•X I I I M&O QL 671 G84 the Qull Volume 56 Berkeley, Calif. November 1974 Number 10 From Your President's Stockpile PAST HISTORY AND FUTURE CONCERNS. I recently s^Dent a veiy rewarding three hours in the Bancroft Library of UC Berkeley going through tlie first three folios of box 1 of the Archives of our forerunner, The Audubon Associ- ation of the Pacific. These folios dealt entirely with the activities of our first president (1917-1919) and holder of the number 1 mem- bership card in tine Association Mr. C. B. (Carlos Bartholomew) Lastreto. His biography in L. S. Byington’s History of San Fran- cisco, 1931, occupies almost three pages without ever mentioning the Audubon Association of the Pacific of which he was a most remarkable and effective president. His business interests were in foreign trade. He had Ihs bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Ignatius College in San Francisco, was an accomplished linguist, a lover of nature, and had an intimate knowledge of birds. In his two years as president of this embryonic society he made a very thorough investigation of the destruction of migratory birds at 36 lighthouses along the California coast, pushed this investigation south to include the California Audubon Society, and north to include societies in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. In the midst of World War 99 November 1974 THE GULL 1 he secured working drawings including cost specifications from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for perches and rests for migra- toiy birds wiiich they had designed to be placed ai'ound lighthouses witliin range of illumination. The final report w^as solicited by Prof. Grinnell, Director of tlie Vertebrate Museum of Natural History (UG Berkeley), for publication in The Condor. The questionaire he sent out to oologists as to the scientific value of their egg collecting activities brought some sharp retorts, particularly from W. L. Dawson (Birds of California) who was then associated with the Museum of Oology in Santa Bai'bara and considered the questionaire to be just one more link in a plot to keep his Birds of California from being published. Mr. Lastreto also took on the oil companies for dump- ing oil in the region of the Farallones and secured answers from consuls in fifteen countries bordering on oceans concerning the extent of spill obsen/ed there and any related bird mortality. In Jan. 1919 the whole question of w'omen’s rights raised its head when one woman member objected to the absence of w'omen on the Board of Directors. Mr. Lastreto responded that since women consid('r- ably outnumbered the men at the annual membersliip meeting, they had only to nominate and elect anyone they wished to any ix)st. He went on to comment that any woman who held office in the first two years of the Society’s history had either resigned before her term w’as concluded, or had quietly withdrawn from any participation in the activities of the Society, or at the expiration of her term had definitely declined to accept re-election. This problem was resolved somewhere along the way. Since 1962 seven of our nine presidents have been women. GGAS BOARD AGTIVITIES: At its September meeting tlie Board approved the Budget and Standing Rules for GGAS for 1974-75 which are included in the issue of the Gull. They also approved as members of the nomination committee, two members selected by its chairman Aileen Pierson (587-4163). These are Marie Mans (933-8000) and George Peyton (444-3131). The committee will appreciate input from all members as to suitable candidates for positions on the Board. Tlie committee must present its slate in time to meet the February 1 dead- line for inclusion in the March issue of The Gidl. MINI FIELD TRIPS ANYONE? Since starting their second set of field trips for beginners see the Gull Sept. 1974) Ruth Voss and Garlos Garcia have led a group of 11-13 members to Coyote Hills, Sunol and Alameda. Ruth reports that she has never done anything she has enjoyed .so much. At our general meeting in September one gentleman spoke regretfully of the fact our regular field trips had become too fast paced for him and other older members and lie had given up trying to participate in them. I wonder if Carlos and Ruth as two recent retirees could not serve as 100 THE GULL November 1974 an inspiration. Other GGAS members might organize hireling groups of individuals in nearby zip code areas who could share their knowledge and gear their trips to the special interests and energy level of the par- ticipants. If you would be interested in serving as a catalyst in organ- izing such a group or would like to join one, would you drop a card to me at the GGAS office.^ We will see if we can help. GGAS INITIATED ADULT GOURSES; A request by GGAS to Mr. Lawrence Hughes, principal of Albany Adult School, for their sponsor- ship of an ornithology course, resulted in the very successful one cur- rently being offered by Paul Kelly at Albany High School. More than 100 students showed up the first night. Paul is accomodating approxi- mately 40 students in each of two sections being held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. He has brought in a wealth of laboratory material and visual aids. These combined with his excellent backgi'ound and his enthusiasm and attention to detail have evoked a warm response to the course. We had hoped that this would mark the beginning of a series of natural science oriented courses which would be attractive to our mem- bers and to other like minded residents in the community. The response reinforces our hunch that the time is ripe for other offerings. Would you want courses concerned with trees, wildflowers, reptiles, birds and mam- mals, insects, or ecology? Would a course in paleontology, geology, an introduction to plant taxonomy, or on current Bay Area conservation problems interest you? Would you prefer a field course, a lab course, or a combination of the two? Would you like to learn to lead field trips; to attend effectively hearings on conservation issues; to evaluate environ- mental impact reports? Write or phone Jim Glayton, our education chairman. Indicate what classes you would hke to see evolve and what nights you could attend class. If you are professionally competent to teach a course and would like to do so please let Jim know. We will see what can be an’anged. Meanwhile we are most grateful to Mr. Hughes and to Albany Adult School for their cooperation and support. AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED; Should any member have on hand any of the following equipment which he would like to lend or donate to GGAS, it would be a welcome and essential addition to our teaching program. Such equipment is also needed for occasional use at the general membership meetings. 