31 Dec January 2024 Yellowbill

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Editor’s Note

The Yellowbill is published monthly except in June, July and August. It is edited by Robert Snow (drrsnow@mac.com) except for the Member Photos section, which is edited by Clayton Dahlen (mc_dahlen@yahoo.com). Archived issues are available at https://fresnoaudubon.org/the-yellowbill/.

President’s Message

Greetings, FAS members and friends. I hope this message finds you well!

Happy New Year! Believe it or not, 2023 is in the rear-view mirror and we are now in 2024! This past year has been another productive one for FAS as we continued monthly field trips and general meetings, introduction to birding classes, and ran booths at events such as Earth Day Fresno and Fresno Pride Festival. We want to thank all of our members, volunteers, and participants for helping to make 2023 the successful year that it was for FAS! 2024 promises to be another productive year, with many exciting events and changes on the horizon.

Events scheduled for January 2024 are listed below:

Saturday, January 20⏤Introduction to Birding class at the River Center, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday, January 21⏤Millerton Lake Eagle Tour, 8:45 AM-12:00 PM. This event is full, but we hope to offer it again in the coming months.
Wednesday, January 24⏤Birding at Sycamore Island, 8:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday, January 27⏤Bird hike at O’Neill Forebay, 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Anyone interested in these and other upcoming events can check out the FAS event calendar for more information and links to registration: https://fresnoaudubon.org/event-calendar/

We would like to remind everyone of the current requirements for attending FAS in-person field trips and classes. We are no longer requiring that participants be fully vaccinated. Masks are now optional for all FAS outdoor events. We still require that participants must not be exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19. Registration is still REQUIRED for all in-person field trips, and participants must register individually. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Thank you again to all of those who attended the December 12 general meeting. Extraordinary birder and professional guide Rich Cimino talked to us about birds of the Sierra Nevada, which was a highly informative presentation!

If you missed Rich’s talk and would like to view the presentation, you can find it and other general meeting presentations on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/FresnoAudubon.

The next FAS general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9. Benny Jacobs-Schwartz, naturalist and international birding guide, will be talking to us about attracting birds to the garden with California native plants. The link to registration is https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ek6k5ndy29060812&oseq=&c=&ch=.

As some of you may recall, I mentioned in the December 2023 President’s Message that I will be stepping down from my role as FAS president at the end of the year, and this is still my plan. During the FAS board meeting on Sunday, December 31, 2023, we elected the organization’s new president, Rick Grijalva. I know Rick will be an outstanding president with his focus on strategy for the organization. I want to once again thank all who have supported me in this role over the past four years. I would not have been successful in this role without the support of the FAS board and for them, I am forever grateful! I also want to thank all of the wonderful people that I have met and interacted with through this organization. I cannot thank all of you enough for making my time as FAS president memorable and enjoyable!

Even after my term is up, I can still be reached via email at tanagergirl@gmail.com, and you can keep up with my birding ventures on Instagram at tanager_girl.

To end my last message to you all, I want to share some photos I took of a Rock Wren at Millerton Lake State Recreation Area during the Lost Lake Christmas Bird Count. This bird was perched just several feet in front of four birders and was highly obliging. Note the long tail, long beak, the pale brown backside with the fine speckling, the pale brow, the dark stripe through the eye, the pale throat, faintly streaked breast, and the soft peachy belly. Rock Wrens inhabit a diverse array of dry, rocky habitats in southwest Canada, the western US, Mexico, and Central America. Rock Wrens usually nest in crevices among boulders, but will sometimes nest in crevices in buildings, dirt banks, or other spoil piles. During the breeding season, male Rock Wrens sing a far-carrying, highly varied series of repetitive phrases. Their song has a very mimid-like quality. Enjoy the photographs!

Keep on birding and taking care of yourselves!

