Twenty years ago, a small contingent of birders gathered on a chill January evening at the South Coast Botanic Garden to create a new Audubon chapter. The first program meeting was scheduled for February, and by summer all requirements for chapter status had been satisfied. Since then, our history has been one of steady growth, expansion of activities and accomplishment. Today, we are known throughout Audubon for our innovations and initiative. In this article, we will take a brief look at our past, with an eye to the future.

From the beginning, birds and birding have been our touchstones. The monthly walks at SCBG are fixtures, and the dedication of the walk leaders, especially Georgene Foster (for 20 years) and Mark Kincheloe (18 years), has been devoted. The Christmas Bird Counts, too, have been ever present events, with equally dedicated leadership from Dave Bradley, Mitch Heindel and Ross Landry, whose participation predates the chapter itself. And there have been all the other walks, classes, Birdathons and field trips focused on birds led by those mentioned above and by Eric Brooks (20 years), Martin Byhower (7 years) and Jess Morton (20 years).

Perhaps the single greatest influence in the early days came from a birder who was not there. It was the death of Shirley Wells, who had been at the center of local birding activity for a decade, that provided the impetus for chapter formation. And it was the generation of birders that she had nurtured that provided chapter leadership in the first years. The range of Shirley's interests, her concentration on the natural heritage of our area, and her deep concern for conservation were also important factors in the formation of a chapter ethic which remains strong today.

It was clear from the beginning that conservation would have to play a major role in chapter activities. Over the years, chapter leaders have provided expert testimony and written letters about many issues of local, state and national import. We have also kept members informed of the ins and outs of our most pressing issues through articles in Hummin', topical programs at our monthly meetings, and participation in Audubon's Armchair Activist program. For example, it is doubtful that any organization has provided its members with more thorough coverage of the Natural Communities Conservation Plan, a very complex local conservation initiative with national implications. In 1980, the chapter held its first Conservation Awards Banquet, honoring Ken Malloy for his work with the park that now bears his name. Since then, we have recognized the efforts of many leaders with this prestigious award. On April 17th, this tradition continues as we give the 1998 Conservation Award to Angelika Brinkmann-Busi.

In 1981, this chapter, under its first president, Jess Morton, began its work with other winged animals. The annual butterfly count has become a late-July tradition, and is one of the best attended counts in the nation. Surveys for rare and endangered species, beginning with the PV blue butterfly survey of 1982 and continuing into the 90's with surveys for California gnatcatchers and El Segundo blue butterflies, have provided valuable scientific data that we hope will contribute to their survival. Ours is probably the only organization anywhere ever to publish a field guide to local Bombyliidae, a little-understood family of bee mimics, some of which are quite rare. That field guide was one result of a five-year grant given to Rick Rogers to study the insects of PV.

Two related areas in which our chapter has been a leader are in youth involvement and education. In 1991, Lillian Light became president, and it was under her leadership that these blossomed. Her program, Sharing Nature With Children, in which youngster learn about the workings of their environment, became a monthly feature. At the same time, chapter work with high school students matured to the point that a Redondo Union High senior, Holly Humes, was invited to become a member of the Board of Directors. High school and college students have been members ever since. In 1994, following a suggestion by one of them, Holly Gray, from Peninsula High, Jess Morton initiated the Audubon YES! (Youth Environmental Service) Program, which opened up opportunities for young people to serve their communities. YES! Has gone on to receive national recognition and several students will receive Audubon YES! Awards from us on April 17th.

Audubon education is more than only these programs, though. Many classrooms receive Audubon Adventures, an educational newspaper for grade school children, through chapter sponsorship. We also provide education for adults on environmental matters. In 1993, we cosponsored two forums on the Endangered Species Act, in which experts from across the nation gave attendees a thorough briefing on issues related to ESA. Then again, last year, working with the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, we held a forum on the Marine Fisheries of Southern California.

