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
Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month
Time: Social at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY Location: South Valleys Library
2009 15650A Wedge Parkway, Reno
Exterior door, west side of building
Directions to South Valleys Library: Take Hwy 395 to the Mt. Rose Hwy. Head west
vol. 46, no. 2 on the Mt. Rose Hwy and take the first right turn onto Wedge Parkway, just past Raley’s
shopping center. Go about one mile on Wedge Parkway and look for the boldly
Inside This Issue designed, mustard yellow library on the right.

1 Monthly Meetings January 27 -- John Wenger -- New Nature Preserve in Bolivia -- Birds Galore!
John Wenger, wildlife biologist and naturalist from Alaska, formerly with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Division of
2 Field Trips Parks, recently helped organize the purchase and establishment of a 3,000-acre nature
preserve in the tropical lowlands of northeast Bolivia, just north of the immense Noel
4 Backyard Habitat Kempff National Park. The main goal was to protect this remote Amazonian property
in order to help save endangered species. Nearly 300 bird species have been recorded
here, along with the endangered giant river otter, unusual freshwater pink dolphins, and
5 Of Note from the all three Neotropical species of felines, including jaguars. It is a lively wildlife paradise
President with thousands of parrots and macaws, troupes of howler monkeys, and multitudes
of insects, especially butterflies. The night sounds are amazing! John is currently
6 Birds In Town developing plans to attract world birders and other nature lovers and will present a slide
show to hopefully entice us to visit this incredible wilderness area.
7 LAS Sales/ February 24 -- Jim Yoakum -- Pronghorn in the Silver State: A Success Story.
Membership Pronghorn, native to Nevada, were abundant when explorers and pioneers arrived in
the early 1800’s. However, relentless hunting almost wiped out the species so that by
1925, when the first count was conducted, only 4,300 remained. Alarmed citizens had
Submissions for the March/April laws passed, followed by wildlife management practices that have allowed pronghorn
issue are due February 1, 2009 herds to roam the western rangelands again. Today pronghorn numbers are the highest
recorded in modern history. Jim Yoakum, Wildlife Biologist and former Professor of
Wildlife Management, will treat us to a history of pronghorn demise and rebound in
Nevada and describe how wildlife management has resulted in an outstanding success
story for pronghorn in the Silver State.

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, January 24
The Great Reno Caper
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Dennis Serdehely, 775-575-0319,
birders@clearwire.net
Come join us for…The Great Reno Caper!
This wonderful winter trip is confined to the
Reno City Limits and includes such birding
hot spots as Rancho San Rafael Park, Oxbow
Nature Study Area, Virginia Lake, Rosewood
Estates and others. Meet at the north end
of Virginia Lake at 9:00 a.m. This is a full
day trip so please dress warmly, and bring a
bag lunch, binoculars, and a scope if you
have one.
Saturday, January 31
Annual Dipper Day, Reno Area
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Jim Eidel, 775-841-6543
This popular annual trip offers a unique
opportunity to hear and observe the elusive
but vocal American Dipper. You will be
introduced to a bird species specialized in
living a semi-aquatic life in swift mountain
streams and rivers. From their nictitating
membrane (third eyelid), large oil glands,
dense plumage, and unique underwater
foraging techniques, this bird species is truly
a “water ouzel”. The trip will also offer the
opportunity to observe other bird species
residing along the Truckee River corridor.
Meet in the main Rancho San Rafael parking
lot in front of the Wilber D. May Arboretum at
8:00 a.m. Please be prepared for snow (boots,
jackets, gloves, etc.) and bring a bag lunch,
or money to buy lunch, as we will wind up at
Donner if time permits.
Saturday, February 7
Raptors in the Nile Valley
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Leaders: Debbie and Randy Pontius,
775-273-3642, deborahpontius@gmail.com
The Nile Valley/Big Meadows surrounding
Lovelock annually posts the highest
raptor numbers for the Great Basin Bird
Observatory’s (GBBO) Winter Raptor Count.
Hawks, falcons, Great Horned, Barn, and
Burrowing Owls, and Golden Eagles are
possible. We will view the vast communal
raptor/heron roost, and search out any
offspring of our resident white Red-tailed
Hawk, who passed on to that great aviary
in the sky last spring. Other species of note
could be turkeys, herons, and egrets along the
Humboldt River and agriculture fields. Meet
at 8:30 a.m. at the Chevron (coffee, restaurant,
bathrooms, and snacks available) off exit
106 in Lovelock. If leaving Reno, leave at
7:00 a.m. It takes about 1.5 hours from Reno
to Lovelock. Contact Debbie or Randy to
confirm attendance and get further directions.
