(The first of two articles.)

Just over 40 years ago, biologist Rachel Carson warned of the prospect of a "silent spring," a turn of season unmarked by the melodic songs of migrant and nesting birds.

"It was a spring without voices," Carson wrote. "On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound...."

Carson's book Silent Spring was a landmark in the history of environmental studies. It documented, for the first time, a looming crisis on a global scale. This crisis was not simply a matter of aesthetic or philosophical debate, but a potential threat to life itself. Carson laid out the evidence that manmade toxins, particularly pesticides, were indiscriminately crippling and destroying wildlife, and threatening humans as well, with reproductive disorders, cancers and death.

We recognize today that Carson's concern for pesticides and the decline of bird populations was an early warning of major environmental problems. Increasingly, birds and other wildlife have been recognized as "indicators" of the quality of our air and water, of the viability of habitats and ecosystems.

Just as "canaries in a coal mine" were used by generations of miners to warn of accumulations of methane and other hazardous gases in mine shafts, so today birds and other wildlife are sentinels of new hazards. The most formidable of these is "global warming."

The mix of gases on Earth is quite different from that of any other known planet in the solar system. Earth's atmosphere has been largely created by life through photosynthesis of plants. What is more, Earth's atmosphere is perfectly suited for life.

In the last century and a half, growing human populations and growing consumption, particularly of fossil fuels, have altered the Earth's environment, including the atmosphere.

Studies of "fossil air" preserved in glacial ice and amber (remember Jurassic Park?) show that deforestation, burning wood and fossil fuels, and other human practices have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations by at least 30%, and methane (CH4) by over 50%, since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Both laboratory studies and "real world" comparisons indicate a probable causal link between global climate change and rising concentrations of CO2, CH4, and other gases including nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons, and water vapor.

Naysayers_particularly the fossil fuel industries and their allies_point out that all these gases together make up less than 1% of the atmosphere. (Nitrogen and oxygen make up the rest of the Earth's atmosphere). But when it comes to the atmosphere and greenhouse gases, a little goes a long way.

There is mounting evidence that gases like CO2 have a dramatic effect on the transparency of the atmosphere and its capacity to trap heat, rather than allowing it to radiate back into space. Even at concentrations of about three-tenths of one percent, CO2 in Earth's atmosphere provides a warming effect of roughly 60o F. Without a little CO2 Earth would be a frozen planet.

Venus—the poster planet for global warming—boldly illustrates the dangers of too much of a good thing. With an atmosphere of 96% CO2, the surface temperature of Venus is 900° F!

The climate record of the last 100 years provides evidence of global climate change on Earth, at an accelerating rate in recent decades. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has documented a rise in sea level of 4" to 6" as a result of a 1o F rise in surface temperatures, and resultant melting of both alpine and continental glaciers. IPCC researchers project a temperature increase of 2.5 to 6.4o F over the next century_ten times the rate of any natural climate change pattern prior to the Industrial Revolution.

Scientists expect that global warming will provoke accelerated melting of glaciers and a rise in sea levels that will flood millions of acres of land. Other disruptions in the patterns of evaporation and precipitation that drive the water cycle are likely. These changes in atmospheric conditions will affect the quantity and quality of our water supplies, as well as our capacity to produce food, fiber, and forestry crops.

As more energy is trapped in the atmosphere, heat waves will increase substantially, and extreme climatic and meteorological phenomena_including El Niño, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, storms, and floods. Seven of the ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1990. Extreme weather events have also been striking with record frequency and intensity over the past decade.

The evidence is by now so compelling that most living recipients of Nobel prizes in the sciences have joined together in urging world leaders to begin taking meaningful steps to stem global warming, before the situation deteriorates further.

Thanks to Rachel Carson's warning, we now know that our technologies are capable of global-scale impacts on the very living systems that we depend on to ensure our air and water quality, foods, fibers, and a variety of other goods and services. We have reason to act, then, out of mere self interest. If we cherish life, and if we believe the creation to be an expression of God's will, we are also morally bound to act for a higher purpose.

Consider the lilies of the field, and the birds of the air!

(The next issue of Hummin' will carry the second of Allen's articles—on the message that birds are sending us about global warming.)

Have you noticed a new visitor at your bird feeder? Have you been filling your feeder more frequently but seeing fewer birds?

Most longtime birders in the area lament the decline in birds caused by development, rising populations of crows, native ravens and nonnative starlings, feral cats, and other factors. Now, resident tree-nesting species of birds are confronting a new predator and competitor, and he is cute and furry.

The whole topic of controlling "undesirable" species tends to generate a lot more heat than light. I will admit my bias. Indigenous populations should be reestablished and maintained whenever possible.

I would like to be able to observe some semblance of a native, balanced coastal lowland/sage scrub plant and animal community in my yard (plus or minus a few of the more benign outsiders). In addition to the satisfaction of preserving diminishing biodiversity, my wife and I get great pleasure seeing native hummingbirds, white-crowned sparrows, scrub jays and goldfinches at our feeders and bird bath.

Iwould include our local "Beechy" California Ground Squirrel, which is compatible with native bird species. He formerly dug many of the holes used by burrowing owls before they were extirpated from the area.

The same cannot be said for the nonnative, introduced Eastern Fox Squirrel, which has grown dramatically in numbers in recent years. How did this exotic get here, and why is it expanding its range so rapidly?

Julie King is a graduate researcher under Dr. Alan Muchlinski at Cal State University, Los Angeles, has made it her business to get some answers. I began corresponding with Julie after reading a recent article in the Los Angeles Times that featured her research into the potential impacts of the Eastern Fox Squirrel on the native Gray Tree Squirrel. (The less aggressive, less prolific, and less tolerant Gray Tree Squirrel is not likely to win the competition.)

According to one theory, Eastern Fox Squirrels were introduced by Civil War veterans living at the Veterans Hospital in West LA who missed the squirrels that were so commonly seen (and eaten) back home.

Local wildlife expert Mitch Heindel recalls seeing magazine advertisements in the 1980s that encouraged funeral homes to offer squirrels, swans, and other creatures as a source of solace to mourners. Mitch also remembers seeing squirrels at the Inglewood Cemetery about that time. No doubt, they spread to surrounding areas.

I saw fox squirrels at the South Coast Botanic Gardens for a number of years. Then, a few years ago, they began appearing in my front yard in Redondo. Now, I see them regularly in my yard in Lomita.

How did these squirrels proliferate so rapidly? Julie agrees with me that these squirrels may have used utility lines as avenues for spreading. Julie's research suggests that fox squirrels move into residential communities as planted trees, particularly pines, mature. In releasing rehabilitated squirrels into new areas, local animal control officers may also be unwittingly assisting in the expansion of the fox squirrel's range.

Until recently, I thought of the fox squirrel simply as a nuisance. But last year, something happened that made the fox squirrel more than an amusing annoyance.

In the spring, I was fortunate enough to photograph nesting Red-breasted Nuthatches on the Chadwick Campus where I teach. (I watched them fledge young successfully the year before—the first time in 20 years on the PV Peninsula—but had no photographs to prove it.) A few days after I photographed the nestlings, I returned to the area and found silence and no bird activity. Below the nest hole lay one dead nestling. There was no sign of the others. I suspected that the nestlings were the victims of fox squirrels, which had overrun our campus that year.

Late in January this year, I came upon direct evidence that fox squirrels were predators of tree-nesting birds. During an interview at Harbor Park, I spotted a fox squirrel eating something that looked suspiciously avian. After the Peninsula News' Tom Underhill took a photograph, I approached the squirrel and saw that it was, as a matter of fact, eating a nestling.

My request for information on a bird listserve triggered a stream of responses. Although fox squirrels feed mostly on vegetable matter, particularly pine cone seeds, these "arboreal opportunistic omnivores" do eat bird eggs and nestlings, and perhaps adults.

Apparently, fox squirrels have leapt into an unoccupied niche here in Southern California. (Presumably, birds in the native habitat of fox squirrels have adapted to these predators, which themselves are probably limited by other predators.)

The case against fox squirrels seems clear enough to me, although I see some philosophical quandaries.