Another aspect of education is publications. In conjunction with the fisheries forum, we published a Briefing Book (available from the Aquarium), by Michael Weber, which is the best single reference on the status of local marine fish species around. Past Vice-president Joe Slap has also published books for the chapter (The Nature Book and The Life and Death of Dinosaurs), with all proceeds from sales going to support our education program. And, as far back as 1985, the chapter provided a grant for materials, which Jess Morton and Bruce Ecker used to produce the video "This Unknown Peninsula", a one-hour overview of the Peninsula's natural history, which was nominated for an ACE Award, cable TV's equivalent of the Emmy.

But birds still lie at the heart of Audubon. President Ollie Coker has made more birds one of his biggest priorities. He has made long-term improvement of our richest bird habitat, at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, our central focus for the next few years. The monthly walks there, led by Martin Byhower, will be a key part of this plan. But success will depend on public awareness, which is up to all of us.

The last twenty years have been productive for our chapter, and this article can only touch briefly on some of the many highlights. We have come far since Stu Bedwell, Eric Brooks, Bob Carr, Georgene Foster, Jess Morton, and a few others got together to form a chapter. Along the way, we have had superb help and leadership from Ellen Brubaker, Betty Buzzini, Noel Hammond, Cathy and Virgil Hanson, Richard Hubacek, Ken Malloy, Goldie Otters, Dave Roelen and Bart Tendick, as well as all of those mentioned above. Now, with leadership poised to transfer to a new generation, including Allen Franz, Neil Multack and Corie Takasane, we can look to our future with confidence that the best is still to come.

Have you noticed the number of nostalgic articles that have appeared in the newspapers and magazines lately? It seems that everyone is recalling the past. TIME  magazine just celebrated its  75th anniversary by devoting an entire issue to the important things that have happened in the last 75 years.

Memories can be wonderful things--the memory of walking along a garden path and spotting an unusual bird or a tree filled with blossoms. It seems that as we approach the end of the  20th  century it is only natural to look back and say, "what have we accomplished ?".

As the Palos Verdes/South Bay Chapter of the National Audubon Society looks back to its formation 20 years ago, we are proud of our accomplishments. So in this issue of  HUMMIN'  we will list some of them. We will celebrate these by giving Awards to some of the people responsible.

So please join us on Friday, April 17th at Ports O'Call Restaurant for our 20th  ANNIVERSARY  AWARDS  BANQUET

In this column you have been reading about a lot of bad anti-environment legislation emanating from our Congressional legislators. Finally I have some good news to report.The Senate has passed a bill authorizing $173 billion for highway and $41 billion for transit construction to be divided among the 50 states.  The money comes from federal gasoline taxes collected at the pump. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, know as "Iced Tea" because of its ISTEA acronym, also includes an increase in California's share of transit funding as well as money to help cut air pollution with carpool lanes and other air quality projects. It preserves funding for bike and walking trails which has been a roll-back target for some Republican  senators. A similar bill is under consideration in the House where it is expected to pass.

Other good news to report is the "Sonny Bono Memorial Salton Sea Remediation Act" (S 1716) introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. National Audubon legislative analysts, who were critical of the House version (HR 3267) because of its lack of thoroughness, believe that this Senate bill will help to remedy the massive bird die-off that currently plagues the Salton Sea.

Those of us who treasure our national forests now have something to cheer about. Some 433,000 miles of roads crisscross the national forest system--a legacy of decades of intensive logging when forest service managers saw our national forest primarily as timber. Faced with this massive network of deteriorating roads that will cost billions of dollars to maintain or remove,  Forest Service Chief, Mike Dombeck has announced plans for an 18-month moratorium on road building applying  to areas of at least 5,000 acres. In order to assure that this proposed policy is finalized,  Mr. Dombeck needs to hear from us, the owners of the national forests, that we strongly favor this policy. Because roads are a major source of soil erosion, wildlife harassment, habitat fragmentation, noxious weed invasion and back country degradation, we need to promote the proposed new policy as responsible forestry.  While you are at it, tell him to include the Tongass National Forest and 1,000-acre roadless areas in his new road policy. In December, 170 scientists signed a letter to Pres. Clinton urging him to protect all national forest roadless areas above 1000 acres in size.  You can read more about Chief Dombeck's agenda at http://www.fs.fed.us/news/agenda/

