Please join us for the 2014 Birdathon! This major fundraiser will support the many programs and projects Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) undertakes to contribute to our area’s habitats and its birds. As you can see in the diagram above, there are four major event types this year. We hope you find many activities to enjoy!

Birdathon Overview:

• It’s easy! Register online starting April 1, at: http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com

• Sign up for one or more of the seven expert-led field trips on April 27 and May 2-4.

• Count bird species anytime from April 26 – May 4, on your own or with a team!

• Raise funds for SBAS by asking friends and family to sponsor your sightings.

• Sponsor other birders’ (or your own) efforts by donating funds for their counts.

• EveningreceptionatCheadleCenterforBiodiversityandEcologicalRestoration—Wednesday,April30,5:30-8:00pm. • Join the wrap-up picnic Sunday May 4, 1-3 pm at Stow Grove Park to hear Birdathon results.

• Questions? Email us at Birdathon@SantaBarbaraAudubon.org

The mission of the Santa Barbara Audubon Society is to help conserve and restore the earth’s natural ecosystems and improve its biological diversity, principally in the Santa Barbara area, and to connect people with birds and nature through education, science-based projects and advocacy.

Birdathon Field Trips

There will be seven Birdathon field trips led by expert birders. Here’s your chance to bird with a small group at special locations (some require special permission to visit). All trips are limited to 10-15 people (plus trip leaders), except the beginning class.The number of allowable attendees is posted on the Eventbrite Registration page: http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com.Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers, and bring binoculars, scopes (if you wish), snacks, and water. Directions to field trip meeting sites will be emailed when your online registration is received. Biographies of trip leaders may be found at http://www.SantaBarbaraAudubon.org.

Birds & Blooms of Figueroa Mountain

Sunday April 27, 8:30 am – 2 pm

Cathy Rose and Barb Millett

Minimum Donation: $60

Meeting Location: TBD (carpool at 8:00 am)

Barb Millett, long-time Santa Barbara birder, and Cathy Rose, California native plant enthusiast, will lead a trip to Figueroa Mountain. We will make stops in grasslands, manzanita chaparral, and pine forest. Possible birds include Lark Sparrow, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black- throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, and Pygmy Nuthatch. We will stop for wildflowers, including Chinese houses, buttercup, Coreopsis, goldfields, poppy, lupine, and chocolate lily. We’ll picnic at Pino Alto Campground and take a short walk afterwards to the summit of Figueroa Mountain (4528’). Please bring water, a picnic lunch, and a camera.

Matilija Creek

Sunday April 27, 7 am – 1 pm

Peter Gaede

Minimum Donation: $60

Meeting Location: TBD (carpool at 7:00 am)

Matilija Creek is a major tributary to the Ventura River, located off Highway 33 a short distance from Ojai in Ventura County. We will explore the area upstream of the Matilija Dam (aka Matilija Lake), a riparian habitat with a diverse array of birds, aquatic life and native plants. The cattail marsh just behind the lake provides habitat for Least Bitterns (which breed here), and the alder/cottonwood gallery forest along the creek is an excellent place to look for migrants.The chaparral-dominated slopes and mountains above the creek will provide a scenic backdrop to our birding adventure, and it will be no surprise why this area has been proposed to be added to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System by the California Wild Heritage Act.Bring cameras, and the trip leader will provide a spotting scope.

Las Cruzitas Ranch

Friday May 2, 8:15 am – noon

Nancy States and Cruz Phillips

Minimum Donation: $40

Meeting Location: TBD (carpool at 7:30 am)

This private 1,500-acre bird-friendly cattle ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley includes oak woodland, grassland, and chaparral. The ranch has many feeders that regularly attract a wonderful assortment of birds. Possible birds: sapsuckers, roadrunners, Phainopepla, Yellow-billed Mag- pie, Prairie Falcon, White-tailed Kites, Lazuli Bunting, hummingbirds, and maybe a Golden Eagle or Burrowing Owl. Cruz Phillips, the ranch owner and an avid birder, will join us. Tour will begin near the ranch house where there are a large number of feeders and a bird habitat.We will take an easy walk around the general area and perhaps a tour of a canyon. Bring lunch if you want to picnic.

Sedgwick Reserve

Saturday May 3, 9 am – 2 pm Fred Emerson

Minimum Donation: $60 Meeting Location: At Site

A rare opportunity to bird the Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley, which can be visited only with special permission. Possible birds include spring warblers, sora, various raptors, Phainopepla, as well as birds of oak savannas and woodland. Bring your lunch if you wish and enjoy a post-lunch tour of LEED Platinum Tipton Meeting House, historic barn, artist studio, and ranch house.