Rachel Clark

FAS President

Board of Directors Update

As required by our Bylaws, on Sunday 31 December 2023 the Fresno Audubon Society held board member elections. As a result of the elections, the board now has the following officers and members at large:

President⏤Rick Grijalva

Vice President⏤Judy Johnson

Treasurer⏤George Folsom

Secretary⏤Judy Haber

At large member⏤Karen Baker, Event Coordinator

At large member⏤Brandon Flores

At large member⏤Nancy Gilmore

At large member⏤Nancy Griesser, Membership

At large member⏤Katie Kalkhof, Outreach

At large member⏤Radley Reep

At large member⏤Maureen Walsh, Field Trips Coordinator

At large member⏤Lowell Young

2023 Lost Lake Christmas Bird Count Results

The 2023 Lost Lake Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 16, which ended up being an unseasonably warm day. A total of 43 observers took part in the count. A total of 277.46 miles were covered, 229.54 by car and 47.919 on foot. A total of 90.47 hours were spent counting birds, 32.56 by car and 57.91 by foot. The number of species observed was 127, which is up one from 2022. A grand sum of 21,743 individual birds were counted, which is down by 5,104 from 2022. The most numerous species was the California Gull, which came in at 6,005 individuals. The closest contenders were White-crowned Sparrow (1,682 individuals) and American Coot (1,274 individuals). Eleven species were seen in all sections, and these were Anna’s Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, California Scrub-Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. There were 31 species observed in only one section. Some of the more notable among these were Blue-winged Teal, Band-tailed Pigeon, Wilson’s Snipe, Virginia Rail, Ferruginous Hawk, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Chipping Sparrow, and Tricolored Blackbird. The least numerous species observed during the count were Ross’s Goose, Snow Goose, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Wild Turkey, Sora, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Hutton’s Vireo, Tree Swallow, Hermit Thrush, Marsh Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Purple Finch, Vesper Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, and Black-throated Gray Warbler, each of which came in at a single individual. I want to personally thank each and every participant who took part in the 2023 Lost Lake Christmas Bird Count. Without your help, the count would absolutely not be possible! Please reach out to me at tanagergirl@gmail.com if you’d like a complete list of the species observed or if you have any other questions regarding the count.

2023 Merced NWR Christmas Bird Count

2 January 2024

On Tuesday, January 2, we will conduct the annual Merced NWR Christmas Bird Count. The weather looks good-at least no rain is forecast, and conditions should work well also. We will meet at the parking lot of the Merced National Wildlife Refuge off Sandy Mush Road at 8:00AM. John Fulton will be at the refuge at 7:00 AM to count Sandhill Cranes and look for the Vermillion Flycatchers. Several refuge employees will be there early as well to help with the counting. At the refuge right now are two Vermillion Flycatchers-a female at the northwest corner of the auto route tour and a male at the Bittern trail near the southeast corner. Also, several Cassin’s Kingbirds were seen on the Los Banos CBC on Thursday, and they could be in the Merced count area as well, so we want to watch for them. At 8:00 AM we will divide into groups and go from there. We will not meet for lunch this year. Hopefully we’ll have a good day. Any questions, feel free to contact the organizer Larry Parmeter at 559-288-3456 or at lanpar362@gmail.com.

Membership

If you missed the September 30 deadline for the book drawing, please still consider joining Fresno Audubon or renewing your membership at your earliest convenience. Your support makes it possible for FAS to feature outstanding speakers during Zoom meetings, conduct guided field trips, teach introductory birding classes, maintain the bird feeding station at the River Center, conduct bird surveys, and advocate for local and regional bird-related issues. The more support we receive, the more we can accomplish.

Fresno Audubon Society membership levels are:

$15 Student

$25 Individual

$35 Family

$1000 Golden Eagle (Life)

Those who wish to renew their memberships online can do so on the FAS website here, or if you wish to pay by check download a membership form here and mail it along with your check to:

Fresno Audubon Society

PO Box 3315

Fresno, CA 93650

Thank you for your continuing support of Fresno Audubon Society!

January General Meeting

Bringing Birds to the Garden: California Native Plants for the Win

by Benny Jacobs-Schwartz

Tuesday, 9 January 2024

Did you know California is home to over 5,000 species of native plants, and that 700 species of birds have been observed here? However, much of the state’s native flora is now in peril, with many species listed as endangered and on the verge of extinction.

Learn the history of these changes and how you can help bring back the birds through grassroots efforts at the home or garden. This presentation will teach you how to plan and maintain a California native plant garden to attract and care for birds visiting your local landscape. Additionally, participants will be introduced to many of the local birds that visit our yards and open spaces.

