the

Lahontan Audubon Society •

Pelican
P.O. Box 2304 • Reno, Nevada 89505 • www.nevadaaudubon.org • 775-324-BIRD

Mission statement: To preserve and improve the remaining habitat of birds and other wildlife, restore historical habitat, and educate
the public, with emphasis on children, providing vision to all about our unique Nevada environments.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER MONTHLY MEETINGS

2008 Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Time: Social at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
vol. 46, no. 1 Location: South Valleys Library
15650A Wedge Parkway, Reno
Exterior door, west side of building
Inside This Issue Directions to South Valleys Library: Take Hwy 395 to the Mt. Rose Hwy. Head west
on the Mt. Rose Hwy and take the first right turn onto Wedge Parkway, just past Raley’s
1 Monthly Meetings shopping center. Go about one mile on Wedge Parkway and look for the boldly
designed, mustard yellow library on the right. For carpooling see page 9.
2 Field Trips
September 23 -- Steve and Paula Gessler -- The Galapagos Islands and Kayaking in
the Sea of Cortez
5 Of Note from the Steve and Paula Gessler traveled to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador in June 2006.
President They took an 11-day cruise aboard a yacht visiting 13 islands. In February 2007 they
took a kayaking and whale watching trip in Baja California, Mexico. They paddled
along the coast of Ispiritu Santos Island and spent time in La Paz and San Jose Del
6 Conservation Corner Cabo photographing sea birds. They are long-time members of the Reno Photo Club,
which spawned their interest in wildlife photography. Join us for an evening of fabulous
8 Backyard Habitat photographs from two accomplished photographers.

October 28 -- Alan Gubanich -- Birding in Ecuador: A Naturalist’s Paradise

9 Important Bird Areas
10 Birds In Town
11 LAS Sales/
Membership
Submissions for the November/
December issue are due October 1, 2008
The Pelican may be viewed on the LAS
website at www.nevadaaudubon.org,
click on the Newsletter tab.
NOTE: Change in meeting location. See directions below.
Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in America but is one of the world’s most
diverse countries in terms of animals and plants. More than 1,550 species of birds (18%
of the world’s total) occur here, including 115 species of hummingbirds and over 40
species of parrots and macaws. Join us for a pictorial tour of Ecuador presented by our
Vice-President, Alan Gubanich, who traveled through the country with five other LAS
members last December and January. Alan’s presentation will include scenery, birds,
cultural attractions, birds, mammals, birds, birds, and more birds, and a look at how they
celebrate New Year’s Eve Ecuadorian style!
NOTE: South Valleys Library will be used for voting in October and thus unavailable
for LAS, so the October 28 meeting will be held at the Brick House in Bartley Ranch
Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road. From South McCarran Boulevard turn south on
Lakeside Drive. Bartley Ranch Road is the second left. Drive through the covered
bridge and into the park. The Brick House is behind the large, main building on the left
as you continue into the park.

The Pelican 1
FIELD TRIPS
Christiane Omer 775-354-2634 happycpo@aol.com
LAS field trips are free and open to the
public. Birders of all skill levels are
encouraged to participate. Please pre-
register with trip leaders so they can
contact you in the event of trip changes
or cancellations. Always dress for
changing weather conditions and bring
something to eat and drink. For additional
information, visit the LAS website at
www.nevadaaudubon.org or contact Field
Trip Chair Christiane Omer.
Saturday, September 13
Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson City
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Leader: Nancy Santos 775-884-1570,
nancylas@att.net
Co-sponsors: Lahontan Audubon Society
and Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch.
We will meet in the ranch parking lot
at 7:30 a.m. The ranch is located on
Carson River Road, off East 5th Street.
Plan to spend the morning exploring
the ranch for birds and learning a little
about the ranch history. Habitat at the
ranch includes sagebrush, agricultural
lands, and a riparian corridor adjacent
to the Carson River. The variety of
habitat allows for a diverse number of
bird species to be observed at the ranch.
All levels of birders are welcome, and
beginning birders are encouraged to
attend. Please contact Nancy Santos to
register or for more information. The
annual Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch
Breakfast will follow the bird walk. All
field trip attendees are encouraged to stay,
eat, and visit. Donations for the breakfast
are appreciated.
Saturday, September 20
Markleeville, CA
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Jim Woods 775-265-3914, cell
775-691-6809, woobib@charter.net
We will be hiking and looking for birds
in both riparian and alpine habitats.
There will be birds in mixed plumages,
so bring your field guides, binoculars,
cameras, and scopes. The areas we will
cover are Grover Hot Springs, Pleasant
Valley, Carson River, and Markleeville
Creek. We will meet at the Markleeville
Library. To get there from Reno, go south
on Hwy 395 to Minden, bear right (south)
at the first light onto Hwy 88. Continue
south for 14 miles to Woodfords, the
junction with Hwy 89 (blinking yellow
light). Turn left (south) on Hwy 89
and go approximately seven miles to
Markleeville. Turn right (west) on Hot
Springs Road, and go one block into the
parking lot of the library. Expect to spend
the day (approximately until 3:00 p.m.),
so bring a sack lunch, water, and bug
spray.
Saturday, September 27
Stillwater NWR
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Leader: Mike Goddard 775-423-5128
Meet at the refuge office, 1000 Auction
Road (just off Williams Avenue (US 50)
behind the Speedway gas station) at 7:30
a.m. We will tour Stillwater NWR and/
or Carson Lake and Pasture, depending
upon wetland conditions. Due to the
shortened irrigation season, some wetland
areas may not have water yet. Refuge
staff will bring two spotting scopes. The
new refuge tour loop is open, and staff
will brief you on pending construction
of the Duff’s Pond Environmental
Education facility. Please RSVP to Mike
Goddard, Stillwater NWR Project Leader
775-423-5128.
Monday, September 29
Kiley Ranch Wildlife Wetland Preserve
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Kiley Ranch Representatives
This is an opportunity to see a nature
preserve in the making! Kiley Ranch
is a community housing development
in Sparks that is working to preserve
wildlife habitat for animals and for
humans. Representatives from Kiley
Ranch will answer our questions about
the preserve process, vision, and when we
might expect the work to be completed.
We will have approximately two hours to
look for birds in the wetlands and open
skies (think raptors) and learn about the
preserve. After our tour, and depending
on timing and desires, we will have the
opportunity to view other local birding
spots. Audubon field trip leader Kathy
Oakes will be your birding guide. Meet
at the Kiley Ranch Welcome Center,
1000 Kiley Parkway. Wear sturdy shoes
because the trails are primitive. Limited
to 12 participants. Call Christiane Omer
775-354-2634 to reserve your space.
Directions are on our website. You can
view a map to the Welcome Center
at http://www.kileyranch.com/docs/
welcome_maps.pdf.
(Field Trips continued on page 3)

