Serving Merced and Stanislaus Counties

WELCOME!

Welcome to the digital home of the Stanislaus Audubon Society. The Board of Directors invite you to join us on a journey of discovery, education and birding with intent. Stanislaus Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment and protection of birds and other wildlife by engaging people of all ages. Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries.

Join our Social Circles and let's go birding!

Daniel Gilman,
Secretary

LOCAL AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Established in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the longest running community science survey in North America. Stanislaus and Merced County birders of all levels are invited to participate in Stanislaus Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Counts. Each count area will have at least one experienced birder to help with identifying birds during the survey. These counts not only gather vital survey data for National Audubon Society, but they also present opportunities for birders to see dozens of species, and hundreds of individual birds, in one day. Please consider joining us for these enjoyable citizen science surveys.

12/20/2025 - La Grange Waterford Count
12/29/2025 - Los Banos Count
1/4/2026 - Caswell/Westley Count

For more information visit the Upcoming Events website

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATE FOR RENEWING OR NEW AUDUBON MEMBERS

Audubon memberships are processed by National Audubon Society. If you are a member, your membership number and expiration date will no longer appear on your newsletter label, but on your Audubon magazine label. You should receive Audubon magazine quarterly. If you wish to receive Valley Habitat electronically, or if you have questions about your membership status, please feel free to contact John Harris at jhh.birder@gmail.com

If you are not a current member, please consider joining during this opportune time to do so. Membership donations from all new members go directly to your local chapter in your first year of membership. This would help to pay for our chapter’s operating expenses for the Grayson Scholarship, printing of Valley Habitat, tabling events, and presenting Zoom bird programs, among other activities. Our chapter code is C36. You may join National Audubon Society at this website: Audubon Member Benefits

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL BIRDS

By Jim Gain

Wood Duck

As Featured in the NOV-DEC Valley Habitat

The Wood Duck is arguably the most spectacularly beautiful duck in the Central Valley. It is a Fairly Common Year-round Resident throughout the wetlands and waterways of the valley.Wood Ducks have a unique shape among ducks—a boxy, crested head, a thin neck, and a long, broad tail. In flight, they hold their head up high, sometimes bobbing it.

- > Visit the Spotlight on Local Birds page to read the rest of the story.

2025 GRAYSON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

Ally Watkins, a graduate student of Stan State, is the seventh recipient of the Grayson Scholarship awarded by Stanislaus Audubon Society. On April 23, 2025, Sal Salerno gave the $1,000 check to Ally on the campus.

Our chapter would greatly appreciate any directed donations from its members for the scholarship. Donations may be sent by check to Stanislaus Audubon Society, with “scholarship” in the memo line, to P.O. Box 4012, Modesto, CA 95352

DEDICATION OF NATIVE BIRD EDUCATION PANEL
ON THE VIRGINIA CORRIDOR TRAILWAY

A new educational bird panel with cool illustrations and interesting facts, is now on display on the Virgina Corridor Trail and Bowen Ave. This panel will make birdwatching fun for all ages thanks to the City of Modesto Cultural Commission and the Stanislaus Audubon Society.

The new Native Bird Education Panel highlights 10 common birds of Modesto and features outstanding photographs from the Stanislaus Audubon's award-winning photographer and Board Member, Richard Brown.

Please visit the Native Bird Education Panel page to see more photographs of the dedication, read the dedication spoken by Board President Sal Salerno and to learn more about the 10 featured birds.

MODESTO WASTEWATER FACILITY 2025 ACCESS UPDATE:

As of 7/9/2025: DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION THE PONDS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

This schedule is subject to change without notice. Please visit the Modesto Sewage Ponds page for more information.

*NEXT OPEN DATES:

June: Sunday 29th - cancelled due to ongoing construction
July: Sunday 13th
July: Sunday 27th
August: Sunday 10th
August: Sunday 24th

*Be sure to contact the ponds on the Monday before the Open Date.

FROM EBIRD:

Recent Species Sightings

A Magnolia Warbler was discovered by Daniel Gilman @ Dry Creek Park West of McClure Rd., Stanislaus County, on 10/20/2025 and seen by many over the next couple of days
© Mark Elness

Black-throated Gray Warbler (male) @ Dry Creek Park West of McClure Rd., Stanislaus County, on 10/20/2025.
© Jim Gain

Townsend's Warbler (female) @ Dry Creek Park West of McClure Rd., Stanislaus County, on 10/20/2025.
© Jim Gain

Baird's Sandpiper (1) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, were reported on eBird on 8/27/2025 by Jim Gain and Jim Ross.
© Jim Gain

Solitary Sandpiper (1) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, was reported on eBird on 8/18/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Marbled Godwit (1) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, were reported on eBird on 8/06/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Lesser Yellowlegs (7) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, were reported on eBird on 7/30/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Red-necked Phalaropes (2) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, were reported on eBird on 7/30/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Wilson's Phalaropes (78) @ Ceres WTP, Stanislaus County, were reported on eBird on 7/30/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Phainopepla (1) @ Del Puerto Canyon was reported on eBird on 5/28/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Bald Eagle (1) @ Del Puerto Canyon was reported on eBird on 6/19/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Forster's Terns (35) @ Turlock Lake--county fishing access was reported on eBird on 6/18/2025 by Jim Gain.
© Jim Gain

Recent Additions to the Stanislaus County Bird List

YELLOW-FOOTED GULL

On Sunday,April 27, 2025, Jim Gain and Jim Ross found an adult YELLOW-FOOTED GULL at the restricted Modesto Wastewater Treament Facilities during their once-monthly schedule for a bird survey open to the public.
Photo by Jim Gain.

BLACK SKIMMERS

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Jim Gain found two BLACK SKIMMERS at the restricted Modesto Wastewater Treament Facilities during their once-monthly schedule for a bird survey open to the public.
Photo by Jim Gain.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Jodi Smith found a ROSEATE SPOONBILL at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was seen among egrets and herons all that weekend by local and out-of-town birders. Photo by Mark Elness. The spoonbill was still being seen as of November 22.

GET TO KNOW THE CITY OF MODESTO'S OFFICIAL CITY BIRD

THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE

Yellow-billed Magpie Range Map

The City of Modesto is located near the geographic center of the Yellow-billed Magpie's range (See Range Map). These handsome, intelligent and boisterous birds are only found here in California. Their contrasting black-and-white body, wings and tail with blue-green iridescent accents, make them easy to identify. Magpies are large birds, measuring nearly seventeen inches in length, with a wingspan of twenty four inches. Their diet centers on insects, seeds, nuts and fruit; however they will eat almost anything, including roadkill, nestlings, eggs and rodents. They nest in colonies of fifteen to twenty pairs and build their large, dome-covered nests high up in trees. They can be found anywhere in Modesto; however, if you want to look for this beautiful bird, we suggest Dry Creek Regional Park or MJC West Campus on most mornings.

DOS RIOS - A PROPOSED CALIFORNIA STATE PARK

3559 SHILOH ROAD - This newest California state park opened on June 12, 2024. At this writing, there is no entrance fee during its initial opening phase. This state park is currently open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. As of February 17, 2025, the park will also open on most Monday state holidays. NEW TRAILS! As of June 6, 2025, nearly all of the established trails, seven in all, will be open for walking. Fishing and swimming access will also be available at certain areas, as well. There are also several guided walks offered with a park interpreter. These tours are often theme-oriented, and they range from two-miles to six-miles roundtrip. Stanislaus Audubon is pleased that birdwatching walks have been scheduled, and our chapter will offer its own field trips in the future. Tables and ramadas are available for those who wish to picnic by the oxbow pond. Here is a links to the events page: https://www.parks.ca.gov/Events/?page_id=31363

Updated June 7, 2025

THREE HONORED STANISLAUS COUNTY BIRDERS
by Sal Salerno

Harold Reeve (314), Eric Caine (305), and Jim Gain (301)

There are currently 331 bird species in Stanislaus County that have been verified in the records. Only three birders have seen 300 or more species in this county. Harold Reeve, Eric Caine and Jim Gain have been birding here since the 1980’s. They have found numerous first-time county records and other rare birds in their travels along many country roads, in refuges and reservoirs, at wastewater ponds, local parks and neighborhoods. Harold was the first to reach this impressive milestone with Northern Parula as his 300th bird, He now has 314 species, with the latest bird being the Roseate Spoonbill. Eric was next with Lesser Black-backed Gull as his 300th bird. His tally now stands at 305, with the latest bird also being the Roseate Spoonbill. Jim Gain reached 301 this year with the Yellow-footed Gull. Those three birders form the apex of the list of the other members of The Over 200 Club. If you are interested in seeing that list, check out the Over 200 Club page.

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