VOLUME 42
Bucks for Ducks
by Mary Edith Moore
“There are some who can live without
wild things and some who cannot. Like
winds and sunset, wild things were taken
for granted until progress began to do away
with them.”
– Aldo Leopold
When the explorers first arrived in
North America, the skies, marshes, and
lands teemed with an astonishing variety
of wildlife. On the heels of the explor-
ers came the settlers, and together they
decimated a great number of natural re-
sources. In only a few decades, market
hunters and sportsmen had destroyed
millions of waterfowl. Breeding and
nesting sites were significantly reduced
when millions of acres of wetlands were
drained to feed and house the ever-in-
creasing populations.
Through time, devastating droughts and
floods swept through the land, severely af-
fecting migration rest areas and wintering
grounds. Within the past several years,
torrential floods created havoc in the mid-
west and south, leaving more devastation
in their wake. So much of this destruc-
tion could have been avoided had many of
the natural wetlands of the area not been
drained and filled for farming, housing,
and industrial development. Many people
do not realize that wetlands are necessary:
they help maintain ground water supplies,
provide food and resting areas for
migratory birds, filter pollutants, store
flood waters, reduce shoreline erosion
and sedimentation, provide spawn-
ing areas for fish important to sport
and commercial fishermen, and modify
climatic changes.
February 2009 Number 5
In 1934 America finally had enough, waterfowl hunters 16 years of age
took firm action, and passed the and over must annually purchase and
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act carry a Federal Duck Stamp. Most
(commonly known as the Duck Stamp hunters willingly pay the stamp price
Act) to stop the destruction of migra- to ensure our natural resources.
tory waterfowl and the wetlands so vital
to their survival. This act states that all Continued on page 3
FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING
“Birding and Unrivaled Game Watching in Southern Africa”
Monday February 16, 7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church
1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa
Join the Hichwas for a visual presentation of their African safari. The safari com-
bined birding with unrivaled game watching in some of Africa’s most remarkable
wildlife areas of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. They visited game reserves in
the “bush” of northern South Africa, vast and pristine Namibian highlands, ochre-
colored dunes of the Namib Desert, lagoons of the Skeleton Coast, game filled water-
holes of Etosha National Park, backwaters of the Okavango Delta, and the savanna of
Chobe National Park on the Zambezi River. All provided incredible contrasts.
In Makulu Makete, a private reserve in the northern South African bush known
for its “rewilding” of cheetahs and hundreds of baobab trees, they observed wild
dogs (painted wolves), an elusive and endangered species that is making a come-
back where protected. Habitat variety through the countries allowed us to see Blue
Crane, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Malachite and Great Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Stork,
and Pearl-spotted Owlet. The safari combined views of beautiful scenery with wa-
terholes and rivers that draw in mammals such as roan and sable antelope, kudu,
cheetah, and black rhino for which these regions are famous. They ended the safari
in Livingston, Zambia to marvel at one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World,
the spectacular Victoria Falls.
Diane and Bryant Hichwa, past presidents of Madrone Audubon, travel extensively,
photographing and enjoying the natural world.
COMING MARCH 16
Join Dr. Rich Kuehn, a superb wildlife videographer, as he takes us on one of his
many international journeys.

c a l e n d a r
All walks and meetings are open to the public. Bird walks are recreational and educational in purpose, and all levels of expertise are welcome. Bring
field equipment and wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing for variable weather conditions. Please carpool whenever possible. Forecasted
heavy rain cancels.There is no charge for activities unless otherwise specified, but some parks have day-use fees.
February 1-28
BIRD-A-THON. Madrone’s major fundraiser. See page 4
Wednesday February 4, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
SEBASTOPOL AREA. Bird Walk. We will search for wintering birds in the
northeast Laguna, Ragle Park, or other interesting local spots. Meet at the
Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris Street. Bring lunch, liquids, and
layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net,
546-1812.
Wednesday February 4, 7:30 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway
Avenue, Santa Rosa. For agenda information, contact Janeann Erickson at
795-2498.
Saturday February 7, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
BODEGA BAY. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the rail ponds parking lot.
From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive north on Highway 1. Turn
left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff ). Then turn right at the stop
sign and continue 0.3 mile to the parking lot on the right. Informal carpools
leave Santa Rosa at 7:15 AM. To participate, please arrive about ten minutes
earlier to make arrangements. Santa Rosa meeting place: Sonoma County
Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District office, 747 Mendocino
Avenue, Santa Rosa. The parking lot is behind the office (access from Carrillo
Street). Bring lunch, liquids, and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders:
Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; Bob
Speckels, 569-0563; and Ken Wilson, 775-2558.
