For current events click on the California Condor link on the main page.

Second Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., at Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura.

John Krist will kick off our new year with an exciting program entitled "A Natural History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition." That's Lewis and Clark as in Lewis's Woodpecker and Clark's Nutcracker!

He will discuss their roles as pioneering naturalists and describe how the landscape and ecology of the West have changed in the past 200 years, illustrating with slides from his own three-month journey last year along the route.

John is a senior reporter and Opinion-page columnist at the Ventura County STAR, where he has worked since 1983. He has written a series of articles in the STAR as a prelude to the bicentennial celebration of the historic event in 2003. A former editorial writer and city editor, he is also the winner of awards for writing and editing from the Society of Professional Journalists, United Press International, Scripps Howard Newspapers and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. He is a past winner of Sierra magazine's national nature-writing competition and is the author of three books about California's parks and wilderness areas.

The meeting is free and the public is invited.

For further information, call Nancy Schorsch 643-5825

First Tuesday of the month, 7:15 p.m., location varies, call President Neil Ziegler, (805) 983-7207 for the location if you wish to attend.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - Click Valley View Ranch Restoration

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - Cick Snowy Plovers in State Parks

Betsy Bachman is our Field Trip Chair. If you know of a place you would like to go or a trip you want to lead give her a call at (805) 641-0819 or send her E-Mail

Field trips are open to anyone, of any skill level. Children are welcome if they can be reasonably quiet. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, and a bird field guide if you have one. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and good walking shoes, though most trips are not strenuous. Trips are usually over by 11:30 a.m. Hope to see you! Pelagic Trip Note: LA Audubon has trips scheduled on Sept. 28 and Nov. 30 out of Santa Barbara on the Condor Express, and from Oxnard on Sept 7 and Ventura on Nov. 9. Call LA Audubon at 323-876-0202 for information/reservations.

Join the Audubon Society to get our newsletter and not miss any trips! Call Art Marshall at 642-1585 to get an application!

Many other chapters in Southern California have field trips, some to our area. Los Angeles has regular pelagic trips which leave often from Ventura. You can check their web sites by going to Santa Barbara Audubon or Southern Calif. Audubon ; or the e-groups site: Yahoo Groups —venturacobirding, sbcobirding, and calbirds (must register for these, no fee.)

Remember, RAIN CANCELS ANY TRIP.

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 8:00 a.m. Hollywood Beach and Channel Is. Harbor. Leader: Linda O'Neill (649-9408) Take Harbor Blvd. into Channel Is. Harbor, meet by the public restrooms near the Whale's Tail Restaurant on Bluefin Circle. We will bird here as well as on Hollywood Beach. Linda is an excellent birder and teacher.

Saturday, Sept. 7, Pelagic Trip out of Channel Is. Harbor. Leader David Pereksta. Call Los Angeles Audubon, 323-876-0202, for reservation information. Cost is $79. It will be a 12 hour boat trip. Reservations are required.

Sunday, September 8, 9:00 a.m. Help with Removal of Tern Fence at Surfers' Knoll, Ventura Harbor.

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. Lake Casitas. Leader: Jan Lewison (643-3353) Meet outside entrance gate, on Santa Ana Rd. in Ojai. This park will have waterfowl as well as oak and chaparral birds. A good trip for beginners.

Saturday, Sept. 14, 8:00 a.m. Santa Clara Estuary. Leader: Kay Regester (652-1073) Meet at Surfers' Knoll parking lot, next to beach, Spinnaker Dr. opposite shops at Ventura Harbor (must make a U turn to get into lot) We will walk across the sand to see what is at the Santa Clara River mouth. This walk is more strenuous since walking is on sand for a bit of a distance. We will also bird the Harbor mouth. Bring a scope if you have one.

Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:00 a.m. Beach Clean Up Day, Emma Wood Group Campground (not a field trip) . Contact Reed Smith (644-9344) for info.

Sunday, Sept. 22, 8:00 a.m. Ventura Game Preserve. Leader: Reed Smith (644-9344) We will car caravan around this 600 acre hunting area right next to Pt. Mugu Navy Base. We generally see White Faced Ibis, lots of sandpipers, ducks, and stilts, hopefully the bittern, plenty of hawks, possibly a Golden Eagle, kingbirds, and many more. A hunting Barn Owl was a highlight of the fall trip last year. Take Casper Rd. south from Hueneme Rd. (between Saviers Rd. and Highway 1). Follow the left curve to the barn/house buildings and turn right into the preserve.

Friday-Sunday, September 27-29, Kern Valley Turkey Vulture Festival. Leaders: Linda and Darryl Easter, Conejo Audubon (482-7537) Call the leaders for information about room reservations and Bob Barnes at 760-378-3044 for registration information or go to Their Web Site .

Saturday, Oct. 5, 8:00 a.m. Sycamore Canyon and Oxnard Plain Migrant Traps. Leader: Dave Pereksta (659-5740)

Saturday, Oct. 12, 8:00 a.m. Carpenteria Salt Marsh. Leader: Peg Stevens (648-2495) Meet at History Museum parking lot in Ventura to carpool at 7:40 am, or meet at marsh/park entrance at 8:00 a.m., Ash St. and Sandyland in Carpenteria. We will bird the marsh from the residential side.

October 4-6, Central Coast Birding Rally: Showcasing northern Santa Barbara County sites on the Central Coast Birding Trail, the fifth annual Central Coast Birding Rally will be held the weekend of October 4-6. A reception to acquaint visitors to the area will be held Friday evening. The Rally itself will run from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday followed by a Santa Maria style bar-b-cue with awards and an auction of birding related items Saturday afternoon. A tour of trail sites will be offered on Sunday morning. The entire event is free to participants having been funded by La Purisima Audubon and the business community of northern Santa Barbara County. For more information, visit their web page at LPAS or write LPAS, PO Box 2045, Lompoc, CA 93438.

Betsy Bachman, Field Trip Chair

R. Smith , Webmaster