1956 to 1965
As our Santa Cruz Bird Club (SCBC) approaches its golden anniversary in January of 2006, we take the five issues of this 50th volume of the Albatross to look back, decade by decade, over the Club’s history. My own experience with the SCBC began in 1986, when it was already 30 years old. But the life of the Club’s earlier decades is illuminated especially by two sources. First is, of course, its bulletin the “Albatross”, published over the club’s entire history. The “Alby,” (as some now affectionately refer to it) is the principal record of the SCBC’s activities, but it also details local bird observations, local birding trivia, and provides insights on its members. A second valuable resource on the history of the SCBC’s first 25 years is the booklet “Santa Cruz Bird Club (1956-1981), A Brief History,” compiled by charter member Viola Washburn and published in 1982. Copies are at the Santa Cruz Public Library and the Science Library at U.C. Santa Cruz. Washburn’s chronicle is somewhat eclectic but quite interesting, drawing much from the Alby, but also much from her personal experience with the club, including a look at the Club’s “pre-history”. Another precious and even more personal view backward is a fine essay by Randy Morgan published in the Albatross on the event of the Club’s 40th anniversary. It is on the club’s website (here).
The inception of the Santa Cruz Bird Club apparently flowed organically from its predecessor the Santa Cruz Nature Club, active from the early 1930s to the early 1950s. The Nature Club disbanded because of a shortage of funds and lack of a permanent meeting room, but its “solid block of educators and citizens formed a firm foundation” for the SCBC (Washburn 1982). Several charter members of the SCBC had been members of the Nature Club. The early SCBC also clearly saw itself as standing on the shoulders of the ornithologists who had so far served to record the county’s bird life; most especially Clark P. Streator who’s 1947 “Birds of Santa Cruz County” was the most recent compilation of the county’s bird records. Indeed, founding SCBC member Elaine Reinelt happily served for a number of years as a driver for Mr. Streator and his colleague Mr. D. Danby as they traveled the county seeking birds. Streator died in 1952, a few years before the SCBC was formed, but he had been a member of the Nature Club.
On the initiative of Elaine Reinelt, a “small but dynamic” group of 12 people met at her Capitola home on December 5, 1955 and “agreement was quickly reached on the desirability of forming a bird club” (Albatross 1:1 p. 1). In his article recounting “How It All Began” (see “From the Archives” in this issue), the club’s historian Emory Bacon noted December 5 was “really the birthday of the club.” Bacon reports that the well-attended inaugural public meeting was held on January 9, 1956 at the Santa Cruz Public Library, but Washburn gives it as January 13. Whichever date, the club was off and running with over 80 members joining at the first meeting. Washburn (1982) recalled, “Eighty-four people came to the small room already overcrowded with high book-shelves. Your writer, leaning against the shelves stood on tiptoe to observe an overwhelmed – (because of attendance) – Harry Smith at the podium leading the assemblage and Elaine Reinelt acting as temporary secretary.” Another wonderful reflection on the Club’s beginnings is provided by its founder in a letter written to the Club in 1973 (here). The Black-footed Albatross was chosen to be the bird emblem for the SCBC for its prominent seasonal presence off the Santa Cruz Coast and its magnificence in flight.
Charter member Leavitt McQuestin stated well the two-fold purpose of the SCBC (3:10 p. 2): “A primary purpose of our bird club is to study and conserve wild birds…The secondary purpose of our club is to promote good fellowship and social activity for bird lovers.” From its beginnings the SCBC has been an independent organization, never a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Although the Club’s purpose dove-tailed nicely with that of the Audubon Society, Washburn reported that the Society’s “more formal regulations of style and membership were not conducive to the spirit of the Santa Cruz Bird Club.” Nonetheless, in 1959 the Albatross published “A Statement of Audubon Philosophy” and recorded proposed changes in the Club’s constitution and bylaws that were to bring it “into step with the National Audubon Society, of which it is an Affiliate.” But by 1964 the status of Audubon Affiliate was let to lapse due to increased fees and the Club’s then uncertain financial position. While the Club has since had no formal connection with the Audubon Society, many of its members have belonged to both organizations.
From the outset field trips were at the heart of the Club’s activities. During the first decade there were 212 advertised trips, visiting over 55 general destinations, just over half in Santa Cruz County, and a majority of the remainder in Monterey County. One of the Club’s signature trips was its annual June “Albatross trip,” organized (and often led) by Leavitt McQuestin. “Mac” McQuestin, a retired professor of Pomology, was a mainstay of the club and well-respected for his knowledge of waterbirds. The not-for-profit Albatross Trips – tickets cost only $1.50 – were made possible by the kindness of Malio Stagnaro and the Stagnaro’s commercial fishing operation, and sold out with capacity loads of about 60 birders. Leaving the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, the boats headed southwest for about 12 miles to the rock cod fishing grounds, where Black-footed Albatross would usually be found attending the fishing lines.
Other frequent field destinations were the Mt Hermon area for birds of the pines (the most frequent destination in this decade), Moss Landing, Point Lobos and the Monterey Peninsula, Los Banos, Big Sur, Carmel Valley and San Clemente Dam, the Rio Del Mar area, Rancho Del Oso, the beaches and lagoons of the city of Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges, Henry Cowell, Sunset Beach, and Pinnacles. Many trips were very well attended (e.g., 75 people came to the club’s first Rancho Del Oso trip in 1960). Trips were often planned in coordination with the Monterey Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley Audubon Societies, and indeed one third of all the trips in this decade were joint trips with MPAS. In addition to Mac McQuestin, frequent leaders in this decade included Elaine Reinelt, Harry Smith, Charles and Viola Anderson, Viola Washburn, Franz Erkelens, Florence Haas, Jessie Hooper, Eleanor Pugh, and Vern Yadon. Trip lists were generally a good deal shorter than those we muster today, but they managed to find some interesting birds. And sometimes they enjoyed what we cannot now, such as trips to Mt Hermon to see the nesting Purple Martins and Western Bluebirds (both now extirpated there). By the close of the decade trips were planned specifically to focus on identification of certain groups, such as gulls and marsh birds. On the whole, the trips seemed to seek those species expected to be found (e.g., to Big Basin “to hear the Hermit Thrush”), and the idea of seeking the unexpected or rare were still some years into the future for the Club.
Monthly programs, usually held at the multi-purpose room of Branciforte Junior High School, were another anchor for the SCBC. The Albatross records details of 69 of the programs in this decade. They ranged from talks, to presentations of slides or photographs, to movies (in Technicolor). Some movies were rented, but many programs were given by members or invited presenters. Topics were varied, and often ranged far from birds; wildflowers were a non-avian favorite. A sample taken from across the decade might include: photos of a recent trip to Spain, Disney’s “Nature’s Half Acre”, the film “Beaver Valley”, African natives and wildlife, the film “Chata” about a little girl with a turned up nose, a film about the new park planned for Pt Reyes, birds and wildflowers of the Southwest, a talk on the identification of Starlings (they were newcomers here then), the “Gooney Birds”, the Sea of Cortez, and the “Magnificent Canada Goose.” A handful of programs were about local research (e.g., L. R. Mewaldt on his studies of White-crowned Sparrows, and J. W. Tilden on insect and bird relationships). A very few, in addition to the one about Starlings, were about identification of local birds, such as Mac McQuestin’s talk about gull ID in 1960.
The SCBC did not have an office of Hospitality Director during this initial decade, but the Club was not lacking in this area. A warm welcome was clearly offered on all field trips and at all meetings, and the club’s fellowship had a key role in making the Santa Cruz area feel like home for a number of transplanted Easterners. Name badges were provided to all members. There were annual Christmas parties (with singing), and two or three summer potluck picnics (usually at Harvey West Park). The Albatross kept readers up to date about members who had injuries or sickness, and member’s travels. Many field trips included time spent birding on a member’s property, with lunch later at their home. Hulda McLean invited the club to her home at Rancho Del Oso several times, and the Albatross noted in 1960 that she provided “a warm welcome, hot coffee, a cheerful fire, and a complete set of Dawson [Birds of California] in a cottage on the ranch.”
After a trial effort, in 1957 the SCBC officially began what would become the Santa Cruz County Christmas Bird Count, a long term effort than has spanned nearly all of the Club’s 50 years. Beginning in 1959 the Club tried to conduct two CBCs, a western one centered at Santa Cruz and Felton and an eastern one from Aptos to Corralitos. The eastern CBC was dropped a few years later, and it seemed to take several years before the area covered for the western count would settle into a consistent “count circle,” as we use today. A history of the CBC and results from these early years can be found here:
The Albatross records many other interesting aspects of the Club’s life in this decade. Member’s local observations were regularly reported, with Jessie Hooper, Viola Washburn, Florence Hass and Dorothy Hunt being some of the more frequent contributors. Many reports were of the usual suspects returning for the season or brightening backyards, but some rarities were enjoyed, just as a Gray Catbird, Harris’s Sparrows, American Redstart, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Some reports are viewed as doubtful now (e.g., several reports of flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, and reports of Pine Grosbeak), and others are simply puzzling (e.g., a report of three Rock Wrens “combing elm trees…very much as a nuthatch feeds”). Many focused on interesting behavior. For example, in a 1958 issue Florence Haas reported, “Recently I watched several California Jays busily harvesting acorns from the live oak trees and planting them all over our yard. A Red-shafted Flicker stood by each Jay and ate the acorns as fast as the Jays could plant them.”
Bird banding was a popular (even consuming) pastime among a very active subset of the membership. Beginning with Henry Smith (former president of the Illinois Audubon Soc.), others such as Florence Haas, Elaine Reinelt, Viola Washburn, Dorothy Hunt, and Claude and Jessie Hooper earned their qualifications to capture and band birds. Most banding was apparently done at backyard stations. Harry Smith reported 680 birds were banded in 1959, of which 262 were Golden-crowned Sparrows. Smith and others were on hand with bands during one of the county’s most remarkable bird events, “The Day the Shearwater’s Landed” on August 18, 1961. An account of that famous anomaly is reprinted elsewhere in this issue in the “From the Archive” section.
The Albatross documents a difficult period for the Club toward the close of its first decade. A major shake up in its officers in 1964 coincided with a shortfall of money when overdue dues were not being paid. The April – May issue told members that “the nominating committee finds that none of our present officers is able and willing to serve another term, so we have 10 openings for you to choose from.” The next issue of the bulletin, a one-pager in June simply titled “Santa Cruz Bird Club Newsletter”, began by reporting, “The Albatross has fallen by the wayside…but at least we bring you this newsletter to report on other changes all members and friends should know about.” Prior president Doris Kelly stepped into the breach and held down several jobs, “keeping the club together until help could be mustered.” Fortunately, the wide open slate of offices was filled by a mix of “new blood” and former officers taking on new posts, and a generous contribution by May and Joe Mullins solved the club’s financial crisis. By late fall 1964 new president Lester Cox was able to report that “The Albatross may be grounded, but the club is up and flying!” Active publicity efforts by Judith Myers and Viola Anderson brought large numbers of people to meetings (90 were in attendance at the September 1964 meeting) and field trips, and brought in many new or returning members. Lester Cox concluded 1965 noting, “Truly we are enjoying being club members more and more.”
1966 to 1975
Two significant awakenings in the larger world helped to shape the Santa Cruz Bird Club (SCBC) in its second decade. The “Ecology Movement” – taking off strongly in the 1960s and 1970s – directed the interests of local birders toward conservation issues that related directly and indirectly to birds, both locally and afar. At the same time the California birding community experienced a revolution, termed by Don Roberson the “Age of Discovery” [1965-69] and the “A Renaissance” [1970-79] in his excellent web page feature on California Birding History (http://montereybay.com/creagrus/CAwhoswhointro.html). This revolution would lead to a new understanding of birding possibilities, a radical increase in bird knowledge, and, by the end of the club’s second decade, would birth a new cadre of birders who would lead the club into its future.
