september-october 2008 pelican newsletter lahontan audubon society

8/9/2019 September-October 2008 Pelican Newsletter Lahontan Audubon Society

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

The Pelican is the of cial newsletter of the Lahontan AudubonSociety and is published six times annually. Subscriptions arepaid for as part of the dues of LAS or the National AudubonSociety. LAS welcomes gifts, donations, and bequests ingeneral, or gifts in honor or memory of relatives and friends.Such donations will be used as speci ed or, if unspeci ed, willbe used to support LAS education and conservation projects.All donations are tax deductible.

WHERE TO WRITE:Keep conservation to the forefront. Write your elected of cials and

tell them how you feel:

Senator Harry Reid Senator John Ensign400 S. Virginia St. #902 400 S. Virginia St. #738Reno, NV 89501 Reno, NV 89501Toll-free: 1-866-736-7343 Reno phone: 775-686-5770

Representative Dean Heller Governor Jim Gibbons400 S. Virginia St. #502 101 N. Carson St.Reno, NV 89501 Carson City, NV 89710Reno phone: 775-686-5760 775-684-5670

FIELD TRIPS Christiane Omer 775-354-2634 [email protected]

LAS eld trips are free and open to the public. Birders of all skill levels areencouraged to participate. Please pre-register with trip leaders so they cancontact you in the event of trip changesor cancellations. Always dress for

changing weather conditions and bringsomething to eat and drink. For additionalinformation, visit the LAS website atwww.nevadaaudubon.org or contact FieldTrip Chair Christiane Omer.

Saturday, September 13Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson CityTime: 7:30 a.m.Leader: Nancy Santos 775-884-1570,[email protected]: Lahontan Audubon Societyand Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch.We will meet in the ranch parking lotat 7:30 a.m. The ranch is located onCarson River Road, off East 5th Street.Plan to spend the morning exploringthe ranch for birds and learning a littleabout the ranch history. Habitat at theranch includes sagebrush, agriculturallands, and a riparian corridor adjacentto the Carson River. The variety of habitat allows for a diverse number of

bird species to be observed at the ranch.All levels of birders are welcome, and

beginning birders are encouraged toattend. Please contact Nancy Santos toregister or for more information. Theannual Friends of Silver Saddle RanchBreakfast will follow the bird walk. All

eld trip attendees are encouraged to stay,eat, and visit. Donations for the breakfastare appreciated.

Saturday, September 20Markleeville, CATime: 8:00 a.m.Leader: Jim Woods 775-265-3914, cell775-691-6809, [email protected] will be hiking and looking for birds

in both riparian and alpine habitats.There will be birds in mixed plumages,so bring your eld guides, binoculars,cameras, and scopes. The areas we willcover are Grover Hot Springs, PleasantValley, Carson River, and MarkleevilleCreek. We will meet at the MarkleevilleLibrary. To get there from Reno, go southon Hwy 395 to Minden, bear right (south)at the rst light onto Hwy 88. Continuesouth for 14 miles to Woodfords, the

junction with Hwy 89 (blinking yellowlight). Turn left (south) on Hwy 89and go approximately seven miles toMarkleeville. Turn right (west) on HotSprings Road, and go one block into the

parking lot of the library. Expect to spendthe day (approximately until 3:00 p.m.),so bring a sack lunch, water, and bugspray.

Saturday, September 27Stillwater NWR Time: 7:30 a.m.Leader: Mike Goddard 775-423-5128Meet at the refuge of ce, 1000 AuctionRoad (just off Williams Avenue (US 50)

behind the Speedway gas station) at 7:30a.m. We will tour Stillwater NWR and/or Carson Lake and Pasture, dependingupon wetland conditions. Due to theshortened irrigation season, some wetlandareas may not have water yet. Refuge

staff will bring two spotting scopes. Thenew refuge tour loop is open, and staff will brief you on pending constructionof the Duffs Pond EnvironmentalEducation facility. Please RSVP to MikeGoddard, Stillwater NWR Project Leader

775-423-5128.