Neither the pines, nor the fox squirrels, nor the nuthatches, for that matter are native to this area. They are all present as a consequence of human activities.

Furthermore, many people like having squirrels in their yards as much as I like having birds. On the other hand, fox squirrels are indiscriminate feeders. As their populations grow, fox squirrels will likely take over native trees and eat nestlings there as well. There are no predators to keep their numbers in check. Native plant horticulturist Tony Baker has told me that Cooper's hawks nesting in his yard did put a temporary end to the plundering of his fruit trees by fox squirrels. But when the hawks fledged their young and left the yard, the fox squirrels returned.

It is likely that fox squirrels are joining crows, ravens, and developers as yet another challenge to local bird life. It's an open question whether our locally breeding native birds can withstand the additional strain.

Personally, I believe that the feeding of Eastern Fox squirrels should be discouraged. Those of us who enjoy having native birds at our feeders or who dislike having marauders stealing fruit from our trees have much less at stake than the native songbirds or the Gray Tree Squirrels.

I can understand people's affection and sympathy for cute and furry creatures who are not responsible for the ill-conceived notions of humans who brought them here. What I don't understand is how some individuals can justify allowing invasive species to take over.

Who would support the suffering and countless deaths of native species caused by competition and predation by a species whose population is large and secure in its native range?

One of my greatest concerns about the impending West Coast arrival of West Nile Virus (WNV) is the threat that over-reaction poses to Harbor Park and similar critical pieces of our natural heritage. I doubt anyone can be unaware of WNV, given the barrage of overstatement and panic that has been spread recently by officials and the media. Nor do I doubt that it is a real problem. The effects on both wildlife, and to a lesser extent, humans have been serious. Nevertheless, a useful solution to the problems WNV poses is something that requires careful thought and planning. Taking a fly swatter, however large, to WNV will create problems far more serious than the ones we are attempting to solve.

Most mosquito species in California known to bite humans have been shown to be vectors for WNV. Thus, every place where mosquitoes breed is a potential problem site. Since WNV transmission to humans is dependent on an avian intermediary, places with concentrations of birds and available water, like Harbor Park, draw special attention from those trying to control WNV. Fortunately, a mosquito habitat reduction program is something that Audubon and city, county and state agencies have been working on, with great success, I believe.

At the same time, we have been working to limit the destruction of bird and wildlife habitat values that an indiscriminate mosquito control program at the park would cause. Mitch Heindel has taken the lead for us in working with LA City crews to remove excess vegetation around the lake. Martin Byhower has also been a critical part of the decision-making process. We expect that as vegetation removal ceases with the onset of nesting season, mosquito breeding habitat in the lake will be reduced to tolerable levels.

However, there are a vast number of sources of mosquitoes around us. Every discarded tire, every pile of Styrofoam cups, every puddle that persists for a few days is mosquito habitat. Yet when WNV arrives, high profile fingers will be pointed at places like Harbor Lake, saying that's where the problem is, that's where we should rip out the native plants and sterilize the lake. And the media will be there playing panic to its limits.

There are many people working to prevent this from happening through public education and hands-on preventive actions. I hope it will be enough. After all, what will we be as a community if we lose our heritage in trying to "win" this battle?

The more we learn about pollution, the more we learn how we have been underestimating the damage it does. The latest victim, it appears, is the southern sea otter, a small marine mammal familiar to tourists along the central California coast. Until 1995, it appeared that restrictions on fishing and other activities were leading to a steady recovery of the species, which is listed on both Federal and state endangered species lists. However, since 1995, when the sea otter population reached 2,100 animals, the number of sea otters has been declining.

Recently, Sea Grant researchers at the University of California at Davis found strong evidence linking parasites in cat droppings washed into streams and coastal waters with brain infections in sea otters. Otters near heavy freshwater flows are three times more likely to have been infected than otters in areas where runoff is light. Researcher Melissa Miller found that 60 percent of the dead otters in her survey had been infected by the parasite and that many likely died of the resulting disease.

