Audubon urges keeping cats indoors because it is humane, and it helps preserve wildlife. A look at the scientific name, Felis Domesticus, really says it all. Though predatory by nature, the domestic cat is not a wild animal. By definition. Every feral cat is nothing more than a domestic cat that is being mistreated. It was mistreated by the people who released it, and it is not being helped by those who maintain it in this unnatural environment. Furthermore, every domestic cat that roams free in the wild destroys the wildlife that belongs there. Thus the people who feed cats in our parks and open spaces ill-treat both the cats and the native wildlife, even though their intentions are good.

A recent letter to the editor from a concerned chapter member points up the prevalence of this problem. "I do not think it an appropriate use of scarce waterfront parks to be storage areas for surplus cats. There are large colonies of cats at Cabrillo Beach, at Cabrillo Marina, at Point Fermin and at White Point Park. I frequently walk to Cabrillo Beach. Perhaps 60 cats are maintained there by feeders. I rarely see the wading birds which were once common there." The birders in Audubon would go much further than this, noting that virtually nothing that does not spend most of its time in the trees survives in these places. Across this nation, the annual toll of birds lost to cats runs into the many hundreds of millions. Locally, birds like quail and roadrunner are gone. Dove and finch feathers litter the ground. Habitat loss, as in places like our parks, is not always evident to the casual eye.

Domestic house cats are animals that are purchased or bred by humans as pets. They belong indoors. The fact that these animals are pets requires that humans be 100% responsible for them. The dumping of domestic house cats is an act of irresponsibility on the part of their human owners. Wildlife should not be made to bear the consequences of the irresponsibility of humans. As an act of welcome responsibility, those who care for domestic house cats should organize to pick them up out of the wild and find a human and humane place for them. In this way, everyone wins. Domestic house cats are in a safe and loving home and wildlife does not suffer the consequences of the actions of irresponsible human beings. The result is both pro-domestic house cat  and pro-wildlife.

In the last two issues of Hummin' I wrote about the state of our chapter today and how I foresee it addressing its mission over the next decade. If we are to truly instill an understanding of the South Bay's natural heritage in the community at large, and take effective steps to preserve it, we will need a far more active Audubon than we have now. We must greatly expand each of our existing programs, and add new ones.

In July and August, about two dozen chapter leaders met in a series of planning sessions to lay out goals for the coming few years. Core topics included Birds and Habitat, Community Relations, Education, Finance, Harbor Park, and Membership. A number of short and long-range objectives were identified for each category, and, where appropriate, leadership assigned. In this and the next column, I will discuss the most important elements of our planning, and mention ways in which you can help us get some of the work done.

Birds and habitat are central to Audubon activities. So it will come as no surprise that we intend to double the number of monthly walks from three to six in the coming year. We will add a monthly beginners bird class at Harbor Park and walks at Madrona Marsh and the Gardena Willows. Within three years, we aim to introduce new family-oriented nature activities that will particularly appeal to urban-area residents. You can support the new walks by taking part. Check the back-page Calendar, select an event, and come on out. You'll enjoy yourself, learn a bit about birds and meet new people.

We have also just begun a Green Spaces Committee, which, over the next five years will assemble a database of the South Bay's remaining green oases--from sumps and empty lots, to parks. We want to use them to build a nature education program available to all children in the region. If you bird the South Bay, or know these special places, you should join this committee.

Community Relations are what lets us tell the world at large what we do and why it is important for people to join in. Our web pages are now up at <www.lmconsult.com/pvaudubon> and already include four years of Hummin' and our monthly Audubon YES! Activities Calendar. We have a Spanish language version of our chapter brochure and will be looking to new media for public outreach, including a speakers bureau, electronic newsletters and video presentations. If you have a feel for publicity, and five free hours per month, please consider chairing our Publicity Committee. Even if you can't do that, we can use help with newsletters, tending fair booths, preparing press releases or as a speaker.

Education is where most chapter financial resources go. That will continue as we move from part-time to full-time paid staff over the next two to three years. We expect programs, such as the Harbor Park Summer Education program and Audubon in the Park, to become year-round institutions. More adult education programs are needed, too, and Audubon is looking to form several joint ventures with Harbor College and the LA Recreation and Parks Department along these lines. Audubon Adventures for grade schools has always been part of this chapter's education mix. Over the next year, our education staff will monitor its use in the classroom to see how to make it most effective. Audubon YES! is moving to a new level of activism, spearheaded by the formation of a new Audubon YES! Council, which I expect will coordinate the efforts of 20 South Bay high schools within the next couple of years. The Council will soon have its own web pages up, which you will be able to find at <www.audubonyes.org>. These programs need funding as they grow. Please put Audubon on your Christmas list. Also, think about making a long-term investment in Audubon through planned giving, a bequest, or by helping us establish a chapter endowment fund.

As ambitious as the plans summarized above are, our goals in the other major areas--Finance, Harbor Park and Membership call for equally far-reaching achievements. I will discuss them in my next column. In the meantime, I hope you will take it upon yourself to join the ranks of chapter activists. We need you.

Monthly beginning bird classes will be held every month at Harbor Park. These one to two hour classes are aimed at youngsters with no background in natural history at all. The class is being taught by Debbie Baker and is open to all. Meet at the boathouse at 9 A.M. on the first Saturday of the month. Binoculars will be available for those who do not have them. There is no charge for this class. Call Debbie at 722-7777 for other information.

A new series of birdwalks, led by Bob Shanman, has begun at Madrona Marsh. This is the last vernal marsh in the LA Basin. It is home to a number of rare habitats that attract many hard-to-find species of plants, birds and other animals. These free walks are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, beginning at 8 A.M. from the gate on Plaza del Amo, just west of Madrona Ave. Call Bob at 326-2473 for other information.

The chapter has acquired a combination storage space and outdoor classroom. However, it needs quite a few things to make it fully usable. If you have any of the following items, we will put them to good use.

File cabinets

Bookcases and Shelving

Nature books & magazines                               

Binoculars

Folding table and chairs

Thank you for your help!

Eric and Ann Brooks continue their bird trips and classes for birders at all skill levels. Lectures meet at Hesse Park, Rancho Palos Verdes,  at 7 PM on Thursdays. Cost for the lecture series is $32.00 for SCBG Foundation members, $36.00 for non-members.

Field trip charges are $5.00 ($4.00 pp if car pooling) for a one day field trip. Weekend trips are $10.00 ($8.00) for the full days, and $5.00 ($4.00) for the last half day. Field trips may have additional park entrance fees. Most field trips are on weekends, but a few are during the week for those with flexible schedules. Call (310) 839-7735 for updates on upcoming field trips, especially if you were unable to attend the class session prior to the trip. Information is on the web at <www.birdclass.com> or e-mail <motmots@aol.com>.

OCTOBER:

Thurs. 5           Class.

Sat. 7               Field trip to El Dorado Park in Long Beach. Meet at the entrance to the Nature Center, off Spring Street, at 8 am. Entrance fee charged.

Thurs. 12          Class.

Thurs. 19          Class.

Sun. 22             Field trip to Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County. Meet in Parking Lot 1 of Pelican Point at 9 am. State park fee.

Thurs. 26          Class. Halloween contest!!!

Sat. 28              Field trip to Galileo Hills. Meet in the first parking lot, at the back of the restaurant, at 9 am.

NOVEMBER:

Thurs. 2           Class.

Sat. 5               Field trip TBA.

Thurs. 9           Class.

Sat-Mon.          Field trip to Death Valley. 11-13           Details to be announced.

Thurs. 16          Last Class of the Fall!

Few nesting reports were received, though my surveys at Harbor Park (HP) found enough nests for everyone. Even with my long-term studies of avifauna at the park, I was amazed at the number of birds nesting there. More about that later. Fall shorebird migration was well under way in July, as usual, with the Los Angeles River (LAR) being used by thousands of sandpipers as their way station on their journey. Into the early eighties, I remember HP as being a key stopover place for them. It had mudflats, then, and ponds below the dam throughout the fall. The lower wetland below the dam has silted in, just like the lake did. But it was not dredged when the lake was, so there is no longer water there in fall.

The ponds used to be nearly year-round below the dam. I have a picture of a Wood Stork behind the college in Oct. (near the end of our 'dry season'), standing in a foot of water, where there hasn't been water in fall in a decade, due to these increased ground levels. Ah, but I digress...... how 'bout some bird word, eh?

Predictably, first of fall (FOF) Eared Grebes were back at HP by early Sept. An interesting report was of a Western Grebe, in the Dominguez Channel since mid-July, and apparently summering  (Suzanne Carota). I wonder if they could nest in the channel? Black-vented Shearwaters were back by mid-August, much earlier than last year. By mid-Sept., over 2000 were feeding on those ever-present "bait-balls" found from Pt. Fermin (PF) to White Point (WPt), in San Pedro, just a short distance offshore.

I estimate 6-7 pairs of Least Bitterns were present nesting at HP this summer. I've ear counted up to 10 on the Christmas Bird Count in Dec., and since these are residents, the number is not a surprise. The only other known sites in the LA basin for them are El Dorado Park in Long Beach, and Whittier Narrows, in the San Gabriel Valley. HP, though, is the Least Bittern capital of the area. Many, many people come here every year hoping to see them. Great Blue Herons commuted to HP for the good fishing from unknown nest sites elsewhere, then brought their young as soon as they fledged. The USCG facility on Terminal Island (TI) cut down the big eucs they had been using as nest platforms, so I don't know where they nested this year.

Waterfowl had a good nesting season at HP, save one species I'll mention later. Perhaps most interesting was the nesting of Blue-winged Teal. I mentioned the presence of a pair in my last column. In July, I found them with 3 young--SUCCESS at last!!! Three pairs of Cinnamon Teal were seen with young there this year, too. Then throw in the 3 pairs of Gadwall out of the nearly 20 that summered, and it was quite the quack show. In contrast, for the first year in many in my memory the resident Ruddy Ducks raised NO young this year. There were at least 6-10 pairs that attempted. (Pop quiz: Which is neater, the males' display or his blue bill?) What is getting the nests? Was it the water snakes eating the eggs? The Grackles? This subject needs looking into. A pair of Surf Scoters summered around PF, Cabrillo Beach and in the harbor, as sometimes happens. Two Pintail were back at HP 8/29 and Shoveller were back by mid-September.

Cooper's Hawks nested at HP, Banning Park (BP), Wilderness Park (WP) in Redondo Beach, and I'm sure at many sites on 'the hill'. Has anyone noticed the most common pile of feathers in these places are those of slow-flying Spotted Doves? Red-shouldered Hawks nested at HP, as did Red-tailed. John Ivanov (JI) saw the FOF Peregrine over the lake at HP on 7/27.

Moorhen was present at HP in July, and may have nested, but they're SO secretive confirmation is very difficult. Our FOF Wandering Tattler had wandered back by 8/12. Surfbird and Black Turnstone were back a week earlier, though. Kevin Larson (KL) found the FOF Semipalmated Sandpiper at the LA River (LAR) 8/5, right on schedule.

I heard a multi-participant shorebird survey at the LAR counted over 8000 Western Sandpipers in August. Holy peeps piperman! An early Baird's Sandpiper was at HP on 7/31, which, to me, appeared to be an adult. Almost all here are juveniles as were the 3 KL had on the LAR 8/19. Dick Barth found a Pectoral in the LAR 8/23, which, two days later, KL confirmed as an adult (like Baird's, also very rare). Bernardo Alps (BA) and I saw a very early FOF Snipe at Madrona Marsh (MM) on 8/29, the marsh's first Aug. record. Out of the area, but of interest because you know they went by us here, were, in Sept., a Bar-tailed Godwit in San Diego, and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Oxnard.

The feeding frenzy from PF to WPt on Sept.3 had an incredible number of Jaegers in it. Over 45 Pomarine, a dozen Parasitic, and one adult Long-tailed Jaeger were all attracted to the several thousand feeding seabirds. Larry Fukahara found an unusual Heermann's Gull at Cabrillo, which BA photographed. It was a partial albino or leucistic individual. Being so well marked, perhaps someone else will find it along the coast so we can track it.

Perplexing was the large number of Forster's Terns at LAR in July unless they nested. Many were juveniles, and some were standing on the edges of circular areas of raised mud that looked like nests to me. They were being fed by adults, and some appeared flightless, as well. This would be a new nest site, so we should check it next year in June. The unfinished Pier 400 on TI afforded great success for the terns nesting there, with many Caspian, Royal, and thousands of Elegants (Kimball Garrett pers. comm.); but the Skimmers were unsuccessful. Of course the development will soon take the space they're using, and the terns will be looking for a new home. Jerry Johnson (JJ) had a Black Tern at HP 8/31, the second there this year. A probable Cassin's Auklet was off Pt. Vicente in June (KL), and another washed ashore starved in Hermosa Beach (Anne Lynch) in late July.

The Chimney Swift  JI saw at HP in June (mentioned last column), was seen with a second bird a few times later in June and July. Could they be nesting nearby, or are they commuting from the downtown LA site? Interesting was the return of migrant Black-chinned Hummingbirds by 8/6, and one feeding 2 young at HP later than ever, in mid August. At least 6 were at MM 8/29 (BA & MH). Belted Kingfisher was back at HP by late July. The FOF Flicker was at SCBG on 9/4 (KL), vying for the earliest ever return date.

The late Aug. (28-31) weather system that brought clouds and cool weather--and even a very early shower--also grounded unprecedented numbers of late-August passerine migrants. Was this just a rare chance for us to see what normally is going over at this time of year? Or could it have been caused by the million + acres of fires in the west that has displaced many birds from their nesting sites? Or some of both?

For instance Olive-sided Flycatchers were everywhere in good numbers at BP, Sand Dune Park (SDP) and WP on 8/29 and 8/30 I even had one on the wire here in Torrance while I was on the phone with editor Jess! JI had an early Hammond's at SDP on 8/22, maybe our earliest FOF ever. KL also had a Western Pewee the same date. Back to the 8/29 event, Willow Flycatchers were at SDP, BP, MM, and 8/30 at Peck Park (PP). Dusky and Gray Flycatchers were at SDP on 8/29 (KL), probably our earliest ever FOF. But these records pale in comparison to the Least Flycatcher he found there that day! Surely this is the first local August record, though there is a previous first week of Sept. sighting. I found another Least at BP 9/1, alas, old news by then.

A Purple Martin flew over BP 8/29, and JJ had a Bank Swallow at HP 8/24. One of the pairs of Barn Swallows in 'my ditch' fledged another set of young on 7/29, and unbelievably ANOTHER set fledged on 9/11. Like the Black-chinned Hummers, this is the latest ever fledging I know of locally for them. It was great to have two pairs of Swainson's Thrushes back in the willows nesting at HP again. If you need inspiration in July, go listen to them sing early in the morning. Only one pair of shrikes remains at HP though, and I fear for the species continued presence.

A couple of pairs of sordida Orange-crowned Warblers nested at HP, and Dave Moody (DM) reported a first-ever nesting pair at MM. Since it was once it's own species, and still deserves to be, I suggest that if it is ever split again, it should be named Sordid Warbler to reflect it's taxonomic history. The 8/29 fallout was especially amazing for warblers. Eleven species were seen locally that day, surely the local August record for diversity. Again, were the fires a factor? Hermits were at WP that day, and all the other expected regular western migrants were at BP. Additionally there was a Northern Waterthrush there in the flooded rose garden. According to my notes, this was the thirtieth species of warbler recorded from BP! Other than HP, with 32 species, can any site in LA County boast a comparable list? Clearly, BP has great value  as a bird magnet. Those trees are critical habitat for the thousands of migrants annually that pass through this otherwise concrete desert. A gray warbler that got away from me at BP in the morning was found to be a Virginia's Warbler that afternoon (JJ), as I had guessed. KL found an extremely early Palm Warbler at MM on 9/10.

Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks were also abundant during the late Aug. fallout. KL had a Blue Grosbeak at SDP on 8/29, as well. Buntings were bzzzz-ing everywhere. The Painted Bunting curse I picked up somewhere (TX?) is still with me--I found another, an immature female at the Wilmington Drain (WD) on 9/2. Like the previous two I've seen locally, it could not be relocated later to be officially confirmed. For a couple of days around that date, one was found in Big Pine (Owens Valley), one in Monterey, and another in Santa Barbara, so the time was right. They're much shyer than Lazuli or Indigo, and always more difficult to find as they keep to the center of bushes, rather than edges or tops.

Another first nesting at MM was California Towhee (DM). The FOF Lark Sparrow was 7/16 here in Torrance--early but not unprecedented. KL had one at MM 9/10 and one at HP earlier. Very rare locally was a Black-throated Sparrow, at PP 8/30, slightly earlier than the only  other seen here in a decade. So you know when to look. KL saw a pair of Chipping Sparrows in Manhattan Beach on 8/22, a tad early.

The Yellow-headed Blackbirds JI and I found at HP in June stayed into late August. Perhaps next year these 2 males will talk some females into staying with them. The species used to nest there. Over a dozen pairs each of Tricolored and Red-winged Blackbirds nested at HP, but more Great-tailed Grackles than either did, too. I estimated over 100 present after most of the fledging took place. YIKES! Unfortunately, this pest species is officially considered a native! They were unknown here 20 years ago and were an accidental vagrant in the next decade. They then became regular in winter and began nesting about 5 years ago. Hardly a native species. We have parakeets (Mitred and Yellow-chevroned) that have nested here far longer than that!

For nesting, overall HP is a real bonanza. Over four dozen species depend on the site, with literally hundreds of nests between them producing over a thousand baby birds during the season. West of the LAR, from Santa Monica to Long Beach, there is nothing like it. One day, this diamond in the rough will be respected for what it is--a goldmine of biological diversity, reminiscent of a bygone day.

The best days of migration are upon us. "Prime time" for migration and vagrant hunting lasts into November, so be sure to get out and hit some green-spots or wet ones. Especially when weather systems pass over or there is a thick marine layer. Most important, mark your calendars for the Christmas Bird Count, Saturday, Dec. 23. Thanks to everyone for their reports, and send me more at: <birdfish@earthlink.net>   .... and good birding!

Think Global, bird local.

At this time in an election year, the most important action you can take to protect our environment is to vote for pro-conservation candidates, and if possible, help to get them elected. Thus we will be represented by legislators who will respond positively to the letters that we send them. For information about the environmental voting records of our local candidates, call me at (310) 545-1384.

Because you all voted for Proposition 12, our state parks will be provided with $545 million for clean-up and restoration, land acquisition, and for long-postponed capital improvements. It also made possible a 50% reduction in fees that visitors pay to use our state parks. On announcing this cut, Governor Davis said: "We created the park system for all Californians, and we are blessed with a wonderful economy that provides us the resources to return California parks to the people, and I feel an obligation to do it."This fee reduction was to be phased in beginning July first.

However, there has been no reduction in the fee that the US Forest Service charges anyone who parks his or her car to fish, hike, picnic, bird, or just take a walk in our nearby national forests. In Southern California's four national forests (Angeles, Los Padres, Cleveland, and San Bernardino) this use fee--$5 per day or $30 annually--has been controversial since it was first started in June of 1996, ostensibly due to cuts in forest appropriations by Congress.

Our personal experiences with this "Adventure Pass" have all been negative. On several occasions when we went to Chilao Flats to look for Mountain Quail, we noticed that both the Ranger Station and the rest room were closed. Before fees, they were open and we could find out about birding the area from the Ranger. Apparently the Ranger was now off collecting fees or giving out $100 tickets for noncompliance. When we tried to enter a campground further up the mountain to look for birds along a stream, we were told that we had to pay $5 more to a private company that had a parking and campground concession. Other trailheads--these without an additional $5 fee--were also closed. We observed a Ranger hassling a group of four teenagers coming out of the forest because they did not have a pass. Shouldn't we be encouraging our children to hike in the forests rather than hang out in malls and on the streets.

A January, 1999, report from the Forest Service shows that 53% of the monies collected through the Forest Fee Program was spent on administration and overhead. Why is Congress creating a system that requires employees, permits, and enforcement, rather than increasing the allocations that are needed? Could it be that Congress wants to privatize our national forests even more than they are now?

Several Congresspeople are trying to change these misplaced priorities. Representative Lois Capps (D Santa Barbara) says that "This misnamed Adventure Pass represents a double tax." She proposed a bill that would get the funding for maintaining the forests from the $37.4 million that the Forest Service has set aside for timber road construction. Her bill would take the burden of supporting the national forests away from hikers and people "who just wanted to see the sunset." Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs ) joined her cause saying: "To tax the great outdoors is offensive to the very concept of the national forest system. The forests are for the entire nation and therefore should be supported through the traditional funding process." Their bill did not pass.

Some people say that a coalition of commercial interests support the fee program as a first step toward the commercialization of different ways to use our public lands. This is borne out by the following situation in the San Bernardino National Forest. As appropriations for public land management decline, Forest Supervisors have established partnerships with the private sector. The American Honda Motor Corp has emerged as the San Bernardino Forest's chief benefactor and policy advisor, and has helped the Forest Service finance and design a 204 mile off-road vehicle route. Plans are being made to expand this network. Environmental groups concerned about threats to wildlife do not have the money or the clout to influence these plans.

The upkeep of our forests should come from our taxes, as it has in the past. The less affluent among us should be able to use our forests--indeed should be urged to do so. The amount of money it would take to properly fund our national forests has been estimated to be about $1 per year on a per capita basis. Congress should stop using our tax dollars to subsidize mining, grazing, and timber-cutting on public lands, and put that money into recreation and ecosystem restoration.

As I am writing these words, the Interior Appropriations Bill, HR 4578, is being considered in a joint House and Senate committee to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. The Senate extends the "Recreation Fee Program", while the House version does not. I called Senator Feinstein today to urge her to stop the program. So far she has not taken a position on this issue.

By the time you read this, the bill will have passed. Whichever way this issue is decided, please call the presidential candidates and urge them to speak out publicly against this demonstration forest fee program. I will keep you posted.

Responding to a loud public outcry against placing a half-mile long dike in Portuguese Bend, the Army Corps of Engineers has withdrawn a project which was cosponsored by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Under the guise of marine habitat restoration, the massive structure would have destroyed many acres of existing sea bottom and had numerous other detrimental effects, not least of which was the impairment of scenic views on the south side of the PV Peninsula. The cost for all of this would have approached $30,000,000.

The proposal, which was first brought to wide public attention in the last issue of Hummin', and later picked up by local newspapers, had been hidden from view for 15 years by a City system, that though legal, provided for neither public input nor disclosure. At a poorly-advertised and poorly-attended August presentation by the Corps, at which the public was given its first chance to comment, Audubon voiced its principal objections. A month later, the issue was finally brought to the public by the City itself. Several dozen people spoke out--none in favor of the project. That was not enough.

After more than three hours of vehemently-opposed public testimony and a number of embarrassing revelations about procedures and costs incurred, the City still voted 4-1 to ask the Corps for a redesign of the project. The Corps, however, chose to withdraw the project--for now--and has promised that there will be adequate public participation if they are to have anything more to do with this project.

Though moribund, it is clear this is not yet a dead issue. Audubon pledges to continue monitoring this project. We can at least assure that any expenditure of public funds meant for environmental protection will, in fact, be spent for that purpose.

Some bird species are as good parentally as most humans, but some are somewhat careless in being parents. One species of each type is described in this article.

