; VOL. 49 February, 2018 NO. 6

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1 ; VOL. 49 February, 2018 NO. 6 General Meeting, February 5 7:30 pm Western Foundation A bird by any other name. Have you every wondered why a Three-wattled Bellbird is so named? Or have you questioned why an American Robin is not a Rusty-breasted Thrush? And why in the world are there names like buzzard, bustard, ptarmigan, cristicola, seedsnipe, camaroptera, bulbul, Phainopepla, Ring-necked duck, phalarope and sputzie? Join Thomas J. Hinnebusch, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and African languages, Department of Linguistics, UCLA, to hear about where those names come from. His talk will be illustrated with his own photographs. Conservation by Dee Lyon Great Backyard Bird Count More than 200,000 citizen scientists counted birds in Febuary of The counts showed early spring migrations and even some reports of breeding displays. Red-winged blackbirds were more numerous than usual. One hundred thirty-two countries participated. Columbia took the top species count prize with 955 species, followed by India with 801 species, Mexico with 774 species, Ecuador with 681 species and the US with 671 species. This year the GBBC is February In order to learn more and participate just go to February 3 8:00 am Malibu Lagoon 5 5:15 pm Pre-meeting dinner Ottavios 5 7:30 pm General Meeting WFVZ 10 8:00 am Cal Lutheran University 14 8:00 am Beginning Bird Walk Rancho Sierra Vista/ Satwiwa Carrizo Plain 23 7:45 am Mugu Lagoon Save the Date March 24 Auction/Dinner Our 50 th Anniversary Western Tanager by Don Klabunde ***Pre meeting Dinner*** Ottavio s in Camarillo at 5:15 pm Call Nobuko McClure For Reservations (805) Reservation Deadline: 9:00 am Day of General Meeting

2 Page 2 CVAS EVENTS Everyone is welcome to attend any CVAS meeting or field trip. CVAS assumes no responsibility for injuries, personal or otherwise, incurred while attending a society-sponsored activity and will not be held liable for such accidents. One attends at one s own risk. Saturday, February 3, 8:00 am Malibu Lagoon Restoration of the previously impaired Malibu Lagoon was completed on March 31, Come see how this coastal estuary, featuring channels, open river and coastline, has recovered nearly five years later. The 2016 report documenting restoration progress noted that increases in abundances and species richness of waterbirds has occurred with restored channel habitats. The highest number of individual birds observed since monitoring began was recorded. We can expect to see waterfowl, grebes, loons, gulls, terns and shorebirds. We will also see raptors, sparrows, wrens, warblers, gnatcatchers and flycatchers. Expect as many as species, with good weather and good luck. Carpool from Rancho Park-and-Ride in Thousand Oaks at 7;15 am or meet outside the lagoon on PCH at 8 am. Trip leader: Dee Lyon (805) Saturday, February 10, 8:00 am Cal Lutheran University This lovely campus at the edge of the Mount Clef Open Space property offers much to explore. Join us as we seek encounters with up to four wren, ten sparrow, ten raptor and two gnatcatcher species. Perhaps we will see the endangered California gnatcatcher! Other possible sightings include meadowlarks, roadrunners, warblers and thrashers. To carpool, meet at the Las Posas Park and Ride at 7:30 am. Otherwise take Hwy 101 to the Lynn Rd. Exit and travel north 3.8 miles to Mountclef Blvd. (Lynn Rd. becomes Olsen Rd. near the campus). Travel north on Mountclef Blvd. to the end of the road. We ll meet at the trailhead at 8:00 am. Trip leader: Cia DeMartino (805) Saturday and Sunday, February Weekend Trip to Carrizo Plain Let s adventure together to the Carrizo Plain, the single largest native grassland remaining in California. It s been designated as an Audubon Important Bird Area. We will be looking forward to Mountain Bluebirds and large flocks of Horned Larks as we bird along Soda Lake Road. Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks winter here and so our eyes will be skyward much of the day. We ll also search for Mountain Plovers and LeConte s and Sage Thrashers. The group will meet at the junction of Soda Lake Road and Highway 166 at 8:00 on Saturday morning. Bring your lunch, water and snacks. If there is interest some of us may camp at the KCL campground. Alternatively people can stay over at the Motel 8 in Maricopa or in a motel in Buttonwillow on Saturday night for further excursions on Sunday. Please call the trip leaders for further information. Trip leaders: Carol and Bill Langford (360) Friday, February 23, 7:45 am Mugu Lagoon This location is also recognized as an Important Bird Area, supporting up to 10,000 shorebirds in winter! This trip required pre-registration and is full. Those who clear the Base s background check must bring a picture ID card with name matching that on your registration form. No cameras or video equipment are permitted on base. Vehicles, articles and personnel are subject to a search. Please bring a scope if you have one. Recently spotted species include Vermilion Flycatcher, Wilson s Snipe, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Ferruginous Hawk, Eurasian Wigeon and Burrowing Owl. Directions: From Hwy 101 travel south on Las Posas Rd., west on Hueneme Rd., south on Wood Rd., crossing over PCH. Then head south on Naval Air Rd. Meet at the main entrance at the intersection of Naval Air Rd. and Mugu Rd., near Buildings 112 &116, at 7:45 am. Trip leaders: Martin Ruane of Naval Base Ventura County and Frank DeMartino (856)