In last issue's opinion piece "Stop Stalling on Storm Water," we included the City of Hawthorne in a list of local cities that support the Coalition for Practical Regulation's campaign against new efforts to stem storm water pollution. Hawthorne's City Manager called Jess Morton to say that while Hawthorne had originally supported an appeal of the new rules, it withdrew from the coalition when the appeal was denied. At the time of the article, however, the Coalition's web page still listed Hawthorne as a member.

January and February are months in which local birding effort often slows down. The Christmas Bird Counts are over, and it is often believed that all of the unusual birds have already been found and that bird movement ceases. In fact, it is usually surprising what is found at this time that was not detected in December. Since many amazing rarities have been found in California in winter, there is plenty of reason to search as many locations as possible.

The weather during January was remarkable. The recurrence of strong high-pressure ridges made January the second warmest on record, and it was only the fourth time that no measurable precipitation had been recorded for the month in Downtown LA. The dry spell was finally broken when a slow-moving storm drenched LA with 3.57 inches of rain 11-13 Feb. More significant rainfall came on 24-25 Feb and 27 Feb.

A photograph of a Laysan Albatross at a rehab facility in San Pedro was printed in the Daily Breeze on 22 Feb. It was reported that the bird had recently been discovered on a Korean tanker that was docked in the L.A. Harbor. The condition of the bird was not reported. The timing coincides well with the occurrence of this species in waters well offshore.

An 8-hr. LA Audubon pelagic trip out of Marina del Rey went south to cover the waters off the PV/South Bay area on 22 Feb andrecorded 13 Northern Fulmars, a species which is irregular in occurrence. A Brown Pelican seen by Martin Byhower (MB) on 9 Feb at Harbor Park (HP) was inland from the coast, where rare. A Cattle Egret was reported by Suzanne Carota (SC) in the upper Dominguez Channel on 6 Jan; three were at Earvin Magic Johnson Recreation Area (EMJRA) on 18 Feb (Kevin Larson-KL). A Turkey Vulture at Ballona Cr. 12 Jan (KL) was near the end of the period in which they can be assumed to be wintering, and was possibly an early migrant. A migrant Turkey Vulture was over the Carson-Torrance area on 17 Feb (Mitch Heindel-MH and KL).

An imm. Ross's Goose first found on 8 Nov by MB at HP continued through at least 23 Feb. A minima Canada Goose first found at Alondra Park (AP) on 20 Nov was last seen on 16 Feb (David Moody-DM). A "Black" Brant flew up Ballona Cr. on 12 Jan (KL). Four Brant flew north past Pt. Vicente (PtV) on 1 Feb (KL). Three swans(Tundra/Trumpeter) that flew over Torrance on the evening of 21 Feb (MH) were an unexpected surprise. An imm. male Eurasian Wigeon was at EMJRA 29 Jan - 18 Feb (KL). An imm. male White-winged Scoter was at the mouth of the L.A. River (LARM) on 4 Jan (KL). Three White-winged Scoters were reported in the Marina del Rey Harbor area (MdR) on 11 Jan (Jean Brandt and Phil Sayre). A female Black Scoter was found by Dick Norton at MdR on 7 Jan. The Long-tailed Duck at LARM (since 8 Dec) was still present on 23 Feb (KL). A Long-tailed Duck found by SC on 19-21 Feb was at least eight miles up the tidal Dominguez Channel from where it connects to the L.A. Harbor.

An adult Ferruginous Hawk was at Friendship Park (FP) in San Pedro on 4 Jan (KL); one was seen the previous winter at this location. An imm. Ferruginous Hawk was found at the Navy Fuel Depot (NFD) on 22 Dec (MH). The occurrence of two individuals in one winter in the PV area is certainly beyond expectations. Amazing was a "v" formation of 5 Sandhill Cranes that flew over MH's house in Torrance on the evening of 3 Jan, providing only the third local sighting in the past 10 years. Two Red Phalaropes were seen on the 22 Feb L.A Audubon pelagic trip out of Marina del Rey. An entirely white-plumaged California Gull that was found at Hermosa Beach on 7 Jan by Ron Melin and DM, and later seen at AP on 28 Jan (KL), appeared close to being a total albino. The legs and bill were dull pale pink, but the bill had a brownish subterminal band. The eye was nearly colorless, but not pink, as a true albino should show. An imm. Black-legged Kittiwake was spotted by Bernardo Alps (BA) on a whale watch trip off the south end of the PV Peninsula on 11 Jan and an adult was seen from PtV on 1 Feb (KL).

