Conejo Valley Audubon Society

PROTECT OUR TREES, which SUPPORT BIRDS

Reminder: Please, please and please don’t move firewood far from where it is collected. Deadly invasive insects spread to our native forests. They also kill neighborhood heritage and ornamental trees.

The horrible gold oak borer is only one of many in frightening line-up of tree-killers. The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer is the worst, as it does not discriminate between most tree species.

Concerning, scientific news about invasive species expansion.

Non-native plants and animals expanding ranges 100-times faster than native species, finds new research An international team of scientists has recently found that non-native species are expanding their ranges many orders of magnitude faster than native ones, in large part due to inadvertent human help. Even seemingly sedentary non-native plants are moving at three times the speed of their native coun...

LAST DAY REMINDER - enrollment for 2024 grant ends JUNE 15, 2024!

Free plants to attract more birds to your residential or business grounds!

APPLY Here:
https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/lawns-to-habitat/

5 Days left to apply for the Lawns to Habitat Grant! https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/conservation/lawns-to-habitat/

Update: If you tried to apply and had issues, our web-link was broken. It is fixed, please try again!

We look forward to getting your application! 🌸 https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/conservation/lawns-to-habitat/

We are lucky to have Bear Divide in “our backyard.” NPR recently aired a nice piece about the good bird conservation work being done there.

On this unassuming trail near LA, bird watchers see something spectacular At Bear Divide, just outside Los Angeles, you can see a rare spectacle of nature. This is one of the only places in the western United States where you can see bird migration during daylight hours.

We are looking forward to getting your application to convert YOUR lawn, dirt patch, or non-native plants into a front-or backyard bird paradise!

See our website for details. https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/conservation/lawns-to-habitat/

Update: our website has had some issues. If the first link does not work, try:
https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/lawns-to-habitat/lawns-to-habitat-2024/

Tonight’s PROGRAM REMINDER:

The May program will be live at Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:30. It will also available via Zoom. The link is, as always, https://zoom.us/j/6155249106.

“Pelagic Birding off Southern California: Searching for Seabirds in the Open Ocean”
by David Pereksta

While 70 percent of the earth is covered by oceans, the lives of the birds that inhabit those waters still hold a number of mysteries that science is only just starting to unravel. Many seabirds come ashore only to breed and then spend the majority of their lives ranging around the world’s oceans; some of which travel incredible distances during foraging trips and migratory movements. The waters offshore of southern California are one of the last birding frontiers in the state, where an exciting mix of seabirds that are rarely if ever seen from land can be found at sea if you know when, where, and how to look for them. A limited number of trips, unpredictable weather, and challenging viewing conditions make pelagic birding trips an adventurous way to explore this frontier. Birders wishing to see these special birds must find some of the few scheduled trips each year, get a reservation before they sell-out, and hope that the weather and birds cooperate.

David Pereksta took his first pelagic trip in 1994, which was a major birding-life changing event. That trip was the start of David’s fascination with seabirds and since then he has spent a considerable amount of time at sea looking for them. With hundreds of days on the water in the Pacific and Atlantic, and trips to remote breeding areas in Russia and the South Pacific, David has immersed himself in understanding the lives of seabirds. David will show us what experiences southern California pelagic birding trips offer including the species that occur off our coast, how the status and distribution of many species have changed recently, where local pelagic trips go and how they operate, and how to best schedule a trip to see the birds (and marine mammals) you are looking for. He will also share anecdotes from some of the most memorable local trips. Bring your soda crackers, Dramamine, and binoculars for this program that is richly illustrated with the best of the thousands of photos David has taken at sea.
David Pereksta is an Avian Biologist with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, where he studies and analyzes the effects of offshore oil and gas, and renewable energy development on birds off the Pacific coast and Hawaii. Prior to his position at BOEM, Dave spent 16 years working on endangered species issues with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Throughout his career with various Federal and State agencies, he has studied several imperiled bird species including Snowy Plovers, Piping Plovers, Least Terns, Ospreys, Northern Goshawks, Brown Pelicans, Spotted Owls, and Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. An avid birder for over 45 years, Dave has traveled throughout North America, South America, the American tropics, the South Pacific, and East Asia including leading trips to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Peru, and Chile. He also organizes pelagic trips off southern California and leads trips elsewhere in the Pacific and in the Atlantic. He has seen over 2,300 species of birds in his travels; photographing nearly 1,800 species along the way.

Don’t forget tonight’s Monthly Program will be via Zoom Only.

APRIL 1ST MONTHLY PROGRAM

Please join Conejo Valley Audubon (CVAS) via zoom this Monday night for a free program about Bird Migration. The presenter, Frank DeMartino, aka Frank the Bird Guy, is the current president of CVAS and proprietor of Wildbirds Unlimited, Ventura.