Monday, September 29Kiley Ranch Wildlife Wetland PreserveTime: 8:00 a.m.Leaders: Kiley Ranch RepresentativesThis is an opportunity to see a nature

preserve in the making! Kiley Ranchis a community housing developmentin Sparks that is working to preservewildlife habitat for animals and for humans. Representatives from KileyRanch will answer our questions aboutthe preserve process, vision, and when wemight expect the work to be completed.We will have approximately two hours tolook for birds in the wetlands and openskies (think raptors) and learn about the

preserve. After our tour, and dependingon timing and desires, we will have theopportunity to view other local birdingspots. Audubon eld trip leader KathyOakes will be your birding guide. Meetat the Kiley Ranch Welcome Center,1000 Kiley Parkway. Wear sturdy shoes

because the trails are primitive. Limitedto 12 participants. Call Christiane Omer 775-354-2634 to reserve your space.Directions are on our website. You canview a map to the Welcome Center at http://www.kileyranch.com/docs/welcome_maps.pdf.

(Field Trips continued on page 3)


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Saturday, October 4Swan Lake/Lemmon Valley Marsh,North RenoTime: 8:00 a.m.Leader: Bob Goodman 775-972-7848,[email protected]

Meet Bob (look for his van) at 8:00a.m. at the McDonalds parking lot off Exit 74, Lemmon Valley on Hwy 395north of Reno. We will carpool the shortdistance to Lemmon Valley Marsh. Bringa spotting scope if you can and prepare to

be out until mid-day. This is a good timeto see fall migrants and winter resident

birds on the marsh and wetlands. Thisis an easy bird walk, and all birders,regardless of experience, are welcome.

Saturday, October 11Taylor Creek, South Lake TahoeTime: 8:30 a.m.Leaders: Sue Stevenson 530-577-5394,[email protected] and SherylFerguson 530-541-8462, [email protected] will meet at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center kiosk at 8:30 am. From Reno or Carson City, take Hwy 50 over to SouthLake Tahoe. Follow Hwy 50 South andturn right onto 89 (Emerald Bay Rd.) atthe Y intersection in South Lake Tahoe,shortly after Staples. Drive 2.9 milesfrom the Y. After Richardsons Resort,look for the U.S. Forest Service LakeTahoe Visitor Center sign on the rightside of the road. Turn in at the sign and

park in the parking lot. This easy half-day bird walk will follow a nature trail (withhandicap access). We will enjoy lunch ata local burger stand, but you may bringyour own lunch if you prefer. Since thisis a fall trip, added bonuses include looksat the Kokanee Salmon spawning runand gorgeous fall colors. After lunch Sue

and Sheryl will also point out places of interest for birders who wish to continueafternoon birding on their own.

Saturday, October 18Oxbow Park, RenoTime: 8:00 a.m.Leader: Dave Jickling 775-848-0069,[email protected] at the Oxbow Park parking lot at8:00 a.m. for this easy nature trail walk.

To get there, take I-80 West, turn southoff the Keystone Exit, and turn right on2nd Street which turns into DickersonRoad, then follow it until it ends at the

park. This park is a great local hotspotto nd fall migrants and to learn about

Renos backyard birds. Plan to spenda few hours, so bring your binoculars,a scope if you have one, and water. Agreat walk for beginner and experienced

birders alike.

Saturday, October 25Wandering the Carson ValleyTime: 8:00 a.m.Leader: Jim Woods 775-265-3914, cell775-691-6809, [email protected] is a great opportunity to see thenumerous birds and habitats of theCarson Valley. Well take a walk at theIncline Village General ImprovementDistrict (IVGID) wetlands to look for waterfowl, and hopefully be enraptured

by Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel,Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, and NorthernHarrier. On the Carson River, well look for King sher, Merganser, Coopersand Sharp-shinned Hawks, and thosechallenging sparrows! Meet at the In& Out Burger in Carson at 8:00 a.m. tocarpool. From Reno, take 395 South toCarson City. South of Carson City turnright on Topsy Lane (a mile or so southof Spooner Summit turn-off), then take aleft into the shopping center and nd In& Out Burger. Look for a red mid-size

pick-up with a red camper shell. Bring a bag lunch and plenty of water, a scope if possible, and expect to wrap up around2:30 p.m.

