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

For the Gear-Head on Your Shopping List

San Fernando Valley Audubon Society is happy to announce that we are one of this year’s beneficiaries of the Northridge REI store’s Giving Tree campaign.

During the holidays, REI gives back to the local non-profits they support by collecting donations and promoting volunteer opportunities.

By helping us get the word out about the work that we do, REI is going the extra mile to help programs at the grassroots level that get kids outdoors.  We are so thankful for their support.

Please think of REI during your holiday gift buying.  The Giving Tree campaign runs from Dec. 1 -26. The Northridge store is located at 18605 Devonshire St.

(Editor’s note: It really is the ultimate gear-head paradise.)

Here’s an announcement from Dr. Kuehn of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology that missed the August/September issue of the Phainopepla. Please respond directly to him if you are interested.

Introduction to Ornithology
September 27 through the week of November 15, 2010
Taught by Dr. Linnea Hall and Mr. René Corado.

An 8-week course on the diversity, ecology, evolution, and taxonomy of the birds of North America, with an emphasis on identifying the birds of southern California. One 1.5-hour lecture and one 3-hour museum or field lab weekly. Individual classes also may be taken; contact the WFVZ (805/388-9944) for more information and pricing. Whole course price:  $420 for currently enrolled college students and WFVZ Volunteers; $560 for WFVZ Members; $750 for non-members.

Michael J. Kuehn, Ph.D
Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology
439 Calle San Pablo
Camarillo, CA 93012
(805) 388-9944
www.wfvz.org

Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara California 93106
Office: (805) 893-2532

Cell: (805) 705-2172
Email: moc.liamgnull@43naiva or ude.bscu.icsefilnull@nheuk

The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society has established a Bird Observatory (The San Fernando Valley Bird Observatory). Organized by biologist and master bird-bander, Mark Osokow, its purpose is to conduct research on birds in and around the San Fernando Valley.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in research on birds, including bird banding, contact Mark and the SFVBO at gro.nobuduavfsnull@yrotavresbOdriBVFS. Watch for more information on this effort in the near future.

The photos here show two male House Finches.  The House Finch is California’s most numerous bird species and is also the most variable in color.  Males range from having bright strawberry colored breasts and throats to those with dull yellowish color so restricted that they are barely distinguishable from females — even when held in the hand!  The function of this color variation in House Finches, and other species as well, remains an active area of ornithological research.

The months of April and May bring our annual Birdathon. You have probably received your pledge letter for this annual fundraiser, a sponsored birding event. The money raised covers most of our ongoing expenses and helps support our educational programs for school children, including the Sepulveda Basin Environmental Educational Program (SBEEP) based at the Sepulveda Wildlife Bird Sanctuary.

Please join us in pledging a set amount of money on the number of species to be spotted during a designated bird walk and then do come on the walk itself! Many members choose this event to honor the leader whose walks she or he has been able to enjoy.

If you did not receive a pledge form, please e-mail me at gro.nobuduavfsnull@ztiwobiel.esor and I will be happy to send you a form.

BIRDATHON EVENTS

Join us and help count at one or more of these walks!
See the Calendar Section for directions and times.

Kris Ohlenkamp – Sepulveda Basin, April 4
Art Langton – Malibu Creek State Park, April 18
Caroline Oppenheimer – O’Melveny Park, April 20
Jim Moore – Butterbredt Springs, Galileo Hills, Piute Ponds, April 21
Richard Barth – Morongo Basin, April 24
Nancy Herron Knode – Descanso Gardens, May 9

Additionally, there will be four teams undertaking “Big Day” efforts on behalf of the Birdathon. The team leaders are Muriel & Allan Kotin, John & Andrew Willis, Art Langton and Jim Hardesty.

- Submitted by Rose Leibowitz, Birdathon Chair

I encourage all to attend this community workshop on the updating of the Sepulveda Basin Master Plan on Saturday, February 20, 2010.  This is part of updating the master plan (land use plan) of the entire Sepulveda Basin for the first time in over 30 years and will be important in shaping changes to the Basin.

You may want to express support for some of the ideas that I and other members of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee are promoting or have other suggestions.  Here is a rough description of what I hope the new Master Plan will include:

The former corn maize field immediately east of Woodley Avenue and between Woodley Park and the Wildlife Reserve should become part of the Wildlife Reserve, as an enhancement and link to both Woodley Section 2 and the Wildlife Reserve; the east bank of Haskell Creek and adjoining field along the stretch from the Reserve access road (“Wildlife Way”) to Victory Boulevard should be restored as riparian habitat;  the area north of the Reserve parking to the archery range and dam wall, which is currently but unclearly defined as Wildlife Reserve, should be protected and improved as part of the Wildlife Reserve; and all water courses within Sepulveda Basin, including those now treated as drainage channels, should be managed as riparian corridors, including Hayvenhurst, Woodley and Encino Channels/Creeks.

As meetings take place, these goals will be refined and improved.

I hope you will attend and actively participate in the meeting, including writing your own comments on what you want to keep as is and what changes you hope to see.

─Muriel Kotin, SFVAS Representative to Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee