By Mary Parsell
We are looking for walk leaders for our monthly El Dorado Nature Center walks. You do not have to be an “expert.” If you are able to volunteer please send an email to Mary at mfp2001@hotmail.com or leave a voice message at (562) 252-5825 (Please note that there is no text message ability on this phone line).
By Carolyn Vance
For over 12 years, Eleanor Palmer has hosted us for newsletter labeling. She has graciously opened her home to us, month after month, sometimes supplying us with food and drink, but always supplying us with wonderful conversation and great looks at all the wonderful birds that come to her yard and feeders. We have all enjoyed every last minute of volunteering with you, Eleanor! Thank you so very much for all your years of service.
I would also like to thank “the usual subjects,” those men and women who routinely show up to help put out the monthly California Least Tern newsletter for El Dorado Audubon. They are Ramona Glass, Cathy Hodge, Miguel Flores, Jerry Millett, Betty Rainey, Lee Edgecomb, Tobi Neer, Patty Benoit and Jane Smith. You help those hours fly by with your conversation!
Our labeling day is usually the fourth Thursday of the month (except November), starting at 1:00 p.m. It takes approximately two hours to put on the wafer seals and address labels. If you are able to help out, please contact me, Carolyn Vance at 562.594.7589 for the address to our new location. Thank you.
By Mary Parsell, Nov. 2019
Eleanor Palmer
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Eleanor Palmer who was an active member of El Dorado Audubon. She was an avid birder and conservationist. She was a contributor to our conservation committee attending countless Planning Commission and City Council meetings and making those important phone calls to elected city and state officials. She attended our programs and attended board meetings and hosted newsletter labeling in her home.
She was cheerful and encouraging to all. She & I spent many long hours reviewing Draft Environmental Impact Reports and attending meetings. Labeling volunteers enjoyed the birds outside the window in her backyard.
Our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
By Carolyn Vance
Once again, the Refuge will be participating in the Seal Beach Christmas Parade, on Friday December 6. The Parade starts at 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. along Main St. between Ocean Ave. and PCH, in Seal Beach. Come and cheer us on! At press time, we don’t know if the Blue Goose and Sally Sandpiper will be with us this year.
A Ridgway’s Rail count was held on November 26. I hope to have the results for the January newsletter. Our rail numbers seem to be declining even though several captive-bred birds have been released the last couple of years. No one knows why, so this year’s count is extremely important to us.
The Refuge takes a break in December and there is no Tour. However, I will still be doing bird surveys. Nothing warms my heart more than a long, long line of geese calling and flying directly over my head. (Moon-roof in my car? It’s a goose-roof!) What could be better? The Refuge’s “Most Wanted” birds are mostly all here. Starting with the Pacific-golden Plovers, then Red-tailed Hawks, our ducks and geese (Redheads seen mid-November), thousands of shorebirds, Short-eared Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, Merlin, Large-billed Savannah Sparrow – the list goes on and on.
By Carolyn Vance
Fall migration is fully on, with more and more shorebirds, raptors, ducks and geese arriving. We saw our first Pacific Golden Plover on our last Saturday of the month tour in September. November will be a busy month at the refuge with our Ridgway’s Rail Count scheduled for the end of the month, four more Rail Predator surveys, two more Green Sea Turtle tagging dates scheduled by National Marine Fisheries and our yearly shorebird survey scheduled in addition to our regular high and low tide surveys, Wednesday Work Day and Refuge Tours.
Speaking of rails, the Refuge host-ed three different releases of the captive raised birds for the San Diego refuge complex for a total of 24. Our last count in March only had 26 pairs, so we hope to hear/see more rails this month.
By Carolyn Vance
National Public Lands Day will be celebrated on Saturday, October 12 at the Seal Beach Refuge. We plan on doing more planting at the Restoration area north of Case Pond. The event goes from 8:00 a.m. to noon and reservations are required by calling 562.598.1024 no later than October 4. Just like the monthly tours, we have to submit a list to the Navy. A Volunteer Service Agreement form is also required and can be found on the Friends website, sealbeachnwrfriends.org to download and fill out. Please wear long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen, bring your own water bottle and signed volunteer form. The Refuge will supply the plants, water and equipment.
This area is where we find both Green-tailed and California Towhees and Green Sea Turtles which have been seen in Case Pond, which borders the restoration area. The usual suspects are Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, plus lots of geese should also be seen during the event.
Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford