Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count will take place from February 15-18, 2013.  To join in all you need is a pair of binoculars and 15 minutes of your time.  Visit birdsource.org/gbbc or birdcount.org to view the online bird guide and download a regional checklist.  After you've done your counting you can upload your sightings to the website.  Thanks for participating!

San Bernardino Valley Audubon to speak in Palm Springs February 12, 2013

The San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society and the Desert Cities Bird Club are linking up in the Coachella Valley on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.   Brad Singer will speak on the topic of "Birding Hotspots in the Inland Empire".  The program is free and open to the public and will be held at the Palm Springs Public Library from 6-7:30pm.
Hope to see you there!

Pelican Days at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area January 18-20, 2013

Exciting bird-related events are happening at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area at North Shore, January 18-20, 2013.   It is the first annual "Pelican Days".   Fun for the whole family.   Fee$$
For more information check www.seaanddesert.org

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Christmas Bird Count

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 15, 2012 starting at 7:30am and continuing through the afternoon. Join a team of birders and help us out! To participate or for more information call Betty Zeller at 760-363-7190. Hope to see you there.

Recent Bird Sightings

There is a Tricolored Heron at Salt Creek today, North End of the Salton Sea (NESS). The Purple Martins (adults with young) continue to be seen in Garner Valley - along Highway 74 on the left just after the turnoff to Lake Hemet and just before the turnoff to Hurkey Creek Campground. As you drive along Hwy. 74, look for a tall, dead, snag with holes near the top. Park at the Lake Hemet Road (NOT the Lake Hemet store) turnoff and carefully walk up Hwy. 74 toward Hurkey Creek Campground less than one tenth of a mile. Western Bluebirds were seen flying over the Living Desert today. Evidence of Common Poorwill found in a Palm Desert and a Barstow backyard this week. They may be on the move.

Desert Cities Bird Club is on Facebook!

Desert Cities Bird Club is on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/DesertCitiesBirdClub

Arizona Field Ornithologists Meeting

The Arizona Field Ornithologists will be holding their annual meeting in Lake Havasu City,Arizona, October 26-28, 2012. There will be interesting talks on Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers and field trips on both sides of the Colorado River. For more information and to register go to www.azfo.org

Birding Opportunities this Fall in the Coachella Valley region

Get Out and Bird! Regularly Scheduled Area Birdwalks Big Morongo Canyon Preserve: bird & nature walks on Weds and Sats (7:00 a.m. Apr-Sept; 8:00 a.m. Oct – Mar) except none the first Sat of any month and no Sats at all in Sept. 11055 East Drive, Morongo Valley, CA. (760) 363-7190. www.bigmorongo.org Coachella Valley Preserve Most first three Thurs 7:45 a.m. Sept thru Apr. 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Rd, Thousand Palms, CA. For schedule call (760) 343-2733 or check website. www.coachellavalleypreserve.org Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center has a birdwalk on the first Sat of each month (Oct.-May) from 8:00-10:00 a.m. 46500 Van Buren St., Indio, CA. (760) 347-2647. www.coachellavalleywildbirdcenter.org The Living Desert has members-only birdwalks on the second Thurs of each month. Oct - May. Meet at the admissions gate at 7:30 a.m. for early admission. 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA. (760) 346-5694 ext 82506. www.livingdesert.org Whitewater Preserve Every second and fourth Tues. 8:00 a.m. all year. 9160 Whitewater Canyon Rd, Whitewater, CA. www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_white water.html (760) 325-7222. Fall Bird Classes Gearing Up There are several classes in the offing aimed at area birders. All are taught by Kurt Leuschner of College of the Desert. The Birds of Joshua Tree National Park—Sept 21-23, Joshua Tree National Park. Contact the Desert Institute at (760) 367-5535 for details. Birds of the Mojave Desert—Natural History & Conservation. Oct 12-14, Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx. Contact UCR Extension at (800) 442-4990 for particulars. Birds of Anza-Borrego—Oct 26-28, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Call UCR Extension at (800) 442-4990 for more information.

The Fall newsletter is out!

The Fall (Sept-Dec 2012) issue of "I'd Rather Be Birding", the newsletter of the Desert Cities Bird Club, has been published. If you'd like to receive a copy and/or join the Desert Cities Bird Club leave your email address as a comment to this post. Happy Birding!

Sunnylands Birdwalks

Sunnylands (part of the Annenberg estate) in Rancho Mirage, CA is now open to the public. Check out their website at www.sunnylands.org Free birdwalks are usually led by Kurt Leuschner and the next three are scheduled for Oct. 12, Oct. 26, and Nov. 9, 2012. All fridays, starting at 9:15am and lasting about one hour. Hope to see you there!

Central Valley Birding Symposium this Fall

Central Valley Birding Symposium November 15-18, 2012 Stockton, California - Stockton Hilton www.cvbs.org There will be great workshops, speakers, field trips, and more at this annual event. If you are into birds and birding you should try to attend!

Purple Martins are back!

After many years/decades of absence, Purple Martins are being seen again in Garner Valley near the bridge at the turnoff to Lake Hemet. Look for a dead snag with a hole or two in the top. Nesting is suspected but has not been confirmed yet. We hope they will stay and continue to return every year like they used to.

Like us on facebook!

The Desert Cities Bird Club now has a facebook page. Check it out and be sure to like us!

Our next newsletter will be out soon!

The Desert Cities Bird Club's "I'd Rather Be Birding" newsletter has a new editor and a new look. We also will be producing three issues per year, starting September 1, 2012. Watch for it! And if you haven't signed up yet, join our mailing list so you can stay informed about all of the birding activities in and around the Coachella Valley.

