In the November 5 general election, Proposition 50, the Clean Water and Coastal Protection Act, received 55.4% support from California voters, while Proposition 51, Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Act was defeated. California Audubon supported both initiatives, because both offered substantial funding for Audubon's environmental priorities. Considering the state budget and the weak economy, Audubon is thankful for the partial victory.

The next step for Proposition 50 is the legislature. Senator Michael J. Machado, (D-Stockton), chair of the "Prop 50 Yes" Campaign and the likely Chair of the Senate Water Committee next year, will author a bill to give more guidance to state agencies on how the $3.44 billion should be spent within the following funding categories: water security, safe drinking water, clean water and water quality, contaminant and salt removal technologies, CALFED Bay-Delta Program, integrated regional water management, Colorado River, and coastal protection.

On September 30, Governor Gray Davis signed a bill first introduced by Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal that aims at reducing diesel emissions at California ports. Under SB 2650, marine terminal operators will be fined for trucks idling outside their gates longer than 30 minutes. Daily truck traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is expected to more than double in the next 20 years from 35,000 trucks a day to 90,000 trucks a day.

"The Harbor Community has spoken," said Lowenthal after the signing. "Diesel exhaust is as dangerous as tobacco smoke. We need to work on prevention as well as treatment, and this bill will not only reduce the amount of diesel spewing in our community, but will provide funds to permanently reduce diesel exhaust from trucks at the port."

The Governor also signed AB 2769 by Assemblyman Lowenthal. The bill amends the Tidelands Trust Agreement so that the port can use lands within its boundaries for more purposes, including protection of wildlife habitats and open space as well as commercial development.

Sadly, we must report that Mitch Heindel is pulling up his stakes and moving to Texas. Mitch's dedication and expertise will be sorely missed. "Birds of the Peninsula" is just one of several major contributions that Mitch has made to wildlife, open space, and the people who enjoy them .

Here is what four local leaders have to say about Mitch and his accomplishments:

Kevin Larson,new author of "Birds of the Peninsula": "As a beginning birder, I met Mitch in the fall of 1992 at Harbor Park, just after I had seen a Vermilion Flycatcher there. Mitch immediately befriended me. We exchanged phone numbers, and he gave me a copy of the current Hummin'. I birded with him not long after that, and it was like an epiphany. He set an example right then of just how good a birder can be. He has been my mentor ever since. Without his help, I would not have advanced nearly so quickly.

"Mitch stands on the shoulders of the late, great Shirley Wells (whom he idolizes). Shirley had such a detailed knowledge of the birds here that it was scary, especially to all the males whose egos must have been bruised by her wisdom.

"Mitch also stands on the shoulders of Dr. Richard Bradley, who wrote the Avifauna of the PV Peninsula. Even so, I can't say that anyone has done more to advance birding in the PV/South Bay Area than Mitch Heindel. Mitch's enthusiasm for the birds, and birding here, has sparked interest in many.

"Mitch has been a tireless supporter of our Christmas Bird Count, in which he has handled much of the logistics and compiling. He almost single handedly brought the CBC up to a new level when he took it over."

Martin Byhower, chair of the Chapter's Harbor Park Committee: "However good a birder I am is due to Mitch as a model. Mitch is a better watcher and thinker than other, more well known birders. He has an incredible sense for birds. He really understands them.

"Mitch sees birds the way I see them: Not just beautiful decorations but as bellwethers for the state of planet. He sees them as an affirmation of life. It's a spiritual thing for him, I think.

"He knows more about fish, more about birds, and more about rock music in the 1970s than anyone I know."

Jess Morton, Chapter President: "No one has done more to make it possible for the Chapter to do what we are doing at Harbor Park than Mitch. His first concern has always been the habitat and wildlife. When people have started fooling around with mitigation, Mitch has shown up and gotten them to do the right thing. So when the mosquito control folks started cutting tules at the lake, Mitch was up front on the cutter, pointing out where not to cut because there were least bitterns, say, nesting in that patch.

"'Birds of the Peninsula' was a good column before Mitch, but became superb with Mitch, even at his most opinionated. Mitch has written that column longer than anyone else."

Frank O'Brien, community leader: "Talking with Mitch was what it must have been like to talk with John Muir. It was the same spirit."

Thanks for all you have done for all of us and the world we live in, Mitch.

Another year has rushed past us, a year full of accomplishment and challenges met. Most importantly, Audubon's work at Harbor Park continues, with significant strides made toward restoring the natural habitats there, establishing Audubon's presence in the eyes of the community and in planning for the Audubon Natural Heritage Center. Similarly, Audubon's activities in a dozen other venues over the last year have accomplished much, and, in my eyes, these all serve as harbingers of great years to come.

All of this is thanks to an Audubon-ark-full of dedicated volunteers and staff members, who make our chapter run. I applaud every one of you, and most especially the select few I mention in the following paragraphs. With respect to our work at Harbor Park, Martin Byhower and Mitch Heindel deserve special thanks for being there whenever and wherever needed, whether it was mapping habitat, chivvying bureaucrats, running cleanups or sticking up for birds and their habitat. Their dedication is amazing.

Our work with young people has shown major gains. Lillian Light, ably assisted by Bob Carr and others has proved once again that Sharing Nature With Children continues to attract new students with creative programs about the world around us. The Audubon Naturalist program, developed by Debbie Baker at Harbor Park, has now matured. Debbie and her daughter, Holly Gray, have trained a score of neighborhood youngsters to be docents in the park. To single one out, Viri Nava has been a dedicated young leader of the group for several years. Last summer, working together, this Audubon team brought hundreds of children from Normont Elementary School to the park to learn about their natural heritage.

The Audubon YES! Council is now fully established, and again Debbie has played a crucial role. But many thanks go, too, to the innovative core of the Council, including Guyton Durnin, Rebecca Holtz, Stephanie Lee, Urchna Morar, Paunie Samreth and Vijay Yanamadala. All of you will recall the Conservation Awards Banquet in May, when 58 students earned service awards. Many of those awards were generated by the Council's leadership.

Speaking of the Awards Banquet, I cannot thank those who organized and ran it enough. They include Shirley Borks, Linda Chilton, Heather Morton, Bob Shanman, Bart Tendick, and Fran Spivy-Weber, without whom—nada. Bob was also a critical factor in the success of this year's Bird-a-thon. Martin and Ollie Coker were other honorable mentions in this respect.

Mike Weber's Hummin' continues at its high level of sophistication to inform our membership and serve as a permanent record of birds, wildlife and habitat in our area. Mike, Mitch Heindel and Lillian Light, contribute their valuable insights to every issue. Our Conservation Committee, led by Lillian and ably assisted by Annette Currence and Marcia Wiest, among other Auduboners, was the driving force that created the Environmental Priorities Network, an ecumenical coalition with superb public outreach programs on environmental topics.

We must not forget birds, either! Eric and Ann Brooks continue their classes at the botanic garden and trip leadership afield. Our monthly bird walks are led by Martin Byhower, Ollie Coker, Georgene Foster, Margaret Hoggan and Bob Shanman. Then there are the counts: Christmas Bird Count, run by Dave Bradley, Mitch Heindel and Ross Landry; and the Great Backyard Bird Count, coordinated by Bob Shanman.

Let me close by thanking all of the chapter's staff, officers and board members. They have done yeoman service to this organization. And last, but not least, let me thank you, our loyal chapter member, for your concern for birds and habitat, the health of the environment and your support of the chapter.

The 2002 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been set for Sunday, December 22. Come help make history with the Palos Verdes Peninsula CBC. Nationally, this year's CBC is the 103rd nationally, and the 37th locally. Ross Landry is handling managerial duties. To register for the CBC, contact Ross at 713-524-7702 or rosscoz@earthlink.net.

In terms of the number of species seen, our CBC is usually in the top 25 in the nation, and almost always the top count in LA county. Last year's count logged 172 species on December 23, and another eight species during Count Week. Mitch Heindel reports that the Chapter led the nation in reports of Parasitic Jaegers, Heermann's Gulls, Allen's Hummingbirds, Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Mourning Warbler.

Among other notable species were American White Pelicans, Greater Scaup, Common Murres, Hutton's Vireos, Redbreasted Nuthatches, a Northern Parula, a Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warblers, Summer Tanagers, Chipping Sparrows, a Black-chinned Sparrow, and Baltimore Orioles.

The last several months have brought some changes in the people who make Audubon work. First of all, Mitch Heindel is leaving the South Bay for the great state of Texas in the next several months. (See article on Mitch in this issue.) Mitch's dedication and expertise will be sorely missed.

Kevin Larson, another of the Chapter's remarkable birders, is taking over reporting on bird sightings from Mitch. Thanks, Kevin!

Many Chapter members may have met Liz Kennedy during Chapter activities, especially bird counts and walks. Liz recently agreed to chair Audubon's Publicity Committee. Thanks, Liz!

First, I would like to thank Mitch Heindel, the author of this column for 12 years. Mitch has a deep understanding of the status of birds of the area, and this has been reflected in his outstanding columns. I hope that some of his guidance has sunk in over years.

The weather was tropical the first week of Sep due to the remnants of Hurricane Hernan; weak marine layers followed, with a warm offshore pattern on 21-23 Sep. Following a low pressure trough on 28 Sep, there was a good batch of vagrants. High pressure dominated the first week of Oct, and a marine layer the second. A weak low pressure influence 16-23 Oct brought little in the way of vagrants, but there was a notable wave of Hermit Thrushes and sparrows. A front brought rain on 25-26 Oct, but did not produce much in the way of new birds. By the end of Sep, two large wildfires had occurred in the San Gabriel Mtns. Despite not being one of our best falls for vagrants, we enjoyed a great wealth of interesting sightings.

A Red-necked Grebe found by Bob Beckler at Cabrillo Beach on 18 Oct was outstanding. A juvenile Reddish Egret found by Richard Barth (RB) at the L.A. River (LAR) 4-8 Sep provided only the fourth record for the county. White-faced Ibis made a good showing with three at LAR 14-21 Sep (Kevin Larson-KL); 10 landed at Harbor Park (HP) on 19 Sep (Mitch Heindel-MH), and MH had 10 also over Alondra Park (AP) on 6 Oct. A male Greater Scaup at HP (KL, MH) on 15 Sep was our earliest date. A Surf Scoter at AP 24-26 Oct was inland from the immediate coast, where rare (David Moody-DM). Six fledgling Ruddy Ducks at HP (MH) on 10 Sep provided our latest fledge date. Between the influence of two low pressures, I received a spectacular report of an imm. "Harlan's" form of Red-tailed Hawk over El Nido Park on 24 Oct (MH). On a day after a front produced rain, an imm. Ferruginous Hawk was seen over the South Coast Botanic Garden (SCBG) on 29 Sep (KL); only a couple of these migrants have been detected over the last decade in our area.

Solitary Sandpipers were at LAR on 14 Sep and 5 Oct (KL). The last Baird's Sandpiper seen at LAR was 8 Sep (KL). The peak count of Pectoral Sandpipers there was seven on 14 Sep. Probably not on his list of most expected yard birds, a Red-necked Phalarope was in MH's driveway on 8 Sep! The bird probably hit the power lines. It later succumbed, even after gorging itself on provided mealworms and mosquito larvae. Two Mew Gulls found by DM on 24 Sep at AP were so exceedingly early that, had the observer not been known for his seabird experience, the report could have been dismissed as incredible; regular visits there by the observer seem to rule out that they summered. A juvenile Mew Gull that I had at Ballona Cr. on 4 Oct lent some corroboration that a few returned early, but my few visits to the coast in the last half of Oct yielded none. Finding and reporting banded birds is rewarding and contributes to our knowledge of the movements of certain species. A banded juv. Caspian Tern that I saw at Marina del Rey on 4 Oct had come from the Columbia River, WA. This was a rare opportunity to detect a migrant of a species which occurs here year-round. Hard to find in L.A. County waters, a juvenile Pigeon Guillemot was at Marina del Rey on 2 Sep (KL).

A White-winged Dove was at Sand Dune Park (SDP) on 21 Sep (Thomas Miko-TMi). This dove has been surprisingly rare in our area over the years, despite the fact that numbers have been recorded in fall on the offshore islands. A Common Ground-Dove was at LAR on 14 Sep (KL). An emaciated Long-eared Owl was picked up in Carson and taken to Anne Lynch for rehab on 31 Oct (fide MH); the date fits well with our two modern records of migrants. A Black Swift at Banning Park (BP) seen by Todd McGrath (TMcG) on 5 Oct establishes our latest date. Chimney Swifts were in Torrance 30 Sep and BP 3 Oct and 8 Oct (MH). Vaux's Swifts were ubiquitous from late Sep to the first days of Oct, with well over a thousand at LAR on 21 Sep; about 2000 along LAR on 20 Oct (KL), and 50 at HP on 21 Oct (MH) was a big late season push under marine layer skies. Two species of woodpecker that are not resident here turned up on 21 Oct: an Acorn at BP (MH) and a Nuttall's at AP (DM). Both are rare here, but Nuttall's is less regular.

Least Flycatchers were at Sur La Brea Park (SLB) on 3 Oct, seen later by Martin Byhower (MB) on 5 Oct, and at SDP 25-27 Oct (KL). Hammond's Flycatchers, never expected in fall, were at WP on 13 Oct, and SDP 19 Oct (KL). A Gray Flycatcher was at SDP on 22 Sep (KL). There were two Dusky Flycatchers: one at BP on 15 Sep and one at SDP 1 Oct (KL). A migrant Loggerhead Shrike was found at Madrona Marsh (MM), where they formerly nested, on 18 Oct (DM). Yellow-throated Vireos are very rare, more so in fall than spring, so one found by Dick Norton(DN) at BP 30 Sep-6 Oct was outstanding. The only other fall record in the past ten years here was amazingly also at BP and had a similar stay of 28 Sep-5 Oct 1996. There were two each of Plumbeous and Cassin's Vireos. A sighting of six migrant Hutton's Vireos in the area was well above average. Something that I had never seen before was a flock of 14 Western Scrub Jays moving together as a unit through a neighborhood in Hermosa Beach (HB) on 3 Oct. It might be speculated that this was either due to fire displacement or possibly some sort of corvid movement. A Purple Martin was at HP 14 Sep (MH). Four Violet-green Swallows, uncommonly seen in fall, were at HP 21-26 Oct (MH). The last Bank Swallow was one at LAR 21 Sep (KL).

White-breasted Nuthatches are non-resident, and occur very rarely locally. Four birds in our area, 22 Aug AP (DM), two on 3 Sep at Chadwick Cyn. (MB), and one 9 Oct in Torrance (KL) constitutes an invasion. Displacement by fires that occurred at the time is by far the most likely cause. The bird I heard in Torrance gave calls consistent with the Pacific breeding population, S.c. aculeata. It is unclear, however, which of the number of subspecies has occurred here in the past in fall or winter. A Winter Wren of the western race was heard calling, but not seen at SCBG on 22 Sep (KL). A California Gnatcatcher at Deforest Park on 14 Sep was inexplicably far from any nesting area (KL). A gnatcatcher with a black undertail at HP 16-18 Oct (MH) was described as having white tips on the outer three rectrices and a white edged outer rectrice. Because it was more gray than brown and did not have calls similar to California Gnatcatcher, it may be difficult to ultimately prove the identity of the bird. Only two Swainson's Thrushes were detected, one at BP on 28 Sep, and one at SDP on 18 Oct (KL). A male Varied Thrush was at SDP 30 Oct-1 Nov (Mark Conrad). A Sage Thrasher was a new park record for WP on 14 Oct (Steve Sosensky-SS).

With the exception of No. Waterthrush, all of the expected vagrant warblers were accounted for. Only a few of the more unusual ones were found. A Tennessee Warbler stayed at SCBG 29 Sep-12 Oct (MB, KL), and another was at SDP on 2 Oct (MH). There were two Virginia's Warblers, one at BP 14 Sep (MH) and one at SCBG 29 Sep (KL). An imm. No. Parula at SCBG on 13 Sep was a nice find in fall (MB). A Magnolia Warbler on 29 Sep was a good payoff for a team who put in their time at SDP (Mark and Lori Conrad-M&LC). Making it an above average fall for Magnolia Warbler was another found by MH at WP on 10 Oct. MH glimpsed what was probably a Blackburnian Warbler, the flight call being correct, at Peck Park (PP) 5 Oct. When it looked as if we would not record Palm Warblers, MH pulled one out at HP on 26 Oct. DN found a Blackpoll at BP on 30 Sep, others came on 10 Oct at WP (MH) and 14 Oct at MM (SS). We did not record any Black-and-white Warblers in the previous fall, but this time it was a bit more the norm, with one at WP on 28 Sep (TMi), an imm. male at SDP 13-27 Oct (KL), a female at SDP on 14 Oct (Kimball Garrett), and one in El Segundo (ES) 17 Oct (RB). Am. Redstarts were at SDP 21 Sep (TMi), SLB 3 Oct (MH), and ES 17 Oct (RB).

A female Summer Tanager fitting the eastern race, rubra, was at SDP 18-22 Oct (KL). Migrant Green-tailed Towhees were at SDP 20 Sep (MH, KL) and BP 18 Oct (MH). No Clay-colored Sparrows were reported during the period. Four Brewer's Sparrows were found from 14 Sep-16 Oct. Exceptional was a Sage Sparrow found by Margaret Hoggan in RPV on 9 Sep. A "Red" Fox Sparrow, likely P.i. zaboria, was at SDP 18-19 Oct (KL). Migrant Song Sparrows turned up in early Oct in places that they were not resident (MH, DM, KL). It is poorly understood where these birds originate, or to which subspecies they belong. A hybrid Zonotrichia Sparrow was at Entradero Park (EP) on 6 Oct that was either a Golden-crowned X White-crowned, or G-c X White-throated. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at BP on 8 Oct (MH). The last Blue Grosbeak was at HP 16 Oct (MH). MH had a female Indigo Bunting at PP on 15 Sep. Two Bobolinks were at EP on 6 Oct (KL), with one left there on 8 Oct (MB). A first fall male Baltimore Oriole was at BP 5 Oct (TMcG). Single Pine Siskins were at WP 3 Oct (DM) and SDP 26 Oct (KL). It remains to been seen if it turns out to be a siskin winter. Rare here, MB found a Lawrence's Goldfinch at SCBG on 18 Oct.

Here is a summary of the fall arrival dates (a.k.a. First Of Fall—FOF) of selected species for the period: Clark's Grebe-22 Sep HP (MH); Ring-necked Duck—29 Sep HP (MH); Greater Scaup—15 Sep HP (KL, MH); Sharp-shinned Hawk—28 Sep SCBG (KL); Merlin—8 Oct Torrance (DM); Dunlin—14 Sep LAR (KL); Mew Gull—24 Sep AP (DM); Red-breasted Sapsucker—1 Oct SDP (MB); "Red-shafted" Flicker—28 Sep SDP (KL); Ruby-crowned Kinglet—29 Sep SDP (M&LC); Am. Pipit—3 Oct HB (KL); Audubon's Warbler—15 Sep HP (KL); Fox Sparrow ("Slate-colored")—1 Oct WP (MH); White-crowned Sparrow—18 Sep MM (MH); "Oregon" Junco—2 Oct HB (KL); Pine Siskin—3 Oct WP (DM).

Thanks to our intrepid observers who constantly kept me up to date. Please send your sightings to (cbirdr@attbi.com) for the Palos Verdes/ South Bay area and east to the L.A. River, north to about the 105 fwy, and the coast up to Marina del Rey. The CBC is scheduled for Sunday, 22 Dec.

Errata: the date on the South Polar Skua at Pt. Vicente (MH) in the Oct/Nov issue of Hummin' was 9/1 not 9/2.

The only way to keep our environmental safety net from being completely unravelled by this Administration is to stay in constant contact with those who can champion conservation, and keep urging them to oppose the eradication of our environmental protection laws. My last column discussed the attack on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Since this attack has continued and intensified, it is of the utmost importance that we all take action now!

A November 3rd Los Angeles Times article reported: "In a series of efforts to limit the reach of the nation's bedrock environmental law, the Bush administration is working to prevent environmental impact statements from blocking or stalling energy production, logging, and other controversial uses of federal lands and waters…Omitting environmental impact statements could swing some decisions in favor of commercial development."

This assault on our most fundamental environmental law will take away the public's long-standing ability to have a say in how their public lands are managed. Legislation introduced by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) would exempt logging on millions of acres of federal forest lands from all environmental analysis, public comment, and administrative appeals. Without NEPA protection the U.S. Forest Service could approve unlimited clearcutting and logging of old and newer growth forests as well as road building in roadless areas. This bill also asks citizens to trust that multinational timber company honchos will decide on which trees to cut based on the needs of the forest and not on economics.

A variation on Bush's plan, introduced by Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), would also increase the amount of intensive logging in national forests under the guise of fire prevention, and would make no distinction between projects that reduce fire danger and those that actually increase it. Their amendment would limit legal challenges and restraining orders to 60 days, after which destructive projects could move forward. By the time that the courts have the opportunity to review the legality of the project, the damage would have already been done.

Senator Feinstein is under pressure by the Bush administration and by the timber industry. Only an outpouring of indignation from each one of you and from our fellow Californians can lead her to oppose this destructive legislation. Tell her that less than 5% of America's original forests remain, and these forests are found primarily on federal lands. As logging impacts our remaining intact forest ecosystems, these forests and their priceless biological assets could be destroyed within this decade.

Can you allow this to happen without registering your opposition?

Action is also necessary to protect our oceans and every living creature in them. Following is a quote from the November-December newsletter of the Natural Resources Defence Council:

"The Bush Administration has granted the US Navy a permit to begin deploying its dangerous low frequency active (LFA) sonar system across 75% of the world's oceans as early as this month. The new submarine detection system will operate by blasting hundreds of thousands of square miles of ocean habitat with extremely loud sound. Its shock waves can maim, deafen, or kill whales and, even at a distance of 300 miles, can interfere with behaviors essential to their very survival"

The Marine Mammal Protection Act would usually prohibit these kinds of impacts, but the Bush administration is exempting the Navy from that law as well as from the environmental review requirements of NEPA. In its first year, the loudspeakers will be operating in 14 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean, and will be flooding the ocean with an effective noise level of 235 decibels—comparable to a dynamite blast.The resulting impacts could threaten the survival of entire whale and dolphin populations, including endangered species whose numbers are already depleted.

Again your action is needed! Tell the Navy not to deploy LFA sonar since it poses an enormous risk to whale populations and threatens to destroy the very fabric of marine life around the planet.

• Senator Dianne Feinstein
• 331 Hart Senate Office Bldg
• Washington, DC 20510
• 202-224 3841 or 310-914 7300
• FAX: 202 228 3954
• Senator@feinstein.senate.gov
• Gordon R. England
• Secretary of the Navy
• 1000 Navy Pentagon
• Washington, DC 20350
• FAX: 703-697-8921

After Donalda Day of Pomona Valley Audubon Society received complaints that her past Sibley Guide quiz questions were too easy, she responded with another set of questions. Some of the new questions follow:

1. The scimitar-shaped crest of six or more tightly fitted feathers in the California Quail is referred to as a topknot, while the lance-like feather ornament of the Mountain Quail is often called a
1. spray,
2. topper,
3. plume, or
4. tuft.
2. What protected populations of flamingos from the ravages of the plume trade in the early 1900s?
1. they were very hard to catch;
2. as a group, they stunk, therefore no one wanted to get near them;
3. pink was not in vogue as a color; or
4. the feathers had a propensity to fade.
3. Found only in the western hemisphere, there is only one species in this family. The Aramus guarauna's common name is the
1. chickaree,
2. limpkin,
3. coati, or
4. phenacomys.
4. Do you know your bird skeleton? It is NOT the Thicknee's knee that is thick, it is it's
1. elbow,
2. hip,
3. wrist, or
4. ankle.
5. This is an X-rated question, so be warned. Believe it when I tell you that this is very rare, but the male avocet has a longer and less strongly curved ______ than the female:
1. neck,
2. rump,
3. bill, or
4. cochlea.

ANSWERS: 1 c, 2 d, 3 b, 4 d, 5 c.

In October, the Environmental Protection Agency released an initial report on a pilot project to cap contaminated sediments off the Palos Verdes peninsula with clean sediment. The purpose of the cap is to prevent DDT and PCBs in the sediment from getting into the food chain, causing adverse effects within the marine ecosystem, and posing health risks to people who might eat fish.

From the late 1950s to the 1970s, DDTs and PCBs were discharged by companies into the sewer system and eventually into the Pacific Ocean through outfalls located off White Point on the Palos Verdes peninsula. The discharges contaminated sediments in a 17 square mile area off the peninsula. Both DDT and PCB are carcinogens.

EPA carried out the pilot project as part of its investigation under Superfund. The study on the project found that the method used for isolating the contaminants was effective. EPA is continuing to evaluate alternative cleanup methods and is considering whether to propose capping the entire site.

Copies of the report are available at the San Pedro and Redondo Beach public libraries, and is also available at the following web site:

www.wes.army.mil/el/elpubs/pdf/tr02-5.pdf.

The City of Torrance recently received a grant of $540,000 from the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project for the Madrona Marsh Restoration and Enhancement Project. The funds are part of the $49.8 million that the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project received under Proposition 12, approved by California voters in March 2000.

The Madrona Marsh grant will provide $300,000 for habitat restoration and enhancement, $200,000 for storm water management, and $40,000 public education and access. Among other things, the grant will make it possible to link the Madrona Marsh water system to the water recycling facility in El Segundo. In the past, the Marsh has relied entirely on street runoff for its water supply.

Passions are inflamed and good people with good intentions engage in a war of rhetoric, but any resolution of the controversy over the feeding of wildlife must be based on the definition of the term wildlife.

Feral cat colonies, common rat species (Norwegian and brown rats), rock doves ("pigeons"), house sparrows, Eastern fox squirrels, red foxes, starlings and feral "pond ducks" all constitute introduced, non-native species whose presence is in fact harmful to native wildlife species.

People long for a connection with nature, and cute "wild" kittens or responsive ducks and pigeons, sadly, are for many uninformed folks the sole vehicle for this connection. Overpopulated native species like crows and ravens add to the woes of our native wildlife.

Unfortunately, the very presence of all of these species is disastrous for the many less-frequently seen species that formerly occupied Southern California or struggle to survive here. Moreover, the feeding of the non-native species only perpetuates and exacerbates the problem for all.

Studies show that feral cat colonies, even "managed ones," lead to the elimination of native birds, mammals and reptiles, because most cats (and I own and love two of them) never lose their natural instinct to hunt and kill, no matter how well-fed they are. I and many others have witnessed firsthand the elimination of bird species such as rock wrens at Royal Palms Beach due to the presence of such colonies.

In a formerly balanced ecosystem, is the cruelty and suffering borne by the native species, which are hunted and killed by non-native predators or eliminated by non-native competitors, any worse than that suffered by the others who may miss a free handout? Feeding the invasive species perpetuates their continued domination in an unbalanced ecosystem, and thus perpetuates the suffering of the species being fed.

In large part it is the feeding (and dumping) of feral ducks, pigeons and geese at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park that led to their overpopulation and ultimate demise due to a tragic outbreak of avian botulism this summer.

For anyone who loves nature, or cats for that matter, the solution is keeping cats solely as indoor pets (as suggested by virtually all the humane as well as environmental organizations in the United States) and finding other ways to connect with wildlife and nature.

Nearly every nature park, reserve and local environmental organization has one or more habitat restoration project going. I am working with my students to restore coastal sage scrub habitat in the canyon adjacent to Chadwick School on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where I teach. Getting involved in restoring natural habitats for the recovery and reintroduction of native species is a very rewarding and guilt-free way to connect with nature and wildlife. And there are numerous places for humans to observe and connect with wildlife in Southern California, even if one does not wish to get one's hands dirty.

Humans, not the animals themselves, are of course ultimately responsible for the presence of the introduced or overpopulated species. No creature, native or otherwise, deserves to suffer. Sometimes, however, we need to look at the bigger picture and decide that less overall suffering of God's creatures is the better option.

On January 17, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is sponsoring a lecture by Mike Weber, Hummin' editor, on the crisis that is gripping marine fisheries along the entire Pacific coast.

In July 2002, the Federal government banned many types of fishing off the west coast in order to protect severely depleted species of rockfish. The new restrictions weigh especially heavily on recreational fishermen and on the west coast groundfish fleet, which made "red snapper" a staple on restaurant menus and in fish market coolers. Rebuilding depleted populations will likely require such severe restrictions for decades.

What happened?

Michael Weber, author of From Abundance to Scarcity: A History of U.S. Marine Fisheries Policy, will describe how the belief in limitless seas fed the growth of fishing beyond what fish populations could withstand. Weber will take listeners on an historical tour of U.S. fisheries in the last century from cod off New England to rockfish off southern California, and will identify ways to restore the abundance and diversity of our fisheries.

For tickets and details, call the Aquarium at 310-548-7562.

Between January 13 and April 4, Sea and Sage Audubon will be offering a 12-week workshop on the Warblers of North America. The intermediateadvanced workshop will be presented by Sylvia Gallagher. With the aid of detailed worksheets, the course will cover all plumages from spring adult males to cryptic immature females. Although the workshop will focus on identification, there will also be discussion of other aspects of the life of warblers. The workshop will emphasize the identification of the 47 species whose breeding range is fairly broad.

Participants may enroll in any one of five different sections that meet for three hours each week. Three sections are in the evening and two are in the morning. Sections must have at least 12 and no more than 23 students. Sea and Sage Audubon is requesting a donation of $80.00.

Send your reservation, postmarked no earlier than December 9, to Sylvia Gallagher, 21562 Kaneohe Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Enclose a LONG self-addressed stamped envelope. Confirmations, preliminary information and a map will be mailed January 6.

Refer to the Sea and Sage Audubon website www.seaandsageaudubon.org, or call Sylvia at 714-962-8990 for further information.

Gerald Secundy recently took over from Dan Taylor as Executive Director of Audubon California. The Chapter looks forward to collaborating with Gerald and Audubon California in the future.

The 7th Annual San Diego Bird festival will be held February 6-9 at Marina Village on Mission Bay in San Diego. Recognized as the "Birdiest City in the United States," San Diego offers a variety of wildlife and habitats. From the wetlands of the Pacific to the Salton Sea and surrounding desert, from the Mexican boarder to the mountains in Julian, birders will have a great variety of sightings to add to their list. Beginner classes and walks will be offered as well as programs and walks for children. The popular Friday night Festival Kickoff will feature Priscilla Brodkin, co-author of "Butterflies of Arizona: A Photographic Guide." The Saturday night Keynote speaker will be the widely published wildlife photographer Kevin Karlson.

For more information and registration, visit: www.sandiegonaturefestivals.org.

Restoration of South Bay Habitats: We can use your energy and some more equipment! If you are prepared to dig and pull and plant, join PV/SB Audubon's restoration of PV Blue Habitat (every first or second Sunday, 9-noon, at the Defense fuel Support Point, 3171 N. Gaffey, San Pedro). See Calendar for details. We also need shovels, rakes, hand trowels, and clippers. For more information, call Debbie, 722-7777.

Sharing Nature with Children: Spend one Saturday a month, 8:30-12:30, as a docent at Wilderness Park, 1102 Camino Real (near Prospect) in Redondo Beach. Docents help an expert on nature introduce youngsters, ages 6-12, to the park's meadow, woodland, streamside, and marsh habitats and to wildlife and habitats throughout the region Docents help lead the children in games, walks, and crafts designed around each month's special theme. For more information, call Lillian Light at 545-1384.

Audubon YES!: If you are already active with a school or youth group in the area, consider becoming a chapter liaison with Audubon Yes! Audubon Yes! students are the backbone of local restoration projects, and assist with Sharing Nature with Children. They attend Audubon field trips and walks. Students with 50 hours of service receive an Audubon Yes! award. Volunteers encourage participation in Audubon's youth-oriented programs.

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