BUENA VISTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
LAGOON
VOLUME 47 / NUMBER 1 / JANUARY 2018
FromSnowtoSand—BirdingMorocco WithGaryNunnPerchedatAfrica’snorthwestcorner,MoroccoconjuresimagesofBedouins,sanddunes,andasmoke-filledCasablancaginjoint.ButMoroccooffersbirdersamazinglandscapes,exciDngculturalsights,andknockoutbirding.TheenigmaDcandendangerednorthernbaldibis,thedesert-dwellinggreaterhoopoe-lark,andthe“Atlas”tawnyowlcanallbefoundhere.GaryNunnchasedtheselifers(anddozensmore!)fromthesnowcappedAtlasMountainstothedesertsandduneslastFebruaryandbringshisstunningpresentaDontoyouduringourJanuarygathering.
GaryNunnhailsfromEngland,wherehegrewupbirding,chasingrariDesinthecrucibleoftwitching—thecountyofNorfolk.HeholdsaBScinbiologicalsciencesandaPhDingeneDcs;hewasalsoapostdoctoralfellowatboththeAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistoryandtheSmithsonianInsDtuDon.Whilebirdinginover30countries,GaryandhisfamilymakeSanDiegohome,convenientlynearbysomeofhisfavoritebirdingpatches.
JoinusforanexoDcjourneywithoneofbirding’smostengagingtourguides.We’relookingforYOU,kid.
FLYER
Birdhouse&NatureArtAuc<on
Saturday,March245:00-8:00p.mSavethedate!
Pleasenote:Alimitof3birdhouseswillbeaceptedfromeachdonor.
Wednesday,January17,2018Social:6:30p.m.Program:7:00p.m.
MAKINGADIFFERENCE VOLUME47/NUMBER1/JAN.2018/2
WorkingtheNightShiFWho’sawake?Metoo!Inthefallandwinter,thisseriesofhoots—allononepitch—wa4sthroughthedarkness.Thesen:neltakinga;endanceisthegreathornedowl.ThelargestandmostwidelydistributedowlinNorthAmerica,thisowlisheavilybarredinbrownandblack,withfeathertu4s(nothornsatall)atopitslargehead,givingrisetoitsratherinaccurate(albeitcatchy)commonname.Itsenormousyelloweyesaresolargethattheycannotmoveintheowl’shead.However,theowlcanswivelitsheadasmuchas270degreestolookinanydirec:on.Itspowerfultalonsallowittoinstantlysnapthespineofevenlargeprey.Aswithmanybirdsofprey,bothmalesandfemaleslookthesame,althoughfemaleso4enareasmuchas30%heavier.
GreathornedowlscanbefoundthroughoutSanDiegoCounty,fromthecoastuptothemountainsanddowntothefloorofAnza-BorregoDesert.Asistruewithmostowls,firstonthemenuarerodents,rodents,rodents(e.g.,mice,rats,voles)followedbyothernocturnal(ac:veatnight)andcrepuscular(ac:veatdawnanddusk)mammalssuchasskunksandrabbits.
Greathornedowlsbeginnes:ngveryearlyintheyear,typicallyinJanuaryorFebruary.Following28–35daysofincuba:on,owletsrequirefourorfiveweekstomaturea4erhatchingandevenlongertodevelopcomplexhun:ngskillsoncetheyfledge.Byhatchinginlatewinter,theowletscanstartprac:cingthoseskillswhenlotsofotherbirdsandmammalsareraisingyoung,providinganabundanceofpreyforprac:ce.
Withoutthekeenskillsofthesevigilantnocturnalhunters,therodentpopula:onmightnowberunningtheworldwhilewesleep.Who’sawake,indeed…
(Refertowww.bvaudubon.orgformoreinforma:onabouttheseimportantrodent-controllingraptors.)
TheLastLapJusttwoyearsago,BuenaVistaAudubonreceivedanamazinggi4fromBrianMalkandNancyHeitelofSanDiego.Theypledgedtodonateupto$333,000indouble-matchingfundstoestablishtheBVASNatureEndowment—afundthatwillsupportourworkinperpetuity.Ourtask,toraise$167,000,isnowonly$22,000fromcomple:on.Thatwe’vecomesoclosewhileaccomplishingsomuchisatestamenttoyou,ourmembersandsupporters.
BuenaVistaisavibrantforcefornatureinthecommunity.Whetherit’saclassvisittotheNatureCenter,aguidedwalkataNorthCountybirdinghotspot,themonthlyeveningnatureprogram,thefun-filledBirdhouseAuc:on,preschoolnaturestory:me,natureartclasses,JoeyandJohnny’sClubhouse,theEndangeredSpeciesDayOpenHouse,theOceanside-Vista-CarlsbadChristmasBirdCount,—there’ssomethingforeveryoneatBVAS.
Makingadifferencelocallyisatangible,gra:fyingactworthyofyourlistofNewYear’sresolu:ons.You’vealreadyshownhowmuchyouappreciateandsupportourmissionandus.Withyourhelpwecanputthecrowningtouchonaremarkablerun.
Thankyou!NatalieShapiro,President
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Thursday,%January%4%—%8%a.m.%%
We!will!be!walking!the!trails!and!exploring!inside!Leo!Carrillo!Ranch!Historic!Park.!We!always!have!a!special!guest!expert!!Location:!Meet!at!the!trail!head!west!of!Carrillo!Elementary!School!parking!lot!(off!Poinsettia!Lane,!west!of!Melrose!Ave.!and!turn!south!on!Paseo!Escuela).!Trail!parking!is!available!in!the!lot!to!the!right!(west)!of!the!school!parking!lot.!!Leaders:!Joan!Herskowitz,!Eve!Martin,!Patti!Koger,!and!Jane!Mygatt!([email protected],[email protected])!%
WHELAN%LAKE%BIRD%SANCTUARY%WALK%%%%
Saturday,%January%6%—!8%a.m.%
Come!along!with!John!and!friends!for!our!regular!monthly!walk!and!bird!survey!at!this!beautiful!sanctuary!for!resident!and!migratory!waterfowl.!Whelan!Lake!is!always!a!favorite!place!to!go!birding!!Directions:%From!IQ5,!take!Hwy!76!east;!turn!left!at!Douglas!Drive;!continue!to!the!light!at!North!River!Road;!go!left!on!North!River!Road.!Pass!through!entrance!gate!and!follow!signs!to!the!lake.!Feel!free!to!contact!the!leader!for!directions.!Leader:%John!Haddock!(760Q941Q7824)!!EL%CORAZON%GARRISON%CREEK%BIRD%WALK%
Wednesday,%January%10%—!7:30%a.m.%
Join!Denise!for!a!2Qmile!walk!along!El!Corazon’s!Garrison!Creek!Trail.!In!addition,!BVAS’s!Joan!Bockman!will!share!her!knowledge!of!the!local!flora!and!the!history!of!El!Corazon.!Should!be!fun!!Directions:!Turn!into!the!El!Corazon!gate!east!of!El!Camino!Real!on!Oceanside!Blvd.!Veer!to!the!left!for!ample!parking.!!!Leader:!Denise!Riddle!([email protected]) %
STEVE’S%SURPRISE%THURSDAY%WALK!Thursday,%January%11%—!8%a.m.!Come!along!on!our!weekday!surpriseQlocation!bird!walk!on!the!second!Thursday!of!each!month.!Where!we!go!is!based!on!recent!reports!and!Steve’s!personal!surveying.!It!is!always!great!fun!!Send!Steve!an!email!if!you!are!interested!in!participating.!!Leader:!Steve!Brad!([email protected])!!
