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.

MONTHLY MEETINGS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
2009 Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Time: Social at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
Location: South Valleys Library
vol. 47, no. 1
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 Park-
1 Monthly Meetings way, just past Raley’s shopping center. Go about one mile on Wedge Parkway
and look for the boldly designed, mustard yellow library on the right.
2 Ask a Birder
Carpooling is encouraged.
3 Field Trips
September 22 - George Baumgardner, Curator of Natural History,
4 Of Note from the Nevada State Museum - John James Audubon: Artist and Naturalist
President John J. Audubon dedicated most of his life to making images of nature
in the Americas of the early 1800s. His most recognized work, “Birds
5 Birds and More
of America,” featured all avian species known from the United States
9 The Avid Birder of that time. Using images from this work, George will discuss how
Audubon’s art developed, how it differed from similar work of the
10 Birds In Town period, and how it still has impact today. When possible, emphasis will
be placed on birds living in the current day western United States.
11 LAS Sales/
Membership
October 27 - Mary Gaspari - The Amazing Birds of Prey
Mary, a licensed master falconer here in Reno, will discuss the history
Submissions for the November/ and biology of falconry and bring a couple of her birds for us to see. She
December issue are due October 1, 2009
currently owns two silver Gyrfalcons and a Cooper’s Hawk, which she
The Pelican may be viewed on the LAS often takes to various locations for presentations. Mary will also teach
website at www.nevadaaudubon.org, us how to identify different birds of prey and discuss current issues
click on the Newsletter tab. pertinent to falconry. Join us for a fun and informative evening and a rare
chance to get up close and personal with these marvelous animals.
Bring your cameras!

The Pelican 1
ASK A BIRDER
LASBirdBrain@gmail.com

In this space, the LAS Bird Brain
will answer your questions about
birds and birding in northern Nevada.
Dear Bird Brain,
I saw a very strange looking dove
in my yard. At first I thought it was
just another Mourning Dove, but it
had a black stripe across the back
of its neck and its tail didn’t come
to a point like a Mourning Dove’s
tail. What could it be…a mutated
Mourning Dove?
Sincerely,
Frazzled in Fallon
Dear Frazzled,
You most likely
observed a Eurasian
Collared-Dove
and not a mutant
Mourning Dove.
The Eurasian Collared-Dove, as its
name implies, has a black collar
(which is the black stripe you saw on
the back of its neck) and a rounded
tail. The Mourning Dove does not
have a collar, has a definite pointed
tail (as opposed to the Eurasian
Collared-Dove’s rounded tail),
and is noticeably smaller than the
Eurasian Collared-Dove. Also a bit
obvious from its name, the Eurasian
Collared-Dove is not native to
North America; its origins extend
from southeastern Europe to Japan.
It expanded across Europe in the
1900s and was introduced to North
America, via the Bahamas, in the
mid-1970s. It then made its way to
Florida in the early 1980s. Since its
introduction, it has rapidly colonized
North America and, according to
the NVBIRDS Listserv archives,
appeared in southern Nevada in
2001, and over the next couple of
years, made its way to northern
Nevada.
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is
obviously highly opportunistic and
does well in urban areas where
there is a consistent supply of food
in backyard feeders and plentiful
planted trees for nesting and
roosting. And keep your ears open
too, not only are their calls a bit
different (a four-syllable ooAAH
cooo coo coo for the Mourning Dove
vs. a three-syllable coo COOO cup
for the Eurasian Collared-Dove), the
Mourning Dove’s wings produce a
whistling sound on takeoff and the
Eurasian Collared-Dove can sneak
away without a sound.
Happy Birding,
The Bird Brain
Photo by M. Weinstein, Alabaster, AL (www.birds.
cornell.edu) showing the size difference between
the Mourning Dove (left) and the Eurasian
Collared-Dove (right).
The Bird Brain required a little
assistance and found various tidbits
of information at the following
websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Eurasian_Collared-dove
http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/
species/630
http://list.audubon.org/wa.exe
Do you have a question about
birds or birding in northern
Nevada? If so, please email
the LAS Bird Brain at
LASBirdBrain@gmail.com. Your
question might be selected for the
next issue of The Pelican. And
remember, the only silly question
is the one that isn’t asked!