MIGRATION
Migration is one of the most amazing feats that birds perform. Humanity has been fascinated
with the pattern of appearing and disappearing birds for millennia. Understanding migration is
a key step to realizing the challenges and threats that birds deal with on a regular basis. We
will look at some of the myths that have surrounded migration and highlight the many obsta-
cles birds face and the incredible ways they have evolved to deal with them. Finally, we will
discuss current conservation issues that pertain to migration, including Cornell's "Seven Sim-
ple Actions to Bring Birds Back".

The April program will be available via Zoom only. The Zoom link is, as always,
https://zoom.us/j/6155249106. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm, but you can sign in any time

Please join us for this FUNdraising event! https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/event/annual-dinner-and-auction-2024/

Save the date, Feb. 16-19, 2024! No matter where you are on the globe, you can count birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Birds of a feather count together Folks from around the world will soon come together to put their noses to the sky in search of one thing—birds. The National Audubon Society is asking bird

We are glad these despicable men have been charged, hopefully they will be successfully prosecuted.

Two men charged with killing approximately 3,600 birds, including bald eagles

DECEMBER 14, 20234:57 PM ET
By
Diba Mohtasham

MONTHLY PROGRAM MEETING
Remember, although tonight is the first Monday night of the month, it is a holiday. So, our monthly program will be next Monday, Sep. 11 at 7 pm, instead. It is the “show and tell” kick off meeting of the season and you can be there either in person or via Zoom. Everyone is welcome. Please see our website for details.
https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/event/monthly-program-september-2023/

Burrowing Owl to get your attention. (Taken by Bonnie Clarfield-Bylin at the Salton Sea last week. ) There will be lots of terrific bird photos at this meeting!

LIKE BIRDS? Join the Conejo Valley Audubon Society (CVAS) to learn* about the power of eBird, an awesome citizen science app and website, available to everyone for FREE, globally! www.eBird.org

When: Monday, July 10 at 7:00 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88473239893?pwd=U2ZrRkJ3dkFUckc1N2FSV2lwMmg3dz09

*Learn the ins and outs, tips and tricks, do’s and don’ts of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform! Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced birder, eBird offers an interactive, data-driven platform to engage all levels! Learn how to explore a local area, report rarities, set up alerts, and much more! Presenter: Sammy Cowell, Field Trip Chair, CVAS

Photo credit: Scarlet Bellied-Mountain Tanager, Colombia,by Bonnie Clarfield-Bylin

Beginner Birder Classes🐦
Class 1: June 17 from 8:00 - 11:00 am
Meet at Conejo Valley Botanic Garden parking lot
Preregistration requested (read below)
Class 2: June 24 from 8:00 - 11:00 am - Location TBA
Class 3: July 1 from 8:00 - 11:00 am - Location TBA

Interested in learning more about birds, but unsure where/how to start? Join Conejo Valley Audubon over the course of three Saturdays as we go over the basics of birdwatching, become familiar with field guides and equipment, and learn about the local birds of our area!

Suitable for all ages!

What to bring: Binoculars (if you have them; if not, we can supply them!), field guides, chairs, and a cheerful attitude.

Donation: A $10 donation per class is encouraged, but not required! Donations will go to the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden towards the propagation of California Native Plants. (PayPal, card, cash, and check are all accepted.)

Please contact Sammy Cowell with any questions or if you are planning to attend. [email protected]

https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/event/beginner-bird-class-🐦/

Photo: Male American Kestrel bringing food, a lizard, to nestlings, near the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden.
Photo credt: Bonnie Clarfield-Bylin

LAST CHANCE - 2 days left to apply for 2023:

The Conejo Valley Audubon Society (CVAS)has launched our 2023 Annual “Lawns to Habitat” Grant. ^ Applications will be accepted from now until May 31, 2023.

Thirty lucky residents/businesses with yards in our membership cities* will be awarded $250 worth of CA Native plants at wholesale pricing, plus landscaping consultation from one of our experienced members. Go to this link for more information and the on-line application.

*Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley & Moorpark, California

^CVAS has moved the application period up to May (from Sep.) so applicants will have time to remove turf and/or non-native landscaping.

https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/conservation/lawns-to-habitat/

We have launched our 2023^ Annual “ Lawns to Habitat” Grant. Applications will be accepted from now until May 31, 2023.

Thirty lucky residents/businesses with yards in our membership cities* will be awarded $250 worth of CA native plants at wholesale pricing, plus landscaping consultation from one of our experienced members. Go to this link for more information and the on-line application.

*Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley & Moorpark, California

^CVAS has moved the application period up to May 1, so applicants will have time to remove turf and/or non-native landscaping.

Lawns To Habitat – Conejo Valley Audubon Society Lawns To Habitat Has your lawn turned brown? Would you like to save water and money while creating a beautiful native garden that supports birds, pollinators, and other wildlife? Then apply to Conejo Valley Audubon Society’s Lawns to Habitat program, and we will help you turn your sad plot into a ...