SUBSCRIPTIONS WHERE TO WRITE:

The Pelican is the official newsletter of the Lahontan Audubon
Society and is published six times annually. Subscriptions are
paid for as part of the dues of LAS or the National Audubon
Society. LAS welcomes gifts, donations, and bequests in
general, or gifts in honor or memory of relatives and friends.
Such donations will be used as specified or, if unspecified, will
be used to support LAS education and conservation projects.
All donations are tax deductible.
Keep conservation to the forefront. Write your elected officials and
tell them how you feel:
Senator Harry Reid Senator John Ensign
400 S. Virginia St. #902 400 S. Virginia St. #738
Reno, NV 89501 Reno, NV 89501
Toll-free: 1-866-736-7343 Reno phone: 775-686-5770
Representative Dean Heller Governor Jim Gibbons
400 S. Virginia St. #502 101 N. Carson St.
Reno, NV 89501 Carson City, NV 89710
Reno phone: 775-686-5760 775-684-5670

2 The Pelican
FIELD TRIPS
(continued from page 2)
Saturday, October 4
Swan Lake/Lemmon Valley Marsh,
North Reno
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Bob Goodman 775-972-7848,
pandion36@aol.com
Meet Bob (look for his van) at 8:00
a.m. at the McDonald’s parking lot off
Exit 74, Lemmon Valley on Hwy 395
north of Reno. We will carpool the short
distance to Lemmon Valley Marsh. Bring
a spotting scope if you can and prepare to
be out until mid-day. This is a good time
to see fall migrants and winter resident
birds on the marsh and wetlands. This
is an easy bird walk, and all birders,
regardless of experience, are welcome.
Saturday, October 11
Taylor Creek, South Lake Tahoe
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Leaders: Sue Stevenson 530-577-5394,
sssfromslt@sbcglobal.net and Sheryl
Ferguson 530-541-8462, s-sferguson@
sbcglobal.net
We will meet at the Taylor Creek Visitor
Center kiosk at 8:30 am. From Reno or
Carson City, take Hwy 50 over to South
Lake Tahoe. Follow Hwy 50 South and
turn right onto 89 (Emerald Bay Rd.) at
the “Y” intersection in South Lake Tahoe,
shortly after Staples. Drive 2.9 miles
from the “Y”. After Richardson’s Resort,
look for the U.S. Forest Service Lake
Tahoe Visitor Center sign on the right
side of the road. Turn in at the sign and
park in the parking lot. This easy half-day
bird walk will follow a nature trail (with
handicap access). We will enjoy lunch at
a local burger stand, but you may bring
your own lunch if you prefer. Since this
is a fall trip, added bonuses include looks
at the Kokanee Salmon spawning run
and gorgeous fall colors. After lunch Sue
and Sheryl will also point out places of
interest for birders who wish to continue
afternoon birding on their own.
Saturday, October 18
Oxbow Park, Reno
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Dave Jickling 775-848-0069,
djickling@charter.net
Meet at the Oxbow Park parking lot at
8:00 a.m. for this easy nature trail walk.
The Pelican 3
To get there, take I-80 West, turn south
off the Keystone Exit, and turn right on
2nd Street which turns into Dickerson
Road, then follow it until it ends at the
park. This park is a great local hotspot
to find fall migrants and to learn about
Reno’s backyard birds. Plan to spend
a few hours, so bring your binoculars,
a scope if you have one, and water. A
great walk for beginner and experienced
birders alike.
Saturday, October 25
Wandering the Carson Valley
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Jim Woods 775-265-3914, cell
775-691-6809, woobib@charter.net
Here is a great opportunity to see the
numerous birds and habitats of the
Carson Valley. We’ll take a walk at the
Incline Village General Improvement
District (IVGID) wetlands to look for
waterfowl, and hopefully be enraptured
by Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel,
Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, and Northern
Harrier. On the Carson River, we’ll look
for Kingfisher, Merganser, Cooper’s
and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and those
challenging sparrows! Meet at the In
& Out Burger in Carson at 8:00 a.m. to
carpool. From Reno, take 395 South to
Carson City. South of Carson City turn
right on Topsy Lane (a mile or so south
of Spooner Summit turn-off), then take a
left into the shopping center and find In
& Out Burger. Look for a red mid-size
pick-up with a red camper shell. Bring a
bag lunch and plenty of water, a scope if
possible, and expect to wrap up around
2:30 p.m.
Field Trip Reports
June 14, 2008
Thomas Creek, east side of the
Carson Range
Leader: Alan de Queiroz
Twelve of us spent the morning birding
the trail along Thomas Creek upstream
from Timberline Drive and then back
down on the road that parallels the creek.
This is a nice riparian area of aspen,
cottonwood, alder, and willow, with
Jeffrey pine and mountain mahogany on
the slopes above. The group was Meg
Andrews, Jim and Meg Wallace, Al
and Judy Frederick, Helaine Greenberg
and Larry Hardy, Don Lauer, Karol
McClellan, Mar Siddall, Mary Jo Elpers,
and I. It was a warm, sunny morning
and the birds were in the full swing
of breeding. A highlight was seeing a
Red-breasted Sapsucker at close range
repeatedly flycatching and collecting
the insects in its beak, presumably
to feed to its mate or young. We also
saw a female Western Tanager on a
nest in a Jeffrey pine, a chubby Lesser
Goldfinch fledgling begging for food
from its mother, a Chipping Sparrow very
nonchalantly gathering nesting material
on the trail, and a Mountain Chickadee
taking food to a nest cavity. We had brief
views of a MacGillivray’s Warbler and a
Townsend’s Solitaire and terrible backlit
looks at a Plumbeous or Cassin’s Vireo.
The numbers of Red-breasted Sapsuckers
and Western Tanagers were extraordinary
– about four or five sapsuckers and at
least a dozen tanagers. Western Wood-
pewees, Cassin’s Finches, and Warbling
Vireos were almost everywhere. There
were also quite a few Black-headed
Grosbeaks, although we only had a long
look at one. We saw 23 species in all and
enjoyed a nice walk along the creek.
June 20-22
Unionville Birding and B&B
Leader: Alan Gubanich
Alan Gubanich led a delightful weekend
trip for LAS to Unionville over the
June 20 weekend. We stayed at the Old
Pioneer Gardens Bed and Breakfast, a
great place to sleep, eat, and bird. A few
folks stayed at the tree-filled campground
up the road. We had over 20 fun folks
and our 52-species bird list included
sightings by people off on their own in
the area surrounding Unionville and by
the group as a whole. You can view the
complete species list on the LAS website.
A Calliope Hummingbird was seen at
feeders east of Lovelock at a lush desert
oasis home belonging to friends of Randy
and Debbie Pontius. Debbie organized an
informational packet for everyone
(Field Trips continued on page 4)
FIELD TRIPS
(continued from page 3)
in the group that included interesting
Unionville/Lovelock history, ideas
of places to visit and things to do in
Northern Nevada, as well as a few maps.
Following are some highlights of the trip:
• Three juvenile Golden Eagles were
observed soaring over the cliffs of
Straight Canyon providing everyone
with long-lasting, incredible views.
Straight Canyon is one of two
canyon trails leading off from the
end of Unionville’s only road.
• More gorgeous Lazuli Buntings than
anyone would believe posed for
photo ops.
• A female Black-chinned
Hummingbird sitting on her nest
outside one of the B&B houses.
• An educational tour of Safe Haven
Rescue Zoo, a nonprofit 160-acre
sanctuary providing lifelong care
for animals that cannot return to
live in the wild. Heartbreaking and
heartwarming stories were told and
we had the exciting privilege of
sharing dinnertime with a tiger (we
are all still here). They are located
just north of Unionville at the
entrance to Star Canyon.
• Flowers galore, great rock
formations and colors, trees, and
more along good canyon trails.
• One glorious evening storm
replete with a drenching downpour
reminiscent of a southwestern
monsoon.
Unionville is a great “new” birding spot
and getaway. It is located in the Humbolt
Range off State Hwy 400. The exit for
State Hwy 400 is about 30 miles west
of Winnemucca off I-80 at the Mill City
exit (Exit #149). Many thanks to Alan for
leading a whole weekend of great birding
and “photoing” trip.
June 28
Birding and Wildflower Trip,
Tahoe City, California
Leader: Richard Carlson
In spite of the smoke, 12 people showed
up for the trip at 7:30 a.m. in Tahoe
City. In this unusual year, both birds
and flowers were in mid-summer mode,
4 The Pelican
great for the flowers, but a bit quiet
for the birds. We started at Blackwood
Canyon’s first meadow, where Wilson’s,
Nashville, and MacGillivray’s warblers
sang lustily but mostly hid successfully.
A lovely Willow Flycatcher, two
Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a male
Calliope Hummingbird posed for the
group. Flowers were in full bloom,
including Rein Orchids. A cooperative
Red-breasted Sapsucker came by and
also posed. We then went to Baker
Pass, where a huge Sierra Club Group
scared off the birds, but we still found
Cassin’s Finches and many Skyrocket
Gilia. Farther down Blackwood, we
hiked into Ellis Canyon, where only the
earliest flowers – Shooting Stars – were
out, but we did finally see a lovely but
characteristically silent Pine Grosbeak.
Thanks to Don Harriman for spotting
him. The Pine Grosbeak initially hid in
the branches with only part of his head
showing, but after we griped enough
the bird finally came out to give us full
views. We then went to Ward Canyon,
where we ate amidst fields of Mules Ears,
Paintbrush, and Mariposa Lilies while
Lazuli Buntings serenaded us. We had
ideal views of a male Mountain Bluebird.
Finally, the last few unexhausted souls
went up the Squaw Valley tram, where a
male Gray-crowned Rosy Finch showed
up on cue at Silverado chairlift. The
smoke stayed down at lake level leaving
the high country beautiful all day.
July 19
Washoe Lake
Leader: Steve Ting
We had a very nice morning trip to the
Washoe Lake Wetlands area on the south
end of the Lake. Water levels are down
from previous years, which limited the
number of species and individuals seen,
but we still had a good variety to observe.
Highlights included an Osprey flyover,
American White Pelicans displaying their
feeding behavior, and a great look at a
pair of Virginia Rail chicks that appeared
to have just fledged.
Walk Carefully and Carry
Big Ethics
There sure are a lot of birders and
photographers out in the field these days.
This could be a positive sign for the
future of wildlife; the more we know and
love it, the more we will fight to protect
it. But we could also love it to death.
Walk carefully! We all want to bird
and photograph for years to come.
Whether we are out alone or in
groups, we represent all birders and all
photographers. It is a lot of responsibility,
but after all, we are easily identified.
Respecting private property and public
land is critical. Ask permission, respect
owner’s wishes, follow signs, and use
established trails.
It is important, as birders and
photographers, to avoid disturbing
animals and their habitats while pursuing
our avocation. For example, most of us
love to look at and photograph birds,
especially if they are in or on a nest. But
remember, a bird’s nest is its private
property, and it chooses its nesting
habitat with predators and environment
in mind. If we remove branches or other
vegetation just to get a better look or a