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2016 / 4 SAN%JOAQUIN%MARSH%&%WILDLIFE%SANCTUARY,%IRVINE%
Sunday,%January%14%—%8:00%a.m.%%
Join!Steve!as!we!explore!one!of!the!premier!birding!areas!in!Southern!California.!We!will!have!closeQup!views!of!shorebirds,!waders,!raptors,!and!songbirds.!�Location:!5!Riparian!View,!Irvine!Those!wishing!to!carpool,!meet!at!!the!La!Costa!Avenue!Park!and!Ride!!(off!IQ5!at!La!Costa!Avenue)!at!7:00!a.m.!Leader:!Steve!Brad!(760Q633Q1639)!%
SAN%DIEGUITO%RIVER%PARK%BIRD%WALK%
Saturday,%January%20%—%8:30%a.m.%%
Lower%Crest%Canyon%
We’ll!be!looking!for!the!many!waterfowl!and!shorebirds!that!come!to!spend!the!winter!at!North!County’s!coastal!wetlands.!!Directions:!Lower!Crest!Canyon—!From!IQ5,!take!Via!de!la!Valle!west;!left!on!Jimmy!Durante!Blvd.;!go!east!on!the!turnQabout!to!San!Dieguito!Road.!Continue!driving!east!1!mile!to!the!trailhead.!Leader:!John!Haddock!(760Q941Q7824)!!COASTAL%101%BIRDING%
Saturday,%January%27%—%9%a.m.%%
Meet!up!with!Tom!and!Susie!for!a!casual!combination!birding!workshop!and!bird!count!around!Buena!Vista!Lagoon.!We!visit!Maxton!Brown!Park,!walk!to!the!ocean!and!weir,!and!return!to!the!nature!center!along!Coast!Highway.!We!should!see!waders,!songbirds,!and!shore!birds.!After!the!walk,!we!tally!the!birds!and!finish!by!11:30!a.m.!!!Location:%Buena!Vista!Nature!Center,!2202!S.!Coast!Highway,!Oceanside.!Meet!in!the!parking!lot.!Leaders:%Tom!Troy!(760Q420Q7328)!and!Susie!Martin%!!!
RESULTS%OF%THE%2017%CHRISTMAS%BIRD%COUNT%
Our!newsletter!goes!to!the!printer!a!month!ahead!of!our!planned!events.!Check!the!BVAS!website!(bvaudubon.org)!after!the!New!Year!to!see!the!early!results!!!
ECONEWS VOLUME47/NUMBER1/JAN.2018/4
A Long and Winding Road Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Update
Theissueofhowbesttoenhancethelagoonhasbeenstudiedanddiscussedformanyyearsinanefforttoaddressinfillofthelagoonduetosedimenta8on.Ul8mately,SANDAGconsentedtotakeoverasleadagencyforthelagoonenhancementenvironmentalreviewprocess.Inthelastfewmonths,progresshasbeenmadeoncomple8ngthatenvironmentalprocess,althoughafundingsources8llneedstobesecuredfortheprojecttobeimplemented.
Asbackground,theDraFEnvironmentalImpactReport(EIR),whichanalyzedsaltwater,freshwater,andhybridalterna8ves,wasissuedinJuly2015andfollowedbyapubliccommentperiod.TheninSeptemberofthisyear,SANDAGcompletedtheFinalEIR,whichdesignatedtheSaltwaterAlterna8veastheproposedproject.Theydeterminedthatthisalterna8vebestmettheprojectobjec8ves,withsuperiorbenefitsforbirdsandotherwildlife,aswellasforwaterquality.BuenaVistaAudubonsupportstheSaltwaterAlterna8veastheenvironmentallysuperioralterna8ve,asdoestheUSFishandWildlifeService,theCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife,andtheCaliforniaCoastalCommission.