1. A modem carousel or tray slide projector. 2. A free-standing projection screen approximately 5 feet in width. 3. A 16 mm movie projector with sound. Please call Vera at 843-2222 if you can help. Pickup will be arranged Donations are tax deductible. — G.R. MACHLIS, President 101 November 1974 THE GULL AUDUBON WILDLIFE FILMS The second in the series of Audubon Wildlife Films will be shown Tues- day, November 12, at 8:00 P.M. The place: Oakland Auditorium Theatre, 10th and Fallon Streets, Oakland. The film is titled “Florida Cypress Sanctuary: Fisheating Creek”. The photographer, Richard C. Kern, bought with 10 other men a 400 acre tract surrounding the creek. Their purpose was to preserve the land and its wildlife. Part One shows the creek in the summer— the effect of rain, the in- habitants, the creek at night, time-lapse scenes of unfolding resurrection ferns, and the processes of decay. The creek in winter is the subject of Part Two. The emphasis is on larger animals and the nesting activities of tlie rare caraca and its close association with black and turkey vultiures. Richard Kem was the recepient of a National Science Foundation Grant and his color photos have appeared in such magazines as Audubon and National Geographic. At present, he is a biology teacher at West- minster Christian School in Miami. Single admission tickets are $1.75 and can be purchased at the door. Season tickets are $6.00 to GCAS and OMA members. Children under 12 admitted free if accompanied by an adult. -FRANCES ELLEN FALLGATTER, Wildlife Chairman Editor’s Comment A SPECIAL PLACE John Muir had Yosemite, Tho- reau had Walden Pond, and Henry Beston a lonely stretch of Atlantic beach. Most of us have a special place we love and come to know intimately. For some it is a vast and grand landscape like the Sierra; for others it is a bit of open space close at hand. A special place reflects our temperament. It ignites our imagination, or com- forts us with the knowledge of our afiinity with other living things. When I was growing up, my place was a thicket along a stream near our house. Poison oak and blackberries competed for space; a live oak offered challenging climb- ing. During the rainy season, the stream was a foaming brown torrent, in summer a few stagnant pools. A bird, I later knew as the Swainson’s 102 November 1974 THE GULL thrush, nested along its banks and enchanted me with its flute-song. For days 1 searched for him, crawling on my hands and knees tlirough the brambles. And then one day 1 saw him, a shy brown bird who acknowl- edged me with a round eye. Blackberries, turning from red to black in the sun, stained my fingers with their sweet juices. After the first rain salamanders appeared, re- pelling and fascinating me with their cold, rubbery bodies and their lethargic ways. Nature’s cycles were recorded in this bit of landscape. The stream rose and fell. Birds sang, then grew silent and departed for distant places. Buds swelled and became leaves that later turned brown and dropped to the ground. The thicket, shunned by adults who preferred more orderly places, was my secret garden. There, I was consoled by a natural world which was innocent of cruelty or kindness. -PHILA WITHERELL, Editor GEORGE PEYTON IN AFRICA— GENERAL MEETING Africa — Its Birds and Animals — will be the subject presented by Geo- rge Peyton at om November general membership meeting. The meeting will be on Thursday, November 14, at 7 ;30 P.M. at the Oakland Rotary Science Center, Lake Merritt. Mr. Peyton has served on the board of directors of the Golden Gate Audubon Society, the Oakland Museum, and Audubon Canyon Ranch. He recently returned from Africa where he led a group of local nature lovers on an exciting adventure. He has agreed to share his slides and knowledge with all of us who were unable to make this wonderful trip. The program is free to the public. Anyone interested can meet at 6:15 P.M. for dinner before the meet- ing at Tom Lovely’s on Grand Avenue, (between Perkins and Lee Streets ), Oakland. —DOLORES JOHNSON, Program Chairperson OPEN HOUSE AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER An Anniversary celebration will be held at the Ecology Center on Friday, November 22, 6:00-11:00 P.M. The Ecology Center’s address is 2179 Allston Way, Berkeley. There will be refresliments, special displays and two films “Countdown to Collison” and “Use it and Use It Up”. “Use it and Use It Up” was made by Ariel Parkinson, a well-known Bay Area artist and the daughter of Laurel and Eric Reynolds. NEWS FROM AUDUBON CANYON RANCH Audubon Canyon Ranch has leased to Point Reyes Bird Observatory, for two years at $1 per year, the most northerly of its four canyons. The Observatory will explore the feasibility of moving its headquarters to the new site. This will not, of course, affect the location of its established census territories. PBRO would, if it decided to go ahead with the move, 103 November 1974 THE GULL need space for a combination laboratory and library, for a headquarters office, and possibly sleeping accommodations for some of its workers. There is presently one house in the canyon. ACR is delighted that its already close relationship with PBRO is being strengthened. There are certain advantages for the Ranch: the association wth an established scientific organization lends strength to the educational function of ACR; the use of the developed flat portion of the canyon is desirable and consonant with the purposes of ACR. PRBO recognizes that the ranch is a sanctuary, and there will be no collecting of any kind. There will be no oflicial connection between the two organizations, and each will maintain complete autonomy. Each fall Audubon Canyon Ranch turns to its friends for support. Its annual letter is the chief source of its income and provides funds for the acquisition of whatever coast and marsh lands it can afford. It pro- vides for its education programs, for the maintenance of its lands and trails and buildings, for salaries, and the inescapable costs of running what has grown to be a large and important organization. The friends to whom the ranch looks for help are the members of Golden Gate and Marin Audubon Societies who sponsored ACR and set it on its path in 1961. This year, as rarely before, we need your help. Please, each of you, contribute or pledge as generously as you can to Audubon Canyon Ranch. Bay Area Birds FIELD TRIPS FOR NOVEMBER Sunday November 3 HEERDT MARSH. A short trip from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 NOON. Take Highway lOI just past Corte Madera and exit on Lucky Drive. Turn right and park in front of the Golden Gate Trailer Court. We will walk about 2 miles out onto the marsh on dirt roads. Come prepared for mud. We should see ducks, kites, short-eared owls and possibly burrowing owls. Leader: Bruce Schatzman (386-1876). Saturday November 9 BODEGA BAY. A trip to see shorebirds, loons, oyster- catchers and rails. Meet at 9:30 A.M. at the first parking lot inside the Doran Beach entrance — about I mile south of the center of the town of Bodega Bay. Be prepared with two quarters to get through 104 THE GULL November 1974 the gcite, piU'k at the top of the hill near the motel. We will bud at Doran Peninsula, Bodega Lagoon, and Bodega Head. Little walking. Leader: Jim Clayton (524-2917). Sunday November 1/ GOLDEN GATE PARK. A long walk (4 miles) through Golden Gate Park from the Fuschia Garden to the Chain of Lakes. Meet at the intersection of Stanyon and Hayes at the entrance to tlie 1 uschia Gardens. If you can’t walk the entire distance meet us along the way. Approximate schedule; Fuschia Gardens 9:00 A.M., Arbor- etum 10:00 A.M., Stowe Lake 12:30 P.M. (lunch), and Chain of Lak^s 3:00 P.M. Return trip by city bus. Leader: Dixie Sperling (386- Satiirday November 23 KIRBY COVE. A short trip from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon. From San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the Alexander Street exit, drive M mile and turn left. Meet at the tunnel entrance. We will caravan to the starting point at 9:00 A.M. Be pre- pared to walk about 2 miles. We will see both ocean and land birds. Saturday November 30 LIMANTOUR. Meet at the Point Reyes National Sea- shore headquarters (Near Pt. Reyes Sta.); at 9:00 A.M. We will caravan to the starting point at Limantour. We will see ducks, loons, herons, and shorebirds. Be prepared to walk a long way on the sand. Leader: S. Whitehead (933-3390). Saturday & Sunday December 7 & 8 SACRAMENTO WILDLIFE REFUGE AND GREY LODGE. Make reservations now for Satm’day night at Markay’s Motel Gridley, tel. (916) 846-3758 Pacific Motel, Gridley, tel. (916) 846- 9915, or Buckner’s Motel, Biggs, CA. If you wish to camp, go to Colusa-Sacramento Campground I 2 mile out of Colusa. If you can’t come for the weekend come for one day. Driving time from the Bay Area is 3 hours. On Satm'day meet at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, 7 miles south of Willows at 9:00 A.M. Drive via Highways 80,505, and 5. On Sunday meet at Grey Lodge Waterfowl Refuge at 9:00 A.M. Approach via 99 and follow signs out of Live Oak or Gridley. Dinner Saturday night will be at Western Smorgy in Grid- ley. They will fix a box lunch on request. Leader: Harry Adamson (283-2164). NO LEADER TRIPS. November 6 in Tilden Park. 9:00 A.M. at the Little Farm. November 20: 9:00 A.M. in Golden Gate Park at the Chain of Lakes, 43rd and Fulton. Choose your own leaders. Lunch optional. DATES TO HOLD: January 5-Rare bird trip. January 18— Bus trip to Thornton. February 1-2— Los Banos. February— Grizzly and Joice Islands. PAT TRIGGS, Field Trips Chairman 105 November 1974 THE G U L L BIRD OBSERVATIONS September— a truly fantastic month! Broad-winged Hawk, Ano Nuevo, Sept. 14— L.C.B., 2 Golden Gate Park, 7 Pt. Diablo, Sept. 27— L.C.B. Black Rail, heard at Benicia Marsh, Sept. 19— R.S. Dotterel, Southeast Farallones, first record for Galifornia, Sept. 12— D.W. American Golden Plover, 12 Drakes Beach area, Sept. 9 through 25— m.ob. Bar-tailed Godwit, Areata, Aug. 24 through Sept. 11— m.ob. Stilt Sandpiper, near Skaggs Island, Sept. 9— L.G.B., R.S. Rvff, Martinez, Sept. 15, through 25— D.E., T.S., m.ob.. Bodega Bay Sept. 18 through 20— M.L.R., M.W., m.ob. Curlew Sandpiper, Bolinas Lagoon, Sept. 7 through 14— G.P., m.ob. Baird’s Sandpiper, 6 Bodega Bay, Jul. 28— P. A., B.F., M.L.R., 3 Nicasio Reservoir, Aug. 27— W.M.P., m.ob., 7 Ano Nuevo, Aug. 27-28— m.ob., 3 Moss Beach, Sept.4, 9 Sept. 8— B.S., 13 Bolinas Lagoon Sept. 7 through Sept. 9— m.ob. Parasitic Jaeger, 2 Pigeon Point, Sept. 4— B.S., 3 Bolinas Lagoon, Sept. 8, 9— m.ob. Pomarine Jaeger, Pigion Point, Sept. 4— B.S. Skua, Bolinas Lagoon, Sept. 8, 10— m.ob. Thick-billed Murre, GGAS Monterey Boat Trip, Sept. 7— m.ob. Xantus’ Murrelet, same as above. Ancient Murrelet, Bodega Head, July 31— D.G., m.ob. Long-eared Owl, Rodeo Lagoon, Sept. 12— L.J. Red-eyed Vireo, Hall Ranch, Sept. 27— W.M.P. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ano Nuevo, Sept. 14— L.G.B. Sidphur-bellied Flycatcher, Galifornia record, Ventura-Point Mugu, Sept. 22-24-H.B. Eastern Kingbird, Mendoza Ranch, Sept. 1— D.D. Tropical Kingbard, Hall Ranch, Sept. 27— W.M.P. , M.W., m.ob. Catbird, Bodega Bay, Sept. 19 through 21— G.B., m.ob. Black-and-White Warbler, Bodega Bay, Sept. 21— J. & S.L., R.C.A., Point Reyes— R.S. , South Point, Sept. 26— D.E., T.S., same as above Sept. 27, 28, 29— m.ob. Tennessee Warbler, Bodega Bay, Sept. 19 through 21— G.B., m.ob.. Point Reyes, Sept. 26, South Point, Sept. 28, 29— m.ob. Virginia’s Warbler, South Point, Sept. 29— m.ob. Northern Panda, Bodega Bay, Sept. 19 through 21— G.B., m.ob.. South Point, Sept. 26— D.E., T.S., Sept. 28, 29— m.ob. Magnolia Warbler, Battery Wallace, Sept. 1— D.E., Sept. 2, Point Reyes, Sept. 27-L.G.B. Cape May Warbler, abandoned ranch. Point Reyes, Sept. 21— L.G.B. J. & S.L., R.S. Chestnut-sided Warbler, Fort Gronkite, Sept. 2— B.F., W.M.P., M.W., Bodega Bay, Sept. 19-G.B., Mendoza Ranch, Sept. 20-R.L.V.,’ South Point, Sept. 24-J.G., W.M.P., Sept. 27-J. & S.L., J.M., Sept. 28— m.ob. 106 THE GULL November 1974 Bay-breasted Warbler, Mendoza Ranch, Sept 26— D E T S Blackpoll Warbler, Rodeo Lagoon, Sept. 9 all along "Point Reyes Road, Sept through Sept. 29-m.ob., Lake Merced, Sept. 26-T.M. I rame Warbler, Lake Merced, Sept. 9-N.S., Drakes Beach, Sept. 21- J. & S.L., R.S. Palm. Warbler, Point Reyes, Sept. 27-W.M.P., m.ob.. South Point Sept. 28-m.ob., Sept. 29-G.A., J.M., W.M.P. Connecticut Warbler, Mendoza Ranch, Sept. 