Field Trip Reports

June 14, 2008Thomas Creek, east side of theCarson RangeLeader: Alan de QueirozTwelve of us spent the morning birdingthe trail along Thomas Creek upstreamfrom Timberline Drive and then back down on the road that parallels the creek.This is a nice riparian area of aspen,cottonwood, alder, and willow, withJeffrey pine and mountain mahogany on

the slopes above. The group was MegAndrews, Jim and Meg Wallace, Aland Judy Frederick, Helaine Greenbergand Larry Hardy, Don Lauer, KarolMcClellan, Mar Siddall, Mary Jo Elpers,and I. It was a warm, sunny morning

and the birds were in the full swingof breeding. A highlight was seeing aRed-breasted Sapsucker at close rangerepeatedly ycatching and collectingthe insects in its beak, presumablyto feed to its mate or young. We alsosaw a female Western Tanager on anest in a Jeffrey pine, a chubby Lesser Gold nch edgling begging for foodfrom its mother, a Chipping Sparrow verynonchalantly gathering nesting materialon the trail, and a Mountain Chickadeetaking food to a nest cavity. We had brief views of a MacGillivrays Warbler and aTownsends Solitaire and terrible backlitlooks at a Plumbeous or Cassins Vireo.The numbers of Red-breasted Sapsuckersand Western Tanagers were extraordinary

about four or ve sapsuckers and atleast a dozen tanagers. Western Wood-

pewees, Cassins Finches, and WarblingVireos were almost everywhere. Therewere also quite a few Black-headedGrosbeaks, although we only had a longlook at one. We saw 23 species in all andenjoyed a nice walk along the creek.

June 20-22Unionville Birding and B&BLeader: Alan Gubanich Alan Gubanich led a delightful weekendtrip for LAS to Unionville over theJune 20 weekend. We stayed at the OldPioneer Gardens Bed and Breakfast, agreat place to sleep, eat, and bird. A fewfolks stayed at the tree- lled campgroundup the road. We had over 20 fun folksand our 52-species bird list included

sightings by people off on their own inthe area surrounding Unionville and bythe group as a whole. You can view thecomplete species list on the LAS website.A Calliope Hummingbird was seen atfeeders east of Lovelock at a lush desertoasis home belonging to friends of Randyand Debbie Pontius. Debbie organized aninformational packet for everyone

(Field Trips continued on page 4)

FIELD TRIPS(continued from page 2)


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Bird Banding

For three weeks this summer, I had aunique opportunity to participate in eldresearch in Alaska studying Black Brant.I helped out Chris Nicolai on BairdInlet Island on the Yukon Delta NationalWildlife Refuge, which supports 80% of all breeding Black Brant. The island weworked on is one of four colonies foundwithin the refuge. The work consistedof capturing female brant on their nests,testing them for avian in uenza, bandingthem, and placing radio transmitters onthem. We also placed web tags on thefeet of as many goslings as we could,which totaled about 700.

In July, Chris went back to Alaska to

participate in the goose roundups, whichincluded banding approximately 2,200 brant, including goslings with web tags.By catching a web-tagged gosling inJuly and knowing exactly when thetag was put on in June, researchers areable to determine the rate of growth for individual goslings. Researchers areable to compare growth rates to other colonies and determine possible causesof low growth rates and survivorship.By having unique identifying bands

placed on the birds as well, observersup and down the Paci c Coast canreport sightings of birds that help

piece together information on dispersaland migration. Reports of bandedBlack Brant harvested by hunters also

provide additional data on survival anddistribution.

The following information on bandinghas been taken from the U.S. GeologicalSurvey (USGS) website.

Bird banding is a universal andindispensable technique for studying

dispersal and migration, behavior and social structure, life-span andsurvival rate, reproductive success,and population growth. The USGSBird Banding Laboratory issues

permits and the appropriate bandsthat allow people and organizationsto band birds, maintains the datacollected, and coordinates the marking

projects in the United States. TheBird Banding Program supports thework of federal and state conservationagencies, the academic community,

professional and amateur ornithologists,nongovernmental organizations, and

businesses. These banders are involvedin promulgating hunting regulations,monitoring bird populations, restoringendangered species, studying effectsof environmental contaminants,studying bird behavior and ecology,and addressing issues of human health,safety, and economy that involve birds.