better photograph, we eliminate some
of the bird’s protective cover and could
decrease its chances of breeding success.
We are losing millions of birds every year
to outdoor cats, window and building
hazards, habitat loss, pollution, and more.
Let’s not subject one more beautiful bird
to these terrible losses.
Carry big ethics! A shared code of
birding and photography ethics will
help save the future for everyone. LAS
subscribes to the American Birding
Association (ABA) Birding Code of
Ethics, found at www.americanbirding.
org/abaethics.html. It does a good job
of explaining great rules. Please read it,
copy it, share it, and carry it. Let us work
together to protect what we love so what
we love can continue to be.
– Christiane Omer
OF NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
• TogetherGreen: Earlier this year
National Audubon Society and
Toyota launched TogetherGreen, a
nationwide Audubon program to fund
conservation projects to “significantly
benefit” the environment. In the very
first round of applications, Robin
Powell, our Important Bird Area
(IBA) Director, secured a grant to
focus on increasing volunteerism
at eight IBAs. The TogetherGreen
website at www.togethergreen.org is a
networking-style site designed to get
across the message that everyone can
make a difference. In the “Heroes”
section you will find a photo and
profile of former LAS member
Graham Chisholm, now Conservation
Director of Audubon California.
• Summer Planning Retreat: The
Board of Trustees and committee
representatives met all day Sunday,
July 13. Our morning session,
facilitated by Gene Hansel, was a
stimulating set of exercises designed
to think outside of the box, collect
ideas, and envision ways forward for
the next three to five years. We are
still processing the products of the
morning session. In the afternoon
we addressed specific activities and
budgets for each of our areas of
responsibility during the forthcoming
year.
• Member Survey: One session in
our Planning Retreat was devoted
to reviewing and defining key items
from the more than 100 responses
to the Member Survey organized by
Kenn Rohrs. Your many compliments
and words of encouragement were
most gratifying. However, we
also wish to address concerns and
suggestions submitted. We intend
to address key items and let you
know about our efforts here in The
Pelican. Please note, as an example,
the information on our Carpooling
The Pelican 5
clearinghouse coordinated by Linda
Badzioch (see box on page 9). Also,
notice the new reminder below the
table of contents that the next issue of Donors
The Pelican will be available on our
website about two weeks before you American Avocet $50-$99
receive your paper copy. Michael Rosen and Laura Gibson
Sher and Gary Muhonen
• New column: Requests in the Charles and Marlene Siddall
Member Survey for more information Don Lauer
about birds and backyard habitat will
be addressed in our new “Backyard Mountain Bluebird $20-$49
Habitat” column. Jonathan Heywood Tina Nappe
has been birding for over four years Tammy Turner
and has been a member of LAS for Stephen and Cherry Barney
about two years. He is a skilled birder Stanley and Olga Miller
and student of ornithology, having Ford and Connemoira Webster
already made his way through about
60 percent of the 1,211 pages of Ruby Crowned Kinglet $10-$19
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology John Mitchell
Home Study Course of Bird Biology. Meg Andrews
His interest in and research of
backyard bird habitat are vividly
demonstrated in his column based on
what he has created at his
own home.
• LAS Annual Report: Our annual
report, covering the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2008, has been submitted
to National Audubon Society and is
posted in the “Chapter Info” section
of the LAS website along with four
prior Annual Reports. We can only do
what we do because of the quality and
generosity of all who volunteer and
the moral and financial support from
our broader membership. “We are
what we repeatedly do. Excellence,
then, is not an act but a habit.” –
Aristotle
– Karen L. Kish
Ornate Flycatcher near Milpe EcoLodge,
Ecuador. See details of “Birding in
Ecuador” on page 1. Photo by Alan
Gubanich.
CONSERVATION CORNER
Ali Chaney 775-813-3494 ali_chaney@hotmail.com
Bird Banding
For three weeks this summer, I had a
unique opportunity to participate in field
research in Alaska studying Black Brant.
I helped out Chris Nicolai on Baird
Inlet Island on the Yukon Delta National
Wildlife Refuge, which supports 80% of
all breeding Black Brant. The island we
worked on is one of four colonies found
within the refuge. The work consisted
of capturing female brant on their nests,
testing them for avian influenza, banding
them, and placing radio transmitters on
them. We also placed web tags on the
feet of as many goslings as we could,
which totaled about 700.
In July, Chris went back to Alaska to
participate in the goose roundups, which
included banding approximately 2,200
brant, including goslings with web tags.
By catching a web-tagged gosling in
July and knowing exactly when the
tag was put on in June, researchers are
able to determine the rate of growth for
individual goslings. Researchers are
able to compare growth rates to other
colonies and determine possible causes
of low growth rates and survivorship.
By having unique identifying bands
placed on the birds as well, observers
up and down the Pacific Coast can
report sightings of birds that help
piece together information on dispersal
and migration. Reports of banded
Black Brant harvested by hunters also
provide additional data on survival and
distribution.
The following information on banding
has been taken from the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) website.