Under these influences the SCBC continued forward on its stated purpose: to study and conserve wild birds, and promote good fellowship and social activity for bird lovers. Club president Lester Cox began 1966 by considering the varied answers to the question, “Why do you have a Bird Club?” After offering several reasons, he concluded, “…yet another important reason is to be a collective influence for conservation and to interest others in birds, often beautiful, always exciting…So let us continue our birding AND help the club to be an instrument which will further the conservation of wildlife.”
The club had a conservation director from its inception, but over its initial decade the Albatross recorded little of the club’s involvement in significant conservation issues. In spring 1966 president Cox identified conservation as “the one area that we touch lightly,” and called for more interest and attention from the membership. His call was soon answered, as a Conservation Committee was formed that summer, with new member Elaine Campbell as its director. The committee gave the role of mentoring and encouraging young birders as one of its first challenges to the membership. To that end the club became actively involved with presentations for schools and scout troops, and took pride in its several junior members. For the next several years, conservation notes were a regular feature in the Albatross, and interested members were encouraged to linger after the monthly meetings to discuss pressing issues. Conservation issues considered by the SCBC during this decade included protection of Schwan Lake and Neary Lagoon (the latter threatened by filling, development and a proposed freeway link!), a proposed dam and reservoir in the new Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, land acquisition at Big Basin and Pescadero Marsh, establishment of Point Reyes National Seashore, oil drilling in Monterey Bay, development along the county’s north coast, pesticides, and air quality. Things really took off under the guidance of Conservation Director Philippa Pfieffer (1968-71), who in 1969 would be named “Conservationist of the Year” by the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club. Activity in this arena waned somewhat after Pfieffer’s tenure, but was revived when David Bockman (still an active member) took on the post in 1974.
The SCBC’s second decade marked a changing of the guard and the beginnings of a generational shift. Several charter members became inactive or moved away during this time, and some important early members passed on: Emory Bacon (1966), Harry Smith (1968), Jessie Hooper and Franz Erkelens (1970), Henry Washburn (1972), and Leavitt McQuestin (1973). Some early members continued strong into this decade, such as Mac McQuestin, Viola Anderson (who “kept this organization operating”), Viola Washburn, Stanley Mythaler, and Wallace Rankin. In 1972 the Alby reported that 22 of 86 charter members were still in the club, but perusal of the names suggests to me just six of those were truly “active” members. New faces stepped onto the scene. The first mention in the Alby of names of members still active in the club today (or active in recent years) included Randy Morgan and Todd Newberry (1966), John and Ricky Warriner (1968), and Barbara Scharfenstein (1970). Other new faces stepping into the forefront of the club’s activities were Dorothy Lilly, William Anderson, Winifred Greene, Marilyn Watson, Clarence Warwick, Dave Bockman, Nanci Adams, Fred Jewett, Bob Ramer, and Bruce LaBar. Although apparently not then active in the club, current club mainstay Steve Gerow received a first mention in the Alby in 1972, reporting a sighting of his from the Pinnacles.
Field trips remained a staple of the SCBC’s activities. The Albatross announced 196 field trips over this decade, down slightly from 212 trips offered in the first decade. These trips visited some 58 general areas, two thirds in Santa Cruz County. Trips outside the county went more often to San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and less to Monterey County than in the first decade. Trips were often well-attended, led by one to Natural Bridges in February 1967 which was reported in the Alby to have attracted 25% of the club’s membership!
Frequent destinations in Santa Cruz County included the “Albatross Expeditions” on Monterey Bay, Mount Hermon, Natural Bridges State Beach and West Cliff Drive, Schwan Lake and Corcoran Lagoon, New Brighton State Beach, Pajaro Dunes, Pinto Lake, and Rancho Del Oso. Favored sites out of the county included Año Nuevo State Reserve, Pescadero Marsh, Palo Alto Baylands, Los Banos area refuges, Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough. A 1969 bus trip to view the nesting herons and egrets at Audubon Canyon Ranch at Bolinas in Marin County was hailed in the Alby as the “gala event of the year.” An owling trip in 1967 began the club’s tradition of “Non-Owling Events,” as none of the night birds were found. An unusual trip to Rio Del Mar was planned for August 18, 1969 to commemorate “The Day the Shearwaters Landed” – looking back to that date in 1961 when 100s of shearwaters were wrecked ashore in the mid-county region. The trip report mentions that “millions” of shearwaters were seen five days before the commemoration, but sadly the trip itself did not enjoy a fly-in, as only a few hundred appeared. Another oddity was a trip to “Gurnee Freze-Dri Taxidermy” in Watsonville, where participants learned about vacuum freeze-drying methods that preserved whole specimens intact.
Mac McQuestin’s annual “Albatross Expeditions” remained the club’s most popular annual trip. Run each June, these pelagic trips were always sold out, with 50 to 60 birders aboard. Fall trips in October were added in 1972. The price remained a bargain $1.50 through 1972, eventually rising to a still tempting $6.00 by 1975. Mac announced his retirement as leader in 1971, on the event of his 15th Expedition for the club. Subsequent Expeditions were led by Vi Anderson, William Anderson, Peter Metropulos and Randy Morgan.
Field trip destinations and reports from this decade reveal a growing trend toward exploration of lesser known birding areas, and a nascent interest in actively seeking rarities. Toward this latter goal, the announcement for a June 1971 trip to Gazos Creek reached a bit far in advertising Veery (!) as a target bird; maybe that was but an error and the nesting Swainson’s Thrushes were intended.
William Anderson was the club’s most frequent leader during this decade. Referred to in the Alby as “our birdwatcher par excellance,” Anderson (recalled affectionately as “Wild Bill” by Randy Morgan) worked for the California Department of Fish and Game and was well traveled. He would inspire many in the club, and mentored budding field ornithologists Morgan and Peter Metropulos. Wild Bill was a tireless leader, and trip participants had to be tireless as well to keep up with him. One trip report suggested “track team experience” was helpful to allow close approach to the leader during the outing. Bill led the club to many new places, and in 1971 was made an honorary life member “in appreciation of his many fine programs and trips.” Other frequent leaders were Viola Anderson, Dorothy Lilly, Doris Kelly, Warren Baldwin, John Warriner, and Randy Morgan. Bruce LaBar, soon to be one of the club’s leading members, debuted as leader in October 1975.