26-D.E., T.S., Drakes Bay Sept. 29-R.G., B.G., P.M. Canada Warbler, South Point, Sept 26-D.E., T.S. American Redstart, Lake Merced, Sept. 5-J.M., Rodeo Lagoon, Sept. 9 Bodega Bay Sept. 19, all along Point Reyes Road, Sept. 21 through Sept. 29. i Indigo Bunting, Drakes Beach, Sept. 24-V.H., Sept 29-R.G. BG P.M., W.M.P. Red Crossbill, Berkeley, Sept. 9— J.O. Tree Sparrow, Bodega Head, Sept. 23-H.J. Brewers Sparrow, Bodega Bay, Sept. 19-G.B., Point Reyes, Sept. 20- R.L.V. ' ^ > 1 Too late to classify: Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Mendoza Pond, Sept. 29- R.G., P.M. Lapland Longspur 2, Baird’s Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Hall Ranch, Sept. 29— R.G., P.M. Observers: Pete Allen, Garth Alton, Laurence G. Binford, Gordon Bolander, Hank Brodkin, Roy Garlson, Jim Glayton, Dale Glyde, Dick Dean, Dick Ericson, Bud Fry, Budd Gralapp, Vi Homem, Leroy Jensen, Hans Johansen, Ron LeValley, John and Susanne Luther, Peter Metropolis, Joe Morlan, Judy Olson, Gary Page, Wm. M. Pur- sell, Mary Louise Rosegay, Barry Sauppe, Tom Schulenberg, Rich Stallcup, Naomi Sveningsen, Mike Wihler, David Winkler. —MRS. HUBERT FRY, Field Observations Chairman A LETTER FROM TRAVELLING FRIENDS (Dottie and Alan Pistorius left in the summer for points east. Dottie will be remembered by many as the cheerful, competent office secretary and membership chairman for GGAS. Several years ago she and Alan pitched their tent in Sunol Regional Park and watched over the pair of nesting peregrine falcons. Their letter is excerpted below.) “This letter has no return address for the simple reason that we haven’t got one. At the moment we’re resting at my sister’s after our 26-state, 4- province trek across the north midwest and the northeast. In a couple of days we head for Vermont, where we hope to spend the winter. We haven’t had a whole lot of time for birding, but I would be less than candid if I did not admit that we stopped to admire the veeries and redstarts and short-billed marsh wrens in Minnesota, the lark buntings 107 November 1974 THE GULL and chestnut-collared longspurs in North Dakota, the clay-cx)lored spai- rows and broad-winged hawks in Wisconsin, the Hudsonian godwits and semipalmated sandpipers in Nova Scotia, and the little blue herons and skimmers (everybody else staring at several avocets!) at Brigantine NWR (SE New Jersey). Nor can I claim that we entirely ignored the warblers as we drifted from place to place. Indeed you may tell Bud Fry that, if she thinks the Bay Area birders can stand it, she had my permission to print the following EYHO* note from the east in The Gull.” “In 45 minutes on the morning of October 3 in a golf course woods behind my sister’s house outside of Princeton, N.J., I got into a group of mixed warblers. I was lucky if I got a look at half of them, which included perhaps 10 black-throated greens, 9 redstarts, 5 black-and- whites, 4 parulas, 3 magnolias, 2 Nashvilles, 2 black-throated blues, 2 ovenbirds, one yellow-rumped (myrtle), one chestnut-sided, one black- poll, one tennessee, one cerulean, and a possible blackburnian.” “Now that’s what I call birding! (If only your neck didn’t get sore, and your binoculars so heavy! )” ”Eat-Your-Heart-Out. Covel’s Conservation Comer Blue herons and cuckoos got their just due from the California State Park and Reereation Commission at their September meeting. Anderson Island Natural Preserve in Folsom Lake was reserved for a blue heron colony, while on the Sacramento River in Colusa Cormty a “Woodson Bridge Natural Preserve” of 260 acres was set aside to protect the rare yellow-billed cuckoo and other wild- life. And down in Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, a local committee has raised $30,000 for the poppy reserve project of the California State Parks Foundation. Those who have seen these spectacular poppy fields in the spring should gladly give to this cause. We are shocked at the refusal of Keep America Beautiful to support legislation requiring returnable beverage containers. For this reason the Sierra Club and other conservation groups have withdrawn their support for KAB. Such legislation by Congressional action is urgently needed, not just to cope with our disgraceful litter problem, but to conserve the 108 THE GULL November 1974 vanishing natural resource materials that go into those cans and bottles. Sierra Club Director Michael McCloskey estimates that a federal mea- sure would mean a reduction of 41 billion in container production. And while we re on this general subject, let’s all work toward a re- duction in plastic production for non-essential uses such as wrapping toys, tools, nails, screws and bolts, and a myriad of household items which require extra time and tools to break open after purchase. Perhaps we could even find a better way of delivering six-packs of beer and soft drinks. Within one week 1 have listened to three frantic requests for assistance in removing six-pack holders from ducks’ bills and necks, none of which 1 could resolve. Project that menace to wildlife on a country- wide basis! Suppose we all carried recycled bags to the dealers for our beverage cans, removed the plastics and handed them back with an explanation? In fact, you may put me, your Conservation Chairman, on record as appalled by the ciment indifference and ignorance of my countrymen toward the critical shortages facing this nation. Every day and every- where I see mounting evidence of this, despite tlie daily statements of the hard facts by leading scientists and economists: the single drivers, empty buses on many runs, the blazing lights, the wastes in foods and packaging, the general lethargy toward family recycling efforts, and much more. A recent historical society tour of the Livermore vineyards at harvest time impressed us with these colorful open spaces as well as the contri- bution the vintners have made to the Bay Region’s economy and agri- cultural fame. It reminded us so forcibly of what happened to Santa Clara County agriculture, what almost happened to the vineyards of Napa County (saved by bold action of the Supervisors and aroused citizens), and what may happen to the agriculture and open space of Sonoma County if the Warm Springs Dam proponents have their way. The September bulletin of Regional Exchange, information organ of People for Open Space (46 Kearny Street, San Francisco), tells the story. Conservationists of the Bay Region have