Live raptors will be guests at meeting of the Central Sierra Audubon Society
Live raptors will be on hand at the Tuolumne County Library on Wednesday, May 15.
Jenny Papka of Native Bird Connections (NBC) will present non-releasable birds and tell their stories for the 6:30 p.m. Central Sierra Audubon meeting at the Tuolumne County Library, 480 Greeley Road in Sonora.
Any interested members of the community are invited to participate. The presentation also will be carried over Zoom simultaneously.
Raptors are birds of prey that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates. They have a hooked beak and large, sharp talons. Among raptors are hawks, eagles, owls and vultures.
Papka holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from UC Davis in Environmental Interpretation. She has been involved with wildlife since 1988, first with Lindsay Museum for 13 years, and with Native Bird Connections for 24 years. Native Bird Connections is permitted with the state and federal Fish and Wildlife Departments to conduct educational programs within Northern California. NBC supports 12 non-releasable raptors as educational partners.
Papka maintains the NBC collection, delivers all of the programs and consults with like organizations locally and beyond. She is an advisor for the Mount Diablo Peregrine Team and the Kestrel Campaign in the Mount Diablo region.
She has experience with most California native wildlife and over 30 species of raptors. She received the William Penn Mott Jr. Environmental Award from the Orinda Association in 2009.
The Zoom login information is https://us02web. zoom.us/j/89307683859. This information also is available on the CSAS website at www.centralsierraaudubon.org.
May bird outings
The CSAS website contains maps for each field trip and will also indicate cancellations due to weather or other reasons. The website is www.centralsierraaudubon.org/field-trips/.
• Saturday, May 18, Calaveras Big Trees State Park with Stanislaus Audubon — Stanislaus Audubon members will make their annual visit to Big Trees and cordially invite CSAS members and other interested persons to join them. Trip leader will be President Sal Salerno. Salerno says this is an opportunity to see mountain species of warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers, wrens and vireos beginning their breeding season. More uncommon species such as Pileated Woodpecker or Northern Pygmy-owl may also be seen.
Participants will meet the group leaders at the main parking lot at 9 a.m. There is a day-use fee of $10 per car. Bring water and lunch, sturdy shoes and insect repellant. The trip with lunch will last until around 2 p.m.
• Sunday, May 26, Indigeny Reserve — Kit Degear will lead a bird walk through the grounds of Indigeny. Besides the apple orchards, there are large oaks, some pines, streamside tickets and a marshy area with reeds that provide some great habitat for birds. The walk will last two to three hours. Children are welcome. Meet in the parking lot at 8 a.m. Rain will cancel the trip. Follow the signs from the intersection of Greenley and Lyons-bald Mountain Roads in Sonora, then turn right onto Apple Hill Drive where there is a large sign that says “Apple Valley Ranches.” A quick left turn onto Summers Lane leads to Indigeny. Bring binoculars and/or scopes, wear muted colors and possibly a hat, sunscreen and water. Trip leader Kit Degear (925-822-5215) or kdegear@gmail.com.