Volume 40, Issue 1
Sep/Oct, 2015
“The mission of Red Rock Audubon Society is to promote the enjoyment and
protection of birds and other wildlife through recreation, education, conservation and habitat enhancement in southern Nevada and adjacent areas.”
The project and effort at Discovery Park in Pahrump, NV continues! The most recent events include a
project that was headed by member Richard Cantino and Vice President of RRAS Carol Cantino. A
group effort was put forth to complete a temporary irrigation system to both East and West sides of
the park to install over 6,500 feet of poly tubing. They then proceeded to flush and test the lines to
ensure the system was working and irrigation to specific targeted trees would be effective and keep
them alive until a more permanent solution can be addressed at a later date.
There have been occurrences of coyotes or other wildlife that came in and chewed on the exposed
piping. Repairs were made and the system was quickly back up and running. The volunteer group consisted of homeowners in the area, a member of the master gardeners organization, members from the
R C Model airplane group, Ned (the hummingbird bander), John Hiatt and of course Richard and Carol
Cantino.
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Volume 40, Issue 1
Sep/Oct, 2015
Welcome to the 2015/2016 season. I hope everyone had a good summer birding. During
the summer our Board of Directors met multiple times to establish the chapters Vision,
Mission and Strategic Goals. These elements of Strategic Planning will provide Red Rock
Audubon Society a consistent direction and focus spanning multiple years. In addition,
Strategic Plans also establish the work & resource priorities and the Chapter’s relationship with the community. Please help continue Red Rock Audubon Society’s success by
attending meetings, field trips, volunteer on committees and join key initiatives like Jr.
Audubon, Discovery Park and Master Birders.
"We envision environments of southern Nevada and adjacent areas that contain the full complement
of native birds and other wildlife, and communities that enjoy, respect, and care for these natural resources."
“The mission of Red Rock Audubon Society is to promote the enjoyment and protection of birds and
other wildlife through recreation, education, conservation and habitat enhancement in southern Nevada and adjacent areas.”
The strategic goals of the Red Rock Audubon Society in southern Nevada and adjacent areas are to:
1. Facilitate people’s enjoyment of birds and birding.
2. Increase people’s understanding of bird biology, the important roles that birds play in the
environment, and conservation issues for birds and other wildlife.
3. Protect, restore, enhance, or create habitat for birds and other wildlife.
4. Protect and facilitate recovery of bird species whose habitat or numbers is of concern.
5. Collect and provide data on the status of local bird species through surveys and monitoring projects.
6. Build and sustain the technical, administrative, and financial capacity of Red Rock Audubon Society
to achieve the above strategic goals.
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Meeting Time
Las Vegas: 6:30 pm– 8:30 pm
Pahrump: 6:00 pm– 8:00 pm
Meeting Locations
Las Vegas: Nevada State Museum (Springs Preserve)
309 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV
Pahrump: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
1651 E. Calvada Blvd. Pahrump, NV
Meeting Dates for 2015/2016:
Las Vegas: Every 2 Monday of the month September through April (except December)
Pahrump: Every 4th Monday of the month September through May (except December)
nd
September-Las Vegas & Pahrump: Topic #1 Chapter’s Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals /
Topic #2 Noriko and Don Carroll presenting “Secrets of the Hummingbird’s Tongue”
October-Las Vegas: Topic #1- Birding in Columbia– A Spectacular wildlife and birding experience
October-Pahrump: Topic #1- Jr. Audubon / Topic #2 Lisa Ross presenting her raptors
November-Las Vegas & Pahrump: Topic #1 Jack Ruckdeschel presenting eBird / Topic #2 Christmas
Bird Count – History of CBC, Last year’s observations and sign up for this years’ CBC
January-Las Vegas & Pahrump: Topic #1 Chapter’s status report / Topic #2 Sharon Schafer presents
“Wildlife Photography – Composition”
February-Las Vegas & Pahrump: Topic #1 Membership photo sharing and contest @ LV/ Pahrump
Hummingbird banding report @ Pahrump / Topic #2 Sedona Hummingbird Festival trip report
March-Las Vegas & Pahrump: Topic #1 Discovery Park Status Report / Topic #2 Jim Boone presents
“Basin and Range – our latest National Monument in Nevada”
April-LV and Pahrump: John Hiatt presents, “Plants and Vegetation in southern Nevada”
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Volume 40, Issue 1
Sep/Oct, 2015
VISIT REDROCKAUDUBON.COM FOR EVENT DETAILS, RESERVATION & CONTACT INFORMATION
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September 2015
Springs Preserve (bird walk). Wednesday, September 9th, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Spring (bird walk). Saturday, September 19, 7:30 am to 10:30 am.
Fletcher Canyon, Spring Mountains NRA. (field Trip) Sunday, September 20, 6:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. (field Trip) Saturday, September 26, 5:45 am to 2:00 pm.
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October 2015
Corn Creek at Desert National Wildlife Range. (field Trip) Date TBD.
China Date Ranch or Shoshone area. (field Trip) Date TBD.
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (bird walk). Monday, October 5, 7:30 – 10:30 am.