Plan for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant,
but you are welcome to bring a bag lunch. We
will end at about 2:00 p.m. Scopes are helpful.
Saturday, February 14
Riverview Park, Carson River
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Nancy Santos, 775-884-1570,
nancylas@att.net
This is the ninth annual Riverview Park winter
bird trip. We will explore wetland, sagebrush,
and riparian habitats on an approximately
one-mile easy loop trail. The total number of
species observed during the past five years
is 35. Some of our more memorable species
included a large flock (200+) of Pinyon Jays,
Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night
Heron, Cedar Waxwing, and a close-up view
of a Bald Eagle. I hope you can join us this
year. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Riverview Park
parking lot. Riverview Park is located at the
east end of East 5th Street, adjacent to the
Carson River. Please contact Nancy if you
plan to attend so she can plan for additional
trip leaders accordingly.
Saturday, February 21
Winter Waterfowl Tour, Stillwater NWR
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Mike Goddard,
775-423-5128 ext. 223
Hunting season will be over, Tundra Swans
should be plentiful, and the waterfowl will be
in beautiful nuptial plumage, so come enjoy
a tour of Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge.
Meet at the refuge office, 1000 Auction Road
(just off Williams Avenue (US 50) behind the
Speedway gas station) at 8:00 a.m. Please
RSVP to Mike Goddard, Stillwater NWR
Project Leader.
Field Trip Reports
October 11, 2008
Taylor Creek/Cove East, South Lake Tahoe
Leaders: Sue Stevenson and
Sheryl Ferguson
The 16 birdwatchers who joined together
under gray skies and endured below freezing
temperatures to witness fall birding along
the Taylor Creek salmon run were not
disappointed. A mature Bald Eagle, Red-
shouldered Hawk, and Cooper’s Hawk were
the first sightings for the day. Later, a Prairie
Falcon was spotted. The woodlands produced
a Downy Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadees,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatches,
and Steller’s Jays. Ruby-crowned Kinglets,
White-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Towhee,
and Audubon’s Warblers appeared briefly as

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)
they fed and quickly returned to the shelter of
the willows. Occasionally the sunshine broke
through and warmed the birders and lit the
snowy mountains. In Taylor Creek, Common
Mergansers chased fish and Mallards stirred
up fish eggs. Large schools of Kokanee
salmon rested in the pools, forming undulating
masses of blue-green and salmon color. Fresh
bear scat, half-eaten salmon, and claw marks
on the aspen confirmed the presence of black
bear at the creek this season. Sheryl worked
hard to find the final bird of the morning, a
White-headed Woodpecker, a “lifer” for some
of the group.
At Cove East, we counted ducks: American
Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked
Duck, Ruddy Duck, and Gadwall, along with
American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Eared
Grebe, and Double-crested Cormorant. Flocks
of Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds and
American Robins flew over. However, it was
the raptor behavior that stole the show in
the afternoon: Northern Harriers hunting, a
Golden Eagle soaring high overhead, Red-
tailed Hawks kiting in the wind, and accipiters
interacting with Steller’s Jays, Black-billed
Magpies, and Northern Flickers. A Red-
shouldered Hawk devoured a mouse and
then flew right over our heads and perched
closely for excellent looks. Finally, a juvenile
White-tailed Kite made its appearance. At the
lake, American Pipits flocked, and Killdeer
fed at the water’s edge. White-fronted Geese
fed in the pools near the river’s mouth. In
the grasses along the trail, White-crowned,
Golden-crowned, and Savannah Sparrows,
Western Meadowlarks, and Audubon’s
Warblers appeared and disappeared, blending
in with the rabbit brush. Around 4:30 p.m.,
the windblown, ruddy-cheeked birders said
good-bye and headed back to Reno. Don and
Lynn Harriman and Sue made one last stop at
a lagoon in the Keys and added Lesser Scaup,
Redhead, Northern Shoveler, Western Scrub
Jay, and Red-breasted Sapsucker to the list.
One last mystery raptor flew out of sight:
small, fast, dark...was it a Merlin? We tallied
52 species.
November 1, 2008
Damonte Ranch Wetlands
Leader: Kathy Oakes
Eight brave individuals showed up on a
blustery morning with threat of rain for a half-
day look at the Damonte Ranch Wetlands.
