(Lynn Hiel prepared the following remarks in accepting the 2006 Audubon Youth Award.)

Thank you very much for the Audubon Youth Conservation Award. For the last four years, I have been involved with the Audubon YES! program on various levels. I started out volunteering with the Peninsula Land Conservancy in my area. I collected seeds at the Forrestal Quarries, I planted at the White Point Preserve, I weeded at Chandler Preserve, and I potted seedlings at the Blue Butterfly Restoration.

I enjoyed the different facets of these projects very much. First, there was always restoration work to do. Three hours of community service meant three hours of non-stop activity: I was never bored. Secondly, I could see the visible difference my hours of service had made in terms of the barren hillside that became covered with plants, or the once littered beach now free of trash.

I have found over the years that this sense of accomplishment is unique to environmental community service.

Finally, the projects were very enriching experiences. I met and had the chance to learn from many interesting people with a vast knowledge about the natural world, an infectious enthusiasm about each tiny step of progress, an unrelenting optimism about the future, and dogged determination to get their message across. This had a profound impact on me. I did my best to mirror their qualities as I experienced many of the same difficulties myself while leading, starting programs from zero, and motivating people to get involved. However, with the investment of time, energy, and effort, there were results that brought both the rewards of accomplishments and the drive to do more.

I experienced this rewarding process in my two-year presidency of the Audubon Council and in leading the Palos Verdes High School Environment Club or E-Club. To a certain extent, linking Palos Verdes High School with the Audubon YES! program worked out for the long-term. Over the years the number of active E-Club members has also grown tremendously. Through leading the recycling program at PV High and participating in the Audubon restoration activities, all 40 members are spreading environmental awareness and volunteerism at the high school everyday.

Since I am graduating this year, the E-Club will assume new leadership and it will continue at Palos Verdes High. As for me, I am still in the process of selecting universities. I plan to study Civil Engineering with an emphasis on architecture and sustainable design. I believe these disciplines driven by innovative thinking have the unique abilities to create new relationships between people and their environment. I imagine buildings functioning like trees and cities mimicking forests. I dream of contributing to the design of this clean, green world.

On a global and political level there is also a great need to protect the environment. The ominous reports about the devastating consequences of global warming, earth dimming, and species extinction cause many people to throw their hands up and loose hope. I really like the way Al Gore described the predicament in a recent article. He cited the Chinese expression for the word "crisis." It consists of two Chinese characters. The first is a symbol for "danger"; the second is a symbol for "opportunity." The Audubon YES! program has given me both this outlook and this opportunity.

Thank you very much for the award and the memories.

	Audubon YES! Award Winners (l-r) Erik Kramer, Ben Goodman, Shaun Mansour, Takanori Ohkubo, Brian Li, and Austin Bates. Not pictured: Marcus Awakuni, Carolyn Kim, Eric Mogel, Jay Riley, Bijan Rizi, and Ryan Tikker.	Chapter Board Member Swati Yamanadal with Audubon YES! Award recipient Cze-ja Tam.

Are you interested in the aerodynamics of the wandering Albatross or the rich birdlife of Ballona Wetlands? Well, come to the Chapter Third Tuesday Get-Togethers on June 20 and July 18, 7:00pm at the Madrona Marsh Preserve. Besides listening to fascinating talks, you will be able to test your bird knowledge in a bird quiz, and test your luck with a raffle, with prizes from Wild Birds Unlimited.

On June 20, the Chapter is hosting Phil Barnes, who will wow you with the insights of an aeronautical engineer into how the Albatross can soar around the Earth without flapping its wings, and how this remarkable creature is threatened by modern fishing practices.

On July 18, Lisa Fimiani will describe the efforts of Friends of Ballona Wetlands to restore one of the South Bay's few remaining wetlands and open areas. Lisa is no stranger to Audubon, since she serves on the board of directors of California Audubon.

Chapter Get-Togethers begin at 7:00pm at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center. Come and socialize with friends, enjoy the bird quiz, raffle, and prizes.

Here's the line-up of Chapter Get-Togethers :

· August: No meeting.

· September: Bernardo Alps on sea birds of the South Bay.

· October: Connie Vadheim on native plants that can attract birds and butterflies to your backyard.

· November: Kimball Garrett on a subject to be determined.

· December: Holiday Party!!

The Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon is a partner with many organizations, individuals, and businesses, and these associations help define who we are and what we are about. Here is how I describe us.

We are a lot about birds. The Audubon chapter offers bird walks at the South Coast Botanic Garden twice a month, a monthly walk at Madrona Marsh Preserve, and a bi-monthly walk at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. Each year Audubon sponsors three birdathon teams that hit these and every other birding hot spot in the community, tallying up to 150 birds in one 24-hour period. We appreciate having so many great places to explore, and we enjoy sharing what we know with those who visit these places.

We urge our members to join the monthly Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Nature Walks and Martin Byhower's guided field trips and to learn about birds from Eric and Ann Brooks in their periodic classes at the Botanic Garden and field trips throughout California.

We are a lot about long term field science studies. Kevin Larson carries on a long chapter tradition of providing expert information on Birds of the Peninsula in his bi-monthly Hummin' column with that title. Dave Moody has revamped the Christmas Bird Count data-collection to make it a better tool for knowing about the birds in our community. Bob Shanman and his Wild Birds Unlimited store lead the Backyard Bird Count in the area each year, and Jess Morton heads up the annual butterfly count in the summer. Martin Byhower, Mitch Heindel, and Jess are THE authorities on wildlife and wildlife habitat at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. With this strong commitment to field science, Audubon members are expert witnesses at city council meetings and are often quoted in the local media when there are questions about nature in the South Bay.

We are a lot about youth education. Audubon YES! (Youth in Environmental Service) was the brainchild of a high school member of Audubon and Jess Morton, the chapter's founder. This youth-run organization is open to all high school and middle school youth and youth organizations. It offers easy, effective ways to help improve the environment. Each month students get an email with opportunities in the South Bay where a few hours of exotic plant-pulling or guiding hands-on education at Cabrillo Aquarium will make a difference, and each year those who contribute 50 hours receive an award. For those with more than 50 hours, there is the YES! Council, where environmental leadership skills can be further enhanced.

We are a lot about friendship with our human and natural community. Every Third Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. we have a Get-Together at Madrona Marsh to enjoy each other and to learn about an important environmental issue or just to marvel at beautiful photographs of spiders and flowers. And if you are feeling lucky, Wild Birds Unlimited, a very special friend to Audubon and wildlife in the area, provides raffle and bird quiz prizes. Lillian Light organizes monthly lectures and events through the Environmental Priorities Network on global and local issues. Throughout the rest of each month, you can see someone from Audubon wherever there is a meeting, a walk, or an activity that has nature as its theme. We are a friendly bunch, and we would love to have you join us and our partners at any of the events listed in the Calendar section on page 11.

The Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon is an all-volunteer organization. We have a surprisingly large array of leaders, even beyond those listed on the masthead, and we have room for more. We are looking for volunteers who will help with outreach on Third Tuesday Get-Togethers, advisors for Audubon YES!, new Board members, and writers for Hummin'. Let us know if you are interested by contacting me at 310-316-0041 or frances@monolake.org. I can already feel our South Bay Audubon community growing stronger!

Killdeer's Nest (Photo by Jess Morton.

Dave Moody (l) receiving the Conservation Biology Award from Chapter Co-President Martin Byhower.	Bill Ailor (c) of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy with the Audubon Conservation Award, accompanied by Tammy Khan of Senator Debra Bowen's office and Chapter Board Member John Nieto.
	Madrona Marsh Preserve's Tracy Drake (r), winner of the Audubon Education Award with Chapter Board Member Connie Vadheim.
The Peninsula News' Chris Boyd (l), recipient of the Audubon Environmental Journalism Award, with Chapter Co-President Martin Byhower.

Though on an attenuated scale, spring migration was well underway during March. An early Warbling Vireo on 4 March was the first of the regularly-occurring landbird migrants to arrive. Outstanding finds during March were a Little Blue Heron and a wintering Virginia's Warbler. This was a rare year in which Violet-green Swallows were easy to find. As an impressive precursor to the great number and variety of landbird migrants to later arrive, huge numbers of Western Kingbirds passed through our area beginning in early April. Notable waves of landbird migrants came after mid-April; their numbers were nothing short of spectacular by the end of the month.

The weather was interesting. Following a warm January dominated by high pressure, February, March and April fell into a trough of low pressure. It was the coolest of these periods in recent memory. Except for a few days during this stretch, temperatures were consistently below normal. Seasonal rainfall totals were running well below normal at the beginning of March. Precipitation recorded on twelve days during March and eight days in April increased seasonal totals to just a few inches below normal. The coastal marine layer was virtually absent, but came in with a vengeance beginning on 28 April. Our weather proceeded from a winter-like rainy pattern directly into June gloom. It seemed to be a spring that never was, as far as the weather is concerned—but the birding was excellent.

The Greater White-fronted Goose present at Del Rey Lagoon (DRL) since 8 Nov 2004 apparently decided to migrate this year; it was last seen on 13 Apr (Roy van de Hoek). A count of 631 migrant Brant was recorded in two hours from Pt. Vicente (PtV) on 15 Apr (Kevin Larson-KL). Two Wood Ducks were at Alondra Park (AP) 5-10 Mar (David Moody-DM). The wintering Canvasback flock at AP peaked at forty-one in number 2-19 Feb; this winter, individuals were present 16 Nov-10 Mar (DM). A wintering female Canvasback at Earvin Magic Johnson Recreation Area (EMJRA) in Willowbrook was present 10 Dec-18 Mar (KL). Single Black Scoters flew past PtV on 17 Mar, 2 Apr, and 15 Apr (KL). A female Long-tailed Duck was at the mouth of Ballona Creek 5 Feb-23 Apr (Lucio Gomes). Two different Long-tailed Ducks were seen in the Marina del Rey Harbor channel on 6 Apr (Richard Barth-RB). Hooded Merganser sightings included up to two at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh (BFM) through 18 Mar (many observers), and one at AP on 10 Mar (DM); a female at Madrona Marsh (MM) 28 Mar-6 Apr was believed to be the one that wintered there the past two years (DM).

Little Blue Heron (Ginger L. Corbin, USFWS)

From one to three Northern Fulmars were counted on four dates during March at PtV (KL); three recorded on 26 Mar were the last ones seen. Eighteen Pink-footed and thirty-one Sooty shearwaters seen from PtV on 20 Apr were the first of these species recorded locally this spring (KL). Numbers of Black-vented Shearwaters off our coast dwindled from thousands in December and January to very few in February; two at PtV on 11 Mar were the last ones reported until a straggler was seen on 2 Apr (KL). Rare inland, an adult Brown Pelican was at Harbor Park (HP) on 12 Mar (KL).

An American Bittern at BFM on 23 Mar (Edith Read) was presumably the same bird found there by RB 3-10 Feb. Least Bitterns are regularly detected at BFM and now appear to be entrenched as a resident. Prior to the creation of BFM in 2002, and its first record of this species in 2003, Harbor Park was the only place to see Least Bittern locally. Extensive reed cutting to combat mosquito-borne West Nile Virus at HP in 2005 seemed to coincide with a decline in the number of individuals detected at the park. A singing male seen there on 29 Apr (Carol Selvey) was encouraging since it was the first recorded there this year. Not renowned for its numerous occurrences of rare herons, Los Angeles County was treated to an adult Little Blue Heron at Ballona Lagoon 23 Mar-25 Apr (David Bell-DB). A wintering Cattle Egret remained at EMJRA through 25 Mar (KL); one at the L. A. River (LAR) south of Willow St. on 29 Apr was a transient (Steve Dexter).

A late Sharp-shinned Hawk was at DeForest Park (DP) on 26 Apr (RB). Rarely seen along the coast, a migrant Swainson's Hawk flew north over the Ballona area on 7 Mar (KL). A Solitary Sandpiper adjacent to LAR south of Del Amo Blvd. on 15 Apr was a spring rarity (KL, Jeff Boyd-JB); another was at HP 20-27 Apr (KL). Up to two Red Knots were at DRL 20 Apr-5 May (Daniel S. Cooper-DSC). Twelve Red-necked Phalaropes were on the water off PtV on 15 Apr (KL). A Franklin's Gull along Ballona Creek near the 90 fwy. 6-9 Apr was a nice find (RB). Over seventy Forster's Terns at King Harbor on 10 Mar was a high count (DM). Least Tern sightings at Marina del Rey on 1 Apr (Walter Lamb-WL) and 5 Apr (DB) were weeks earlier than expected.

A Common Murre in breeding plumage flying north past PtV on 19 Mar was surprising since no others were observed locally this winter (KL). A Xantus's Murrelet flew south past PtV on 8 Mar (Mike San Miguel-MSM). Ancient Murrelet sightings at PtV included one flying south on 18 Mar (MSM, KL), and four flying north on 1 Apr (KL). Cassin's Auklet sightings from PtV included eleven on 1 Apr, one on 15 Apr, and fourteen on 16 Apr (KL). Six Rhinoceros Auklets were seen from PtV on 11 Mar (KL, MSM); a late bird flew north past the point on 28 Apr (KL). Eurasian Collared-Dove sightings included two to three at EMJRA on 8 Apr (RB), and two over Sand Dune Park (SDP) on 9 Apr (KL). Seven Rufous Hummingbirds were reported in the area 11 Mar-23 Apr (KL, Barbara G. Johnson).

Incredible was a report of a Willow Flycatcher at MM 27-29 Apr (DM); this species normally arrives after mid-May. Single Gray Flycatchers were found at DP 18-20 Apr (Karen S. Gilbert-KSG), at Playa del Rey on 20 Apr (DSC), and at SDP on 21 Apr (KL) during a period of offshore wind; another was at Wilderness Park (WP) on 25 Apr (DM).

California Gnatcatcher (B. Moose Peterson, USFWS)

A Dusky Flycatcher was at WP on 25 Apr (DM). Nesting for the second year in a row, a Say's Phoebe had completed a nest at MM by 6 Apr (DM). A Say's Phoebe at White Point on 29 Apr was late (Martin Byhower-MB). The Thick-billed Kingbird found at Banning Park (BP) in Wilmington on 10 Nov was still present on 28 Apr (KL). A Loggerhead Shrike at LAR south of Long Beach Blvd. on 29 Mar (KSG) was apparently a migrant since it could not be found afterwards; my last sighting of a wintering individual in the Ballona area was on 5 Mar. A Bell's Vireo spending its third winter at DP was present 11 Oct-18 Mar (RB); one at LAR north of Willow St. on 2 Apr was a very rare spring migrant (JB). Plumbeous Vireos appear to wander widely during winter. Surprising was the late discovery of one at well-worked Harbor Park on 19 Mar (MB); another at well-worked DP 25 Oct-19 Nov (RB) did not make other appearances until 25 Mar-8 Apr (KL). A Warbling Vireo at MM on 4 Mar appears to be record-early for this spring migrant in our area (DM).

Violet-green Swallows are scarce here in most years—for example, only one was reported in this article's coverage area during 2005. Possibly due to the recurrence of low-pressure systems in our area, we saw a banner spring for this species. Sightings extending from 18 Feb to 20 Apr included high counts of 150 at LAR near Willow St. on 13 Mar (KSG), 80 at EMJRA on 12 Mar (KL), and 40 at HP 11-12 Mar (MB). An early Bank Swallow was over DP on 17 Mar (KL); another was at BFM on 29 Apr (MB). Two Red-breasted Nuthatches were at Georgene Foster's residence in Rolling Hills Estates on 4 Mar; the wintering individual at WP was still present on 17 Apr (DM). First found on 19 Nov, the Winter Wren at DP was last seen on the unexpectedly late date of 11 Apr (KL). Two Golden-crowned Kinglets found at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester on 19 Feb (KL) were still present on 19 Mar (Don Sterba).

A calling female California Gnatcatcher along the LAR bike path just south of the 405 fwy. on 16 Apr (JB) was astonishing since this species is virtually unknown as a wanderer away from breeding areas. Our only resident pair of Western Bluebirds was seen at a nest box at Ridgecrest Intermediate School in Rancho Palos Verdes 25 Mar-28 Apr (Sam Bloom). Western Bluebirds are still very rare elsewhere in our area.

Acronyms in Birds of the Peninsula AP: Alondra Park BFM: Ballona Freshwater Marsh BP: Banning Park DB: David Bell DM: David Moody DP: DeForest Park DRL: Del Rey Lagoon DSC: Daniel S. Cooper EMJRA: Earvin Magic Johnson Recreation Area HP: Harbor Park JB: Jeff Boyd KL: Kevin Larson KSG: Karen S. Gilbert LAR: Los Angeles River MB: Martin Byhower MM: Madrona Marsh MSM: Mike San Miguel PtV: Pt. Vicente RB: Richard Barth R&DH: Randy and Deanna Harwood SCBG: South Coast Botanic Garden SDP: Sand Dune Park WL: Walter Lamb WP: Wilderness Park

With only three prior records of spring transients, four sightings during the period were unusual: one was at MM 3 Mar (Colin Miller, photo); two were at AP on 30 Mar (DM); two at BP on 22 Apr (MB); and one at Chester L. Washington Golf Course on 25 Apr (Elaine Endres). Astounding was the discovery of a Wrentit in Baldwin Hills adjacent to Culver City Park 18 Mar-2 Apr (WL, photo). This species is previously unrecorded in the L. A. Basin south of its breeding areas in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Very rare in winter, a Virginia's Warbler was found in willows behind BFM 5 Mar-21 Apr (RB). A Yellow Warbler was singing on territory at the north end willows of HP as early as 8 Apr; one at DP was singing on 15 Apr (KL). The two wintering Palm Warblers at MM remained through 29 Apr (DM). A Palm Warbler seen at DP on 17 Mar (KL) and 8 Apr (Bob Beckler-BB) apparently wintered locally. An immature male American Redstart found at Ralph C. Dills Park in Paramount on 18 Dec was still present on 12 Mar (KL). The Black-and-white Warbler found by Barbara Courtois at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach on 18 Feb was seen through 11 Mar. An adult male Black-and-white Warbler found by John Ivanov on the 26 Dec Christmas Bird Count was seen again on 19 Mar. One or two Yellow-breasted Chats were at HP 27-29 Apr (MB).

A Summer Tanager along the bluffs in northern Westchester on 20 Apr was likely a lingering winterer (DSC). The Clay-colored Sparrow found at MM on 18 Jan was still present on 4 May (DM). Unrecorded as a spring migrant locally since 6 May 2000, a singing Brewer's Sparrow was at HP on 29 Apr (KL). Up to two Black-chinned Sparrows were at the Forrestal Nature Preserve 23-29 Apr (MB). Up to six wintering Lark Sparrows were at MM through March; two there on 7 Apr were the last sighted (DM). The White-throated Sparrow found at DP on 5 Jan was last seen on 8 Apr (KL); one photographed at the Rolling Hills Estates feeder of Randy and Deanna Harwood (R&DH) on 14 Apr was likely a migrant. An apparent Harris's X White-crowned Sparrow hybrid was at a feeder in Torrance on 15 Apr (Thomas Miko).

Ibis Landing (Photo by Jess Morton.)

A singing male Northern Cardinal was at HP 27-29 Apr (BB). That this bird appeared during an impressive migrational wave is intriguing; however, past records of this species in our area have been dismissed as escapees. A wintering Rose-breasted Grosbeak at R&DH's feeder in Rolling Hills Estates was last reported on 5 Mar. A female Indigo Bunting at SDP on 22 Apr (Mark Conrad) was unusually early; this vagrant was seen during an impressive wave of western migrants. Yellow-headed Blackbird sightings at BFM included one on 7 Apr (Robb Hamilton), one on 25 Apr (Colin Rogers), and over twenty on 29 Apr (MB, KL); one was at PtV on 28 Apr (KL). A female Lawrence's Goldfinch at Ridgecrest Intermediate School in Rancho Palos Verdes on 23 Apr was a rare find for our area (MB).

Summarized here are some first arrival dates of spring migrants in 2006: Elegant Tern—8 Mar PtV (MSM); Least Tern—1 Apr Marina del Rey (WL); Vaux's Swift—8 Apr EMJRA (RB) and DP (KL); Pacific-slope Flycatcher—12 Mar DP (KL); Warbling Vireo—4 Mar MM (DM); Black-headed Grosbeak—27 Mar DP (KSG); Lazuli Bunting—2 Apr MM (DM).

