Fall 2008 - Ventana Wildlife Society

ON THE 

WILD SIDE 

Conserving Native Wildlife and their Habitats FALL 2008 

Rising From the Ashes 

By Kelly Sorenson, VWS Executive Director 

As most readers already know, 

last summer’s Basin Complex Fire 

posed a serious threat to the condor 

restoration effort. Despite major fire 

damage to Ventana Wildlife Society’s 

Condor Sanctuary in Big Sur, we were 

extremely fortunate overall. Our staff 

remained safe, and we were able to 

evacuate all eight condors being held 

at the Sanctuary before the fire swept 

through. (For first-hand accounts of that 

harrowing helicopter rescue by VWS 

wildlife biologists and the U.S. Coast 

Guard, see pages 2 and 3). 

Following the fire, our biggest 

concern was the fate of the three 

condor nestlings caught in it’s path. 

Miraculously, all three (and their parents) 

were unscathed. Sadly, though, we have 

not had contact with two wild condors– 

Condor 278, a six-year-old male, and 

Condor 377, a three-year-old female. They 

are now presumed dead as a result of the 

fire, and they will be greatly missed. 

As we work quickly to rebuild the 

Sanctuary facilities, our top priority has 

been the release pen, which is used to 

capture and care for wild birds. When 

that is completed, we will proceed 

with our annual post-hunting-season 

capture of the birds to test them for 

lead poisoning and assess their general 

health. 

A brief note on the critical issue of 

lead poisoning: Within 10 days of the 

fire starting, the Ridley-Tree Condor 

Preservation Act prohibiting the use 

of lead ammunition went into effect. 

The law is a big step forward, but it’s 

important to remember that having 

this legislation in place doesn’t mean 

the problem is solved and there is much 

work yet to be done. In September, 

four-year-old female Condor 336 died 

as the result of lead poisoning, despite 

emergency treatment at the Los Angeles 

Zoo. 

On behalf of VWS, I want to sincerely 

thank all of you who offered financial 

and volunteer support during the fire 

and its aftermath. Special thanks go to 

U.S. Coast Guard pilot Lt. Harry Greene 

and his crew for their heroic condor 

rescue and to the Pinnacles Condor 

Crew. Pinnacles not only housed the 

rescued birds, but also stepped in to host 

our Condor Wilderness Camp for teens 

over the summer. 

Looking ahead to the coming year, 

VWS is moving forward with the 

transformation of our Andrew Molera 

State Park facility (the barn next to 

the bird banding lab) into a Discovery 

Center for visitors. The Center will 

include interactive, interpretive exhibits 

and displays that will help visitors 

understand the work VWS is doing, 

including the California Condor recovery 

program, Bald Eagle program, songbird 

and Monarch Butterfly monitoring, 

and our habitat restoration activities. 

We plan to have the Discovery Center 

completed by Spring 2009, with a 

Grand Opening planned for May 2 in 

conjunction with our annual Birdathon. 

Our first exhibit will be focused on 

California Condor recovery. 

Celebrating the Survival of 

Three Wild Chicks 

By Joe Burnett, VWS Senior Wildlife Biologist 

Possibly the most incredible news emerging after the Basin Complex Fire 

was the survival of all three wild chicks that we had identified earlier in the 

season. Soon after the fire, we were able to verify that condors and chicks at 

the two coastal nest sites made it through, but the status of our third nest 

(the most remote) was unknown for weeks. This nest site was established 

by male Condor 199 and his mate Condor 231 just this year, and their chick 

was the first truly wild-laid and reared chick for the Big Sur flock. This was 

an enormous milestone for the recovery of the central California Condors 

and gave us great hope for the future. We were not optimistic after the 

Continued on page 4

In This Issue 

Rising From the Ashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Celebrating the Survival of Three Wild Chicks . . 1, 4 

Dramatic Rescue Saves Eight Trapped Condors. . .2 

Membership Categories and Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . .2 

Remembering the Big Sur Condor 

Rescue Mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Lemonade and Cookies for Condors. . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

Notes From the Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

Bald Eagles Continue to Thrive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

The Condor Emergency Fund: 

Rebuilding with Your Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

Rebuilding the Condor Sanctuary: 

One Step at a Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

VWS Board & Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Dear Ventana Wildlife Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Summer Program Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Summer Programs Expand – 

With a Little Help From Our Friends . . . . . . . . . . . .7 

VWS’ 2nd Annual Condor Release Auction: 

Wings Over the World 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 

Condor 251 has a Special Place in 

Jeanne Holmquist’s Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 

An Update on the VWS Bird Banding Lab . . . . . . . 9 

Save the Date: VWS Open House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Thank You to VWS Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 

Ways to Give to VWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

VWS Contact Info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

VWS Merchandise for the Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Membership 

Categories & Benefits 

Associate $50 - $99 

Senior/Student $35 - $49 

• Quarterly newsletter On the Wild Side 

• Invitations to hikes and general 

community lectures 

• Name listed in the annual report 

• Early / discounted registration for Natural 

Science Discovery Camp 

• Ventana Wildlife Society Logo decal 

Friend $100 - $499 

• All of the above, plus 

• Bald Eagle Tour 

• 3-5/16” x 4-7/8” Wildlife Bronze Plaque 

($250 or more) 

Sponsor $500 - $999 


• Invitation to Annual Membership 

Appreciation Reception 


Steward $1,000 - $4,999 



Leadership Circle $5,000 and above 


• Picnic at exclusive Ventana field station 

with Executive Director 

Adopt-A-Condor Program $50 & above 

• Receive Associate or Friend membership benefits 

• Personalized certificate with Condor Chick 

photograph 

Dramatic Rescue Saves Eight Trapped Condors 

By Joe Burnett, VWS Senior Wildlife Biologist 

On June 22, the Basin Complex fire 

was rapidly approaching the VWS 

Condor Sanctuary in Big Sur. Eight 

condors–including seven juveniles and 

our veteran mentor bird Hoi– were 

trapped in a large aviary directly in the 

fire’s path. 

We made the decision to go in and 

evacuate the birds, but with the roads 

closed and most available helicopters 

devoted to the firefighting effort, the 

obstacles seemed overwhelming. A 

VWS volunteer called the Coast Guard 

to see if they could provide a helicopter, 

and amazingly, by late that afternoon, 

Mike Tyner (VWS wildlife biologist), 

Henry Boniface (intern biologist) and I 

were airborne and headed for Big Sur. 

However, with just a few hours of 

daylight left, the biggest challenges 

were yet to come. As we approached 

the site, the size and intensity of 

the fire were terrifying, with flames 

shooting as high as 100 feet in the 

air. The closest feasible landing area 

was about 2 1/2 miles away from 

the Sanctuary, connected by a steep, 

rough, dirt road. As we rushed in on 

foot, we found still another obstacle– a 

large bay tree blocking the road. 

While Mike took the camp ATV and a 

chainsaw out to clear the tree, Henry 

and I started trapping the birds and 

securing them in large dog kennels for 

transport. We were able to shuttle five 

birds out with the ATV by the time the 

helicopter got back from refueling, but 

they had bad news– the fire and smoke 

situation now made this an “extreme 

danger zone.” We needed to have the 

remaining birds ready to go the minute 

they returned from delivering the first 

five to Monterey. 

And those last three were the 

toughest– not only because the heat 

and smoke had cut our normal energy 

levels in half, but also because the last 

bird was very clever at eluding us. It 

took the three of us (plus a bit more 

aggressive handling than we might 

ordinarily use) to get her safely into the 

kennel. To add to the excitement, the 

ATV was beginning to overheat, at one 

point cutting out completely. 

With Mike driving that last elusive 

condor up in the ATV– and Henry and 

I running behind– we squeaked it out 

just in the nick of time. The smoke had 

become so thick that the pilots needed 

their GPS system and night vision 

goggles to land. The eight birds were 

delivered safely to the Pinnacles Condor 

program, where they were released in 

early November. 

The loss of these carefully reared birds 

would have been a tragic blow to the 

condor recovery program. I’ve said 

it many times, but I want to again 

express our heartfelt gratitude to 

Coast Guard pilot Lt. Harry Greene 

and crewmembers Casey Michaelson 

and Lt. Brad Donaldson– they were 

incredible and truly carried the day! 

We also owe a huge “thank you” to our 

volunteer, Rebecca Dmytryk Titus, who 

connected us with the Coast Guard 

helicopter. 

Biologists with 

the National Park 

Service at the 

Pinnacles National 

Monument 

transported the 

eight rescued 

condors on the 

last leg of their 

journey to safety. 

The seven condor 

chicks were 

released to the 

wild in November 

2008. 

ON THE WILD SIDE FALL 2008 2

Remembering the Big Sur Condor Rescue Mission 

By U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Harry Greene 

On the morning of June 22, 2008, U.S. Coast Guard 

administrative officer and helicopter pilot Lt. Harry Greene got 

the call to help rescue eight condors from the path of the Basin 

Complex Fire in Big Sur. With his crew, aviation maintenance 

technician Casey Michaelson and Lt. Brad Donaldson (on loan to 

the Coast Guard from the Royal Australian Navy), Lt. Greene flew 

VWS wildlife biologists in to rescue the birds. Lt. Greene provided 

the following highlights of that dramatic rescue. 

“By the time all the logistical arrangements were completed, it 

was nearly 4:00 p.m., with just a few hours of daylight left. We 

dropped Joe and the other biologists off in Big Sur and headed 

back to Monterey to refuel. When we returned, five of the 

birds were in large dog kennels ready to go– but they clearly 

weren’t going to fit into the helicopter. Using a little “creative 

problem solving,” we carefully tilted the crates on end and just 

barely squeezed them all in. 

“As we headed to Monterey with the five condors, Joe and 

the team went back for the last three birds. But we were 

getting worried. The sun was nearly down and the smoke 

was increasing. We were only on the ground in Monterey for 

17 minutes, but by the time we got to Big Sur the sun was 

setting, and our landing site was completely cut off by smoke 

and lowering fog. 

“Our priority at that point was the safety of the biologists; 

if we couldn’t land, they would have to drive the ATV down 

below the fog where we could hoist them to safety– which 

would have meant leaving the remaining birds. Fortunately, 

we managed to find a clear route in from the south, flying low 

over the ridgeline to land. 

Lt. Harry Green, Lt. Brad Donaldson and the U.S. Coast Guard were 

honored at VWS’ Wings Over the World Event for their heroic rescue of 

eight condors trapped in the line of the Big Sur Basin Complex fire. 

“The birds were ready to go, and the three biologists were 

congratulating and high-fiving each other. We three crew 

members looked at one another and thought– ‘Wow, they 

actually think they’re okay now!’ Surrounded on one side by 

fire and on the other by smoke and fog, we managed to fly 

out to the east and finally found a hole in the smoke. Then 

we were able to come back around south and down to the 

coast. 

“It’s funny, but at the time, not one of the flight crew even 

knew what a California Condor was– and it wasn’t until I 

told my wife about the rescue that I began to realize the 

importance of what we had done. It’s great to know we 

made a difference for these amazing birds.” 

Lemonade and Cookies for Condors 

This summer, when Miles and 

Michaela Carbaat (ages 6 and 9) 

heard about the fire damage to the 

Ventana Wildlife Society’s Condor 

Sanctuary, they wanted to do 

something to help. They decided to 

open a lemonade and cookie stand 

near their home in Walnut Creek, 

on a busy street that’s popular with 

hikers and bikers headed for nearby 

Mt. Diablo. 

The stand was a huge hit, and over 

three weekends Miles and Michaela– 

along with friends Caitlin Kudlik and 

Jessa Nootbaar– raised $1,000 for the 

Condor Emergency Fund. We want 

to thank them for giving up their 

valuable summer weekends to help 

the condor recovery effort! 

The stand not only offered welcome 

refreshments for thirsty passers-by, 

but also provided information and 

photos about VWS, the condor 

recovery program, and the Basin 

Complex Fire. Thanks go as well 

to Miles and Michaela’s mom 

Silvia Newcomb who checked the 

accounting, and to grandmother 

Susie Newcomb, who helped prepare 

the informational presentations for 

the stand. 

Miles, Michaela, and Jessa were 

inspired to help the condors after 

they attended the fall 2007 VWS 

Wings Over the World Condor 

Release Event with their families. It’s 

never too early to get kids involved in 

working for the environment! 

3 ON THE WILD SIDE FALL 2008 www.ventanaws.org

Celebrating the Survival of Three Wild Chicks Continued from page 1 

fire, however, as the nest was located in a 

cavity at the top of a large redwood tree in 

a remote area that had been completely 

burned over. Checking on the chick 

required a helicopter and some serious 

climbing. I brought in climbers Joseph 

Brandt and Ivan Hartert from southern 

California to help me reach the nest and 

recruited pilot Jim Cheetam to fly us in on 

September 2, 2008. 

We are happy to report that all three of the chicks have now fledged. 

Based on blood samples, we know that the coastal chicks (470 and 475) 

are both males. However, the redwood chick (477) was way too scrappy 

for us to take a blood sample, so we’re still waiting to determine that 

chick’s gender. 

Although the flames had reached more 

than halfway up the 200-foot tree, the nest 

cavity was located at the top, and looked 

like it could have survived. After an hour of 

climbing, Joseph was able to peak into the 

nest and give us the good news—the chick 

was alive! 

I then climbed up to help radio-tag and 

vaccinate the chick, which we estimated to 

be about five months old. It’s unbelievable 

that the chick survived the heat and smoke 

exposure of the fire—truly miraculous. 

And thanks to Joseph, Ivan, and Jim for 

their invaluable assistance on this grueling 

house call! 

Climber Joseph Brandt prepared the five-month old miracle chick for its 

first check up and vaccinations. This chick was radio-tagged to monitor its 

movements due to the remote nest location. 

Notes From the Field, 

September 2008 

By Jessica Koning, VWS Condor Field Biologist 

Collectively, condors live life at a relaxed pace. They spend 

most of their time idling in treetops, or riding gentle 

updrafts in slow circles in friendly groups of around eight 

individuals. Because they are so social, groups of condors 

routinely meander up, down, and around the Big Sur coast, 

like they are riding a gigantic carousel. It is no wonder 

that the official name for a group of condors is a “party.” 

The biologists on the condor project log many hours 

documenting this slow social whirl. Occasionally, though, 

we see behaviors that remind us that condor life isn’t 

always a party and these giants are not always gentle. 

Our adult condors are now beginning the breeding cycle, 

which will reach a fever pitch this January. Most of the 

year, condors are not territorial, but during the breeding 

season a pair of mated condors will vigorously chase away 

any intruders from their nest. Our condor flock is young, 

and most of our adults have mated only recently. In some 

cases, the boundary between one pair’s nesting territory 

and their neighbor’s is under dispute. Condors who 

genuinely enjoyed dining on dead sea lion together last 

month are now grappling viciously in midair, and appear 

to be earnestly trying to harm one another. It turns out 

that good fences make good neighbors whatever species 

you belong to. 

Bald Eagles Continue to Thrive 

Bald Eagles are once again soaring over Central California, 

thanks to decades of hard work by conservationists. In 

2008, we documented a total of 23 Bald Eagle chicks raised 

and fledged in the wild throughout the Central California 

Coast Region (which includes the counties of Monterey, 

San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and 

Santa Clara). This brings the total of known wild-raised 

Bald Eagles in the region to 143 since 1995. After a 60-year 

period that saw no breeding Bald Eagles on the California 

Central Coast, we now have a thriving, year-round 

population. 

