From the President

From the President: December 2022

   It’s time to sign up for the 52nd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) which will take place on Sunday, December 18th.  Bart Wickel will be leading the count again along with 10 area leaders.  Take a look at the CBC page on the website to see who is in charge of each area and contact them

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From the President: November 2022

Fall is here, and it’s already time to think about the 52nd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 18th! Bart Wickel will be leading the count again, and he has assembled the 10 area leaders. Take a look at the CBC page on the website to see who is in

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Lewis's Woodpecker; © Ann Brice

From the President: October 2022

There are hundreds of Lewis’s Woodpeckers in our area this fall, and an easy place to observe and photograph them is Lake Solano.  Usually you don’t see so many together, and they tend to fly catch from high perches, but right now they’re after acorns and can be seen squabbling

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From the President: September 2022

We’re back!  After a summer break, Yolo Audubon is gearing up again.  I want to start by thanking Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry and staff from Senator Dodd’s office for taking time to meet with us virtually in August for Audubon Advocacy Day.  Yolo Audubon board member Diane Colborn coordinated the Yolo group,

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Burrowing Owls; © JoAnne Fillatti

From the President: May 2022

With May comes the end of the Yolo Audubon year.  We now go into vacation mode until September.  Several of our wonderful board members are leaving us this term.  A big thank you to Deb Ford, Alison Kent, John Mott-Smith, and Rick Williams, and welcome to new board members Kelli

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Tricolored Blackbird; © Lynda Goff

From the President: April 2022

Spring is upon us, and one of the most significant April activities is the Statewide Tricolored Blackbird Survey.  This volunteer event on behalf of the state threatened species only occurs every three years, and the 2022 dates are April 15-17. The Yolo County Survey Coordinator is UC Davis graduate student

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Cooper's Hawk; © Ann Burris

From the President: March 2022

I hope many of you participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February.  I loved the photo and story Ann Burris posted on Facebook about her count.  It had to do with temporarily depressed bird numbers on her property.  Then when she looked through the window into the back

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Blue morph Snow Goose; © Ann Brice

From the President: February 2022

I hope you’ve been getting out to enjoy our winter birds.  It won’t be long before they start heading north again.  I especially like visiting the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge because it’s relatively close to Yolo County, and it has a great platform for close viewing of a variety of ducks and

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Short-eared Owl; © Erna Tarara

From the President: January 2022

Winter is here, and we finally have rain!  Many of us have been out birding and enjoying the green hills, as well as the flooded rice fields (see the related Conservation article by Michael Perrone).  One of my favorite birds seen and photographed this season is the Short-eared Owl, which

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Colusa NWR; © Ann Brice

From the President: December 2021

The holiday season is upon us.  I hope everyone will schedule time to take a trip to see our winter birds.  The waterfowl are in at the refuges, like Colusa and Sacramento, and more birds are arriving at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.  Even the non-birders in your family will be

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Lewis's Woodpecker at Lake Solano; © Ann Brice

From the President: November 2021

Big news!  Off-highway vehicles were unanimously banned on Cache Creek at the Yolo County Board of Supervisors meeting on October 26th.  This was due in no small part to the persistence of Yolo Audubon board member Rick Williams and Cache Creek Conservancy president Jim Barrett in keeping the issue in

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Sandhill Cranes at Staten Island; © JoAnne Fillatti

From the President: October 2021

The cranes are arriving in northern California.  Hundred of birds can currently  be seen at Staten Island now that the corn harvest is underway, and the numbers will soon grow to thousands. The Cosumnes River Preserve website provides good information on where to see the birds and includes a map.  It’s fascinating to watch

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   It’s time to sign up for the 52nd Christmas Bird Count (CBC) which will take place on Sunday, December 18th.  Bart Wickel will be leading the count again along with 10 area leaders.  Take a look at the CBC page on the website to see who is in charge of each area and contact them to learn more and sign up.   Everyone is welcome, but some areas have already filled.  Don’t delay!
   And before that, plan to attend the Wednesday, December 14th monthly meeting on Zoom to learn more about the CBC, as well as bird I.D. info.  See details below.  
   Finally, join us Sunday, December 18th for the Count Compilation at the Davis Senior Center, Valente Room, 646 A Street. Doors open at 5pm, potluck at 6pm and compilation meeting from 7pm – 8:30pm. It’s a great way to see friends in person and hear details of the count from the area leaders.  You’re encouraged to attend even if you didn’t participate in the count.
  For those of you who like to do multiple CBC’s, go to National Audubon’s 123rd CBC map locator for information on where they are and whom to contact.  Cache Creek Conservancy is holding its first Woodland/Davis CBC on December 28th.  Contact Bruce Christensen for more information.
   It wouldn’t be the December issue of the Burrowing Owl without a request for Yolo Audubon donations!  We need your support and are very grateful for it.  If you haven’t donated this year, please go to the website here to make your gift.
   If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, consider our Checklist of the Birds of Yolo County or choose from our new selection of YAS ball caps below.  See “YAS Merchandise Available” on the sidebar for ordering details. 

Happy Holidays and hope to see you at the Christmas Bird Count!

Northern Pygmy Owl, Photo by Bart Wickel

— Ann Brice, President