Bio:

Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). With a background in biology, ecology, and outdoor education, Benny has worked professionally for over 10 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide. Through his business, Benny offers professionally guided birding outings in Southern California and offers small-group birding tours to his favorite tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Benny is a passionate educator and photographer, specializing in birds! Benny is active on social media where he creates fun, educational videos and posts to inspire others about the natural world with the goal of getting folks to put down their phone and pick up their Binos.

This meeting will be broadcast online via Zoom

Introduction to Birding Class

The Parkway Trust and Fresno Audubon Society have joined forces to offer a birding class that combines instruction, exploration, and fun! Beginning birders will see and learn about local and migratory birds that might be visiting the River Center. New birders will discover easy ways to identify migrating and year-round, local birds. The class will include a walk looking for birds in the various habitats found at the River Center. We will meet at the new picnic shelter on the north side of the center. After learning about using binoculars and various aids in bird identification like guide books and phone apps, we will bird around the property. Bring binoculars, lunch, water and sun protection. Fresno Audubon will have binoculars to loan if you do not have your own. Children are welcome! Rain cancels this event.

Class is held from 9 AM – 12 PM, usually on the third Saturday of each month from October 2023 through April 2024. To register for a class, go to our calendar and click on the class you are interested in taking. You will be directed to a registration page for that event.

January Field Trips

FIELD TRIP GUIDELINES ⏤ Fresno Audubon Society is offering field trips during the now-endemic COVID-19, subject to the following rules. With the continuing risks of exposure and potential illness, everyone must determine their own level of risk aversion. The CDC has recommended that masks should be optional when outdoors. It has been shown that a well-fitting N95 mask protects the wearer for several hours from an infectious dose of virus, so anyone concerned about exposure can choose to wear a mask near others if they feel at risk. Following are our current guidelines for our field trips.

Participants must pre-register individually using the FAS event registration system.
Participants must self-screen their own temperature before the outing and must not attend if they are feverish.
Participants must consent to Fresno Audubon Society’s Liability Waiver by pre-registering.
Social distancing is encouraged.
Masks are not required, but participants are encouraged to wear a mask whenever they feel the need.
Some field trips meet up at a central point before traveling to the field trip location. Participants may form their own car pools at these meetup points.
Participants must contact their trip leader should they test positive for COVID-19 within three days following the outing so that we can notify others who attended the trip.

Saturday 13 January 2024 ⏤ The Raptor Trail Field Trip on The Kings River at Pine Flat Dam with Maureen Walsh

Registration is required for this event.

Join FAS for birding along the Kings River. The trail begins across from the parking lot on the south side of the bridge just below Pine Flat Dam. The trail is basically an easy walk of approximately a mile and a quarter each way, but there is some uneven terrain and river rocks create a cobblestone surface in parts. Some of our target species include Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, and Osprey.

Meet in the parking lot at the south side of the bridge. If you want to look for directions from the eBird map, the Raptor Trail is just across the river from the North Riverside Access Park eBird Hotspot. GPS Coordinates 36.8298592686927, -119.33621274737327.

Participants should bring snacks, lunch (if desired), water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers. Registration is required for this event. If you have any questions, please reach out to the trip leader.

Contact:

Maureen Walsh

(559) 706-4980

email: mewnew10@yahoo.com

Wednesday 24 January 2024 ⏤ Sycamore Island with George Folsom

Sycamore Island, part of the San Joaquin River Parkway, is along the San Joaquin River in Madera County downstream from River West open space. It offers a variety of habitats: river, ponds, riparian, grasslands, and wetlands. We can expect ducks, raptors, herons, egrets, owls, woodpeckers, finches, swallows, sparrows among many others.

This is a large property and we will do a combination of driving and walking. Walking distance will be 1 to 2 miles but those who don’t care to walk can drive to most of the areas. There are picnic shelters with tables for lunch and restrooms on the property.

Participants should bring snacks, lunch (if desired), water, hat, sunscreen, and binoculars, and should dress in layers.

