Pomona Valley Audubon Society
A chapter of the National Audubon Society
Serving the Birds and the People who Love Them in Southern California's Pomona Valley since the 1950s
Events
7:00 – 9:00 at they Hughes Center (1700 Danbury Road, Claremont) After the fun challenge of the bird id, light refreshments, odds and ends of chapter business and the ever popular door prize drawing, our feature presentation will be:
Jennifer Chebahtah, CalBG “Building a California Native Garden for Birds”
Join horticulturist Jen Chebatah, from the California Botanic Garden as she introduces us to the basics of gardening with California native plants. Then dive deeper as together we will use a blank slate “yard” via slideshow and build a landscape plan from scratch with specially selected California native plants that support birds throughout the year. The audience will be provided with blank paper to design their own garden using dimensions from their own home garden space. (Bring a clipboard and measurements from your yard to the meeting with you.)
In her role as a horticulturist at Cal BG, Jennifer Chebatah, takes care of about 6 acres of native plants. She attended community college at San Bernardino Valley College and received her bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz where she was fortunate to do fieldwork on the campus’ Forest Ecology Research Plot among the redwood forest. Her love of nature came from her grandpa who always had a bird field guide with him. The Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, is her favorite plant.
1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=e52df2a7-9df5-40fe-89e3-542d19c4183b
Birding by tram is now available for the April 6, 2025 First Sunday of the Month Family Friendly Bird Walk for those preferring to bird the garden from a tram with an experienced guide. Limited availability. Please sign up at the garden website. Must be able to mount and dismount the tram independently.
4890 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 Difficulty: Strenuous (rocky, uneven terrain, 3.5 miles 800+ ft elevation gain) with a moderate option to survey the southern edge of the park.
Twice a year we gather bird population data for the County of San Bernardino by doing what we love – birding! Join us for all or part of the day. Specialties include Bell’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, and other open country species. We will be taking our usual counterclockwise route on the main trail making us easy to find, so feel free to join us at any time. Meet at Beryl Park at the West Parking Lot, 6501 Carnelian St, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 for a 7 AM departure to the preserve. This is a hike and not a walk, please bring sturdy footwear, a portable lunch, water, snacks, and layered clothing for about 6 hours in the field. Please RSVP with Trip Leader: Mike Brossart mjbrossart@gmail.com
18002 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
This 343 acre urban park features extensive lawns, urban forest and wetlands that has attracted over 300 species of waterfowl, raptors, migrants and vagrant species. Meet at Memorial Park, Claremont at 7:00 AM. Anticipate a full day of birding so bring lunch, snacks, ample water and appropriate clothing. Driving distance 80 miles round trip. Contact Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net
14980 River RD. Corona, CA 92880. Moderate (up to 4 mi.). Orange County Water District biologist, David McMichael will once again conduct a private tour for PVAS. Shallow ponds provide ideal habitat for wading shore birds, waterfowl, raptors, and a large population of endangered Least Bell’s Vireo. Meet 7:00 AM at Prado Wetlands for a morning walk. Trip limited to 12 people. Reservation deadline April 21,2025. Contact trip leader to reserve your spot and to discuss the need for carpooling. Leader: Tina Stoner: 909-292-3900. tinastoner@earthlink.net
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate
Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk. We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes.
Walk Leader: Keith Condon catbird117@yahoo.com
7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Hughes Center (1700 Danbury Road, Claremont)
Last regular meeting of the birding year, so last Bird ID, light refreshments and door prize drawing.
the featured presentation will be:
Dr. Suzanne Thompson “Protecting Burrowing Owls in the Pomona Valley: The Story and Fate of the Ontario Airport Owls”
The PVAS Burrowing Owl (BUOW) Project, led by Suzanne Thompson, the BUOW Committee, and PVAS members have fought for years to protect 200 acres of prime owl habitat east of the Ontario Airport. The Airport and the city of Ontario chose big warehouse dollars over small owls and the fields were destroyed. Pitzer Professor Anne Kaneko will introduce and screen her fascinating short documentary, Operation Owl, showing dramatic footage of the owls before their homes were lost. But what happened to the owls after that? Dr. Thompson has reviewed hundreds of pages of public records that detail the fate of the owls after being removed from their home. She will tell the story of the relocated Ontario owls and the current status of the owls in the Pomona Valley, including both the promising and the less encouraging prospects.