Lake Los Carneros for Beginners

Saturday May 3, 8:30 am – 10:30 am Hugh Ranson

Minimum Donation: $20

Meeting Location: At Site

If you are a beginning birder, this trip will help you tune your skills! Come to beautiful Lake Los Carneros and learn from experienced birder Hugh Ranson. Possible species include spring migrants such as tanagers, warblers, orioles and hummingbirds. Before you come, you might purchase the “The Birds of Lake Los Carneros,” by Roger Millikan and Adam Lewis.

Paradise Reserve

Sunday May 4, 8:30 am – 11:00 am

Cristina Sandoval

Minimum Donation: $30

Meeting Location: TBD (carpool at 8:00 am)

Unique opportunity to visit this privately-owned natural area on the north-facing slope of the Santa Ynez Mountains, established by biologists Cristina Sandoval and Kevin Lafferty to foster research and awareness of the mountain ecosystem. We will be joined by Dr. Cristina Sandoval, COPR Director. The walk is an easy uphill stroll. Everyone will enjoy seeing this unspoiled piece of Santa Barbara County, featured in the recent documentary “The Santa Ynez River Wilderness.”

Birding Hot Spots

Sunday May 4, 8 am – 11:30 am Rob Lindsay

Minimum Donation: $30 Meeting Location: TBD

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Count Team Information

A Birdathon is similar to a Walkathon — instead of counting miles walked, count species seen or heard and ask your friends and family to support your endeavor. Ask for a total amount or a pledge per bird. It can be a way to let others know how much birding means to you and how much SBAS does to help the birds and environment in our region.

You can bird on your own or get a group of friends to form a team and bird together. You don’t have to go anywhere exotic to bird — your backyard, a favorite hiking trail, one of Santa Barbara’s beautiful open spaces — we are lucky to have so many wonderful birding places! The idea is to go birding and at the same time support Santa Barbara Audubon.

$$$

If you go birding on your own or form a team, the registration donation is $20.This is only the minimum — why not try for $50 or $100? You can raise money from others, or donate for your team.

Donate online: http://www.SantaBarbaraAudubon.org, or http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com

OR

Bring your cash or check donations to the Wrap-up Picnic, Sunday, May 4 from 1-3 pm at Stow Grove Park in Goleta,

OR

Mail checks to: Santa Barbara Audubon Society 5679 Hollister Ave, Suite 5B

Goleta, CA 93117

Remember, you must register (and pay $20 minimum) to have your birding totals included in the Birdathon final species count!

Wrap-Up Picnic

Sunday May 4, 1 – 3 pm Stow Grove Park

580 La Patera Lane, Goleta

We hope to see you at the Birdathon Wrap-up Picnic:

Hear results – species seen by teams and field trips

Bring your species lists and donations

Meet and share stories with other birders

Lunch available for $15. Order online by April 28:

http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com

Bring your own lunch, if preferred.

Evening at CCBER

Wine & Cheese Reception

Lecture by Dr.Adrian O’Loghlen

April 30, 5:30 – 8 pm

Minimum Donation: $40 (parking fee not included)

This evening event at the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) is a rare opportunity to browse the extensive collection of bird and natural history specimens (more than 300,000), and hear a presentation (6:30 – 7:15 pm) by Dr.Adrian O’Loghlen from UCSB.

Dr. O’Loghlen will present “That ‘Dastardly’ Cowbird — A Model for Human Behavior?” on songbird communication and how this relates to his research on cowbirds. Songbirds are one of the very few groups of animals known to learn their vocal behavior.They are used extensively as models for research into language acquisition and speech development in humans. Dr. O’Loghlen will include demonstrations of the extraordinary songs and singing behavior of cowbirds, the complexity of which has led to cowbirds being described as “the undisputed winner in the decathlon of avian vocalizations.”

Registration

This year, Birdathon registration is online at:

http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com

Search the trips and other events and click to buy one or more tickets. These include field trips, the CCBER evening event, count team registration, count team donations, and wrap-up picnic lunches. Online payment via credit card. You’ll receive a confirmation email containing instructions on where to meet for trips, etc.

If you’re unable to register online, please email: Birdathon@SantaBarbaraAudubon.org.

El Tecolote, April—May 2014

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Don’t Miss Out — Register Early!

http://birdathon2014.eventbrite.com

© Rick and Nora Bowers

Santa Barbara Audubon Programs

The Condor’s Shadow — Film Screening and Q&A

Presented by Jeff McLoughlin & Joseph Brant Wednesday, April 23 / 7:00 pm

Attend a free screening of the year-in-the-life documentary film that follows USFWS biologist Joseph Brandt into the world of endangered species recovery. His mission: To enable the California condor to fly free once again.After the film there will be a Q&A with the filmmaker Jeff McLoughlin and Joseph Brant.

A species reduced to just 22 birds in 1982, the condor population has been rebuilt to over 400 today. But the California condor’s recovery is not quite complete.The Condor’s Shadow will make you appreciate the challenges that remain and the part we can all play in pulling the condor back from the brink of extinction.

