Rare Bird Alert

The Inland Counties Rare Bird Alert, moderated by Kirk and Linda Stitt, is a great way to find out about rare birds in our area. Email secalrba@earthlink.net. Also,
Inland Counties Birds is a great resource. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/inlandcountybirds

Thanks

Special thanks to these special people:Anne and Bernard Schmitt, Carin Berglars, Robert O’Neill, Bill and Gail Beardsley, Phyllis Schwartz and Marguerite Shwe

Web Links

www.audubon.org/educate offers a variety of bird related leaning products Audubon Adventures classroom resource kits for teachers and nature educators.

Avian Knowledge Network aggregates bird data from a number of sources www.avianknowledge.net

Birders United is a political site dedicated to building a new American political force dedicated to preserving birds and their habitats. www.birdersunited.com
Ebird is a great place to report bird sightings www.ebird.com

Shade Grown Coffee

Shade coffee plantations provide important habitats for migratory song birds. Many of these plantations are threatened by declining coffee prices. To buy Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee and help promote the continued existence of shade plantations call 800-648-6491. For more info about saving the cerulean warbler see www.abcbirds.org/international/cerw.htm

FOREST FRIENDLY LUMBER

Now that the weather is cooling down, you might be feeling the urge to do a little work around the house. Remember that not all 2x4’s are alike! Your next lumber purchase can:
-Protect old growth forests
-Save important wildlife habitat
-Keep our air and water clean
-Provide important jobs to logging communities
So buy lumber that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Find it at www.ForestFriendlyLumber.com

Help Save the Birds of Mount San Jacinto

The Palm Springs Aerial Tram has a serious problem with bird strikes on the huge windows that surround the main building. Over the years countless birds have died at the base of these windows or in a nearby bush after attempting to fly through the glass. Many are scavenged by ravens before they can be noticed or counted by researchers studying this issue. We need your help to give us a better understanding of the problem. When you ride the tram, take a moment to walk around the building (especially the outdoor eating area and stairwell) and look for evidence of dead birds. Please report any findings directly to Kurt with as many details as you gather: Anything you can contribute will be helpful. Thanks for your time and efforts! Report findings to: Kurt Leuschner 760-776-7285

In the interest of science

If you find any dead birds in good condition, Kurt Leuschner at College of the Desert would like to have them. No, he hasn’t suddenly gone Dracula on us; he is producing a collection of museum quality skins for the College of the Desert. When you find birds, note the date and location and freeze in a Ziploc bag. Call 776-7285 to arrange pickup.

The College of the Desert Classes

The College of the Desert has a variety of natural science courses beginning in January. Learn about birds, native plants or insects for fun and earn your desert naturalist certificate. Look for the schedule in late December or call Kurt Leuschner at (760) 776-7285

If you want to find birds, it helps to know about their food. College of the Desert offers a class in Entomology in Spring Semester 2008. For more info. contact Kurt at 760-776-7285 or kleuschner@collegeofthe desert.edu

Living Desert Salton Sea Trips - January 2008

The Living Desert is sponsoring four Salton Sea trips in January. Dates are
Sunday, January 6,
Friday, January 11,
Friday January 18th and
Saturday January 26.

For more information call the education department at 346-5694.

The Living Desert - 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert call (760) 346-5694 ext. 82506

Oriole Feeders

Looking for the ideal oriole feeder? Kurt recommends the Fliteline Jr. #230. It includes 3 feeding stations, bee guards, and can be pole mounted or hung. To get one, call Wild Birds Unlimited in Torrance at (310) 326-2473 and ask for Bob Shanman. Tell him Kurt sent you.

Adopt a Banding Station

Would you like to adopt a banding station? The Institute for Bird Populations offers an “Adopt a MoSI Station” program. Those who sponsor a station with at least $300.00 receive photographs and updates from that station. Contact Peter Pyle at ppyle@birdpop.org. You can check out the program’s website at www.bpbo.ca

Protect Wildlife from Barbed Wire

Barbed wire fences can be virtually invisible to birds, wildlife and even people. The Sutton Avian Research Center has a web site that tells how to make these fences more visible. www.suttoncenter.org/fence_marking.html

