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Wednesday, May 4, 2011 – Daily News – 3B Audubon programs and trips for May The Altacal Audubon Program and Field Trip activities for May are as follows. All programs and activities are free of cost unless otherwise indi- cated and open to the public. For more information call Wayland Augur at 519-4724 or email wba@acm.org. Programs • May 16, 6:30 p.m., Chico Creek Nature Center, Altacal Program Meeting - Population Dynamics of California Black Rails and Virginia Rails with Laurie Hall. Laurie earned her B.S. in Marine Science from Southampton Col- lege in New York and moved to California to pursue a Master’s degree at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Her thesis character- ized the dispersal pat- terns of an endangered seabird, the Marbled Murrelet, using genetic population assignments. In addition to her Master’s research she has participated in a number of research pro- jects including aerial surveys of California’s marine mammal and leatherback sea turtle populations, collection of data and specimens from beach-cast marine mammals and seabirds, and the design of sea turtle deterrents for fishing nets in Baja, Mexico. Her research interests are focused on the effects of population connectivity, via the dis- persal of individuals, on population dynamics of threatened and endan- gered wildlife. She uses a combina- tion of direct and indi- rect techniques to mea- sure dispersal, including mark-recapture, radio- telemetry, genetics, and stable isotope chem- istry. In addition, she is interested in under- standing long-term changes in connectivity and population dynam- ics in response to habi- tat loss and fragmenta- tion and climate change. Her current Ph.D. dissertation work com- pares connectivity and metapopulation dynam- ics of two species of wetland bird: the Cali- fornia Black Rail Later- allus jamaicensis) and the Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), and these will be the main subjects of her talk. More information on Laurie and her work is available at http://www.cnr.berke- ley.edu/~beis/rail/ Field Trips • May 8, Sunday – Capay Unit. Trip Leader: Jennifer Patten, jpchico@sbc- global.net, 345-9356. Take a guided bird walk to the newly opened Capay Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge located on County Road 23 about three miles south of Hamilton City. Over three miles of trail offer views of the Sacramento River and wildlife observation. The Nature Conser- vancy worked three years to restore 570 acres of land to native grasslands, savanna and riparian forests. The National Turkey The 2011 spring road opening has begun at Lassen Vol- canic National Park announced Park Superintendent, Dar- lene M. Koontz. A 10-mile section of the scenic road was opened recently to vehicle traffic on the Manzanita Lake side of the park. Crews began the snow removal process at Manzanita Lassen road opens Lake on April 5 and will move operations to the south side of the park next week. This year, the snow depth at the Lake Helen Snow Sur- vey site measured 222 inches (18.5 feet) of snow, which is 136 percent of normal. There is eight feet of snow on the ground at the Devastated Area. The 30 miles of park roadway from Highway 44 junc- tion to Highway 36 junction typically opens fully to the public by mid to late June, depending on weather condi- tions. Spring can still bring significant snowfall and the road may be closed for short time periods during lingering snow- storms. Although weather in the valley is mild, visitors should still prepare for winter conditions by dressing in layers, bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, extra water, and food, as well as vehicle chains and blankets. Snow players and cross-country skiers need to stay clear of snowplows work- ing in the park as equipment operators may be unable to see or hear them. For more park information and road conditions call the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at 595-4480, daily which is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit www.nps.gov/lavo. Sierra Club, Yahi Group The Sierra Club, Yahi Group, is hosting the following events for May. Unless otherwise noted, trips are free and open to the public and begin at the trailhead. For more infor- mation about specific activities contact Wayland Augur at 519-4724 or by email wba@acm.org. • Saturday, May 7 - Bidwell Park Day Hike. Take a mostly shady, flat 10 mile trek along the south side of Big Chico Creek. Meet at One Mile's Caper Acres at 10 AM. Our walk is on paved park road past Five Mile to the upper park and ends at the golf course. Bring water and lunch or buy at golf course. Rain cancels. Leader: Carla, 891-6977; Asst. Leader: Gene, 873-1552. • Saturday, May 7 - Endangered Species Faire. Join the Yahi Group in Cedar Grove in lower Bidwell Park anytime from 10 AM to 3 PM. • Saturday, May 14 - Centerville Flume Hike. Walk along the rushing water of the flat, gold rush era Centerville Flume in Butte Creek Canyon. The trail starts in live and black oaks and ends in pines and firs as we gradually climb for a round-trip distance of 8-10 miles up and down the canyon. Meet at Chico Park & Ride at 8 AM for a round trip drive of 25 miles. Leader: Alan, 891-8789 or ajmen- doza@prodigy.net. •Sunday, May 22 - Upper Bidwell Park Hike to Indian Caves and Demonstrations. We will join 20-year Maidu people expert Chuck Kritzon who will talk about the Maidu people who once inhabited Bidwell Park; demonstrate flint knapping and arrowhead, a spear thrower and make a fric- tion fire. Approx. 4 mile loop. Limited to 20 participants. $10/adult. $5/child. Wear layers. Light rain does not cancel. Meet at the Horseshoe Lake parking lot after the Chico Rod and Gun Club. Call leader to sign up: Jeanne, 899-9980. Asst. leader: John, 872-8258. Federation provided funding for the visitor parking, kiosks and a trail counter. Meet at the Chico Park-,n-Ride, Sunday, May 8 (Mother’s Day) at 9 a.m. We’ll return at 1 p.m. We should see lots of spring migrants. • May 14 – The Last “Second Saturday, Upper Bidwell Park” of the Season! Trip Leaders: Raina King and Steve King. This will be our last “Second Saturday” field trip of the season to Upper Bidwell Park. We will walk from Horseshoe Lake, up the canyon and then follow the Yahi trail along the creek as far as time per- mits (two to three miles round trip) and will be back to the cars by about 11:30 a.m. Thanks to all the birders and field trip leaders who helped make this year's “Sec- ond Saturday” success- ful! Remember, this is the last Upper Bidwell park field trip until the fall of next year. Birders of all levels are welcome! Let’s meet at 7:30 am (earlier time) at the parking lot on the left just past the gun club (follow Wildwood Ave for 1.75 miles and turn left just before the gate). Bring binoculars, water, snacks walking shoes and proper cloth- ing for the expected weather conditions. Rain cancels. For more information contact: Steve King at 566-6136. Honoring Outstanding Tehama County Students created in cooperation with the Tehama County Department of Education. Selections of students featured will be made by schools and Teachers. The supplement will be published as a special section of the newspaper and as a digital page-turn online edition on the front page of www.redbluffdailynews.com through May of 2012; To sponsor a student’s photo and accomplishments is just $59 for 1 sponsorship and $55 each for multiples Local businesses, professionals, educators, local citizens: All are welcome to support Tehama County’s most accomplished students, and demonstrate your support of local education in the process. Tuesday, May 24 Sponsors will be identified in a 3” tall by 1 column wide space at the bottom of each student salute. This special will appear in the full run of the Daily News on Friday, June 3, 2011. representatatives can help you decide what to say. Limited opportunity to support students from individual schools. For further information, contact your Daily News advertising representative or Nadine Souza at (530) 527-2151 advertise@ redbluffdailynews.com Daily News advertising Deadline: “Students of Distinction” from middle and high schools across the county. This project has been supplement of photos and write-ups on 84 The Daily News will feature a special