Monterey Bay Birding Festival by Weeklys

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Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

Photo by Tarmo Hannula.

Welcome to the home of one of the most spectacular birding and wildlife venues in North America

the thirteenth annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival! Premier Birding From soaring Golden Eagles, effortlessly gliding California Condors, cheeky Bushtits, colorful Townsend’s Warblers, scampering Snowy Plovers, to thousands of Sooty Shearwaters streaming along the ocean’s surface - few places can match the diversity of species as the Monterey Bay region. September marks the peak of fall migration with wintering shorebirds arriving en-masse. Warblers and other passerines are doing the same and we even start seeing the first appearances of wintering shorebirds ducks and other waterfowl. Meanwhile, just a few miles offshore, jaegers, shearwaters, and alcid are present in good numbers. There is no better time to visit the Monterey Bay to see the greatest number of species or to find a rarity.

World-Class Field Trips The Monterey Bay Birding Festival hosts some of the best bird-watching field trips in the world! Whether you are a beginning birder, a serious birder doing a Big Year, or just love the outdoors, our field trips will fulfill your desires. You will have the opportunity to see as many as 250+ species of birds during the festival. You will also get to explore extraordinary ecosystems such as: • Elkhorn Slough National Marine Estuary • Watsonville Wetlands • Pinnacles National Park • Natural Bridges and Northern Santa Cruz County Coast Join a pelagic birding trip to experience the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the most productive regions for albatrosses, shearwaters, storm-petrels,

whales and more. Or, take a scenic ride in Elkhorn Slough by kayak, pontoon, or electric boat to see birds, otters, seals and sea lions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Educational Workshop and Documentary Film Make time for an exceptional workshop presented by one of the best professionals in his field on bird molt. And don’t miss the beautiful documentary film created by Maya Khosla on the effects of wildfires on birds and their habitat.

Exceptional Speaker You won’t want to miss this year’s keynote presentation by ornithologist and marine biologist Peter Pyle entitled: “Ecology and Conservation of the Gulf of the Farallones”.

Join Us! Learn more and register at www.montereybaybirding.org.

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G uest Speakers & Featured Activities

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Field Trips & Field Trip Leader Bios

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Birding Ethics

Additional photos appearing throughout this guide taken at previous Monterey Bay Birding Festivals by Tarmo Hannula.

GUEST Speakers & Featured Activities Saturday, Sept. 23, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 23, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Ecology and Conservation of the Gulf of the Farallones HELD AT: The Watsonville Civic Center Community Room – 4th Floor

DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING: Searching for the Gold Spot - The Wild After Wildfire HELD AT: The Watsonville Civic Center City Council Chamber – 4th Floor

Peter Pyle

Maya Khosla

Presentation Overview The Gulf of the Farallones lies within an “Eastern Boundary Current System,” one of five such current systems around the world, where cold ocean currents and other environmental factors lead to high ocean productivity; an estimated 85-95% of the world’s seafood originates from these five systems. Peter’s talk will cover the ecology and conservation of the Gulf’s marine vertebrates, from birds to pinnipeds, to whales to sharks. We will not only learn about some of the Gulf’s keystone species, but will look in on the excellent research that has been undertaken in the Gulf and the conservation and management actions that have resulted. Held at the Watsonville Civic Center Community Room – 4th Floor

Sponsored By

Speaker Bio Peter Pyle has worked as an ornithologist and marine biologist throughout the Pacific. During the 1980-2000’s much of his research was conducted on birds and white sharks at the Farallon Islands, California. He is now an identification specialist and consultant for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary’s Beach Watch program. He is a Research Associate both at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, and the B.P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. To date he has authored over 170 papers in scientific journals and two books, and has described a new species of shearwater (Puffinus bryani) and named it after his grandfather, Edwin Bryan. Peter currently works as a staff biologist for the Institute for Bird Populations in Point Reyes Station.

Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

Presentation Overview Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild after Wildfire is a 30-minute film about the rapid and amazing comeback of forests after wildfire. The story follows teams of scientists and firefighters through the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountains, and beyond, and shows hundreds of living, breathing reasons why our publicly-owned forests need to be saved from large-scale logging practices. The teams find rare Black-backed Woodpeckers, Northern Goshawks, Spotted Owls, their young, and many other animals using post-fire forests—a surprise and a new sense of hope for all. Filmmaker Maya Khosla will answer questions after the film.

Speaker Bio Maya Khosla has written Web of

Water: Life in Redwood Creek (nonfiction) and Keel Bone (poems), essays including “Tapping the Fire, Turning the Stream: Securing the Future with Geothermal Energy” and “Notes from the Field.” Awards from Save Our Seas Foundation have supported her writing about climate change and other impacts on sea turtles. She has won awards from Bear Star Press, Flyway, and Poets & Writers. Her screenwriting efforts include narratives for Shifting Undercurrents and Village of Dust, City of Water, awardwinning documentary films. Her latest film is about post-fire habitats in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains entitled Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild after Wildfire, received support from the Audubon Society, Patagonia, Fund for Wild Nature, and Environments Now. Her latest poetry anthology, Song of the Forest after Fire, will be published by Sixteen Rivers Press.

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GUEST Speakers & Featured Activities Saturday, Sept. 23, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. WORKSHOP: Adventures in Molt HELD AT: The Watsonville Civic Center Community Room – 4th Floor

Presenter: Peter Pyle Presentation Overview Peter takes us on a trip through the various angles of bird molt, winding our way through the tangled terminology; presenting the vastly improved H-P system in lay-person terms; considering the interactions between bird molt, plumage color, age, and identification; illustrating the fascinating molt patterns of ducks, ptarmigan, alcids, herons, raptors, and birds that undergo Stafflemauser; imparting the importance of molting to bird conservation; and concluding with some thoughts on stable isotopes, molt in tropical birds, and avenues for future research. All will be based on years of working with this under-appreciated subject and the examination of over 60,000 specimens in museum skin collections.

Field Trips - Saturday, Sept. 23 CALIFORNIA SPECIALTIES - Full Day EAST PINNACLES - Full Day NATURAL BRIDGES AND WEST CLIFF DRIVE – Partial Day VAGRANTS AND MORE ON THE CARMEL RIVER SOUTH BANK TRAIL – Partial Day ELKHORN COASTAL BIRDING – Partial Day WATSONVILLE HOT SPOTS – Partial Day ELKHORN RANCH BIRDING – Partial Day ELKHORN SLOUGH RESERVE BIRDING AND OPEN HOUSE – Partial Day

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Other Birding Adventures WATSONVILLE NATURE CENTER FAMILY DAY

Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 9 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Description: The City of Watsonville will host Family Day at the Ramsay Park Nature Center. Two birding walks will be offered, the first at 9:00 a.m. and another at 1:30 p.m. Any level of birders are welcome, and we encourage families to join us, as well as beginners. Binoculars will be provided. Please dress appropriately for the weather! Tours are bi-lingual and snacks will be available for all to enjoy. The City Nature Center will offer games about birds as well as bird crafts for children of all ages. The Center has lots of books and exhibits about local birds as well. The Nature Center, located at 30 Harkins Slough Road in Watsonville, is open 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You do not need to register, just drop-in for some family fun!

KAYAK CONNECTION – ELKHORN SLOUGH Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 9-11 a.m.

Book directly at www.kayakconnection.com or call 831-724-5692. They are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Pacific.

Description: Here’s your chance to take your own birding tour of Elkhorn Slough and enjoy a kayaking adventure–courtesy of Kayak Connection in Moss Landing. Shorebirds, sea otters, grebes, pelicans, plus the rarities of fall migration are possible on this guided trip. Some of the most intriguing spots of the slough are accessible only by kayak. Beginning kayakers are welcome and encouraged to sign up. Limited to 10 people in five double-kayaks. Transportation: Go directly to Kayak Connection in Moss Landing.

SHEARWATER JOURNEYS PELAGIC TRIPS

Dates/Times: Friday, 9/22/17, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monterey Bay: Fall Seabird Classic Sunday, 9/24/17, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monterey Sea valley: Fall Seabird Classic

Both trips depart from Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey at Chris’ Fishing shop, and run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The boat fee is $170/person. We will have top notch leaders on board to help beginner birders. We also do eBird checklists throughout the trip. Description: An incredible submarine canyon lies below the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which hosts a vast variety of seabirds and marine mammals just a few miles from shore. In addition to humpback whales and a variety of dolphins, we can expect to see sooty, pink-footed, and Buller’s shearwaters; common murres; pigeon guillemots; Cassin’s and rhinoceros auklets; pomarine and parasitic jaegers; and maybe a south polar skua.