Highlights of the trip were great close-up
views of several waterfowl, including Green-
winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Northern
Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and Common
Merganser. Raptors included Northern
Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, and American
The Pelican 3
Kestrel. Other nice sightings were a Great
Blue Heron, a Greater Yellowlegs, and a Pied-
billed Grebe. You can see the full list of 25
species on the LAS website.
Saturday, November 8
Sierra Valley, CA
Leader: Alan Gubanich
What could be better — a gorgeous fall day,
lots of raptors, and a delicious lunch. Who
could ask for anything more? Fifteen of
us enjoyed a wonderful morning watching
Red-tailed, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged
Hawks in Sierra Valley along with four eagles,
American Kestrels, Northern Harriers and
a great display by a Prairie Falcon. At least
12 Tundra Swans and a huge flock (100+) of
Green-winged Teal were also spotted, along
with the usual land birds (magpies, ravens,
quail, and so on) — all of these before 11:00
a.m. The biggest surprise, however, was the
total lack of birds along Marble Hot Springs
Road and the iron bridge — absolutely
NOTHING! No waterfowl, no raptors, no
land birds, nothing — first time I’ve ever
seen it so devoid of bird life. So, we headed
south earlier than planned and had a delicious
meal at Los Dos Hombres in Sierraville,
fully intending to pursue more avian life
after lunch. However, in came the predicted
rainstorm from the west, so most of the group
headed east out of the valley and over to Sky
Vista Pond, west of Swan Lake. There, amidst
a host of Canada Geese and Mallards, we
found one American Wigeon and the often-
reported male Wood Duck, patrolling next to
his Mallard girlfriend, whom he obviously
defended against any and all neighboring
Mallards. Then we were off to the Swan Lake
sewage ponds where Eared Grebes, geese and
five species of ducks were found. By then the
incoming rain had found us, so we high-tailed
it for home. In all, at least 22 species for the
day. Check the LAS website for some photos.
Saturday, November 15
Sparks/Spanish Springs
Leaders: Christiane Omer and Alan
Wallace.
It was a beautiful fall day in Sparks at the
Red Hawk Golf Course with lots of sunshine
and peel-off-the-layers warmth. Eighteen
birders trekked for a few hours between the
tees and discovered 38 species of birds. The
highlight (for me) was seeing my first Red-
shouldered Hawk here in Wingfield Springs.
This juvenile hawk brings our species count
to 121 during our 4.5 years of living here. We
really had great views of most of the birds,
which was swell. Other highlights included
two coyotes, one real, the other not so much,
and a muskrat. The group enjoyed another
tasty lunch at David’s Grill after our walk.
Thanks to everyone for a wonderful day, but
especially thanks to Alan Wallace, who co-led
the trip (filling in for Quentin Browne), and
to Alan Gubanich. Both Alans provided good
laughs (laughing with them — not at them)
and valuable insight to bird ID. Also, thanks
to Red Hawk for allowing us to be on the cart
trails a little past opening. You can see the
entire species list on the LAS website.
12th Annual Great
Backyard Bird Count
“Count for Fun, Count for
the Future”
During the weekend of February 13
through 16, for periods of time as short as 15
minutes, people across the North American
continent are urged to look at the birds in their
backyards and report them over the Internet
as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count
(GBBC), one of the world’s largest volunteer
efforts of its kind. Count anywhere – in your
backyard, balcony, school yard, park, or
refuge. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
No fee or registration is required. Your bird
lists will help in understanding bird trends
across the continent.
In 2008, participants submitted more than
85,000 checklists and identified more than
635 species. According to Cornell Lab of
Ornithology Director, John Fitzpatrick, “The
GBBC has become a vital link in the arsenal
of continent-wide bird-monitoring projects ....
The GBBC has documented the fine-grained
details of late-winter bird distributions better
than any project in history, including some
truly striking changes just over the past
decade.”
For details on the activity, co-hosted by the
National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab
of Ornithology, and for instructions for online
reporting, please visit www.birdsource.org/
gbbc/whycount.html.
For assistance in reporting sightings,
participants can visit the Reno event sponsor,
Wild Birds Unlimited, located in Shoppers
Square, 299 E. Plumb Lane, telephone 322-
9453, to pick up bird lists ahead of time and
return them for reporting.
