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No salesman will call, at least not from us. Maybe from someone else.
There are strange little towers on the forest floor. Neat, right? Nope. Inside hides a spider that’s cunning, patient and ruthless.
This is another installment of the PBS Deep Look series; this installment is adapted from the “It’s OK to be Smart” series. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. [Chuck Almdale]
Mt. Piños is a great area for mountain birds such as Clark’s Nutcracker, White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Quail, singing Green-tailed Towhees and Fox Sparrows, Pygmy & White Breasted Nuthatches, Cassin’s & Purple Finches, Lawrence’s Goldfinches and the ever-elusive Calliope Hummingbird. We’re always on the lookout for one or more of the released California Condors who are again fully licensed to fly. We will bird early, then look for butterflies. If the wildflowers are out in force, we’ll have a good chance of finding the Calliope. We may also drive over to Mt. Abel to take a look at “Shirley’s Seep” – an oasis for thirsty birds in dry years – located about 1/2 way up the road.
Lawrence’s Goldfinch male at Shirley’s Seep (J. Waterman 6-11-17)
This trip is scheduled as a day trip, with Saturday birding from 8am until mid-afternoon. Some of us will be camping Friday and/or Saturday night at McGill Campground located about 1/2 way up the Mt. Piños road, and which opens on Memorial Day weekend. Mt. Piños Campground, about a mile farther up the road, will probably also be open. Both campgrounds feature new toilets. Sunday (9th) usually involves breakfast, some birding around the often-birdy camping area, and eventually breaking camp and returning home. Sometimes we return to the Iris Meadow area at the top of the road, or to one or two other locales if we feel we missed something.
Our famous leucistic Anna’s Hummingbird (Maja Block)
Family Guide: Lots of driving; maybe lots of walking; days can be sunny & hot or cloudy & cool. Small patches of snow may still be present. Dress in layers, bring food and water.
Mountain Adventure Pass Not Needed: The Forest Service Ranger Station for the Mt. Piños area (661-245-3731) says we do not need a pass for this area for this time of year, only during snow season which is now officially over.
Call the leader no later than Thursday, 6/06 if you’re coming. If they don’t know you’re coming, they won’t wait for you if you’re late.
The parasitic Snow Plant are usually still emergent (L Johnson 6/11)
[Directions] Allow 90 minutes travel time from downtown Santa Monica.
I-5 north to the Frazier Park exit. West on Frazier Mountain Road for about 6 miles. The name then changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue northwest about 6 miles to the intersection of Cuddy Valley and Mil Potrero Roads. Park in the large pull-off area about 100 yards past this intersection. (Do not expect us to meet you at the top of Mt. Piños!) We will briefly bird around this area, then continue up the mountain or drive over to Mt. Abel. Even if you are not camping, this is an all-day trip, so gas up your car, wear layers and bring food and water. If you are camping, McGill & Mt. Piños campgrounds have no water, but do have wonderful new bathrooms.
FRS radio: Bring it if you have one, tuned to Channel 11, privacy channel 22.
Meet at 8:00 a.m., Saturday June 8.
Leaders: Mary Prismon & Jean Garrett 310-472-7209
EMAIL: Mary <goldcrownking[at]msn[DOT].com>
[Chuck Almdale]
Mt. Piños is a great area for mountain birds such as Clark’s Nutcracker, White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Quail, singing Green-tailed Towhees and Fox Sparrows, Pygmy & White Breasted Nuthatches, Cassin’s & Purple Finches, Lawrence’s Goldfinches and the ever-elusive Calliope Hummingbird. We’re always on the lookout for one or more of the released California Condors who are again fully licensed to fly. We will bird early, then look for butterflies. If the wildflowers are out in force, we’ll have a good chance of finding the Calliope. We may also drive over to Mt. Abel to take a look at “Shirley’s Seep” – an oasis for thirsty birds in dry years – located about 1/2 way up the road.
Lawrence’s Goldfinch male at Shirley’s Seep (J. Waterman 6-11-17)
This trip is scheduled as a day trip, with Saturday birding from 8am until mid-afternoon. Some of us will be camping Friday and/or Saturday night at McGill Campground located about 1/2 way up the Mt. Piños road, and which opens on Memorial Day weekend. Mt. Piños Campground, about a mile farther up the road, will probably also be open. Both campgrounds feature new toilets. Sunday (9th) usually involves breakfast, some birding around the often-birdy camping area, and eventually breaking camp and returning home. Sometimes we return to the Iris Meadow area at the top of the road, or to one or two other locales if we feel we missed something.
Our famous leucistic Anna’s Hummingbird (Maja Block)
Family Guide: Lots of driving; maybe lots of walking; days can be sunny & hot or cloudy & cool. Small patches of snow may still be present. Dress in layers, bring food and water.
Mountain Adventure Pass Not Needed: The Forest Service Ranger Station for the Mt. Piños area (661-245-3731) says we do not need a pass for this area for this time of year, only during snow season which is now officially over.
Call the leader no later than Thursday, 6/06 if you’re coming. If they don’t know you’re coming, they won’t wait for you if you’re late.
The parasitic Snow Plant are usually still emergent (L Johnson 6/11)
[Directions] Allow 90 minutes travel time from downtown Santa Monica.
I-5 north to the Frazier Park exit. West on Frazier Mountain Road for about 6 miles. The name then changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue northwest about 6 miles to the intersection of Cuddy Valley and Mil Potrero Roads. Park in the large pull-off area about 100 yards past this intersection. (Do not expect us to meet you at the top of Mt. Piños!) We will briefly bird around this area, then continue up the mountain or drive over to Mt. Abel. Even if you are not camping, this is an all-day trip, so gas up your car, wear layers and bring food and water. If you are camping, McGill & Mt. Piños campgrounds have no water, but do have wonderful new bathrooms.
FRS radio: Bring it if you have one, tuned to Channel 11, privacy channel 22.
Meet at 8:00 a.m., Saturday June 8.
Leaders: Mary Prismon & Jean Garrett 310-472-7209
EMAIL: Mary <goldcrownking[at]msn[DOT].com>
[Chuck Almdale]
Los Padres Poo-Poo Project Peaks, Payments Pour In
You remember the Poo-Poo Project? Of course you do!
Their $2400 GoFundMe goal was met
All the pit toilet vent pipes in Los Padres National Forest will be screened
This solid beastie from the Teton Raptor Project keeps any and all birds out of the pit toilet vents.
Jeri Edwards joyfully updated me today with the news that in one month, 45 people kicked in the full $2400. Now the work of installing the screens (see above) on the vent pipes of all the pit toilets in Los Padres National Forest can begin.
She thanks Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society for publicizing this GoFundMe campaign and for our readers who shared their hard-earned dollars to benefit the forest’s cavity-nesting birds. Thank you, thank you.
We’ll keep you posted as work proceeds and/or is completed.
Many thanks to all for your interest and for your donations.
[Chuck Almdale]
(Northern Pygmy Owl, photo taken in Los Padres National Forest, by Jeri Edwards)
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 