People have been banding (or ringing,as it is called in Europe) birds for centuries. The rst record of a metal

band attached to a birds leg was about

1595, when one of Henry IVs bandedPeregrine Falcons was lost in pursuitof a bustard in France. It showed up 24hours later in Malta, about 1,350 milesaway, averaging 56 miles an hour!

Duke Ferdinand placed a silver bandon a Grey Heron about 1669; the birdwas recovered by his grandson about1728, indicating the heron lived atleast 60 years. In 1710 in Germany, afalconer captured a Grey Heron withseveral rings on one leg. The bander was unknown, but one of the ringswas apparently placed on the heron inTurkey, more than 1,200 milesto the east.

The rst records of banding in NorthAmerica are those of John JamesAudubon, the famous Americannaturalist and painter. In 1803, he tiedsilver cords to the legs of a brood of

phoebes near Philadelphia and was ableto identify two of the nestlings whenthey returned to the neighborhood thefollowing year.

A system for bird banding did notreally develop until 1899, when HansMortensen, a Danish school teacher,

began placing aluminum rings on thelegs of European teal, pintail, whitestorks, starlings and several types of hawks. He inscribed the bands withhis name and address in the hope theywould be returned to him if found. His

system of banding became the model for current efforts.

In 1902, Paul Bartsch, a well-knownconchologist whose hobby was the studyof birds, began the rst scienti c systemof banding in North America. In that year,he ringed more than 100 Black-crowned

Night-Herons in the District of Columbiawith bands inscribed Return toSmithsonian Institution. The real pioneer

bander in the Americas was Jack Miner,who established a waterfowl sanctuarynear Kingsville, Ontario. Between 1909and 1939, he banded 20,000 CanadaGeese alone, many of which carried

bands returned to him by hunters.By 1909, the American Bird Banding

Association had been formed to organize

and assist the growing numbers. In 1920,the Bureau of Biological Survey andthe Canadian Wildlife Service acceptedthe offer to jointly take over the work of the Association. Frederick Lincolnwas assigned the task of organizing the

banding program in the United Statesin the Bureau of Biological Survey(now known as the USGS Bird BandingLaboratory). The North American

banding program has been a joint effortto oversee the activities of dedicated

banders all over the world ever since.The banding database from 1908-2002

represents over 59 million banded birds;of these, 20 million are game and 39million non-game birds. The encounter data for the same time period consists of 3.6 million records, of which 2.7 millionare game birds and 885,000 non-game

birds. Next issue well explore how bird

banding has contributed to scienti cknowledge, management, andconservation of birds in Nevada.

Information for this article was takenfrom the USGS website, and moreinformation on the history of bird bandingand the laboratory itself can be found atthe following website: http://www.

pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage.cfm.

CONSERVATION CORNER Ali Chaney 775-813-3494 [email protected]


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Birds & Books

LAS Birds & Books is a ock of readers interested in nature, especially

birds and birding. The group meets

in Reno on the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.at Sundance Bookstore, 1155 W.4th Street, #106 in the KeystoneSquare Shopping Center. You areencouraged to attend a meeting tosee if this group is for you. You canalso contact Kenn Rohrs at [email protected] or 775-849-9530 for moreinformation. For a complete scheduleand brief description of the selected

books, go to the LAS website www.nevadaaudubon.org and check the Birds & Books section of theMeetings page.

September 16Song for the Blue Ocean by CarlSa na

Brushed by Feathers by FrancesWood, August and September chapters

October 21One Mans Owl by Bernd Heinrich

Brushed by Feathers by FrancesWood, October chapter We will select the books for January-May 2009 at this meeting

November 18The Botany of Desire by MichaelPollan

Brushed by Feathers by FrancesWood, November chapter

December 16 Private Lives of Garden Birds byCalvin Simonds

Brushed by Feathers by FrancesWood, December chapter

Banded Black Brants on Baird Inlet Island on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Chris Nicolai.