The Club continued to meet in the multi-purpose room of the Branciforte Jr. High School in Santa Cruz. It offered 83 monthly programs during this decade. Some were films, but slide programs were now more frequent. The decade saw a growing emphasis on programs that focused on certain groups of birds, and included discussion of identification. Bill Anderson was the most frequent presenter of the decade, joined by a nice assemblage of others that included several noted naturalists and biologists. Among these were Alan Baldridge, Richard Mewaldt, Burney LeBeouf, Ken Briggs, and Todd Newberry. Newberry’s program in February 1974 had the somewhat mysterious title, “Birds in the Bush and Ethics in the Air.” As interesting as it may have been, upon a recent inquiry Todd could not recall what the talk was actually about. Well, it has been 30 years! Another program of note was given in September 1974 by Steve Singer presenting the discovery of the nest of the Marbled Murrelet at Big Basin the month before.
The Christmas Bird Count continued strong through this decade, growing significantly in participation and quality of coverage. Numbers of species and birds recorded on the count increased accordingly. Another popular annual winter event was the SCBC’s Christmas Dinner, often held at Facelli’s Restaurant on West Cliff Drive. This was a turkey dinner with all the trimmings (for just $2.75 in 1967), together with a special program for the evening. An impressive 112 people attended the dinner in 1969.
The SCBC grew steadily over the decade, with new members often including those hailing from out of the county, and even other states. It had some 150 members in 1966 and grew to nearly 300 by 1975. But numbers were sometimes deceiving. For example, of 254 on the roster in 1970, Membership Director McQuestin reported that 188 had dues that were six or more months delinquent! Perhaps our current Membership Director would say that things haven’t changed all that much. Annual dues for the club remained $1.50 for most of this decade, increasing to $2.50 by 1974. The Albatross newsletter remained remarkably constant over the decade. Its four to eight pages offered the usual trip and program announcements, trip reports (often dominated by thorough listings of species found), notes on conservation issues or other items of local interest, news of members, reports of recent sightings, and occasional messages from the president or other officers. Topical articles or special features were notably few.
Reports of bird sightings were one of the Alby’s most interesting features. These were compiled by the editor over much of the decade and went unvetted. Vi Anderson took over the compilation in 1973, replaced by Dorothy Lilly in 1974 and Randy Morgan in 1975. Now some sifting and evaluation of records began to occur, but oddities still seemed to slip through. Reports often mentioned sightings of birds from out of the county, but began to focus more on Santa Cruz County alone by the close of the decade. Frequently cited observers were numerous, but several of the most prominent contributors were Vi Anderson, Florence Haas, Grace Scribner, Adist Boylan, Bill Anderson, Dorothy Lilly, Winifred Greene, John and Ricky Warriner, David Bockman, Ed McClintock, Barbara Scharfenstein, Bob Ramer, Randy Morgan, Peter Metropulos, and Eugene Makishima.
Several good rarities were noted over these years, and the period saw the advent of regular occurrences of fall vagrant warblers. But a handful of strange reports offer the most amusement in hindsight. A die-off of up to 1000 Sooty Shearwaters along the south county coast on August 10, 1966 was due to drowning after over-eating. A dead Brown Pelican at Twin Lakes Beach on January 4, 1967 had the feet of a dead Western Grebe protruding from its bill, apparently both the victims of an “accident.” Mourning Doves were reported to be notably scarce at Santa Cruz on December 2, 1972 because “most [had] left for South Dakota on November 8.”
The club closed its second decade with the advent of one of its most valuable and enduring contributions. In the January – February 1975 issue of the Alby Randy Morgan announced the “Santa Cruz County Bird File.” Morgan, then 28 years old, reported that in November 1973 “a scheme was hatched to collect into one big File as much as possible of the published and unpublished information pertaining to the distribution of birds in Santa Cruz County…The idea of the Bird File is to enable interested people to get the most accurate possible picture of relative abundance, local distribution, nesting status, extra-limital occurrences, etc., of the birds in Santa Cruz County, past, present, and future.” Morgan had spent a year reviewing a wide range of publications, journals and periodicals to form the historic foundation for the “Bird File,” and now he invited club members to submit their own unpublished sightings, and to keep and report records of their future noteworthy observations. The “Bird File” was the beginning of the archive that is now called “the county bird records.” Even setting aside the additional work that would go into its development over the next several years, Morgan’s thorough attention given to the formation of the “Bird File” was one of the most significant contributions made by a club member, and one of the club’s greatest gifts to Santa Cruz County ornithology.
1976 to 1985
The Santa Cruz Bird Club (SCBC) completed its first “generational turnover” in its third decade: 1976-1985. Members come and go over the years, but those who remain active in the club for 10 to 20 (or more!) years come to define its character over the long run. By 1980 the Albatross (Alby) reported that just 11 of the club’s 80+ original members remained on the roster, but it seems that only a small handful of these were truly active in the club. Two events marked the end of the club’s first era. Otto Van Buren, the SCBC’s first president, died in April 1982 at the age of 92. The Alby reported that, “each week, when Doris Kelly [another charter member and past president] visited with Otto in the nursing home where he lived since the death of his wife, much of their conversation centered around the bird club’s activities.” Another milestone was the 1982 publication of Viola Washburn’s booklet on the club’s first 25 years, “Santa Cruz Bird Club (1956-1981).” Washburn’s booklet provides an invaluable charter member’s perspective on the club’s beginnings and early decades. Review of the county bird records shows that just one charter member – Florence Haas – continued to make contributions to the ornithological record in the club’s third decade.