Here are some late dates of migrants or winterers: Sharp-shinned Hawk—26 Apr DP (RB); Herring Gull—29 Apr Ballona Creek (KL); Ruby-crowned Kinglet—29 Apr HP (MB); American Pipit—29 Apr PtV (KL); Fox Sparrow (Sooty group)—8 Apr SCBG.

Thanks to all who reported sightings during the period. Please send your sightings to me at cbirdr@comcast.net for the Palos Verdes/South Bay and vicinity, including areas east to the L.A. River, north to about the 105 freeway, and along the coast up to Marina del Rey.

The Bush Administration has proposed selling off more than one billion dollars worth of public land in order to raise money to pay for a rural schools program that has run out of funding. Bush is also asking Congress to give the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) a virtual blank check to sell off our public wildlands. Currently, BLM can sell off public land, but the law requires that the proceeds must be used to buy other land for public use. The administration wants Congress to change this law, so that it can sell our land to developers and then use 70% of the proceeds to cover its budget shortfall.

If Congress supports these radical changes, it would lead to a sale of as many as 500,000 acres of National Forest open space over the next year just to meet the President's avowed goal of raising 351 million dollars. In a letter that I received on April 26th Senator Dianne Feinstein said: "...the President has proposed selling off more than one billion dollars worth of public land, including parcels in our National Forests. Of the lands identified for public sale, I understand that 85,000 acres are in California."

Great Blue Heron (Photo by Jess Morton.)

The first phase of these sales would auction off 300,000 acres of irreplaceable land in National Forests spanning 35 different states from Virginia to California. The US Forest Service has already posted a list of "Lands Potentially Eligible for Sale" on its website.

These lands are in the middle of beloved natural treasures like California's spectacular Sierra Nevada, the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and the Alaskan Rain Forest. There is nothing in its proposal that would prevent the Bureau of Land Management from continuing to use more land sales in the future to pad the Bush budget.

Raiding the public estate to pay short-term bills is an attack on the bedrock principle that our natural heritage belongs to all Americans of this generation as well as those that follow. Can we allow a half million acres of this pristine chain of forests to be stolen from us, from our children, and from their children? Countless hiking trails, picnic areas, fishing holes, and wildlife viewing sites that now belong to any person in any state, will be sold off at rock bottom prices to waiting timber companies and developers. The National Forest Reserve System was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902. Are we going to witness its demise under this President?

We must act to safeguard America's National forests and irreplaceable public assets for all future generations. Take a few minutes now to contact Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth before he sends his final proposal to Congress. Tell him that you strongly oppose selling off public land in our National Forests to commercial interests. Insist that our natural heritage must not be for sale. Write or telephone:

• Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth
• USDA Forest Service
• 1400 Independence Ave. SW
• Washington, DC 20250
• Phone: 202 _ 205 1661

Want a plant that's easy to grow, provides food for native pollinators and seed-eating birds and adds a bright spot in the summer garden? Plant some Annual Sunflowers, then sit back and enjoy the show.

Annual Sunflower grows wild throughout much of the western United States, Canada and New Mexico. It is the native stock used to develop many of the showy ornamental sunflowers available in the marketplace.

Annual Sunflower is a representative of the Sunflower family. The "flowers" are actually composed of two different types of flowers: the showy yellow ray flowers (most people think these are petals) and the dark central disk flowers. Each flowering head contains hundreds of small flowers, making Annual Sunflower a true "pollinator magnet". You can expect many types of bees, bee-flies, beetles, butterflies and other insect pollinators to visit your garden's sunflowers. In addition, the leaves provide food for leaf-eating insects and caterpillars.

Annual sunflowers are simplicity itself to grow _ in fact, they make great plants for child gardeners. They do well in any well-drained soil as long as they get full sun. They require water while getting established, but need little (or no) water once they begin to flower. You can plant sunflower seeds anytime from fall through late spring _ so there's still time to get some in this year.