Volunteers Appreciation Day -- Sunday, September 28 at Bartley Ranch

Park (the Brick House) 3:00 to 5:30 pm.Without you, our loyal volunteers, LAS would not be able to function as wellas we do. So to say THANKS and to show our appreciation for your dedicationand hard work, we invite all of you volunteers to join us on Sunday, September 28 for a short afternoon of recognition and camaraderie. Wed like all volunteersto attend, no matter what kind of work you did, and no matter how small it mayhave seemed to you. To us, all of it is important and wed like to recognize youfor it. We will hold the event in the Brick House at Bartley Ranch Park. See theOctober 28 monthly meeting announcement (page 1 of this newsletter)for directions to the park. Join us for cake and refreshments and good old-fashioned companionship. Contact Alan Gubanich at [email protected] or 775-857-0191 to let him know if you plan to attend. Thanks -- looking forward

to seeing you there!


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BACKYARD HABITAT Attracting and FeedingHummingbirds

This is the rst in a series of articlesregarding the creation, maintenance,and enhancement of a backyard habitat.

Hummingbirds, also called Jewelsof the Garden , often appear angelic,with their graceful ight, stunningacrobatics, and brilliant iridescentfeathers; however, they are not alwayssuch little angels. Very territorial,they are often found ghting amongthemselves, quite often in groups of upto ve or more birds.Attracting these gems is often simple

and can be achieved by planting

owers, putting up a feeder, or even by placing a small mister that leavesdroplets of water on local vegetation.Everything, however, does not end withattracting these gems. Many peoplewill want these birds to stay and raisea family right in their own backyard.This will require nesting habitat, food,shelter, and water. Nesting and shelter can be comprised of willows, conifers,and even cattails. Conifers are oftenused as a staging, nesting, and resting

area for hummingbirds.Flowers can be planted to providenectar and to attract various species of visitors, not only hummingbirds, to thegarden. Red or yellow tubular owersare best; however, most any will do.Flower species that provide nectar include, delphinium, salvia, foxglove,

penstemon, lupine, and one of their all-time favorites, columbine. I spreadwild ower seed this past spring andthe hummingbirds found several of the

owers enjoyable for nectar, and other owers, which have little in the way of

nectar, also received attention as well because they harbor tasty insects.

Many species will feed low to theground, as low as several inches;however, our migrant RufousHummingbird prefers to feed at aminimum of two feet and will feed ashigh as 20 to 30 feet. I just recently

hoisted several feeders 25 feet up, andthey have been a real hit with manyRufous and the occasional Black-chinned. Many people ll feeders with

purchased nectars; these nectars should be avoided as they are no better for, and

often less popular with, the birds thansugar water. Store-bought nectars claimthey contain vitamins and mineralsthat the birds need; however, if thiswere the case hummingbirds would bemuch more reliant on humans for food.Feeders are considered by the birdsa large ower with an endless (moreor less) supply of food. The recipe for sugar water is four parts water to one partsugar. There is no need to boil the mixunless you plan to keep it refrigerated for

more than a week. Now having dealt with nectar, on tothe other most important part of their diet, insects. It might surprise you, butinsects and other invertebrates makeup 70 to 80 percent of their diet. Somelarge invertebrates including Arachnidsand multiple members of the order Mantodea , will, however, often eathummingbirds . Some of you may havethose pesky little invertebrates thatruin the beauty of your trees called

aphids. May I please ask that youdont remove them, particularly using pesticides, as they are a food source for hummingbirds as well as many other species of birds.

When trying to attract hummingbirds,the more red, the higher your odds of attracting large numbers the rst year.If the birds do not come in numbersthat you seek, or not at all, be patientand keep feeders lled with fresh sugar water. I personally have 11 feeders:four hoisted in trees, one on a plantedsnag, and the others on a shepherdshook. I clean and re ll my feederstwice weekly, and the birds willoccasionally eat from the feeder as Ihold it in my hand. As a general rule,if the sugar water is not cloudy, it isnot spoiled. Feeders should be ushedwith fresh water weekly, and if moldappears, soak the feeder in a one part

bleach to eight parts water solution.Multiple species of hummingbirds can

be seen in northern Nevada throughoutall elevations. Broad-tailed, Calliope,and the migratory Rufous are commonhigher up, often above 7,000 feet, and

sometimes higher than 10,000 feet. Thecommon species of lower elevationsare Calliope, Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Rufous, Annas in western

Nevada, and irregularly, Costas. Mysouth Reno yard has seen six species,Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, Calliope,Rufous, Annas, and Costas.