Registration is required for this event. If you have any questions, please reach out to trip leader George Folsom at 559.351.7192 or geofolsom@gmail.com

Meet at 8:45 AM at the property

Saturday 27 January 2024 ⏤ O’Neil Forebay with Larry Parmeter

Registration Required.

Link to Registration.

On Saturday, January 27, Fresno Audubon Society will travel to O’Neill Forebay, west of Los Banos and part of the San Luis reservoir complex. We will meet in front of the Target store at El Paseo Shopping Center, off Herndon near Highway 99, at 7:30AM, and go from there. Participants are responsible for arranging carpool rides before the trip. Our objective will be the Medeiros Recreation Area west of Los Banos and off Highway 152, on the south shore of the forebay. There, we will look for waterfowl, including scaup, merganzers, Canvasbacks, Ruddy Ducks, grebes, and possibly Loons. This is also a good place for several species of hawks and eagles, including Golden and Bald. We have also seen wintering Swainson’s Hawks here. The riparian areas around the forebay have warblers, towhees, several species of sparrows, and goldfinches, among many other birds. If time permits, we will drive over to the north shore side, which often has many passerines, along with hawks and owls. In addition, elk are sometimes seen in the area. Dress warmly and bring lunch.

For more information, contact Larry Parmeter at lanpar362@gmail.com or at 559-288-3456.

Checklist: binoculars, scope, field guide, snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, radios

Registration Required.

Link to Registration.

December Field Trip Reports

Sumner Peck Ranch with Susan Heidebrecht

Saturday, December 2nd at 8:30am, 17 birders met at the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust’s Sumner Peck Ranch property for a walk that included part of the Ball Ranch property. Morning temperatures were in the low 50’s, climbing slowly into the upper 50’s. Moderate cloud cover and light breezes kept the air cool.

Starting at the picnic area near the parking lot we meandered slowly, enjoying Spotted Towhees and White-crowned Sparrows as they darted through the willow thicket alongside the river. Yellow-rumped Warblers stayed mostly overhead in the canopy of Valley Oaks.

Making our way south towards Ball Ranch, we observed a Red-tailed Hawk perched at the top of an oak and an American Kestral that swooped down upon the hawk over and over until flying away.

Following the trail along the river we heard an Osprey and then we saw the bird fly overhead. After that first sighting we saw the Osprey several more times. At one point the bird perched at the top of a tree and lingered there for the entire group to observe.

With its distinctive rattle, a female Belted Kingfisher flashed by us to perch down river on a branch near the water’s edge, lingering long enough for all to enjoy.

Numerous Northern Flickers were both heard and seen, along with several Acorn Woodpeckers, a Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker and a Nuttall’s Woodpecker. It was a good day for woodpeckers.

Special note: As we were leaving the property Larry and I saw a Greater Roadrunner walking slowly across the dirt road near the wine tasting area heading towards the vineyards.

Not counting the Roadrunner, we saw 49 species. Thank you George Folsom for keeping the bird list.

Thank you to all who participated!

Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	24
Orange-crowned Warbler	Leiothlypis celata	3
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	1
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	110
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	9
Lincoln’s Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	1
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	1
Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	4
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	42
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	14
American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	6
Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	4
House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	10
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	2
Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	2
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	2
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	4
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	1
Rock Wren	Salpinctes obsoletus	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	9
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	12
Common Raven	Corvus corax	5
California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	9
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	4
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	2
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	5
Nuttall’s Woodpecker	Dryobates nuttallii	3
Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	1
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	4
Red-breasted Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus ruber	1
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	1
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	3
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	1
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	7
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	1
Great Egret	Ardea alba	3
Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	22
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	1
American Coot	Fulica americana	7
Anna’s Hummingbird	Calypte anna	2
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	4
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	110
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	5
California Quail	Callipepla californica	1
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	1
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	3
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	1
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	3

Pinnacles National Park with George Folsom

The Pinnacles National Park did not disappoint the hopes of ten birders for a fantastic day of birding. We began with a stop at Paicines Reservoir, with sightings of ducks, grebes, geese, Bald Eagles, herons and more. Next we birded near the Visitors Center where Penny Stewart spotted the first California Condor. Soon, several more condors were spotted with a total of 10 for the day. From there we drove to the Old Pinnacles parking area where the birding was a little slow but we found 2 Wrentits, several Oak Titmouse and a Golden Eagle. Our last stop was Bear Gulch where we found a Varied Thrush, several species of woodpeckers, Lessor Goldfinches and others. Sixty two species were observed for the day. Thanks to Josh McLaughlin for doing the eBird lists and Lowell Young for helping with logistics.