Thursday February 12, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
POINT REYES AREA. Bird Walk. Meet in the parking lot across from
the Bear Valley Visitor Center, which is just west of Olema. Bring lunch,
liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller,
sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday February 14, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a bird walk.
Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. Contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577.
Monday February 16, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. “Birding and Unrivaled Game Watching in Southern
Africa.” Diane and Bryant Hichwa present highlights of their safari. First
United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. Please
see the front page announcement. The public is always invited to attend
these programs.
Wednesday February 18, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
RUSH CREEK AND LAS GALLINAS PONDS IN MARIN COUNTY.
Bird Walk. Meet at Rush Creek Preserve at Novato. From Highway 101, drive
east on Atherton Avenue. Turn left on Bugelia Lane, which becomes Bahia
Drive. Continue to the Rush Creek trailhead at end of Bahia Drive. Bring
lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information, contact Tom McCuller,
sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday February 21, 8:30 AM to Noon
HUDEMAN SLOUGH. Beginners Bird Walk. Meet at the Sonoma County
Water Agency property on the northern edge of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes.
Page 2
MA D R O N E L E AVES
From the town of Sonoma, drive south on Highway 12/121. Turn south on
Ramal Road and drive approximately 2.4 miles until you reach the entrance
to Hudeman Slough. There is a large hay barn on the right and a parking lot
in front of the barn. To carpool, please arrive by 7:30 AM at our Santa Rosa
meeting place, the Safeway parking lot at the northeast corner of Highway 12
and Calistoga Road. We will park at the edge of the parking lot bordering on
Calistoga Road. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle,
483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; Bob Speckels, 569-0563; and Ken Wilson,
775-2558.
Saturday February 21, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two chil-
dren/family nature walks. One-to-two hours, dependent on age of children.
Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. For the children/family walk in English,
contact Gerald or Mary Edith Moore at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish,
contact Connie Peabody at 763-7458.
Thursday February 26, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
GRIZZLY ISLAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA/RUSH RANCH.
Bird Walk. Meet at McDonalds in the Sunset Shopping Center in Su-
isun City at the intersection of Highway 12 and Grizzly Island Road.
Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. Driving time to meeting point
from Santa Rosa is approximately 1.25 hours. For information, contact
Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday February 28, 9:00 to 11:00 AM
JUNIOR AUDUBON/ BIRD-A-THON. Join Veronica Bowers at Spring
Lake Park on a bird walk for kids as part of Madrone Audubon’s Bird-a-Thon.
If you are interested in the walk, contact Veronica: 829-2955, vlbowers@gmail.com.
See page 4
Wednesday March 4, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. From the center of the town of Bodega Bay, drive
north on Highway 1 and turn left at East Shore Road (the Bodega Head turnoff).
Then turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.3 mile to the unpaved parking
lot on the right. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information,
contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday March 7, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
PUTAH CREEK/LAKE SOLANO. Bird Walk. Meet at Lake Solano Park,
8685 Pleasants Valley Road, Winters at 9:30 AM. Take Calistoga Road
(becomes Petrified Forest Road) to Highway 128. Turn right on Highway
128. Turn left on Deer Park Road. Turn right on Silverado Trail North. Turn
left on Sage Canyon Road/128. Follow Highway 128 until you reach County
Road 86/Pleasants Valley Road. Turn right. The park is immediately over the
bridge to your left. There is a $5 day-use fee at Lake Solano Park. To carpool,
please arrive by 7:30 AM at our Santa Rosa meeting place, the Safeway park-
ing lot at the northeast corner of Highway 12 and Calistoga Road. We will
park at the edge of the parking lot bordering on Calistoga Road. Bring lunch,
liquids, and layers of clothing. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528;
Bill Doyle, 483-8773; Bill Payne, 546-3331; Bob Speckels, 569-0563; and
Ken Wilson, 775-2558.
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE. No scheduled meeting. If you have
conservation concerns, contact Diane Hichwa at dhichwa@earthlink.net.

Bucks for Ducks
Continued from page 1
Every year on 1 July, a new $15 Federal
Duck Stamp and a new $5 Junior Duck
Stamp (the selection of these stamps is
highly competitive) are released for sale
to the public at a First Day of Sale Cer-
emony. After the First Day, the stamps
can be purchased at post offices, over the
internet, outdoor sporting stores, and
National Wildlife Refuges.