BACKYARD HABITAT
The Color of Winter
In the cold and solemn months of
winter, it often seems that nature is
in a somnolent state, but nature is
truly abuzz with activity during these
months. During winter, many people
will look forward to the warmth of
spring, but winter is a beautiful time
in the garden.
Every few years, because of a
shortage of food in the Taiga Forests
and Arctic Tundra of the north, a
few interesting breeding species of
that region, many of them finches,
might make a visit to your yard. In
some yards, mass flocks of Evening
Grosbeaks may descend, but the
movements of these birds are by
no means regular. One year there
could be a substantial population in
your yard, and then not one may be
seen for more than a decade. This
is termed a “fallout”. For some of
you lucky enough to live in alpine
climates of the Sierra Nevada and
other ranges, you may also see some
Pine Grosbeaks or Red Crossbills
in your yard. These are alpine
migrants, and they will move to
lower elevations instead of to more
southerly latitudes during food
shortages.
It might seem a difficult task to do
much in the way of “landscaping”
in your yard when the ground seems
virtually impenetrable. However,
there is much that can be done
during these cold and bitter days.
One project that can be done during
this time is broadcasting native and
non-native wildflower seeds. In the
winter you can simply throw handfuls
of seed out over the frozen ground
or snow. In yards with high sparrow
traffic it is best to do this just before
a snow storm to ensure that at least
some of the seed does not get eaten.
Come spring, the ground will thaw
and hopefully the weight of the
4 The Pelican
snow will have pushed the seeds
just deep enough into the soil for
the seeds to germinate. This is a low
maintenance garden that, under most
circumstances, will be self-seeding
for the years to come; however, IT
DOES NEED WATER. Many, if
not most, areas in Nevada do not
receive sufficient water during the
summer months for wildflowers other
than natives to thrive. I personally
would prefer using native plants;
I just would not get the results I
desire where I live if I use the strict
definition of NATIVE. To solve
this problem I primarily use plants
that are found in the Sierra Nevada.
The birds benefit greatly from these
plants; hummingbirds use them in the
summer, and the juncos, sparrows,
and finches find the seeds irresistible
in the winter.
During these months when the
long cold of night still overtakes
the warmth of the sun, shelter is
of the utmost importance to our
feathered friends. During the summer
months, deciduous and coniferous
trees have leaves or needles that
provide protection from predators,
wind, and rain; however, during the
winter months this duty is left to the
conifers. While winter is not a time
to plant these protective trees, it is
a great time to plan for the garden-
related projects of the warmer
months.
If you seek to provide more shelter
for birds in the winter, the best
alternative is a brush pile. They are
not necessarily very appealing to the
eye, so the first step is to scout out an
appropriate place. Once a satisfactory
spot is found, the minimal amount
of work can begin. It is a simple
structure to build; however, there
is a method of going about it that
will result in a more bird-friendly
structure. Start by putting the largest
branches, boughs, etc., in a pyramid
shape that reaches an optimal height
of about three to four feet. Next, place
smaller branches and boughs over the
form. I have found that placing these
approximately two inches apart works
best, but there is no real set distance.
Now put the smallest boughs and
branches over the form. There is no
set size for brush piles, and birds
will use almost any size structure;
however, the larger the better. These
instructions are just meant as a guide,
you can simply arrange branches into
a pile wherever you want in your
yard. Provided that the birds are in
the area, you will likely see quail
using it for shelter within a couple
of days.
During the snowy days of winter
when it seems that color has left the
environment in pursuit of warmer
climes, a bird, either with its colors or
personality, could be called “the color
of winter”.
Jonathan Heywood, who is 14 years
old, has been birding for four years.
He began creating bird habitats at
his home three years ago and has
done extensive research on the topic.
Donors
American White Pelican $100-$499
Sally Layer
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mix, in memory
of Hallie Vom Orde
American Avocet $50 - $99
Neita Montague
Mountain Bluebird $20-$49
Jim Gallagher
Nancy Santos
Ruby Crowned Kinglet $10-$19
Jerry and Theresa Daniel
Bob and Jan Wood
Debbie Zalmana
OF NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
• Early Thanks: In these unsettling The Pelican. As one of 39 fellows Birds & Books
economic times, your responses to nationwide, she will participate in
our annual Autumn Fund Drive have a 16-month professional leadership LAS Birds & Books is a flock of
been most gratifying. We try to serve program and a one-week intensive readers interested in nature, especially
a variety of interests and a wide seminar in the Washington, D.C., area, birds and birding. The group meets
range of ages. Your contributions The grant includes $10,000 to support in Reno on the third Tuesday of
carry us forward. The full roster of a creative Conservation Action Project the month from 7:00-8:30 pm at
acknowledgments will appear in in the Lahontan Valley Wetlands Sundance Bookstore, 1155 W.
