April 26th, 2012: Birds of Midway Atoll

Midway Atoll (mid-way between the U.S. mainland and Japan) is important for many historical and biological reasons. Today it is part of three federal designations: Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and the Battle of Midway National Memorial. Well over a million seabirds use the three tiny islands in the atoll to breed each season, including over half of the world's population of Laysan Albatross. Join professional wildlife photographer Bob Steele as we explore the human and natural history of this unique and fascinating place.

Note this program is on THURSDAY night, rather than our usual Wednesday, to accommodate the speaker's schedule.

Everyone is welcome to attend all programs!

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Upcoming ESAS Field Trips

Check back for additions and updates here and on the Field Trips page of the ESAS website.

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Owens Lake Spring Big Day: April 25th

Hi Owens Lake birders!

Our Spring Big Day, Wednesday, April 25th, is fast approaching. The data that we gather will be used in the management of habitat and birds by LADWP, Audubon, State Lands Commission and CA DFG. Your commitment to Owens Lake in real terms is invaluable.

Meet at 7:00 AM at Diaz Lake parking lot. We will have a brief introduction and then get out on the lake in small groups. Car pooling is helpful, although not required. Roads are unpaved, but good. Bring a safety vest if you have one. We will provide them as well.

For more information, contact Mike Prather at 760-876-5807 or mprather@lonepinetv.com

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Chautauqua!

Registration Opens April 15th for Bird Chautauqua

The Eleventh Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua is set to take place June 15-17, 2012 and registration opens on April 15th. Based out of Lee Vining, this celebrated event is among the best of the nature festivals blending science, art, music, and great food into one 3-day event. The event’s official slogan, “not your ordinary bird festival,” is for good reason. Subjects offered, in addition to birds, will include flowers and plants, butterflies, dragonflies, mammals, geology, nature awareness, photography, storytelling, and art. Several kids events will also be offered. Over 75 workshops, auditorium presentations, and field trips will be offered by 48 knowledgeable and experienced instructors from around California and the nation. As always the event will end on Sunday with a picnic and concert at Mono Lake County Park.

The event is based out of Lee Vining and is organized by the Mono Lake Committee and California State Parks. Other partners include: Eastern Sierra Audubon, Inyo National Forest, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, National Park Service, Yosemite Conservancy, Friends of the Inyo, and PRBO Conservation Science.

Complete program information will be posted on the web site by late March. For more information please visit: www.birdchautauqua.org.

Dave Marquart

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President’s Message

Birders operate in a space that lies between the predictable and the unforeseen. On the one hand, it is possible, by checking out the date and time and the place where you are going, along with weather conditions, to have a pretty good idea of what you are going to see. Much of the day’s trip will confirm the presence of what was expected to be there. That is how it works at my house. I watch in the yard to see the quail, look for the hawks, wait in summer’s twilight for the Night Hawks, and, in season, check out the progress of the nestlings.

The expected presence of these things is anchoring, but does not explain why I scan the “birdy” spaces every time I am outside or near the window simply to see what is there. I am, of course, looking for the unexpected: something that hasn’t been there before, maybe some post-storm vagrant that, in theory does not belong here at all or something I have simply missed all the times before.

There is a lesson to be learned here that applies to our dealings with other people. This has been repeatedly driven home to me in the now four plus year process of trying to find an agreement on the future of Owens Lake. Often, before a meeting on some topic I thought I had a solid idea of what was going to happen. I was sure I could predict what the people involved would do or say, what their interests were going to be and how they would react to our positions. This was my belief even though I had not worked with these people before. In some cases, I had not even met them. Truth is, things frequently did not play out that way at all.

I certainly did not expect to discover that there were operating scenarios which would benefit the Department of Water and Power while, at the same time, working positive effects on wildlife habitat. I was not prepared for the extent to which a diverse variety of stakeholders, who I would not have characterized as “Audubon folks” embraced the idea of preserving the lake’s habitat conditions. I was surprised at how much other people knew about things which I thought were my province (often far more than I). Again and again, I saw that different perspectives could yield the same vision if people would take the time to listen carefully to what was being described.