The Federal Duck Stamp is vital for
wetland conservation. “Approximately
98 cents of every duck stamp dollar goes
directly into the Migratory Bird Conser-
vation Fund to purchase wetlands and
wildlife habitat for inclusion into the
National Wildlife Refuge System --- a
fact that ensures this land will be pro-
tected and available for all generations to
come.” Since 1934, the Fund has gen-
erated greater than half-a-billion dollars
to purchase or lease more than 5-million
acres of habitat. Funds from the Junior
Duck Stamp support wetlands educa-
tion. The Federal Duck Stamp Program
has been called one of the most successful
conservation programs ever initiated.
Not only waterfowl benefit from the
sale of Federal Duck Stamps, but nu-
merous bird, mammal, fish, reptile, and
amphibian species rely on the wetlands
for survival. Hunters, fishermen, hikers,
boaters, and bird watchers enjoy recre-
ation in wetlands.
In the future, because hunters are be-
coming a rarity, four groups of Americans
must step-up to the plate in purchasing
Federal Duck Stamps: birders, collectors,
art enthusiasts, and other conservationists.
The purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp
provides an opportunity for every United
States citizen to take a stand in the pres-
ervation of our natural heritage. We can
make a difference. For questions about
Federal and Junior Duck Stamps, please
contact http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/
Info/Contacts/Staff/staff.htm.
“We have not inherited the land from our
forefathers, we have borrowed it from our
children.”
– Kashmiri Proverb
Water Works...
By Paula Zerzan
Madrone’s representative to the Sonoma
County Water Coalition (SCWC)
The SCWC, formed in 2004, advo-
cates for protection and sustainability
of water and associated biotic resources.
The Coalition, of which Madrone is
a member, includes a broad group of
community organizations represent-
ing conservationists, farmers, ranchers,
fishermen, and recreationists. It states
in its position paper that “...water is
a shared finite public trust resource.
Unregulated and unmanaged exploita-
tion of groundwater, a vital resource,
has led to a crisis in Sonoma County.
Well drillers drill ever deeper....springs
are drying up. Creeks and streams once
teeming with life are now dry in the
summer and fall. Domestic well own-
ers are affected, as are many endangered
and threatened species that depend on
water. Effective groundwater manage-
ment should make it unnecessary for
neighbors to continue competing to
drill the deepest well.”
A major focus has been the Sonoma
County General Plan Update, which
for the first time included a Water Re-
sources element. I spoke on Madro-
ne’s behalf for recommendations on
both the Water Resources and Biotic
Resources elements of the plan, urg-
ing stronger protections for ripar-
ian and wetland habitats and oth-
er measures to improve the lot of
Sonoma wildlife and humans. Coali-
tion efforts and coordination strength-
ened policies on water conservation
and quality, as well as consideration of
climate change.
In a major victory which could have
profound and far-ranging effects, Sonoma
County Superior Court Judge Gary
Nadler ruled on 28 October 2008 in
favor of the Coalition’s challenge to
MA D R O N E L E AVES
SCWA’s recently-adopted 1Urban Water
Management Plan (UWMP). SCWA
had claimed that Sonoma County has
adequate ground and surface water sup-
plies for substantial urban growth. Judge
Nadler rejected SCWA’s claim, pointing
out that SCWA’s proposal to increase
diversions from the Russian River po-
tentially conflicts with protection of this
river for fish and wildlife, recreation, and
existing agricultural and domestic uses.
The Coalition continues to be involved
with all issues concerning the preserva-
tion and health of Sonoma County’s
water resources. It monitors, partici-
pates, and sponsors policy discussions
affecting neighborhood concerns, as
well as the Sonoma County watersheds.
Some of these issues are:
• Santa Rosa Incremental Recycled
Water Program, Discharge Compliance
Project and Seasonal Storage Program
• Proposed State Recycled Water Policy
• North Bay Water Reuse Program
• Assembly Bill 2121, Instream Flows
• Sonoma County Water Agency
Governance Symposium
• Gravel Mining Moratorium
• Draft Grading and Vineyard and
Orchard Ordinance
• Infiltration and Inflow of Ground
Water into the Sewer System
• Creek Restoration
• Greywater Usage & Purple Plumbing
Treated Wastewater Reuse
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Renewal of Waste Discharge Require-
ments, National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System Permit
Continued on page 4
1
The state’s Urban Water Management Planning Act
requires major urban water purveyors such as SCWA to
prepare a UWMP every five years to assess available ground
and surface water supplies and determine whether they are
sufficient to meet projected water demands. The Act de-
clares that a “long term, reliable supply of water is essential
to protect the productivity of California’s business and
economic climate,” as well as its environmental quality.