our March-April issue. Thank you IBA. This achievement will also 4th Street, #106-Keystone Square
so much! benefit conservation efforts by the Shopping Center. You are encouraged
IBA Program throughout the state of to attend a meeting to see if this group
• Birding on Wheels: Recently I Nevada. For more details, go to is for you or to contact Kenn Rohrs at
had a nice chat on the telephone with www.togethergreen.org/People/ karohrs@charter.net or 775-849-9530
one of our newer members, who Default.aspx. for more information. For a complete
is handicapped and greatly enjoys schedule and brief description of the
backyard birding. That conversation • The Cognitive Benefits of Nature: selected books, go to the LAS website
reminded me that we do have good Kenn Rohrs, Birds & Books Reading www.nevadaaudubon.org and check
birding sites in our immediate area Group Coordinator, brings to our the Birds & Books section of the
which are accessible to those with attention an article by Jonah Lehrer Meetings page.
limited mobility. In A Birding Guide discussing his forthcoming paper in
to Reno and Beyond you will find Psychological Science: “Being in January 20
descriptions of auto routes and natural settings restores our ability Crows: Encounters With the Wise
notations of accessible paths or to exercise directed attention and Guys by Candace Savage
viewing points. Another resource is working memory ... our attentional
the website Comfortable Birding for circuits are able to refresh themselves. February 17
All at www.comfortablebirdingforall. A walk in the woods is like a vacation Artic Wings: Birds of the Artic
com, which can be accessed from the for the prefrontal cortex.” Mr. National Wildlife Refuge by Stephen
Links page of our LAS website. Lehrer presents the results of two Brown
experiments based on analyses from
• IBA Director Awarded Fellowship: Attention Restoration Theory. So ...
Robin Powell, Director of the Nevada turn off your Bluetooth, BlackBerry,
Correction
IBA Program, has been selected as a and cell phone. Clear your head, feed Recently deceased member Hallie
fellow in National Audubon Society’s your soul, and enjoy the abundant Vom Orde’s name was misspelled in
(NAS) TogetherGreen Conservation gifts of the natural world. Happy New three locations in the November/
Leadership Program. This follows Year! December Pelican. The Pelican
her securing a TogetherGreen grant editing team regrets this error.
for volunteer projects on eight IBAs, – Karen L. Kish
as reported in an earlier issue of
Schedule of General Meetings Carpooling
November 25 – Amy Leist – Laysan Life: Five Months in the If you are interested in carpooling to LAS
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands General Meetings, please contact Board
January 27 – John Wenger – New Nature Preserve in Bolivia – Trustee Linda Badzioch at 775-851-8353
Birds Galore! or lbadzioch@pyramid.net, who will share
February 24 – Jim Yoakum – Pronghorn in the Silver State – your information with others in your area
A Success Story who have expressed interest in carpooling.
March 24 – Bird Identification Panel – Round 2 Please provide (a) your name(s), (b) telephone
April 28 – Jim Stamates – The Theory of Rhythms: A Wildlife and email (if you have it) contacts, (c) area
Photographer’s View on Our Relationship with Nature where you live, and (d) your choice of riding,
May 26 – Robin Powell – The Audubon IBA Program in Nevada: driving, or either.
An Overview of a Habitat Conservation Approach

The Pelican 5
 Birds in Town
by Alan Wallace

What would you think if you were invited to a party and all the lights were off when you got there? A similar
thought may have passed through the minds of a flock of Tundra Swans that arrived at their namesake wintering
grounds Swan Lake north of Reno – only to find a dry lake. They moved on the next day, but undoubtedly will return
when the playa becomes floatable. Most of the other smaller lakes had abundant water in October and November, and
a multitude of ducks and geese plied the waters and shorelines. The Hooded Mergansers, albeit a bit late, were present
in good numbers by the end of November. They joined abundant Green-winged Teal, Gadwalls, Northern Shovelers,
Mallards, Canada Geese, and American Coots, and fewer numbers of Northern Pintail and Ring-necked Ducks. Long-
billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, and a few Greater Yellowlegs probed the muddy shallows, and Black-crowned
Night-Herons roosted with Nixonian slouches in the nearby willows. American Dippers returned to the lowland rivers in
October, increased numbers of Belted Kingfishers perched in overhanging trees, and a few Wood Ducks and Barrow’s
Goldeneyes drifted with the currents. Gull numbers rose at northern Nevada lakes, with a few Bonaparte’s, Herring,
Thayer’s, and Glaucous-winged Gulls joining the always-abundant Ring-billed and California Gulls. Less-common
aquatic visitors included Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, and Snow and Ross’s Geese. Dave Worley, while letting
his dog out in the middle of the night, heard a flight of Sandhill Cranes calling overhead in north Reno.
