VOLUME 43
April 2010 Number 7
Scott Feierabend Takes the Helm at ACR
By Daphne Smith
There was an air of excitement at the
Bouverie Preserve as the new Audubon
Canyon Ranch Executive Director was
given a warm welcome at a February
reception by ACR’s staff and volun-
teers, MAS Board members and other
local environmental leaders. After an
extensive search process, ACR was very
pleased to announce in December the
selection of J. Scott Feierabend, a sea-
soned conservation leader from San Ra-
fael, to succeed Skip Schwartz as ACR’s
executive director.
Skip Schwartz was founding executive
director at ACR and continued in that
post for 34 years. Over the next few
months, Scott will work closely with
Skip to ensure a smooth transition with-
in the organization.
Scott Feierabend (he suggests a bird-
ing mnemonic device, “fire-robin” for
pronouncing his last name) brings with
him almost 30 years of management
experience with major non-profit envi-
ronmental organizations, posts that have
led him and his wife and two sons to ex-
perience living in far-flung parts of the
United States.
A native of Louisiana, Scott received
his Bachelor of Science in Biology from
Emory University and Masters in Wild-
life Biology from West Virginia Univer-
sity. He spent 21 years with the National
Wildlife Federation, first in Washington,
D.C. for 13 years, then coming west to
take executive positions in Anchorage,
Alaska, and Boulder, Colorado. He was
another year in Alaska as Director of
Conservation Programs for The Nature protection and restoration, and envi-
Conservancy in Alaska, before moving ronmental education programs. “It is
to San Rafael in 2002. an honor and privilege to have been
Here in the Bay Area, Scott has been selected for this important leadership
Executive Director of the Marin Con- position in the Bay Area’s environmental
servation League and Conservation Di- community,” he noted. “ACR’s donors,
rector and Interim Executive Director volunteers, programs, board and staff,
at California Trout. He has published combined with the organization’s cred-
numerous scientific papers on a variety ibility and 47-year legacy, have set the
of conservation issues including Califor- stage for transformational change as we
nia’s native fish, the status of wetlands enter a new decade.”
and lead poisoning in waterfowl and In the spring issue of the Audubon
bald eagles. Canyon Ranch Bulletin, Scott looked
Scott will lead ACR with an emphasis toward the future, since ACR will be
on ACR’s conservation science, habitat celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012.
Continued on page 3
APRIL GENERAL MEETING
“Breeding Strategies of California Birds”
Monday, April 19, 7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church
1551 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa
Who’s minding the nest? Local naturalist Bob Stewart will share unique behavioral facts amassed
from his many personal experiences of watching nesting birds as a researcher and teacher.
Breeding strategies vary widely, particularly among altricial species where the young
hatch helpless, with eyes closed. Bob will discuss the many fascinating ways in which the
roles of the male and female adults differ in all aspects of breeding behavior, running the
gamut from very tight togetherness to promiscuity, with many variations in between.
Bob Stewart has been a naturalist since 1962. He has taught biology in the California
public schools, served as a biologist and teacher at Point Reyes Bird Observatory and
led many public walks for the Marin County Open Space District. He has self-published
two beautiful photographic butterfly books: Common Butterflies of California and
Butterflies of Arizona.
COMING MAY 17
We welcome Ted Cheeseman to talk about “Birds of the South Atlantic and
Antarctica.” Please note that this is our annual potluck dinner meeting.

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.
The Conservation Committee exchanges information by phone and e-mail as
soon as possible when an issue surfaces. Please contact Diane Hichwa at 785-
1922 or dhichwa@earthlink.net.
Thursday, April 1, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
BODEGA BAY. Bird Walk. 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 unpaved parking
lot on the right. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered clothing. For information,
contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday, April 3, 8:00 AM to Noon
CRANE CREEK REGIONAL PARK. A beautiful trail through a thriving
sample of Sonoma County oak savannah and riparian woodland. Meet at Crane
Creek Regional Park parking lot. Take Roberts Ranch Road from Petaluma Hill
Road, just south of Sonoma State University. There is a $6 per car entrance fee.
Informal carpool meets at 7:15 AM from Sonoma County Agricultural Preserva-
tion and Open Space District office, 747 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa. The
parking lot is behind the office (access from Carrillo Street). Rain cancels. Leaders:
Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; and Bob Speckels, 569-0563.