While you're congratulating people for doing the right thing, how about sending a note to Senator Barbara Boxer thanking her for withdrawing her support of the Quincy Library Group (QLG) "Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act" (S 1028 and S 1079.]  More than 140 conservation organizations oppose the Quincy Library Group bill because it will increase logging 77% over 1997 cut levels and by 187% over planned logging levels. Senator Boxer withdrew her support because it would allow the logging of 194,000 acres of old growth trees, and requires 100 miles of new road construction.  It is also important to  write to Senator Feinstein to withdraw from her support of the bill. Let's do  our share to challenge the dominance of timber on federal forest lands!

Write to:

Senator Dianne Feinstein

(senator@feinstein.senate.gov)

 or

Senator Barbara Boxer

(senator@boxer.senate.gov)

US Senate

Washington  DC  20510

Mike Dombeck

(agsec@usda.gov)

Forest Service Chief

14th & Independence Ave. SW

Washington DC 20520      

Get ready for Audubon's annual fund raising event, the Bird-A-Thon! This event helps promote Audubon's two main objectives, birds and conservation. By pledging a modest amount, be it a dime or a dollar for each species seen on Bird-A-Thon Day, you will know that you are protecting the birds that you enjoy seeing so much.

As always, Ollie Coker will be leading his "7x35 power team" on a not-so-mad dash to find all the birds on the Peninsula, Saturday, May 16th. You can join the group, which meets at the Fantastic Cafe, 1631 25th Street in San Pedro, at 6:30 a.m.

Whether you go with Ollie in person or not, please give generously to the team so that you will be there in spirit. Pledge your support by calling Ollie or Lillian Light at 545-1384. Your contribution is tax deductible and goes to help Audubon's many worthwhile activities.

We extend our warmest welcome to the following new chapter members. We hope that each of you will come to our next meeting, or to one of our other activities, so that we can greet you personally and answer your questions about Audubon.

CARSON: Emmanuel Caluza, Henry Ly, Konny Mock, Barbara Peters;

LOMITA: Gary F. Alpiger

LONG BEACH: Margaret W. Houghton

PV ESTATES, RANCHO PV, RHE, and ROLLING HILLS: Debra Caldwell, Frank Collins, Raymond De Long, Carol Demarinis,  Ellen Doukoullos, Christi Fredricks, Harold Koletsky, Cathryn M. Lewis, Marilyn Mardesich, Mercelen Mendoza, Edna Rodrigue, Mike & Marsha Russell, Carl & Katrina Stoffers, A J Sully, Daniel Torrance, Joan Virgo, E. Wallenhorst, Raymond Wu, David Zimmermans;

SAN PEDRO: Hale Field, Roxanna Glenn, Herbert Hill, June C. Hill, John & Michelle Hobus, Sharon Marshall, Margaret Matthews, Richard Paul, Ilse Roffler;

TORRANCE: Barbara Averitt, Breeana Brown, Stacey Gerson, Henry Goldsmith, Sherry Grant, Marion Gray, Arthur R. Haggstrom, Steven & Julie Hast, Gerry Mac Leod, Leslie Reyes, Judy Y. Oh, Lou Palermo, James Scott, Joyce Smith, Marilyn Staffin, Jane Stiller, Sally L. Walsh, Joan Wood, Lynne Yerrick.

On Saturday, May 9, 1998, from 8 AM to 3 PM, Starr Ranch Sanctuary, the National Audubon Society's 4000-acre preserve in southeast Orange County, will host its first Natural History Day workshops, exclusively for southern California Audubon members. Experienced biologists will offer workshops on such subjects as bird banding, natural history of raptors, mammal tracking, native plant identification, natural history of mountain lions, insect identification, biology of bats, and much more. This will be a unique opportunity for our southern California Audubon Chapter members to broaden their natural history knowledge in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Workshops are intended for adults and older children with natural history interests. If the event is a success, we will expand to include activities for younger children next year. Attendance is by reservation only on a first come, first serve basis, and space is limited. We ask for a $10 donation per person to cover costs. To make your reservations, call us at 714-858-0309 and, if there's still space, we will ask you to send your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, number in your party, and a check made out to Starr Ranch Sanctuary for the amount due for your party to: Sandy DeSimone, Starr Ranch Sanctuary, 100 Bell Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, CA  92679. We will confirm your reservation and send directions via post card or e-mail.  Workshops will begin promptly at 8 am.