Page 3

Water Works...
Continued from page 3
Recently the state Legislature’s top
analyst released a report on Califor-
nia’s water supply that could add new
life to two perennial issues–regulating
groundwater supplies and rewriting
the state’s water-rights laws. The report
notes that California is one of just two
western states (the other is Texas) that
does not have a state-run groundwater
permitting law. The report also suggests
that lawmakers revise the legal defini-
tion of “reasonable use” when it comes
to water rights. We stakeholders should
stay tuned to what the lawmakers in
Sacramento are proposing on Califor-
nia’s water supply.
For updates, visit www.scwatercoalition.
org.
Bird-A-Thon 2009 –
It’s This Month
by Marcia Johnson,
Bird-A-Thon Coordinator
The teams are getting ready and are on
the move. We have the always ready
“Feather Questers” with Diane Hich-
wa, Karen Nagel and, joining them
this year, Phyllis Schmitt. Moving
right along are Betty Burridge’s “Grey-
headed Seersuckers” with, it is hoped,
the same team of Ted Eliot, Ian Mor-
rison, Bill Payne, and Ken Wilson.
Returning powerhouse from last year
are Betty Groce’s “Roadrunners” with
teammate Don McCarthy. The always
dependable “Taylors of Sonoma” with
Elinor and Jim round out the pack.
Page 4
They all need your help. Remem-
ber, this is Madrone’s MAJOR
fundraiser. These teams will spend
a day in February just counting
species of birds for money. Is that fun
or what??? Please support them by be-
ing a sponsor and contribute a set
amount of money per species or a flat
sum of money.
Sponsors are an integral part of each
team’s success, and if you haven’t been
contacted to sponsor a team, please get
in touch with any of the team captains.
All contributions from friends, rela-
tives, and corporations are encouraged
and readily accepted. Just say, “Sign me
up!” All sponsors will be recognized in
the Madrone Leaves.
It’s not too late to form your own
team. The more the merrier. Contact
owlsnest@hughes.net for information.
Junior Audubon/
Bird-a-Thon
Saturday February 28, 9:00 to 11:00 AM,
Spring Lake Park, Santa Rosa
Join Veronica Bowers on a bird walk for
kids as part of Madrone Audubon’s
Bird-a-Thon. The Bird-a-Thon is a
month-long, annual competition run
by Madrone whereby teams of birders
go out and count as many bird species
as possible and raise money for our
chapter’s educational programs. There
is no charge to come on the bird walk,
all of our Junior Audubon events are
free, but we encourage participants to
collect pledges or sponsor the Junior
Audubon team. We will meet at the
parking lot off Channel Drive adja-
cent to the Environmental Discovery
Center. Parking is $5, unless you have
a regional parks permit. Some loaner
binoculars will be available for kids or
parents. No previous expertise with bird
identification is required. If you are in-
MA D R O N E L E AVES
terested in the walk, contact Veronica:
829-2955, vlbowers@gmail.com.
You can support the Junior Audubon
Bird-a-Thon team by downloading the
sponsor form from our Web site, http://
audubon.sonoma.net, or sending your
pledge for a small amount of money
per bird sighted, or a fixed sum, direct-
ly to Veronica before February 28. The
Junior Audubon team usually spots a
total of 30-40 species. Funds raised will
go to support the Junior Audubon pro-
grams and allow us to keep them free
for families and children. Families can
also form their own Bird-a-Thon teams
and bird their yards, neighborhoods, or
local parks. Send collected pledges to
Madrone Audubon Society, P.O. Box
1911, Santa Rosa CA 95402.
Winter Outings
The 13th Annual San Francisco Bay
Flyway Festival.
February 6-8, Mare Island,
Expo Building 897, Azuar Ave & I Street,
Vallejo CA.
The festival celebrates the annual wildlife
migration through the San Francisco
Bay Estuary. Activities include fam-
ily wildlife exploration, bird watching,
guided nature walks, boat tours, and
tours to discover some of the best local
wetlands, wildlands, open spaces, and
historic sites in the Bay Area. There will
be exhibits, live bird visits, educational
presentations, art, photography, and
optics. Madrone Audubon is a donor
and Petaluma Wetlands Alliance will
Continued on page 5

Winter Outings
Continued from page 4
lead tours at Shollenberger, beginning
at 9:30 AM on each of the three morn-
ings. For more information: contact
Myrna Hayes, Festival Coordinator:
557-9816, myrnahay@pacbell.net; or
visit www.sfbayflywayfestival.com.
The 30th Anniversary of the Winter
Wings Festival.
February 13-15, Oregon Institute of
Technology, 3201 Campus Drive,
Klamath Falls Oregon.
This festival is considered to be the
oldest bird festival in the nation and
coincides with the presence of win-
tering waterfowl and eagles, so that
participants can enjoy these mag-
nificent birds on tours and learn
more about them at workshops.
The purpose of the festival is to share
information, increase awareness of
community resources, and gain an un-
derstanding of our wildlife resources,
especially the birds of the Klamath Basin.
Field trips, all-day workshops, and
mini-workshops are offered. For details,
visit www.winterwingsfest.org or call
Todd Christian at 541-850-0084.
The 12th Annual Great Backyard
Bird Count (GBBC)
February 13-16
Count for fun, count for the future by
being a participant in this joint proj-
ect of Cornell Lab of Ornithology and
the National Audubon Society. It’s an
easy count, free, and provides valuable
information about bird population
trends. The GBBC is an opportunity
for families, students, and friends of
all ages, from novice bird watchers to
experts, to get-together and count the
birds in backyards, schoolyards, parks,
or wildlife refugees. Observers count
the highest number of each species for as lit-
tle as 15 minutes (or longer) on one or more
days of the event and report their sightings
online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
Winter Birds in the Klamath Basin
March 13-15
The Klamath Basin on the California-
Oregon border is an incredible area for
observing large numbers of wintering
waterfowl. The area is also host to the
largest concentration of Bald Eagles
outside of Alaska. In March, tempera-
tures are more moderate, snow is less
prevalent, and birds are on the move
north. Join John Klobas and his daugh-
ter Sarah for an incomparable three-day
bird extravaganza to the Lower Klam-
ath-Tulelake region.The headquarters will
be the family-operated Winema Lodge in
the heart of the action. For information
and registration, call Point Reyes Field
Seminars at 415-663-1200 x 373.
Rare Encounters With
Ordinary Birds
by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Reviewed by Dennis Wheeler
Lyanda Lynn Haupt has taught orni-
thology in the Seattle area, worked in
raptor rehabilitation in Vermont and
with a Peregrine Falcon reintroduc-
tion program in Minnesota, and did
research with the Fish and Wildlife
Service in the remote Pacific tropics.
She has engaged in her share of seeking
exotic birds in far-flung places. Yet in
Rare Encounters, Haupt makes the ar-
gument that birds encountered during
our everyday routine are just as inter-
esting and are often more exciting than
those rarely seen birds in far places.
MA D R O N E L E AVES
After seeing a European Starling as her
first bird of the year one January 1,
Haupt was “...forced to come to grips
with the idea that I might turn to the
starling as easily as any other species
for lessons in living with and along-
side birds and the natural world”. Rare
Encounters is essentially a collection
of essays about the ordinary birds she
saw in the Seattle area beginning with
that “Bird of the Year”, the ubiquitous
European Starling.
Skillfully woven into the narrative are
interesting trivia and anecdotes which
are sometimes very personal. Haupt
struggled unsuccessfully to explain to
her husband why she began a life list
for her daughter almost as soon as she
learned she was pregnant. A legend
of the Varied Thrush says that if you
are alone in the Northwest woods and
the fog hangs from the branches at a
certain slant, the song of the Varied
Thrush will lull you into a frame of
mind that makes you susceptible to
abduction by faeries. In her search to
find something about cormorants that
no one else knew, we are reminded that
most guide books suggest all cormo-
rants spread their wings to dry; how-
ever, only the Double-crested Cormo-
rant is a regular wing-spreader. Brandt’s
Cormorant and Pelagic Cormorant sel-
dom, if ever, spread their wings to dry.
The Swainson’s Thrush takes the reader
to Latin America to explore the habitat
and diet of this bird in its winter home.
You learn that the age of a Steller’s Jay
can be determined by the color on the
inside roof of the mouth, although those
of us who are not banders will never get
close enough to a Steller’s Jay to make
practical use of the knowledge.
Haupt tells of observing a tern with her
wing extended to shield her chick from
a cold rain and a crow walking among
the hens in her yard and calming them.
She freely admits that those stories fly
Continued on page 6
Page 5

Rare Encounters
Continued from page 5
in the face of an admonishment by one of
her graduate professors that such stories
have no place in science. However, she
asserts that “Without diminishing the sure
import of the scientific method, we can
also know that there are voices in the natu-
ral world that may speak only once. We
are in the extraordinary position of being
available to listen.”
Rare Encounters reminds us once again that
the reason we watch birds is the hope that
we are present when that voice speaks, and
we learn something that the field guides
don’t tell us. And we will then never again
see that bird in the same way. This book is
both inspirational and a fun read.
Madrone’s 42nd
Western Sonoma
County Christmas
Bird Count –
we couldn’t have done
it without YOU.
by Veronica Bowers,
Christmas Bird Count Chairperson
On Sunday January 4th, 178 birders
divided into 20 teams and set out by
foot, boat, car, and kayak to conduct
the annual Western Sonoma County
Christmas Bird Count. Although the
temperature was cool (cooler for some
than others), the skies were blue and the
birds were out. As we go to press our
final figures are not available, but the
unofficial count is about 184 species
observed. An official count total with a
complete list of the birds will appear in
the March edition of the Leaves, or on
our Web site.
Species highlights include: Black-legged
Kittiwake, Ancient Murrelet, Golden
Eagle, Spotted Owl, Northern Saw-whet
Page 6
Owl, Horned Lark, Red-naped Sapsuck-
er, Evening Grosbeak, Nashville Warbler,
hordes of Band-tailed Pigeon, and mas-
sive clouds of Pine Siskin. Duck numbers
were down and noticeably absent were
Northern Pintail and Cinnamon Teal.
Many thanks to all who participated and
very special thanks to our area leaders,
whose birding expertise and leadership
skills are invaluable: Jean Tonascia, Sean
Jeane, Brock Dolman, David Berman, Bob
Speckels, Janeanne Erickson, Bill Payne,
John Ferrari, Jerry and Karen Wagner, Ian
Morrison, Betty Burridge, Ruth Rudesill,
Lisa Hug, Mike Parmeter, Richard
Merris, Bill and Paget Lenarz, Deyea
Harper, Ken Wilson, Sylvan Eidelman,
Mike Heffernon, Peter Leveque, Pam
Connelly, Dennis Beale, Carolyn John-
son, Rick Thiess, Claire Shurvinton, and
Diane Hichwa.
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) com-
mittee did a wonderful job of organiz-
ing, planning, and executing our 42nd
CBC. We made an excellent team and
I enjoyed working with all of you. My
heartfelt thanks to Doug and Audrey
King for their hard work in organizing
the post-count dinner, the amazing Jeff
Holtzman for his Web site magic, Peter
Leveque for his insight and being our
charismatic MC, Janeanne Erickson for
her great ideas and getting in the trenches
with me, Len Nelson for his spreadsheet
wizardry, Ken Wilson and Betty Burridge
for their wisdom and support, and Bill
Doyle for helping me with our first ever
CBC workshop.
I look forward to seeing you again next year
at the 43rd Western Sonoma County Christ-
mas Bird Count, Sunday 3 January 2010.
“Al” is Back
This Laysan Albatross, nicknamed “Al”
by the locals, glided into Point Arena Sat-
urday morning 22 November. Records
show that this is at least the 15th year that
MA D R O N E L E AVES
the albatross has visited Point Arena. How
long will he stay this year? Who knows, but
if “Al” is true to form, he’ll stay around until
late February or March. Plenty of time to
go up and see him.
Audubon California
Assembly
March 15-17,
Asilomar Conference Grounds,
800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove
The theme of this Assembly is “The
Future of Conservation”. Speakers
and workshops will focus on emerging
strategies for the conservation of birds
and nature in the 21st Century. The
Hichwas will give a presentation on
protecting nesting birds on an island
off Gualala Point. Birding excursions
include pelagic tours of Monterey Bay,
California Condor viewing in Big Sur,
and migrant tours of the Carmel River
Mouth and Point Pinos. Festivities
include an opening banquet and a
Sunday night special event. Cost: $350
per person double occupancy (after
1 February, $375) which includes two
nights & three days, six meals (including
Sunday banquet), and all workshops.
For more information or to register:
contact Gary George at 323-951-9620
x 104, ggeorge@audubon.org or visit
www.ca.audubon.org.