Several members in an active leadership role at the end of the club’s second decade continued strong into the third (and in some cases beyond). These included Bill Anderson, Nanci Adams, Dave Bockman, Winifred Greene, Bruce LaBar, Dorothy Lilly, Randy Morgan, Bob Ramer, Barbara Scharfenstein, and John and Ricky Warriner. Other key players joined them in the forefront in this third decade: Carolyn Frederiksen, Steve Getty (then but a youth), Eugene Makishima, and Debi Robinson (later Shearwater) in 1976; Irene Manicci and Don Starks in 1977; Steve Allison, David Ekdahl and Bob Hargis in 1978; Frances Bidstrup in 1979; and Louise (Bambie) Hopkins and Doug George in 1981. Of these I note that the first mention from this period of a member still serving as a club officer in the club’s 50th year was of David Ekdahl. After joining in 1978, David took an office (programs chair) for the first time in 1980 and has remained an officer of the club ever since!
The club’s field trips, and the camaraderie they engendered and friendships they built, remained at the heart of the organization’s existence. The third decade saw 256 advertised trips, up 31% from the club’s second decade. This boost seemed to result from the activities of a younger contingent of birders, and the concurrent development of interest in bird listing and searching for rarities. The 256 field trips in the third decade visited some 51 general localities (actually somewhat fewer than in either of the preceding decades), and trips to destinations outside Santa Cruz County increased to about 60% of the trips. Several favorite destinations came to be honored by visits each year. Continuing among these from earlier decades were trips to the Elkhorn Slough area (often two or three times per year), the Los Banos area refuges in winter, Fremont Peak in spring, Monterey Bay in summer and fall, and Año Nuevo State Reserve and Pescadero Marsh in the fall. New staple field trips included Panoche Valley in the winter (listed as “one of the best of the year”), Castle Rock, Tassajara Hot Springs and Loma Prieta in spring, and Point Reyes and the Carmel River mouth in the fall. Local destinations with enduring popularity included Rancho Del Oso, Pinto Lake, Natural Bridges, Neary Lagoon and various other lagoons and ponds in Santa Cruz, and Pajaro Dunes. New field events in this decade were “big days” and “bird-a-thons.”
Bob Ramer ranked first among frequent trip leaders for the decade, with 23 trips, barely edging out Randy Morgan who led 22. Other top leaders were Carolyn Frederiksen, Bob Hargis and Barb Scharfenstein (each with 18), Bruce LaBar (16), Irene Manicci and Don Starks (15), Steve Getty (13), and Steve Allison and Debi Shearwater (10). Judging from the reports in the Alby, Barb Scharfenstein probably attended as many or more trips than anyone else, and (in addition to great leaders) it was the consistent presence of gold-as-gold folks like “the Scharf” that helped make the trips wonderful experiences for all. Field trip reports in the newsletter morphed from dull lists of species in the second decade to interesting narratives that even now relate the flavor and fun of the day’s birding.
Pelagic trips remained a constant interest for the club. However, its hallmark annual “Albatross Expedition” in June began to falter after 1976, with the last reference to one coming in 1979. The fun from one of the last official “Albatross Expeditions” (June 1976) was captured by Santa Cruz Sentinel columnist (and SCBC member) Lea Wood: “Randy Morgan, one of the leaders of the trip, was pitching squid into the flock of eager gulls, shearwaters, and the increasing albatross, while his co-leader, Tony Bledsoe, beside himself with excitement, was counting: ‘Look! Fifteen – sixteen –seventeen – wow!’… The big brown birds kept flying in until in half an hour’s time the count finalled at 29.”
The decline of the Albatross Expedition as a SCBC entity came about as the port-of-call shifted to Monterey and trips during other more diverse seasons took the lead. Members Debi Robinson (Shearwater) and Bob Ramer were instrumental in developing the legacy of pelagic birding trips on Monterey Bay to which we are now so accustomed. In fall 1978 field trip chair Bob Ramer wrote in the Alby, “My long term fantasy of regular birding trips on Monterey Bay has become a reality thanks to the efforts of Debi Robinson.” Seven fall and four winter trips were advertised in that issue (at $15 per trip). The evolution of the now famous name Debra Love Shearwater is interesting to track through the Alby. From her beginnings with the club she was Debi Robinson, then in spring 1979 Debi Love, then Debi Love Millichap in fall 1979, and finally Debi Love Shearwater in 1981. The name of the organization “Shearwater Journeys” appeared in the newsletter in spring 1983.
The SCBC’s monthly meetings offered another venue for the membership to gather. Meetings continued to be held at Branciforte Junior High School, until moving to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (then the Santa Cruz City Museum) at East Cliff Drive in September 1978, where the club continues to meet to this day. Meetings had the usual business portion with officer’s reports, various announcements, reports of interesting birds, presentation of a door prize, and finally a featured speaker and program. The Alby advertised 72 specific topics for programs at the SCBC’s general meetings. Dorothy Lilly took the lead as the most frequent speaker, giving programs at eight meetings over the third decade. Bill Anderson continued as a repeat presenter, giving six more programs to add to his contribution as the most frequent speaker of the club’s second decade. A program by Don Roberson in January 1982 was the first of many he would offer to the club over the following years. Many programs (32) shared a look at the birds of foreign lands or other parts of our country. An increasing number took up topics of local research and conservation. The club’s annual Christmas Dinner was replaced in 1979 by an “Annual Dinner” held in late winter in place of a general meeting; the Annual Dinner would continue into the club’s fifth decade.
The Christmas Bird Count grew in popularity in the club’s third decade. Under the direction of compilers Bockman, Morgan and LaBar, the Santa Cruz County CBC increased markedly in participation, quality of coverage, and success at finding a high number of species. LaBar – beginning as compiler in 1979 – would continue in that role for 10 years, the second longest run for this CBC. The Moss Landing CBC, begun by John and Ricky Warriner and Bob Ramer in 1976, was another highly successful local count supported heavily by participation by SCBC members.