If you have any questions about the event, call Sandy DeSimone at 714-858-0309.

The Los Angeles County Breeding Bird Atlas is now entering its fourth season. By next year, the project will be complete and from the data collected, maps of all breeding species within the county will be prepared. These maps will prove  an invaluable resource for land use and wildlife planning purposes.

It is not too late for you to become involved! There are still areas in the county that need your keen eyes. For information, or to pass on nesting bird data, call regional coordinator Claudia Freitas at 420-2689 or Mark Wimer at (213) 745-BIRD.

Also check the web page at www.lam.mus.ca.us/~lacbba

The Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society will host an awards banquet in celebration of its 20th anniversary, Friday evening, April 17th, at Ports O'Call Restaurant in San Pedro. Please join us as we recognize the achievements and dedicated service of many chapter members. For details, see the flyer on the opposite page.

Foremost among our honorees is Angelika Brinkmann-Busi, preeminent expert on the flora of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, whose advocacy of environmental values has been both steadfast and effective. She has spent uncountable hours in the field, establishing an inventory of what grows here and where, and she has spent an uncountable number of hours in meetings, arguing for environmental protection. The data she has collected has become an invaluable guide for all of us who wish to maintain the integrity of our resources. No one has done more for our natural heritage in recent years, and for this, Audubon is pleased to present her with the 1998 Conservation Award.

A native of Germany, where she received a degree in land management, Angelika and her husband Fabrizio have lived in San Pedro for the last 10 years. She is a member of this Audubon chapter, but most of her work has been done with the California Native Plant Society. She is past president of both South Bay and Santa Monica Mountains chapters, and is currently a Director at Large and Horticulture Chair for the state organization.

This year, it is also our privilege to honor Lillian Light with the 1998 Education Award. Lillian, who served as chapter president from 1991 to 1994, has been a constant innovator of Audubon education programs, especially Sharing Nature With Children, which she began in 1992, and still oversees. Perhaps because of her background as a chemistry teacher at Compton High School, she has always stressed the importance of working with young people. It was through her work with students during our 1990 Earth Day celebration that we began having students on our Board of Directors, a practice we continue today.

We will also honor Leann Ortmann, who is completing her first term as student member of the Board of Directors, with the 1998 Youth Conservation Award. Leann is a junior at San Pedro High School, and, last June, received the Audubon YES! Award for her service work. She has been very active in chapter affairs, heading up our publicity efforts, and helping to run the Audubon YES! Workshop at Asilomar.

Wow, we're already significantly into 1998!  Now let's review, from 1498 to 1898, science-related events that respectively have 500th, 400th, 300th, 200th and 100th anniversaries this year.

1498. Vasco da Gama became the first European to find a sea-route to India. He also discovered Mozambique, the home of lemur species which are now endangered due to habitat changes. Other geological discoveries by Europeans, and thus their wildlife discoveries, included Cabot finding Hudson Bay and Columbus finding Trinidad and the east coast of South America.

1598. A Korean admiral, named Yisunsin, invented the world's first iron-clad warships, called tortoise-ships. A French scientist, named de Baillou, produced the first medical description of whooping cough. The French tried to colonize Nova Scotia, the English translation of which is New Scotland.

1698.  Isaac Newton, my boyhood hero, calculated the speed of sound which later became known as Mach One, named after the Austrian physicist Ernst Mach (1838-1916). Thomas Savery, a Britisher, patented a steam pump which operated on the basis of water being raised and motion being induced "by the impellent force of fire" as stated in his patent application. Thus, the water was raised after the steam condensed, due to heat and atmospheric pressure. Later steam engines, such as the one patented by James Watt in 1769, used a separate condenser and employed the force of the expanding steam.