Wednesday, April 7, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
SONOMA COAST: DUNCAN’S LANDING TO GOAT ROCK. Bird
Walk. Meet at Duncan’s Landing (within the Sonoma Coast State Beach), ap-
proximately three miles south of the Russian River on Highway 1. After lunch,
we will bird nearby Willow Creek Road. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered cloth-
ing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Wednesday, April 7, 7:00 PM
BOARD MEETING. Sonoma County Environmental Center, 55A Ridgway Av-
enue, Santa Rosa. For agenda information, contact Janeann Erickson at 795-2498.
Saturday, April 10, 9:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads a nature walk.
Meet at the first kiosk. Rain cancels. Contact Gerald Moore at 763-3577.
Sunday, April 11, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
MMAS FIELD TRIP. Digital nature photography for Eco-Tourists with Bry-
ant Hichwa. Our “in the field” photo workshop will include tips for the semi-
professional nature photographer as well as the fundamentals for the beginner.
See February Leaves or the website for more details.
Thursday, April 15, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
ANNADEL STATE PARK. Bird Walk. We will search for returning passerines,
mainly along Channel Drive. Meeting place: From Montgomery Drive in Santa
Rosa, go 0.6 mile on Channel Drive to an unpaved parking lot on the left side of
Channel Drive. There is a $4 entrance fee for the park. Bring lunch, liquids, and
layered clothing. For information: Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.
Friday, April 16, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
MMAS FIELD TRIP. Join naturalist and retired biology professor Peter
Leveque in a general nature hike. We might find the Fawn Lily, Erythronium
helenae. A moderately strenuous hike on Clark Foss Road; you’ll need to get
out your hiking sticks and boots. Limited to adults. See February Leaves or the
website for more details.
Saturday, April 17, 8:00 AM to Noon
SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK. Come explore this jewel of Santa Rosa
birding. Parking fee ($6) for non-permit holders. From Summerfield Road in
Santa Rosa, go east on Hoen Avenue, turn left on Newanga Avenue, turn right
inside the park entrance gate, and meet in the parking lot near the restrooms at
the top of the hill. Rain cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; and Bob
Speckels, 569-0563.
Page 2
M A D R O N E L E AVE S
Saturday, April 17, 10:00 AM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK. Petaluma Wetlands Alliance leads two children/fam-
ily 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 Moore
at 763-3577; for the walk in Spanish, contact Connie Peabody at 338-2237.
Monday, April 19, 7:30 PM
GENERAL MEETING. “Breeding Strategies of California Birds.” Naturalist
Bob Stewart will show how our local birds raise their young in many widely dif-
ferent ways. 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, April 21, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
SHOLLENBERGER PARK/ELLIS CREEK. Bird Walk. Search for migrating
birds at the Shollenberger Park ponds and wetlands in Petaluma. After lunch,
we will bird the wetlands of the adjacent Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility.
Meet at Shollenberger Park parking lot. From Santa Rosa, take the Highway 116
exit (Lakeville Highway), go left under Highway 101, turn right at the South Mc-
Dowell traffic light, proceed to the City Park sign and turn right into the park lot.
For information, contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net, 546-1812.
Saturday, April 24, 9:00 AM
ELLIS CREEK WATER RECYCLING FACILITY, PETALUMA. Petaluma
Wetlands Alliance leads a walk at the Ellis Creek ponds. Go to the end of Cypress
Drive and through the gates. Parking lot is on the left. Rain cancels. Contact Bob
Dyer at 763-2934.
Thursday, April 29, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
SUGARLOAF RIDGE STATE PARK. Bird Walk. From Kenwood on Highway
12, go east on Adobe Canyon Road to the park entrance and parking lot ($6
parking fee). Bring portable lunch and liquids (We will lunch away from cars). For
information, contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.
Saturday, May 1, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
WILLOW CREEK, DUNCAN’S LANDING, JENNER. One of our most
productive bird walks; not to be missed! Meet at the parking lot of Sizzling
Tandoor Indian Restaurant in Bridgehaven at the south end of the Russian
River Bridge on Highway 1 (Coast Highway). For carpooling, see directions
under Saturday, April 3 walk. Bring lunch, liquids and layers of clothing. Rain
cancels. Leaders: Tom Cashman, 433-2528; Bill Doyle, 483-8773; and Bob
Speckels, 569-0563.