Black-footed albatross; Manx and flesh-footed shearwaters; black and ashy storm petrels; Sabine’s gull, and arctic tern highlight just a partial list of our possibilities. Book reservations directly through Shearwater Journeys by mailing check to: PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024. Include first- and second-choice trip dates, name, complete address, email address, and phone numbers. Reserve early to avoid disappointment. Transportation: Monterey Pelagic Trips: Meet Friday and Sunday at Chris’s Fishing Shop, Fisherman’s Wharf Monterey. Do NOT meet at Watsonville Civic Plaza! Allow at least one hour driving time from Watsonville. Parking is available in the large lot that connects Fisherman’s Wharf and Commercial Wharf #2. You will receive a $10 parking voucher from us. Be sure to go to Fisherman’s Wharf and not the Commercial Wharf. Be at Chris’ Fishing Shop on Fisherman’s’ Wharf at 7 a.m., SHARP. Latecomers who miss the boat will forfeit their fees. The boat will return about 3 p.m. http://www.shearwaterjourneys.com/

ALVARO’S ADVENTURES PELAGIC TRIPS Full Day Monterey Bay Pelagic Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, Full Day Time to be announced Book directly: http://alvarosadventures.com

Description: The classic West Coast pelagic, visiting the most unique marine habitat perhaps on earth! Nowhere else does deep water come in close to shore like this. A huge canyon, larger than the Grand Canyon lies beneath the surface, and this attracts lots of birds and whales. Also we get to the birds close and early on this trip. Transportation: Go directly to Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey.

Half Day Monterey Bay Pelagic Date/Time: Sunday, 9/24/17, Half-day trip time to be announced Book directly: http://alvarosadventures.com Description: For those of you who want to sample the ocean, but do not want to be out all day on the a boat! This is the trip for you. This is a shorter version of the classic West Coast pelagic, visiting the most unique marine habitat perhaps on earth! Nowhere else does deep water come in close to shore like this. A huge canyon, larger than the Grand Canyon lies beneath the surface, and this attracts lots of birds and whales. Also we get to the birds close and early on this trip. Transportation: Go directly to Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey.

Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

2017 Field Trips

Field Trip Leader Bios

ADAMS, A native Californian, RJ has Please read about the festival’s fantastic field trips! Be sure to visit the Trip Leaders page to learn RJ lived and birded throughout the state for nearly 30 years. He has an MS in biology about the extraordinary expertise each of the field trip leaders brings to the festival. FULL DAY FIELD TRIPS CALIFORNIA SPECIALTIES

Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 6:30 - 4 p.m. Trip Leader: Kumaran Arul

Description: This trip focuses on seeing birds unique to California and the Western United States, such as Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher, Wrentit, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Snowy Plover, California Towhee, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Clark’s Grebe, White-tailed Kite, and many more. Ranging from Pacific beaches to the foothills to the Salinas Valley, this fast-paced trip will help maximize your list of western birds. Perfect for everyone. Participants should bring plenty of water to drink, lunches, and sunscreen for this nearly all-day trip. Transportation: Car caravan from Watsonville Civic Plaza at 6:30 a.m. Carpooling recommended. Please have a full tank of gas. Activity: Moderate

EAST PINNACLES

Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 6:30-3:30 p.m. Trip Leader: RJ Adams Description: Join RJ for a fun carpooling trip to Pinnacles, one of America’s amazing National Parks. We will go south on Highway 25, entering the park on its east side and from there we will hike the 2.5 mile Reservoir Loop. This hike is listed as “moderately” difficult and does include a fairly steady climb of several hundred feet as well as spots where participants will have to duck under low rock overhangs. In exchange for this, we get to pass through a variety of habitats, including oak woodlands, chaparral, and riparian woodland. Afterwards we will eat our lunch picnic style at the Visitors Center near the campground, which presents one of our best chances for picking up California Condor. Possible birds include a wide variety of raptors including Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, and California Condors. Additional possibilities include Yellow-billed Magpies, Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, California Thrasher, Wrentit, White-throated Swifts, and Bell’s Sparrow. This is an extremely unique ecosystem even for those of us in California who are used to diverse habitats. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and hiking clothes, bring plenty of water, and be aware that there is little in the way of food available for purchase in the park so please make sure to bring your lunch with you in the morning. Transportation: Carpool from Civic Plaza at 6:30 a.m. – have a full tank of gas. Activity: High

