The Chat - Kerncrest Audubon Society
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The Chat
Kerncrest Audubon Society, PO Box 984, Ridgecrest, California March 2021
MARCH CALENDAR
Wednesday MAR 17 6:00 PM Board Meeting on Zoom
Thursday Mar 18 7:00 PM Program on Zoom
Andrea Jones on Salton Sea
Saturday Mar 20 8:30 AM Field Trip to Sand Canyon
GENERAL MEETING
THE SALTON SEA: A LOOMING CRISIS
The Salton Sea, an inland saline lake covering 330 square miles in southern California, is a
critically endangered Important Bird Area that hosts almost two-thirds of California’s bird
species.
For years, irrigation run-off water in the Imperial Valley fed the sea. But in 2003, a deal was
struck to divert more than 400,000 acre-feet of water that once flowed to the Salton Sea to San
Diego and Coachella for urban uses. In 2018, water provided to the Salton Sea as mitigation for
the 2003 deal will be shut off, meaning the sea will shrink even further.
In the next 15 years, the Salton Sea will lose 40% of the water currently flowing into it. It
will drop by 20 feet and expose 100 square miles of dust-generating lake bottom. The region’s
strong winds will create contaminated dust clouds, worsening the already poor air quality in the
region. Salinity in the lake will triple, eliminating its fishery and most invertebrates that provide
value to birds.
Our speaker Andrea Jones is Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon California. She will
highlight why the Salton Sea is so important that almost 400 species of birds use its habitats.
She will also describe which species are most threatened by a changing Sea. Although the
State of California agreed in 2003 to provide for habitat restoration and dust mitigation, the state
has yet to follow through on these promises, and the situation at the Salton Sea continues to
worsen as this year’s deadline looms with no solution.
Jones will discuss past efforts to “restore” the sea and describe how Audubon is engaging
currently in a new solution for the Salton Sea that will be beneficial to both birds and people.
For the past 14 years, Andrea Jones has led conservation programs and worked with staff
and the network of Audubon chapters across the state to implement conservation projects at
high priority Important Bird Areas (IBAs). She oversees Audubon’s efforts in priority bird species
and serves as the spokeswoman for bird conservation across California.
Prior to Audubon California, Andrea worked at Massachusetts Audubon where she served
as the Director of the Coastal Waterbird Program. Andrea received her M.S. in Wildlife
Conservation/Ornithology and her B.S. in Wildlife Biology and Management from the University
of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is a past board member of Morro Coast Audubon and currently
resides in the East Bay of San Francisco.
Here is the URL link to the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81549352210?pwd=cDZVZkRpc1hHUXlKa2pHOTZ6dUlmQT09
For call-in numbers to join the meeting, call Dan Burnett at 760-382-4934.
THURSDAY, March 20 at 7:00 PM.FIELD TRIPS
On Saturday, February 27, five folks met at the Cerro Coso College for a leisurely
beginner’s bird walk. Although it was quite hazy that didn’t obscure our many views of the birds
there. By the end of the morning we had identified 118 individual birds of 19 species. We were
entertained for much of the time by a pair of very vocal Northern Harriers. Probably the highlight
of the walk was seeing five Long-eared Owls stream from what is, obviously, their favorite roost
tree, a well fertilized oak.
Our next walk will be another local beginner’s walk, this time in Sand Canyon. This is a
very birdy canyon that was once the site of a LA Department and Water residence and storage
area for aqueduct workers. The area is fairly flat and easy to walk on. The year-round stream
there hosts a vibrant riparian community that usually hosts many nesting and migrant birds. We
hope the resident nesting pair of Red-tailed Hawks will be there.
This is a great walk for kids. We will have binoculars to loan, some bird guides, and masks.
Social distancing is a must. We will be at about 3,000 feet altitude so bring some clothing you
can wear in layers as the temperatures can vary through the morning. The dirt road up the
canyon is bumpy but shouldn’t be a problem for anyone driving a normal car. It is about 15 miles
from Inyokern to the walk area in the Canyon.
We will meet at the Chevron Gas station in Inyokern at 8:30 AM where we can group up
and caravan to the canyon. For further information call Bob Parker at (760) 446-2001.
SATURDAY, March 20.