The point is that we make a big mistake when we write off an individual or a group because we are certain we know exactly how they feel about a certain issue before the conversation can even begin. We know who are friends are, right? Well, no. At least I didn’t. Those who are described as conservationists / environmentalists / whatever often express their certainty about who agrees with them and who does not. By acting out that certainty, often through a process of exclusion, they paint themselves into isolated and unproductive corners.

Auduboners cannot hope to not prevail in situations like Owens Lake simply because they believe that they are on the right side. Nor can they rely on their strength of numbers because they do not immediately add up. We have to be open to the unexpected; the person or group or issue or idea or opportunity that broadens the productive process. A great strength of Audubon as an organization is its ability to commit to the rolling up of sleeves to work alongside anyone who has a stake in a particular issue to find a mutually acceptable resolution that is consistent with the well-being of birds and wildlife. As our chapter goes forward, I would hope that those who are not now members would understand that we want them to participate in our vision. I would hope that we would be open to the idea that those who we might not consider to be “our kind of folks” hold the key to our achieving many of our goals, if we take the time to listen find the ways in which our dreams coincide. Of course, this does not mean that everyone will suddenly get along or that there will not be interests or projects which threaten wildlife and its habitat and, for that reason, cannot be countenanced. But opposition is not personal and is not forever. That is particularly true in such a small human universe as the Eastern Sierra.

As my wife finds it annoying when people make suggestions like this without any follow-up to try to implement the suggestion, I am scheduling a time for like-minded people to meet about this idea and perhaps take with further within the community. This would be a brainstorming/ networking get together on how to make more of these connections or to share successes that they have had or want to connect with others on new or existing projects/ideas, I invite you to meet with me on April 17th at The Pizza Factory in Bishop at 6:00 p.m. and talk about this further. If others should be invited for this discussion please do so and bring them along.

Pete Pumphrey

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Owens Lake Master Plan

The first full draft of the Owens Lake Master Plan has gone through the initial review and comment process among the stakeholders who been were involved in its creation. There were many comments, but most were technical/editorial in nature. A meeting of the planning group took place on February 15th in Keeler, in the midst of a significant dust storm. Perhaps it was a function of this backdrop, but the stakeholders were able to make significant progress toward resolving remaining issues and identifying areas that need additional work. It is hoped that the changes will be incorporated into a second draft within a few weeks and further meeting scheduled to clear up the remaining sticking points with an eye toward beginning an environmental review process in the early summer. There continues to be a strong commitment to habitat in this plan. This commitment has benefited form support from all stakeholders and we owe them thanks for their acceptance of that position. Everyone realizes that there is a lot more work to be done to finish the plan (not to mention the process of implementation), but the resolve get it done remains as strong as it was at the first meeting of these remarkable people.

You can keep up with his process by going to the planning project website Owenslakebed. If you have questions or comments, contact Pete Pumphrey for more details.

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Chautauqua Sign-ups coming

Just a reminder that the signup/registration date for the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua 2012 is happening on April 15th. The event will include field trips, workshops and stewardship opportunities on Thursday June 11 through Sunday June 14. Detailed information can be found at the Chautauqua website or by linking through the ESAS or Mono Lake Committee sites. The Chautauqua information will be updated with specific signup options as we get closer to April 15. As, usual, ESAS members will be leading a number of workshops and field trips and ESAS will be a partner/sponsor of the event.

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Announcing Eastern Sierra Audubon Scholarships

The Eastern Sierra Audubon Society is pleased to announce the availability of two $500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Inyo and Mono Counties. We intend to make these scholarships an annual award, encouraging local students to consider higher education and career choices that further the mission of Audubon.

The mission of the National Audubon Society is:

“To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.”

Two scholarships, in the amount of $500 each, will be awarded by the Eastern Sierra Audubon Society to one Mono County and one Inyo County graduating senior whose work through higher education will promote these ideals either through science, education, advocacy, habitat conservation, art, journalism, literature, law, public policy, environmental justice or outdoor recreation.

Interested students must fill out a scholarship application form, including an essay in which they share an experience that inspired them and explain how it relates to the Audubon Mission Statement.

The deadline for applications is Earth Day, April 23, 2012. We will announce winners and publish winning essays in a future online newsletter. We may also publish essays from awardees in future newsletters as well. Please share this information with any local high school students you know (and their parents)!