lost an eloquent spokesman with the death of Herbert Rubin, 48, chairman of Save the Bay Associ- ation. Mr. Rubin gave unstintingly of his legal talents for our cause. —PAUL COVEL, Conservation Chairman CHRISTMAS COUNT This year’s Oakland Christmas Count will be held Sunday, December 15. Last year. Super-compiler Van Remsen mustered a national record 260 observers, who set another national record 694 party hours in the field and found 188 species. New national high count records were set for ten widespread species. And great fun was had by all. We want to make this year’s Count even greater; over 300 observers 109 November 1974 THE GULL and perhaps 190 species. As a huge amount of work is involved in this operation, the organization and compiling will be done by a committee. Welcome news is that Van Remsen should return from Colombia in time to be Co-compiler. It would be best from all standpoints if each of last year’s participants would volunteer to take the same area as last year. We also want to recruit any birders who did not participate last year. You do not need to be an expert, ( although we will try and recruit experts from Areata to San Diego); each willing pair of eyes and ears will be welcome. Beginners should not expect much teaching on the count day, however, as this consumes valuable counting time. Write me as soon as possible at 2330 Blake Street, Apt. 7, Berkeley, CA 94704. Or eall me at 548-9507, John Luther at 339-0986, or Don Roberson at 841- 1763. Tell us how well you know the local birds and what areas you would prefer to cover. We would like to get a bird count for every bird feeder in the count circle (7.5 miles radius centered at Arima and Vista in Oakland). If you have a feeder or know of feeders in your neighborhood, we want to know. If you or the owner of the feeder can spend as much as a few minutes on December 15 counting birds in the yard, we want to include the results. If you can’t, or if you can’t identify the birds, we can have someone else census the feeder for you. Mrs. G. E. Troxell (Inez), 636 Coventry Road, Kensington CA 94707 (526-9003) will be in charge of the feeder counts. Please phone her, or better still, mail her a post-card giving your name, address, phone and indicating if you need help. The office will mail the census sheets to you which you will then complete on December 15, and return to Inez. She in turn will collate the results and return them to the compilers for inclusion in the final census. We will meet between 5:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. on Count Day for our totalling-up session at Sponger’s, 1919 4th Street, Berkeley for soup and french bread sponsored by GCAS. Reservations for dinner afterward may be made with Sponger’s if you wish. Please participate in the Count and join us at Sponger’s. Some other Bay Area Counts scheduled are: Hayward-Fremont, Saturday, December 14; Point Reyes, Saturday, December 21; West Sonoma County, Sunday, December 29. -STEPHEN F. BAILEY, Co-compiler A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENT The new Bay Plan of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Develop- ment Commission is being assessed which will affect the environment of the Bay and its birdlife. The new plan will have to deal with the problems of defining the “Bay shoreline” especially with respect to the ownership and operation of the salt evaporator ponds in both the South and North Bay. Three 110 THE GULL November ]974 impoitanl actions have taken place wliicli may affect the new plan and the shorelines. The Hayward Shoreline Environmental Analysis (July 1973) was presented in support of a negative declaration by the City of Hayward tor the Hayward Shoreline Acquisition. The acquisition is the first step in implementation of the Hayward Shoreline Plan. This Plan will create new marshes and maintain existing ones along the outer levees of the salt evaporators between Alameda Creek to north of Sulphur Creek. The most signifieant impaet of this Plan will be to establish the shoreline of the Bay at the outbroad levees of the evaporators. The new shoreline will be in many cases more than one mile from the lands above mean sea level and further from those above mean higher sea level. The diked lands will supposedly be retained for salt produc- tion, and areas further inland will be divided between recreation, municipal sanitary facilities, land fill and industry. A marina is proposed for the present salt evaporators adjacent to Cal-92 ( San Mateo Bridge approach ) . Similar actions will eventually reduce open water areas bayward of the present dikes. However, most of the diked lands lie below mean high tide and mean sea level and could be converted to open water and marsh lands along the inner dikes rather than the outer dikes. This action could greatly expand the useable wildlife habitat and generally improve the aquatic ecosystem of the Bay so reduced in the shallow intertidal areas. Interested individuals in the Golden Gate and Ohlone Chapters should contact the City of Hayward and Hayward x\rea Recreation and Park District with regard to maintenance of the salt evaporators, or if they cease to be useful, the conversion of the evaporator ponds to open water and marshlands rather than filled areas for recreation or industry. The existing levees could be breached at specific points to provide circu- lation and still retain their recreational usefullness. At the north end of the Bay, the American Canyon Sanitary Landfill Company Inc. has applied for a Corps of Engineers permit to continue operating a sanitary landfill in and along the east side of the Napa River. The proposed continued expansion of land filling on marshlands below mean high tide would remove 245 acres along the river which has been partially diked. The site lies about two miles south of the Napa County Airport. The only adverse wildlife impact mentioned involve: ‘Irrevers- ible loss of minor wetland wildlife habitat . . . (and) permanent dis- placement of some bird species ...” No wildlife mitigation measures are proposed for the 245 acres of proposed fill. Apparently since the site represents “0.2% of all historic marshlands still at their original level,” (including all presently diked dry lands and salt evaporators) the company does not see any need for its preservation or for alternative sites. Anyone interested in commenting or providing information for the Corps review, please