Native/Drought-tolerant Plants: Getting Started
In our semi-arid region, replacing lawns with waterwise, eco-friendly plants can bring colorful flowers, butterflies, and hummingbirds as well as help the environment. (Indeed, Sacramento has been paying people to replace their lawns.) Here’s a few ideas from experienced Audubon members to help get you started.
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Highlights of the Natural Year in San Joaquin County
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Birding in San Joaquin County Guide
San Joaquin County offers a wide variety of wildlife habitats. Unlike many inland California counties, the region contains extensive wetlands, thanks to the San Joaquin/Sacramento delta at the confluence of these two rivers. Audubon members for years pondered the need for a local birding guide, particularly to assist beginners. Finally, in the summer of 1999, Gaylan Queirolo set the ball rolling, and a committee was formed. The first edition was extremely well received, and now we have the second revision of this guide. It is organized in five geographical areas. This is a guide to birding LOCATIONS, with tips on how to find specific birds at each location, etc., This book should not be considered as field guide.
If you don’t have this guide, now is the chance to get one!. Contact Alan England wdchkgsqrl@yahoo.com and let him know you want the book mailed. Provide your mailing address and put a check in the mail made out to SJAS for $13 ($10 book + $3 mailing).
Mailing Address
San Joaquin Audubon Society (or SJAS)
PO Box 7755, Stockton, California 95267
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eBird Mobile
The new eBird Mobile app makes it possible to collect and submit observations directly to eBird from the field. iOS and Android users who were accustomed to entering eBird data using the BirdLog app are encouraged to switch to eBird Mobile, the new and official app for entering data to eBird.
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Merlin Bird ID
In a breakthrough for computer vision and for bird watching, researchers and bird enthusiasts have enabled computers to achieve a task that stumps most humans—identifying hundreds of bird species pictured in photos. Build in concert with the exceedingly popular Merlin app, the Merlin Bird ID tool lets you upload an image of a bird that you’ve photographed, and if the photo shows one of the supported species, it returns the correct species in the top 3 results, 90% of the time. It currently supports 400 species in North America, but will eventually be expanding to more species in North America, and worldwide. Give it a try.