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Eastern Sierra Grebes

[Birds in bold type have a photo in the article - click on any photo to see all in a slideshow]

By Tom & Jo Heindel

Grebes make up the family Podicipedidae, a relatively small group of diving water birds that are found worldwide. Unlike ducks, they have lobed toes, legs that are far back on the body of the bird, and are ungainly on land where they are seldom seen unless sick. There are 22 species in the world, seven are in North America, and all but one recorded in Inyo and Mono Counties. The Least Grebe, mainly a neotropical species, has been documented in California at the Colorado River, where it has nested, and at the Salton Sea. There is a published report of one captured alive near Baker, San Bernardino County, in the fall of 1961 (Audubon Field Notes 16:73). No report or details were ever submitted to the California Bird Records Committee, which was not in existence in 1961, and therefore has not been accepted as a state record (Rare Birds of California, 2007:80). This casual species is on the CBRC Review List.

Of the six grebe species that occur in the Eastern Sierra, four have nested and occur regularly, one is rare to very uncommon (e.g., Horned Grebe) and the other is casual and not recorded every year (e.g., Red-necked Grebe). In the following thumbnail sketches the data are from North American Birds, Birds of Yosemite and the East Slope by David Gaines, and reports submitted by birders to the Inyo County Avian Archives.

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a common spring and fall migrant, fairly common non-breeding summer visitor and rare to uncommon winter visitor in Inyo County in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in the Owens River. There are historical breeding records but none recently. There are recent reports of one thousand or more birds although the maximum count was in June 1891 when A.K. Fisher reported 35,000 dead birds along the shores of Owens Lake (Fisher 1893:12). Although most reports are from the Owens Valley or lower elevations, the highest elevation record is a specimen from 9132ft/2784m at Lake Sabrina (Los Angeles County Museum 103499).

In Mono County, the Eared Grebe is common from April to November and uncommon December to March. It has bred at Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir and up to 35,000 non-breeding birds have summered at Mono Lake. The numbers at Mono Lake in the fall offer one of North America's spectacular wildlife observations when hundreds of thousands have been recorded. In September 1973, over one million birds were estimated to be on Mono Lake (American Birds 28:98). Although most reports are from Bridgeport, Crowley, and Mono Lakes, there are high elevation records such as the bird recorded at 11,000ft/3354m on Summit Lake 24 July 1975 (T&J Heindel, American Birds 29:1025). Albino or highly leucistic birds have been recorded in both counties.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is fairly common all months in Inyo County in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in the Owens River. Nesting occurs annually and in winter, when lakes, ponds, and reservoirs freeze the species either moves to the Owens River or departs to more southerly climates where open water exists. Most reports are below 4000ft/1220m but these small submarines have been found up to 10,500ft/3200m at Flower Lake 11 August 1997 (A.D. Kirk, pers. comm.). The maximum count is 121 birds at Haiwee Reservoir 14 Dec 1994 (T&J Heindel).

In Mono County, the Pied-billed Grebe is uncommon late March through September and common in October and November when fall migrants from northern latitudes move south. A high elevation bird was at 8900ft/2713m at Lake Mary and the maximum count was 70 birds at Crowley Lake.

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) is a fairly common migrant and summer resident in Inyo County in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in the Owens River. Breeding is annual at Klondike Lake. This species was not recognized until 1985, obscuring much of the history and early records prior to that time. It was considered a light morph of the Western Grebe and most birders and ornithologists did not record color morphs when they noted Western Grebes. The high elevation record is 4400ft/1341m at Pleasant Valley Reservoir (T&J Heindel) and the maximum count is 84 birds at Klondike Lake and Tinemaha Reservoir 6 October 1993 (T&J Heindel).

In Mono County, the Clark's Grebe is an uncommon to fairly common migrant and summer visitor with nesting reported from Bridgeport Reservoir and Crowley Lake. Elevational data are below 7500ft/2287m and we have no data on maximum counts.

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) is an uncommon to fairly common migrant in Inyo County in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in the Owens River. It is a rare to very uncommon summer visitor with one breeding record at Klondike Lake 13 July 1997 when an adult was attending a juvenile (T&J Heindel). Many years in late summer they have attempted to breed at Tinemaha Reservoir but nests were destroyed by high winds or low water levels. Most records are from the Owens Valley or lower elevations. The high elevation record is 9132ft/2784m at Lake Sabrina (C.C. Honer, pers. comm.) and the maximum count is 102 birds at Haiwee Reservoir 24 November 1997 with a couple other records of 100 birds, always at reservoirs (T&J Heindel).

In Mono County, Western Grebe is a common migrant and summer resident that breeds at Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir. The species has been recorded as high as 10,100ft/3079m at Saddlebags Lake 23 October 1978 (American Birds 33:209).

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) is a rare spring and fall migrant in Inyo County in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and in the Owens River. Most records are from 4400ft/1341m or lower with two higher records in October (different years) in Deep Springs Valley at 5200ft/1585m (T&J Heindel). The maximum count is six birds when one was at Tinemaha Reservoir and five at Haiwee Reservoir 24 November 1994 (R.G. McCaskie, pers. comm.).

In Mono County, Horned Grebe is a very rare spring migrant and summer visitor and uncommon fall migrant October to early December. Most reports are from Mono and Crowley Lakes and Bridgeport Reservoir with others up to 8000ft/2439m and a maximum count of 20 birds at Mono Lake.

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) is a casual, not recorded every year, vagrant with five records in Inyo County at ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. The three fall records occurred 6 November 1977 at Stovepipe Wells (N.B. Broadbooks, G.S. Suffel; American Birds 32:256), 12-24 November at Haiwee Reservoir (M.A. Patten, Field Notes 49:99), and 16-19 November 2003 at Tinemaha Reservoir (J.L. Dunn, North American Birds 58:142); the two spring records are 29 April to 2 May 2009 at Klondike Lake (T&J Heindel, North American Birds 63:503) and 31 May 2004 at Tinemaha Reservoir (T&J Heindel, North American Birds 58:432).

In Mono County, Red-necked Grebe is a casual vagrant with two records at Topaz Lake. One bird was there 13 March 1976 (J.L. Dunn, American Birds 30:760) and another there 31 October to 1 November 2007 (R. Hassey, North American Birds 62:145).

If observers in the Eastern Sierra feel they are looking at either of the last two grebe species, they need to submit supporting documentation, photographs and/or descriptions, to the county coordinators for North American Birds. These species, especially when not in alternate plumage designed to attract mates, can be a challenge to identify. All current field guides provide the characteristics necessary to "nail" your claim to the record book.

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Field Trip Report:
Birding near Bishop with Jon Dunn, January 11

Even on the dullest day, participants on Jon Dunn's trips find much that is rewarding. Not that this was a dull day! Eleven lucky enthusiasts stopped first on Sunland Drive, enjoying Mountain Bluebirds, a Prairie Falcon and a Ferruginous Hawk, and learning our sparrows. At the creek below Fish Springs Hatchery birds were abuzz. A Sora crept out for all to see. Upward glances caught a Tree Swallow, a January rarity. When we reached Tinemaha Reservoir, Jon had learned just where to look for that rare Barrow's Goldeneye. Scopes provided adequate looks for everyone. Between sightings we enjoyed listening to our leader's verbal observations. This day were we given a King Rail tale and the story of the strike of a Brown Shrike.

Larry Nahm

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Field Trip Report:
Sand Canyon Birding, January 28

Sand Canyon, located at a southern corner of Inyo County, has been ravaged by fires, but hosts a pleasing array of cismontane species. Here eleven Auduboners from our chapter and Kerncrest Audubon walked a former road near a stream. We found the Cactus Wren, most of us heard the California Thrasher, and all got to see California Towhees and Black-throated Sparrows. Several Hairy Woodpeckers worked a spacious grove below our lunch site. Admirable were the gray pines (Pinus sabiniana), whether in the form of charred trunks or lively cone-producing specimens with loosely tasseled needles. Scant flora bloomed, but plenty of invasive Erodium carpeted the ground. Thanks go to leader Susan Steele, whose inspiration resulted in such a fine outing.

Larry Nahm

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Field Trip Report:
Birchim Lane and Birchim Canyon Birding, February 11

Sixteen birders led by Larry Nahm found things rather quiet along scenic Birchim Lane. Song Sparrows sang. An accipiter – most agreed it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk – perched among cottonwoods. Kestrels seemed to be practicing mating behavior. Red-tailed Hawks inhabited distant nests. Also afar, Mountain Bluebirds flocked. Our second stop, Birchim Canyon (which leads into Pleasant Valley Reservoir), was distinctly not "birdy." Bewick's Wren sang, as did a distant Canyon Wren. A Dipper was near enough to show its nictitating membrane. Snipe rewarded a few lingering birders. The leafy choirs of spring were yet weeks away.

Larry Nahm

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Field Trip Report:
Big Pine Wildlife Tour, February 25

After last year's double cancellation of this trip due to a snow storm in February and a fire evacuation in March, we wondered what was going to happen this year. It began with a beautiful, clear, blue sky and no wind. After an hour, the group of two-dozen people began commenting, "Here comes the wind!" and come it did. By the time we reached the end of the tour at the top of Tinemaha Overlook we required anchors to keep us from becoming airborne. It was so strong it knocked a telescope over, BUT before all that a really, really good time was had by all. At Klondike Lake we saw an American Bittern, three Black-crowned Night-Herons, a Clark's Grebe (first report of spring), and a magnificent male Western Bluebird. On County Road, the Great Horned Owl's nest remained empty but Steve McLaughlin said he could show us one at Birch Creek, which he did giving everybody 'scope views of the head and huge yellow eyes of an incubating female. The only woodpecker, a Downy, and the only falcon, an American Kestrel, were on Steward Lane. The Paiute Reservation sewage ponds provided nice views of Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks, and Lesser Scaup. As we pulled up to the top of Tinemaha Overlook, we were hardly out of our rocking cars when Larry Nahm called out an adult Bald Eagle sitting on a sand spit out in the reservoir. It was a giant exclamation mark to a great trip with a great bunch of people.

Tom and Jo Heindel

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Appreciation

Thanks for the Treats!

For those of you who are wondering who is responsible for those great cookies we have been nibbling on during meetings this year, know that we need to thank Serena Dennis for October and Sara Steck for February refreshments. And, of course, we can all give ourselves a pat on the tummy for all the great food we brought to the Christmas potluck.

Kay Wilson

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Welcome New and Rejoining Members!

Eastern Sierra Audubon would like to thank the following new and/or rejoining members for their support:

Your membership donations help keep this chapter alive. We get 8-10 renewing members a month, and from 3-5 new members. Your membership dues make it possible for us to offer and support great educational and recreational events throughout the eastern Sierra. Thank you!

If you would like to join and help support Eastern Sierra Audubon, there are two ways you can do it:

1. Join as a National Audubon Society Member, designating ESAS as your chapter affiliation. Includes Audubon Magazine subscription. This is $20 for the first year, and goes up to $35 annually thereafter.
2. Join as an ESAS Chapter-only member for $20 per year. Now that we do the newsletter online, you no longer need to join to receive it, but your chapter membership is a way to give back, and show your appreciation for all that ESAS does, and to help support our many programs.

Click Here for a membership form to join or renew!

Join National Audubon - your zip code will associate you with the chapter nearest you.

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Message from the Editor

Early Spring...

While some are still hoping for a "Miracle March" and late snows, it seems like many people are getting bitten by spring fever with the warm, dry weather we've been having. Get out there and enjoy the days and send us your birding stories and photos! Come on some field trips, or come to our program in April to dream of distant lands.

Our next newsletter deadline will be April 27th for the May-June issue, and of course you are always welcome to send submissions for future newsletters and also the monthly email at any time.

We send out no more than one email each month to remind you of upcoming events - if you are not on our email list, please add yourself so you don’t miss anything! If you send items to the newsletter editor by the last week of any month, we’ll make sure they get included in the next issue.

Please Contribute!

Speaking of sending in items for the newsletter...

All of our content is supplied by our awesome members... if you have any ideas about articles you’d like to see, or better yet, if you have anything to share for newsletter publication, whether an article, a news item, update, correction, poem, essay, artwork, photo, field trip report, neat birding experience, letter, etc, please send it, along with any comments or suggestions, to the newsletter editor. We’d love to hear from you!

You may send items for inclusion in the newsletter at any time, but please send any timely items to arrive before the first of the month, so they can be included in the monthly email update.

Thanks for reading, and happy birding!

Maggie Wolfe Riley, Newsletter Editor

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