Bird banding is a universal and
indispensable technique for studying
dispersal and migration, behavior
and social structure, life-span and
survival rate, reproductive success,
and population growth. The USGS
Bird Banding Laboratory issues
permits and the appropriate bands
that allow people and organizations
to band birds, maintains the data
collected, and coordinates the marking
6 The Pelican
projects in the United States. The
Bird Banding Program supports the
work of federal and state conservation
agencies, the academic community,
professional and amateur ornithologists,
nongovernmental organizations, and
businesses. These banders are involved
in promulgating hunting regulations,
monitoring bird populations, restoring
endangered species, studying effects
of environmental contaminants,
studying bird behavior and ecology,
and addressing issues of human health,
safety, and economy that involve birds.
People have been banding (or ringing,
as it is called in Europe) birds for
centuries. The first record of a metal
band attached to a bird’s leg was about
1595, when one of Henry IV’s banded
Peregrine Falcons was lost in pursuit
of a bustard in France. It showed up 24
hours later in Malta, about 1,350 miles
away, averaging 56 miles an hour!
Duke Ferdinand placed a silver band
on a Grey Heron about 1669; the bird
was recovered by his grandson about
1728, indicating the heron lived at
least 60 years. In 1710 in Germany, a
falconer captured a Grey Heron with
several rings on one leg. The bander
was unknown, but one of the rings
was apparently placed on the heron in
Turkey, more than 1,200 miles
to the east.
The first records of banding in North
America are those of John James
Audubon, the famous American
naturalist and painter. In 1803, he tied
silver cords to the legs of a brood of
phoebes near Philadelphia and was able
to identify two of the nestlings when
they returned to the neighborhood the
following year.
A system for bird banding did not
really develop until 1899, when Hans
Mortensen, a Danish school teacher,
began placing aluminum rings on the
legs of European teal, pintail, white
storks, starlings and several types of
hawks. He inscribed the bands with
his name and address in the hope they
would be returned to him if found. His
system of banding became the model for
current efforts.
In 1902, Paul Bartsch, a well-known
conchologist whose hobby was the study
of birds, began the first scientific system
of banding in North America. In that year,
he ringed more than 100 Black-crowned
Night-Herons in the District of Columbia
with bands inscribed “Return to
Smithsonian Institution”. The real pioneer
bander in the Americas was Jack Miner,
who established a waterfowl sanctuary
near Kingsville, Ontario. Between 1909
and 1939, he banded 20,000 Canada
Geese alone, many of which carried
bands returned to him by hunters.
By 1909, the American Bird Banding
Association had been formed to organize
and assist the growing numbers. In 1920,
the Bureau of Biological Survey and
the Canadian Wildlife Service accepted
the offer to jointly take over the work
of the Association. Frederick Lincoln
was assigned the task of organizing the
banding program in the United States
in the Bureau of Biological Survey
(now known as the USGS Bird Banding
Laboratory). The North American
banding program has been a joint effort
to oversee the activities of dedicated
banders all over the world ever since.
The banding database from 1908-2002
represents over 59 million banded birds;
of these, 20 million are game and 39
million non-game birds. The encounter
data for the same time period consists of
3.6 million records, of which 2.7 million
are game birds and 885,000 non-game
birds.
Next issue we’ll explore how bird
banding has contributed to scientific
knowledge, management, and
conservation of birds in Nevada.
Information for this article was taken
from the USGS website, and more
information on the history of bird banding
and the laboratory itself can be found at
the following website: http://www.
pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage.cfm.
Birds & Books
LAS Birds & Books is a flock of
readers interested in nature, especially
birds and birding. The group meets
in Reno on the third Tuesday of
the month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
at Sundance Bookstore, 1155 W.
4th Street, #106 in the Keystone
Square Shopping Center. You are
encouraged to attend a meeting to
see if this group is for you. You can
also contact Kenn Rohrs at karohrs@
charter.net or 775-849-9530 for more
information. For a complete schedule
and brief description of the selected
books, go to the LAS website www.
nevadaaudubon.org and check
the Birds & Books section of the
Meetings page.
Volunteers Appreciation Day -- Sunday, September 28 at Bartley Ranch
Park (the Brick House) 3:00 to 5:30 pm.
Without you, our loyal volunteers, LAS would not be able to function as well
as we do. So to say THANKS and to show our appreciation for your dedication
and hard work, we invite all of you volunteers to join us on Sunday, September
28 for a short afternoon of recognition and camaraderie. We’d like all volunteers
to attend, no matter what kind of work you did, and no matter how small it may
have seemed to you. To us, all of it is important and we’d like to recognize you
for it. We will hold the event in the Brick House at Bartley Ranch Park. See the
October 28 monthly meeting announcement (page 1 of this newsletter)
for directions to the park. Join us for cake and refreshments and good old-
fashioned companionship. Contact Alan Gubanich at aag@unr.nevada.edu or
775-857-0191 to let him know if you plan to attend. Thanks -- looking forward
to seeing you there!