The club’s regularly scheduled trips, meetings, CBCs, winter dinners and summer picnics offered many opportunities for hospitality to welcome new birders and cement warm relationships among friends who shared a passion for birds and birding. Perusing the old issues of the Alby, the photos in the club’s history archive, and even the minutes of meetings, it is plain that club was a foundation for many friendships and source of many a joyful time. As the club matured and fostered a second generation, a need was identified for continued contact with its older members who were unable to participate in the club’s activities. In January 1977 it was announced that the membership chair would endeavor on a monthly basis to call shut-ins and elderly members to “chat about club activities and to perhaps provide a bright spot in the day.” At the other end of the age spectrum, the club was tending to the needs of a new generation, with special trips for its junior members and a regular series of programs for schools and other organizations. The Alby continued to welcome new and returning members by name, and to post notes about deaths and some other significant events the lives of its membership.
Conservation issues continued to interest the membership, although at the beginning of the decade there was a differing of opinion as to how much information should be presented at the general meetings, with long presentations apparently irking and turning off a number of members. Some resolution was reached, and over the years the SCBC concerned itself with a number of local issues, such as development projects, habitat acquisition, hunting and the gill net fishery. The club contributed to studies of bird use of wetlands at Moss Landing and the Watsonville Sloughs. Native Animal Rescue became a special focus for the club in the 1980s, with annual bird-a-thons directed by Bob Hargis to raise funds to support its operation.
The Snowy Plover provided a long term research topic that would absorb the attention of a number of club members. Local studies (made in conjunction with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory [now PRBO Conservation Science]) focused on breeding and wintering ecology, and tracking individual plovers marked by combinations of colored leg bands. Local research was conducted by members John and Ricky Warriner, Bob Ramer, Frances Bidstrup, Carolyn Frederiksen, and Doug George. A number of club members spent countless hours visiting local beaches to count plovers, search for banded birds, and monitor nests and human disturbance.
The Albatross remained a constant in the life of the club, providing consistent and interesting presentations of the club’s activities. The Alby was generated on a computer for the first time in the fall of 1982, with editor Pamela Stanton-Wyman working on her Apple. Bird observations continued to be one of its most interesting features, summarized throughout the decade in a straightforward listing titled “Unusual Observations” by record’s compiler Randy Morgan, with occasional editorial comment. Compared to earlier decades, the listings came to be dominated by discoveries of rare birds and vagrants. Beginning in 1980 the Alby was enhanced by attractive sketches of birds –many small vignettes, but others more elaborate – drawn by Rufus Minor. A new and delightful element developed in 1984 when feature articles began to appear. Among the first of these was a column by avid “twitcher” and “chaser” Bruce Labar. Titled “Bird Drop-Ins,” LaBar’s articles focused on rarities found elsewhere in California, spiced by his recounting of attempts to go and enjoy them. There were success stories, and tales of woe when LaBar and fellow chasers “dipped out” on their sought after prize.
One of the best of the new features in the Alby was a series of profiles of key club members written by editor Milly Rose beginning in winter 1985. In the last several issues of the club’s third decade these lively two page accounts highlighted club main stays Debra Shearwater, Bruce LaBar, Barbara Scharfenstein, Irene Manicci, and Carolyn Frederiksen. Look for these soon on the SCBC web page.
Rose’s profile on Carolyn Frederiksen, printed in the November – December 1985 issue of the Albatross, is especially poignant. Frederiksen died tragically in an automobile accident on October 26, 1985, right at the time the Albatross issue would have arrived to the membership. Carolyn, 41years old, wife and mother of two daughters, was much beloved by SCBC members, and in many ways was representative of what is best in the club and its members. Rose quoted Don Starks, “Carolyn combines what I think is the best of the birding world. She puts in as well as she takes out. She is a very good birder and gives a lot of time to volunteer research.” Sadly, she was on the local birding scene less than 10 years before her death, but she entered with style (her first Alby mention is for a Yellow-billed Cuckoo sighting), contributed greatly to the county bird records (including discovery of Black-backed [now White] and Eastern Yellow wagtails!), was a frequent field trip leader, and was active in local bird research. Her impact is still evident in the way members who knew her lovingly recall her. Rose reported: “‘Birding is my main hobby,’ Carolyn says. Husband Ole and teenage daughters Haydee and Justine keep a candle in the window when she’s away.’”
In 1984 president Irene Manicci noted that, “Sharing is the theme of our Club.” And so it remains today. Through the sharing of our passion, knowledge, friendship and time, we continue the legacy begun by our charter members, and kept alive by those of the club’s middle decade, such as Frederiksen, Manicci, Shearwater, Morgan, Ramer, Hargis and hundreds of other members.
1986 to 1995
I moved to Santa Cruz County in December 1985 as an avid young birder from Santa Clara County, just as the Santa Cruz Bird Club (SCBC) began its fourth decade. After several months of frequent birding on my own, by May 1986 I still had not connected much with other Santa Cruz birders. This was, of course, long before email lists and the easy avenue they now provide to enter the local birding scene. I had discovered that I should report my observations of color-banded Snowy Plovers to Frances Bidstrup, but although Frances was a Club member, my connection with her was related more to her role with the plover and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Instead, my first real entry into the local birding community was through Barbara Scharfenstein.
I recall a phone call from Barb one June day after I had reported a Hooded Warbler at New Brighton State Beach to the Northern California Rare Bird Alert. Somehow she tracked me down, and phoned me to encourage me to call her and other locals if I should find other goodies. She encouraged me to join the SCBC, and led me to bird record keeper Randy Morgan and top birder Bruce LaBar. August 17, 1986 found me as a new member enjoying the club’s annual potluck, held that year at the Aptos home of Frances and Dick Bidstrup. In September I led my first field trip for the Club and attended my first SCBC meeting (with Don Roberson presenting the program), feeling more than welcomed by hospitality chairperson Irene Manicci, a small bundle of warmth and interest. The SCBC provided me with a framework from which to take part in the local birding community, and to a great degree in its fourth decade the Club was the local birding community.
