Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 15:26:15 -0700
From: Karen DeMello <[[email protected]]>
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Subject: [SBB] Big Basin Birding Weekend with camping
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BIRDERS CELEBRATE BIG BASIN'S CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY JULY 12-14!!!

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California and 
turns 100 years old this summer.  100 days of special events are planned 
for this special Centennial Celebration.  The theme of the July 12-14 
weekend is "100 Wings", where we will honor the birds of Big Basin.  
Events include a Friday night campfire program on Marbled Murrelets with 
David Suddjian, an early morning murrelet survey, guided bird walks with 
Eric Feuss, and more!

To celebrate this birding weekend, limited FREE CAMPING at Sky Meadow 
Group Camp is being offered.  Beautiful, primitive camping spots are a 
short walk from the parking area.  Facilities include an outhouse, 
water, picnic tables, and shared firepits & BBQ grills.  This offer is 
limited to 35 participants.  Members of local bird clubs have reserved 
about half of the spots; the remaining spots are available to YOU, the 
birder who likes to camp.  To reserve your spot(s),  contact Karen 
DeMello at [[email protected]] or phone (408)523-4559 (work).

Whether you are a beginner birder or an experienced birder, and whether 
you camp at the park or drive in for the day (there is a $3 day use fee 
for parking), you are cordially invited to attend all or part of the 
festivities during this unique and historic "100 Wings" weekend.

Karen DeMello (Big Basin volunteer)

---------------------------
"100 Wings" Weekend events
---------------------------
FRIDAY July 12th
8:00 PM (or so) - Marbled Murrelet presentation by David Suddjian.  
Learn about this gem of the old growth forest and why this robin-sized 
seabird is so special to Big Basin.  Meet at the Campfire Center near 
the Redwood Loop at Headquarters.


SATURDAY July 13th
5:00 AM - Marbled Murrelet survey with David Suddjian.  If you want to 
see a Marbled Murrelet at Big Basin, dawn is the time to listen and look 
for this remarkable bird as it circles over the old growth forest 
nesting area before heading out to sea. Meet under the flagpole at 
Headquarters. Followed by a short general bird walk.

11 AM & 2  PM - Redwood Loop Trail Guided Walk.  On this easy, level, 
half-mile walk you will learn astonishing facts about the ancient 
redwood environment and see the tallest, most rare, and most fascinating 
trees in Big Basin.   The walk takes about one hour.  Meet under the 
flagpole at Headquarters.

3:30 PM - Junior Rangers.  Discover the fascinating secrets of the the 
forest.  Sing, draw, paint, and play games as you learn about plants, 
animals, geology, and more.  This program is for kids 7 to 12 years old 
(sorry, no parents allowed).  One hour long.  Meet at the Nature Lodge 
at Headquarters.

4:00 PM - Centennial Summer Performance Series:  Watsonville Taiko 
performs at the Campfire Circle at Headquarters!

4:30 PM - Big Basin Nature Club.  For children 3 to 6 years old with 
parent(s).  Read, sing, pretend, play, and explore!  This program will 
introduce youngsters to the wonders of the redwood forest.  Meet at the 
Nature Lodge at Headquarters.

8:00 PM (or so) - TBD Campfire Circle presentation


SUNDAY July 14th:
5:30 AM - Birding By Ear.  Spend a musical hour listening to the morning 
chorus with Eric Feuss of the Santa Cruz Bird Club.  This time of day is 
ideal to learn and identify the songs and calls we hear in the rich 
habitat  around the meadow. Come and enjoy the challenge of testing your 
listening skills.  Meet at the Sky Meadow Group Campground parking lot.

8:30 AM - Birds of the Redwood Forest.  Learn fascinating details abou 
the winged denizens of this cool, dense ecosystem with Eric Feuss of the 
Santa Cruz Bird Club.  This 1&1/2 hour stroll is about 1 mile long on 
flat terrain. Bring binoculars if you have them.  Meet under the 
flagpole at Headquarters.

10:30 AM - Birds and Buzzard's Roost.  Come participate in an incredible 
opportunity to look for different species of birds in a variety of 
habitats as we ascend 1100' to Buzzard's Roost with Eric Feuss of the 
Santa Cruz Bird Club.  This is a fairly strenuous 5-mile hike expected 
to last about 4 hours, but well worth the effort. Please come prepared 
for rugged terrain and exposure to strong sunlight and very warm 
temperatures. Bring lunch, LOTS of water, hat, sunscreen, binoculars and 
wear good hiking shoes (closed toe shoes are recommended for protection 
from poison oak and possible encounters with rattlesnakes or yellow 
jackets). We'll have lunch with a view atop Buzzard's Roost.  Meet under 
the flagpole at Headquarters.

11 AM & 2  PM - Redwood Loop Trail Guided Walk.  On this easy, level, 
half-mile walk you will learn astonishing facts about the ancient 
redwood environment and see the tallest, most rare, and most fascinating 
trees in Big Basin.   The walk takes about one hour.  Meet under the 
flagpole at Headquarters.

Read about Big Basin Redwoods State Park at www.bigbasin.org

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Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 17:33:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]>
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Subject: [SBB] Rancho San Antonio
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All,

I took a lunchtime walk through Rancho San Antonio County Park and the
nearby Open Space Preserve today 6/27/02, hoping to obtain a breeding
confirmation for Warbling Vireo or any evidence of House Wren breeding
in atlas block 8030.  Despite finding several pairs of WARBLING VIREOS
along the creek here, I could not confirm breeding - maybe when the
young fledge in a bit it will be easier.  I did get several breeding
confirmations for WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, however, with one adult feeding
a bird so young that it looked like it still belonged in the nest (no
tail, extensive natal down all over) and two others carrying food for
young.  No evidence of House Wrens anywhere.  The only House Wren
record I am aware of is a bird seen "left of the big water tank" on
the Summer Bird Count on 6/6/98, reported to SBB by Garth Harwood.
Back at the car, I had a single WESTERN KINGBIRD in the riparian
corridor near the parking lot.  This species is very unusual here and
has yet to be confirmed breeding (Chuck Coston had a pair of birds on
5/21/89 but they may have been migrants on that date).  Other breeding
evidence included precocial young CALIFORNIA QUAIL, fledgling WESTERN
SCRUB and STELLER'S JAYS, young BUSHTITS being fed while perched
shoulder to shoulder, and three nest boxes with VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
families in them.  A family of recently fledged WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in
nearby block 7530 was a new breeding confirmation for that block.  At
least 25 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were gorging on berries near the tennis
courts.

For those interested, the parking lot, the St Joseph seminary area,
the ranger facility, and the junction with the Mora Trail are all in
block 8030.  Deer Hollow Farm is a couple hundred meters past the
block boundary into block 7530.

Mike Rogers