OnNovember7th,thelagoonenhancementprojectwasplacedontheCarlsbadCityCouncilagendabyCouncilwomanCoriSchumachertoinformthepublicandCouncilontheprojectissues.TheCouncilheardareportfromtheSANDAGrepresenta8veand,aFerhearingpublictes8mony,votedunanimouslytosendaleYertoSANDAGindica8ngtheirsupportfortheSaltwaterAlterna8ve.However,theweirthatprevents8dalinfluencesinthelagoonislocatedonprivatepropertyandtheremays8llbesubstan8alresistancetothisalterna8ve.TheSANDAGBoardwillmakethefinaldecisiononwhichalterna8vetosupportandahearingbeforetheBoardisexpectedinlateJanuary.TheBoardcanchooseanyofthealterna8ves,astheywereallthoroughlyanalyzedintheEIR.BVASwillkeepmembersinformedonthewebsiteandonFacebook.
DoIneedaLandsPassattheBuenaVistaLagoonEcologicalReserve?
OnJanuary1,2018,theCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife(CDFW)isimplemen8ngaLandsPassProgramatBuenaVista,Ba8quitos,andSanElijoLagoons.Anyoneovertheageof16whoplanstoaccessthesereserves’trailsmustfirstacquireaLandsPass.Therearecertainexemp8onsthatapply,includingvolunteers,researchers,andchaperoneswithorganizedschooltours.Ourwebsitecontainsallthedetailsandvisitorsshouldbefamiliarwiththese.Theannualanddayusepasses($24.33and$4.32,respec8vely)willnotbeavailableonsitebutcanbepurchasedonlineatwww.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales/,byphoneat(800)565-1458,andinpersonwhereverhun8ngandfishinglicensesaresold.
CDFWisgoingtobeusingtherevenuefromtheprogramtofundthemaintenanceandconserva8onofCalifornia’secologicalreservesandwildlifeareas.
Formoreinforma8onregardingtheLandsPassProgramandtheBuenaVistaAudubonSociety,pleasevisit:hYps://bvaudubon.org/2017/11/26/lands-pass-program/.
KIDS’CORNERATTHENATURECENTER
JoeyandJohnny’sClubhouseSunday,January21from1-4p.m.Thismonthwewillcreateourownowlsoutofbark.Comejointhefun!
PreschoolNatureStory@meMonday,January29at10a.m.ThefocusforJanuarywillbeducks.QuesFons?CallSallyat760-525-2351
OPPORTUNITIES VOLUME47/NUMBER1/JAN.2018/5
Suppor@ngTomorrow’sNaturalistsToday
BuenaVistaAudubon’sTeenScholarshipProgram
BVASisproudtoannouncethekickoffofanewprogramtosupportnature-relatedstudiesorprojectsoflocalteens.AwidearrayofacFviFeswillbeconsidered:parFcipaFoninBVAS-orotherAudubon-sponsoredtripsorclasses,involvementinotherscienFficcoursework,conferences,orfieldstudies,orthecreaFonandimplementaFonofanature-orientedprojectinthelocalcommunity.
NorthCountystudents,ages13–19,areinvitedtosubmitproposalsthroughMarch30.TheapplicantsareaskedtodescribetheirinterestsandinvolvementinbirdingornatureandofferadescripFonofhowtheymightusetheiraward,shouldtheybeselected.AsFpendofupto$500isbeingoffered.ForfurtherdetailsandtodownloadthescholarshipapplicaFonform,seedigitalpages7-8orgoonlineathYps://bvaudubon.org/educaFon/.
BVASCONTACTS,BOARD*,ANDCHAIRS
Center:[email protected]:AnneYeSchneider760-716-7686Volunteersandoutreach:BobCrowell*[email protected]:JaniceOsborne [email protected]:NatalieShapiro*406-241-2153 [email protected]:AndyMauro* [email protected]:Bruce*&PaYyMontgomery* [email protected]*andchairs:Vice-President DennisHuckabay*Vice-President JoanHerskowitz*Secretary JudiWilson*Treasurer MargieEllsworth*Director SandyMcMullen*Director JaneMygaY*Director CurtBusk*LandManager MeganMarshallConservaFonChair JoanHerskowitz*NaFvePlantClub JoanBockman*FieldTrips SteveBrad*BirdHouseAucFon KellyDeveney*FaciliFes/Exhibits DannyDiMento*GiiShop DeniseRiddle*Programs DennisHuckabay*Publicity NatalieShapiro*Library C.J.DiMentoChildren’sPrograms SallyBickertonWebmasters NatalieShapiro*&J.J.Springer
(Heavy-Handed)NewYear’sResolu@ons
1. Renewyourmembership.
2.Goonanewbirdwalk.