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 gen-
eral, 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
Christiane Omer 775-354-2634 happycpo@aol.com

Saturday, September 12
Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson City
hawks, and with a lot of luck, Northern Saturday, October 10
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Goshawk, Osprey, and/or Bald Eagle. Taylor Creek, South Lake Tahoe
Leader: Nancy Santos, 775-884-1570,
To get there: Take 395 south to Minden, Time: 8:30 a.m.
nancylas@att.net
turn onto Hwy 88 (Woodfords/Jackson), Leaders: Sheryl Ferguson, 530-541-
Co-sponsors: Lahontan Audubon Society
and go 14 miles south to the junction 8462, s-sferguson@sbcglobal.net and
and Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch.
with Hwy 89 (Markleeville). Continue Jim Woods
We will meet in the ranch parking lot
on Hwy 88 for 14 miles to the Red Lake Meet Sheryl and Jim at the Taylor Creek
located on Carson River Road, off East
turn off. Time from Reno is about two Visitor Center kiosk. From Reno or
5th Street. Plan to spend the morning
hours. Please call for reservations; space Carson City, take Hwy 50 to South Lake
exploring the ranch for birds and learning
is limited to 12. Tahoe. Follow Hwy 50 South and turn
a little about its history. Habitat at the
right onto 89 (Emerald Bay Rd.) at the
ranch includes sagebrush, agricultural
Saturday, September 26 “Y” intersection in South Lake Tahoe,
lands, and a riparian corridor adjacent
Stillwater NWR shortly after Staples. Drive 2.9 miles
to the Carson River. The variety of
Time: 7:30 a.m. from the “Y.” After Richardson’s Resort,
habitat allows for a diverse number of
Leader: Mike Goddard, 775-423-5128 look for the U.S. Forest Service Lake
bird species to be observed at the ranch.
Meet at the refuge office, 1000 Auction Tahoe Visitor Center sign on the right
All levels of birders are welcome and
Road, just off Williams Avenue (US side of the road. Turn in at the sign and
beginning birders are encouraged to
50) behind the Speedway gas station. park in the parking lot. This easy half-day
attend. Please contact Nancy Santos to
We will tour Stillwater NWR and/or bird walk will follow a nature trail (with
register or for more information. The
Carson Lake and Pasture depending upon handicap access). We will enjoy lunch at
annual Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch
wetland conditions. Due to the shortened a local burger stand, but you may bring
Breakfast will follow the bird walk. All
irrigation season, some wetland areas your own lunch if you prefer. Since this
field trip attendees are encouraged to stay,
may not have water yet. Refuge staff is a fall trip, added bonuses include looks
eat, and visit. Donations for the breakfast
will bring two spotting scopes. The new at the Kokanee Salmon spawning run and
are appreciated.
refuge tour loop is open and staff will gorgeous fall colors. After lunch, Sheryl
brief you on pending construction of the will also point out places of interest for
Duff’s Pond Environmental Education birders who wish to continue afternoon
facility. Please reserve your space with birding on their own.
Mike Goddard, Stillwater NWR Project
Leader. Sunday, October 18
Oxbow Park, Reno
Saturday, October 3 Time: 8:00 a.m.
Swan Lake/Lemmon Valley Marsh, Leader: David Jickling, 775-848-0069,
North Reno djickling@charter.net
Photo of a male Yellow Warbler courtesy
Time: 8:00 a.m. Meet at the Oxbow Park parking lot
of Alan Gubanich.
Leader: Bob Goodman, 775-972-7848, for this easy nature trail walk. To get
pandion36@aol.com there, take I-80 West, turn south off the
Saturday September 19
Meet Bob (look for his van) at the Keystone Exit, and turn right on Second
Red Lake, California (Hwy 88)
McDonald’s parking lot off Exit 74, Street which turns into Dickerson Road,
Time: 8:00a.m.
Lemmon Valley on Hwy 395 north of then follow it until it ends at the park.
Leader: Jim Woods, 775-265-3914,
Reno. We will carpool the short distance This park is a great local hotspot to find
woobib@charter.net
to Lemmon Valley Marsh. Bring a fall migrants and to learn about Reno’s
Come on south and bird a nice little
spotting scope if you can, and prepare backyard birds. Plan to spend a few
lake in the Sierras. We will be hiking
to be out until mid-day. It is a good time hours, so bring your binoculars, a scope if
almost around the lake following an easy
to see fall migrants and winter resident you have one, and water. A great walk for
trail (1.5 miles). The likely birds will
birds on the marsh and wetlands. This beginner and experienced birders alike.
be Tree and Cliff Swallow, Dark-eyed
is an easy bird walk and birders of all
Junco, Yellow Warbler, White-headed (Field Trips continued on page 6)
experience are welcome.
Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker,
Downy Woodpecker, nuthatches,
Mountain Chickadee, Western Wood-
Pewee, flycatchers, sandpipers, ducks,