Sunday, May 2, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
MMAS FIELD TRIP. Jeanne Wirka, resident biologist at ACR’s Bouverie
Preserve, will provide an introduction to local California grasslands, with an
emphasis on native species and grassland ecology. Bring a camera–you’ll also see
beautiful wildflowers–and hand lens and notebook. See February Leaves or the
website for more details.
Wednesday, May 5, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
POINT REYES AREA. Bird Walk. We will search for spring migrants. Meet in
the parking lot across from the Point Reyes National Seashore Bear Valley Visi-
tor Center, which is just west of Olema. Bring lunch, liquids, and layered cloth-
ing. For information, contact Tom McCuller, sisyphus@sonic.net or 546-1812.
Sunday, May 9, 9:30 to 3:00 PM
MMAS FIELD TRIP. Wildflowers and plant walk with Peter Warner, plant
ecologist and botanical consultant. We’ll look at the Sanctuary’s general ecology
and its plant distributions, and witness the gradual changes in vegetation since
the 2004 fire. A moderate hike; bring plant guides, hand lenses, cameras, and
notebooks. Children OK with supervision. See February Leaves or the website
for more details.

SCOTT Feierabend
Continued from page 1
He spoke of the growth of the organization
over the years and its success in “preserving
the rich biological treasures of Marin and
Sonoma counties.” However, he looked
also to the future and considered how the
organization might meet the environmen-
tal challenges of the next 50 years, outlin-
ing a two-fold strategy: making it a prior-
ity to train and educate a new generation
of conservationists who will rise to those
challenges, and maintaining the “oneness”
of the organization as well as the unique-
ness and diversity of its different preserves
and research centers.
Madrone Audubon is one of four local
Audubon chapters that have representa-
tives on the ACR Board of Directors,
and we look forward to working with
Scott Feierabend. Our current represen-
tatives are Bryant Hichwa (former Board
President) and Patrick Woodworth.
• • • • •
About ACR
Audubon Canyon Ranch is not affili-
ated with the National Audubon Soci-
ety. ACR properties include the Cypress
Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay,
the Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen, and
the 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve
in Stinson Beach, which is an impor-
tant San Francisco Bay Area Great Egret
and Great Blue Heron nesting colony.
In 2009 ACR announced an agreement
with Jim and Shirley Modini to acquire
the 1,725-acre Modini Ranch property,
located adjacent to Madrone’s Mayac-
amas Mountains Audubon Sanctuary on
Pine Flat Road in Sonoma County.
The mission of Audubon Canyon Ranch
is to protect the natural resources of its
sanctuaries while fostering an under-
standing and appreciation of these en-
vironments. Audubon Canyon educates
children and adults, promotes ecological
literacy that is grounded in direct experi-
ence, and conducts research and restora-
tion that advances conservation science.
Wild Land in
Urban Areas
By Susan Kirks
Wild Cities
The term seems contradictory, but in So-
noma County on the urban edge of Peta-
luma, such wild land still exists–just barely.
As residential development moved west
from downtown Petaluma and began to
blanket once pristine hillsides and open
meadows, members of the West Petaluma
community also began to watch species af-
ter species of wildlife displaced, diminish,
and disappear. In an area where people
honor rural ambiance and enjoy pastoral
life and sights and sounds of the wild, this
trend was very disturbing – and clearly
needed to be questioned and stopped.
The fragile balance of nature in West Pet-
aluma includes groundwater recharge ar-
eas for Sonoma County, open grasslands,
sweeping hillsides and groves and clusters
of a variety of native trees.
One such area, recently gaining regional
recognition for a century-old American
Badger habitat*, is Paula Lane.
Rural Wild
A little over a mile from downtown Peta-
luma, off the scenic corridor of Bodega
Avenue, in Petaluma’s West Hills, Paula
Lane was settled in the early 1800s by Eu-
ropean immigrants. Today, the remainder
of the Pauli farm, a little over 11 acres on
Paula Lane at Sunset Drive, is habitat for
hundreds of wildlife species and centrally
located in a wildlife corridor that serves
both Southwest Petaluma and the Helen
Putnam Regional Park area and North-
west Petaluma. Paula Lane is the end of
the city and beginning of the country.
Saving It
Paula Lane Action Network (PLAN) is a
grassroots conservation nonprofit, orga-
nized to advocate for preservation of rural
land, open space and wildlife habitat.