PARTIAL DAY FIELD TRIPS

NATURAL BRIDGES AND WEST CLIFF DRIVE

Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 6:30-11:30 a.m. Trip Leader: Scott Smithson Description: Natural Bridges and the West Cliff Drive area are not only some of the most scenic locations in Monterey Bay, but they present outstanding birding opportunities, especially during spring and fall migration. Natural Bridges has proven to be an

excellent vagrant trap for migrant songbirds, and the rugged shoreline and adjacent views of the Pacific provide additional habitat for rocky shorebirds and the occasional seabird. The West Cliff Drive area includes a variety of small parks and other nearby birding destinations, and after our first stop at Natural Bridges, our leader will take us to the location that has been the most productive in the past week to seek out the best birding for the day. Possibilities include Bethany Curve, Lighthouse Field, Antonelli’s Pond, West Cliff Drive itself, or perhaps the UCSC Arboretum. All of these locations are favorites of local birders, and are not to be missed if you’re from out of the area and not familiar with the spectacular Santa Cruz Coast. Transportation: Car caravan departing Watsonville Civic Plaza. Activity: Light

VAGRANTS AND MORE ON THE CARMEL RIVER SOUTH BANK TRAIL Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 6:30 a.m. - noon Trip Leader: Rita Carratello

Description: September and fall migration is the time to head to riparian corridors to search for vagrants and rarities not found in the area at any other time of the year. This Carmel Valley hotspot opened to the public in 2011 and is already collecting rarities such as: Blue-winged and Blackpoll plus 8 other Warbler species, Eastern Kingbird, and Red-eyed Vireo. The trail, a 3-mile round trip that is flat and mostly paved, meanders through multiple habitat types along the Carmel River. Transportation: Car caravan departs from Watsonville Civic Plaza at 6:30 a.m. Activity: Moderate

ELKHORN COASTAL BIRDING Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 6:30 a.m. - noon Trip Leader: Tim Amaral

This half-day trip will find us scouring locations such as the mudflats of Moss Landing, visiting the famous Moon Glow Dairy, or checking the freshwater pond of Zmudowski State Beach for the many migrating and wintering shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl of the region. Peregrine Falcons and Merlin are often attracted to the large flocks of shorebirds, and California sea otters are usually in the area. Come see why Elkhorn Slough has long been a target destination for birders from around the world. Exact itinerary will be determined based on local conditions. Transportation: Car caravan departs from Watsonville Civic Plaza at 6:30 a.m. Activity: Moderate

WATSONVILLE HOT SPOTS Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 7:00-11:00 a.m. Trip Leaders: David and Jane Styer Description: This trip will start at the south part of Lee Road, overlooking the west end of Struve Slough. If there is morning sun, the light is nearly perfect to look over the slough. This is an area that we have inventoried nearly weekly for several years. The area is dynamic so that we never see just the

Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

same birds two weeks in a row. The area is good for viewing both land and water birds. From Lee Road Overlook we may go to Harkins Slough, and then to the mouth of the Pajaro River. Each of these areas is different from the other, so that different bird species are likely to be added at each stop. Transportation: Car caravan departs from Watsonville Civic Plaza at 7 a.m. Activity: Moderate

from the University of Utah where he focused on the co-evolutionary history of birds and their ectoparasites. He is also the author of A Field Guide to the Spiders of California and the Pacific Coast States, and will soon begin working on an inventory of the spiders of Pinnacles National Park. R.J. works as a special education teacher and greatly enjoys leading field trips for beginning birders.