Many of the folks at the forefront of the SCBC by the end of its third decade continued strong in the fourth decade: LaBar, The Scharf, Manicci, Morgan, David Ekdahl, Doug George, Bambie Hopkins, Bob Hargis, Milly Rose, Debi Shearwater, Steve Allison, and Jerry Busch. But others joined in this decade, including some who would make their most significant contributions in the Club’s fifth decade. In addition to my own beginnings in 1986, The Albatross (Alby) includes first mentions of Clay Kempf, Bob Merrill and Earl Lebow in 1986, Eric Feuss in 1988, Bonnie Bedzin in 1989, Ken Kellman in 1991, Cliff and Lise Bixler in 1992, and Jeff Davis and Lois and Wally Goldfrank in 1995. Two special members who had made contributions in the Club’s earlier decades became active again after a hiatus in the fourth decade: Steve Gerow by 1992 and Todd Newberry by 1994.
If the Club’s third decade experienced a generational turnover, then the fourth decade brought a continuation of that change, and more importantly a maturation or development of the Club’s role. Comparing the SCBC of the late 1980s to that of the early 1970s, Bruce LaBar reflected, “When I joined, Randy and I were perhaps the youngest active birders. Since then the Club has changed dramatically, with many more younger participants, better field trips and programs, exciting Christmas counts and the Breeding Bird Atlas as a better resource for information on birds and their environment.” But Clay Kempf, part of the younger generation of the Club’s fourth decade, said “I don’t think the younger generation has anything unique to offer the Club because of its age. It is because of who they are as individuals.”
Field trips continued as a principal activity of the Club, accented always by a lively camaraderie. Interviewed in the fall of 1989, Club President Clay Kempf stated, “The trips are what I enjoy most…In our club there’s every level of birder involved. There’s the top in the state—and those who are out for the first time, plus everything in between. [Beginners] are always given support and encouraged.” The 296 trips in the fourth decade represented an increase of 16% over the previous decade, and 34% over the average for the Club’s first 30 years. But interestingly, the number of trip leaders dipped to a new low (29), and just five people led 75% of the 296 trips. This was a labor of love, but of course it led to burn out, and so the plea in a 1991 Alby for “new blood” among the trip leaders. The most active trip leaders in this decade were me (83 trips), Clay Kempf (69), Bruce LaBar (31), Barb Scharfenstein (20), Eric Feuss (19), Earl Lebow (15), Bambie Hopkins (13), Bob Hargis (12), and Randy Morgan and Steve Allison (10). LaBar would have undoubtedly bumped his total up considerably if he had not moved to Washington in 1989. Kempf offered a fitting testimonial to LaBar’s skills as a leader. “He was an incomparable trip leader, not because of his birding ability (which is formidable), but because of his personality. Every new participant was made welcome, each old acquaintance acknowledged. His scope was never moved off a bird until everyone wishing a look had been satisfied.”
We ranged more broadly as the number of trips increased. Sites in Santa Cruz County accounted for only one third of the field trips, with two thirds visiting adjacent counties and places farther a field. Some long distance destinations were featured in the fourth decade: Yosemite and Mono Lake, Sacramento refuges, Salton Sea, Morro Bay, Kern River, Death Valley, and Yuba Pass. Among favored local destinations, trips to the Pajaro Valley (a.k.a., “South County”) and trips visiting an array of county hot spots rose to prominence in this decade. Other local spots included the perennial favorite Rancho Del Oso, as well as the U.C.S.C. Campus, and places on the westside of Santa Cruz. Outside the county Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing remained a top destination, the most frequent for this decade, with regular forays also to Panoche Valley, Pescadero, Half Moon Bay, the Salinas River mouth and sewer ponds, Mines Road, and Los Banos area refuges. Some of these, such as Mines Road, Panoche Valley and Los Banos were annual traditions in season. In the same vein were annual expeditions to Loma Prieta, Point Reyes, and Año Nuevo. But as birding qualities shifted, interest in some annual destinations faded. For example, in 1995, after a few years of dwindling avian returns from Loma Prieta, leader R. Morgan bemoaned: “Every year poor old Loma Prieta is a little deader than the year before, except for those little flies that like to get in your face.”
Ever hopeful, yet perhaps never learning, the SCBC persisted in efforts to find owls on field trips. Bruce LaBar’s comment from his report on a May 1986 effort at Robinson Canyon summed up the typical experience, “It was very difficult to hear with so many cars and people, but we all had an enjoyable time straining to hear anything.” Leader Eric Feuss was swamped with interest in his proposed owling events in January 1992, with 75 people expressing a desire, “some an over-whelming desire,” to attend one of the excursions. With youthful exuberance, Feuss responded to the need by leading three separate trips in one night (!), but “Regrettably, there was not much [owl] activity.”
A field trip on May 5, 1991 in Big Basin resulted in a significant scientific discovery: a nest of Marbled Murrelet! Researcher and Club member Steve Singer thought I was overly optimistic to actually advertise the event in the Alby as “a coordinated group effort to find a murrelet nest”, but observations that morning by members Bonnie Bedzin and Rebecca Cull led to just that. With the aid of several SCBC folks we watched the nest – only the fourth tree nest ever found in North America – to its completion, and we were the first to document the fledging of a Marbled Murrelet.
The SCBC hosted 81 regular meetings during its fourth decade, remaining at the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History. The quality of speakers was quite high, pulling from among the best of birders, biologists, natural historians, and photographers. Topics were mostly divided between identification and natural history of California birds, presentations of scientific research (some local), and the avifauna of foreign countries. Although some speakers may have run long – in a 1990 Alby Bill Hopkins opined, “One thing we can do to improve our club is shorten the programs” – meetings often attracted 40-50 people. The Annual Dinner held each winter featured top speakers (Arnold Small, Joe Morlan, Paul Lehman, Herb Clarke, Debi Shearwater) and attracted crowds of 90-120 Club members and guests. The November 1991 general meeting featured a multimedia, all sensory presentation of our discovery of the murrelet nest. Not only was the story told with slides and tape recordings, but there was also a staged reenactment of the initial morning of discovery, complete with the heavy scent of citronella oil to ward off the mosquitoes. However, rumors put forth in the Alby that I’d arrive at the meeting costumed as a downy murrelet chick, with Clay Kempf playing the crop-filled parent, thankfully did not come true.