A concentration of Common Murres below the cliffs at Pt. Fermin on 3 Jan, conservatively estimated at 350, and possibly up to 500, was an extraordinarily large number to be encountered this far south (MB). A Marbled Murrelet was in the harbor at MdR 9 Jan - 12 Jan (Kimball Garrett). There are only a few sightings of Marbled Murrelet in the county in recent memory: I saw one at Dockweiler St. Beach just to the south of MdR on 17 Dec 1999. Many observers saw one in the harbor at MdR from 16 Nov 1997 - Jan 1998. Alcid species recorded by BA on the 11 Jan whale watch trip mentioned above included one Common Murre, one Cassin's Auklet and four Rhinoceros Auklets. A group of three Cassin's Auklets flew past PtV on 11 Jan (KL). Three Common Murres, nine Cassin's Auklets and eight Rhinoceros Auklets were seen from PtV on 1 Feb (KL). Mike San Miguel tallied eight Common Murres, two Cassin's Auklets and five Rhinoceros Auklets at PtV on 10 Feb. LA Audubon's pelagic trip on 22 Feb was treated to a great showing of alcids, including 22 Common Murres, 2 Ancient Murrelets, 383 Cassin's Auklets and 40 Rhinoceros Auklets; many of these were sighted in the Redondo Canyon area.

A male Costa's Hummingbird at the San Pedro Community Gardens on 1 Feb (MH) was the first to be reported locally since mid-November. A female Nuttall's Woodpecker first found by DM at AP on 21 Oct was still there on 28 Feb. A wintering Gray Flycatcher was found at the south end of HP on 19-20 Jan (KL, MB). The Eastern Phoebe found by Rusty Scalf on 22 Dec was still in the canyon below Peck Park on 1 Feb (KL). A well-described (including calls) Western Kingbird was seen by DM on the amazing date of 6 Feb at AP. It is difficult to categorize this sighting since this species is exceedingly rare in winter, and migrants normally do not arrive until March. There may have been two Plumbeous Vireos wintering at HP; one was at the north end of the park on 23 Dec (MH) and there was another sighting in the southeast corner on 19 Jan (KL). A locally wintering Cassin's Vireo was found on 19 Jan at AP (DM); it was seen later on 28 Jan (KL).

No Tree Swallows were noted in the area over the course of the winter. The first spring migrant Tree Swallows were five at AP and one at Madrona Marsh (MM) on 20 Feb (DM). The first Violet-green Swallow was also seen by DM at AP on 20 Feb. A few No. Rough-winged Swallows came through early: one at AP 6 Feb (DM), one at HP 8 Feb (KL) and one at EMJRA 9 Feb (KL). The first migrant Cliff Swallows to be detected were 15 at AP on 25 Feb (KL). Increased numbers of Barn Swallow sightings in recent winters continues to be a curiosity. On 11 Jan, I observed a total of 11 Barn Swallows in three widely separated locations in the area. Three Barn Swallows were at EMJRA on 29 Jan, and five were there on 18 Feb (KL). It is now difficult to determine how late in the year winterers of this species remain, or how early the first spring migrants arrive. More Red-breasted Nuthatches were wintering in the area than previously thought; an additional four were found in pine areas of RPV on 25 Jan (KL). Another White-breasted Nuthatch was detected in RPV on 25 Jan (KL)—part of a recent local invasion.

No Rock Wrens were found in the PV area during the CBC period in late December despite searches at Forrestal Quarry (FQ), the last place where they were reliably found. A Rock Wren was seen at a temporary rockpile at Ocean Trails 5-11 Jan (KL, MB). It is not known whether this bird wandered from nearby FQ, or if it is a migrant winterer. It is unclear whether Rock Wrens are still resident on the peninsula. I was alerted in January to a well-described Winter Wren that was present in the Lawndale yard of Brad Henderson. The Four Mountain Bluebirds that were found at NFD on the 22 Dec CBC were still present on 11 Jan (MH); two were seen there on 1 Feb (KL). Varied Thrushes continued at Sand Dune Park (SDP) through at least 11 Feb; at least two, possibly three, were there on 29 Jan (KL).

