The mission of Sequoia Audubon Society is to participate actively in environmental education and conservation, and in the restoration, preservation, protection and enjoyment of our native natural resources with emphasis on birds and their habitats.

White-chinned Petrel by Kris Olson

October 18, 2009 - An extremely rare White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) was spotted on the Sequoia Audubon Society pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, CA. The bird was identified by Alvaro Jaramillo. When accepted this will be a state first and only the second record from North America. More news and photos will be posted as available.

Join our Yahoo group

Sequoia Audubon is forming a Yahoo group. This is similar to the birding list servers – penbird, southbay birds, etc It will give us a way to communicate with each other efficiently. This is not intended to replace any of the current bird report lists – Rather it will be used for Sequoia Audubon communication. Be they meeting, field trip or other announcements that really don’t belong on penbird.

Sign up is optional although we hope everyone interested in Sequoia Audubon activities will join. The information is kept confidential and is not shared. If interested go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SequoiaAudubon. Sign up is easy and you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you have any questions contact us at sequoiaaudubon@yahoo.com

Now with Species Search!

San Mateo County Birding Guide

In April of this year, Sequoia Audubon launched the new San Mateo County Birding Guide (SMCBG), providing accounts of dozens of birding sites in our area. Each entry contains maps, pictures, web links, and more. Please take a test run today, by accessing the website at http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/. Users have responded enthusiastically, and traffic has climbed on the site. We appreciate all the feedback and support we have received.

One suggestion heard from many users dove-tailed with the plans of both the SMCBG's editor and its designer: to develop the ability to search the website for individual species. We are now ready to unveil this most useful tool. It will help beginning birders to anticipate which birds to expect in which habitats; intermediate bird-watchers can fill gaps in their lists; advanced birders and scientists can trace patterns of vagrant and rare birds in our area. Furthermore, we think it is just fun to explore using this latest gadget!

Click to Read More about the San Mateo Birding Guide ...

The search capability runs directly from a menu at the top of the SMCBG home page. All species recorded in San Mateo County are listed in alphabetical order by their common English name, with an abundance code in parentheses. The abundance code is explained on the County Abundance Codes Explained page in the Additional References menu on the Birding Guide.

In the mid-1990s, Sequoia Audubon published the second edition of San Francisco Peninsula Birdwatching. The new SMCBG builds from the accounts in that book, while editing them substantially to record changes and include new material. We are also adding many sites that were left uncovered, or only marginally mentioned in the book, due to space limitations. Because the SMCBG can be expanded, there will be many more sites added to the forty-seven that you will see if you visit today. At the moment, over seventy-five sites are projected; suggestions for new sites can be submitted to the editor.

There are a few special features worthy of mention on the SMCBG. Be certain to check out the "Help" and "Look Here" sections, located in the buttons atop the table of contents. The Help button will show you how to use the many fine map features built into the SMCBG. The Look Here category includes a list of sites to be added, guidelines for authors and photographers, and a copy of Francis Toldi's fine essay on the natural features of the county (it originally appeared in the San Mateo County Breeding Bird Atlas.)

Other exciting advances in the SMCBG include new accounts covering such popular sites as Coyote Point, FItzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach Seawatch, Holbrook-Palmer Park, and more. We have reached forty-seven sites, with at least two dozen more to come. Watch for announcements of coming key site accounts: Radio Road, the San Francisco Watershed, the Half Moon Bay Beaches, Wavecrest, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and the Pescadero Creek County Parks.

At this time, we are also enabling you to donate to Sequoia Audubon directly from the pages of the SMCBG, via PayPal. If you appreciate the work we have done to make San Mateo Birding more accessible, please consider donating in whatever amount you can. 

Audubon Canyon Ranch
"Ranch Guide" Naturalist Training to begin in January 2010

Stinson Beach, CA – Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), a leader in conservation science, habitat protection and restoration, and hands-on environmental education programs, announced today that its eight-week Bolinas Lagoon Preserve Ranch Guide training course will begin on January 23, 2010 with an orientation meeting.