The Santa Cruz County and Moss Landing Christmas Bird Counts remained annual winter highlights for club members. I succeeded LaBar as compiler for the Santa Cruz County effort in 1989, and the Warriners and Ramers continued as compilers for the Moss Landing effort. This decade was a time of continued growth for both CBCs, each reaching new heights for the variety of species found and participation. The Moss Landing count topped 200 species for the first time in 1986, and the Santa Cruz count reached a zenith at 196 that same year. The convivial count down dinner at the end of the day provided a welcome goal for weary (and sometimes wet!) counters. Irene Manicci recapped one such evening in the late 1980s, “Counters began coming in from the fields at 5:30 to be greeted by the fragrance of freshly popped corn. The tables were decorated with evergreens and candles to welcome the diners. The hot soups and special smorgasbord of goodies [read: potluck] made for a heart- and body-warming meal.”
The Club’s tradition of an annual summer picnic was carried on in this decade, with relaxed gatherings of up to 50 members held at a member’s home. R. Morgan shook things up at the 1987 picnic by bringing a spit of freshly plucked Starlings to BBQ! For several years we enjoyed summer afternoons along the San Lorenzo River at the Launer’s home on well-named Lazy Woods Road in Felton. Ray Launer’s homemade ice cream was a favorite.
This decade was a time of great strides in the understanding our county’s avifauna and much of the flow of information was digested and shared in the Alby. Many people made substantial contributions to the county’s ornithological record. Key reporting observers included Doug George, Bob Merrill, Bruce LaBar, Clay Kempf, Earl Lebow, Bryan Mori, Randy Morgan, Debi Shearwater, Barb Scharfenstein, Bambie Hopkins, Ken Kellman, David Bockman, Breck Tyler, Bob Hargis, Steve Allison, Alexander Gaguine, Steve Getty, Isaac Field, Barbara & Kevin Monahan, Steve Gerow, Janet Linthicum, and me. By 1987 the Alby’s “Unusual Observations” column, listing a bare summary of highlights, had morphed into “Santa Cruz Birds.” This new column was fashioned after the regional reports of American Birds (now the ABA’s journal North American Birds) and tracked county bird records in some detail, providing perspective on the significance of various reports.
The SCBC initiated the Santa Cruz County Breeding Bird Atlas project in 1988. Many dozens of members contributed 1000s of nesting records through 1993 to bring the project to completion. Unfortunately, the results are not yet published, as they have become integrated into the slowly progressing book “Birds of Santa Cruz County.”
Local conservation issues were varied over this decade. The Club was concerned about the expansion of Scotts Valley and Watsonville, preservation of the Watsonville Slough system, logging, oil drilling in Monterey Bay, the threat of oil spills, establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, sewage disposal, conversion of natural areas to sports fields in open space parks, flood control on the Pajaro River, and more. Doing its part in a small way, the Club first printed the Alby on recycled paper in 1991. In addition to its work with the Marbled Murrelet, SCBC members contributed to research and management of the Snowy Plover, and sponsored a statewide Burrowing Owl census. Annual “bird-a-thons” were run to raise funds for Native Animal Rescue. Club members worked together with the California Native Plant Society to implement the Soquel Creek Lagoon Enhancement Project, developing a museum display, interpretive signs, and a “Streamside Care Guide” for local residents. The Club earned over $4,000 for its efforts on this project, helping to pull it out of a significant financial tight spot in 1992.
Junior Activities directors Scharfenstein and Hopkins were kept busy giving presentations and walks for young children for schools, camps, scout groups, and others. Barb and Bambie were co-chairs of this club function for the entire decade. The May 1988 Alby reports that they gave shows and trips for over 25 schools that year, and they also trained docents for local parks. “Most of the trainees don’t know a towhee from a robin,” Barb noted. Still, aside from that outreach to youth, the SCBC had very little active involvement by junior members in this decade.
The Alby continued its evolution into a first rate newsletter in the Club’s fourth decade. After a year without a regular editor, Milly Rose resumed her post from 1987 to 1989, and she continued her series of profiles of active Club members, included Randy Morgan, Frances Bidstrup, Clay Kempf, and Bill and Bambie Hopkins. Bruce LaBar continued his “Bird Drop-Ins” column until he moved away in 1989, offering a review of California rarities and fun summaries of his chasing exploits. Taking the idea farther, in 1988 Bruce Barrett (member from San Jose) began a column (“Vagrants and Wanderers”) that summarized rare bird highlights from all of North America and humorously featured his continent-wide bird chases. In 1990 Ed Frost began a series of entertaining essays as the Club’s “Self-appointed Curator of Birding’s Merely Odd, Really Bizarre, and Humorous” or “Morb HaHa.” One of my favorite of Ed’s Morb HaHas was his “Confessions of a Congenital Sexist”, available on our website here: http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/David’s%20Articles/sexist.htm
After a shuffle of short-term editors in 1990 and 1991, John and Carolyn Bailey assumed the lead of the Alby in fall 1991. Their efforts brought a new level of quality and polish to the newsletter, with many photos and illustrations, as well as many feature articles. In contrast to Rose’s profiles of Santa Cruz area birders, John Bailey reached out of the area to write about interesting personalities such as Don Roberson, Alan Baldridge, Rich Stallcup, and Daryl Wheye (co-author of “The Birder’s Handbook”). Now the Alby had come so far from its mimeographed parochial roots. There were reprints from Birding magazine, and illustrations from famous artists from outside our region. A continental perspective was touched with Barrett’s rarity column and some other articles, while the Baileys kept a focus here at home, too. The Alby swelled for a time to 16 pages per issue. Perhaps we were reaching too far for a local bird club. Indeed, when Bonnie Bedzin took over as editor in 1994 the Alby scaled back, while still retaining much of its excellent style and local content. And Bonnie brought her interesting sense of humor to bear between the lines.
Thoughts shared by two key members of the Club’s fourth decade serve to close this part of the history SCBC. From Bruce LaBar in 1989: “Changes I went through never seemed to alter my closeness with birding friends. The Club’s stability was always a needed part of my changing ways…One way I am finding out firsthand that makes this Club special is the informal friendliness.” And from Ken Kellman in 1995: “I really appreciate belonging to a Club with members who care for each other.”