A Magnolia Warbler, exceedingly rare as a winterer, was found by Don Sterba in Culver City on 5 Jan, and was still present in mid-February. DM must have muttered expletives on 21 Jan when a wintering Hermit Warbler resurfaced at Wilderness Park (WP); it could not be found around the time of the CBC in Dec, although it had been present 19 Nov-10 Dec. Another wintering Hermit Warbler was at the El Segundo Library (ESL) on 16 Feb (KL). The Black-and-white Warbler first found by Richard Barth on 17 Oct at ESL was still present 16 Feb (KL). The adult male American Redstart that was first seen on 7 Dec for the fifth winter at HP was singing on 28 Feb (MH). An imm. male American Redstart at WP 10 Jan - 2 Mar (DM) was wintering locally.

A male Summer Tanager was found at the PV Landfill on 15 Feb (KL). A female Summer Tanager continued at SDP through at least 18 Jan. Previously undetected Lark Sparrows were found in Jan; two were at Ernie Howlett Park on 1 Jan (KL) and 8 were at Green Hills Mortuary on 11 Jan (MH). The fifth consecutive fall/winter occurrence of "Large-billed" Savannah Sparrow on the jetty at MdR spanned the dates of 2 Sep 2002 and 2 Feb 2003. A junco at FP on 4 Jan (KL) mostly resembled a J.h. caniceps "Gray-headed" Junco, but had a cinnamon/buff wash extending forward on the sides and a white belly, indicating that it may have been a hybrid that is known to occur between the races of "Gray-headed" and "Pink-sided" Juncos. On 24 Jan, MH saw the Rusty Blackbird at HP that he first found on 16 Nov. Common Grackle sightings continued into January at EMJRA. Up to three were intermittently there since 30 Dec: one on 18 Jan (MB) and at least one on 19 Jan (Sandy Koonce). A female Baltimore Oriole was along Malaga Cr. at the end of Via Tejon in PVE on 2 Feb (KL). MH perfectly described the call notes of a Cassin's Finch that flew over HP on 1 Feb; this species occurs only casuallyin coastal So. Cal.

Summarized here are a few first arrival dates of spring migrants: Tree Swallow—20 Feb AP and MM (DM); Violet-green Swallow—20 Feb AP (DM); No. Rough-winged Swallow—6 Feb AP (DM); Cliff Swallow—25 Feb AP (KL).

Thanks to all who reported sightings during the period. Please send your sightings to cbirdr@attbi.com for the Palos Verdes/South Bay area and vicinity, including areas east to the L.A. River, north to about the 105 fwy, and the coast up to Marina del Rey.

The Environmental Priorities Network (EPN) is sponsoring its second annual Earth Day conference,Saving Spaceship Earth, on April 26th at the Olguin Auditorium of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro on 3720 Stephen White Drive. The conference will coincide with the Aquarium's Earth Day Festival. Admission to the festival, the conference, and the aquarium is free.

The conference will open at 8:00 am for registration and for coffee and bagels. From 9:00 am until 1:00 PM, a distinguished group of five speakers will tackle some of the more pressing issues affecting our nation and our community, and will suggest action to promote the health of our planet. Time will be allotted for questions from the audience.

The aim of the conference is to inspire environmental activism and opposition to the present policies of exploiting the world's natural resources at any cost.

All human society depends on the health of the Earth, and to destroy its air, water, land, and wildlife for the sake of short-term financial gain is to destroy our own home. Yet, as this thirty-third anniversary of Earth Day approaches, we are facing the dismantling of those laws and regulations that the first Earth Day gave rise to. The Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act _which requires Environmental Impact Reports and citizen oversight - have been under blatant and unceasing attack by this Administration and this Congress.

Does it bother you that our government has been encouraging oil drilling, logging, and mining in millions of acres of public land, including national monuments and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? What about the Administration's proposal that the nation's biggest polluter, the military, be exempted from environmental laws, leaving it free to write off nuclear weapons sites and other large areas of land?