The Pelican 3
OF NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
• Conservation Chair Search:
The LAS Board of Trustees is
seeking a Conservation Chair for
LAS. The focus and job duties
of the Conservation Chair can
vary considerably depending on
specific ad hoc situations, cycles of
conservation issues, conservation
project opportunities that arise, and
the background and interests of the
individual serving in the position. We
concentrate on projects and issues at
the local level, where we feel we have
the best opportunities and a realistic
ability to achieve effective outcomes.
We defer to National Audubon Society
as the most effective, powerful
channel for national and global issues.
You can find information about
Conservation Committee activities in
the “Conservation Corner” column
in The Pelican Newsletter and the
Conservation section of our annual
reports. Both are available on our
website under the Newsletter and
Chapter Info (end of page) tabs,
respectively. If you wish to explore
serving in this position, please contact
me at klkish@pyramid.net or 775-841-
1180. LAS needs your help.
• Welcome to Our Second New
Board Member: As previously
reported, we elected two new Trustees
to the Board. Mary Jo Elpers, our
new Secretary, was introduced in our
last issue. Here is a personal note
from Stephanie Sander: “Having
dabbled in birding all my life, I was
happy to find a home in birding with
Lahontan Audubon Society. I moved
to Nevada two and a half years ago
to be near my folks in Carson City.
Prior to that, I lived in Santa Cruz,
California, for 27 years, where I was
married for 16 years. My career was
as a public health nurse and pediatric
nurse practitioner. Though I have no
children, I make an effort to have
them in my life. I have two indoor cats
and enjoy gardening, music, reading,
4 The Pelican
and the good ol’ outdoors. I am able
to enjoy watching many birds at my
feeders and feel blessed to be in such
a beautiful spot. I am an avid recycler
and environmentalist and have loved
being part of such a great group of
people as I’ve found in LAS. I will
do my best to be a vital contributor to
the Board.”
• LAS Well-Served: With our May
chapter elections, two of our Board
members stepped down from positions
in which they had really given it their
all. Bonnie Wagner became a Trustee
in July 2004. She subsequently added
Volunteer Coordination to her work
for LAS. In 2006 Bonnie became our
Recording Secretary. Later on she also
helped coordinate and give human
resources guidance in our search
for a new IBA Director. This spring
she stepped in for Alan Gubanich to
serve as master of ceremonies for
our second Bird I.D. Panel program.
Bonnie will continue as an LAS
member. We understand that she and
husband Rusty may be spending a
bit more time shining and showing a
classic Chevy. Ali Chaney became a
Trustee in 2003 and quickly involved
herself in a variety of activities in
conservation, her passion as well
as her education and employment
background. Ali served as Advocacy
sub-committee chair, Conservation
Chair, and LAS’s representative in
groups such as the Governor’s Sage
Grouse Committee and Conservation
Priorities for a Sustainable Nevada.
Ali coordinated a Birdathon dedicated
to funding conservation projects. She
secured National Audubon Society
Collaborative Funding Grants for
reseeding critical hummingbird habitat
in northeastern Nevada, replanting
the Hawken Fire damaged area, and
purchasing binoculars for children
visiting Oxbow NSA. Last issue, you
read about the passage of S.B. 108 /
Mine Claim Markers. Even though
Ali has stepped down as Trustee
and Conservation Chair, she plans
to follow through with projects in
progress ... and who knows what
else? Bonnie and Ali, for your service
and dedication to LAS, always
delivered with good humor, we thank
you very much.
• Summer Planning Retreat: The
Board of Trustees and committee
representatives met July 12 for short-
and long-term planning. Morning
sessions included a very productive
Visioning Exercise followed by small-
group work on three specific areas
of opportunity. In the afternoon, we
reviewed plans and budgets for fiscal
year 2009-2010. We gave some initial
consideration to planning for future
special projects. Participants felt that
it was a very good day. At least that’s
what they told Gene Hansel and me,
the coordinators of the day, before we
would let them leave for home!
• LAS Annual Report: Our annual
report for July 1, 2008, through
June 30, 2009, has been submitted
to National Audubon Society.
Satisfactory filing of this report leads
to our re-certification as a chapter of
NAS and approximately $3,000 in an
annual baseline payment. The report
is posted at the end of the “Chapter
Info” section of our website. Besides
the “business end” of this report, it
provides an excellent opportunity
for all of us to recall and review
our varied activities in birding,
conservation, and education. All is
the fruit of the quality and generosity
of those who volunteer as well as the
moral and financial support from our
entire membership. It’s been another
very good year. Thanks to one and all.
– Karen L. Kish
BIRDS AND MORE
Kathy Oakes 775-747-5446 oakesy@sbcglobal.net

