http://www.sfvaudubon.org/">San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

The winning photo in the August/September issue of the Phainopepla newsletter was submitted by a new member of our San Fernando Valley Audubon chapter, Marietta Ewing. Her photograph of a juvenile Mute Swan was taken December 18, 2010 at Anthony Beilenson Park (Balboa Lake). Taken with a Nikon D80. Lens: Nikkor VR Lens 55-200mm F/4-5, Focal Length: 55mm, 1/100 sec – F5, ISO 100.

She is a self-taught nature photographer and two of her photographs have been published in Photographer’s Forum, “Best of Photography 2009″ and “Best of Photography 2010″.

Please submit your photos to gro.nobuduavfsnull@xoddaM.nnyL. Only one picture per photographer per month please! Ideally, the picture will be taken within our area and the information will include the location and the date it was taken, what camera and lens was used, a short account of how the picture was taken, and profile of the photographer. Good shooting! Thanks, Lynn.

The Children’s Birdathon Event will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

The Youth Birdathon Event will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2011 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

Both events will be held at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area.

Click here for more information and entry forms.

Hello Loyal Birdathoners and Birdathon Supporters!

Please note that the Children’s Birdathon Event and the Youth Birdathon Event are both scheduled for Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 9 AM to 11 AM, and that the dates in the Calendar section of the May Phainopepla are in error.

For more information and to participate in these two events, go to www.sfvaudubon.org/annual-birdathon/.

Thanks for your SUPPORT!

A growing online library of bird sounds, photos and information offers a new resource for backyard birders and seasoned ornithologists alike. MSU’s Avian Vocalizations Center, or AVoCet, offers free downloads of bird sounds from around the world. It also features sonograms that visually chart the sounds, photos of birds recorded, Google Earth maps of recording locations and links to other online sound collections.

More than 10,200 recordings from over 3,190 species in 45 countries are now available on AVoCet, “and that’s growing quickly,” says Pamela Rasmussen (photo), an assistant professor of zoology and assistant curator at the MSU Museum. “Soon recordings and their data from many more species and areas will be available for download from AVoCet.”

Come and be a part of our annual cleanup of this important wildlife reserve on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 9 AM until Noon. Mark your calendars now!

Open the link: Clean2011.fly for more information.

The College Student Conservation Committee invites all college students to participate together in this event. To have a certificate of recognition prepared with your name on it for your volunteer service send an email to the committee chair, Carolyn Oppenheimer, to ten.labolgcbsnull@ppOloraC by April 27.