In 2008, the Sonoma County Agricultur-
al Preservation and Open Space District
M A D R O N E L E AVE S
recommended a $1,000,000 grant for the
City of Petaluma to assist in acquiring
the Paula Lane land. The City has also
filed applications with the State Coastal
Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation
Board for acquisition assistance.
When the Paula Lane land is acquired,
the City of Petaluma and PLAN will be
in partnership to care for the open space
project. The site will become the Paula
Lane Open Space Preserve, and the habi-
tat will be protected forever. Among the
many resident and migratory avian spe-
cies documented there are: White-tailed
Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s
Hawk, American Kestrel, Rufous and
Allen’s hummingbirds, Red-breasted
Sapsucker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Oak
Titmouse, Snowy Egret, Great Egret,
Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-
Heron and Long-billed Curlew**.
Wild Open Space
The Preserve will feature a public access
trail with wildlife viewing areas, native
gardens, an area for sustainable agricul-
ture, and open classroom opportunities
for local schools in environmental res-
toration and sustainable agriculture and
living. Two residences will be leased to
on-site caretakers. An area that for years
has been visited by walkers, joggers, bi-
cyclists, and nature lovers for the respite
from urban stresses, the beautiful sunsets,
and the sights and sounds of nature at her
finest will become both protected and ac-
cessible. Educational programs will in-
clude wildlife observation and reporting,
such as the relationship between avian
and mammal species and their foraging
patterns. For example, White-tailed Kites
and other raptors nest in the area and
badgers burrow and forage there–both
for the abundance of gophers, voles and
mice. The Great Blue Heron can also
be observed standing in the open space,
waiting to forage on a gopher or vole.
Toward The Big Picture
As wild lands in urban areas become in-
creasingly threatened, acreage through-
Continued on page 4
Page 3

WILD Land
Continued from page 3
out Sonoma County on urban fringes,
as small as four to five acres or as large as
10 to 12 acres, may be prime natural as-
sets deserving of protection for wildlife,
groundwater recharge, and wildlife move-
ment–so close to our busy urban lives,
yet so possible to protect and preserve for
future generations of people and wildlife.
The San Francisco Bay Area Upland
Habitat Goals process is an innovative
new project initiated by the Bay Area
Open Space Council. This process focuses
on developing a science-based database in
the nine Bay Area counties for identifying
upland habitat areas, linkages, compatible
uses and ecology to sustain healthy and
bio-diverse fish, plant and wildlife com-
munities. For more information, visit the
Bay Area Open Space Council’s web site:
www.openspacecouncil.org.
* Habitat Survey, 2003, Bioconsultant LLC,
Santa Rosa
** Avian Checklist, Dan Nelson, 2004
Susan Kirks is outgoing Membership
Chair of Madrone Audubon Society, a
Petaluma Wetlands docent, and Chair
of Paula Lane Action Network (www.
paulalaneactionnetwork.org).
• • • • •
Birds and Your
Personal Space
By Veronica Bowers
The breeding season is the busiest time of
year at the Songbird Hospital, but not just
because we’re providing care to hundreds
of patients. A significant amount of each
day is spent offering helpful advice to cu-
rious, confused or frustrated humans.
Occasionally, the habits of our feathered
neighbors can be an inconvenience to
homeowners and our human habits and
habitations create conflict with the birds.
Here are peaceful and humane resolutions
Page 4
to some common conflicts between hu-
mans, birds and personal space during the
breeding season. For more helpful tips,
please visit our website at www.songbird-
hospital.org.
Birds nesting in hanging basket–I can’t
water my plants.
Mourning Doves and House Finches are
notorious for this. To avoid disturbing
the birds while still keeping your plant
hydrated, place ice cubes on top of the
soil around the perimeter of the baskets.
The ice will slowly melt, watering your
plant, but keeping the birds and their
nest safe and dry.
Bird repeatedly running into or attack-
ing a window, car mirror or windshield.
Other than accidental collisions that re-
sult from a bird mistaking a window as
clear passage, territorial male birds will
often attack their reflection, mistaking it
for an intruder on his territory. Potential
harm to the bird may be a concern and
smudges on the window can be an incon-
venience. The only effective solution is
to completely cover the reflection by at-
taching paper or a sheet to the outside of
the window. Cover car side view mirrors
with ziplock bags or pillowcases. Cover
car windows with towels or a car cover, or
park the car in the garage.