The Bald Eagle population recovery is the result of the 

banning of DDT use throughout the U.S., strong protection 

of the birds under the Endangered Species Act, and 

regional release programs such as the one conducted by 

Ventana Wildlife Society. In August 2007, Bald Eagles were 

removed from the Endangered Species List after more than 

45 years! 

Continuing thanks goes to all of our supporters and the 

hard work of our team. The success of the Bald Eagle 

recovery effort provides great hope that we can achieve 

similar successes with other badly depleted species, 

including the California Condor. 


The Condor Emergency Fund: 

Rebuilding with Your Support 

Rebuilding the 

Condor Sanctuary: 

One Step at a Time 

By Joe Burnett, 

VWS Senior Wildlife Biologist 

Executive Director Kelly Sorenson and VWS Board of Director Janet Shing gratefully accept a 

donation check from Ellie Kincaid and Joshua Littlefield with REI, Inc. With the community’s 

generous support, we were able to start immediately on the critical rebuild of the condor 

sanctuary. 

This fall Ventana Wildlife Society has been in a race against time to rebuild 

critical infrastructure damaged by the Basin Complex Fire. The response from 

around the country has been incredible and, with your help, we will be able 

maintain the momentum of our condor recovery efforts. This widespread 

support for VWS reminds us how quickly and generously the conservationist 

community comes together in times of crisis. 

Among the organizations contributing to the Condor Emergency Fund were the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the San Diego Zoo (already partners in condor 

conservation), as well as REI, Inc. and Mountain Tools. In addition, the donors 

listed below contributed $1,000 or more, and we want to offer our special thanks 

for their support. Total contributions received are listed along with all our donors 

on pages 10 and 11. 

Although the rebuilding effort is proceeding well, we still need additional 

financial contributions to return the VWS condor recovery facilities to their prefire 

levels and to continue our work building wild condor populations in central 

California. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership! 

• BBR, LLP 

• Joyce Harris 

• Bill and Adriana Hayward 

• Margaret C and 

William R Hearst III 

• Jeanne Holmquist 

• Colleen May and 

Kerry Burrows 

• Shirley Nootbaar 

• Oakland Zoo 

• Oregon Zoo 

• Edward E Penhoet and 

Camille Stahl Penhoet 

• REI, Inc. 

• Santa Ynez Band of 

Chumash Indians 

• Will and Jada Smith Family 

Foundation 

• South Bay Bird Society 

• The Robert Stephens and 

Julie Packard Nonendowed 

Donor-Advised Fund at the 

Community Foundation of 

Santa Cruz Co 

• Linda Stevens 

• Frank and Barbara Strehlitz 

• Jean and Tim Weiss 

• West Valley Bird Society 

• Marsha M Zelus 

Late summer and fall have been 

a flurry of activity as we rush to 

rebuild key infrastructure at the 

VWS Big Sur Condor Sanctuary. 

Miraculously, our main cabin was 

undamaged, although the flames 

had clearly come within inches 

of the walls. However the fire 

destroyed just about everything 

else, including our beautiful 

new holding pen, a large aviary 

completed less than a year ago. 

Frustrating! This is where young 

birds from captive breeding 

programs are held and socialized 

before release– and it’s where our 

seven chicks and Hoi were housed 

when we rescued them. 

The first step was to clean up the 

fire debris and replace our solar grid 

and water system. The next priority 

was to rebuild the release pen, a 

smaller aviary that is also used to 

recapture condors for their annual 

lead-level testing and to hold any 

condors that require treatment for 

lead exposure. 

We expect to complete the release 

pen by Thanksgiving, and soon 

after we will be able to resume 

lead testing of the wild flock. At the 

same time, we are in the process of 

rebuilding (again) the holding pen, 

and we hope to have the new aviary 

ready by spring 2009. 

With the assistance of volunteers, such as those from the 

San Francisco Zoo, VWS’ fire clean up went smoothly and 

the rebuild was under way by September 2008. 


Ventana Wildlife Society 

Board & Staff 

Board of Directors 

Mark Dedon – Chair 

Barbara Baldock – Vice Chair 

Janet Shing – Secretary 

Marcy Morgan – Treasurer 

Jerry Stidham – Board Member 

Sanford “Sandy” Decker – Board Member 

Brandi Katz – Board Member 

Virdette L. Brumm, PhD – Board Member 

Heather Doorlag – Board Member 

Board of Advisors 

Bruce Elliott 

William Hearst, III 

Lucinda Jackson, PhD 

Walt Koenig, PhD 

Ada Lucido 

Sal Lucido 

Tom Mallett, JD 

Bette Mayer 

Michael Murray, DVM 

James Roush, DVM 

Robert Stephens 

Mark Stromberg, PhD 

Elizabeth Van Dyke, PhD 

Administrative Staff 

Kelly Sorenson – Executive Director 

Cathy Keeran – Executive Assistant 

Program Staff 

Alena Porte – Education Coordinator 

Joe Burnett – Senior Wildlife Biologist 

Sayre Flannagan – Seasonal Wildlife Biologist 

Jessica Koning – Seasonal Wildlife Biologist 

Mike Tyner – Wildlife Biologist 

Instructors 

Alyssa Carlson 

David Founds 

Molly Hucklebridge 

Kathleen Lannon 

Interns (Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008) 

Jordan Bell, Henry Bonifas, Jill Gautreaux, 

Emily Haber, Wendy Lanier, Kristi Markowitz, 

Megan Oldfather, Ryan Pottinger, 

Nerissa Rujanavech, Nora Silber, 

Brett Stauffer, Sharna Tolfree, Deborah Visco, 

Patrick Wingo, Sarah Wulff. 

Volunteers (Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008) 

Karen Anderson, Anonymous, 

Steven Bailey, Ranger Chuck Bancroft, 

Matt Brady, Tony Bushlow, Christi Doyle, 

Stan Dryden, Jonathan Gottsche, 

Kathryn Hannay, Sue Hubbard, 

Olga Lansdorp, Noah Lyon, Jade Matrone, 

Cheryl McCormick, Emma Moran, 

Doug Morin, Joe Morris, Tama Olver, 

Shelley Parker, Karen Shihadeh, 

Rami Shihadeh, Richard Ternullo, Ryan Terrill, 

Roger Wolfe, Barbara Woyt. 

Dear Ventana Wildlife Society... 

Each year, through the generous support of the Harden Foundation, the Monterey 

Peninsula Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Community 

Foundation for Monterey, and our other generous supporters, 100 underserved youth 

attend VWS summer programs at no cost. 

Below are a few excerpts from letters we received from Community Partnership for Youth 

(CPY) campers after they attended a week of camp in summer 2008. CPY is based in 

Seaside and helps provide a safe place for children to explore and discover their potential. 

CPY and Ventana Wildlife Society have worked together since 2003. 

“Thank you for having us at this camp. I enjoyed it very much and hope 

to come next year. I really enjoyed looking at the stars at night; it was so 

beautiful.” —Kelly Marquez 

“Thank you for giving us an opportunity to go on such a wonderful trip. I 

learned so much about nature, like what poison oak looks like, and about 

screech owls.” —Rodolfo Vasquez 

“Thank you for taking us kayaking. We saw a lot of jellyfish. I also want to 

thank you for showing a lot of animals to us.” —Edgar Plascencia 

“Thank you for making this one of the best weeks in my life. I’ve never gone 

kayaking, but with you guys one of my dreams came true.” —Jeffrey Mata 

Diaz 

“I cannot believe I walked the night walk by myself! I was very scared but I 

made it. Thank you for teaching us about all the different kind of minerals. 