The trip bird list is here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/176823

Jensen River Ranch with Wes Beal

Wes Beal led 14 expert birders on an adventure at the Jensen River
Ranch property north of Woodward Park on December 13, 2023. The
morning started cool and foggy, but soon the sun warmed the air and
birders were shedding coats. Together we spied 37 species, including
a Merlin and a Northern Harrier perched on a stump.

11 Mallard
6 Mourning Dove
1 Anna’s Hummingbird
1 Greater Yellowlegs
4 gull sp.
12 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Green Heron
2 Great Egret
1 Great Blue Heron
5 Turkey Vulture
1 Northern Harrier
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
5 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Acorn Woodpecker
3 Nuttall’s Woodpecker
10 Northern Flicker
3 American Kestrel
1 Merlin
3 Black Phoebe
2 Say’s Phoebe
8 California Scrub-Jay
3 American Crow
2 Common Raven
7 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
15 European Starling
3 Northern Mockingbird
3 House Finch
35 American Goldfinch
110 White-crowned Sparrow
1 Vesper Sparrow
3 Savannah Sparrow
1 Song Sparrow
1 Spotted Towhee
2 Western Meadowlark
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
12 Yellow-rumped Warbler

Member Photographs

We have made a few changes in the photos submission process. Please note the items in red.

If you would like to share your bird photos with other Fresno Audubon Society members, submit up to 5 of your best to Clayton Dahlen at mc_dahlen@yahoo.com. By submitting you give us permission to use your photo on our website, in our emails and on our social media platforms.

Please submit your pictures with a width of 1024 pixels and a resolution of 72 dpi. The height of the picture is not important. Thank you for your understanding.

Patrick Cassen

Violet-green Swallow, Miramonte, Pat Cassen

John Craft

Pintails in flight, Merced NWR, John Craft

George Folsom

Gil Holguin

Ross's Goose and Canada Goose, Gil Holguin

Susan Rapport

Birds in the News

Links to Recent Articles on Birds

Birding 101: Everything You Need to Know

Birdwatchers at Snettisham RSPB Reserve in Norfolk, England. Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Birding is the act of observing and identifying birds in the wild as a form of recreation. This can range from taking note of all the birds who visit a backyard feeder, or traveling across the country to try to see more U.S. bird species than anyone else in a 12-month period, like the characters played by Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin do in The Big Year. Birding is a popular pastime: More than 45 million people bird in the U.S., and they spend around $41 billion a year on equipment like binoculars or trips to see birds. In the UK, more people belong to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds than all of the country’s political parties put together. While it’s historically been associated with older, wealthier, whiter adults, visible interest in the activity is widening alongside awareness of its many benefits for both birders and birds.

Research Finds that Humans Have Driven Twice as Many Birds to Extinction Than Previously Thought

A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed alarming findings regarding the extinction of bird species worldwide. The research, led by Dr. Rob Cooke and his team at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, suggests that human activity has driven approximately 12% of the world’s bird species into extinction, a figure double the previous estimates.

To protect an endangered owl species, government biologists propose killing off other owls

A juvenile barred owl in Kirkland, Wash.Wolfgang Kaehler / LightRocket via Getty Images

The survival of one owl species hinges on the demise of another. That’s what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service argues in its proposal to allow the agency to shoot hundreds of thousands of barred owls over the next 30 years in West Coast forests. The service says the barred owl, which is not native to the region, is crowding out the spotted owl, a close genetic relative. Without action against the barred owls, service biologists say the spotted owl could disappear from parts of Washington and Oregon within a few years and eventually go extinct.