Request from Audubon
Canyon Ranch (ACR)
Volunteers needed for April 4, 5; May
2, 3; June 6, 7; and July 3, 4, 11. These
are the scheduled days for our chapter
to host at ACR. Four or five people
are needed each day. If you are inter-
ested in volunteering, please call Janet
Bosshard (before she calls you) at 526-
5883. Duties will be meeting/greeting
visitors to the Ranch. No experience
needed. All information and assistance
Continued on page 7

Audubon Canyon Ranch
Continued from page 6
will be provided. Carpool with friends
and make a day of it. There will be time for
lunch (bring your own) and a short hike to
the overview of the egret/heron nests.
Shollenberger Park
Threatened
Shollenberger Park remains seriously
threatened by the proposed construction
of an asphalt plant across the Petaluma
River by Dutra Materials. This plant
would be located about 200-feet upwind
from Shollenberger and provide immiti-
gable hazards including toxic air and
noise pollution, night lights, and night-
time noise. The “final” hearing on the
plant is scheduled for 3 February, 2:00
PM at the Sonoma County Board of Su-
pervisors, Administration Bldg., 575 Ad-
ministration Drive, Room 100A, Santa
Rosa. After recently learning that Dutra
will be able to make not just asphalt, but
rubberized asphalt which is much more
toxic and that the Dutra track record of
permit violations and disregard for the
public in Marin County is frequent,
we have become adamantly opposed to
Dutra locating an asphalt plant across
the river from Shollenberger Park. The
O.W.L. foundation, a local environmen-
tal group focusing on water issues, has
hired an environmental law team who
has severely criticized the Dutra Envi-
ronmental Impact Report (EIR). It is
hopeful that this law team will represent
Shollenberger at the supervisors’ board
hearing on 3 February. Please help us
save Shollenberger Park and its wild-
life by writing the Board of Supervisors
and expressing your opinions, coming
to the board meeting and speaking for
the park, and if at all possible, making a
financial donation to the O.W.L. Foun-
dation, 1390 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite G
306, Petaluma, CA 94954 to be sure we
continue to have legal representation.
Gerald L. Moore
Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Committee
Educational Outreach
– Summer Camp For
Adults in the Sierra
Sierra Nevada Field Campus,
San Francisco State University
Classes run from 31 May through 24
July and vary from two-seven days,
dependent on the class. Topics in
outdoor and environmental educa-
tion include the geology, flora, and
fauna of the Sierra Nevada. Several
bird watching and bird song courses
are available. The campus is located
north of Truckee, near the top of Yuba
Pass off Highway 49. Luxury camp-
ing accommodations are available on
campus – other accommodations are
available in the Yuba Pass area. For a
complete listing of courses, visit www.
sfsu.edu/~sierra/index.htl.
Tuition for two students is now avail-
able for the cost of a class and on-
campus accommodations. Deadline for
application is 31 March 2009. To apply,
send a paragraph to Dennis Wheeler,
dencwheel@sbcglobal.net, and Sabrina
Hearst, sabrinahearst@earthlink.net,
on how this workshop would benefit
you and the community.
Docents Wanted at
Laguna de Santa Rosa
Expand and share your knowledge
and love of nature by becoming a
Laguna de Santa Rosa docent. Vol-
unteers are trained in the natural
and cultural history of the Laguna
MA D R O N E L E AVES
then lead dynamic, fun, and engag-
ing educational activities for 2nd - 4th
graders in-class and in-field. Training
begins in March and informational
meetings will be held from 6:30-8:00
PM February 10 at the Sebastopol
Library and February 23 at the Central
Santa Rosa Library. Contact Christine
Fontaine at 527-9277 x 102, Christine
@lagunafoundation.org, or visit www.
lagunafoundation.org.
Petaluma Wetlands
Alliance needs
volunteers!
At Shollenberger Park/Alman Marsh,
volunteers enjoy the natural beauty of
the area while planting native species
and removing nonnatives. Also, at the
Casa Grande High School, we need
volunteers to plant and nurture native
plantings in the self-contained outdoor
nursery. At both locations, volunteers
enjoy the camaraderie of others with
similar interests.
Contact Mary Edith Moore at 763-3577.
Welcome New
Friends of Madrone
Audubon Society
Petaluma
Karen L. Johnson
Susan Thompson
Santa Rosa
Rick and Sharon Abbott
Marlene Kaulum
Larry Zech
Page 7
 Madrone Audubon Society
Post Office Box 1911
Santa Rosa, California 95402

February 2009

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Madrone Audubon Society meets on the third Monday of each month, except in June, July, August, and December. Meetings start at 7:30 PM at First United Methodist
Church, 1551 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa. All meetings and walks are open to the public. Information: 546-7492.