Reminder: Join us, TONIGHT, Monday, May 1, 2023 , either in person or on Zoom for our Monthly Program, BIRDING THE SPINE OF SOUTH AMERICA.

In Person*:
Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. The doors open at 6:30pm, so arrive a little early to admire the collections at WFVZ.
*Masks will be optional (This is the most updated policy.)

Via Zoom:
To attend this meeting, use this link (https://zoom.us/j/6155249106) at the meeting time of 7 pm

Please read and share far and wide, as it is baby bird season.

Oh no! You’ve found a baby bird on the ground, apparently alone and in distress. Its tiny chirps may pull at your heartstrings, but stopping and assessing the situation is essential. Here’s our guide on how and when to assist baby birds: https://bit.ly/3HdXnX0

Join us, either in person or on Zoom, this upcoming Monday, May 1, 2023 for our Monthly Program, BIRDING THE SPINE OF SOUTH AMERICA.

In Person*:
Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. The doors open at 6:30pm, so arrive a little early to admire the collections at WFVZ.
*Masks will be required

Via Zoom:
To attend this meeting, use this link (https://zoom.us/j/6155249106) at the meeting time of 7 pm

We are launching our 2023 annual “ Lawns to Habitat” grant on May 1. 30 lucky people with yards in our membership cities will get $250 worth of CA Native Plants at Wholesale pricing, plus landscaping advice from one of our experienced members.

Native plants support the life around you, so get to know them! An easy place to begin is to enter your address on Calscape.org and explore the plants: https://calscape.org/

Do you have a bright light in your yard or neighborhood that burns the entire night or overly bright?

Maybe consider dimming it and/or turning it off to help our migrating birds that are currently passing through.

Did you know that International Dark Sky Week kicks off today? Night-migrating birds, like songbirds and shorebirds, can be disoriented by artificial light at night. Turning off or dimming lights can help them complete their migratory journeys safely. Learn more about going lights out: https://bit.ly/3UERnMr

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed by lab tests as the cause of mortality for three California condors found in northern Arizona. Other deceased birds have been collected and are undergoing testing. Additional birds displaying signs of illness were captured and are undergoing care and in quarantine. Our recovery partners are responding and protecting the southwest condor flock to the extent possible.

For more information: http://ow.ly/f83X50NEqGT

Learn more about HPAI: https://www.fws.gov/avian-influenza

Photo by Shea Walsh (sharetheexperience)

April 1, Saturday Fieldtrip
Where: Lake Piru.
Leader : Peter Robertshaw

Meet at 8:00 am at the store/Condor Point, 4780 Piru Canyon Rd, Piru, CA 93040, beyond the entrance. The entrance fee is $5 per car, (Normally it is $10, however the fee was reduced for this Fieldtrip, so be sure to tell them you are part of the CVAS birding group).

Target birds include spring migrants, raptors, and CA condors.

📷by Robert Bradshaw (Lake Piru)

In California an osprey is rescued after being trapped at its nest due to fishing line in the nesting material!

Fishermen, please be careful and dispose of your fishing line responsibly to protect wildlife.

Osprey rescued after getting tethered to nest - by discarded fishing line A stricken osprey was safely rescued after it was found tethered to its nest - by a discarded fishing line. The female bird of prey was stuck 40-foot high atop a light fixture in Ocean Beach, California, USA, with the fishing line tangled around its foot. After making several failed attempts to fly....

Do you love birds and gardens and have time to VOLUNTEER for a few hours on Sunday, April 16, 2023? We are looking for volunteers to help with our Bird-Friendly Garden Tour. You don't need to know a lot about birds or plants, either.

Please send a private message if you have any questions or are interested, and we will get back with you!

Californians, Pay Attention! This is a grassroots conservation issue!

The area proposed to be thinned supports a great diversity of wildlife, including the California subspecies of the Spotted Owl, which faces near threatened status from habitat degradation. There are also more than 400 species of flora and fauna that will be affected if the current Los Padres National Forest Fire Management Proposal goes through without a thorough Environmental Assessment.

Thinning plan for Los Padres heading to federal court Environmental groups and local governments are asking a federal judge to block a fire management proposal in Los Padres National Forest until an environmental s

APRIL MONTHLY PROGRAM
BEAUTIFUL & AMAZING CALIFORNIA NATIVES (April 3)

California native plants can make excellent, drought tolerant choices for our gardens, saving water and providing food and shelter for native insects, birds, and other animals, but there’s also a long history of how our local indigenous peoples made use of these plants.


Laura Pasetta Owner of Wild Rootz is a California Naturalist, Master Gardener, Herbalist, and Nature Photographer. She speaks on a wide variety of topics that include the Animals, Birds and Insects of California Ecosystems, Ethnobotany, and Drought Tolerant Gardening, using California natives in our urban landscapes.

For more information go to our webpage:

https://wp.conejovalleyaudubon.org/activities/monthly-programs/