Today’s subject is not a bird, but an

insect, the Mormon cricket (Anabrus
simplex), which is not a true cricket,
but a long-horned grasshopper,
or katydid. They occur in western
sagebrush lands, usually in fairly
low numbers. However, at times,
Mormon crickets come together
in huge swarms that may cover
thousands of acres and can march
over a mile per day. In these swarms,
crickets can number up to100 per
square yard. There can be so many
crickets killed on roads that they
become a traffic hazard (eeewww,
hydroplaning on crickets guts).
I have encountered a few Mormon Photo of a Mormon cricket by Alan Gubanich.
cricket swarms in the Nevada
outback (I almost ran out of gas on
Highway 50 when I didn’t get gas in La Rivers listed several songbird an adult cricket (they can be
Austin because crickets completely species that he observed eating over three inches long). The bird
covered the gas station, including the crickets. He dubbed the Sage struggled to subdue the cricket for
pumps – yuck), but have not seen Thrasher, Brewer’s Blackbird, many minutes, but could not pierce
birds eating the insects. I got curious and Western Meadowlark as the its hard shield. Each time the cricket
about what birds are known to eat “big three” in cricket population hopped on its strong hind legs, it
Mormon crickets and found a great destruction because they ate so knocked the flycatcher off its feet.
paper by Dr. Ira La Rivers, who many cricket eggs. Crickets lay The bird would struggle to its feet
taught biology at UNR from 1948 their eggs in the soil, as many as only to be knocked over again and
until 1977. 50-100 eggs to a “clutch.” Both again. When the cricket finally
La Rivers observed 28 species of thrashers and meadowlarks dug grabbed one of the bird’s legs with
birds feeding on Mormon crickets up cricket egg-beds to feast on its forelegs, the matter ended with
in Nevada. Several hawk species eggs. Brewer’s Blackbirds also the bird letting go and flying off.
apparently relish the crickets. Red- appeared to relish eggs, but got them The citation for the paper is La
tailed Hawks may feed exclusively directly from female crickets. La Rivers, Ira, 1941, Condor, Vol. 43,
on crickets in areas of big swarms. Rivers observed that the blackbirds No.1, pages 65-69. A link to the
La Rivers told an amusing story captured only female crickets, and paper is found at http://elibrary.
about observing a Rough-legged split their abdomens open to get the unm.edu/sora/Condor. Click on
Hawk through binoculars feeding eggs (cricket caviar?). Other birds the appropriate volume and issue,
on crickets on the ground, with the that regularly ate Mormon crickets which will get you to the table of
crickets jumping away in alarm. included the Black-billed Magpie, contents from which the article can
When he approached, the hawk Horned Lark, Loggerhead Shrike, be downloaded as an Acrobat pdf
became wary and stopped feeding. and Greater Sage-grouse. file. The Sora is a database of older
The crickets soon started marching Smaller birds usually tackled issues of several ornithological
again right across the hawk’s feet, only immature crickets. However, journals. You can search for a topic
and then climbed up his legs. This La Rivers watched one ambitious of interest, or browse issues of each
was too much – the bird shook one Western Flycatcher that had seized journal.
leg, jumped around, and then took
off (in disgust I bet).