President: Janeann Erickson - erickson@ap.net................................................................795-2498
Vice President: Bob Speckels - robertspeckels@yahoo.com ............................................569-0563
Recording Secretary: Andrea Bond - acbond@sonic.net ...............................................537-8069
Corresponding Secretary: Rowland Fellows - rosr@comcast.net ................................542-2504
Treasurer: Mary Wheeler - mrywheeler@sbcglobal.net.....................................................494-6415
Membership: Susan Kirks - susankirks@sbcglobal.net ....................................................773-3215
Conservation Chair: Diane Hichwa - dhichwa@earthlink.net .......................................579-1182
Education Kits: Barbara Novak - enovak3697@aol.com ................................................795-3996
Audubon Adventures: Phyllis Schmitt - p-schmitt@sbcglobal.net................................544-1029
Program Chair: Marilynn Scott .........................................................................................539-0734
Outreach Co-Chair: Dennis Wheeler - dencwheel@sbcglobal.net ..................................494-6415
Outreach Co-Chair: Sabrina Hearst – sabrinahearst@earthlink.net .............................575-7548
Junior Audubon Chair: Veronica Bowers - vlbowers@gmail.com .................................829-2955
Publicity: Pat Macias - macpat@saber.net..........................................................................894-0503
Mayacamas Sanctuary Manager: Curtis Kendall - ckendall@audubon.org ...............473-0601
Webpage Editor: Jeff Holtzman - Madrone707@hotmail.com .......................................823-8290
Bird Walks and Field Trips: Tom McCuller - sisyphus @sonic.net .............................546-1812
Bird-A-Thon Coordinator: Marcia Johnson - owlsnest @hughes.net ..........................829-3808
Leaves Co-Editor: Mary Edith Moore - maryedithmoore@comcast.net .........................763-3577
Leaves Co-Editor: Daphne Smith - dwarsm@comcast.net .............................................546-7808
Leaves Production Editor: Kris Hutchins - krishutch@comcast.net ...........................477-8156
Circulation & Hospitality: Joannie Dranginis - joanhd@comcast.net.........................523-4373
Observations: Dan Nelson - birdsurf64@sbcglobal.net ....................................................762-5167
ACR Rep & MMAS Steering Committee: Bryant Hichwa ...........................................579-1182
ACR Rep: Patrick Woodworth ...............................................................................................829-8915
Petaluma Wetlands Alliance: Gerald Moore - glmemoore@comcast.net ...................763-3577
Russian River Watershed Council Rep: Curtis Kendall ............................................473-0601
Sonoma County Water Coalition Rep: Paula Zerzan - pzerzan@comcast.net.........935-1523
Research and Breeding Bird Atlas: Betty Burridge.....................................................527-0225
Christmas Count and IMBD Chair: Veronica Bowers - vlbowers@gmail.com ...........829-2955
Honorary Board Member: Ernestine Smith ..................................................................545-4255
Bird Rescue Center ..........................................................................................................523-BIRD
Northern California Rare Bird Alert .................................................................. 415-681-7422
Audubon-California: Glenn Olson - golson@audubon.org ................................... 916-649-7600
National Audubon Society: 225 Varick Street, NY, NY 10014................................. 212-979-3000

Join Madrone Audubon – Support Your Local Chapter

Please complete this form if you wish to join Madrone Audubon, renew your Madrone membership or make a contribution to Madrone.
Joining or renewing with Madrone only. Basic Madrone Audubon membership Name ______________________________________________________
dues cover the cost of your subscription to the Madrone Leaves newsletter. Please consider
joining or renewing at a higher level to support the important work of Madrone Audubon Address______________________________________________________
in environmental education and conservation critical to the protection of wildlife and the City_________________________________State_______ Zip__________
environment. Note: By joining Madrone you will not become a member of National
Audubon. Phone Email
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Basic Member $20 _____ Senior $15 _____ Student $15_____ Family $30______ Please make your check payable to “Madrone Audubon Society.”
Sustaining $50 _____ Supporting $100 _____ Donor $500_____ Other______ Detach this panel and mail to: Madrone Audubon Society, Membership
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to Madrone in the amount of $__________
Madrone’s nonprofit 501(c)3 tax number is 94-6172986 Visit us on the World Wide Web at: http://audubon.sonoma.net