Check out Conservation Matters for the latest information on Buena Vista Lagoon restoration efforts.
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2012 Spring Birdathon and Bloomathon
Saturday, May 19
For as long as we can remember, BVAS has held a Spring Birdathon. Each year we
gather at the Nature Center on a Saturday morning to go out into the community and
count the number of different bird species we can find. This also serves as our Spring
fundraiser, helping raise the funds needed to support the Nature Center throughout the summer. This year we’ve decided
to add a little twist—along with the birds, we’re going to tally the number of different species of flowering plants we
can identify. Of course, most of us don’t qualify as expert ornithologists or botanists, but who cares. This is a nopressure,
all in fun event, with a primary purpose of getting us all outside and into nature. We’ll distribute checklists of
common bird and plant species we hope to encounter, and we’ll have some knowledgeable plant and bird people on
hand to help with the more troublesome IDs. For the novices among us, it’ll be a chance to learn a little more about our
local flora and fauna. Come help us settle the debate between our plant and bird people. What do you think? Will it be
the birds or the blooms that win the count?
Details: We’ll all meet at the Nature Center on May 19. Early Birders will meet at 6:30 a.m. to go off with Steve
Brad to look for early-rising birds. They’ll join the rest of the flock back at the Nature Center at 8 a.m., where everyone
will be able to choose the group they’d like to join to go out looking for birds and wildflowers. Leaders will be on hand
to escort us to various local birding and wildflower sites. Among the choices will be a walk along the new nature trails
at Oceanside’s El Corazon Park, a special edition of the Beginning Birding Class doing a loop caravan around Buena
Vista Lagoon, as well as walks at several other local parks. We hope you’ll all join us for a fun morning of bird songs
and wildflowers. If you can’t join us on one of our walks, please help support the Birdathon and Bloomathon with your
generous donation. Look for your letter and contribution envelope in the mail, or use the cut-out coupon on this page.
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May General Meeting
The Owls of Star Ranch
with Pete DeSimone
Wednesday, May 16
7 p.m. Social—7:30 p.m. Program
At the BVAS Nature Center
Owls are one of the oldest species of vertebrate animals in
existence, with fossils dating back 60 million years. In San
Diego County, nine different species of owls appear on the
official bird list, with the great horned owl being the most
widespread and numerous. In recent years, however, it’s
been the barn owl that has been the toast of the town. Barn
owls have been quick to accept
the owl boxes now being installed
to help with rodent control,
and webcams of the barn
owls in their nest boxes have
attracted large public followings.
Owls love Audubon’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary, a 4,000-acre
wildlife preserve in southeast Orange County. The
Ranch’s mosaic of habitat types attracts a broad diversity
of wildlife and serves as a microcosm of what can be found
on the coastal slopes of San Diego County.
Pete DeSimone has been the manager of Starr Ranch for 25
years. In addition to dealing with the
day-to-day operations and all the details
of administration, he plays a direct
role in the wildlife research and land
conservation projects undertaken at the
sanctuary. Pete’s May program for
BVAS will primarily focus on the owls
of Starr Ranch, with insights
based on years of
nest monitoring and owl
banding. Those interested
in a preview of some of the
owls to be featured in our
May program are invited
to log on to the barn owl
nest webcam at Starr
Ranch..
Please join us in May for
an exciting and informative
look at one of nature’s
most charismatic characters.
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Sign Up Now!
Summer Nature Camp
It’s time to start thinking about the summer! Starting the
first week of April, BVAS will begin accepting applications
for its popular Summer Nature
Camp. We’ll be learning all
about our Buena Vista Lagoon,
from the days of its early indigenous
inhabitants to the present day
natural world of plants and animals.
Camp leaders and Nature
Guides will provide lessons, stories,
songs, crafts, and walks
around our lagoon trail. We’ll
catch bugs, examine things with
our magnifying glasses, and have
some live animals for the children
to visit up close.
The first week of camp will be June 18--22, and is
geared for children from kindergarten through fourth
grade. The second week of camp will run from June 25-
29, and will be just for the younger children from kindergarten
though second grade. Each week-long session
will run from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.
Tuition is only $90 per child per week. Don’t wait too
long—our summer camp is very popular.
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New BVAS Birding Guide Now Available
Birding Hotspots of
North County
In response to repeated requests, BVAS has produced a full-color brochure highlighting
some of the best birding spots in North County. The brochure profiles 14 different
coastal and inland birding sites that promise a varied bird list in a range of habitats. A
detailed site map and directions are included, along with
notes about visitor services at each site. Award-winning
photographer Chris Mayne contributed the dramatic bird
photos that illustrate the brochure.
The brochure was partially funded by a San Diego County
grant. A committee headed by Judi Wilson oversaw the
project, with graphic design services provided by Daniel
Sanchez. The brochure is being distributed free of charge at
the BVAS Nature Center and at several other North County sites. Stop by to pick up your copy today, and go birding!
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Estate Planning and BVAS
Just before the summer break, the BVAS Board received word that Joni Ciarletta had generously included BVAS in her estate plan. Joni established a future bequest in her will to help ensure the chapter would have the funds needed in the years ahead to continue to maintain the Nature Center and support its nature education programs. Joni is an active birder and naturalist and a regular contributor to BVAS. She has previously volunteered her expertise to help BVAS prepare grant requests for various projects.
The Board gives Joni its heartfelt thanks for joining the BVAS Legacy Circle, and for helping us call attention to this special program. The Legacy Circle is comprised of friends and members who have provided for BVAS in their estate plans, whether by provisions included in their wills or trusts, or by several other means now available. Joni follows the grand tradition set by a number of our early “charter” members who chose to remember BVAS in their estate plans.
How important is this to BVAS? As a result of bequests that BVAS has received over the last ten years, the Nature Center Endowment Fund has now grown to approximately $500,000. A portion of the annual investment earnings from this fund now help augment the chapter’s annual operating budget, allowing BVAS to maintain and upgrade its facilities and offer a wider variety of exciting new programs.
BVAS has prepared a guide to planned giving that provides basic information regarding establishing an estate gift to BVAS. The guide can be read and downloaded by following this link.
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Donate that Old Clunker to BVAS
BVAS is now participating in the Cars 4 Causes donation program. Tax-deductible donations of any car, running or not, can be made through the Cars 4 Causes organization, for the benefit of BVAS. Avoid the hassle of trading in or selling that old car and help support the Nature Center. Just call 1-800-766-2273 and say you’d like to donate your vehicle to benefit BVAS. Cars 4 Causes will pick up your vehicle at your home, fill out the necessary paperwork, and provide the receipt for your tax deduction. Or click the below link to sign-up online.
Support our Ruddy Duck Club members Click on the above picture for a list of all current members
Ruddy Duck Club
This special group of local businesses
and organizations support the
nature education and recreation programs offered at the
Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center with an annual donation
of $100 or more. To request your “no obligation”
Ruddy Duck Club packet of membership information and
benefits, please call Kelly Deveney at 760-721-2441.
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Oceanside Parks Benefit
Saturday, May 12
noon to 4 p.m.
Heritage Park
220
Peyri Road
(behind San Luis Rey Mission)
Oceanside Parks and Recreation Community
Foundation, a civic-driven volunteer
group helping to raise money for
parks and recreation events and programs
in Oceanside, is having a"FUN"draiser on Saturday, May 12 at Heritage Park.
There will be a car show, live music,
dance performances, and food vendors.
Bring a blanket
or beach chair
and join the fun!
Tickets, $5 for
adults or $1 for
children, can be
purchased at the
BVAS Nature
Center.
Volunteer!
The new year is here. Is your resolution to get up, get going, and get more involved with your community? If so, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities at BVAS for people of all ages. Check them out HERE!
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NestWatch Invites You to Watch!
NestWatch is a nest-monitoring project developed by
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian
Migratory Bird Center aimed to provide a unified
nest-monitoring scheme to track reproductive success
for all North American breeding birds. NestWatch
invites people who are interested in the natural world
to help monitor the success of nesting birds and better
understand the threats they face. These data will provide
a wealth of information about breeding birds and
the factors that influence their success across different
landscapes. For more info, go to www.nestwatch.org.
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BVAS is now on Facebook
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Alger Hiss and the
Prothonotary Warbler
A first-person connection between the infamous Alger Hiss, our very own Dennis Huckabay, and birding in New York’s Central Park is explored in a story by Dennis.
Shanti Mayberry has an interesting story to tell. It’s about a special encounter she had over several months with a great horned owl that still lives in Crest Canyon, adjacent to her home in Del Mar. This is a story about an interspecies relationship that was born in innocent communion but quickly grew in intensity and passion. Something finally had to give, and the natural order of things has now been restored. But, the poignant and somewhat bittersweet memories persist . Read Shanti's story HERE.
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San Diego Birding Info
BVAS members interested in the birding scene in San Diego County might want to investigate SDBIRDS. Over 1,000 area birders currently participate in this free listserv. Subscribers post their interesting bird observations via e-mail to SDBIRDS, and receive the daily postings of other members. It’s a great way to learn which birds are being seen locally, and where to see them. Interesting birding questions and observations are also discussed. Check out the rules and learn how to subscribe by clicking here.
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Looking for Birding Optics?
For unbiased advice, reviews and ratings of binoculars & spottingscopes, check out this new website:
