MEETINGS

Dear Colleague,

How do you tell the difference between a female sharp-shinned hawk and a male Cooper’s hawk? Practice, practice, practice. You can get that practice at the next meeting of the

San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Saturday, 23 September 2006
in conjunction with the
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO)
in the
Marin Headlands.

This is one of the premier hawk migration areas of the country, and late September is the peak of the fall migration. Each day, hundreds of birds of prey pass the observation area, at the top of Hawk Hill, as they prepare to cross the Golden Gate on their way south. Nineteen species are typically identified each season. While a team of volunteers identifies and counts the birds as they pass, raptor trappers work in the nearby hills, capturing birds for banding and radiotelemetry as part of GGRO’s research program.

For our meeting on the 23rd, we are fortunate to have Allen Fish, Director of GGRO, serve as our host. He has graciously agreed to introduce us to the birds, their migration past Hawk Hill, and the history and activities of GGRO. In the field on Hawk Hill, Allan and the volunteers will locate and identify the birds as they pass; this is one of the best places in the world to practice hawk identification by species, sex, and age. We will also see a banding demonstration up close and personal. Following this, will go to the GGRO’s offices at nearby Fort Cronkhite to hear a presentation from Allen on their long-term research and monitoring. Then, we will adjourn to a picnic/social at a nearby venue; I’ll let you know precisely where when we finalize the location. We will have grills, drinks, and picnic tables available; please bring something to put on the grill and something to share. This will be an opportunity for a short Chapter meeting, and a much longer social gathering. There are also myriad opportunities nearby for hiking, birdwatching, beach walking, etc.

The meeting schedule is the following:

Please check out http://www.ggro.org/camap.html for a map to Hawk Hill and other information on GGRO, and
http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/maps.htm to download a map of the Marin Headlands, including roads, trails, and beaches.

I hope you can take advantage of this inside look at one of the Bay Area’s most impressive wildlife viewing opportunities, and meet with your local colleagues for some extended social behavior in a magnificent setting. Don’t forget binoculars, bird books, and cameras, and dress appropriately for anything from cold, wind, and fog to sunny and warm.

See you at Hawk Hill on the 23rd.

Tom Kucera
President, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, The Wildlife Society