Suzanne Thompson received a PhD in Psychology from UCLA and is Emerita Professor of Psychology at Pomona College where she taught and conducted research on the intersection of psychology, health, and medical care, as well as environmental psychology.
11055 East Dr, Morongo Valley, CA 92256 – Difficulty: Moderate (up to 4 mi. but optional feeder watching only.) A famous desert oasis at the height of western migration with lots of local nesting activity too. Great photo ops during our lunch stop at the bird feeders. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at Memorial Park in Claremont (Note earlier start time!) We’ll also visit Covington Park next door. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day trip. (Est. driving 167 mi.)
Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net
1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=00017665-6736-4de6-a89e-2de22ac5440f
Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park. San Dimas, CA 91773 – Difficulty: Moderate
Enjoy one of the richest birding sites in Southern California on our fourth Sunday of the month Bonelli Bird Walk. We meet in the parking lot of Brackett Field (airport) at 1615 McKinley Ave., La Verne, CA 91773 (better known as the Norm’s Hanger Coffee Shop parking lot.) To reach the parking lot, take McKinley Ave. west from Fairplex Drive to the parking area at the end of the road on the right. Meet at 7:45 AM to caravan into the park for free entrance and an 8:00 AM walk. 2-3 hours. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable shoes. Walk Leader: Patrick Gavit: ebiner.gavit@gmail.com or 626.214.6905.
1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711
Meet at the entrance at 8:00 AM for free admission. This family-friendly bird walk is approximately 2 hours long and is perfect for beginners and experienced birders alike. No binoculars? No worries! Loaner binoculars are available (limited number so first come first served.) You will receive instructions on their use as well. PVAS volunteer Ken Burgdorff (gwrencaps@gmail.com) and others will lead the walks. Please RSVP using this link to the Botanic Garden’s reservation site: http://11213.blackbaudhosting.com/11213/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=ce4757b5-52bc-4731-ab54-236fc42ca8bb
– (multiple locations – Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (up to 4 mi.) Beat the summer heat and head up to the mountains with us. Enjoy birding the Big Bear Lake area and Bluff Lake during the breeding season of montane species. Meet at 6:00 a.m. (Note earlier start time!) at Memorial Park in Claremont. Bring snacks, water and lunch for a full day of birding. (Est. driving 150 mi.)
Trip Leader: Dan Gregory (909) 456-4994 or DanRCRenee@verizon.net
Remember this tip – If the trip name is “Big” (Big Morongo and Big Bear) we start at 6:00 a.m.
4031 N. Mills Ave. #1406, Claremont, CA 91711 Difficulty: Strenuous (one mile hike on fire road with steep grade, possible high heat)
Park at the south (TCT) lot: $9 for 4 hours non-residents, free for Claremont residents. Proceed north on Mills Ave to meet at the gate at 5:00 PM. Claremont is one of the only places to reliably see Black Swifts as they return from their aerial hunts to their roosts high in the remote San Gabriel Mountains. Tom Miko will lead us on the hike to the bluff overlooking Cobal Canyon to see the swifts as well as swallows and typical chaparral birds and wildlife. Be prepared with ample water, insect repellant, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. RSVP Tom Miko at tgmiko@gmail.com.
News
Sources for treating injured birds:
Kristine Koh (626) 559-5732 treats raptors in San Dimas (drop-off by appointment at the San Dimas Canyon Nature Center)
Kandie Cansler is a licensed bird rehabilitator in Oak Glen and affiliated with Bear Paw Ranch (also in Oak Glen), who specializes in orphaned and injured raptors. Her home phone number is 909-790-1010 and her cell phone number is 909-289-0166.