ELKHORN RANCH BIRDING TIM AMARAL Tim is an educator by Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 7:30-11:00 a.m. training and a professional guide who loves to teach folks about the natural Trip Leader: Hugo Ceja history of his favorite patch – the Monterey Description: This is a rare opportunity to bird on the historic Elkhorn Ranch private property in Moss Bay region. He has been a guide for local bird festivals, conferences, and Landing. Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery, located on the property and open to the public on Fridays, community organizations since 1996. He originally produced California native grass seed has also worked as the tour coordinator for the ranchland’s restoration. The nursery now and trip leader for Monterey Seabirds produces seed for restoration projects throughout Tour Company and has served as the vicethe area. You’ll be able to go beyond the nursery president of the local Audubon Society. on this trip to walk the hills. Birding is superb here, since there is a freshwater pond, as well as grassy hillsides, oaks, willows, conifers, and a stunning overview of Elkhorn Slough. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Spray beforehand for ticks. Transportation: Car caravan departing Watsonville Civic Plaza. Carpooling is essential, since parking is limited. Activity: One or two miles of moderate walking on unpaved paths with some hills.

ELKHORN SLOUGH RESERVE BIRDING AND OPEN HOUSE Date/Time: Saturday, 9/23/17, 9 a.m. – noon Trip Leader: Dave Feliz

Description: Elkhorn Slough Reserve Manager Dave Feliz will lead a birding tour of the renowned Elkhorn Slough Reserve. View a wide variety of shorebirds and songbirds on a walk around the wetlands and through the oak woodlands of the Elkhorn environment. Learn about the ongoing conservation of this unique area. The Reserve will be celebrating an open house on this day with activities and displays highlighting the good work being done on the Reserve. Allow some time to meet the staff and enjoy the festivities after the bird walk. There will be food available at the open house event. Meet at 9:00AM at the Reserve entrance - 1700 Elkhorn Road, Royal Oaks, CA 95076. Activity: Hike will be moderately strenuous.

KUMARAN ARUL Kumaran has led trips for the Monterey Bay Birding Festival since its beginning and is a passionate observer of birds in the Monterey Bay area. He has conducted breeding bird surveys in the Santa Cruz Mountains, taught classes on birding-by-ear, and led regular trips for local bird groups. He enjoys sea watching on the rich coastal waters of the Monterey Bay, ruminating on the beauties of bird songs, and birding foreign lands with his wife and three children. When not birding, he teaches music at Stanford University. RITA CARRATELLO Rira considers Monte-

rey County her specialty patch. She participated in the county’s breeding bird atlas project, wrote species accounts, and designed the publication published in 1993. She was the voice for the Monterey rare bird alert before the automated BirdBox, and served on the Monterey Audubon Society’s board of directors as the newsletter editor. She and her husband, Don Roberson, also travel the world in search of bird families, and enjoy giving multimedia presentations of these adventures. See more at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/trips. html.

HUGO CEJA Hugo was first introduced to the world of birds during college. Since then, his passion for birds has been the primary factor that determines his excursions. Currently, he is an educator working for the non-profit, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, where he teaches youth about the importance of wetlands and the environment. When he is not working with kids, he is working with Black Oystercatchers along the southern end of Monterey Bay for Audubon California. He is “all about the outdoors” and has a strong appreciation for all biotic and abiotic things. Most of his birding is in Monterey

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Field Trip Leader Bios County where he resides; however, he also enjoys birding the Central Valley wetlands near where he grew up.

MAYA KHOSLA Maya Khosla has

written Web of Water: Life in Redwood Creek (non-fiction) and Keel Bone (poems), essays including “Tapping the Fire, Turning the Stream: Securing the Future with Geothermal Energy” and “Notes from the Field.” Awards from Save Our Seas Foundation have supported her writing about climate change and other impacts on sea turtles. She has won awards from Bear Star Press, Flyway, and Poets & Writers. Her screenwriting efforts include narratives for Shifting Undercurrents and Village of Dust, City of Water, award-winning documentary films. Her latest film is about post-fire habitats in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains entitled Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild after Wildfire, received support from the Audubon Society, Patagonia, Fund for Wild Nature, and Environments Now. Her latest poetry anthology, Song of the Forest After Fire, will be published by Sixteen Rivers Press.

DAVE FELIZ Dave Feliz is a Senior

Environmental Scientist Supervisor for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has been managing State Wildlife Areas and Reserves since 1988. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University and has been birding since 1977 when he saw a group of unimaginably beautiful blue birds in a snag while hiking in Yellowstone National Park.

