zoom in with your tough questions for the experts. What birds can I expect in my back yard this winter? How do sparrows and finches differ? Is it really possible to see eagles in the Ukiah Valley? What are the ducks and gulls at Lake Mendocino? Anyone interested in bird calls? Our speaker can help with that too.
Peregrine Audubon offers help in the field. Beginners and experienced birders will benefit at the Zoom Meeting on December 14 meeting at 7PM and the sign up for the CBCount which takes place on Saturday, December 18. George will explain how the Christmas Bird Count is going to work in this age of a pandemic.
Yard-birding has become much more popular this year and we are hoping this will be a way for many of you to safely participate in the Christmas Bird Count. A Tally Sheet showing expected species and those requiring further documentation will be available to those birding from home. We ask that you get your tally sheets to your area leader within 24 hours after the count! Certain area leaders might be willing to delegate birding regions to individuals if you reach out to the area leaders themselves, or contact George Gibbs. Above all, you must follow all local Health Orders, maintain social distancing, and proper masking.
George will also give a presentation that he, Bob Kieffer and local photographers have put together over the last few years.
Many of us will be counting at home this year if we live within the 15-mile diameter count circle (which includes Ukiah). By all means, contact George (707-468-8022) for details.

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A Holiday Photo Contest and Summary of Winter Bird Counts

By Larry Jordan on December 9, 2021 in

Join Redwood Region Audubon Society online with Andrew Orahoske and guests. Covering all five regional Christmas Bird Counts, and other upcoming winter bird surveys, this program will also include an interactive photo contest with prizes.

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Meeting ID: 822 5517 0040

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