Leslie Triplett, Pond Digger Ranch Wildlife Rehab at 909-800-7676, 9012 Oak Glen Road in Cherry Valley, specializes in passerines.
THE STORY OF THE SCOUTS AND THE OWLS
By Tricia Nihill Gleeson and Suzanne Thompson
Can counting squirrels help save burrowing owls in the Pomona Valley? That’s what a group of fourth grade Wild Wolverines Patrol scouts from Troop 408 in Claremont and their families set out to do.
Recently, the scouts trooped out to the Chaffey College fields in Chino to learn how to identify and count ground squirrels in the fields that are home to a population of owl families. The ground squirrels dig the burrows that the owls appropriate for their own underground homes, giving the owls a safe place to raise a large brood of owlets.
With the guidance of PVAS members, Suzanne and Seth Thompson, and experienced burrowing owl monitor, Tricia Gleeson, the troop of scouts moved around the perimeter of the fields, stopping six times to take a two-minute count of the squirrels in that area of the field. This is not easy because the squirrels are busy scurrying about, tending to the business of finding food and avoiding predators.
In addition to seeing burrowing owls and counting squirrels, the scouts got good looks at the sheep and lambs that help keep vegetation under control in the fields. Three burros were also part of the entertainment.
The data collected by the scouts will be entered into the California Department of Fish and Wildlife database by Robin Ikeda, so it can be used to determine if the population of squirrels is sufficient for the needs of the local owls.
The message is clear. More about the condition of the burrowing owls can be known by learning more about the state and number of ground squirrels. Both critters share a field, a habitat, and a future.
Many thanks to the scouts and their parents for their contributions to local burrowing owl conservation!
Photo Credit: Tricia Gleeson; Suzanne Thompson
For more information about the PVAS Burrowing Owl Project contact Suzanne Thompson at pomonavalleyaudubon@gmail.com
Thanks to the many generous volunteers who worked at our and all the other booths, The Family Bird Fest at CBG, as you can read here, was a wonderful event.
The latest edition of the Chaparral Naturalist is now available PVAS-Spring2025-singlepages
You can contribute a story to the Chapparal Naturalist by checking out these Story Submission Guidelines and emailing the editor Sam Atwood
The June 5th end of the year meeting and party will once again feature two opportunities to display your art and skills. The Photo Showcase lets you display and narrate 10-15 of your favorite bird pictures. The Photo Challenge is an anonymously judged contest to find the best picture of a bird or birds feeding.
To enter one or both events or for more formation, contact Seth Thompson, polpsych@gmail.com
Saturday, January 18, was the third Burrowing Owl Work Party of the season.
Eleven dedicated PVAS volunteers, ranging from students to seasoned veterans, spent two hours removing invasive weeds from a central mound in the College Park Burrowing Owl Preserve in Chino.
Keeping the vegetation low in the field and around the artificial borrows PVAS installed four years ago maintains the habitat that Burrowing Owls prefer.
A bonus as we work in the Chino fields is seeing unexpected birds like this Mountain Bluebird, which Trisha Gleeson captured along with the other photos in this report.
At her recent presentation to PVAS, Dr. Allison Shultz mentioned that her current research project focuses on understanding the effects of wild fires and smoke on birds. You can now read a full account of the work here
Family Day at American Museum of Ceramic Art / AMOCA in Pomona was a fun and successful day teaching visitors how to make quail calls from a clothespin, rubber band and some tape. We chose to focus on quail because they are well represented in the current exhibit “SoCal Critters” – the art of Howard Pierce which Family Day celebrated. Of course, we threw in a few fun facts about our state bird and used our phone apps to play a real Chi-CA-go call to compare to the clothespin sound. We could tell by the expressions on the children’s faces how surprised they were that their clothespin calls sounded so much like the real bird. This was our first event at the museum, and we look forward to future collaborations. (Photos: Liz Soria, Jason Esquivel and Tina Stoner.)