I hope that this article has beenenjoyable and informative to everyreader, and that you might walk awaywith more knowledge about attracting,

feeding, and enjoying these Jewels of the Garden, hummingbirds.

Jonathan Heywood

Jonathan Heywood, who is 14 yearsold, has been birding for four years.

He began creating bird habitat at hishome two and one-half years ago and has done extensive research on thetopic. He has documented over 85 bird

species in his south Reno yard.

Costas Hummingbird in Jonathans south Reno backyard. Photo by Jonathan Heywood.


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IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAMRobin Powell 775-247-2798 [email protected]

Carpooling If you are interested in carpooling to LASGeneral Meetings, please contact BoardTrustee Linda Badzioch at 775-851-8353or [email protected], who will shareyour information with others in your areawho have expressed interest in carpooling.Please provide (a) your name(s), (b) telephoneand email (if you have it) contacts, (c) areawhere you live, and (d) your choice of riding,driving, or either.

Schedule of General Meetings

November 25 Amy Leist Laysan Life: Five Months in the

Northwestern Hawaiian IslandsJanuary 27 John Wenger New Nature Preserve in Bolivia

Birds Galore!February 24 Jim Yoakum Pronghorn in the Silver State A Success Story

March 24 Bird Identi cation Panel Round 2April 28 Jim Stamates The Theory of Rhythms: A Wildlife

Photographers View on Our Relationship with NatureMay 26 Robin Powell The Audubon IBA Program in Nevada:An Overview of a Habitat Conservation Approach

Washoe ValleyImportant Bird Area

BackgroundOne of the most interesting ImportantBird Areas (IBA) in northern Nevadais the Washoe Valley IBA, whichencompasses the entire valley fromthe Virginia Range to the Sierra

Nevadas and from the southern portion of Pleasant Valley to thenorthern ridge of Eagle Valley. TheWashoe Valley IBA was formallyrecognized in 2003 by the NevadaTechnical Advisory Committee,

which was charged with conductingthe science-based evaluation of proposed IBA sites throughout Nevada.

Bird Life in Washoe Valley IBAWashoe Valley is a birding hot spotin northern Nevada, with high avian

biodiversity of waterfowl and wading birds. In fact, of the 52 bird speciesof concern identi ed by the NevadaIBA Program, seven of these species

regularly occur in the valley, whichspurred the IBA recognition. Theseavian species are: American Avocet,Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis,Clarks Grebe, Great Egret, SnowyEgret, and American White Pelican.

Habitat IssuesThe Washoe Valley IBA supports avariety of habitat types including openwater, emergent marsh vegetation,irrigated meadows (agriculture),

grasslands, and foothill/lower montane shrublands. This mosaic of habitats creates the landscape thatharbors the multitude of bird speciesthat are found in the IBA.

There are various habitat threatsfound throughout the valley. Landconversion of private ranchesinto residential and commercialdevelopment and transition of habitats from wet meadow toupland shrublands are two of themore signi cant threats to the IBA.Another type of habitat conversionis occurring within the IBA that ishaving negative impacts on the birdlife in the valley: noxious weedinfestations. There are several speciesof highly invasive noxious weedsfound throughout the valley on the

private lands, state lands, and federallands. Weed species such as perennial

pepperweed (tall whitetop), Canada

thistle, Russian knapweed, musk thistle, and yellow starthistle aresome of the noxious weeds that areout-competing native vegetation andnegatively impacting wildlife habitatthroughout the valley.

IBA Conservation ActivitiesThrough an extensive evaluation,the Washoe Valley IBA has beenidenti ed as one of the top ve high

priority IBAs in the state. The priority

evaluation of IBAs was based on thelevel of habitat threats to the IBAcorrelated with the opportunitiesavailable to address those threats.Due to the high priority ranking of the Washoe Valley IBA, the NevadaIBA Program has been extremelyactive in providing technical supportto various entities operating withinthe IBA, such as private landowners,grassroots groups, federal and stateagencies, and local decision makers,to mitigate some of the existing andupcoming habitat issues or threats.Currently, the Nevada IBA Programis acting as Washoe-Pleasant ValleysCooperative Weed ManagementArea Coordinator to facilitate acomprehensive weed management

program to protect areas from newinvading plants and properly manageexisting invaders while protecting andconserving the unique bird habitats

within the Washoe Valley IBA.