September 16
Song for the Blue Ocean by Carl
Safina
Brushed by Feathers by Frances
Wood, August and September
chapters

October 21
One Man’s Owl by Bernd Heinrich
Brushed by Feathers by Frances
Wood, October chapter
We will select the books for January-
May 2009 at this meeting

November 18
The Botany of Desire by Michael
Pollan
Brushed by Feathers by Frances
Wood, November chapter

December 16 Banded Black Brants on Baird Inlet Island on the Yukon Delta
Private Lives of Garden Birds by National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Chris Nicolai.
Calvin Simonds
Brushed by Feathers by Frances
Wood, December chapter

The Pelican 7
BACKYARD HABITAT
Attracting and Feeding
Hummingbirds
This is the first in a series of articles
regarding the creation, maintenance,
and enhancement of a backyard habitat.
Hummingbirds, also called Jewels
of the Garden, often appear angelic,
with their graceful flight, stunning
acrobatics, and brilliant iridescent
feathers; however, they are not always
such little angels. Very territorial,
they are often found fighting among
themselves, quite often in groups of up
to five or more birds.
Attracting these gems is often simple
and can be achieved by planting
flowers, putting up a feeder, or even
by placing a small mister that leaves
droplets of water on local vegetation.
Everything, however, does not end with
attracting these gems. Many people
will want these birds to stay and raise
a family right in their own backyard.
This will require nesting habitat, food,
shelter, and water. Nesting and shelter
can be comprised of willows, conifers,
and even cattails. Conifers are often
used as a staging, nesting, and resting
area for hummingbirds.
Flowers can be planted to provide
nectar and to attract various species of
visitors, not only hummingbirds, to the
garden. Red or yellow tubular flowers
are best; however, most any will do.
Flower species that provide nectar
include, delphinium, salvia, foxglove,
penstemon, lupine, and one of their
all-time favorites, columbine. I spread
wildflower seed this past spring and
the hummingbirds found several of the
flowers enjoyable for nectar, and other
flowers, which have little in the way of
nectar, also received attention as well
because they harbor tasty insects.
Many species will feed low to the
ground, as low as several inches;
however, our migrant Rufous
Hummingbird prefers to feed at a
minimum of two feet and will feed as
high as 20 to 30 feet. I just recently
8 The Pelican
hoisted several feeders 25 feet up, and bleach to eight parts water solution.
they have been a real hit with many Multiple species of hummingbirds can
Rufous and the occasional Black- be seen in northern Nevada throughout
chinned. Many people fill feeders with all elevations. Broad-tailed, Calliope,
purchased nectars; these nectars should and the migratory Rufous are common
be avoided as they are no better for, and higher up, often above 7,000 feet, and
often less popular with, the birds than sometimes higher than 10,000 feet. The
sugar water. Store-bought nectars claim common species of lower elevations
they contain vitamins and minerals are Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-
that the birds need; however, if this tailed, Rufous, Anna’s in western
were the case hummingbirds would be Nevada, and irregularly, Costa’s. My
much more reliant on humans for food. south Reno yard has seen six species,
Feeders are considered by the birds Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope,
a large flower with an endless (more Rufous, Anna’s, and Costa’s.
or less) supply of food. The recipe for I hope that this article has been
sugar water is four parts water to one part enjoyable and informative to every
sugar. There is no need to boil the mix reader, and that you might walk away
unless you plan to keep it refrigerated for with more knowledge about attracting,
more than a week. feeding, and enjoying these Jewels of
Now having dealt with nectar, on to the Garden, hummingbirds.
the other most important part of their
diet, insects. It might surprise you, but –Jonathan Heywood
insects and other invertebrates make
up 70 to 80 percent of their diet. Some Jonathan Heywood, who is 14 years
large invertebrates including Arachnids old, has been birding for four years.
and multiple members of the order He began creating bird habitat at his
Mantodea, will, however, often eat home two and one-half years ago and
hummingbirds. Some of you may have has done extensive research on the
those pesky little invertebrates that topic. He has documented over 85 bird
ruin the beauty of your trees called species in his south Reno yard.
aphids. May I please ask that you
don’t remove them, particularly using
pesticides, as they are a food source for
hummingbirds as well as many other
species of birds.
When trying to attract hummingbirds,
the more red, the higher your odds of
attracting large numbers the first year.
If the birds do not come in numbers
that you seek, or not at all, be patient
and keep feeders filled with fresh sugar
water. I personally have 11 feeders:
four hoisted in trees, one on a planted
snag, and the others on a shepherd’s
hook. I clean and refill my feeders
twice weekly, and the birds will
occasionally eat from the feeder as I
hold it in my hand. As a general rule,
if the sugar water is not cloudy, it is
not spoiled. Feeders should be flushed Costa’s Hummingbird in Jonathan’s
with fresh water weekly, and if mold south Reno backyard. Photo by Jonathan
appears, soak the feeder in a one part Heywood.
IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
Robin Powell 775-247-2798 rpowell@audubon.org

Habitat Issues IBA Conservation Activities

Washoe Valley
Important Bird Area
Background
One of the most interesting Important
Bird Areas (IBA) in northern Nevada
is the Washoe Valley IBA, which
encompasses the entire valley from
the Virginia Range to the Sierra
Nevadas and from the southern
portion of Pleasant Valley to the
northern ridge of Eagle Valley. The
Washoe Valley IBA was formally
recognized in 2003 by the Nevada
Technical Advisory Committee,
which was charged with conducting
the science-based evaluation of
proposed IBA sites throughout
Nevada.
Bird Life in Washoe Valley IBA
Washoe Valley is a birding hot spot
in northern Nevada, with high avian
biodiversity of waterfowl and wading
birds. In fact, of the 52 bird species
of concern identified by the Nevada
IBA Program, seven of these species
regularly occur in the valley, which
spurred the IBA recognition. These
avian species are: American Avocet,
Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis,
Clark’s Grebe, Great Egret, Snowy
Egret, and American White Pelican.
The Washoe Valley IBA supports a
variety of habitat types including open
water, emergent marsh vegetation,
irrigated meadows (agriculture),
grasslands, and foothill/lower
montane shrublands. This mosaic of
habitats creates the landscape that
harbors the multitude of bird species
that are found in the IBA.
There are various habitat threats
found throughout the valley. Land
conversion of private ranches
into residential and commercial
development and transition of
habitats from wet meadow to
upland shrublands are two of the
more significant threats to the IBA.
Another type of habitat conversion
is occurring within the IBA that is
having negative impacts on the bird
life in the valley: noxious weed
infestations. There are several species
of highly invasive noxious weeds
found throughout the valley on the
private lands, state lands, and federal
lands. Weed species such as perennial
pepperweed (tall whitetop), Canada
thistle, Russian knapweed, musk
thistle, and yellow starthistle are
some of the noxious weeds that are
out-competing native vegetation and
negatively impacting wildlife habitat
throughout the valley.
Through an extensive evaluation,
the Washoe Valley IBA has been
identified as one of the top five high
priority IBAs in the state. The priority
evaluation of IBAs was based on the
level of habitat threats to the IBA
correlated with the opportunities
available to address those threats.
Due to the high priority ranking of
the Washoe Valley IBA, the Nevada
IBA Program has been extremely
active in providing technical support
to various entities operating within
the IBA, such as private landowners,
grassroots groups, federal and state
agencies, and local decision makers,
to mitigate some of the existing and
upcoming habitat issues or threats.
Currently, the Nevada IBA Program
is acting as “Washoe-Pleasant Valleys
Cooperative Weed Management
Area Coordinator” to facilitate a
comprehensive weed management
program to protect areas from new
invading plants and properly manage
existing invaders while protecting and
conserving the unique bird habitats
within the Washoe Valley IBA.
– Robin Powell, Nevada Director of
Bird Conservation