3.PlantanaFveplant.
BVASQUICKCALENDAR
Mon.Jan.1 NOGARDENCLUBDUETOHOLIDAYThurs.Jan.4 BirdingLeoCarrilloRanch 8:00a.m.Fri.Jan.5 NatureGuidesMeeNng 10:00a.m.Sat.Jan.6 WhelanLakeBirdSanctuaryWalk 8:00a.m.Mon.Jan.8 GardenClub 10:00a.m.Wed.Jan.10 ElCorazonGarrisonCreekWalk 7:30a.m.Thurs.Jan.11 Steve’sSurpiseThursdayWalk 8:00a.m.Sun.Jan.14 SanJoaquinMarsh&WildlifeSanc.8:00a.m.Mon.Jan.15 GardenClub 10:00a.m.Fri.Jan.19 BoardMeeNng 9:00a.m.Sat.Jan.20 SanDieguitoRiverParkBirdWalk8:30a.m.Sun.Jan.21 Joey&Johnny’sClubhouse 1:00p.m.Mon.Jan.22 GardenClub 10:00a.m.Sat.Jan.27 Coastal101Birding 9:00a.m.Mon.Jan.29 PreschoolNatureStoryNme 10:00a.m.Mon.Jan.29 GardenClub 10:00a.m.
BuenaVistaAudubonAChapteroftheNa-onalAudubonSociety2202S.CoastHighwayOceanside,CA92054
760-439-BIRD(-2473)email:[email protected]:www.bvaudubon.org
CenterHoursSunday:1-4p.m.Monday:CLOSED
Tuesday-Saturday:10a.m.-4p.m.
LAGOONFLYERBUENAVISTAAUDUBONSOCIETYP.O.Box480Oceanside,CA92049
DATEDMATERIALPleaseDeliverPromptly
ChangeServiceRequested
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT # 193
Oceanside, CA
JoinusonJan.17tolearnaboutthedesert-dwellinggreaterhoopoe-larkandotherbirdsfromMorocco.
BuenaVistaAudubonSocietyTeenScholarshipProgram
ApplicationForm
Guidelines:OpentoNorthCountyteens,ages13–19,theBVASTeenScholarshipProgramwillawardascholarshipsupportingnature-relatedactivities,studies,orlocal,communityprojects.CompletedapplicationsareduebyMarch30,2018,andcanbesubmittedbyemail([email protected])ordeliveredtotheNatureCenter(2202SouthCoastHighway,Oceanside,CA92054).ThewinningapplicantshouldplantocompletetheirprojectbyDecember31,2018.
PersonalInformation:
Name: Age: StreetAddress: City: ZipCode: Phone: School: District: ParentorGuardian’sName: Address&PhoneNumber(ifdifferent):
InterestsandInvolvement:Brieflydescribeyourpastandpresentinterestsandinvolvementinbirdingornature.
BVASTeenScholarshipProgram—ApplicationForm (Page2)
Project:Describeyourproject,courseorstudy,orfieldactivity.WhatspecificallywillyoudoandaccomplishusingBuenaVistaAudubon’ssupport?Whyistheprojectoractivityimportant,eithertoyouasabuddingnaturalistortoyourlocalcommunity?Whatisthebudgetforyourplan,andhowmuchsupportareyourequestingfromBVAS(uptoamaximumstipendof$500?)
Agreement:IfawardedascholarshipbyBVAS,IagreetofullycompletethedescribedprojectbyDecember31,2018.Signed: Student Parent