Bird stuck in glue trap for rodent or in
sticky flypaper.
Sprinkle cornmeal all over the trap or
paper to prevent the bird from further
sticking. DO NOT attempt to remove
the bird from the trap. Carefully place
the bird and trap in a box or paper bag
for transport. Bring the bird to a wildlife
rehabilitator immediately. Discontinue
use of these horrible devices, especially
outside where they endanger birds and
other wildlife.
Woodpecker drumming on the side of
the house.
This occurs for a couple of weeks during
the breeding season when males are trying
to impress prospective mates or declare
M A D R O N E L E AVE S
their territory. If the sound is unbearable,
scare the birds away by suspending CD’s
or toy stuffed animals from the eaves or at-
tach Mylar strips to the side of the house.
Reducing the resonance by attaching foam
padding, cloth or plastic sheets to the side
of the house can make the drumming un-
satisfactory for the woodpecker.
Droppings from Cliff Swallow, Barn
Swallow and Black Phoebe nests are
making a mess.
At approximately nine days of age, nest-
lings of these species begin defecating
over the edge or out the entrance of their
nests. To catch the droppings, construct a
wooden shelf approximately 10” deep and
wide enough to span the poop zone. At-
tach it to the building no less than three
feet below the nest. Placing the shelf too
close below the nest may make the nest
vulnerable to predators. The second op-
tion is to place a stack of unfolded news-
paper sections on the ground below the
nests. Weight the paper down with some-
thing so it doesn’t blow away and remove
soiled paper as needed. Remember it is
illegal to disturb the nest of a native bird
during the breeding season.
Bird trapped in house.
If possible, confine the bird to one room
in the house. Cover or remove mirrors,
close all the curtains and open a window
in the room. If the open window has cur-
tains, draw the curtains open just enough
to expose the window opening. Turn off
the lights, leave the room and close the door
behind you. Make sure there are no pets or
children left in the room with the bird.
Memorial Gifts
In memory of Sparky
Tony Pisacane
In memory of
Mary Margaret Harp
Matti Christensen

Madrone’s Gifts in
Action at the
Bouverie Preserve
Madrone has made a number of dona-
tions in the past to the Audubon Can-
yon Ranch Bouverie Preserve in Glen
Ellen. These donations have helped
fund a lab on the Preserve, a live bird
cam where visiting third and fourth
grade students watch a Canada Goose
in her nest atop the Preserve’s bell tow-
er, and a bird blind where the students
sit quietly and watch birds coming and
going at close range.
Just over a year ago Madrone donated
funds for nursery pots and potting
soil, to be used in an oak-woodland
restoration project, replacing an old
eight-acre vineyard and mitigating
CALTRANS work and tree removals
on Highway 12.
The Preserve has put Madrone’s latest
gift to use in a “project for all ages” since
the acorns were first collected by the
adult Stewardship Volunteers and then
potted up by Junipers in early 2009.
Junipers are fifth graders in a Bouverie
Saturday program to continue working
with children in nature. This spring
Sonoma Valley High School SLEWS
students (Student and Landowner En-
vironmental and Watershed Steward-
ship through the local Resource Con-
servation District) have been planting
the seedlings, installing irrigation and
controlling weeds to nurture them
through the spring. At the same time
these students are learning about the
natural history and ecology of their re-
gion.  It’s a unique opportunity for the
Bouverie Preserve to welcome a local
group of older kids for an opportunity
they probably haven’t had before.
By the end of this collaborative four-
year restoration project, there will be
over 400 new oak trees at Bouverie, and
an untold number of participants who
can be truly proud of what they have ac-
complished.
Board Notes
By Nominating Committee Chair
Diane Hichwa
We have a very solid group of officers for
our Madrone Audubon chapter but we
DO NEED a Vice-President to support
our program.  The position is established
to allow time to become familiar with the
chapter and the Board of Directors and to
assist the President in some projects.
Nominations for our 2010-2011 officers are:
President: Robert Speckels
Vice-President:
Treasurer: Mary Wheeler
Recording Secretary: Andrea Bond
Corresponding Secretary: Cynthia Miller
Program Committee:   We are looking
for several people to share responsibility
for the speakers, hall and hospitality that
make our monthly program for members
and the public enjoyable and educational.
We have excellent attendance at our meet-
ings and this is our opportunity to discuss
Chapter issues and activities.