The Pelican 5
FIELD TRIPS
(continued from page 3)
Saturday, October 24
Wandering the Carson Valley
Time: 7:00 a.m.-noon
Leader: Jim Woods, 775-265-3914,
woobib@charter.net
We will tour the Incline Village
General Improvement District Wetlands
in the north valley looking for the
resident and migrant water and wading
birds. Expect ducks, egrets, herons,
blackbirds, swallows, American Coot,
Sora, Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren,
American Kestrel, hawks, snipes, and
sandpipers. With any luck there will be
MacGillivray’s Warbler, Golden Eagle,
Bald Eagle, falcons, and the sleepovers
of the migrating shore and song birds.
Meet at the In & Out Burger in Carson
City (look for Jim in his red pick-up).
From Reno, take Highway 395 south
to Carson City, continue south past its
junction with Highway 50 West (the
road to Spooner/Lake Tahoe) to Topsy
Lane. Turn right and look for the In
& Out to your left. Bring a bag lunch,
plenty of water, and a scope if possible.
Space is limited to 12, so register early.
Donors
American Avocet $50 - $99
Martis Camp Club
Mountain Bluebird $20 - 49
Thomas and Jean Reeves
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
$10 - $19
Toni and Bob Hamilton
in memory of Robin Jorgensen
Starnes
John Axtell
Penny Whalen
6 The Pelican
Field Trip Reports
Strolling the Truckee River
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A group of 16 birders took a tour of
the evening birds on the Truckee River
at Rock Park. The start of the tour
was delayed an hour, but it was time
well spent listening to the rain on a
tin roof while watching the swallows,
cormorants, and mergansers work the
river. The group welcomed a passing
family (including their deaf dog) to
the tour, and the birders recruited a
new member for LAS before it was all
over. For myself, I learned to bark in
American Sign Language. The birds
cooperated and carried on a lot of
nesting and feeding activity, as well
as singing their evening songs. We
had a total of 33 species. One of the
highlights was a recently fledged Great
Horned Owl being mobbed by robins
and blackbirds. My thanks to Janet
Helton and the tour members that made
this a special evening. -Jim Woods
Paige Meadows
Saturday, June 20, 2009
We had a great group of 11 people,
and it was a beautiful morning at
Paige Meadows, albeit with many
mosquitoes. The highlights were a
Dusky Flycatcher, a singing Nashville
Warbler that was singing in the same
spot an hour later, Evening Grosbeaks,
and a MacGillivray’s Warbler. We also
tried to find the Pileated Woodpecker
nest that Richard Carlson found on
Barker Pass Road, but it appeared the
young had fledged and there was no
sign of them after 30 minutes. We had
28 species for the day, with four of
them only heard. -Kirk Hardy
Porter Springs
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Twelve birders made it out to the
Porter Springs make-up day, previously
cancelled due to rain, and were greeted
by...well, almost nothing. We saw a
Western Wood-Pewee, a kingbird,
and a few Killdeer, but not much else.
However, there was cloudiness, wind,
a few raindrops, and a road that had
minor washout imperfections (but still
quite useable). Most of the folks had
not been there before, so at least they
now know where the place is and what
it looks like. We decided to visit S-Line
Reservoir in Fallon on the way home,
and the species total for the day jumped
to the low 40’s with several duck
species, grebes, Spotted Sandpipers,
2-3 species of swallows, a Swainson’s
Hawk, and others. After splitting up
for the day, part of the group headed
for Harmon Reservoir. I stopped at Big
Soda Lake (just west of Fallon) and
added Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s
Phalarope, and Black-necked Stilt to
the day’s list. All in all...it would have
been nice if we could have made the
trip two weeks ago...but we do love the
rain! -Don Molde
Sheldon NWR
June 19-21, 2009
The total number of people was
near 60, mostly Friends of Nevada
Wilderness (FONW) members. FONW
provided dinner on Saturday and
breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.
There was much discussion of the
new Comprehensive Conservation
Planning effort around the campfire.
We had eight work teams out removing
fence, posting the refuge boundary, and
building fence around springs to keep
the wild horses from damaging them.
The refuge received a lot of spring
rain and looked exceptionally green
and lush. The work teams were rained
and hailed upon on Saturday but still
accomplished all the work that was
planned. -Michael Goddard
(Field Trip Reports continued on page 7)
FIELD TRIPS

(continued from page 6) excitement on Saturday morning. In

Unionville
June 26-28, 2009
In 1997 Kenn Kaufmann published
his now-famous book “Kingbird
Highway.” For the 14 of us who
traveled to Unionville, NV for a birding
weekend in late June, that title would
aptly describe our experience along the
Unionville road - Western Kingbirds
everywhere! Our group found at least
six Kingbird nests that weekend, plus
a “Kingbird condominium” (three
Kingbird nests in the same tree, but
not noticeably active) at the entrance
to the office of the Old Pioneer Garden
Country Inn. Throw in American
Robins, House Sparrows, House
Finches, Cassin’s Finches, Bullock’s
Orioles, Brewer’s Blackbirds, and a
few Lark Sparrows, Mourning Doves
and Eurasian Collared-Doves, and the
road through Unionville was indeed a
birdy place. During our walks through
Wilson Canyon, Star Canyon, and
Straight Canyon, Yellow Warblers,
Lazuli Buntings, and Warbling Vireos
took center stage, along with Spotted
Towhees. An immature Eagle (Golden?
- but look at the photo - Bald?) being
chased by a Northern Harrier and
a Cooper’s Hawk provided a bit of
all, the group saw 39 species and heard
a possible 40th (House Wren). And, as
usual, the hospitality, accommodations,
and food provided by the folks at the
Old Pioneer Garden Country Inn are
unmatched - if you’ve never been there,
you must go! It’s like stepping back in
time, and birding is simply icing on the
cake. We hope to make this an annual
event and hope more of you can join us
in future years. -Alan Gubanich
Birding and Batting
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A determined group of 12 adventurous
folks enjoyed the Nevada weather
(by waiting five minutes) and had a
great time strolling the Truckee. The
dust storm at Rock Park literally blew
the crowds away and stopped just in
time for the tour to start. The weather
then treated us all to a fire-fall sunset
through the departing rainstorm.
The birds were in short supply and
consisted mostly of the expected
species, but nonetheless, the birds
provided the adventure of seeking
them out and identifying them via their
calls and songs. The second part of
the tour was to meet Bob Goodman
at the McCarran Bridge to watch the
Brazilian Free-tailed Bats take off
An immature eagle being chased by a
male Northern Harrier. Is it a Golden
Eagle (most probably) or a Bald Eagle?
The underwing pattern is ambiguous.
Photo by Alan Gubanich.
for the night’s feeding. Bob gave a
very good presentation on bats in
general and led a fun and informative
discussion on everything else about
the McCarran bat colony. Under the
bridge in the narrow joints, we got to
see hundreds of roosting bats. Hard to
observe, but we learned that along with
the Brazilians there were Little Brown
Bats and Big Brown Bats (really). The
sight of thousands of bats departing
into the fading sunset over the Truckee
is a sight we all need to see. Thanks to
Bob Goodman and LAS for another
great tour. -Jim Woods

