Page updated: March 3, 2010
SAN JOAQUIN
  AUDUBON SOCIETY

A California Chapter of the National Audubon Society

Serving the communities of Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, Escalon, Ripon, and Lathrop--All of San Joaquin County.

Upcoming Field Trips & Programs 2010

Membership Programs

Monthly meetings are at Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue (across from UOP) in Stockton, and begin at 7:30 p.m.  Plenty of parking.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

“Pine Hill Preserve, Western El Dorado County”
Graciela Hinshaw

 
     The Pine Hill Preserve (Preserve) was established in April 2001 to ensure that habitat for eight rare plant species growing on gabbro soils at western El Dorado County (EDC) would be protected from factors threatening their survival and recovery.  
 
The gabbro is a unique soil formation in western EDC that supports chaparral, woodland, and grassland habitat types.  The soil, rolling topography, and Mediterranean climate in the area combine to sustain about 10% of the total California plant diversity.  
 
In addition to plant species richness, several rare and endemic plant species exist in the habitat types of the gabbro soil formation.  Five of the eight rare plant species protected at the Preserve are listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act and/or the California Endangered Species Act.  Four of the eight rare plants are also endemic to gabbro soils in western EDC.
 
Currently, the Preserve provides protection and management for more than 4,700 acres of rare plant habitat, and more than 3,100 of these acres lie within a US Fish and Wildlife Service 5,000-acre area designated for the recovery of the federally listed rare plants.   
 
Graciela is the Pine Hill Preserve Manager for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and has a B.S. in Biology from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, in Monterrey, Mexico M.S. in Resource Management from the University of Nevada-Reno.  Before working for BLM she worked as a Botanist/Wildlife Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, a Land Steward with The Nature Conservancy of Colorado, the Preserve Manager for the Center for Natural Lands Management, a Biologist with the San Joaquin Valley Endangered Species Recovery Program and a Botanist with the INIFAP (National Institute for Agricultural Research, in Mexico.
        
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

“Birding (Nearly) Every Day, and a First Visit to Australia”
Chris Conard

 
     Chris is a Natural Resource Specialist at the Bufferlands of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District.  His focus there is on habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring.  He serves as the Sacramento County editor for North American Birds and is a Central Valley Bird Club Board Member.
     In October Chris and his wife, Kimya Lambert, joined friends from Sacramento Audubon on a tour of Sydney and eastern Queensland.    Australia exceeded Chris and Kimya’s high expectations, with wonderful birds and wildlife, many of which were very approachable.  They can’t wait to go back!  Chris’s presentation will include photos and short videos of the brilliant, beautiful, and unusual wildlife of Australia.

FIELD TRIPS
Bad weather (rain, dense fog, strong winds) cancels trips
March 2010

SATURDAY, March 6—Beginning Bird Walk
    Join leader Liz West as she leads beginners and established birders around our jewel of the county, Lodi Lake.  Meet Liz at 8am on Laurel Ave (just east of the park) in Lodi.

SATURDAY, March 13—Mokelumne River Day Use Area
     Join leader Liz West for this trip to one of our favorite birding destinations.  Specialties of the area include Wild Turkey, Rock Wren, Osprey, and Common Merganser, among others.  Liz will also be doing our monthly bird count at this location.  Meet at the main fish hatchery parking lot at 8:00 a.m.  For more information, call Liz at 351-1232.

SATURDAY, March 20—CNPS Hogan Reservoir Wildflower Outing
     Join leader Steve Stocking at the Dam Overlook at Hogan Reservoir at 9:00 a.m.  We will check out the area along the Calaveras below the dam, then off to Jenny Lind, Milton, and the Salt Springs Valley.  That area can be good for raptors at this time of year as well as for fields of wildflowers.  On to Copperopolis and finish by early afternoon.  Bring water and a snack.  Contact Steve at snlsox@earthlink.net for more info.

April 2010

SATURDAY, April 3—Introductory Birding Field Trip
     Join leader Jim Rowoth at the north end of Laurel Ave. in Lodi (on the east side of Lodi Lake Park, off of Turner Rd.) at 8:00 a.m.  Birders of all skill levels are welcome, but the focus will be on birding fundamentals.  Extra binoculars and field guides will be available.  Contact Jim at 956-2648 or rowoth@sbcglobal.net for more info.

WEDNESDAY, April 14—Kiln Canyon Hummingbird Trip
     Join leader Kurt Mize for our annual mid-week pilgrimage to this hummingbird mecca.  Rufous, Anna’s, Costa’s, and Calliope Hummingbirds are to be expected.  If the Blue Sage is blooming, things should be humming!  Meet in the parking lot at Toot Sweets (NW corner of March Ln. & Quail Lakes Dr., behind Black Angus) at 7:30 a.m. to carpool, or at the entrance to Carnegie SVRA (18600 Corral Hollow Rd., southwest of Tracy) at 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, April 24—Del Puerto Canyon
     Join leader Kurt Mize for this trip to scenic Del Puerto Canyon.  We will be on the lookout for spring migrants and local specialties.  Bring hats, sunscreen, lunch, and drinks as we will be picnicking at Frank Raines Park.  Meet in the parking lot at Toot Sweets (corner of March Lane and Quail Lakes Dr. in Stockton) at 7:00 a.m. for carpooling.  For more details call Kurt at 915-6264.

Mokelumne River Monthly Bird Census
2010 Schedule
Join San Joaquin Audubon on this monthly bird census at several locations on the lower Mokelumne River.

LODI LAKE
 Contact Kurt Mize, 957-0676, for more information 

MOKELUMNE RIVER DAY USE AREA
Contact Liz West for more information at 351-1232. 

STILLMAN MAGEE COUNTY PARK
 Contact Jim Rowoth  956-2648 or more information. 

Please call as schedules often change.


 
 
Cosumnes River Preserve Monthly Census
2010 Schedule

River Walk (formerly Willow Slough). 
Meet at the Visitor’s Center. Call John Schick (209) 464-8304 for more information. 
Meet at the Visitor’s Center. Call John Schick (209) 464-8304 for more information. 

Tall Forest
Meet at the Farm Center with John Trochet (916) 684-2816, ext. 5.
Meet at the Farm Center with John Trochet (916) 684-2816, ext. 5.

Please call as schedules often change.

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San Joaquin Audubon Society
PO Box 7755, Stockton, California 95267
for more information contact:
Jim Rowoth: rowoth@sbcglobal.net or 
Kasey Foley:  kaseyfoley@sbcglobal.net