1798.  Henry Cavendish measured the force of gravity existing from two lead pieces to two other lead pieces. Based on his analysis, he then calculated the mass of Earth as having 5.5 times water's density. By calculating Earth's mean density, he had done the equivalent of weighing the planet. Thomas Malthus published Essay on the Principle of Population, the main content of which became known as the Malthusian Principle, and predicted that population increases geometrically whereas food supplies increase arithmetically, so food would become scarce at some point in time for the increased population of the world. The U.S. Marine Hospital Service, which later became the U.S. Public Health Service, was established.

1898.  Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium and polonium. Rat fleas were found to transmit bubonic plague to people. Also, four years after the initial conjecture that mosquitoes were the source of human malaria, efforts to eliminate those insects were significantly begun. Ernest Rutherford, after studying the radiation from uranium and thorium, discovered two types of rays, now known as "alpha rays" and "beta rays"; the former being heavily ionizing but not deeply penetrating, and the latter having a longer range but lower effect on what they strike. Guglielmo Marconi was able to transmit a radio signal across the English Channel and to establish wireless communication between Bournemouth and Isle of Wight. The inert gases neon, krypton and xenon were discovered, at the surprise of many people. Another gas discovery was made, namely the way to liquefy hydrogen. A tobacco plant pathogen, the cause of one of that plant's diseases, was identified by a botanist named Beijerinck. Rudolph Diesel first demonstrated his diesel engine which required no sparkplug. Work began on Aswan Dam in Egypt. The nine moons of Saturn were seen in conjunction with the use of a photographic plate.

I hope that in 2098 people will celebrate happy events of the year 1998, including achievements of Audubon Society, the P.V.P. Land Conservancy, and other conservation organizations, plus the joys of a peaceful world. Let's all do our best to make 1998 a great year, OK? Thanks, dear readers!

Old-timers may remember an article I published a few years ago in this column about one of our strangest co-inhabitants of the globe, a tiny bird called the Fleacatcher. These birds make their living by capturing and eating small jumping insects, principally fleas. They attract their prey by various mechanisms, including stomping the ground with their long legs to simulate the approach of much large fur-bearing animals, and by highly-evolved leg feathering which refracts in the infrared, thus emulating the body heat of flea food. Fleacatchers are very quick to spot movement, and if a flea is fooled in the least by the bird's deceptive ways, it is, as we say, dead meat. However, these birds are rare and, here on the Peninsula, known only during spring migration, when the entire population moves through en masse, a dozen days after the Equinox.

Now, it is not my intention to go over old ground, but a recent round of discussion on an Audubon Internet chat group suggests that I need to clarify a few points about Fleacatchers and their importance vis-a-vis theories of convergent evolution. So first, I thought it best to remind you about a few Fleacatcher basics, in case you hadn't been through one of your field guides recently. (Look in the rarities section under its technical name, Ridiculus munchauseni.) The discussion, which at times became rather heated, arose because of some comments I had posted about these birds. I won't go so far as to say I was flamed. However, it is clear that there is a good deal of MISINFORMATION floating around when it comes to Fleacatchers.

One of the participants was Jean Neely, a long-time friend, who has recently moved from West Virginia to Florida. Now, I know that such moves are often frowned on by the NIMBYs, but I can assure all concerned that Jean is a fine upstanding person and almost certainly was not even required to have a visa. You can look in her passport if you don't believe me. Nevertheless, there are stresses associated with such moves, and her assertion to the chat group that she had actually seen Fleacatchers suggests either a) the stress was a bit too much, or b) she forgot to bring her binoculars. According to Jean, "Here in Florida there is a subspecies (actually a race) that specializes in sand fleas. One only sees them on the beach early in the morning when they are competing with shorebirds for the tasty morsels. The birds save many sunbathers and shellers from the annoyance of sand fleas, and it is a really wonderful sight to see the birds stomping up and down the beach."