Set in the ruggedly beautiful Southern California habitat of the iconic California condor, The Condor’s Shadow explores the great hope and extreme lengths that biologists, zookeepers, scientists, and a condor with the Native American name Pitahsi bring to the task of pulling the condor back from the brink of extinction. A story with roots in Santa Barbara history, the film includes segments with the SB Museum of Natural History’s own Janet Hamber and biologist Jesse Grantham, both of whom have lived the story of the Condor since the 1970s. Beautifully photographed and emotionally engaging, this is a film that will be appreciated by everyone who cares about wild things and wild places.

Biologist Joseph Brandt, zookeeper Mike Clark, and toxicologist Myra Finkelstein all contribute to this story of endangered species recovery.With vérité footage shot in the ruggedly beautiful nesting habitat of the condor and interviews with those who have lived the story for more than thirty years, this heart-wrenching and beautiful film will make you appreciate the passion and hard work required to pull a species back from the brink.

Birds in Black…and Blue: Corvids of the Santa Ynez Valley

Presented by Dennis & Jessica Beebe Wednesday, May 28 / 7:00 pm

The father and daughter team of Dennis and Jessica Beebe loves everything about the natural world available in Santa Barbara County and beyond. Both serve as docents for the UC Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Ynez and the non-profit educational organization NatureTrack based in Los Olivos. Dennis and Jessica also volunteer at the UC Coal Oil Point Reserve located on campus.

After completing a career in the United States Air Force and later as a consultant to the aerospace industry, Dennis has devoted

himself to his love of the outdoors and nature education. In this, his latest career, he considers himself a “generalist” and a work-in- progress. In preparing this presentation he has relied exclusively on his older daughter Jessica both for her birding knowledge, her research tenacity, and her computer expertise.

Jessica’s consuming passion is birds and birding. She reads bird guides for a pastime — and remembers everything she reads.With her parents’ support, Jessica has traveled extensively to birding hot spots in the US and elsewhere, including New Mexico, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, England, Ireland, Tanzania, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Costa Rica.

Dennis and Jess have prepared their presentation from a slightly different perspective. Knowing that the majority of their audiences would already know the standard bird guide summaries, they have chosen to delve into the fascination that man has held for these birds from the beginning of history and some of the reasons why. Theirs is a multi-media presentation, complete with slides, videos, and hands-on bird skins.

All programs will take place at Farrand Hall, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara. Free on-site parking. All programs will begin at 7:30 p.m. and are free to the public. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. SBAS members are encouraged to bring guests.

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Audubon Field Trips

Audubon Field trips are fun for both beginning and expert bird watchers. Binoculars are useful for enjoyment of birds, but if you don’t have a pair, please call the trip leader and we’ll lend you a spare. Trips are free unless noted.

Field Trips/Bird Walks Do you have an idea?

We are always looking for suggestions for places to visit on our monthly field trips. If you have an idea and are not sure where or what to do next, or are interested in helping coordinate a field trip, contact Jack Sanford at 805-566-2191 or birdsandtennis@hotmail. com.

Santa Barbara Audubon Field Trips

Everyone is welcome!

These trips are fun for both beginning and expert bird lovers.Trips are free unless noted. Please contact Jack Sanford email: birdsandtennis@hotmail.com for details or questions.

Rancho La Vina

Saturday April 19, 2014 / 9:00 am -12 noon (8 am at car pool location)

Target Birds: Spring migrants, song birds, woodpeckers, etc Leader: Jack Sanford

Directions: Wewillcarpoolat8:00amfromtheparkinglotalongsideBig5SportingGoodsintheFivePoints Shopping Center off State Street ($8 gas money to drivers).

Hwy l0l to Santa Rosa Rd offramp just before Buellton. We will park and meet at 4455 Santa Rosa Road (between Buellton and Lompoc) at 9:00 am.

Bring water, a snack, and wear shoes that are comfortable for some leisurely walking. Binoculars and spotting scopes are useful. Enjoy ranch owner Jose Baer’s generous hospitality in allowing us to bird his ranch.

Nojoqui Falls County Park

Saturday May 10, 2014 / 9:00 am – 12 noon (8 am at car pool location)

Target Birds: Yellow-billed magpie, purple martin, blue grosbeak, lazuli bunting, barn owl, vireos, towhees, woodpeckers and orioles

Leader: Rob Lindsay

Directions: Wewillcarpoolat8:00amfromtheparkingareaalongsideBig5SportingGoodsintheFivePoints Shopping Center off State Street ($8 gas money to drivers). We will take Hwy 101 north to the Nojoqui Falls turnoff (the next turn off after a large truck parking area). We will hike to the falls (an easy walk) and then bird the entire park. If you plan on meeting us there we will park and meet at the parking area nearest the falls. (9:00 am). Bring water, and a snack or lunch.

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