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This website is dedicated to the memory of Phil Aldrich, our webmaster (2003 - 2008), who passed away in March 2008.

Phil constantly updated and expanded the site into a comprehensive resource for birders in Northern California and beyond.

 

                             

-->Chirp N Chatter May Newsletter<--

You can access previous Chirp 'N Chatter Newsletters at our Newsletter Archive

Our newsletter is in PDF format, Adobe Acrobat required. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it free


News Flash

March 5th - Wintu Audubon Supports Creation of a Wildlife Conservation Stamp 
The mission of the Wintu Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. We promote enjoyment of the natural environment through education and interactive programs.
Recently our board members voted unanimously to join a growing number of organizations supporting the Wildlife Conservation Stamp project.
We feel that supporting an additional income stream for our National Wildlife Refuge System is another way we can help conserve and restore the wild lands we all love.
Join the growing number of individuals and organizations supporting this cause by clicking on the image (left) to read the proposal and find out how you can help. While you're there, check out our Facebook page and "like us."

What's Happening Around Here?

May 4th @ 7:30 am - Bear Creek Watershed Outing and Bird Survey 
A rare chance to bird on private property! Wintu Audubon President Esther Cox belongs to this watershed organization and has interested property owners to learn the bird species that live on their spreads. We will visit several of them. Meet at the Redding Civic Auditorium to carpool at 7:30am or join Esther at the Share-A-Ride parking lot at the intersection of Hwy.44 and Black Butte Road at 8:00am. This will be a full day trip, so bring a lunch and water.

May 11th @ 8:00 am - Second Saturday Bird Walk at Shasta College 
With spring migration in full swing and arrival of summer residents, we are moving this bird walk to the campus of Shasta College. The oak woodlands, wastewater treatment pond, riparian, and fields support a wide variety of species. Meet in Shasta College's north parking lot for this half day trip that is open-to-the-public. Connie Word will lead.

May 11th @ 8:00 am - Second Saturday Beginning Bird Walk 
Our Youth/Beginner Bird Walks will continue through the summer! Bring your family and friends to the Turtle Bay Monolith on the Second Saturday of each month, 8-10am. In the season when parent birds are raising their young, we will explore who our feathered neighbors are and how they make a living. Audubon can provide binoculars and field guides. Call Dan Greaney, 276276-9693 with questions or for more information.

May 14th @ 7:00 pm - Status and Nesting Ecology of Purple Martins at Shasta Lake 
The western Purple Martin is a local and rare breeder in California and currently designated as a species of special concern. We are fortunate to have one of only a few interior northern California Purple Martin breeding locations here in our own backyard at Shasta Lake. Join Len Lindstrand III, local wildlife biologist at North State Resources and longtime Wintu Audubon Chapter member, as he presents results from an on-going program monitoring this important Purple Martin population.

May 16th @ 8:00 am - Local Weekday Bird Walk at Mary Lake 
An old dam on Jenny Creek forms this small lake in a west Redding subdivision. Developed lakeside vegetation, a small marsh and oak woodland has created a varied habitat for birds. Green Herons can be seen up close and California Thrashers are resident. Meet at the south parking lot of the Redding Civic Auditorium to carpool. Bill Oliver will lead.

June 11th @ 6:00 pm - Wintu Audubon Annual Picnic 
As has been our custom, the last general meeting before our summer meeting hiatus will be a bring-your-own picnic at the Camden House (Tower House) at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. We will enjoy good birding and good fellowship in this lovely setting. The parking lot for the Camden House is on the left side of Hwy. 299W just before the turnoff to French Gulch. Some members may wish to carpool or ride with others who have a seasonal or permanent pass for Whiskeytown by assembling in the parking lot of Tops Market on Eureka Way in Redding at 6:00pm.

July 26th - 28th - Camp-out at Lassen Volcanic National Park 
We have enjoyed the birding and camping at the Lost Creek Group Campground over the years. We cancelled last year because of the fire. But it never reached the camp ground so we are scheduling it again this year. Group Camp Site #2 has been reserved for the nights of Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. Altacal Audubon Sociey has also scheduled a camp-out that same weekend and has reserved Site #8. We have again invited the Redwood Region Audubon Society to join us. Wintu folks can either camp at Lost Creek or drive up for either or both Saturday and Sunday. Campers can arrive at the camp site at a time of their choosing on Friday afternoon. Saturday day trippers should meet at the Redding Civic Auditorium (Convention Center) at 8:00 am Saturday morning to car pool. We will bird Manzanita Lake and vicinity on Saturday morning. The rest of the itinerary is open and will depend on the interests of the participants. Day trippers for Sunday, June 28, will meet at the camp site at 9:00 am. Lost Creek has primitive facilities---pit toilets and no electricity, but potable water is available. Contact Bill Oliver (Ph. 941-7741 or email wwoliver9@gmail.com for other particulars.

Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, a non profit volunteer organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, is located in Anderson River Park. Taking in a wide variety of birds and animals each year, Shasta Wildlife Rescue has released thousands back to the wild, most after man made altercations.

The Education program consists of non releasable birds and animals that have come into the wildlife center and for some reason would not survive in the wild. These animals are on the education team through a special permit from California Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lynda Flaherty gave me a tour of the facility that you can read about here. Please support your local wildlife rehabber. You can find the rehabber nearest you, listed by state here.

For more information about Shasta Wildlife Rescue visit their web page at www.shastawildliferescue.com

Our Latest Trip Report

For The Complete Report Click Here To Go Our Trip Reports Page 

Ten youths, mostly Mr. Gunther's seventh graders at Sequoia, and five parents braved the May-morning sun....

MENUS ARE LOCATED AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

 


WEBSITE CONTENTS:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS  Northern California birding activities open to the public. Arranged in chronological order. Find upcoming events from Sacramento to central Oregon and the Pacific Ocean to northwestern Nevada. Updated regularly.

BIRDS IN THE NEWS  Help Audubon with conservation efforts through AudubonAction and get the latest bird news from American Bird Conservancy.

BIRDING FACTS  Your gateway to a lifetime of learning about birds. Keep your birding education up to date with knowledge from science and ornithological research, answers to Frequently Asked Questions about birds and birding, and up to date West Nile Virus and Avian Flu information.

MEMBERSHIP  How to join Wintu Audubon Society

LINKS TO THE WORLD OF BIRDING  Your worldwide Birding Resource on the Web. Includes Birding Organizations, Checklists of Wild Birds, Conservation and Education, Government and International sites, Nature Refuges and Sanctuaries, Optics and Field Guides, and Other Birding Resources.

SHASTA COUNTY BIRD LIST  Local birds to know and look for. Seasons and habitats are included. Conforms in arrangement and nomenclature to the American Ornithologists Union checklist. (New Bird List) You may also get a free copy of the checklist at our general meetings or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Wintu Audubon Society bird list, P. O. Box 994533, Redding, CA 96099.

ATTRACTING BIRDS  Inviting wild birds to your home, church, or business. Contains a wealth of information about Feeding Birds, Landscaping for Birds, and building or buying a Bird House.

BIRD SIGHTINGS  Local, Statewide, and Regional sightings of special interest. Includes Rare Bird Alert telephone numbers, Official California and world bird lists, Bird Banding and Bird Identification information. Bird sightings are updated daily.

PLACES TO BIRD  Shasta County's favorite birding destinations contributed by local birders. Includes additional northern California birding hotspots. Includes a collection of bird lists for Shasta County and the adjacent region.

PODCASTS  Listen to or download podcasts on many bird and birding related subjects.


 

                             

Please join us at our GENERAL MEETINGS which are held the second Tuesday of the month at the United Way meeting room at 7 p.m. from September through May. The United Way is at 2280 Benton Drive, building B, next to the Senior Citizens and River Trail parking lot North of the Diestlehorst Bridge. Please see our "Calendar of Events" page for more information or contact us by email here: webmaster@wintuaudubon.org


Youre invited to join us on our SECOND SATURDAY BIRD WALKS which are held the second Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. from September through May. Second Saturday Bird Walks are open to the public and are designed for youth, grades 4-8 and up, and beginners of all ages. We have binoculars to share. Meet at the concrete monolith at Turtle Bay to learn the birds of our home town. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

We'll meet in the North parking lot of Shasta College for the month of September. Shasta College is located northeast of Redding near the intersection of Highway 299 East and Old Oregon Trail. Continue driving north on Old Oregon Trail past the main entrance to the college and follow the signs to the North parking lot. Our Second Saturday bird walks will be held at Turtle Bay starting in October. Rain cancels the bird walk.


A note on Wintu Audubon Society walks, outings, and field tripsWintu Audubon Society assumes no responsibility for injuries, personal or otherwise, incurred while attending society-sponsored activities and will not be held liable for accidents. You attend at your own risk. A responsible adult must accompany minors on all outings. Rain cancels all activities.

 

Check the calendar page for our next general meeting date and other birding events !  

 

Please explore our website and return often !

New features and resources of interest to birders are added regularly.

 

 

Copyright ©2013 Wintu Audubon Society, All rights reserved.

This page updated April 30, 2013This web site is maintained by Larry Jordan.
Please email any broken links to webmaster@wintuaudubon.org