Check out Conservation Matters for the latest information on North County conservation issues
________________________
January General Meeting
Mountain Lions
How to Live With the Big Cats with Robin Parks
Wednesday, January 18
7 p.m. Social—7:30 p.m. Program
At the BVAS Nature Center
Spotting a mountain lion (a.k.a. cougar, puma, etc.) out in
the wild would be a rare or, perhaps more likely, completely
unique experience for most of us. This fabled top-of-the-line predator is all cat—graceful, agile, strong, and
stealthy. And as much as we admire these feline traits in
that dear tabby that rubs up against our leg every morning,
the serious thought of a wild mountain lion possibly lurking
somewhere down the trail is another thing altogether.
Sure, we’d love to see a mountain lion, but we’d prefer it to
be on our own terms and from a decidedly safe distance.
San Diegan Robin Parks retired from the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service (NCIS) in 2004 after a 25-year career
in federal law enforcement. A lifelong admirer of the great
cats, he began doing volunteer work at animal sanctuaries
in California and elsewhere in 1999, when he first encountered
captive mountain lions. This later led him to the
Mountain Lion Foundation (MLF) where he has been a
field volunteer on several projects. He now is very much
involved in reaching out to law enforcement agencies, who
are often the first responders to cougar incidents. Robin
will talk about basic cougar biology and general safety tips,
and address the myths and misinformation that surround
cougars. He’ll also discuss various “shoot/don’t shoot”
considerations and evidence that shows that killing a wayward
cougar simply because it has wandered into human
territory is rarely necessary and is often the wrong decision.
Please join us.
________________________
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!
________________________
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.
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.
________________________
Support BVAS at Jimbo’s
Jimbo’s Markets has selected
BVAS for its “In the
Bag” program for October,
November, and December,
2011. Every time shoppers
use a recyclable bag when
shopping at Jimbo’s, they
receive a wooden nickel to
place in the jar of one of
four charitable organizations.
Every wooden nickel
translates to a 5-cent donation from Jimbo’s at the end of
the quarter.
Jimbo’s prides itself on offering the highest quality organic
and natural foods, and BVAS is all about wonderful natural
experiences—what a match! And those wooden nickels add
up. The last time BVAS was selected to be a participant,
Jimbo’s shoppers ended up directing almost
$1,000 to BVAS to help support the Nature
Center and its programs.
Jimbo’s stores are located in Carlsbad/Encinitas,
Carmel Valley, 4S Ranch, and Escondido.
________________________
Looking for Birding Optics?
For unbiased advice, reviews and ratings of binoculars & spottingscopes, check out this new website:
Buena Vista Audubon
PO Box 480
Oceanside, CA 92049-0480
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.
________________________
BVAS Fundraiser
and Open House
Second Annual
Birdhouse
Auction
It's that time again. BVAS is soliciting donations of creative birdhouses, bat houses, and bird feeders for our 2nd Annual Birdhouse Auction. There will be food, fun, and prizes, along with a silent auction and a live auction featuring guest auctioneer Martha Barnett from KPBS's "A Way With Words."Click HERE for details!
You can download a birdhouse application form HERE
________________________
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!
________________________
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.
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.
________________________
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.
Nature Center: 2202 S. Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
Carlsbad Lagoons and Wetlands
The three Carlsbad lagoon foundations - Buena Vista, Agua Hedionda and Batiquitos - together with Buena Vista Audubon have started coordinating their activities and working more closely together with the City of Carlsbad under a new umbrella group, Carlsbad Lagoons and Wetlands (CLAW).Click on logos below to check out activities and common interests of all of our lagoon foundations.
The contents of this website are copyrighted by BVAS Audubon
All photos are copyrighted by Suzann and Larry Spann, unless otherwise indicated. Please do not use without permission.