In late summer/fall, the seeds ripen, providing food for a wide range of birds including finches, jays and songbirds. I've spent hours watching birds feast on these tasty treats. Sunflowers are great (and inexpensive) fun for the entire family!

Be sure to locate your Annual Sunflowers where you can enjoy them. They do well along fences and walls, at the back of flower beds, even on parking strips. The native variety grows to 6-8 ft. tall and 3-5 ft. wide, but you can buy seed for varieties in many sizes, shapes and colors.

Be sure to save some dried seeds for next year's garden. Just keep them dry until you plant them. Compost the dead plants.

For more information on growing and purchasing this plant, visit the Madrona Marsh Nature Center. You can also learn about local native plants at the "Out of the Wilds and into Your Garden" series on the second Saturday of each month at the Center.

The transformation of White Point from an abandoned military facility to a nature preserve continues, and Audubon has become increasingly involved. Since 2001, over 90,000 native plants have been installed, returning native habitat that had dwindled during a century of agricultural and military use. As the vegetation gains hold, wildlife_particularly birds_have become increasingly conspicuous.

Audubon chapter co-president Martin Byhower has led birding tours of the 102-acre coastal San Pedro site, most recently on March 18 of this year. David Moody has begun compiling a checklist of bird species seen at the preserve, and the tally has already surpassed 100! A number of his White Point sightings have turned up in Hummin', in Kevin Larson's Birds of the Peninsula column. The White Point project is reestablishing a mosaic of California grasslands, coastal sage scrub, coastal bluff scrub and riparian habitats, so birds on the site range from seabirds and shorebirds to confirmed landlubbers.

During 2005, most of the planned trail system was constructed, including a handicapped-accessible loop. Columns of Palos Verdes stone have been built to mark each entrance point around the preserve's fenced perimeter. In early 2006, the remaining military buildings_the warhead and assembly buildings adjacent to the former nike missile launch site_were cleaned and painted as an Eagle Scout project. Installation of a native plant garden around the future visitor center is imminent, and development is underway for 19 interpretive panels to be placed in the native plant garden and elsewhere around the preserve. A permanent parking area, accessed from Paseo del Mar, will be completed by early next year.

The White Point Nature Preserve was created as a partnership between the City of Los Angeles and open space advocates, organized as the White Point Steering Committee (now the White Point Advisory Board). The Steering Committee/Advisory Board organizes volunteers and raises funds for site management, which saves the city staff time and money; without this support, the site would still be an expanse of weeds and rubble inside a barbed wire fence!

Since the preserve was opened to the public in 2002, volunteers have contributed over 7,000 hours in debris

removal, habitat restoration, educational activities, and special events such as fund raisers, which have generated tens of thousands of dollars for the preserve. Volunteers have come from local schools, scouting organizations, churches and service organizations_and from individuals who recognize the aesthetic, educational and recreational value of natural open space.

Thousands of visitors have enjoyed the open space and scenic views at White Point Nature Preserve. Children from South Shores, Leland, and White Point Elementary Schools participate in educational programs at the preserve each Spring. And, birders are discovering the diversity of fowl at the site.

Anyone interested in contributing time or money to help with development and management of the preserve can contact White Point Project Manager Andrea Vona at (310) 832-1671, or avona@pvplc.org. The Preserve is located on Paseo Del Mar between Western and Weymouth Avenue in San Pedro.

Audubon YES!: Contacts with South Bay schools and teen youth groups are wanted. If you are a teacher looking for extra-credit opportunities for your students, or if you are an adult advisor to a teen group looking for volunteer activities, become an active part of Audubon YES!, our Youth Enviornmental Service program. Audubon wants to work with you and your kids! For more information, call Jess Morton at 310 832-5601 or visit us online at www.AudubonYES.org

The Chapter also would welcome two volunteers to assist with membership and outreach for the Chapter. If this opportunity seems attractive to you, please contact Frances at frances@monolake.org.

Pick up postage-paid envelopes at Wild Birds Unlimited at PCH and Crenshaw to recycle your HP or Lexmark Inkjet cartridges. For each cartridge sent in these envelopes, $2.50 is donated to our Chapter or to South Bay Wildlife Rehab. This is a great way to reduce waste and to support your favorite organizations.

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