World’s Largest Seabirds Follow Sound Across The Ocean to Faraway Food

A wandering albatross above the Southern Ocean. (Eastcott Momatiuk/Getty Images)

Animals cover astonishing distances when they are looking for food. While caribou, reindeer and wolves clock up impressive mileage on land, seabirds are unrivalled in their travelling distances. Arctic terns travel from the Arctic to Antarctica and back as part of their annual migration. Wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) fly the equivalent of ten times to the Moon and back over their lifetimes. There has been a lot of research into how seabirds choose their flight paths and find food. They seem to use their sight or sense of smell to assess local conditions. Wandering albatrosses can travel more than 10,000km in a single foraging trip, though, and we don’t know much about how these birds use mid- and long-range cues from their environment to decide where to go.

30 Commendable Winning Photos Of The 2023 SINWP Bird Photographer Of The Year

Discover the awe-inspiring world of avian beauty through the lens of the 2023 SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year. This prestigious competition has unveiled 30 commendable winning photos that capture the essence and splendor of our feathered friends in their natural habitats.

These songbirds sing for hours a day to keep their vocal muscles in shape

New research suggests that zebra finches must sing a lot to maintain top-tier singing performances. Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Not all birds sing, but those that do — some several thousand species — do it a lot. All over the world, as soon as light filters over the horizon, songbirds launch their serenades. They sing to defend their territory and croon to impress potential mates. “Why birds sing is relatively well-answered,” says Iris Adam, a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Southern Denmark. The big question for her was this: Why do birds sing so darn much? “For some reason,” Adam says, birds have “an insane drive to sing.” This means hours every day for some species, and that takes a lot of energy. Plus, singing can be dangerous.

Mesmerizing Photos Reveal the Complex Flight Paths of Birds

The flight path of a seagull shown by taking hundreds of photos and meticulously stacking them all together into a single image. | Raghuvamsh Chavali.

A photographer created a series of beautiful pictures that show the flight path of different birds by taking hundreds of photos and stacking them into one image.

Wonder Beyond Why: The Majesty and Mystery of the Birds-of-Paradise

Birds-of-paradise (Epimachus Ellioti) by John Gould. (Available as a print and as stationery cards, benefitting The Nature Conservancy.)

Among this world’s most staggering whyless wonders are the birds-of-paradise, native to the island of New Guinea — strange shamans of transformation with plumage so beautiful and behavior so baffling, so far beyond the evolutionary demands of sexual selection, that no causal account of their speciation seems adequate. And yet here they are — here is beauty that didn’t have to exist, here is nature turned supranatural, here is wonder beyond why.

January 2024 Yellowbill

31 Dec January 2024 Yellowbill

Editor’s Note

President’s Message

Board of Directors Update

2023 Lost Lake Christmas Bird Count Results

2023 Merced NWR Christmas Bird Count

2 January 2024

Membership

January General Meeting

Bringing Birds to the Garden: California Native Plants for the Win

by Benny Jacobs-Schwartz

Tuesday, 9 January 2024

Introduction to Birding Class

January Field Trips

Saturday 13 January 2024 ⏤ The Raptor Trail Field Trip on The Kings River at Pine Flat Dam with Maureen Walsh

Wednesday 24 January 2024 ⏤ Sycamore Island with George Folsom

Saturday 27 January 2024 ⏤ O’Neil Forebay with Larry Parmeter

December Field Trip Reports

Sumner Peck Ranch with Susan Heidebrecht

Pinnacles National Park with George Folsom

Jensen River Ranch with Wes Beal

Member Photographs

Patrick Cassen

John Craft

George Folsom

Gil Holguin

Susan Rapport

Birds in the News

Links to Recent Articles on Birds

Birding 101: Everything You Need to Know

Research Finds that Humans Have Driven Twice as Many Birds to Extinction Than Previously Thought

To protect an endangered owl species, government biologists propose killing off other owls

World’s Largest Seabirds Follow Sound Across The Ocean to Faraway Food

30 Commendable Winning Photos Of The 2023 SINWP Bird Photographer Of The Year

These songbirds sing for hours a day to keep their vocal muscles in shape

Mesmerizing Photos Reveal the Complex Flight Paths of Birds

Wonder Beyond Why: The Majesty and Mystery of the Birds-of-Paradise

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