Junior Audubon: This is an ideal position
for someone who has young children or
grandchildren, or who would just like to
help children enjoy the outdoors. Out-
ings are local and low-key. Outgoing chair
Veronica Bowers and other Board members
will be happy to help with contacts and ideas.
• • • • •
HOG ISLAND
AUDUBON CAMP
REOPENS
Exclusive Summer Classes in Ornithology
for Adults & Teens
The National Audubon Society will reopen
its legendary Hog Island Camp in Maine
this summer for four adult ornithology ses-
sions and one teen bird studies session.
Dr. Steve Kress, Audubon’s Vice-President
for Bird Conservation, will direct the ses-
sions. He will be joined by some of the
country’s top ornithologists who will serve
as instructors, including Kenn Kaufman,
M A D R O N E L E AVE S
Pete Dunne, and Scott Weidensaul. Ad-
ditionally, said Dr. Kress, there will be two
totally new sessions offered in association
with  Exploritas (formerly Elder Hostel)
where participants will assist Project Puffin
biologists to census gulls, eiders and cor-
morants at nearby seabird nesting islands. 
Participants in the September session will
learn about land and seabirds through
bird banding and presentations, and as-
sist with a habitat management project
for endangered terns and storm-petrels at
Eastern Egg Rock. 
Hog Island was closed during the summer
of 2009 to permit planning for the future.
This process led to Project Puffin bringing
back the popular ornithology programs
for adults and teens. Due to its habitat va-
riety, Hog Island and vicinity are an ideal
setting for the program, as more than 100
species frequent the area. 
Participants live on the island in authen-
tic, turn of the century housing on the
330-acre, spruce-covered island over-
looking Muscongus Bay. The Hog Island
camp first opened in 1936, with Roger
Tory Peterson as its first bird instructor. It
is well known in America’s environmental
community as a distinguished and beauti-
ful place of learning. 
For more information on dates, sessions,
costs, instructors, etc., visit www.project-
puffin.org. To read testimonials and see
photos from previous Hog Island pro-
grams, visit www.naturecompass.org/fohi. 
Welcome New Friends
of Madrone
Audubon Society
Petaluma
Matti Christensen
Rohnert Park
Simone Wilson
Santa Rosa
David Hofmann
Sebastopol
Veronica Smith
Windsor
Gary Bjork
Page 5

Results from the
2010 GBBC
There were 96,842 checklists submitted
from across the United States and Can-
ada for the Great Backyard Bird Count
this February, and over 11 million indi-
vidual birds counted, among 600 species.
The Northern Cardinal was the most-re-
ported bird across the U.S. and Canada,
as it has been for the last five years.
In the Santa Rosa area, with no North-
ern Cardinals to report, the top two spe-
cies most often recorded were the Cedar
Waxwing at 428 individual birds and
the American Robin at 274, with a to-
tal of 68 species. Forty-one counts were
submitted from our area, which ranked
18th in California for the number of lists
submitted. Not a bad showing, and we
congratulate all our local participants.
• • • • •
COME AND GONE,
THE 2010
BIRD-A-THON
By Marcia Johnson, Bird-A-Thon
Coordinator
Madrone’s Bird-A-Thon for 2010 is
history.  The teams are now collecting
the pledges you have made towards our
Chapter’s major fundraiser.  It is not too
late to pledge money towards your favor-
ite teams or teams; however, if you have
already pledged, please get your money in
soon.  Make your checks out to “Madro-
ne Bird-A-Thon,” and be sure you date
it 2010.  Checks should be turned in to
someone on the team you are supporting.
Our three teams this year are:  Roadrun-
ners with Betty Groce and Don McCar-
thy; Feather Questers with Diane Hich-
wa, Karen Nagel and Phyllis Schmitt;
Gray-headed Seersuckers with Betty Bur-
ridge, Ted Eliot, Ian Morrison, Bill Payne,
Ken Wilson and Becky Olsen.
Please get your money in as soon as possible.  Headlands. See www.ggro.org or call
Thank you for your support!
Page 6
APRIL SPECIALS
Point Reyes Birding Festival
Friday through Sunday, April 23-25
There may still be openings  for  some
field trips at  this first-ever Point Reyes
Birding Festival. Come peruse the si-
lent auction and marketplace for bird-
ers on Friday and Saturday at the Dance
Palace in Point Reyes Station, and sign
up for the two evening programs: Fri-
day evening will feature a program by
PRBO Conservation Science on life at
the Farallon Islands, and the Saturday
evening banquet includes an illustrated
talk about the natural history of Point
Reyes and its birds by naturalist Jules
Evens. You can register at www.ptreyes-
birdingfestival.org. 