contact me. in November 1974 THE GULL The most important project for the Golden Gate area lies in the city of Richmond: the Port Area and Marina Master Plan. The Richmond Redevelopment Agency and the Planning Department of the Gity of Richmond have a plan of improvements for the Inner Harbor and Harbor Ghannel of the Port of Richmond. The plan includes water-related port terminal and industrial facilities and a large residential-commercial- marina area. The residential area will lie along the west side of the large cordgrass marsh (sometimes called the Stauffer or Field Station Marsh) north of the Hoffman marsh and mudflat. The residential area will intrude on the west margin of the marsh and on a freshwater chan- nel and marsh north of the cordgrass marsh. Of greater importance, a new access road from Bayview across Gal. 17 ( Hoffman Blvd. ) will eliminate a large section of cordgrass and pickleweed on the inland side of an old raihoad embankment. These marshes support heavy winter- time bird use and may contain the only habitat suitable for rails along die east side of the Gentral Bay. The envu'onmental impact report for the project will be submitted in late October and early November for a 45 day review. Any person wishing to provide wildlife observations in the Richmond Area should contact me. In order to promote the preservation of the marshes in the south side of the Gity of Richmond, I have started field trips to the area. The next scheduled trip will take place on November 2, 1974, Saturday at 1:00 P.M. and will start from the extreme south end of the large parking lot south of Golden Gate Fields Racetrack (take the Gilman Street off- Ramp from the Eastshore Freeway, Gal. -17 and 1-80 and turn bayward). Other trips can be scheduled, since the area can be visited in one or two horns. Those interested, please call me. Tom Williams, 548-0939, Berkeley. —TOM WILLIAMS, Environmental Chairman GIFTS AND BEQUESTS In memory of: Gift of: Mary M. Sanders Mr. and Mrs. John S. Serviee Preston Dietz Laurel and T. Erie Reynolds, M.D. Barbara Ann Davis Margaret B. Byers General: GGAS Dorothy M. Wheeler, Elmer Swarz GGAS Ameriean Birding Association The Socie^ welcomes gifts in general or gifts in honor or in memory of relatives and friends. Such gifts will be used as specified by the donor, or if unspecified, at the discretion of the Board. This includes their use for general GGAS activities or for special programs of the Society including Audubon Canyon Ranch of which GGAS is a co-sponsor. Please send your gift in the form of a check made out to the Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc. to Mrs. Robert C. Johnsen, Cor- responding Secretary, 4 Del Valle, Orinda, CA 94563. The Society is also appreciative of an y bequests. Such bequests should _ specify as recipient the Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc. All g^, donations, and bequests will be acknowledged in the GULL as well as personally on behalf of the Society by the Corresponding Secretary. 112 THE GULL November 1974 In accordance with the Bylaws of GCAS, the Statutes (Standing Rules) of GGAS for 1974-75, adopted by the Board at its meeting on September 10, 1974 are ]')ublished below. A. Financial 1. The fiscal year is from June 1 through May 31. 2. To implement Bylaw Article IV, Section 9, checks and withdrawals from savings accounts shall be signed by the Treasurer and President; in the absence of one of them, the second signature shall be the First Vice President and in the absence of both , the two required signamres shall be the First and Second Vice Presidents provided evidence is presented to the banks that the Treasurer and/or President are unable to act. It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer at the beginning of each elective year to see that signature authorizations as described in the preceding are established in each bank. 3. In accordance with Bylaw Article III, Section 6, the Executive Committee may in emergency simations make financial commitments up to $175 in any one month. 4. Requests for reimbursement of allowed expenses shall be made the week after the close of each month on the form Report for Reimbursement of Expenses available from the office; except that if the amount is less than $10 it may be added to month by month until the request is at least $10 at the end of which month or in any case by April 1 it must be submitted and not further accumulated. 5. A complete account of all receipts and expenditures for each Special Event shall be submitted to the Treasurer on the Financial Report of Special Event forms available from the office. Special Events are the Christmas bird count, each pelagic bird trip, each chartered bus field trip, the Annual Installation dinner, the membership drive and such others as may be authorized by the Board during the year. 6. Receipts received for pelagic and chartered bus trips shall be held by chairpersons or in the office until after the trip. Refunds in the form of returned checks to no- shows shall be made only if all expenses were covered. 7. The Treasurer shall be bonded and the books shall be audited at the close of the fiscal year. 8. The office manager, on the form established, shall report accurately at least once a month to the Treasurer the uses of the petty cash fund which shall be maintained at $40. Cash receipts for subscriptions to the Gull and memberships in NAS received by the office shall be added to the petty cash fund and be reported to the Treasurer. 9. The publication of the Society, the Gull, shall carry in each issue an invitation to its readers to make gifts and donations for general or specific purposes, including Audubon Canyon Ranch. Checks for gifts shall be made out to GGAS and sent to the Corresponding Secretary with disbursements made by the Treasurer in accord- ance with the wishes of the donor or, if not specified, at the direction of the Board. The donor of such gifts, the purpose and in whose honor or memory the gift is made shall be published in The Gull as presently done. Gifts and donations specified for profit making organizations or the personal enhancement of individuals or groups cannot be accepted. The Society is similarly restricted and can only take out membership in other organizations that are non-profit. 10. The annual report of the Treasurer as required in Bylaw Article IV, Section 8 shall be submitted to the Editor of the Gull not later than August 1 to be published in the September issue of the Gull with a commentary if appropriate by the Finance Committee. 