3 Page 3 A NEW TRADITION!! Monthly Beginning Bird Walks Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa Conejo Valley Audubon invites birders of all experience levels to attend our monthly Beginner Bird Walks at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. These walks will be held on the second Wednesday of each month, starting on February 14, We will meet at 8:00 am at the main parking lot, which is accessible off Lynn Road at Via Goleta in Newbury Park. Rancho Sierra Vista is an excellent place to see many of the oak woodlands birds that are common in the Conejo Valley area. We will take time to introduce beginning birders to these species. We will teach the best techniques for locating and identifying them. If you have binoculars please bring them. A few pairs of loaner binoculars will be available. Wear comfortable walking shoes. No sign-up is needed; just show up. In the event of heavy rain we will cancel the walk. The walk leader will be Richard Armerding and he can be reached at (310) Lazuli Bunting by Don Klabunde Acorn Woodpecker by Don Klabunde Turkey Vulture by Don Klabunde Northern Harrier by Don Klabunde

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5 Page 5 Conejo Valley Audubon Society, Inc. P.O. Box 4782 Thousand Oaks, CA February, 2018 Officers and Committee Chairs Usernames President Ron Barns rtbarns@netscape.net Vice Pres Bonnie Clarfield vice-president Bylin Secretary Cia DeMartino secretary Treasurer Richard Armerding treasurer Programs Chrystal Klabunde programs Graphic Arts Chrystal Klabunde chrystal Conservation Dee Lyon chickadee Education Thelma Williams thelma Field trips Angela Bonfiglio Allen fieldtrips Publicity Karen Rusch publicity Newsletter Gary Evans GaryE Membership Jean Stoutenborough membership Catherine Armerding Historian Bets Buchanan Librarian Jean Stoutenborough librarian Photographer Don Klabunde photographer Special Projects Nobuko McClure nobuko Webmaster Frank DeMartino webmaster Special Events Carol Langford carol.lee.langford@gmail.com CVAS Web Site Send to username@conejovalleyaudubon.org Regular meetings are held on the first Monday evening of each month at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo at 7:30 pm, unless otherwise noted. E v e r y o n e i s we l c o m e. Take Pleasant Valley Road or Lewis Road to where they cross south of the 101 Freeway. Go west to the second street, Calle San Pablo. Turn right. The Foundation is the fifth building on the left. The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology is a non-profit organization founded in 1956 to promote the study and conservation of birds and other vertebrates. The organization makes contributions in the areas of natural history collections, original research, and conservation. The Roadrunner is published monthly except July and August by the Conejo Valley Audubon Society. It is sent to paid CVAS members only. Members are invited to submit articles, announcements, letters, photos, and drawings for publication consideration. Copy deadline is the 5th of the month. Send items to Gary Evans, 29 Sabra Ave., Oak Park, Calif or by GaryE@ConejoValleyAudubon.org. For information on joining the National Audubon Society, please go to CONEJO VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please enroll me as a member of Conejo Valley Audubon Society. I have enclosed $20 for a family membership. Additional Gift: $25.00 $50.00 $75.00 $ $ Other Membership $ Donation $ Total (check payable to CVAS) $ Mail to: CVAS, P.O. Box 4782, Thousand Oaks, CA Check to receive newsletter by mail Name Otherwise newsletter will come by Address City State Zip Phone address