Posts by BVAS News
Christmas Bird Count Friday, December 30
Calling all birders for the 2016 Christmas Bird Count! All levels of birders welcome! For the Oceanside CBC (which includes the Buena Vista Lagoon, Whelan Lake, Anstine Nature Preserve, Oceanside Harbor, among other locations), please contact organizer Jane Mygatt: janemygatt@me.com who will assign you to a group leader who will fill you in on when…
Read MoreMonthly Meeting and Program: A Natural History of Wildlands in Southern California.
What makes Southern California so ecologically diverse? Dr. Allan Schoenherr, Professor of Ecology from CSU Fullerton is our guest speaker for November’s monthly meeting and program. Dr. Schoenherr is the author of “A Natural History of California” and “Natural History of the Islands of California.” He will delve into Southern California’s climate and weather, and the…
Read MoreANNOUNCING: JANUARY 2017 UC CALIFORNIA NATURALIST CERTIFICATION COURSE
If you enjoy exploring and learning about our local ecology, engaging in citizen science and sharing your knowledge with others, this program is for you! The 40 hour course combines a science curriculum with guest lecturers, field trips and project-based learning to explore the unique ecology and natural history of coastal north San Diego County.…
Read MoreWoodpeckers, Cavities, and Snags: Changing a Stubborn Paradigm
Most woodpeckers excavate their own nest and roost cavities, and most do so each breeding season. Where woodpeckers live, the abundance of cavities increases each year, and, more than 40 other North American bird species—not including the woodpeckers themselves—exploit this abundance for their own nests. Cavity excavation is their “signature behavior” elevating the woodpeckers’ ecological…
Read MoreRidgway’s Rail Surveying Project Updates and Conclusion
On the evening of August 14, the signal from Rail #3 was no longer heard. The survey was thus concluded. While we had now lost touch with all of our three Rails, our surveying helped demonstrate that the Buena Vista Lagoon provides the Ridgway’s rail’s basic needs for foraging opportunities and shelter. We also believe that the…
Read MoreThreatened: California’s Woodpeckers and Their Habitats, with Steve Shunk
Join us Wednesday, September 21 for our monthly program. 6:30: Social and 7:00 Program begins. Woodpeckers have always captured our attention. Their unique anatomy and behavior sets them apart. But like so many species, the path ahead is uncertain. The official California bird list includes 17 woodpecker species, 15 of which breed in the state—more…
Read MoreWhat is ebird and how do I use it?
What is ebird and how do I use it? Find out at a free ebird class August 11 at 10 am at the BVAS Nature Center. Class is offered by Steve Brad, an experienced birder and ebird user. Steve describes ebird as a tool for citizen science for creating a record of what is being…
Read MoreDR. DUCK’S BIRD SCULPTURES EXHIBIT
BVAS is hosting an exhibit of 25 fanciful metal bird sculptures in August at the BVAS Nature Center. The fascinating works of art were created by Oceanside sculptor Paul Weber, sometimes known as “Dr. Duck.” The free exhibit will run for two weeks, August 6-21. Guests will be able to view the sculptures during the…
Read MoreRidgways’ Rail Release and Monitoring
Three radio-tagged Ridgways Rails were released at Buena Vista Lagoon July 6. They will be monitored via radio telemetry for two months by BVAS volunteers. These birds are listed as Endangered, and historically have lived in the BV Lagoon although numbers have dwindled over the years. They live and breed in the very type of…
Read MoreCosta Rica Bird Trip in January
Join BVAS Migrating Birders next January on a 10-day tour of Costa Rica birding hotspots. The trip includes 2-night stops at La Selve OTS Biological station, Arenal Volcano area, Carara National Park, and Cerro de la Muerta. Each one of these areas is home to a tremendous variety of species. This trip has something for…
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