113 November 1974 THE GULL 11. Non-member subscriptions to the Gull shall be at the rate of $3 per year effective December 1, 1974. The price of single issues shall be $0.30. 12. The use of gifts and donations received by the Board shall be determined at the end of each month by the Board when not specified by the donor. 13. Gifts, donations, and renewals of membership in other organizations shall not be made until reviewed by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board. An emergency arising in this area between Board meetings can be taken only by the Executive Committee in accordance with Bylaw Article III, Section 6 but not in excess of $25 in any one month. 14. It shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer to deduct pertinent taxes from checks and to pay obligatory taxes on all individuals employed by GGAS. B. Nominations, Elections, Amendments of the Constitution and Bylaws, and Related Matters 1. The elective year shall be from one Annual Installation dinner in late May or early June until the one following. 2. Nominations shall be published in the Gull. In accordance with Article VI, Section 2 under Nominating Committee, the Nominating Committee shall submit to the Editor of the Gull on or before February 1 the candidates for officers and directors including any submitted by the membership to be published in the March Gull, together with an appropriate ballot to be remrned not later than April 31. 3. Nominations of Vice President shall be such as to maintain the distribution of one from the West Bay and one from the East Bay and of Directors to maintain the dis- tribution of three from each side of the Bay. 4. In accordance with Bylaw Article VI, Section 1, the officers and directors to serve in the next elective year shall meet as soon as possible in May to appoint Chair- persons of Standing Committees, any other members of the next Board in accordance with Bylaw Article III, Section 1, part (d) and shall also fill expired terms of GGAS members on the Board of Audubon Canyon Ranch. 5. As soon as (4) above is done and the Finance Committee is constituted it shall prepare a budget and submit it to the incoming Board for approval. 6. As soon as (4) above is done, the incoming President shall present for approval by the incoming Board the Statutes (Standing Rules) to be in effect the next elective year and shall have them published in the July-August issue of the Gull together with the approved budget. 7 . Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be by mail in the Gull in accord- ance with the timing specified in Bylaw Article XI. C. Miscellaneous 1. Monthly membership meetings shall be on the second Thursday of each month, September through June unless another date is approved by the Board. The place of meeting shall alternate between San Francisco and the East Bay. 2. The Board shall meet monthly September through June on the first Monday of each month unless for any given month another date is approved by the Board. 3. Oral or written communications representing GGAS to any individual or agency shall be made only by the President unless otherwise delegated by the President or the Board. 4. The President shall be responsible for the operation of the office. 114 THE GULL November 1974 5. Volunteers, solicited or unsolicited, are to submit to the office manager a brief statem^t of experience and background and a description of the work to be ^ ^ • j i^i^nager is to submit this material with her recommendation to the rresident who shall approve or disapprove the use of the volunteer. The Presi- dent shall subsequently report on all such actions to the Board. 6. In accordance with Bylaw Article III, Section 1, part (d) and Article VI, Section 111 the following are members of the Board for 1974-75: Francis Ellen Fallgatter, Chairperson, Wildlife Film Committee; Tom Williams, Chairperson, Committee on the Environment; and Peter White, Chairperson, Pelagic Trip Committee. 7. The Corresponding Secretary shall notify the appropriate governmental agencies in accordance with the law of such requirements as changes in officers, office location, or the Constitution of the Society. S. About June of each year the National Audubon Society requests the names of those individuals to whom free copies (presently 4) of the Audubon Leader should be sent and such additional copies, presently at $5 per subscription, desired and to whom they should be sent. This shall be done by the President serving in the forthcoming year who shall at the earliest possible Board meeting report the names of the individuals receiving both the gratis and paid copies and this report shall be made an integral part of the minutes. 9. At present, 25 extra copies of the Gull are printed (here called "mint” copies) and 25 to 50 are returned because members have moved (here called used copies). The President serving in the forthcoming year shall review and revise the distribution list at the earliest possible meeting of the Board, and see that the revised list is included in the minutes of the meeting. 10. Additions of names to the gratis list to whom the Gull is mailed directly by the publisher (Professional Press), with the exception of local news media, shall be requested in writing to the Finance Committee which shall report and recommend to the Board for approval or disapproval. The gratis list shall be periodically screened as is now being done. 11. Beginning with the nominations and elections that will take place in the spring of the 1975-76 elective year, the office of President-elect shall be filled in accordance with Bylaw Article IV, Section 1. 12. The Recording Secretary shall, in preparing the minutes of Board meetings, clearly indicate Board members present and absent and others (non-Board members) present, give a brief resume of major discussions leading to motions, the motions themselves, and the vote. 13. Two copies (or one original and one copy) of the original Charter of the Society, the amended Charter, the original Constimtion and Bylaws, the revised Constitution and Bylaws, and subsequent amendements to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be kept in the office, two in the safe deposit box and two in the files of the Corres- ponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for this matter. 