Bird Songs:250 North American Birds in Song by Les Beletsky

This is a combination of a beautifully illustrated book and an electronic device that plays birds songs. It is a great coffee table book and conversation piece. The size makes it easy and inviting to flip through and the addition of the bird songs makes it very entertaining as well as educational. The book covers 250 species which are divided into habitats such as water and shore birds or forest birds rather than arranged by taxonomy.
The pictures are outstanding and often include both a male and female of the species. The sound quality of the bird songs is so clear that we had to forbid playing hawk and owl sounds when we saw our poor bunny cowering in fear.
If you are thinking of taking 250 bird songs into the field, you had better hit the gym, because it is big and heavy. It is really not made to be a field guide but rather an interesting and enjoyable book to read and play.
I first saw this book at Borders last fall and spent a long time playing with it. I delighted to receive it as a gift last Christmas. The novelty of the bird songs hasn’t worn off. My daughter and I play the songs and try to quiz each other on them. It is really a lot of fun.

Feathers For Lunch by Lois Ehlert

This brightly illustrated book for children has more than just pretty pages to look at – it is actually a unique learning experience for future birders! Composed in clever rhyme, this book is the tale of a pet cat who escapes the confines of its house only to encounter several birds in the backyard. His attempt to catch any of the birds featured is unsuccessful due to the bell attached to the collar he is wearing. Each “jingle-jingle” gives him away and he is only able to grab a few feathers, hence the title. Each bird featured is identified by both the type of bird and the sound it makes. In addition, all plants in the illustrations are labeled with their common names. The last pages of the book are titled: “The lunch that got away” and all statistics describing the birds featured are listed. In addition, the very back cover flap is a bird check list for little ones to use. A fun must read for children (and grown-ups!) of all ages!

Optic Recycling

Reusing is the best form of recycling! Thanks to Buford Crites who donated (on behalf of the club) tripods, binoculars and scopes which were forwarded to the Birder’s Exchange. Do you have similar items to donate? We can help if you wish. Call (760) 349-3515.
Many organizations can make use of used binoculars or scopes in good condition. The American Birding Association operates The Birder’s Exchange see www.aba.org or call 800-850-2473 ext 237.
Optics for the Tropics supports bird conservation in the Caribbean and Latin America. American migratory birds often spend a significant part of the year in the tropics. To truly protect these species we need to partner with our counterparts south of the border. Besides donating optics, you may want to consider donating money to support a bird monitoring station. For information see www.opticsforthetropics.org
Another place to donate is the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad. Their website www.asawright.org/support/gifts.html has a wish list that includes optics, computers and scientific equipment

Calendar for May

May
2, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 Big Morongo Canyon Bird Walk 7a.m.
4-6 Birds of Joshua Tree National Park
5 Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center Bird Walk 8:00 a.m.
5 SBVAS trip to Big Morongo—call for details
10 Living Desert Members Only Bird Walk 7:30 a.m.
13 Cottonwood Springs Bird Walk 8:00 a.m

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve has bird & nature walks on Wednesdays and Saturdays except the first Saturday of every month from 8-10:00 a.m. Beginning April 1st, the time changes to 7:00 a.m. 11055 East Drive, Morongo Valley for info call Dee Zeller at (760) 363-7190

Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center has a bird walk on the first Saturday of each month from 8-10:00 a.m. www.coachellavalleywildbirdcenter.org46500 Van Buren St., Indio (760) 347-2647

Calendar for June

June
16 SBVAS Owling—call for details


San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society (SBVAS)(909) 875-5358. www.sbvas.org/calendar .htm

Join the blogging revolution!

Blogging is sweeping the nation! I am sure that many of our members have something to contribute. So sign up! It's easy!

Members may post to this blog but must sign up first. So send me an email at heather@whispering-palms.net You will receive an invitation with instructions from Blogger. It just takes a few minutes and once you have signed up once you are ready to go.

You can post anything bird related, interesting sightings, photos, reviews of books, upcoming events, ideas for birding trips, etc. So take the plunge and send me an email :-) Heather

Support your club -- buy a patch, pin or bumper sticker.

Help support the Desert Cities Bird Club by purchasing a patch or pin for $5.00 each or a bumper sticker for $1.50. Send your money to the address above, or purchase at the CVWBC or Big Morongo Preserve.

Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad -- A few pictures

Crested Oropendola
The Asa Wright Nature Center
Green Honeycreeper at feeder
Bananaquit