My favorite thing was going tide pooling with Miss Alena.” —Rosa Zambrano 

“Thank you for letting us do something that we have never experienced. You 

have made the best summer of my life.” —Peter Huynh 

“Thank you for the wonderful experience. The kids and I really enjoyed everything 

we did this week. You guys run an amazing program, and I look forward 

to coming back each year. I really appreciate all that you have made possible 

for the children of CPY.” 

—Ben Bruce, CPY mentor 

THANK YOU to the following organizations and 

businesses that donated goods and services to the 

Ventana Wildlife Society’s 2008 summer programs! 

• Whole Foods Market of Monterey 

• Newman’s Own Organics 

• Falcon Trading Company, Inc. 

• Fashion Streaks 

• Monterey Bay Whale Watch 

• Carmel Mission Basilica 

• California State Parks 

• Monterey County Regional Parks 

• Pinnacles National Monument 

• Big Sur Land Trust 


Summer Programs Expand – With a Little Help From Our Friends 

By Alena Porte, VWS Education Coordinator 

Despite last-minute challenges 

presented by the Big Sur fire, we 

successfully expanded our summer 

youth education programs this year, 

offering three sessions (six campers 

each) of the new Condor Wilderness 

Camp for teens that we piloted last 

year. We also offered nine sessions 

of our ever-popular Natural Science 

Discovery Camp (NSDC), serving 196 

young people ages 8 to 12. 

But it wasn’t an easy task! With just 

a few days notice, the fire forced us 

to completely relocate the Condor 

Camp from Andrew Molera State Park 

and the VWS condor release site to 

Pinnacles National Monument. We 

also needed to find a new site for the 

NSDC overnight campouts at Andrew 

Molera. 

Special thanks go to the Pinnacles 

Condor Crew for opening their 

program to our camp on such short 

notice and to Denise Louie for her 

assistance with campsites and other 

logistics. The Big Sur Land Trust also 

generously provided its Marks Ranch 

property for the NSDC campouts. 

Condor Wilderness 

Camp for Teens 

The Condor Wilderness Camp offers 

teens (ages 13 to 18) the opportunity 

to experience what it’s like to be a 

wildlife field biologist. The Pinnacles 

Condor program staff were terrific, 

stepping easily into the role of 

mentors for camp participants and 

sharing their personal stories and 

goals. Campers got a crash course 

in the California Condor recovery 

effort and learned how to track the 

birds using radio telemetry. They 

also participated in a nighttime food 

placement at the condor feeding area. 

Campers also enjoyed some great 

hikes, including a popular night hike 

and a spectacular and demanding 

trip up to the Pinnacles High Peaks. 

Other highlights included watching 

two juvenile falcons wheeling and 

screeching overhead and the Violetgreen 

Swallows that silently skimmed 

the campground pool– and campers 

agreed that lunch never tastes better 

than it does after a long, hot hike! 

Natural Science 

Discovery Camp (NSDC) 

As usual, tide pooling, kayaking, wildlife 

observation, swimming, and games 

were at the top of the “favorites” list 

for participants in the weeklong NSDC 

program. Parents had high praise as 

well, with more than 95 percent saying 

they would definitely recommend the 

program to other parents. 

While exploring condor country, a camper takes a moment to reflect in the solitude of a 

wilderness oasis. 

Marks Ranch near Toro Park was a 

wonderful venue for the overnight 

campout and offered a change of pace 

for returning NSDC campers. Early risers 

were greeted by flocks of wild turkeys, 

and in the evening campers were treated 

to the screeches and swoops of Barn 

Owls. According to one astute camper, 

“Things sound bigger in the dark!” 


VWS’ 2nd Annual Condor Release 

Auction: Wings Over the World 2008 

By Janet Shing, Secretary, VWS Board of Directors 

A few moments of silence and 

anticipation were followed by 

cheers and smiles as California 

Condor 251 was welcomed back 

to Big Sur by approximately 100 

people on October 18, 2008. 

Attendees were delighted by the 

power of Condor 251’s nine-foot 

wingspan and his beauty as he 

flew along the Big Sur coast. 

Long-time VWS supporter Jeanne 

Holmquist was top bidder for 

the honor of officially releasing 

the bird (see the sidebar on this 

page for her thoughts on the 

experience). 

The memorable day started 

with a full champagne brunch 

by A Moveable Feast and 

entertainment by Easy Street, 

featuring Lee Durley. Ventana 

Wildlife Society presented an 

award to Assembly Member 

Pedro Nava for his leadership 

in writing and passing the 

Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation 

Act, which prohibits the use of 

lead ammunition in California 

throughout condor country. A 

second award was presented to 

the U.S. Coast Guard for their 

heroic efforts in rescuing eight 

condors from the Big Sur Condor 

Sanctuary just hours before 

it was engulfed by the Basin 

Complex Fire on June 22, 2008. 

John Moir, Santa Cruz author 

of Return of the Condor, spoke 

briefly and eloquently about 

the plight of the condor and the 

gallant effort to save and restore 

this endangered bird. 

The Wings Over the World 

condor release event raises 

funds to support VWS’ work to 

restore the California Condor 

and relies primarily on donations 

from individuals. Thank you to 

the volunteer Wings Over the 

World committee and to all the 

attendees for their support and 

generosity! To see more pictures 

from the event and learn more 

about how you can help restore 

condors to wild, visit www. 

ventanaws.org/wow. 

Condor 251 has a Special 

Place in Jeanne 

Holmquist’s Heart 

The highlight 

of this year’s 

Wing Over the 

World (WOW) 

event was the 

release of Condor 

251 by longtime 

wildlife 

supporter and 

volunteer Jeanne 

Holmquist. 

Condor 251 is a 

seven-and-a-halfyear-old 

male hatched at the Los Angeles 

Zoo. He was originally released in Big Sur 

on December 12, 2002, but was brought 

in temporarily this spring because he 

was interfering with a breeding pair. With 

breeding season over it was time for him to 

go back to the wild. 

After a lively round of bidding for the honor 

of releasing the bird, Jeanne prevailed, and 

she was delighted to send Condor 251 on his 

way. 

“It was the most incredible experience! 

After he left the pen, he hesitated briefly, 

then took off and flew over to a nearby tree. 

As he spread his wings the light shown 

through, and it looked like an archangel was 

standing there. Then he circled the crowd 

three or four times as if to say, ‘Thank you 

for helping me.’ I’ll never forget it.” 

Jeanne adds that she has a special affinity 

for raptors and the lessons they have to 

teach us. “I’ve been fortunate to be able to 

release owls and falcons, and I also worked 

as a volunteer at the Alaska Raptor Center 

in Sitka.” 

Amazingly, Jeanne has a previous 

connection with Condor 251. When he was 

originally released in 2002, Jeanne also 

bid on and won the release opportunity. 

However, because she had another 

commitment on the release day, she gave 

the honors to young Jordan Hall, then a 

second grader. Jordan did such a great job 

with the release that he made the front 

page of the Monterey Herald! 

“When I realized it was the same bird, I was 

very excited,” says Jeanne. “I shouted, ‘That’s 

my bird! That’s my bird!’ ” 


An Update on the VWS Bird Banding Lab 

By Kelly Sorenson, VWS Executive Director 

One of Ventana Wildlife Society’s core 

programs is long-term monitoring 

of migratory songbird populations, 

conducted through our bird banding 

lab at Andrew Molera State Park. 

This work is part of a global effort to 

collect information on the health and 

distribution of bird populations and to 

document the need for conservation 

measures. The VWS bird banding lab 

has recently undergone some staffing 

and other changes, so I wanted to 

bring everyone up to date on their 

status. 

