The mission of Sequoia Audubon Society is to participate actively in environmental education and conservation, and in the restoration, preservation, protection and enjoyment of our native natural resources with emphasis on birds and their habitats.
Sanderlings at Pomponio State Beach (Jennifer Rycenga)
Now with Species Search!
San Mateo County Birding Guide
In April of this year, Sequoia Audubon launched the new San Mateo County Birding Guide (SMCBG), providing accounts of dozens of birding sites in our area. Each entry contains maps, pictures, web links, and more. Please take a test run today, by accessing the website at http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/. Users have responded enthusiastically, and traffic has climbed on the site. We appreciate all the feedback and support we have received.
One suggestion heard from many users dove-tailed with the plans of both the SMCBG's editor and its designer: to develop the ability to search the website for individual species. We are now ready to unveil this most useful tool. It will help beginning birders to anticipate which birds to expect in which habitats; intermediate bird-watchers can fill gaps in their lists; advanced birders and scientists can trace patterns of vagrant and rare birds in our area. Furthermore, we think it is just fun to explore using this latest gadget!
The search capability runs directly from a menu at the top of the SMCBG home page. All species recorded in San Mateo County are listed in alphabetical order by their common English name, with an abundance code in parentheses. The abundance code is explained on the County Abundance Codes Explained page in the Additional References menu on the Birding Guide.
In the mid-1990s, Sequoia Audubon published the second edition of San Francisco Peninsula Birdwatching. The new SMCBG builds from the accounts in that book, while editing them substantially to record changes and include new material. We are also adding many sites that were left uncovered, or only marginally mentioned in the book, due to space limitations. Because the SMCBG can be expanded, there will be many more sites added to the forty-seven that you will see if you visit today. At the moment, over seventy-five sites are projected; suggestions for new sites can be submitted to the editor.
There are a few special features worthy of mention on the SMCBG. Be certain to check out the "Help" and "Look Here" sections, located in the buttons atop the table of contents. The Help button will show you how to use the many fine map features built into the SMCBG. The Look Here category includes a list of sites to be added, guidelines for authors and photographers, and a copy of Francis Toldi's fine essay on the natural features of the county (it originally appeared in the San Mateo County Breeding Bird Atlas.)
Other exciting advances in the SMCBG include new accounts covering such popular sites as Coyote Point, FItzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach Seawatch, Holbrook-Palmer Park, and more. We have reached forty-seven sites, with at least two dozen more to come. Watch for announcements of coming key site accounts: Radio Road, the San Francisco Watershed, the Half Moon Bay Beaches, Wavecrest, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and the Pescadero Creek County Parks.
At this time, we are also enabling you to donate to Sequoia Audubon directly from the pages of the SMCBG, via PayPal. If you appreciate the work we have done to make San Mateo Birding more accessible, please consider donating in whatever amount you can.
Earth Day 2010: Burlingame Shorebird Sanctuary Cleanup, April 17th, 2010It all started with this email: From: L.L. My daughter and I were recently staying at the Bay Landing Hotel and decided to do the bayshore walk. We walked by the "City of Burlingame Shorebird Sanctuary" - what a disappointment. Full of trash everywhere. Isn't there a local group, like a local Audubon chapter that could have members come in once a month and do a trash pick-up? It reflects very poorly on your community. I discussed this problem with a local resident who happened to be walking by, and his response was, "Well, I'm not going to defend it but it's always been this way." That is just so sad. I hope the city can engage some volunteer support to make the "sanctuary" actually look like one and not like a trash dump. Read what happened next...