14. The President is an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating committee. The Nominating committee chairperson was approved at the June 25 meeting. She will select no fewer than two (2) additional committee members which members are subject to approval of the Board. 115 November 1974 THE GULL UEPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE The following budget for the fiscal year 1974-1975 was unanimously approved at the September 10, 1974 meeting of the Board of GGAS. E. R. Henning Bary Spitz Peter White Leonard Machlis, Chairman Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc. Budget for the Fiscal Year June 1, 1974 - May 31, 1975 Income Membership dues from NAS . Membership dues from GGAS Interest Life membership fund $ 101 Savings Account 312 Wildlife Films Gifts and Donations Expenditures Office Office manager salary (June-August) ... Unemployment Insurance (3.6%) . Social Security (5.85%) Office manager salary (September-May) Unemployment Insurance (3.6%) . Social Security (5.85%) Supplies (postage, stationery, etc) Equipment maintenance Files and cards, furniture repairs Rent Telephone (843-2222) THE GULL Eleven 16-page issues Printing $6,600 Postage 650 Address plates 715 Return postage 50 Subscriptions (income) (300) $7,715 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Reimbursable expenses $ 50 Food 250 BIRD AND CONSERVATION ALERT Reimbusable expenses $ 100 Telephone (843-2211) 90 $ 21,000 51 413 500 250 $22,214 $1,365 49 80 4,387 158 257 1,000 100 250 1,620 240 $9,506 $ 9,506 $7,715 300 190 116 November 1974 THE GULL INSURANCE MONTHLY MEETING Reimbusable expenses $ 50 Rent 200 Speaker fees, etc 50 AUDIT BINDING OF GULLS BOOKS FOR LIBRARY ATTENDANCE OF PRESIDENT TO NAS NATIONAL MEETING CONSERVATION HOTLINE Ten issues to 200 people Postage $ 200 Paper 25 BOARD AND COMMITTEE REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSES MEMBERSHIP DRIVE Postage (bulk rate) $ 25 Printing, etc 175 GIFTS, DONATIONS, AND MEMBERSHIPS IN SOCIETY CONTINGENCY FOR LOSS ON ANNUAL INSTALLATION DINNER, PELAGIC TRIPS, CHARTERED FIELD TRIPS Estimated income in excess of expenditures: - $ 568 Self-Supporting Activities Not Estimated in Budget Except for Contingency Losses Above ANNUAL INSTALLATION DINNER PELAGIC TRIPS CHARTERED BUS FIELD TRIPS GIFTS TO GGAS SPECIFIED FOR AUDUBON CANYON RANCH OR POSSIBLY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. 225 300 500 60 125 600 225 500 200 1,000 200 $ 21 ,^ 117 Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc. 2718 Telegraph Avenue,#206 Berkeley, California 9470S Office: 843-2222 Recorded bird report: 843-2211 Return Postage Guaranteed ADDRESS CORRECTION REOUESTED Non-Profit Organisation U. S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 590 Berkeley, Calif. DATED MATERIAL Library, California Acaie-iiy of Science Golden Gate Park San Francisco 18, California 94118 OFFICERS (The Executive Committee) AND DIRECTORS (all members of the Board of Directors): President, DR. GERTRUDE MACHLIS, 1871 Thousand Oaks Bl., Berkeley 94707 (525-8473); First Vice President, MRS. HAROLD ROSEGAY, 540-A Presidio Blvd., Presidio of S. F. 94129 (561-2889); Second Vice President, PETER WHITE, 425 Lee Street #39, Oakland 94610 (832-6504); Treasurer, ROBERT C. JOHNSEN, 4 Del Valle, Orinda 94563 (254-3919); Recording Secretary, BILL LOVE, 3623 Lorena Ave., Castro Valley 94546 (581-4449); Corresponding Secretary, MRS ROBERT C. JOHNSEN, 4 Del Valle, Orinda 94563 (254-3919); Directors: CARL W. KINDT, 3840 Quail Ridge Rd., Lafayette 94549 (254-5463; MRS. RICHARD F. JOHNSON, 1127 El Centro Ave., Oakland 94602 (530-7118; MRS. WM. B. FRASER, 1827 Quintara, S. F. 94116 (661-4787); E. R. HENNING 1252 Liberty St., El Cerrito 94530 (235-4309); WM. S. RICHER, 2000 Washington St., S. F. 94109 (441-1551); AILEEN PIERSON, 810 Gonzales Dr„ S. F. 94132 (587-4163). STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS (all members of the Board of Directors): Conservation, PAUL F. COVEL, 2860 Delaware St., Oakland 94602 (530-2513); Education, DR. JAMES CLAYTON, 1082 Miller Ave., Berkeley 94708 (524-2917); Environment, TOM WILLIAMS, 2327 Webster St., Berkeley 94705 (548-0939); Field Trips, MISS PATRICIA TRIGGS, 2038-33rd Ave., S. F. 94116 (664-8502); Finance, LEONARD MACHLIS, 1871 Thousand Oaks Bl., Berkeley 94707 (525-8473); Membership, CARL V^. KINDT; Nominating, AILEEN PIERSON; Pelagic Trips, PETER WHITE; Programs, MS. DOLORES WHITE, 425 Lee St., #39, Oakland 94610 (832-6504); Publications, (editor, the Gull) PHILA WITHERELL, 1515 Olympus Ave., Berkeley 94708 (848-9156); Wild Life Films, MRS. MARVIN FALLGATTER, 406 El Cerrito, Piedmont 94611 (655-9582). SPECIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS, DELEGATES, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF; GGAS members of Board of Directors of Audubon Canyon Ranch — ROBERT CONRATH, 2170 Vallejo, S. F. 94123 (346- 1920); BRUCE HOWARD, 621 Miner Road, Orinda 94563 (254-2429); GERTRUDE MACHLIS; GEORGE PEYTON, JR. 2150 Valdez, Suite 1718, Oakland 94612 (444-3131); WM. S. RICHER; AILEEN PIERSON; DR. ERIC REYNOLDS, 140 Estates Drive, Piedmont 94611 (261-7121); Librarian and His- torian, VI HOMEM, 6911 Armour Dr., Oakland 94611 (339-1886); Bay Area Audubon (Council Delegate, TOM WILLIAMS. Northern California Rare Bird Alert, JOE MORLAN, 3815 San Pablo Ave., Emeryville 94608 (654-1358) and Field Observations, MRS. HUBERT FRY, 57 Rockwood Ct., S.F. 94127 (731-2874). Office Manager, VERA PARASCHAK, GGAS office; Conservation Hotline Editor, ANNE GREENSFELDER, GGAS office. Where addresses and telephone numbers are not given after a name these will be found priorly in the roster. Send address changes to office promptly; Post Office does not forward the GULL. Monthly meetings-second Thursday 7:30 P.M. Joint membership — local and national $15 per year (individual); $18 (family); includes AUDUBON MAGAZINE and the GULL; to join, make checks (no cash) payable to National Audubon Society and send to GGAS office to avoid delay in receiving the GULL. Membership renewals should be sent directly to the National Audubon office. Subscriptions to the GULL separately $3 per year; single issues 30^. High school and college student membership $7 per year. The Golden Gate Audubon Society, Inc., was established January 25, 1917 and became a chapter of National Audubon Society in 1948. The Gull deadline is the first of the month for the following month. 118