In June 2008, VWS made an 

organization-wide decision to move 

toward project names that more 

directly describe the work VWS does– 

for example “condor recovery” and “bird 

banding and songbird monitoring.” 

Overall, this shift is designed to make 

our mission and programs clearer to 

outside audiences– and to hopefully 

increase our ability to gain support 

from the public and from foundations 

and government agencies. 

Part of this shift has been a name 

change for the Big Sur Ornithology Lab 

(BSOL), which now goes by the more 

descriptive title of the Ventana Wildlife 

Society bird banding lab. It has always 

been difficult to explain to potential 

funders that BSOL was actually a 

program operated by VWS, and this 

makes the connection much clearer. 

The change also 

emphasizes VWS’ 

organizational 

commitment to long-term 

bird monitoring and will 

hopefully make it easier to 

raise funds for the work. It 

is critical that we continue 

to keep careful tabs on 

bird populations so we 

can identify any problems 

in time to take effective 

action. Such monitoring 

can, hopefully, avert the 

need for intensive recovery 

efforts such as those 

required for the California 

Condors, Bald Eagles, and Peregrine 

Falcons. 

The bird banding lab has also had 

some staffing changes in recent 

months. With the departure of Jessica 

Griffiths and Nellie Thorngate this fall, 

the program has been temporarily 

short-staffed, but we plan to have 

a new senior wildlife biologist on 

board by early 2009 to lead VWS’ bird 

monitoring efforts and conservation 

and research contracts. We wish 

Jess and Nellie the best in their new 

endeavors! Jess is pursuing a graduate 

degree and continues to work for 

VWS as an independent contractor. 

Nellie has taken a position with the 

ecological consulting firm H.T. Harvey 

and Associates. 

Starting in 2009, banding will be 

conducted two to three days a week 

in spring and fall and two days a 

week in summer, for a total of 70 

days annually. Schedule details 

will be posted on our website. We 

invite everybody to come and visit 

on banding days, and we also hope 

you will continue to support this 

important effort. 

And although it’s looking a bit ahead, 

save May 2, 2009, for the annual VWS 

Birdathon, which will be combined 

with the Grand Opening of our new 

Discovery Center at Andrew Molera 

State Park. Next year’s Birdathon will 

emphasize our coordinated effort to 

count as many birds as possible in a 

24-hour period. 

SAVE THE DATE 

May 2 and 3, 2009 

Ventana Wildlife Society Open House 

Interactive and educational displays, discovery activities, gift and 

coffee shops! Located just inside Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur 

- Two dates to choose from: 

Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, 2009 

- Lunch will be provided 

- Fun for the entire family! 

- More details will be available at www.ventanaws.org, in early 2009. 

• 9:00 am - 3:00 pm 

• Learn from biologists on guided nature & bird walks 

• Visit the bird banding lab 

• View California Condors 

Come and experience our new 

Discovery Center 

Contact 831-455-9514 for more information 


Ventana Wildlife Society would like to thank the following individuals, companies, organizations and 

foundations for their continued support. We could not do it without you. If your name is mispelled or does 

not appear on this donor list, please accept our sincere apologies and let us know so that we can correct it 

in the future. October 1, 2007 - October 31, 2008 

$50,000 and Above 

The David and Lucile Packard 

Foundation 

Pacific Gas and Electric 

Company 

Marisla Foundation 

$25,000 - $49,999 

Defenders of Wildlife 

Harden Foundation 

Hind Foundation 

Kinnoull Foundation 

Margaret C and 

William R Hearst III 

Monterey Peninsula Foundation, 

host of the AT&T Pebble Beach 

National Pro-Am 

The Robert Stephens and 

Julie Packard Fund at the 

Comm Fndtn of Santa Cruz Co 

Will and Jada Smith Family 

Foundation 

$10,000 - $24,999 

Fletcher Bay Foundation 

George B. Storer Foundation 

San Diego Zoo 

The Fund for the Environment of 

the Community Foundation 

for Monterey Co 

The Robert Stephens and 

Julie Packard Nonendowed 

Donor-Advised Fund at the 

Comm Fndtn of Santa Cruz Co 

The Ruth Smart Foundation 

Leadership Circle 

$5,000 and Above 

Anonymous 

Barnet J Segal Charitable Trust 

Betsy A Collins 

Fledgling Fund 

John “Jack” Glendening 

Bill and Adriana Hayward 

Sal and Ada Lucido in memory 

of Jeff Norman and John Culin 

Valera W Lyles 

Marcy Morgan 

Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation 

Oakland Zoo 

Santa Ynez Band of 

Chumash Indians 

Linda Stevens 

Sylvanus Charitable Trust 

The Monterey Peninsula 

Audubon Society 

Utah’s Hogle Zoo 

Mutsuko and Jason Yamada and 

Ann Yamada-Gotuaco 

Steward $1,000 - $4,999 

Anonymous 

Annie Aspell and Jim Stevens 

Barbara Baldock and 

Phillip N Butler 

Richard and Karinne Bauer 

in memory of Leonore Bauer 

BBR, LLP 

Big Sur International 

Marathon Inc 

Nancy Berry 

Michael Borck and 

Kathleen Brannan 

David Brubaker 

Virdette L Brumm, PhD and 

Robertson Parkman, PhD 

Cal Poly State 

University Foundation 

Nadine and Daniel Clark 

Sandy Decker and 

Karen Mortillaro 

Mark and Erica Dedon 

Carla and David Garnham 

Gregory Gieber 

Golden Gate Parks Conservancy 

Susan Grant and Nory LeBrun 

Benjamin Curtis (Curt) Harris Jr. 

Mr and Mrs Sydney P Harrison 

Jake and Jerilyn Hesse 

Craig Heyl in memory of 

Robert Kehoe 

Jeanne Holmquist 

IBM International Foundation 

Marcine M Johnson, PhD 

Hali Jones 

Sandra “Sandy” Laughlin 

Zad and Laela Leavy 

Colleen May and Kerry Burrows 

Susan Newcomb 

Shirley Nootbaar 

Paula Norwood 

John Odell 

Oregon Zoo 

James L and Pamela M Patterson 

Douglas and Nancy Porte 

Kira, Ian and Ashton Reed 

Robert Stephens and 

Julie Packard 

REI, Inc 

South Bay Bird Society 

and West Valley Bird Society 

Dianna and Richard Stokotelny 

Frank and Barbara Strehlitz 

The Buffett Fund of the 

Community Foundation for 

Monterey Co 

The Harrison Temporary Funds 

of the Community Foundation 

for Monterey Co 

Uncommon Grounds Inc 

Upjohn California Fund 

Jean and Tim Weiss in honor of 

Anton Segerstrom 

Marsha M Zelus 

Sponsor $500 - $999 

Anonymous (2) 

Carol Baird and Alan Harper 

Ali Barratt 

Richard J Bertero 

Blaze Engineering Inc 

Veronica Bowers 

Judy Brooke-Green and 

Mike Green 

Betsy Buchalter Adler 

Richard Carlton on behalf of 

Katharine Dedek and 

Richard Carlton 

Sandra Clabaugh 

Robert C and Rita R Colwell 

Emily Conant 

Laird Davis in memory of 

Ken Harrison 

William G and Nancy C Doolittle 

Steven and Fila Evanson 

Davis and Christine Factor 

Lt Harry Greene 

Sarah Hainstock 

Carl Hewitt 

Nancy Hoak 

Martin Hurtado 

Kiwanis Club of Carmel Valley 

Barbara Lauchlin 

Barbara Leonard 

Susan A McCloud 

Rod and Peggy McMahan 

Peter and Marcia Morgan 

Konny Murray 

Steven R Nakazono 

Susan Nicholas 

Tom Nootbaar and Lori Burgarz 

Cassandra Ohlsen M.D. 

Cecilia M Placzek 

Victor and Shayna Selby 

Janet Shing 

John Shott 

Jerry and Cheryl Stidham 

Danny Thomas 

Court VanTassell 

Nancy Vernon 

Susan Willey 

Friend $100 - $499 

Tom and Nancy Acord 

Nanci Adams 

Anne Allen 

Stephanie and George Almeida 

in honor of Jim Stefan 

Paul and Maura Anderson 

Anonymous in memory of 

“Blue”, a non-releasable 

Steller Jay 

Anonymous (24) 


John Francis Lino 

Anonymous in honor of 

Alexis Ashby and 

George Selland 


June M Gibson 


Barbara Nelson (4) 


Billie Foreman 

Anonymous in honor of the 

people who saved the penned 

condors from the wildfire 


Susan M Hall, DVM (2) 

Anonymous in honor of 

Janet Shing 

Noelle Marie Antolin 

Paul and Joan Armer 

Black River Audubon Society 

Kendra Armer and Chris Dorger 

Arthur and Barbara Babcock 

Stephen F Bailey PhD 

Alan and Sheila Baldridge 

Christine and David Baldwin 

Roman and Corinna Barrus 

Walter Battistella 

Lew Bauman 

Joseph P Belli 

Phil and Ruthann Berck 

Bennett Berke and 

Lorna Wallace 

Sarah Berling 

Judith Bishop 

Gene Blattman 

Margaret J Bohn 

Per and Eva Borgstrom 

Arthur Bourdon Jr 

Susan K Braito 

Janice Brickell-Martin in honor 

of Tristan and Elleanor Martin 

Courtney Broaddus and 

Chuck Bloszies 

Patricia L Brown 

Michael and Mary Burke 

Kevin Cain 

Gordon and Elizabeth Ann 

Campbell 

Carmel Valley Rotary 

Linda Caruthers 

Helene Cavior 

Jone Chappell 

Steven and Karin Chase 

Adam Clark and Laura Bunker 

Karen Clarke 

Robert and Phyllis Conlan in 

memory of Rod Kenyon 

Allison Connor 

Julie Conrad 

Erik Coranath in memory of 

Swampy 

Jeff Corwin 

Michelle Croghan 

Kara and Joseph Cronin 

Tom and Carolyn Croom 

John and Barbara Culin 

Jody Cummings 

Cypress Garden Guild 

Lynda Daley 

Rev Paul Danielson 

Tarasa Davis 

Judith W Davis 

Betty De Paoloa 

Leta Elizabeth Dinkel and 

Aaron Meyerson in honor 

of Ashton Reed 

Jim Dodson 

Robert and Darlene Doorlag 

Heather Doorlag in honor of 

Robert and Darlene Doorlag 

Cheryl Drake 

Karen and Phil Drayer 

Dianne Driessen in memory of 

the two lost condors 

Edith and Jonathan Eddy 

Michael and Katherine Esola 

Marit P Evans in memory of 

Edward LS Evans 

Cindy Ewing 

Frances M Farina 

Judy C Field 

Paul Finnegan 

Walter Fischler on behalf of 

Robert Ullman and 

Danila Mehta 

Diana Fish 

Tim Fitzer and Sheila Deaner 

Anne Fitzgerald’s Class 

Christina Floyd 

Cal and Letty French 

Friends of the Desert Mountains 

in memory of Barbara Nelson 

Susan Friedman on behalf of 

devoted field biologist team 

Cassandra Gallup-Bridge 

Jen Gamber 

Cathy Gamble 

Sandra J Gant and 

Michael B Nelson 

Don and Lu German 

Goodsearch 

Ashley Gray and 

Michaela Kiernan 

Jim and Susan Greene 

Carol Greenwood 

Liz Griffiths and Eric Dechant 

in honor of Jessica Griffiths 

Barbara and James Griffiths 

in honor of Jessica Griffiths 

Bettie Griswold 

Jean and Larry Haberman 

Joan and Dave Hadden 

Stephanie Hall 

Kathryn Hannay 

Ruth P Hardisty 

Dean and Shirley Harmison 

Frances Harrington 

Joyce Harris 

Linda Harris 

Francisca Hartman-Kok 

Ruth S Hartmann 

Arthur W Haseltine 

Frank and Jo Ellen Hathaway 

Homer Hayward 

Gary Hazard 

Susan Hecht 

Joan Hero in memory of 

condor #336 

John Aikin 

Lisa Hoivik 

Tom and Julie Anne Hopkins 

Lee and John Hornberger 

Kennon Hudson 

Geary Hund in memory 

of Barbara Nelson 

Celine Petipas and Peter L 

Hyllekve-Baker 

Meredith Ibey 

Stacey Iverson 

Roberta M Jaffee 

Johanna and David Jensen 

Jewish Federation of 

Metropolitan Chicago 

Mary and Jerry Kamprath 

Brandi and Paul Katz 

Gayle R Kaye 

Clifford and Michael Kennedy 

Mary Kenney 

Gary and Carol Kerbel 

Kolsky Family 

John Koostra 

Jim Kuhfeld 

Michael and Carolyn Kulakofsky 

Karl and Annette Kunz 

Judy Kurtz 

Denise LaBerteaux and 

Bruce Garlinger 

Michael and Corrine Laing 

Bill and Rhonda Lakatos 

JT Larson 

Louie and Edith Law in 

memory of Mutti 

Jessie Lawson 

Robert Lelieur and 

Susan Worden 

Pam Lichtanski in memory of 

Frank Lichtanski 

Susan and Jonah Liebes 

Lindsay Wildlife Museum 

Barry and Marie Lipman 

Susan Littlefield-Haines 

Patricia Litton and 

Henry J Ralston 

Joseph and Marjorie Longo 

Nancy Loshkajian 

Anna Lyles 

Margaret K Maas and 

Mark T Henze 

Betty Le Macpherson 

Kimberly A Madden 

Karen Madsen 

Katherine Malengo 

Phil Markowitz on behalf of 

Kristy Markowitz 

Kris Markus and Tim Smith 

Rev Dr Thomas C Marshall 

Aerin Martin 

Jim Mather 

Donald McAtee 

Sarah McCloud Wedge 

John and Sherry McCormick 

William McCoy 

Livia McRee and Isaac Stone 

Donna Meeker 

Cynthia Meeker 

Brian and Janalee Melikian 

Brenda Melton 

Richard and Judith Meltzer 

James Metcalf 

Edward and Terri Middlemiss 

Keelin Miller 

Monterey Dunes Natural History 

Assoc 

Margaret and Dave Moore 

Rodger and Linda More 

Gretchen Mork 

Jennifer Morris 

Jeffrey and Jennifer Morris in 

memory of Ernst Ewoldsen 

Audrey F Morris in honor of the 

Big Basin Fire firefighters, pilots, 

and all rescuers 

Janet Moyer 

Mr Sarna 

Lisa Myers 

Jean Myers 

Delight Nasatir 

Daniel Navarro 

New Academy Canoga Park 

Susan Newcomb 

Diana and Howard Nichols 

Cynthia and Timothy Nolan 

Brett Odom 

Ohlone Audubon Society 

Jesse Ostrom 

Loreen Ozaki 

Nancy Parr 

Judy Parsons 

Kristi and Tom Patterson 

Mary and Mark Paxton 

Betty N Pemberton 

Matt Perry 

George Perry 

Sally Peterson 

Bob and Kathy Petty 

Colleen Philips 

Placer County Conservation 

Task Force 

Jeanne W Pond in memory of 

Irene Wilton 

Sharon Ponsford 

Ann Pope 

Gordon Porter 

Dan Presser 

James and Cecilia Quinn 

Ruth Rachel 

Dan Rademacher 

Janet Ragonesi 

Barbara Rainer 

Gordon and Kaysea Ray 

Lawrence Rebhun 

Robert Reid and 

Jacquie McManus 

Jerry and Carole Ritchie 

Don Roberson, JD and 

Rita Carratello 

Mary Jane Roberts 

Nancy Roberts 

Bill and Carol Rodgers 

Larry and Sharon Rogers 

Lester Rowntree 

Maggie Rufo 

Joel and Cynthia Sabenorio 

James A Sadewhite 


Due to the number of generous supporters this year, we were unable to list all 

donations of $50 or less. We thank each and every one of you for your generosity! 

Susan Savage 

Sarah Scheldwacht 

Jeanne Scheldwacht 

Louise Schiller 

Jeremy J Schmutz 

Jeff Schneider in memory of 

Barbara Nelson 

Bob and Jeanne Schneider in 

memory of Barbara Nelson 

Patsy and Stephen Schulte 

Eduard Schwan and 

Jeri Abernathy 

Shelley Seders 

Chris and John Selecky 

Catherine Sesquet 

Mary Elizabeth Severson in 

memory of Helen Banks 

Kiva Silver 

Joyce Smith and 

Cheryl VanDeVeer 

Beverly Solo 

Kelly and Robyn Sorenson 

Susan Stockburger in memory of 

Ginger Stockburger 

Katherine Strojny 

Levi Strom 

Ken Swyt in memory of 

Thomas Shively 

David M Taggart 

Judi Taylor 

Scott and Linda Terrill 

The Stocker Family Fund at the 

Community Foundation of 

Santa Cruz Co 

Jean Theisen 

Cheryl Thiele 

Richard and Nancy Tietz 

Billy Timmermeyer 

Peter Tourrette 

Diane Trabulsi in memory of 


Mark and Katy Travaille 

Judith Trott 

Lonni Trykowski and Jerry Eppler 

Yvonne C Tsai 

Alex Vago 

Mary Ann Vasconcellos 

Bob Vasconcellos 

Antonia Verleye 

James von Rittmann 

Lindsay Wagner 

Cecile Walters 

Dr Kerstin Wasson and 

Bruce Lyon 

Richard S Weinberg 

Emory and 

Matthew Weingart Family 

Laurie West Roberts and 

Rick Roberts 

Richard White 

Mark R Wieland, M.D. 

Alex and Bo Wiercigroch 

Andrew H Williams 

Susan Williams in memory of 

Harold L Reade 

Jean D Wilson 

Cathryn Santos and Terry Wilson 

Edward Witten and 

Chiara R Nappi 

Nancy Worcester 

Ken and Mary Wright 

Linda Yates 

Rosemarie Yevich in memory of 

Marie Gafner Yevich 

Linda and Jon York in honor of 

Moose York 

Susan Zidanic on behalf of 

Allison Likar 

Associate $50 - $99 

Maia Adar 

Dale and Neil Agron 

Patricia Alexander PhD 

Christine Allen 

Margie and Jason Alto 

Jennifer Anderson 

Anonymous (29) 




Fannie Kaplan 

Richard and Bonnie Armellini 

Alexis Ashby and George Selland 

Gunes Aybay 

Nancy Baker 

Melanie Barnett 

Eileen and Jeffrey Barnum 

Evelyn Baron 

Jason Beckham 

Ruth Beeve 

Dick and Linda Beidleman 

Karen and David Bell 

Edwina F Bent 

Casey and Hakan Bergon 

Patricia Bitner 

Ann Bjorklund 

Bruce Bloxom 

Gail Bower on behalf of of 

all living condors and wildlife 

struggling to survive and 

even more to the PEOPLE 

like you making it happen and 

journalists/editors who make 

the story known 

Norma Bramstedt 

Frances M Brodsky 

Amelia Brower 

Clark Brown 

Mary Burnett 

Esther Burshtein 

Steve Campbell 

Sharen Carey and Hal Latta 

Roy Carlson 

Nancy Christensen 

James Cochran Sr 

Howard Cohen 

Ron and Mardo Collins 

Leland and Ollie Collins 

Ceclie Cook in memory of 

Rosie Linda Cruzan 

Julius and Laurie De Vera 

Kathleen Denious dedicated to 

Skylar Ehrenstron 

Tim and Christi Doyle 

Peter J Dunn 

Joshua Dunn 

Devorit Elzafon 

Luise Errol 

George and Barbara Evans 

Beverly G Ewoldsen 

Lisa Fimiani 

Gary Forbes in honor of 

Elise Davis and Kevin Keith 

Veronica Franklin 

Joanna Frawley TTEE 

Jana Gable 

Cynthia Gaya 

Dennis Geiler 

John Gensberg 

James and Patricia Gilchrist in 


Melissa Gjerde 

Jenny Goddbiff 

Evan Golder 

Wendy and Duane Good 

Charles Goodwin 

David Gordon 

Jean Griffiths 

Michael, Jyl and Kyle Groves 

Michael, Laurie and 

Gabriel Groves 

Rita Gurz 

George Haidos 

Hope and Sandy Hale 

Celeste Hall 

Carie Harris 

Elmer and Cheryl Harris 

Kathryn A Hart 

Sheryl Harvey in honor of all 

condors 

Colin and Cindi Havert in 


Scott and Claudia Hein 

Peter and Kathy Henney 

Richard Herder 

Alison Hermance 

Cheryl Hines and 

Charles Deutschman 

Mary Hoff 

Terak Hornik 

Edward Howard 

Khoi Huynh in honor of 

Karla Kane 

Gaile Itami 

Ron Jackman 

June Jaffee 

Dobie and Ann Jenkins 

Sue W Johnson 

Mari Elise Johnson 

Linda Jones 

Renee Jorgensen 

Susan Katz 

Donna and Reed Kirkland 

Katherine Klein 

Vinz Koller 

Wendy Lang 

Karen Lowell and Jeff Langholz 

Jerry and Barbara Lawrence 

Tom Le Duc 

Jefrey Levy and 

Pamela Sydney Levy in 

honor of Ashton Reed 

Susan A Lewis 

Barbara T Livingston 

Lorri Lockwood 

Jodi Louderback 

Patricia Lynch 

Elizabeth and Johan Maartens 

Ted and Tracy Mandryk 

Larry R and Marian A Martin 

James Maughn 

Maureen McEachen 

Jim McGrew 

Nora McKenna 

Elizabeth McMahon 

Kathleen McNamara 

Lauryn Meehl 

Kenneth Meier and 

Ynez Johnston Berry 

Jeff Meilahn and Doroth Sotala 

Sheila Miller 

James Millington 

Rod and Anne Mills 

Holly Minch 

Marlene Mirassou 

John S and Ellen R Moir 

Judy Moody 

Karin Moore 

Ann Morgan 

Trinka Morris 

Dave and Shirley Newton 

Elinor Nissley 

Connie Nissley 

Shari and Gary Nordell 

Alex and Kathy Olow 

Mary Pacey 

Erin K Parr 

Stephanie Pass and Ken Kann 

Marilyn C Perry 

Deborah Peyton in honor of 

Alison and Josh Peyton 

Melanie Piazza 

Jill Poudrette 

Lorna Pusateri 

Sally Rayl 

Michael and Cindy Reeves 

JoEllen Rice 

Ken Riley 

Elliott and Tey Roberts 

Francine and Alastair Rodd 

Holly and Steven Roepke in 

honor of Betsy Adler’s Birthday 

Randel Rogers 

Vanessa Rogier 

Maynard B and 

Olga Jane Rotermund 

Steven Rovell 

Allen Royer and 

Joanna Bowden Royer 

Ingrid Russell-Wink 

Suzanne and 

Art Ruvalcaba-Rosen 

Lois Sawyer 

Carol Schaming 

Gerald and Donna Secundy 

Susan Setterberg 

Peggy Ann Shashy 

Karen and Rami Shihadeh 

Carissa Shipman 

Joanne Short 

Jane Silva 

Mr and Mrs Silverwood 

Laura Smith 

Christine Smith 

Janet Sporleder 

Kathleen Stannard 

Cynthia Staples 

Susanne Stauss 

Dale Studebaker 

David and Jane Styer 

Lucile J Taber 

Dan and Jan Tankersley 

Nancy Teater 

Kurt Thams 

Marilyn H Thomas 

Mike Thompson 

Lawrence Thompson 

Helen Thorngate 

Duane Titus and 

Rebecca Dymtryk Titus 

Francis Toldi 

Julie Towery in memory of 

Mal Towery 

Maria and Fred Trenary 

Linda Vallee 

Rosemary Voong 

Adam Wachtel in memory of 

Jeff Norman 

Mary E. and Margaret Wahl 

Carolina Walbrun 

Donald and Cynthia Walters 

Alan Walther 

Klaus Wannenwetsch Family 

Beverly Warburton 

Barbara Watson 

Yen and Kristofer Weick 

Mark Werner 

David Wheeler 

Jens & Andrea Williford 

Rain and Steven Wilmoth 

Carmen Wolff 

Ann Marie Wood 

Tim Worley in honor of 

Elden and Patty Hughes 

David Bruce Yolton 

In-Kind 

Portobello’s 

A Moveable Feast 

Adam Licsko 

Advantage Care Chiropractic 

Adventures By the Sea 

Annieglass 

Anthropologie 

Asilomar Conference Grounds 

Bayonet/Blackhorse Golf Club 

BBR, LLP 

Big Sur Bakery and Restaurant 

Bill and Adriana Hayward 

Bill and Joan Freeman 

Black Bear Diner 

Bonny Doon Vineyard 

Bouchee 

Boulder Creek Golf and 

Country Club 

Bruce Mitchell 

Cafe Stravaganza 

Cannery Row Co 

Chalone Vineyard 

Chapala Mexican Restaurant 

Charles and Nancy Moss 

Charley Abildgaard 

Christopher’s 

Costco 

Cruise Ship Holidays 

Cypress Inn, Carmel by-the-Sea 

Dave and Elizabeth Monley 

Decker Studios 

Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn 

Diageo Chateau and Estate 

Wines 

Don Roberson 

Douglas Steakley Photography 

Duane Titus and 

Rebecca Dymtryk Titus 

Dublin Cyclery 

Eagle Optics 

Earthbound Farms 

El Palomar Monterey 

Elli’s Great American Restaurant 

Exploratorium 

Falcon Trading Co 

Fashion Streaks 

From Scratch Restaurant 

Gilroy Gardens Family 

Theme Park 

Gloria Chadwick 

Hahn Estates 

Heller Estates 

Homescapes Carmel 

Hullaballoo 

Jack Nadel International 

Jeremy Dang 

Karen and Rami Shihadeh 

Kathryn A Hart 

Katy’s Place 

KayakConnection.com 

Kelly Productions 

Kenneth Meier and 

Ynez Johnston Berry 

KOWA Optimed, Inc. 

Laguna Seca Golf Ranch 

Lallapalooza 

L’Auberge Carmel 

Linda Kincaid 

Local Color 

Loh Shih Hurng 

Lula’s Chocolates 

Marita’s 

Michael Keeran Teaching 

Professional 

Michael Sherman Jewelry 

Designs 

Monterey Bay Kayaks 

Monterey Bay Whale Watch 

Monterey Peninsula Foundation, 

host of the AT&T Pebble Beach 

National Pro-Am 

Newman’s Own Organics 

Old Fisherman’s Grotto 

Pacific Gas and Electric 

Pacific Repertory Theatre 

Pacific Tweed 

Pamela Takegawa 

Parker-Lusseau Pastries 

Pasadera Country Club 

Passionfish 

Pat Areias Sterling Carmel 

Patagonia 

Paul Gentry 

Pebble Beach Company 

Foundation 

Peninsula Pure Water 

Pepe’s Little Napoli 

Photoflex 

Post Ranch Inn 

Quail Lodge Resort and 

Golf Club 

Ramon Velazco 

Rappa’s Restaurant 

Ridgemark Golf & CC 

Robert Stephens and 

Julie Packard 

Robertson Parkman 

Rosine’s Restaurant, Inc 

Sal and Ada Lucido 

San Francisco Zen Center 

San Juan Oaks Golf Club 

Sanctuary Rock Gym 

Sandbar & Grill 

Sarah Scheldwacht 

Sardine Factory 

Shadowbrook/Crow’s Nest 

Shakespeare Santa Cruz 

Sherry Litchfield 

Shirley Nootbaar 

Shreve & Co 

Simon Bull Galleries 

Susan Newcomb 

Susan Savage 

Swarovski North America 

The Bountiful Basket 

The Grill at Ryan Ranch 

The Steinbeck House 

The Western Stage 

Thomas Juhasz 

Twin Creeks Golf Course Home 

of The First Tee of Monterey Co 

Uncommon Grounds Inc 

Valley Spokesmen Bicycle 

Touring Club 

Ventana Inn & Spa 

Whole Foods of Monterey Co 

Wild Bird Center 

Willy’s Smokehouse 


VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY 

19045 Portola Dr. • Ste. F1 • Salinas, Ca 93908 

www.ventanaws.org 

NON-PROFIT ORG. 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

MARINA, CA 

93933 

PERMIT NO. 51 

Ways to Give to VWS 

We wish to extend much appreciation to those who have remembered Ventana Wildlife Society through bequests or by 

naming Ventana Wildlife Society as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy or IRA. If you would like to speak with someone 

about ways you can make a gift to Ventana Wildlife Society, use the enclosed envelope, go to our website, www.ventanaws. 

org, or call Kelly Sorenson at 831-455-9514. 

VWS Contact Info 

Administrative Office: 

19045 Portola Dr, Ste F1 

Salinas, California 93908 

Toll Free: 877-897-7740 

Phone: 831-455-9514 

Fax: 831-455-2846 

Voice Mail: 831-769-8469 

Web: www.ventanaws.org 

Hours of Operation 

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm 

Calendar of Events 

Sunday, December 14, 2008 

Sunday, January 11, 2009 

Sunday, February 15, 2009 

Condor Viewing Tour 

12pm-2pm • $50 per person 

Contact Alena Porte to sign up 

at alenaporte@ventanaws.org 

Saturday and Sunday, 

May 2 & 3, 2009 

VWS Open House 

9am-3pm 

• Come visit our new Discovery Center 

• Learn from biologists on guided nature and 

bird walks 

• Visit the bird banding lab 

• View California Condors 

• More details will be posted at 

www.ventanaws.org in early 2009 

VWS Merchandise 

for the Holidays 

Go to www.cafepress.com 

and search for Ventana 

Wildlife Society. Choose 

from over 35 different 

designs on over 1,000 

products. Designs include 

California Condors, 

chickadees, and Monarch 

Butterflies, and can be found 

on apparel, mugs, bags, baby 

items, mouse pads, baseball 

caps, clocks, aprons, note 

cards, buttons, magnets, 

stickers, and more. Stock up 

on your favorite t-shirts or 

surprise someone special 

with a unique gift that helps 

VWS to conserve native 

wildlife and their habitats! 

100% POST CONSUMER FIBER PRINTED ON CERTIFIED PAPER

Fall 2008 - Ventana Wildlife Society

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