CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS – WE NEED YOU!

            The Christmas Bird Counts for our area are coming up next month. Stanislaus Audubon birders of all levels are invited to share in these enjoyable events.  If you can count and know a few birds by sight, your efforts would be great appreciated.  Each count area will have at least one experienced birder to help you in your sightings.   The CBCs not only gather vital bird survey data for Audubon, but they also present opportunities for you to see dozens of species, and hundreds of individual birds, in a single day. 

Los Banos CBC - Monday, December 26.  Ryan's Restaurant (San Luis Plaza, west of Los  Banos) Breakfast at 6:00 a.m., otherwise meeting at 6:30 a.m.  Compiler is John Fulton: email  merced birding @hotmail.com. TRAVEL NOTE: Highway 165 will be closed between Stevinson and Los Banos through the winter.  You must access Los Banos from I-5 and Highway 152.

Waterford-La Grange CBC - Saturday, December 17.  The Fruit Yard Restaurant  (7948 Yosemite Avenue) Breakfast at 6:00 a.m., otherwise meeting at 6:30 a.m.  Compiler is Harold Reeve: 538-0885.

Caswell-Westley CBC - Thursday, December 29.  Denny's Restaurant (2052 W. Orangeburg Avenue) Breakfast at 6:00 a.m., otherwise meeting at 6:30 a.m.  Compiler is Harold Reeve.

LINK TO PACIFIC LOON VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS OPEN!

The day that we have been waiting for, some for many years, has finally arrived! Stanislaus Audubon is pleased to announce that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has opened the southern section of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife to the public. This refuge will be open all year, from dawn to dusk. The Pelican Nature Trail is a four-mile loop that goes through wetlands, restored riparian woodlands, and old-growth valley oaks. The trailhead and parking lot are on Dairy Road.  (From Highway 132, go south on River Road for two miles, then left for one mile on Dairy Road.)

 NOTE:  The monthly field trips by Stanislaus Audubon will continue, and they often go into other areas of the refuge.