Remarkable as Jean's sighting is, she is in error. The truth is even more remarkable, for, in fact, Fleacatchers have never been seen in Florida! What Jean saw were tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of a most unusual genus, Cicindeludicrus, of which three large but rare, closely-related species are known. If you are not familiar with tiger beetles, they are long legged insects of sandy areas. They are rapid runners, voraciously predatory and often have brilliant, iridescent backs. The beetles Jean saw belong to the species C. floridancicus, sometimes known as Key hoppers.

One might be astounded to think that a beetle could be confused with a bird, but that is where convergent evolution comes into play. Indeed, without binoculars in hand, almost anyone could be excused for the mistake. For the Key hoppers and their relatives have evolved quite far from the mainstream of tiger beetles. Their legs have lengthened, and instead of running, they capture prey by jumping, much as Fleacatchers do. Furthermore, the jaws, curiously elongated--for efficiency, no doubt--resemble nothing so much as a bird's bill, when seen at a distance. But evolution, driven by similarity of prey-capture behavior, has carried likeness between the two even further. As with many tiger beetles, the elytra (the hard forewings that cover its back) are striped, but in this case the striping is such that it has a trompe-l'oeil feathering effect, which is heightened when the elytra are extended as the beetle moves. Amazingly, these beetles also use infrared refraction to attract prey. However, since they lack leg feathers (or hairs, spines or scales, for that matter), it is the modified undersides of the elytra which refract light.

Movement of Key hoppers is also very bird-like. Not only do they jump like Fleacatchers, they move on the ground using only their hind legs! In this, they are unique within beetledom. I have asked Dr. Art Evans, THE beetle expert at the LA County Natural History Museum, for an explanation, and he has suggested that this behavior may have evolved first as an attempt to avoid heat overload on hot beach sand. By running erect, the Key hopper's body is held far off the sand so that it is not toasted by the intense noon sun, a time during which its chosen food is most active. It is this two legged motion, coupled with the bird-like wings and long jaws which make it so easy to confuse this beetle for a bird! Incidentally, I asked Art how come this fascinating genus is not represented in his stunning new book, "An Inordinate Fondness For Beetles." He just shrugged, saying "Well, you know how it is. Chuck (coauthor Charles Bellamy--Ed.) and I had just so much room, so we had to leave one or two species out!"

I could go on about Key hoppers quite a bit more, but I have space limits, too. Suffice it to say that the other two subspecies C. californicuss and C. hulaensis are equally fascinating. The local species gets its unusual specific name from a pair of stridulatory organs on the wings, which the other two species don't have, while the Hawaiian species' name indicates that its heat-avoiding technique is more highly evolved than that of the others.

I trust this discussion has cleared up some misconceptions about the Cicindeludicrus group of tiger beetles. So, the next time you are out along the beach and see what appears to be a Fleacatcher leaping after a small insect, take a closer look. You've probably got a beetle, not the bird!

Cabrillo Beach, a collection of 17 nature poems by Jess Morton, is now available from Audubon as a fund raiser for the Audubon YES! Program. Bound in yellow leather-finish stock, and printed on marbleized paper, this 24-page book makes a handsome gift for those who enjoy poetry and/or the natural world. The cost is $6 each, ($7, including tax and mailing), with discounts available in lots of 2 or more.

Many of these poems celebrating the natural wonders of our area have appeared in Hummin' over the last few years. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to support YES!, our youth environmental service program, which gives young people the opportunity to make a difference by improving environmental health here, where we all live.

Sharing Nature With Children:  A few people willing to spend a few hours one day a month working with high school students and children are wanted to help with our educational program at Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach. This monthly program introduces youngsters to a variety of aspects of the natural world around them in a setting which includes meadow, woodland, streamside and marsh habitats. Docents help lead the children in various games, walks and crafts designed to show off the park and the plants and animals in it.

If you like working with children, this is an excellent way to become involved with chapter activities. We want to expand this program to Torrance, San Pedro and other cities. High school and other students who volunteer receive Audubon YES! Award credits.

Join this exciting program by calling Lillian Light at 545-1384.

This page is part of the Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society website.