BILL HILL Bill is a lifetime resident of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Since early childhood he has frequented the Carmel River area for fishing, birding, photographing, or just exploring. First introduced to birding in the sixth grade, he has seriously birded Monterey County for 20 years. Few spend more time birding the Carmel River mouth and the surrounding area. He is a wealth of information on the area and all of its avian inhabitants. A real “people person,” birders always have fun when they go into the field with Bill.

Graphic Studio

Hege Knutson

831 464 6224

Client: ESF July 27, 2007

Final Logo

PETER PYLE Peter Pyle has worked as an ornithologist and marine biologist throughout the Pacific. During the 1980-2000’s much of his research was conducted on birds and white sharks at

the Farallon Islands, California. and he is now an identification specialist and consultant for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary’s Beach Watch program. He is a Research Associate both at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, and the B.P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. To date he has authored over 170 papers in scientific journals and two books, and has described a new species of shearwater (Puffinus bryani) and named it after his grandfather, Edwin Bryan. Peter currently works as a staff biologist for the Institute for Bird Populations in Point Reyes Station.

SCOTT SMITHSON Scott began birding in hometown Pacifica, CA, after receiving a little blue Golden Guide from his kindergarten teacher. At the age of 9, he met famed birder Gil West on a Sequoia Audubon field trip, and thus began a birder-mentor-friendship that would continue until Gil passed away in 1994. Scott went on to receive his MS in biology from CSU Long Beach, studying the breeding biology of introduced orange bishops and nutmeg mannikins in southern CA. He is interested in finding creative ways to minimize carbon footprint of the birding subculture – see www.

greenbigday.org. Scott currently teaches high school AP Biology & Environmental Science at The King’s Academy in Sunnyvale.

DAVID and JANE STYER David and

Jane have lived in the area since 2001 and have led field trips for the Monterey Bay Birding Festival almost since its inception. David became an avid birder in1950, and has birded over much of this country, as well as in other countries. Both he and Jane have served on the board of directors for the Monterey chapter of the Audubon Society, and have led many bird trips in the Monterey Bay area. In addition to birding, David is working on a flora (inventory) of the native plant life on the lands of the former Fort Ord. David also served on Ohio’s technical committee to determine the state’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs). His book, Birds of the Oxbow, chronicles the bird life at the mouth of the Great Miami River, on the Ohio/Indiana border. From their home, David and Jane take great pleasure in watching the sooty shearwaters streaming past in Monterey Bay.

Protecting habitat for

340 species of birds Help us conserve the land and waters of the Elkhorn Slough, a globally important birding area and ecological gem on California’s Central Coast.

Come for our Birdi ng Festival field trip and enjoy the Reserve Open Hous e, too!

Elkhorn Slough Reserve Open House

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Brown pelican photo by Brad Lewis

www.elkhornslough.org

conservation • restor ation • inspir ation • tr ansformation

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Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

Visit Santa Cruz County Wildlife Watching Guide There are approximately 400 migratory and permanent bird species found throughout Santa Cruz County, and thousands of monarch butterflies, whales, and elephant seals which call the area home on a seasonal basis. Now, avid wildlife viewers have an easy-to-use resource, thanks to Visit Santa Cruz County’s free Wildlife Watching Guide. The 52-page guide is designed for use by both visitors to the area and residents of communities adjacent to the many birding and wildlife destinations throughout the county. Information on monarch butterflies, whale watching and elephant seals is also featured. The guide includes information on a variety of habitats, from sandy beaches to lagoons, wetlands and river mouths, as well as descriptions and photographs of some of the area’s most commonly seen wildlife and the best times of the year for viewing. It also provides maps of birding and wildlife hotspots, points of interest, and pull-out map. Visit Santa Cruz County is distributing the free guide – part of a Wildlife Watching Kit - at its main visitor center at 303 Water Street in Santa Cruz and via mail by request at www.birding.tavel. For more information about the Wildlife Watching Guide, call 831.425.1234 or 800.833.3494.

W IL D L IF

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• Pajaro Va lley • Watsonv ille Wetla nds • 14 Calif ornia State Parks • Montere Marine Say Bay National nctuary

PRO DU CED

BY VIS IT

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The Monterey Bay Birding Festival Steering Committee members wish to express their gratitude & appreciation for all of our Sponsors, Friends and Supporters who help make this annual event possible. We ask, all of you, in turn, to encourage and support them with your patronage.

Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

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Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

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HOW TO GET TO

CIVIC PLAZA

The Monterey Bay Birding Festival is based at the Watsonville Civic Plaza, top floor, located at 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA. Registration desk, lectures, workshops, field trip staging, and Birders’ Marketplace will be held in the Community Rooms and Council Chambers Room.

If You Are Driving:

From Highway 1 south, exit Riverside Drive, turn left from off ramp exit and proceed 2 miles. Turn left on Rodriguez Street, proceed ½ mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right into the garage parking structure and proceed to top floor. From Gilroy (Highway 101) to Highway 152, take Leavesley Road exit toward San Ysidro Avenue. Turn left at Monterey Street. Turn right at 1st Street/Highway 152/Hecker Pass Road to Santa Cruz County. Stay on Highway 152/East Lake Avenue and proceed for 3.2 miles. Turn left on Main Street and proceed 0.3 mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right on First Street and right on Rodriguez Street. Turn left to enter garage parking structure and proceed to top floor. From Highway 101 to Highway 129, head northwest on Highway 129/Chittenden Road to Rodriguez Street, Watsonville, 12.7 miles. Turn right on Rodriguez Street and proceed

½ mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right off Rodriguez Street into parking structure and proceed to top floor.

Parking Fees

On Thursday and Friday, parking is free for the first two hours after which there is a parking fee. Parking vending machine is located on the second floor of the parking structure. Parking is free all day on Saturday and Sunday.

If You Are Flying:

From Mineta San Jose International Airport, head southwest on Airport Blvd. Take the ramp on the left onto Interstate 880 South. Continue on Highway 17 South, 26.3 miles. Take the exit onto Highway 1 South toward Watsonville/ Monterey, 14.3 miles, to Riverside Drive exit. Turn left from off ramp and proceed 2 miles. Turn left on Rodriguez Street and proceed ½ mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right into parking structure and proceed to top floor. Travel distance is 47 miles and approximately 55 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Allow more time during heavy commuter hours. From San Francisco International Airport, head east, merge onto Highway 101 South via the ramp to San Jose, 23.4 miles. Slight right onto Highway 85 (signs for Cupertino/Highway 85/Santa Cruz) 13.3 miles. Take the exit onto Highway 17 South toward Santa Cruz, 22 miles. Take the exit onto Highway 1 South toward Watsonville/Monterey, 14.3 miles, to Riverside Drive exit. Turn left at off ramp exit and proceed 2 miles. Turn left on Rodriguez Street, proceed ½ mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right into parking structure and proceed to top floor. Travel distance is 77 miles and about 1.5 hours depending on traffic conditions. Allow more time during heavy commuter hours.

From Monterey Airport, head west on Fred Kane Drive. Fred Kane Drive turns slightly right and becomes Olmsted Road. Turn right at Highway 68. Merge onto Highway 1 North via the ramp to Santa Cruz, 12.8 miles. Exit Riverside Drive, veer to right and proceed 2 miles. Turn left on Rodriguez Street, proceed ½ mile to Watsonville Civic Plaza. Turn right into parking structure and proceed to top floor. Travel distance is 26.9 miles and about 40 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Allow more time during heavy commuter hours.

Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first. American Birding Association’s PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS Code of Birding Ethics 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. 1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat. 1 (b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming. Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area. Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover. Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close ups. 1 (c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to

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the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to proper conservation authorities. 1 (d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum. 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. 2 (a) Do not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. 2 (b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas both at home and abroad. 2 (c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike. 3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe. 3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather. 3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.

3(c) If you are attracting birds to an areas, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation by cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards. 4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care. Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member. 4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders. 4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations. Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours]. 4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the

group. Teach through word and example. 4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area. 4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practises this code. 4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed). 4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company’s commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.

Monterey Bay Birding Festival 2017

C & N Tractors

496 Salinas Rd., Watsonville, CA 95076 | 831-722-2733 www.kubota.com *For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer and the product operatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manual. Power (HP/KW) and other specifications are based on various standards or recommended practices. Optional equipment may be shown. ÂŠKubota Tractor Corporation, 2016