Click to Read More about the training and ACR ...

ACR’s Ranch Guides are volunteers who share their knowledge and appreciation of nature with thousands of visitors to Bolinas Lagoon Preserve during the 2010 Public Season which runs March 20-July 11 and coincides with the annual return of hundreds of herons and egrets to one of the most studied nesting sites on the West Coast.

Taught by ACR’s staff biologists and other local experts, participants learn about ACR's history, its 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, trail teaching techniques, pond life and the historical nesting colony of herons and egrets located in a grove of redwood trees at the preserve.
The training begins with an orientation on January 23. The Saturday training class dates are January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February 27, March 13, and March 20, with an optional hike day on March 6. Graduates of the training commit to volunteering four weekend days during the public season for two years.

The cost of ACR Ranch Guide Training is $25 to cover training materials. Scholarships are available by request. No prior experience is necessary.
ACR’s Bolinas Lagoon Preserve is located 30 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1 (3 miles north of Stinson Beach).

To register for ACR Ranch Guide training, call 415-868-9244 or email rsvp@egret.org.

ABOUT AUDUBON CANYON RANCH

The mission of Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) is to protect the natural resources of its sanctuaries while fostering an understanding and appreciation of these environments. ACR educates children and adults, promotes ecological literacy that is grounded in direct experience, and conducts research and restoration that advances conservation science.

ACR properties include the Cypress Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay, the Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen, and the 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve in Stinson Beach, which is an important San Francisco Bay Area Great Egret and Great Blue Heron nesting colony. In 2009 ACR announced an agreement with Jim and Shirley Modini to acquire the 1,725-acre Modini Ranch property, located in the Mayacamas Mountains in Sonoma County.

ACR is an independent non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status and has received Charity Navigator’s highest rating, 4 Star. ACR is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society. ACR programs are made possible thanks to the contribution of thousands of hours of volunteer service, and donations from caring individuals, foundations and businesses. For more information, call (415) 868-9244, email acr@egret.org or visit www.egret.org.

New: On-line Payments

Membership

Now you may join Sequoia Audubon by using our new on-line form and PayPal to pay for your membership. We have individual, senior, student and family plans.

You do not need to have a PayPal account to join if you have a major credit card. Or you may  send a check by mail

Visit our Membership Page and Thank You!

Donations

Now you may support Sequoia Audubon by making an additional donation on-line using PayPal's secure site.

You do not need to have a PayPal account if you want to use your major credit card. Or you may send a check by mail.

Visit our Donations Page and Thank You!

Upcoming Meeting

Namibia’s Wildlife Is Overwhelming
By SAS members Larry, Eileen, and Sarah Kay
Thursday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.

Details Here

Meetings are at the
San Mateo Garden Center

S.A.S. Photo Gallery

SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Want to help the birds? Get involved? Here are some great opportunities to support conservation in San Mateo County. There are lots of volunteer opportunities available.

Sequoia Audubon is an ALL volunteer organization and we need your help. Many jobs are ones that you can do at home and that take only a few hours a month.

Click here to view just a few volunteer jobs available.

SAN MATEO COUNTY BIRDS

Download County Checklist as a pdf file and make sure you print it on 8 ½ by 14 paper.

San Mateo County Year List

View: County Highlights

San Mateo County's Results for
America's Birdiest County Bird-a-Thon

San Mateo Co. Bird Observations from eBird
Full Year 2008 or Year to Date 2009
Click on a species name for a map & data.
Duck Stamp Program
Join the Audubon Action Center

 

The Sequoia Audubon Society is committed to equal opportunity and abides by all relevant laws and regulations.  All Sequoia Audubon programs and volunteer opportunities are administered without regard to race, gender, creed, national origin, age, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, physical, mental or sensory handicap, or any other basis prohibited by law.  However, Sequoia Audubon reserves the right to exclude volunteers who do not support its goals.

Entire Web Site, all content and photos © 1997 - 2010 S.A.S.;