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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2017 59 Birding CLUB Bird of the Month The Bird of the Month is Lawrence's Goldfinch, a handsome and uncommon small finch. Lawrence's Goldfinch was named by John Cassin in 1850 for his colleague George Lawrence, a New York businessman and ornithologist. The male (pictured right) has a black face with gray and yellow. Like many bird species, the female and immatures are duller, with gray overall and yellow wing bars and breast patch. Lawrence's Goldfinch is resident in brushy and woody areas of coastal southern California and northern Baja California; in summer, part of the population migrates to coastal northern California and in winter part of the population migrates to southern Arizona and northern Sonora. It's highly nomadic from year to year, probably related to availability of water and seeds, which makes assessment of its population trends very difficult. The song of the male Lawrence's Goldfinch, heard by everyone on the FSBC's April bird walk, is a long, complex series of trills, burry notes, and chatter. ~ Steve Edelman The Four Seasons Birding Club welcomes beginning and experienced birders to start or hone bird identification skills. Our main activity is monthly bird walks along Four Seasons' beautiful nature trails, which follow native riparian woodlands and preserve endangered habitat. We had several highlights on our bird walk on April 1, topped by a calling Least Bell's Vireo (endangered sub-species) and a spectacular look at a hard-to-find Lawrence's Goldfinch (our May Bird of the Month, below). The latter, together with the ubiquitous Lesser Goldfinches and looks at American Goldfinches at a member's thistle feeder, gave us the Goldfinch Trifecta – we saw all three North American goldfinches at Four Seasons in one morning! We meet on the first Saturday of each month at 10 am in the RCN Lobby, talk about birding, then we go on our bird walk. Bring your binoculars and bird identification guide, or just come and ask about tips for beginners' birding gear. For more information or to receive our club emails, contact Steve Edelman at steve.h.edelman@gmail.com. ~ Steve Edelman A Lawrence's Goldfinch Copyright 2010, Monte M. Taylor Birding Club members in search of the elusive Lawrence's Goldfinch Our Savior's Lutheran — ELCA • Food Pantry Mon., 9 - 11 am • 20 Self Help Groups • Synagogue 3rd Friday, 7 pm • Toddler Nite Wed., 6 pm • Worship 8 & 10:30 am Sept. 11 - May, 2017 • Hmong Christian Alliance: Sundays 1-4, Wed Nights 7 pm (951) 849-3343 1320 W. Williams, Banning oursaviorsbanningca.com