WHO WE ARE
The Stanislaus Audubon Society was formed in 1973 when Merced & Stanislaus County members voted to separate from the San Joaquin Audubon Society Chapter.
OUR MISSION
The Stanislaus Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of birds and other wildlife by engaging people of all ages in birding, education, and conservation. For more information please visit the Chapter Information Page.
San Joaquin Valley Bird Photographers Group
San Joaquin Valley Bird Photographers is a new wild bird photography group sponsored by the Stanislaus Audubon Society. The goals are to enjoy, share, educate, and discuss everything related to the birds, habitats, biology, ecology, ID, as well as gear, ethics, and conservation matters. Be good, kind, and thoughtful about the welfare of the birds, habitats, and each other. The "San Joaquin Valley", includes the flat lands and low foothills from Kern County in the south to the San Joaquin Delta in San Joaquin County.
The primary resource used for this group is Flickr. The San Joaquin Valley Bird Photographers Flickr Group, joined by invitation, is a place to share and discuss photos from the San Joaquin Valley Area. An active Flickr account is needed to join a Flickr group. If you don't already have a Flickr account, sign up for one for free at https://www.flickr.com/signup Once you have an account, send an email to jimgain58@gmail.com and request to be added to the group.
STANISLAUS AUDUBON SOCIETY REQUESTS DONATIONS 12/22/2018
The Board of Directors is requesting donations from the members of our local Audubon chapter. One targeted need is for the A.J. Grayson Scholarship, given yearly to a promising student in Environmental Sciences at C.S.U. Stanislaus. The last of the $600 scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2019. We hope to continue this scholarship for the next five years, at a cost of $3,000.
The second targeted need is to cover the printing and postage costs of The Valley Habitat. Even though membership dues to National Audubon can cover part of those costs, we are still mailing 400+ printed copies every two months, at an expense of approximately $2,500 per year. We also pay stipends for program presenters, and we have other outgoing costs as well.
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, please send a check to Stanislaus Audubon Society, P.O. Box 4012, Modesto, CA 95352. You will receive a receipt of acknowledgment.
ACCESS UPDATE TO THE MODESTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT - 9/9/2018
The Modesto Ponds are open to birders only on the second Saturday of every month. You must make an appointment at least 5 days in advance by calling 209-342-4501 or (preferably) by emailing Patricia Becerra at pbecerra@modestogov.com AND Ben Koehler at bkoehler@modestogov.com. Upon receiving permission, you will meet the operator at the gate at 8:00 a.m. You will then fill out the Liability Release Form when you sign in, and then pick up a map which clearly identifies the areas open to the public. Speed limit is 25 mph. Do not cross any bridge with a vehicle. The hours of birding are 8:00 -3:00 p.m. The location of the facility is 7007 Jennings Road. The operator phone on Saturday is 209-652-8662.
ANDREW JACKSON GRAYSON, 'BIRDS OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE'
On July 12, 2016, Stanislaus Audubon Society donated "Birds of the Pacific Slope" to the Vasche Library at California State University, Stanislaus. The two-volume set of Andrew Jackson Grayson's work, consisting of his biography, field notes, and 156 watercolor prints, is housed in Special Collections. Members of the public can view these volumes by calling Special Collections (209-664-6538) or Circulation Coordinator (209-664-6561) and making an appointment to see them.
You can read the tragic saga of this "Audubon of the West" by going to "Sal's Articles" link under CHAPTER INFO.
RECENT RARE BIRD SIGHTINGS
Merced County Rare Bird Alert eBird:
- Band-tailed Pigeon: Seen on 2/15/2019 at Henderson Park
- Eurasian Wigeon: Last seen on 1/23/2019 at the Merced NWR
- Sanderling 12/27/2018 at Los Banos WTP
- Swamp Sparrow 12/22/2018 along Santa Fe Grade
- Vermilion Flycatcher 12/16/2018 at Magnuson Farm
Stanislaus County Rare Bird Alert eBird:
- Red-breasted Merganser: Last seen on 2/18/2019 at Woodward Reservoir
- Slaty-backed Gull: Last seen at Recology on 2/18/2019
- Glaucous Gull: Last seen at Recology on 2/18/2019
- Western Gull: Last seen at Recology on 2/18/2019
- Sage Thrasher: Last seen on 2/13/2019 at CSU Stanislaus
- Semipalmated Plover: Last seen on 2/10/2019 at Modesto WTP
- Short-eared Owl: Seen on 2/09/2019 at Woodward Reservoir
- Vermilion Flycatcher: Last seen on 1/27/2019 at Dawson Lake
- Swamp Sparrow: Last seen on 1/21/2019 at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park
- Pacific Wren: Last seen on 1/19/2019 at East La Loma Park
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
Stanislaus Audubon Society has started a Facebook page for Stanislaus and Merced County birders to share comments and photos on birds and birding.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- 12/27 Los Banos CBC
- 12/30 Caswell Westley CBC
* MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL INFORMATION
$20 per year
*Use forms from National Audubon Society
*Call N.A.S. at 1-844-428-3826
* Renew at www.audubon.org/renew
S.A.S. chapter code is C36. The expiration date of your membership is located on the mailing label of Valley Habitat.