Schedule of General Meetings Carpooling

November 25 – Amy Leist – Laysan Life: Five Months in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
January 27 – John Wenger – New Nature Preserve in Bolivia –
Birds Galore!
February 24 – Jim Yoakum – Pronghorn in the Silver State –
A Success Story
March 24 – Bird Identification Panel – Round 2
April 28 – Jim Stamates – The Theory of Rhythms: A Wildlife
Photographer’s View on Our Relationship with Nature
May 26 – Robin Powell – The Audubon IBA Program in Nevada:
An Overview of a Habitat Conservation Approach
If you are interested in carpooling to LAS
General Meetings, please contact Board
Trustee Linda Badzioch at 775-851-8353
or lbadzioch@pyramid.net, who will share
your information with others in your area
who have expressed interest in carpooling.
Please provide (a) your name(s), (b) telephone
and email (if you have it) contacts, (c) area
where you live, and (d) your choice of riding,
driving, or either.

The Pelican 9
 Birds in Town
by Alan Wallace

Without a doubt, Reno, Sparks, and Carson City have surpassed the “town” category, and Fallon, Fernley, and Elko
definitely have grown. So, transport this Birds in Town column back 30 or 40 years, or even back to the 1860s, and what birds
would be reported? Since the mid-1800’s arrival of settlers, sage-grass areas have been turned into housing developments,
and vegetation in towns has become more non-native. Oxbow Park’s oxbow lake in Reno, which this summer has hosted
Black-crowned Night-Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Mallards, is a vestige of the many long-since-filled oxbow ponds
that once fringed the Truckee, Carson, and Humboldt Rivers as they flowed through future towns. Robert Ridgway, an 1860’s
ornithologist, found Bullock’s Orioles and Western Wood-Pewees in the riparian cottonwoods and Black-headed Grosbeaks,
Spotted Towhees, and House Wrens in the understory shrubs. Now, these birds can choose from elms, maples, and highly
varied shrubs dispersed over many square miles. Even the Western Scrub-Jays reap the acorn bounty from abundant,
imported pin oaks.
What once was a fair distance into the country is now an easy walk out the back door, and this arid landscape now sports
abundant ponds and wetlands that draw both birds and birders alike. The former hayfields and meandering creeks of southern
Reno are now a housing development with concrete-lined drainages and new wetlands of sorts. Christiane Omer was attacked
by a Willet in wetlands in Wingfield Springs, and Theresa Bell flushed a Common Poorwill from its ground-level nest near
her Spanish Springs house, areas that not long ago were covered by sage and grasses and weren’t “in town”. Active faulting
created a small, marshy depression in south-central Reno a few thousand years ago. That depression became urban Virginia
Lake, which, this June and July, hosted Western and Clark’s Grebes, Snowy Egrets, American White Pelicans, and scads of
gulls and cormorants. Even sewage ponds have expanded over time. Once-tiny Wendover now has large ponds that, in early
July, had a Wood Duck and a Common Goldeneye. Good luck finding a Wood Duck in sere Wendover 40 years ago!
Towns like Lovelock, Austin, Unionville, and Tonopah have stayed about the same, and the birdlife hasn’t changed all that
much. The 100-plus-year-old Ely city park had abundant Pine Siskins and Cassin’s Finches in early June, with Pinyon Jays
calling overhead. House Wrens, Yellow Warblers, and Lazuli Buntings filled the lush, narrow canyon of Unionville, similar
to what Ridgway observed in 1867. Bobolinks nested as usual in the wet, long-lived hayfields at Lamoille, and Broad-tailed
Hummingbirds and Common Nighthawks buzzed around Austin, something that Ridgway reported in 1868. What’s changed
in these small towns are an increase in birders (Tonopah as a birding destination?) and the range expansions of some species,
such as Eurasian Collared-Doves and Great-tailed Grackles, that are now common in many towns, both small and large.
So, what birds would a 1968 or an 1868 Birds in Town column have reported? Of course, fewer people were reporting
on birds in the past than now. My guess (and it is only that) is that many species would be similar, but they would have been
seen in different places and likely in different numbers. European Starlings and Rock Pigeons (then Rock Doves) undoubtedly
were less abundant in the distant past, and even 10 years ago a collared-dove or a grackle would have been notable. Instead of
the orioles and grosbeaks in now-suburban trees and shrubs, diverse sparrows, hawks, and maybe even Greater Sage-Grouse
would have been near-town (not in-town) species, with a few Mountain Quail and Blue (now Sooty) Grouse in the now-
developed Sierran foothills. A 2002 paper by Elisabeth Ammon noted that waterbirds and shorebirds were strongly impacted
by the destruction of the riparian areas. Do the newly constructed, in-town wetlands make up for the missing oxbow lakes
and riverbanks along the rivers, and do they attract a greater, or lesser, diversity of waterfowl and shorebirds than were found
along the narrow river corridors? And do all of our bird feeders and baths create new microhabitats for many birds?
In the mere six or so years that I’ve been doing this Birds in Town column, the towns and the birds have changed: bird
reports from formerly out-of-town locations are now fodder for this column, and the many eagle-eyed birders are seeing more
rarities than in the past. What will be reported, and from where, in 2048? All of this reminds me of the oft-asked question:
what did Golden Eagles use for perches before telephone poles were planted in our otherwise sage-covered desert? They sat
somewhere, but where?
Northern Nevada birders of 2008 reported 109 species from northern Nevada towns during June and July. Instead of just
one birder in the 1860s, the many contributors to that total included Elisabeth Ammon, John Anderson, Theresa Bell, Clare
Engeseth, Tanya Gennale, Cynthia Goddard, Bob Goodman, Mike Greenan, Jake Highton, Ed Kurtz, Paul Lehman, Sue Anne
Marshall, Chris Nicolai, Christiane Omer, Fred Petersen, Harold Peterson, Judy Phoenix, Debbie and Randy Pontius, Greg
Scyphers, Dennis Serdehely, Wayne Shaffer, Jean Sherman, Susan Stead, Rose Strickland and Dennis Ghiglieri, Steve Ting,
Julie U’Ren, Pat Wells, Frank Whitman, Diane Wong, Dave Worley, and me. The deadline for the next column is September
25. Send reports to 1050 Sumac St., Reno, NV 89509 or wallacealan@sbcglobal.net, or post sightings on the Nevada bird
listserv. Good birding!