Fun Plants for Birds

The basis for this article is to provide you, the reader, with plant ideas to attract
birds to your garden. Each bi-monthly featured plant will be suggested based on
its performance in Reno’s harsh climate.

It seems there are just certain plants and flowers that birds will go crazy for in
the garden. This issue’s featured plant is California Fuchsia. The scientific name
for this plant has recently been changed to Epilobium cana from Zauschneria
californica. California Fuchsia is a favorite of hummingbirds. It’s a tidy perennial
that reaches up to 18 inches high with a spread of 2 to 3 feet. This plant has
silvery foliage and bright red flowers that light up in late summer through the
first frost here in northern Nevada. If you’re looking for a way to get those This California Fuchsia was in bloom up
hummingbirds to make a stop in your yard during the fall migration, then give until the first frost last year. Photo was taken
by Jen Martin in her south Reno yard.
California Fuchsia a try.
Jen Martin

The Pelican 7
OTHER BIRD BUSINESS
Education Committee
Call for Volunteers

LAS has been blessed with a group of enthusiastic members who volunteer for numerous projects throughout the
year. Usually a phone call or an email to the membership has been the method by which we’ve recruited such
people. However, LAS would now like to establish a formal Education Committee, with several subcommittees,
so we can more efficiently administer and organize our educational outreach efforts. We are looking for people like
you who would be willing to serve in such a capacity. Our Vice-President, Alan Gubanich, has agreed to serve as the
overall Chair of the committee, but he is looking for volunteers to staff several possible subcommittees: In-House
Education subcommittee (for educating our members about conservation issues); Outreach Education subcommittee
(for adults in the community); Classroom Visits subcommittee (for school kids); Classroom Field Trips
subcommittee (trips for school kids at places such
as Washoe Lake, Swan Lake, and other locations);
Special Events subcommittee (Spring Wings; Tune-
In-To-Kids; Earth Day; talks at various nurseries;
etc.). If you are interested and willing to chair or
serve on any of these subcommittees, please contact
Alan at aag@unr.nevada.edu or 775-857-0191. Your
participation will be greatly appreciated. The more
volunteers we have the more outreach we can provide
to our local community and especially to our youth,
our hope for the future. These children were able to bird and explore the Oxbow Nature Study
with the help of Ali Chaney, an LAS Volunteer. Photo courtesy of
Aaron Keller.

SWAN LAKE
NATURE STUDY AREA
 As testimony to the dedication of the partners involved
with the Swan Lake Nature Study Area, this May 2, 2009
a 10-year anniversary celebration was held at the new
classroom shelter. President Kish has written about this,
but there is still much work to be done by the partners
involving a number of different fronts.
We are trying to acquire the land that lies between Horse
Ravine, the stream that feeds the western portion of Swan
Lake, and the warehouses. If, or when, this happens, the
plan is to use this land to improve the flow of the stream,
creating meanders to help reduce the amount of sediment
reaching the lake. Another possibility here is the creation of
a storm water catchment basin to slow any flood stage.
  For the long-term plan, a trail will encircle the entire lake,
but in the short-term, the trails leaving the interpretive area,
and the one at the end of Ramsey Road, will be improved
this year. We are all aware of the financial shortcomings
Washoe County is experiencing this year, and since they
have the lead in the construction and maintenance of Swan
Lake, we feel fortunate to have any construction done at all.
  There is an ongoing discussion concerning the 10-acre
parcel at the end of Pompe Lane. It is a desirable piece of
land that would eventually help with the trail encircling
the lake. However, there are a few problems affecting its
purchase, such as the amount of undesirable materials
presently on the land as structures, debris, and a berm made
of asphalt that extends out into the lake area.
  So far the construction of two warehouses close to
the interpretive area is still on hold due to the economic
situation. The lack of water throughout the area has turned
the playa into a sea of green with waves of foxtail plants.
 