Earth Day Birdathon Century Run 2012

On Friday, May 4, from 7am-4pm, the Friends of the Desert Mountains will be sponsoring a birding bus tour. The cost is $50 per person. A student price is also available. We'll be travelling by luxury coach to the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center, and the Salton Sea State Recreation Area in search of a minimum of 100 bird species. Your leader will be Kurt Leuschner. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Desert Mountains and bird conservation projects in the Coachella Valley. Come on out, have some fun, and support the birds! Snacks and water will be provided but bring your own lunch/drinks and plan for an exciting day of birding. To sign up call Tammy @ 760-568-9918.

Earth Day Birding Challenge

On April 23rd the 2nd Annual Earth Day Birding Challenge will benefit the Friends of the Desert Mountains. The Birdathon is more fun and friendly than competitive. At 10:00 there will be kids activities at The Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center, the Whitewater Visitor Center and at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor’s Center.  www.desertmountains.org

Date: Saturday, April 23, 2011, Midnight to Midnight
What is it? A friendly 24-hour birding competition/fundraiser to support Friends of the Desert Mountains to provide habitat for birds in the Coachella Valley.
What happens? Individuals or Teams compete to identify as many bird species as they can in a 24-hour period by sight or by sound in the four counties included in the Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail: Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, and San Diego.  ABA “Big Day” rules apply.
Awards Presentation: The winning trophy will be presented at 10: 00 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center.
National Monument Visitor Center
51-500 Hwy 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260
(4 miles south of Hwy. 111)
Fun for all ages!  Novice or experienced bird watchers are encouraged to participate.  There will be children’s activities going on at various locations.  
Registration forms: www.desertmountains.org
Friends of the Desert Mountains
P.O. Box 1281, Palm Desert, CA 92261
Fax: 760-568-9908
More details? Contact Tammy Martin at the Friends of the Desert Mountains office at (760) 568-9918 or email at tmartin@desertmountains.org.
 

A literary note

The second annual Earth Day Birding Challenge is April 23rd! April 23 is also the birthday of William Shakespeare.  Mr. Shakespeare was pretty well acquainted with - among one or two other things - birds.  From Blackbird to Wren more than forty strut, twitter, shriek, sing and soar throughout his works!

Stylish new Desert Cities Bird Club caps available!

The new bird club caps are very high quality and really cool. Each features a very detailed embroidered bird on the front of the cap and the club name in small letters at the back.

Many species are available including the Barn Owl, Bals Eagle, Greater Roadrunner, California Condor, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon, Anna’s Hummingbird, Wood Duck, Gambel’s Quail and more. There is even a collared lizard! 

Be the first on your block to sport a DCBC cap, now available for only $15 each.

Contact Kurt to order by emailing  Kleuschner@collegeofthedesert.edu

Hummingbirds

If you love hummingbirds, and who doesn't, don't miss Hummingbirds of the Southwest on March 18, Friday, 7-8 p.m. It is a free lecture by Kurt Leuschner on at Blackrock Campground in Joshua Tree National Park.  

For more information and for driving directions see http://desertinstitute.homestead.com/lectures/brnc.html

Sponsored by the Desert Institute.  

News and notes - Spring 2011

The Western Field Ornithologist meeting in Palm Desert was a big hit. The next meeting will be in Sierra Vista, Arizona August 17-21. Kurt will be coordinating field trips. www.westernfieldornithologists.org

 ABA book sales are now at buteobooks.com. It is a great place to order bird books of all kinds. 

Field Glasses Anyone? there is a super place in Irvine called Optics for Birders 

Betty Zeller would like us to let everyone know that the Big Morongo bird walks change from 8am to 7am starting in April

Don’t miss the Morongo Valley Spring Festival March, 26, Saturday, 9-3,  All kinds of nature activities and bird walks.  Call the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve for more information  760-363-7190

An American Dipper has been spotted in Tahquitz Canyon Kurt went out to see it and he says it is “The first one I have seen south of the Sierra!”

Inca Doves have been residing in Heather Hurley’s yard in Indio for the second year in a row.

If you liked the recently released Guide to Golf Course Wildlife, you are going to love the new S. Cal Coastal guide as well as the Guide to Wildlife at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. They are all available now at Barnes and Noble as well as various visitor’s centers in the area.

If you have used field guides, wildlife magazines or other bird related things to donate, call (760) 349-3515 and we will arrange pick up.

Check our blog for the latest birding updates.
http://www.dcbc.blogspot.com/

The Coachella Valley Preserve is home to the 2nd largest California Fan Palm oasis. Guided bird walks are ongoing through late Spring. Days vary, so call Mark Leggett at 760 699-5717 or CVP at 760 343-2733 for schedules and more. www.coachellavalleypreserve.org.

The San Diego Bird Festival March 3-6 features desert, mountain, seashore and pelagic adventures.
Info: 619-682-7200  or sandiegoaudubon.org

The Living Desert University has several classes that offer good birding this Spring:
  The Bird Walk at Smoke Tree Ranch offers a kaleidoscope of wildflowers a wonderful opportunity to observe many of our special desert bird species as they go about

their daily activities. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. FEE$$

  The Big Morongo Canyon & Yucca Ridge Trek is a moderate 6 mile hike that promises numerous bird and reptile species as well as the native perennial wildflower shows. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. FEE$$ For Info and to sign up for either event call (760) 346-5694 

San Bernardino Valley Audubon is sponsoring a visit to the Mojave National Preserve in early spring with the goal of seeing the sought after specialty breeding birds of the area. These include Gilded Flicker, Juniper Titmouse, and Bendire's, Crissal, and Le Conte's Thrashers. Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3, 2011 call John Green (951) 686-2956

  Other Audubon Society trips include Whitewater
Canyon, Big Morongo and the Salton Sea.
Information is listed at SBVAS.org