Since the nuclear threat hanging over the world is arguably the biggest danger we face, the conference's first speaker, Daniel Hirsch, will address the issue of the administration's nuclear policies. Mr Hirsch, President of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, has an impressive record. He has served as director of an interdisciplinary research and teaching program at UC Santa Cruz for five years, and has consulted for a dozen governmental and private entities on nuclear terrorism, safety, and proliferation issues. Mr. Hirsch has also received awards for "Extraordinary Contributions to the Environment" from the UN Environmental Programme (1996), the California League of Conservation Voters (1999), and the Southern California Federation of Scientists (1997), among many other honors.

Mr. Hirsch will enlighten us about three new provocative and dangerous policies proposed by the current Administration that allow the preemptive use of nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state, that blur the distinction between conventional and nuclear weapons, and that lower the threshold for the possible use of these weapons.

At 10:00 am, Preeti Aroon will speak on opposing the administration's dismantling of our environmental protection infrastructure. Ms Aroon is Executive Director of the California Field Public Interest Research Group and frequently travels to Washington to lobby for environmental legislation.

After a half-hour break that may be used to visit the booths of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Festival, the conference will resume with a panel presenting different points of view on how to keep our communities healthy and sustainable. Three speakers with much expertise and knowledge in these matters will deal with clean air, clean water, protecting wetlands and green areas, urban sprawl, wise use of energy, environmental justice, and making our neighbors more aware of these issues.

Michael Feinstein is a Santa Monica city councilman and former mayor, who has worked hard to make that city a model for environmental protection measures. A charismatic speaker, Mr Feinstein has been active with the Green Party since 1988, and has organized conferences and events on local, state, national, and international levels. In 1996 he was elected to the City Council; in 2000 he was reelected to a second term and then appointed mayor by his colleagues for a two-year period.

A second participant in the discussion will be Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg, a member of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Health, Public Safety, and on Water, Parks and Wildlife. From 1993 to 2001, she was an effective and respected member of the Los Angeles City Council. Her command of the issues, her energy, and her passion are sure to make her presentation interesting.

We are very fortunate to have another strong environmental advocate on our panel. Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal has had legislation signed into law that reduces diesel emissions at LA ports, and requires the ports to cover open petroleum coke piles. He has been a vocal leader in the drive to clean the LA River, securing funding for that purpose in the last three budgets. As a member of the Assembly Committees on Natural Resources and on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, he has secured funds to reduce pollution on area beaches. In 2001, he was named " Legislator of the Year" by the League of California cities.

The Environmental Priorities Network invites you to attend this great conference not only for your own enjoyment, but to make a statement that you care about the health of our planet and will oppose the slash and burn agenda of the current White House and Congress. For more information contact Lillian Light at 310-545-1384 or at lklight@ aol.com or Beth Muir at 310-374-2640 or at bmuir1112@aol.com.

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Earth Day Festival will be held on aquarium grounds on April 26th from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. More than 35 organizations and agencies will offer books and environmental items for sale, and will display, demonstrate, and distribute information and materials. Games and interactive activities for all ages will be featured. There will be drawings for free merchandise, and food will be available from invited vendors. For further information, call the Aquarium at 310-548-7562 (Steven Vogel, Extension 5026; Linda Chilton, Extension 5007). The program begins with a beach cleanup from 8:00 to 10:00 am.

Finally, join us in honoring YES! students who have contributed 50 hours of service to the environment. The award ceremony will take place at 3:30 pm in the Aquarium's auditorium.

In February, Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) introduced AB 998, which would generate incentives for "non-toxic" dry-cleaning. The bill would place a fee of $3 on each gallon of perchloroethylene or "PERC." PERC, which is commonly used in dry cleaning, is linked to several types of cancer, reproductive disorders, infertility, and impaired liver and kidney function.

In December 2002, the South Coast Air Quality Management District launched a phase-out of PERC that includes $2 million in grants for alternatives to PERCs. Funds from the fees generated by AB 998 would help dry-cleaners switch to non-toxic alternatives.

Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon's

THREE BIRDATHONS

A Fundraiser for Audubon Chapter Programs

Help make the Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Three Birdathon Teams into fundraising stars. They are already bird-watching stars. You can join one of the teams as a birder and/or make a financial pledge to any or all three teams. You yourself can contribute as well as gather pledges from family, friends, and at workplace.

Here's how it works. A birding team goes out during a 24-hour period and identifies as many species as possible. If you pledge $1.00 per species and the team sees 120 species, you will be sent a list of the birds that the team saw in exchange for your check for $120.00. All Birdathon contributions are used for Audubon programs.

Here's the line-up of teams:

The Palos Verdes/South Bay Wirdbotchers are led by Bob Shanman and Jess Morton. The Wirdbotchers expect to see 105-125 species. Call 310-326-BIRD (2473) if you have questions. Bob and his Wild Birds Unlimited staff will take pledges over the phone, too.

The Palos Verdes/South Bay Wild Bunch are led by Lillian Light and Ollie Coker. The Wild Bunch expects to see 80 species. For more information, contact them at lklight@aol.com or 310-545-1384.

The PV/South Bay Bush-Whackers are led by Martin and Eileen Byhower, Steve Dexter, Kevin Larson and Carol Selvey. They expect to see 120 species. Contact Martin at MBinRBC@aol.com or 310-539-0050.

PALOS VERDES/SOUTH BAY AUDUBON BIRDATHON PLEDGE FORM

Mail pledges or fixed amount checks to PV/SB Audubon, P.O. Box 2582, Palos Verdes, CA 90274

I pledge to support the PV/South Bay Birdathon ______

I pledge or am sending a fixed amount of $_______.

I pledge $_____ per species seen.

Please credit my pledge to the Birdathon Team indicated below:

PV/SB Wirdbotchers ____ PV/SB Wild Bunch ____ PV/SB Bush-Whackers ____

Your Name: ____________________________________________ Phone: ____________________

Address: _______________________________________________ Email: ____________________

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On February 18, Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) held a midday rally in Venice to rally citizen opposition to the Bush Administration's withering attack on environmental protection, including its plans for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) - one of the nation's last remaining pristine wilderness areas.

The rally marked the beginning of a two-month long education campaign designed to develop grassroots opposition to drilling in ANWR and to other environmental rollbacks. The education campaign will culminate on Earth Day, April 22.

"Our environment is one of our nation's most valuable resources," said Harman.

"The Bush Administration does not get this message," Harman said. "They continue to roll back vital environmental safeguards designed to protect our land, water and air. Just last week, Republicans added anti-environmental riders to a major spending bill. Today, we are sending a strong signal to the Administration that Californians cannot and will not stand for these antienvironmental policies.

"Our voices can join millions of Americans who oppose drilling in ANWR," said Harman. "Together, we can force Washington to listen. The solution is not drilling, it is clean energy and conservation."

When the Administration and both houses of Congress are pushing anti-environmental measures, we must redouble support for our legislators. In the Climate Stewardship Act, our Congressional representatives have yet another opportunity to roll back the tide of anti-environmentalism in Washington. Senate Bill 139 was introduced by Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut and Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona.

The bill provides our country with an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gases, in spite of the fact that the United States has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gases. (One hundred other countries already have ratified this treaty.) The bill holds industry accountable for meeting goals to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

Senator Dianne Feinstein will be under great pressure to oppose S. 139. We need to urge her to cosponsor and strongly support the bill. Once it is passed in the Senate, we can be confident that Congresswoman Harman will champion the bill in the House of Representatives.

Contact:

• Senator Dianne Feinstein
• 331 Hart Senate Office Building
• Washington, DC 20510
• Email: senator@feinstein.senate.gov
• Tel: 202-224-3841 or 310-914-7300

Superb birding, lectures, hikes, activities for children, music, and a picnic at County Park are all part of this second annual birding festival at Mono Lake. See www.birdchautauqua.org for regular updates about the program AND for registration, which open April 15. Participation will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Registration fee is $25. Mono Lake is located near the town of Lee Vining on Hwy 395, 350 miles north of Los Angeles and on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, parallel with Yosemite National Park.

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.

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.