BIRD CLUB FOR HOME SCHOOLERS
Kerncrest Audubon has hosted Jr. Audubon Bird Clubs at a few local schools for over 12
years. These were very well attended offerings. We met weekly before school. Over the years
several hundred kids participated. COVID 19 put an end to them last year. We have decided to
offer an on-line version of the club for kids to attend from home. These sessions will provide lots
of information about birds and nature. They should be a lot of fun. We will probably try to
schedule outings along with the on-line sessions. If you have or know of kids who might want to
participate contact Dan Burnett (imdanburnett@gmail.com, (760) 382 4934.
SAVE THE DATES
Two upcoming festivals will be on Zoom this year, meaning we can attend without having
to travel. Here they are:
OWENS LAKE BIRD FESTIVAL: Friday and Saturday evenings, April 23 and 24. Speakers
are Collette Gaal & Jeff Nordin on Owens Lake Habitat Management, 5:30 - 7:00 PM on Friday,
Martin Powell on Photographing Birds in Inyo County 5:00 - 6:30 PM on Saturday, and Mike
Prather on Owens Lake's Importance in Western Hemisphere Bird Migration on Saturday, 7:00 -
8:30 PM. Purchase tickets here:
https://friendsoftheinyo.salsalabs.org/2021owenslakebirdfestival/index.html?eType=EmailBlastC
ontent&eId=e98ef405-d91d-4784-987e-2ecbb74516ac
And on the same weekend, with events beginning on April 23, the HARNEY COUNTY
MIGRATORY BIRD FESTIVAL from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Keynote speaker is Kenn
Kaufman. For information go to www.migratorybirdfestival.com. (They're still working on this
one. If you go there now, you will see information from the 2020 festival.)VALLEY SIGHTINGS
for February, 2021
INDIAN WELLS VALLEY
We had 18 observers filing eBird checklists in December. These folks reported 1223 sightings which
resulted in 96 species of birds being reported for the period. The sightings listed here are those of
species reported only once or twice or sightings that were otherwise noteworthy.
American Avocet (7) by Bob Barnes at the China Lake Ponds (2/26).
American Goldfinch (8) in SW Ridgecrest on (2/11) and (33) west of Inyokern by Peter Woodman
(2/13).
American White Pelican (1) at the C L Ponds by Susan Steele (2/4).
Brewer’s Blackbird (2) in Inyokern by Susan and Bob Steele (2/7) and (10) by Rachel Woodard on Fae
St, Inyokern (2/11)
California Thrasher (1) by Bob and Susan Steele in Indian Wells Canyon (2/2) and (1) by Jon Becknell
in Sand Canyon (2/22).
Golden Eagle (1) by Bob and Susan Steele in Indian Wells Canyon (2/8) and (1) by Sean Rowe at Cow
Haven Springs (2/19).
Lesser Scaup (1) by Bob Barnes at the CL Golf Course (2/5).
Nuttall’s Woodpecker (1) by Bob and Susan Steele in Indian Wells Canyon (2/2)
Peregrine Falcon (1) by Susan Steele (2/4) at the CL Golf Course.
Pine Siskin (6) by Peter Woodman west of Inyokern (2/13) and (2) By Dan Burnett in NW Ridgecrest
(2/27).
Redhead (1) by Susan Steele at the CL Ponds (2/4).
Rufous Hummingbird (1) by Louise Knecht west of Inyokern (2/20-2/22)
Sagebrush Sparrow (3) by Peter Woodman west of Inyokern (2/13) and (10 by Lee Sutton at the
Watchable Wildlife Park (2/27).
Peregrine Falcon (1) Bob Barnes at the CL Ponds (1/23).
White-throated Swift (2) by Rachel Woodard N of Inyokern (2/13).
White-winged Dove (2) by Bob Barnes at the CL Golf Course (2/26).
Vermilion Flycatcher (up to 3) by Bob Barnes at the CL Ponds (2/4)(2/12) and (2/27) and (1) there by
Susan Steele (2/4).
Virginia Rail (1) by Bob and Susan Steele in Indian Wells Canyon (1/14 and 1/27).
Thanks to the following observers: Bob Barnes, Stevan Brad, Dan and Brenda Burnett, Paul Gibeault,
Louise Knecht, Denise LaBerteaux, Jane McEwan-Hewer, Tiana McGowan, Emily Newman, Fred
Norman, Sean Rowe, Bob Steele, Susan Steele, Lee Sutton, Rachel Woodard. and Peter Woodman. Of
course, special thanks to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York for its eBird program.
KERN RIVER VALLEY
During the month 17 observers submitted eBird checklists totaling 1,172 bird sightings for the Kern River
Valley area. There were 102 bird species reported. The sightings listed below are of species reported
just once or twice during the month or that are noteworthy in some other way.