All in all, things are looking good for Swan Lake.
 
Bob Goodman
LAS Committee Representative

8 The Pelican
THE AVID BIRDER
Kenn Rohrs 775-849-9530 karohrs@charter.net
In this space, Kenn Rohrs
will discuss books and other
resources for the avid birder.
The increasing popularity of
birding has encouraged the
writing of an extraordinary
number of books, such as
field guides, biographies, and
general interest studies of
birds and birders. In the past
year, novelists incorporated
birds and birding into the
world of fiction.
Book Review
Flyaway: How
a Wild Bird
Rehabber Sought
Adventure and
Found Her Wings
by Suzie Gilbert
A fantastic memoir: humorous,
intimate, intelligent, deeply
moving, and yet wonderfully
informative. Suzie Gilbert
struggled to find her life’s work.
After she and her husband moved
from New York City to the Hudson
Valley, she got a job in an animal
hospital and then volunteered at a
local raptor rehab center. After 11
years, she jumped in and started to
rehab birds in her home. This book
is about Gilbert finding compassion
and meaning in her life by working
with injured birds. In engaging
prose, Gilbert not only teaches
us about rehabbing injured birds,
she also explains animal behavior,
biology, and natural history.
In Flyaway, Suzie Gilbert
describes how she started
rehabbing wild birds in her home.
The Pelican 9
Once Gilbert decided to rehab their choice of food.
injured birds at her home, she was Gilbert could chant the bird
required to become licensed by the rehabber’s mantra “bring them
State of New York and the federal back, then let them go.” Her
government. She built flight cages willingness to describe her mixed
on her property and made contact feelings caused by the need to
on the Internet with other bird fulfill that mantra’s pledge to let
rehabbers. Yet, most of the birds the birds fly away makes this
were cared for in the house. a special story. The beauty of
Can you imagine the bedlam Gilbert’s memoir is her coming to
in that house? In a household understand her passion for helping
that included her husband John, birds. Her statement that wildlife
son Mac, daughter Skye, as well rehabbers see more death than most
as Mario and Zack, her rescued of us, helps explain her constant
African Grey and Yellow-Collared struggle between holding on and
Macaw, Gilbert started rehabbing letting go.
injured birds – and not just one or I love this book – intelligent,
two. “Are you out of your mind?” fascinating, compelling, and
was a frequent reaction to her witty – and highly recommend it.
“rescue Jones disorder” – her need For more about Suzie Gilbert and
to try to save every injured bird. Flyaway, Inc. check out www.
Merlin, her curly-coated retriever, suziegilbert.com.
joined the circus later. Gilbert
shares some very laugh-out-loud
anecdotes involving her extended
family and the injured birds and
LAS General Meeting Topics 2009/2010
November 24 - Chris Briggs – Survival, Parasites, and Oedipus: Why So
Many Morphs in Hawk Populations?
January 26 - Pat Kelly and Elmer Bull – The Future of Carson Lake
Wetland
February 23 - Tom Howell – Birding in Malawi and Zambia
March 23 - Bird Identification Panel Round 3
April 27 - Robin Powell – The IBA Program: Habitat Conservation and
Rehabilitation Projects
May 25 - Tony Wasley, NDOW – The Himalayan Snowcock in Nevada
Birds in Town
Alan Wallace wallacealan@sbcglobal.net
June and July saw the usual transition from the last
stages of spring migration, through the various nesting
and fledging stages of the local breeders, into the early
hints of the fall migration. Urban birders also transitioned
into the more rural parts of the state, including many of
the smaller towns. Small towns are great for birding as
residents of those places can attest. Every town or city
has a fringing transition zone between town and non-
town birds, and that transition zone in small towns can
encompass the whole town. So it really doesn’t matter if
you’re in town or in the surrounding hills: the birds can
be the same. This June and July, birders found a Blue
Grosbeak in Eureka, a Black-throated Gray Warbler at
a bird bath in Elko, a Blackpoll Warbler in Fallon, and
Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks in beautiful
downtown Unionville. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a rural
yard to begin with, as shown by another Rose-breasted
Grosbeak that showed up at Linda Hiller’s Jack’s
Valley yard, the Yellow-breasted Chats, Wild Turkeys,
Mountain Bluebirds, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds
at the Yurt near Baker, and the Sandhill Cranes close
to Marty Cox’s small enclave 30 miles north of Reno.
Even the sewage ponds on the edge of Austin had a nice