On the more terrestrial front, Vaux’s Swifts, Western Tanagers, and Western Kingbirds were some of the last
migrants to leave or pass through northern Nevada towns in early October. A few hardy Anna’s and Black-chinned
Hummingbirds hung on until early November but finally cleared out for warmer climes. The black bears that also
were attracted to the sugar-water feeders in southwest Reno must have been disappointed to see them taken down. As
October morphed into November, wintering birds began to dominate the avian population. Appropriate for the holiday
season, Wild Turkeys started showing up in Baker, with diminutive Pine Siskins at the overhead feeders. Red-tailed
and Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Harriers hunted over the bare late-fall fields by day, and Great Horned, Long-
eared, and Short-eared Owls took over on the night shift. Birders remarked on the large increase in the numbers of Cedar
Waxwings flying from tree to tree and American Pipits gleaning seeds in the fields. A few unusual birds visited northern
Nevada yards including a White-throated Sparrow in Sparks, Golden-crowned Kinglets all the way out in Fernley, and
Red Crossbills along the southwestern fringes of Reno. An Evening Grosbeak, far from its usual range, found a little bit
of home in the conifers at the cemetery in Tonopah in mid-October. In Austin and Unionville, the normally abundant
Cassin’s Finches had yet to arrive by Thanksgiving, although they were seen in small numbers elsewhere. The mild fall
may have delayed shifts to their winter feeding grounds. In the odd-but-true department, a small covey of Mountain
Quail roamed the University of Nevada, Reno, campus. They likely are escapees from an in-town breeder, given their
location far from their normal habitat, but they nevertheless are a free-roaming group.
Now that the holiday season of gluttony is behind us, aren’t you glad that nobody was watching closely while
you ate? The same can’t be said for Common Mergansers and other birds that dined on crayfish at local ponds under
the watchful eyes of birders. Some birds ate them whole, while others ripped off the legs before swallowing the bodies
One Belted Kingfisher even whacked the crayfish against a branch before eating it. Fred Petersen and Kathy Oakes
observed Cooper’s Hawks who flushed California Quail into the picture windows and then picked up and ate the stunned
or dead bird; Fred, coincidentally, was eating lunch inside the window at the time. The prey got some vengeance when
a Merlin, instead of its intended victims, fatally hit a window in Unionville while going after feeder birds. On the less
violent front, the burned cottonwoods at Oxbow Nature Center in Reno apparently are providing a bounty of food for
various woodpeckers including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsuckers, and
Northern Flickers.
Northern Nevada birders reported 127 species from northern Nevada towns during August and September.
Contributors to this total included John Anderson, Tom Dozet, Wendy Francis, Bob Goodman, Alex Hartman, Nancy
Hoffman, Martha Jones, Ed Kurtz, Jacque Lowery, Carl Lundblad, Sue Anne Marshall, Diane McAllister, Martin
Meyers, Chris Nicolai, Kathy Oakes, Christiane Omer, Fred Petersen, Kris Pizarro, Alan de Queiroz, Melissa Renfro &
John Free, Georgia & Kenn Rohrs, Sarah Russell, John Schulte, Greg Scyphers, Dennis & Becca Serdehely, Steve Ting,
Frank Whitman, Dave Worley, and me. The deadline for the next column is January 25. Send reports to 1050 Sumac St.,
Reno, NV 89509 or wallacealan at sbcglobal.net, or post sightings on the Nevada bird listserv. Happy New Year and
good birding!

6 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 Bonnie Wagner bwagner@hyattclassic.com 829-6311
Trustees Seat #1 to 2011 Dave Straley dstraley@nvbell.net 832-9222
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Seat #6 to 2010 Linda Badzioch lbadzioch@pyramid.net 851-8353
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IBA Director Robin Powell rpowell@audubon.org 247-2798

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