Robin Powell, Nevada Director of Bird Conservation


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10 The Pelican

BIRDS IN TOwNby Alan Wallace

Without a doubt, Reno, Sparks, and Carson City have surpassed the town category, and Fallon, Fernley, and Elkode nitely have grown. So, transport this Birds in Town column back 30 or 40 years, or even back to the 1860s, and what birdswould be reported? Since the mid-1800s arrival of settlers, sage-grass areas have been turned into housing developments,and vegetation in towns has become more non-native. Oxbow Parks oxbow lake in Reno, which this summer has hostedBlack-crowned Night-Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Mallards, is a vestige of the many long-since- lled oxbow ponds

that once fringed the Truckee, Carson, and Humboldt Rivers as they owed through future towns. Robert Ridgway, an 1860sornithologist, found Bullocks Orioles and Western Wood-Pewees in the riparian cottonwoods and Black-headed Grosbeaks,Spotted Towhees, and House Wrens in the understory shrubs. Now, these birds can choose from elms, maples, and highlyvaried shrubs dispersed over many square miles. Even the Western Scrub-Jays reap the acorn bounty from abundant,imported pin oaks.

What once was a fair distance into the country is now an easy walk out the back door, and this arid landscape now sportsabundant ponds and wetlands that draw both birds and birders alike. The former hay elds and meandering creeks of southernReno are now a housing development with concrete-lined drainages and new wetlands of sorts. Christiane Omer was attacked

by a Willet in wetlands in Wing eld Springs, and Theresa Bell ushed a Common Poorwill from its ground-level nest near her Spanish Springs house, areas that not long ago were covered by sage and grasses and werent in town. Active faultingcreated a small, marshy depression in south-central Reno a few thousand years ago. That depression became urban VirginiaLake, which, this June and July, hosted Western and Clarks Grebes, Snowy Egrets, American White Pelicans, and scads of

gulls and cormorants. Even sewage ponds have expanded over time. Once-tiny Wendover now has large ponds that, in earlyJuly, had a Wood Duck and a Common Goldeneye. Good luck nding a Wood Duck in sere Wendover 40 years ago!

Towns like Lovelock, Austin, Unionville, and Tonopah have stayed about the same, and the birdlife hasnt changed all thatmuch. The 100-plus-year-old Ely city park had abundant Pine Siskins and Cassins Finches in early June, with Pinyon Jayscalling overhead. House Wrens, Yellow Warblers, and Lazuli Buntings lled the lush, narrow canyon of Unionville, similar to what Ridgway observed in 1867. Bobolinks nested as usual in the wet, long-lived hay elds at Lamoille, and Broad-tailedHummingbirds and Common Nighthawks buzzed around Austin, something that Ridgway reported in 1868. Whats changedin these small towns are an increase in birders (Tonopah as a birding destination?) and the range expansions of some species,such as Eurasian Collared-Doves and Great-tailed Grackles, that are now common in many towns, both small and large.

So, what birds would a 1968 or an 1868 Birds in Town column have reported? Of course, fewer people were reportingon birds in the past than now. My guess (and it is only that) is that many species would be similar, but they would have beenseen in different places and likely in different numbers. European Starlings and Rock Pigeons (then Rock Doves) undoubtedly

were less abundant in the distant past, and even 10 years ago a collared-dove or a grackle would have been notable. Instead of the orioles and grosbeaks in now-suburban trees and shrubs, diverse sparrows, hawks, and maybe even Greater Sage-Grousewould have been near-town (not in-town) species, with a few Mountain Quail and Blue (now Sooty) Grouse in the now-developed Sierran foothills. A 2002 paper by Elisabeth Ammon noted that waterbirds and shorebirds were strongly impacted

by the destruction of the riparian areas. Do the newly constructed, in-town wetlands make up for the missing oxbow lakesand riverbanks along the rivers, and do they attract a greater, or lesser, diversity of waterfowl and shorebirds than were foundalong the narrow river corridors? And do all of our bird feeders and baths create new microhabitats for many birds?