Franklin’s Gull and several Green-winged Teal. As July
came to close, Dennis Serdehely’s yard on the fringes of
Fernley produced a couple of Indigo Buntings and several
Western Tanagers, presaging the coming migration.
Birders commented on several, possibly unusual, events.
In Stateline, Helga Strong has observed a real decline
in the numbers of chickadees and nuthatches around
her house over the past year. In contrast, Mountain
Chickadees and all three nuthatches were common
this summer in lower-elevation towns and yards, with
successful chickadee fledging reported in several places.
House Wrens appear to be having a banner year, at least
in Reno. Normally, they aren’t nearly as common as
Bewick’s Wrens in Reno (although they’re very common
in other places), but former strongholds of Bewick’s Wrens
are now replete with House Wrens. Four White-winged
Crossbills wintered in Elko this year, and everyone
expected them to migrate northward in the spring. Well, at
least one (a female or an immature) was still being seen in
late June; if it was an immature, is that a new one and an
indication of breeding?
Many birders in western Nevada noted a general dearth
of hummingbirds this summer. Most people had one or
two Black-chinned Hummingbirds instead of the usual
half dozen or more. Until late July, when the southward-
migrating Rufous Hummingbirds showed up in full
10 The Pelican
force, only two had been reported, the first of which was
on July 10. There were some exceptions, though: the
Rohrs in the Galena area of Reno had ample hummers,
with Black-chinneds as well as Rufous and Costa’s,
Martha Jones in Unionville called to say that her cloud
of miniscule nectar suckers were draining the feeders on
a daily basis, and both Black-chinned and Broad-tailed
Hummingbirds frequented feeders near Baker. The wet
May and June produced abundant flowers, and the Reno
newspaper reported that there were far more bugs this
summer than in years past. Since insects constitute an
important food source for hummingbirds, perhaps the
surfeit of natural floral and insect food diminished the
need for our sugar water, leading to a shortage of hummers
only at the feeders. The Rufous follow the Sierran
wildflowers on their ways south, and their late-July deluge
into lower towns might indicate the fading of higher-
elevation blooms.
Some of you may have wondered about the Nevada bird
listserv listed at the end of each column. It’s a free, for-
subscription service run by the National Audubon Society,
with me as the moderator. Basically, subscribers can send
in their Nevada bird reports, and the server automatically
forwards them to the other subscribers as emails. Many
people don’t report birds and just like to get the reports
from others. Non-subscribers and subscribers alike can
see the same reports on the website www.birdingonthe.net
(click on Regional/Specialty, then scroll down to Nevada),
which eliminates all of the incoming emails. If you’re
interested in just seeing the reports, try that option; if you
want to subscribe, let me know. Either way, it’s a good
way to keep up on Nevada bird sightings.
Northern Nevada birders reported 128 species from
small to large northern Nevada towns during June and
July. Contributors to this total included Mary Anderson,
Melody Asher, Je Anne Branca, Laura Cunningham,
Marty Cox, Bob Goodman, Kirk Hardie, Janet Helton,
Linda Hiller, Dave Jickling, Martha Jones, Ed Kurtz,
Jacque Lowery, John Luther, Sue Marchi, Sue Anne
Marshall, Martin Meyers, Chris Nicolai, Kathy Oakes,
Fred Petersen, Melissa Renfro & John Free, Georgia
& Kenn Rohrs, Dennis Serdehely, Rose Strickland &
Dennis Ghiglieri, Helga Strong, Jim Woods, and me.
The deadline for the next column is September 25. Send
reports to 1050 Sumac St., Reno, NV 89509 or wallacealan
at sbcglobal.net, or post sightings on the Nevada bird
listserv. Good birding!
 LAS MEMBERSHIP/DONATION FORM
Lahontan Audubon Society Membership: All funds remain in the community. Members receive The Pelican
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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 Mary Jo Elpers mjelpers@aol.com 829-6311
Trustees Seat #1 to 2011 Dave Straley dbstraley@gmail.com 832-9222
Seat #2 to 2011 Gene Hansel renohansel@hotmail.com 354-2150
Seat #3 to 2012 Stephanie Sander stephks1@pyramid.net 813-3494
Seat #4 to 2011 Kathy Oakes oakesy@sbcglobal.net 747-5446
Seat #5 to 2012 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 Vacant
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
Volunteer Coordination Gene Hansel renohansel@hotmail.com 354-2150

Publication and The Pelican Editor Jen Martin jensieb@gmail.com 742-2582
Information “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