10 The Pelican
 LAS MEMBERSHIP/DONATION FORM
Lahontan Audubon Society Membership: All funds remain in the community. Members receive The Pelican
newsletter and may elect to receive e-mail activities notices. Please complete and mail this form with payment.

1. o LAS Renewal o New Membership o Send me a National Audubon application

2. o Individual/Family - $20/year o Full Time Student/Senior (over 62) - $15/year

LAS Donations: Please select level:

o Ruby-crowned Kinglet - $10 o Mountain Bluebird - $20 o American Avocet - $50
o American White Pelican - $100 o Golden Eagle - $500 or more

NAME (please print)______________________________________________________

ADDRESS_ ____________________________________________________________
CITY__________________________ STATE_ ________ ZIP CODE_____________
PHONE________________________________________________________________
E-MAIL_______________________________________ o Include on LAS-only e-mail list

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $__________ September/October 2008 issue

Make check payable to Lahontan Audubon Society and mail this form to:
Kathy Oakes, LAS Membership, 4120 Plateau Road, Reno, NV 89519

LAS SALES FORM

Price Postage TOTAL

Important Bird Areas of Nevada $19.95 $4.60 _____

Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2005

A Birding Guide to Reno and Beyond--Second Edition $10 $2 _____

Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2007

Nevada Birding Map--Second Edition $ 4 $1 _____

Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2007

TOTAL ORDER _____

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E-MAIL_______________________________________________________________(in case of a question regarding your order)

Make checks payable to Lahontan Audubon Society and mail with this form to:
Jane Burnham, LAS Sales, 8071 Big River Drive, Reno, NV 89506

The Pelican 11
 Printed on Recycled Paper
THE PELICAN NonProfit org.
Lahontan Audubon Society U.S. Postage
P.O. Box 2304 paid
Reno, Nevada 89505 reno, nevada
permit no. 181

Postmaster: Please send change of

address to The Pelican, P.O. Box
2304, Reno, NV 89505.

If your mailing label is highlighted, please

renew your local LAS membership now.

LAHONTAN AUDUBON SOCIETY

Officers President Karen Kish klkish@pyramid.net 841-1180

Vice President Alan Gubanich aag@unr.nevada.edu 857-0191
Treasurer Jane Burnham jane.burnham@sbcglobal.net 677-4178
Recording Secretary Bonnie Wagner bwagner@hyattclassic.com 829-6311
Trustees Seat #1 to 2011 Dave Straley dstraley@nvbell.net 832-9222
Seat #2 to 2011 Gene Hansel renohansel@hotmail.com 354-2150
Seat #3 to 2009 Ali Chaney ali_chaney@hotmtail.com 813-3494
Seat #4 to 2011 Kathy Oakes oakesy@sbcglobal.net 747-5446
Seat #5 to 2009 Jacque Lowery wbureno@sbcglobal.net 853-1302
Seat #6 to 2010 Linda Badzioch lbadzioch@pyramid.net 851-8353
Seat #7 to 2010 Kenn Rohrs karohrs@charter.net 849-9530

IBA Director Robin Powell rpowell@audubon.org 247-2798

Committee Activity/Program Alan Gubanich aag@unr.nevada.edu 857-0191

Chairs Birding Classes Bob Goodman pandion36@aol..com 972-7848
Birds & Books Reading Group Kenn Rohrs karhors@charter.net 849-9530
Communications Karen Kish klkish@pyramid.net 841-1180
Conservation Ali Chaney ali_chaney@hotmail.com 813-3494
Education Alan Gubanich aag@unr.nevada.edu 857-0191
Field Trips Christiane Omer happycpo@aol.com 354-2634
Hospitality Linda Badzioch lbadzioch@pyramid.net 851-8353
LAS Sales Jane Burnham jane.burnham@sbcglobal.net 677-4178
Membership Kathy Oakes oakesy@sbcglobal.net 747-5446

Publication and The Pelican Editor Jen Martin jensieb@gmail.com 742-2582
Information The Pelican Distribution Connie Douglas nevadaconnie@sbcglobal.net 425-1305
“Birds in Town” Alan Wallace wallacealan@sbcglobal.net 786-5755
LAS Info Line Jacque Lowery 324-BIRD
Web Master Steve Ting scting@charter.net 849-3725

12 The Pelican