L.L. emailed someone who emailed someone, etc, until it reached Nancy Arbuckle, our Conservation Chairperson, who emailed me and asked me if I wanted to take a look. I looked, and thought the sanctuary could be cleaned up by a troop of Brownies in two hours. Then my husband, Jeff, and I walked the Bay Trail in both directions and thought of a grander scheme, for Earth Day 40. I sent an email to several civic groups to see if I could generate some interest. I received two responses, from Girl Scout troop #3073, of which 5 girls and two leaders came, and from Mormon Helping Hands, of which 6 young adults showed up. Through an amazing chain of connections, I found Allied Waste, who provides free dumpsters for non-profit events. Although they prefer a 3-4 week notice, Elaine Guster came through for us in 3 days! The day was supposed to be sunny, but it began with low clouds, and I worried that it would be cold, but it turned out to be sunny and warm. Secretary on our Board of Directors, State Park Ranger Nelle Lyons, had arranged for Fran Cummings to person the registration table, and hand out snacks and bags and gloves. The young adults arrived first, and I am sorry to say I did not get a group picture of them before they began work. I did get a picture of one of the young men who tried to reach a sunken shopping cart, but had to give up when the mud reached his knees. The church group worked the south side of the sanctuary, while the Girl Scouts worked the north side. I could see they were nearing the point where the trash is insignificant, so I got them to come around and join together at the south point. Between us all, we cleaned up all the way to the paved end of the trail, behind One Bay Plaza. The Girl Scout leader sent me some more pictures, and wanted me to emphasize that the pile of trash in front of my car was about a third of what we picked up. I sent the report to L.L. whose email started it all, and this was her reply: Dear Laurie, Your email and the photos brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for spearheading this effort, and thank you to the groups who participated. I so look forward not only to my next visit to the sanctuary but also to making a contribution to the Sequoia Audubon Society to express my appreciation. It is a perfect example of how a community can come together to protect and provide for nature and its inhabitants in the precious little space that humankind has left for them. Kindest regards, Protect Condors and Bald EaglesAssemblymember Pedro Nava proposes a ban on lead shot in bird hunting Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in California condors and threatens many other species as well including bald eagles. Nava's bill (AB 2223) will probably go to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, chaired by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), sometime in mid-March. ALL LEGISLATORS MAY BE WRITTEN C/O THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814. Urge their support for AB 2223. Meanwhile, some Letters to the Editors would be helpful. What is REALLY needed, of course, is a nationwide ban on the use of ALL lead for ALL hunting and fishing. But this is a good start. Audubon Canyon RanchHello, Members! Volunteer Hosts Needed: The public season at Audubon Canyon Ranch starts on March 20, 2010, and runs through July 11. The hosting responsibilities are shared by four Audubon chapters: Golden Gate, Marin, Ohlone, and Sequoia. Being a host is a very easy task that involves counting people, telling them where the trail-heads and the ponds are, explaining a few rules, and asking for donations. Click to read more about this volunteer opportunity
Hours are from 10 am - 4 pm, with two breaks and a lunch. The setting is beautiful and usually warm and sunny. Best of all, hosts are allowed to stay overnight at Volunteer Canyon either the night before, or the night of your host day. Birding in Volunteer Canyon is wonderful, and it is not open to the public. This is an amazing opportunity. The dates we have been assigned are: If you can host on any of those days, please let me know as soon as possible. If you would like to host on a different day, let me know also. This year, we are going to fill any remaining open dates on a first-request basis. So if our assigned dates aren't good for your schedule, don't despair! We can probably accommodate you. Contact Laurie Graham, 650-589-2133, fair80@comcast.net. New: On-line PaymentsMembershipNow you may join Sequoia Audubon by using our new on-line form and PayPal to pay for your membership. We have individual, senior, student and family plans. You do not need to have a PayPal account to join if you have a major credit card. Or you may send a check by mail Visit our Membership Page and Thank You! DonationsNow you may support Sequoia Audubon by making an additional donation on-line using PayPal's secure site. You do not need to have a PayPal account if you want to use your major credit card. Or you may send a check by mail. Visit our Donations Page and Thank You! |
Upcoming MeetingHave a Great SummerThe next program is: Birding Class: Acorn Woodpecker Lifestyle Accompanying Field Trip: Meetings are at the Join the SAS Discussion GroupSequoia Audubon is forming a Yahoo group. This is similar to the birding list servers – penbird, southbay birds, etc It will give us a way to communicate with each other efficiently. This is not intended to replace any of the current bird report lists – Rather it will be used for Sequoia Audubon communication. Be they meeting, field trip or other announcements that really don’t belong on penbird. Sign up is optional although we hope everyone interested in Sequoia Audubon activities will join. The information is kept confidential and is not shared. If interested go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SequoiaAudubonSign up is easy and you can unsubscribe at any time. If you have any questions contact us at sequoiaaudubon@yahoo.com S.A.S. Photo GallerySEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY Want to help the birds? Get involved? Here are some great opportunities to support conservation in San Mateo County. There are lots of volunteer opportunities available. Sequoia Audubon is an ALL volunteer organization and we need your help. Many jobs are ones that you can do at home and that take only a few hours a month. Click here to view just a few volunteer jobs available. SAN MATEO COUNTY BIRDSDownload County Checklist as a pdf file and make sure you print it on 8 ½ by 14 paper. View: County Highlights San Mateo County's Results for San Mateo Co. Bird Observations from eBird |
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The Sequoia Audubon Society is committed to equal opportunity and abides by all relevant laws and regulations. All Sequoia Audubon programs and volunteer opportunities are administered without regard to race, gender, creed, national origin, age, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, physical, mental or sensory handicap, or any other basis prohibited by law. However, Sequoia Audubon reserves the right to exclude volunteers who do not support its goals.