Springs Preserve (bird walk). Wednesday, October 14th, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Western Rivers Action Network (workshop) Saturday, October 17
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs (bird walk). Saturday, October 17, 7:30 – 11:00 am.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. (field Trip) Sunday, October 18, 7:30 am to 10:00 am.
Las Vegas Wash. (field Trip) Wednesday, October 28, 7:00 am to 10:00 am.
Beatty Day Festival (volunteer – booth), October 30 & 31
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November 2015
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (bird walk). Monday, November 2, 7:30 – 10:30 am.
San Diego Waters & Coronado Islands (pelagic trip). Saturday, November 7, 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
(option to travel to and from as a group November 6 - 8).
Springs Preserve (bird walk). Wednesday, November 11th, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs (bird walk). Saturday, November 21, 7:30 am to 11:00 am.
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December 2015
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (bird walk). Monday, December 7, 7:30 – 10:30 am.
Springs Preserve (bird walk). Wednesday, December 9th, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
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Christmas Bird Count
In December, Red Rock Audubon Society encourages chapter members and the public to participate in
the 116th National Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
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Ash Meadows – Sunday December 20th
Corn Creek – Saturday December 19h
Muddy River – January 3rd, 2016
Henderson – TBA
Red Rock Canyon - January 2nd, 2016
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Volume 40, Issue 1
Sep/Oct, 2015
Jr. Audubon will start again in February 2016! This next season will begin a first session starting at the
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. The move from Pahrump is only temporary as the schedule and location for the next season to continue in Pahrump are in the works. If you are interested in Jr. Audubon
Club (RRJAC) please sign up at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve located at: 350 E Galleria Dr. Henderson, NV 89011. You can also contact them at 702-267-4108.
Bird-and-Hike Event at Pine Creek, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. April 24, 2015
With the weather forecast threatening rain and high winds, about a dozen birders
awoke to a fairly calm, bright sunny morning. We met at the Red Rock Canyon
NCA visitor center where Cactus Wrens played in the parking lot and Northern
Rough-winged Swallows flew by on their way north, not bothering to stop and say
hello.
We moved to the Pine Creek Trailhead, and a bit before 9:00 AM started on our 2-1/2 mile bird-andhike. Descending the steep hillside towards the flats below, we were greeted by the songs of two Crissal
Thrashers. While looking for them, we also saw a Black-headed Grosbeak, Black-throated Sparrows, two
species of Empidonax flycatchers (probably Gray Flycatcher and Western-type Flycatcher), and a male
Costa's Hummingbird. We also heard Mourning Doves and Gambel's Quail
calling from somewhere, and while looking for them, we glimpsed two
Brewer's Sparrows and a Turkey Vulture.
From there, we birded our way along the trail towards the old Wilson
homestead. We saw several species along the way, including Bewick's
Wren, Anna's Hummingbird, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow,
Western Scrub-Jay, and a male Lazuli Bunting. Arriving at the homestead,
were greeted by a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and a pair of Ashthroated Flycatchers who seemed to be enduring an uneasy détente in
the cottonwood trees.
That mile took us some 1-1/2 hours, and by then parts of the group headed home on their own while
the rest of us continued up the canyon. By this time, the forecast wind was coming up and pushing
heavy clouds over the Red Rock cliffs, but we finished the loop portion of the trip adding Juniper Titmouse and Bushtit, but little else other than, of course, the grand Red Rock scenery. Surprisingly, we
saw no warblers in the relict Ponderosa Pine forest or in the willow trees along the creek.
With the wind at our backs, the hike back to the trailhead was fairly quick and quiet for birds. We
stopped several times on the steep hill heading back to the trailhead -- to scan for birds -- and managed
to add one White-crowned Sparrow to the list. This hillside had been the best birding of the trip and we
were hopeful on the way out, but at least we were rested by the time we climbed back to the trailhead.
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Volume 40, Issue 1
Sep/Oct, 2015
Word Searc
OFFICERS
President: Douglas Chang
Vice-President & Programs Chair: Carol Cantino & Dr. John
Ruckdeschel
Treasurer: Charles Stegner
Secretary: Jennifer Mercadante
COMMITTEE CHAIR & DIRECTORS
Membership Chair: Cathy Kozmary
Communication Chair: Holly Brice
Conservation Chair-Press Liaison: John Hiatt
Education Chair: Vacant
Field Trip Chair: Dave Bradford
Whittell Fund Rep: JeAnne Blackman
Hospitality Co Chair- Las Vegas: Mary Switalla
Hospitality Co Chair- Pahrump: Carol Cantino
Director at Large-Burrowing Owl PM: Richard Cantino
Director at Large-Whittell Fund Rep: JeAnne Blackman
Director at Large-RRAS Phone: Rita Schlageter
Director at Large-Sanctuary: Jim Switalla
Chapter IT Resource: John Bishop
TM
Red Rock Audubon Society can be
reached by e-mail at:
contactus@redrockaudubon.com
Our website is at:
www.redrockaudubon.com
You can also contact us by phone
at: (702) 390-9890
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