Godwit Days Spring Migration
Bird Festival
April 15 through 21
Extraordinary birding opportunities can
be found in and around Arcata at the
15th annual Godwit Days Spring Mi-
gration Bird Festival. California’s North
Coast offers towering redwoods, rocky
ocean coasts, wild river valleys, expan-
sive mudflats of Humboldt Bay, and
the world-renowned Arcata Marsh and
Wildlife Sanctuary, where over 300 spe-
cies of birds have been sighted.
You can register on the website at www.
godwitdays.com. For further informa-
tion call 800-908-WING or 826-7050.
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory
Informational Meetings offered April 28
and April 29, 7:00 to 9:30 PM and
May 1, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Building 201, Upper Fort Mason,
San Francisco
Choose one meeting to attend. GGRO
volunteers have worked for more than
two decades to track the populations
of birds of prey during migration from
August through December on the Marin
415-331-0730.
M A D R O N E L E AVE S
Bird Rescue Center Junior Orientations
Sunday, April 11, 2:00 to 4:00 PM;
Saturday, April 24, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
3430 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa
Baby bird season is on its way! Juniors
12-17 years old may volunteer to help at
the Center if they have attended an ori-
entation (parent or guardian must attend
with the junior). Call 523-2473 to register.
Sierra Nevada Field Campus
Early June through mid-August
Don’t forget that wonderful birding
and other natural history and artistic
classes and workshops are available at
San Francisco State University’s Field
Campus, located along the scenic
North Yuba River near Sierra City. To
see the schedule online, go to www.sfsu.
edu/~sierra, or send an e-mail to jsteele@
sfsu.edu to request a brochure or registra-
tion materials.
ATTENTION!
BREEDING BIRD
ATLAS UPDATE
Join the Team—Take the
Training Course!
The next classroom meeting will
take place Tuesday, April 6, 6:30 to
9:00 PM at the Llano Road Treat-
ment Plant, 4300 Llano Road in
Santa Rosa. The complete schedule
of training courses and in-field ses-
sions is on the Madrone website. To
register, contact Lisa Hug at lisa-
hug@sonic.net.
The website will also give some an-
swers to frequently asked questions
about the training and the upcom-
ing data collection. The update of
the original 1995 Atlas is sched-
uled to begin in 2011 and finish in
2016. You may also now download
the entire 1995 Breeding Bird Atlas
from the website as a pdf.
 M A D R O N E L E AVE S

Observations
November 2009 - March 2010 • Dan Nelson • 479-2918 • birdsurf64@sbcglobal.net

“Eurasian” Green-winged Teal 1/24 Gun Club Road at Santa Fe Grade, Merced County PM
Blue-winged Teal (44) 1/24 Gun Club Road at Santa Fe Grade PM
Tufted Duck (1) 1/3-2 Clifton Court Forebay, Byron Highway, Contra Costa County HH
Tufted Duck (1) 2/17 18650 Sherman Island Levee Road, Sacramento County BB, JL
Barrow’s Goldeneye (3) January Petaluma River at Porto Sonoma DN
Barrow’s Goldeneye (1) 12/20 Green Valley Road / Sullivan Road pond GJ
Barrow’s Goldeneye (1) 12/5 Lake Solano JK, SK
Goldeneye/ Bufflehead hybrid 12/5 Lake Solano; same bird seen in ‘08 JK, SK
Hooded Merganser 12/5 Lake Solano JK, SK
Hooded Merganser (several) 12/20 Green Valley Road/ Sullivan Road pond GJ
Wood Duck (12-14) November Green Valley Road KJ
Wood Duck (8) 12/5 Lake Solano JK, SK
Tundra Swan (5) 1/28 One mile west of Bloomfield FJ, MJ
Red-necked Grebe January Bodega Head DN
Red-necked Grebe 2/27 North of Crissy Field, San Francisco JP
Double-crested Cormorant (2-3) November Green Valley Road pond KJ
Lesser Yellowlegs (2) 1/24 Gun Club Road, Merced County PM
Glaucous Gull (1st year) 2/28 Año Nuevo coastline, San Mateo County PM
Osprey 12/5 Lake Solano JK, SK
Bald Eagle (adult) 11/18 Russian River, 4 miles upstream of mouth SG, GG
Bald Eagle (adult) 1/4 Tomales Bay oyster farm, perched GW, AW
Bald Eagle (2 adults) 2/8 Gun Club Road, Merced County PM
White-tailed Kite (3) 2/1 Paula Lane, Petaluma SKi
Peregrine Falcon (adult) 2/23 “D” Street towers at Petaluma River, Petaluma DN
Greater Roadrunner 2/8 San Luis Reservoir, Romero Visitor Center, Merced County PM
Eurasian Collared-Dove (2) 1/24 Red Bluff, Tehama County, at feeder LMcG, LS
Belted Kingfisher November Green Valley Road KJ
Pileated Woodpecker November Graton / Green Valley Road area KJ
Red-breasted Sapsucker (2) November Graton Road KJ
Allen’s Hummingbird (arr.) 2/7 Jewel Lake, Tildon Park, Contra Costa County ADeM
Hammond’s Flycatcher 3/2 Garland Regional Park, Hayward (continuing) BR, et al.
