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!

Xavier Sandoval
Board Member

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL BIRDS: (As Featured in the MAY-JUNE Valley Habitat)

Western Kingbird
By Jim Gain

Characteristics: Western Kingbirds are monomorphic (males and females have similar appearance), and are recognized by their yellow belly, all pale-gray chest and throat and gray-brown back. They will frequently flash their white outer tail feathers as they fly out from their perch. Western kingbirds are very territorial. Their name 'kingbird' is derived from their "take-charge" behavior. These birds aggressively defend their territory, even against much larger birds such as hawks. They will attack humans, livestock, and pets when they think their young are in danger. The song of these birds is a squeaky chatter, sometimes compared to a squeaky toy. The call is a sharp loud 'whit'.

Diet: In California’s Central Valley, a Western Kingbird's diet primarily consists of a variety of insects like wasps, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, moths, flies, and true bugs, with occasional additions of spiders, millipedes, and small amounts of berries or fruits from shrubs like elderberry and hawthorn, depending on availability.

Occurrence & Distribution: Western Kingbirds are Common Summer Visitors to California’s Central Valley and are one of the earliest returning Neotropic migrants usually arriving from Mexico and Central America in mid to late March. Their sudden appearance along country road fence lines is a sure sign that Spring has arrived.

Nomenclature History: The Western Kingbird was originally known as the Arkansas Kingbird, but scientists changed its name to acknowledge its wide range across western North America.

For more information and photographs, please visit my Western Kingbird webpage. Jim Gain

MODESTO WASTEWATER FACILITY 2025 ACCESS UPDATE:

As of 2/3/2025:

This schedule is subject to change without notice. Saturdays may be removed due to various ongoing projects at the plant. Please visit the Modesto Sewage Ponds page for more information.

*NEXT OPEN DATES: Sun. 4/27, Sat. 5/10, Sun. 5/11, Sun. 5/25
*Be sure to contact the ponds on the Monday before the Open Date.

FROM EBIRD:

Recent Uncommon or Rare Species Sightings

Grasshopper Sparrow @ Del Puerto Canyon. First reported on eBird on 4/6/2025 by Ralph Baker, and then again on 4/7 by several others.

Sage Thrasher @ Woodward Reservoir 28-Mile Rd Bridge was reported on eBird on 3/31/2025 by Jim Gain and Jim Ross.

Lawrence's Goldfinches visiting Jim Gain's backyard in Hughson for a week 3/28 thru 4/4/2025

Brown Pelican is not a new bird species for Stanislaus County, but there are only a few records here. Julian Morin, a ranger at Dos Rios (a proposed California state park) spotted this juvenile associating with American White Pelicans from December 17-19, 2024 and then again on January 3, 2025, in the oxbow pond. This is likely the same bird that had been seen at the San Joaquin River NWR. Photo by Julian Morin. (Dos Rios is currently open only Fridays through Sundays.

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. Two trails are open to the public and do not require a guide, as of late November, 2024. More trails will be open to the public later on Memorial Day weekend of 2025. 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 several birdwatching tours 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 April 30, 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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