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.