In the mere six or so years that Ive been doing this Birds in Town column, the towns and the birds have changed: birdreports from formerly out-of-town locations are now fodder for this column, and the many eagle-eyed birders are seeing morerarities than in the past. What will be reported, and from where, in 2048? All of this reminds me of the oft-asked question:what did Golden Eagles use for perches before telephone poles were planted in our otherwise sage-covered desert? They satsomewhere, but where?

Northern Nevada birders of 2008 reported 109 species from northern Nevada towns during June and July. Instead of justone birder in the 1860s, the many contributors to that total included Elisabeth Ammon, John Anderson, Theresa Bell, ClareEngeseth, Tanya Gennale, Cynthia Goddard, Bob Goodman, Mike Greenan, Jake Highton, Ed Kurtz, Paul Lehman, Sue AnneMarshall, Chris Nicolai, Christiane Omer, Fred Petersen, Harold Peterson, Judy Phoenix, Debbie and Randy Pontius, GregScyphers, Dennis Serdehely, Wayne Shaffer, Jean Sherman, Susan Stead, Rose Strickland and Dennis Ghiglieri, Steve Ting,Julie URen, Pat Wells, Frank Whitman, Diane Wong, Dave Worley, and me. The deadline for the next column is September 25. Send reports to 1050 Sumac St., Reno, NV 89509 or [email protected], or post sightings on the Nevada birdlistserv. Good birding!


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The Pelican 11

LAS SALES FORMPrice Postage TOTAL

Important Bird Areas of Nevada $19.95 $4.60 _____Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2005

A Birding Guide to Reno and Beyond--Second Edition $10 $2 _____Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2007

Nevada Birding Map--Second Edition $ 4 $1 _____Published by Lahontan Audubon Society, 2007

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Make check payable to Lahontan Audubon Society and mail this form to:Kathy Oakes, LAS Membership, 4120 Plateau Road, Reno, NV 89519


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12 The Pelican

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THE PELICANLahontan Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 2304Reno, Nevada 89505

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDRENO, NEVADAPERMIT NO. 181

LAHONTAN AUDUBON SOCIETY

OFFICERS President Karen Kish [email protected] 841-1180Vice President Alan Gubanich [email protected] 857-0191Treasurer Jane Burnham [email protected] 677-4178Recording Secretary Bonnie Wagner [email protected] 829-6311

TRUSTEES Seat #1 to 2011 Dave Straley [email protected] 832-9222Seat #2 to 2011 Gene Hansel [email protected] 354-2150Seat #3 to 2009 Ali Chaney ali_chaney@hotmtail .com 813-3494Seat #4 to 2011 Kathy Oakes [email protected] 747-5446Seat #5 to 2009 Jacque Lowery [email protected] 853-1302Seat #6 to 2010 Linda Badzioch [email protected] 851-8353Seat #7 to 2010 Kenn Rohrs [email protected] 849-9530

IBA Director Robin Powell [email protected] 247-2798

COMMITTEE Activity/Program Alan Gubanich [email protected] 857-0191CHAIRS Birding Classes Bob Goodman pandion36@aol. .com 972-7848

Birds & Books Reading Group Kenn Rohrs [email protected] 849-9530Communications Karen Kish [email protected] 841-1180Conservation Ali Chaney [email protected] 813-3494Education Alan Gubanich [email protected] 857-0191Field Trips Christiane Omer [email protected] 354-2634Hospitality Linda Badzioch [email protected] 851-8353LAS Sales Jane Burnham [email protected] 677-4178Membership Kathy Oakes [email protected] 747-5446

PUBLICATION AND The Pelican Editor Jen Martin [email protected] 742-2582INFORMATION The Pelican Distribution Connie Douglas [email protected] 425-1305

Birds in Town Alan Wallace [email protected] 786-5755LAS Info Line Jacque Lowery 324-BIRDWeb Master Steve Ting [email protected] 849-3725

Postmaster: Please send change of address to The Pelican , P.O. Box2304, Reno, NV 89505.

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september-october 2008 pelican newsletter lahontan audubon society

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