Belted Kingfisher (1) in Kernville by Samantha Green Weldon (2/20).
Black-throated Sparrow (2) along Kelso Valley Rd by Denise LaBerteaux (2/11) and (2) at Hanning Flat
by Wendy Walwyn (2/21).
Brown Creeper (1) at the Canebrake Preserve by Jaden McCaffrey (2/21).
Bufflehead (2) on Sierra Way by Alison Sheehey (2/8) and (1) by Sara Masuda at Kissack Cove (2/11).
California Gull (345) on Sierra Way by Alison Sheehey (2/8).
Canyon Wren (1) at Hanning Flat by Wendy Walwyn (2/20).
Chukar (3) along Kelso Valley Rd by Denise LaBerteaux (2/14).Clark’s Grebe (5) at Engineer Pt by Jaden McCaffrey and Rebecca Wang (2/21).
Marsh Wren (1) by Sara Masuda at in Wofford Heights (2/11).
Mountain Quail (1) along Hwy 155 in the Greenhorns by Bob Barnes (2/24).
Prairie Falcon (1) by Alan Moss at the Southern Sierra Research Station (2/19).
Least Sandpiper (62) by Alison Sheehey and Nancy Robinson at Kissack Cove (1/3).
Rufous Hummingbird (1) first of season along Kelso Valley Rd by Denise LaBerteaux (2/12) and (2/13).
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (3) at Hanning Flat by Wendy Walwyn (2/22) and (2) on Sawmill Rd by Bob
Barnes (2/25).
Savannah Sparrow (s) at the South Fork Recreation area by Sara Masuda (2/23).
Steller’s Jay (1) by Kathy Dwyer in Weldon (2/21).
Tree Swallow (1) by Alan Moss on Fay Ranch Rd (2/21) and (2/28).
Virginia Rail (1) at the Canebrake Preserve by Jaden McCaffrey (2/21).
Western Grebe (4) by Sara Masuda at the South Fork Recreation Area (2/11).
Wrentit (2) by Kathy Dwyer in Whiskey Flat Trail (2/7) and (2) on Hwy 155 in the Greenhorns by Bob
Barnes (2/25).
Thanks to the following eBird observers: Bob Barnes, Kathy Dwyer, Bruce Garlinger, Steve Hylton,
Denise LaBerteaux, Sara Masuda, Jaden McCaffrey, Alan Moss, Craig O’Neill, Nancy Robinson, Sean
Rowe, Alison Sheehey, Reed Tollefson, Wendy Walwyn and Rebecca Wang. Also, very many thanks to
the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology at Ithaca, New York, the creators and keepers of eBird.
Your sightings are important scientific records if you submit them to eBird.org. We glean eBird to gather
the Sightings. If you do not use eBird you can submit your sightings to imdanburnett@gmail.com or
phone Dan at 760 375 8634.
HELP WANTED
The Southern Sierra Research Station is looking for 1-2 volunteers to assist with avian
point count surveys in Walker Basin/Caliente, Kern County, CA. Exact survey dates have not
been decided yet, but will generally occur in April/early May (spring migration – 6 days),
May/June (breeding – 3 days), and August/September (fall migration – 6 days). Volunteers will
receive training on the point count protocol from SSRS staff. Housing, if needed, will be
provided during surveys via an AirBnB, and volunteers will be expected to follow the Southern
Sierra Research Station’s Covid-19 protocol. If interested, please send an email to Kristie Stein
at kristie.stein@southernsierraresearch.org with your experience and general availability.
Kerncrest Audubon Society Board of Directors
President Robert Parker 760-446-2001
Vice President Robert Parker 760-446-2001
Treasurer Dan Burnett 760-382-4934
Secretary Brenda Burnett 760-382-4935
Committee Chairs
Education Dan Burnett 760-382-4934
Field Trips Robert Parker 760-446-2001
Conservation "
Membership Nancy Robinson 760-382-4895
Birdathon Lee Sutton 760-382-6386
Alternative Energy Hector Villalobos 760-301-2920
Member Noel Gravelle 760-375-2325
Member Sherry Brubaker 760-375-7245 Newsletter Editor: Brenda Burnett
Member Rachel Woodard 760-954-0645 bbburnett@mediacombb.net
Webmaster Rose Beede 360-348-1609
Website: www.kerncrestaudubon.orgMEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Kerncrest Audubon Society
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