Among the most careful avian parents are ostriches, the world's largest birds. Yes, even though they do not fly and thus are not involved in aviation, they are avian. Ratite relatives of the ostrich include the rhea, the kiwi, and the cassowary, each of which weighs much less than the ostrich, the average weight of the latter being about 220 lbs. The rhea, which is the ostrich's closest relative, has a weight average of just under 75 lbs.

Like house finches and many other bird species, in the spring the coloring of male ostriches changes noticeably, especially with pink appearing on the neck and on the legs. In Africa, the male ostrich then establishes and protects a territory for himself, and for no other adult male ostriches, of about one-half square mile; whereas a female ostrich remains in a territory of about five square miles with other female ostriches. When a female ostrich, having mated with a male, lays eggs, those eggs are laid in nest sites already selected and prepared by the mated male, showing that he's prepared to be a good parent. Some female ostriches mate with more than one male, and a male who mates with more than one female then has eggs in the nest from more than one female mate, with some nests having as many as an average of about forty eggs. The male does even more incubating than the females do, doing it through the night and during part of the day. When the chicks are born, the male and one of his female mates guide them to edible plants and the male and female protect them from being predator prey. In fact, ostriches are known to have killed lions that have tried to eat eggs and chicks. For example, when a female lion and her cubs approached a nest, the male ostrich led the chicks to a safer area and the female ostrich attacked the lioness and her cubs, killing cubs with downward kicks and killing the lioness with bites. So, by protecting the eggs and the chicks, and by teaching the chicks what to eat, etc., ostrich adults are good parents.

The American coot bird, which likes to live in fresh water, is not as good a parent. One such reason is that if a coot chick's feathers are not quite colorful, it doesn't get as much caring from its parents as do the colorful chick siblings. Those colorful ones receive much more food, and therefore become much more healthy and more likely to continue living. The adult coot is greyish-black, with a white spot on the bill. The colorful chicks, though, have bright orange plumes, and most also have a bald top of the head which turns red. That baldness of a young coot led to the common expression, "Bald as a coot". The coot chicks, unlike chicks of some other bird species, don't vocally ask for food, but instead move their bodies to show the colorful plumes and thus attract the parent's love and attention. So, a parent coot by not caring significantly for all its chicks, is not as good a parent as is a parent ostrich.

Having just discussed bird parents, I'll tell you that a pair of well-known large-beaked South American birds can afford to live together because toucan live as cheaply as one.

Communities Council: Community activists are wanted for this group which will keep Audubon abreast of what is going on around the South Bay. If you keep tabs on your city council, planning commission, or parks department we need you! As a member of the Communities Council, you will be able to bring the weight of Audubon's prestige and experience to bear on your environmental concerns. Help us by letting Audubon know about issues before they become problems. Together, we can help local governments and agencies make informed, environmentally friendly decisions.

Sharing Nature With Children:  If you can spend a morning one Saturday a month, lend a hand with Sharing Nature With Children,our children's educational program at Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach. This monthly program introduces youngsters to the variety of the natural world around them in a setting which includes meadow, woodland, streamside and marsh habitats. As a docent, you will 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. High school and other students who volunteer receive Audubon YES! Award credits.

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

YES! COUNCIL

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 $7, including tax and mailing).

Audubon will hold its regular October and November meetings at the Gardena Recreation Center. These two programs will focus on the natural heritage of the Gardena Valley--an area now largely industrialized, but still with surprising pockets where the past can be glimpsed. Did you know that tidal flows, with much of their attendant wildlife, reach to Gardena? Would you know where to find Gardena's remaining wetlands? To find out, come to these fascinating meetings. You'll  meet some interesting Audubon neighbors at the same time.

On October 31st, Sherry Roberts will give a talk on the Gardena Willows, a green oasis and wetland, where Audubon is looking to partner with the City of Gardena to create an education program for local residents, especially school children who now have too little connection to nature. Then, on November 28th, Jeremiah George will place the Willows within a broader historical and geographical context with a talk on the natural heritage of the Gardena Valley, from its wetlands past to urban present. Each meeting begins at 7:30 P.M. and is free to the public.

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