Eastern Phoebe 1/31 Pine Gulch Creek (mouth), Marin County KH
Mountain Bluebird (1) 2/7 Byron Highway, east Contra Costa County ADeM
Townsend’s Solitaire 2/1-2/3 Bart’s Retreat, top of Mount Tamalpais DMcK, JW, JL, LS
Phainopepla 12/5 Lake Solano JK, SK
Yellow Warbler February Diekmann’s store, Bodega Bay (continuing) DN
Palm Warbler 1/27 Emeryville, Howles /15th Street MR
Palm Warbler 1/27 Oakland, Jack London Square MR
Yellow-headed Blackbird (70) 2/8 Gun Club Road, Merced County PM
Great-tailed Grackle (7) 2/8 Gun Club Road, Merced County PM
Swamp Sparrow 1/31 Pine Gulch Creek / Kent Island KH
White-throated Sparrow November Graton Road KJ
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2/7 Golden Gate Park Arboretum, San Francisco (continuing) DM, et al.

CONTRIBUTORS: Bob Brandriff, Al DeMartini, Gloria Gross, Stephen Gross, Keith Hansen, Hugh Harvey, Greg Jacobs, Kathi Jacobs, Fred &
Marianne Jacobs, John Klobus, Sarah Klobus, Susan Kirks, John Luther, Peter Metropulis, Lynn McGarvey, Dave McKenzie, Dominic Mowsser, Dan
Nelson, Joel Pearlstine, Mark Rauzon, Bob Richmond, Lang Stevenson, Len Stohler, Al & Glo Wellman, and Jim White.
Page 7
 Madrone Audubon Society
Post Office Box 1911
Santa Rosa, California 95402

April 2010

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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: telephone answering service - 546-7492,
e-mail - madroneaudubon@um.att.com.
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: Cindy Miller - millercynthia@earthlink.net.......................575-7548
Treasurer: Mary Wheeler - mrywheeler@sbcglobal.net......................................................494-6415
Membership: Susan Kirks - susankirks@sbcglobal.net.....................................................773-3215
Conservation Chair: Diane Hichwa - dhichwa@earthlink.net........................................785-1922
Education Kits: Barbara Novak - enovak3697@aol.com.................................................795-3996
Audubon Adventures: Phyllis Schmitt - phyllis_schmitt@comcast.net.........................544-1029
Program Committee: Alexandra McDonald– alexan@saber.net....................................824-0394
Outreach Chair: Sabrina Hearst – sabrinahearst@earthlink.net.....................................575-7548
Junior Audubon Chair:
Publicity: Pat Macias - macpat@saber.net...........................................................................894-0503
Webpage Editor: Jeff Holtzman - Madrone707@hotmail.com........................................823-8290
Bird Walks and Field Trips: Tom McCuller - sisyphus @sonic.net..............................546-1812
Saturday Bird Walks: Bob Speckels - robertspeckels@yahoo.com.................................569-0563
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.....................................................479-2918
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
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: Graham Chisholm - gchisholm@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 ______________________________________________________
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Madrone’s nonprofit 501(c)3 tax number is 94-6172986 Visit us on the World Wide Web at: http://audubon.sonoma.net