Date: 5/20/26 2:48 pm From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Introducing BLOCKBOARD: Progress Dashboard for California Bird Atlas
Hi all,
*Blockboard:*
We are excited to announce the launch of *Blockboard* , the new progress dashboard for California Bird Atlas (CBA). Blockboard is designed to help atlasers quickly identify which species still need breeding confirmations within each Atlas block. To explore Blockboard, *click HERE ( https://californiabirdatlas.org/blockboard )*.
For a quick introduction, check out this short video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpjVGSaKIaE&t=1s ) from Sam Safran, CBA’s Science Director and the creator of Blockboard. The dashboard will update daily (or close to it) as new Atlas data comes in.
*CBA Big Weekend:*
We’re also getting closer to the first annual CBA Big Weekend (June 4–7, 2026). More than 30 field trips and community events are already planned across the state. You can read more about Big Weekend, browse events, and register your own event *HERE ( https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/bigweekend )*.
Thank you to all 4,173 contributors who have already submitted 108,933 Atlas checklists (!) from 6,526 Atlas blocks. We are so grateful for the California birding community's engagement on this multi-year project.
Date: 5/13/26 5:01 pm From: Brian Sullivan via groups.io <heraldpetrel...> Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] A Guy McCaskie interview you shouldn't miss
Kimball et al.
Thanks so much for sharing this. It really does capture the spirit of Guy,
and what makes him the legend that he is in birding and in life.
I knew I was going to like him right from the start, when during our first
phone call back in 2001 he said, "Meet me at Taqueria Sombrero in El Cajon
at 2AM, we'll take my car...". We spent that day, and many days after,
bouncing around every corner of the Salton Sea together, and he showed me
how to bird the place, and in many ways, how to bird in general. He shared
his time and knowledge freely -- giving a lot of it to a newcomer to the
San Diego birding scene, and asking nothing in return. He made a huge
impression on me at the time, and had a big impact on how I came to think
of what it means to be a 'birder'. I'm sure there are many people reading
this who could tell similar stories of Guy's selflessness, and his
excitement at sharing the magic of the Salton Sea and his form of birding
with others.
My favorite Guy story (and there are many) involves a Debi Shearwater
pelagic out of Ft. Bragg back in 2002. It was a rough day, and Guy was not
well. Seasickness had robbed him of his legs, and he spent much of the day
face down, undulating with the water in the scuppers at the back of the
boat. Late in the afternoon, a cry went out: "Streaked Shearwater in the
wake"! Guy immediately came to, sat bolt upright, lifted his bins, took in
the bird and yelled, "Goddamned good bird!!". He was wild-eyed, wind-blown,
and ecstatic -- stoked. I think it was his 600th California bird. Nothing
could diminish his love of birds. He was then, and still is, an inspiration
to us all. His impact on modern birding has been elemental.
On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:33 PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> Recently, links to some interviews and other on-line material about Guy
> was shared on Calbirds. I wanted to make sure you also knew about an
> extended interview with Guy conducted at the 2024 WFO meeting in San Diego
> as part of the Western Field Ornithologists oral history project.
>
> Go to the WFO website < westernfieldornithologists.org/about/ > and
> scroll down all the way to "Oral History Interviews"
> Click on "Next>>" where it says "1/4 Next .."
> From the next group of interviews select the one with Guy.
>
> It's a fun 47 minutes to spend with Guy, with stories about the origin of
> the California Bird Records Committee, California Field Ornithologists, and
> the journal California Birds, the transition to Western Birds/WFO, the
> origin of the Sabine's Gull logo, and other tidbits, culminating in Guy's
> discovery of the Ross's Gull at the south end of the Salton Sea.
>
> What a Guy!
>
> KImball Garrett
> Juniper Hills, CA
>
>
>
>
--
------------------------------
*Brian L. Sullivan*
*Digital Publications LeadCornell Lab of Ornithology*
-------------------------------
Date: 5/12/26 2:33 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] A Guy McCaskie interview you shouldn't miss
Birders,
Recently, links to some interviews and other on-line material about Guy was shared on Calbirds. I wanted to make sure you also knew about an extended interview with Guy conducted at the 2024 WFO meeting in San Diego as part of the Western Field Ornithologists oral history project.
Go to the WFO website < westernfieldornithologists.org/about/ > and scroll down all the way to "Oral History Interviews" Click on "Next>>" where it says "1/4 Next .." From the next group of interviews select the one with Guy.
It's a fun 47 minutes to spend with Guy, with stories about the origin of the California Bird Records Committee, California Field Ornithologists, and the journal California Birds, the transition to Western Birds/WFO, the origin of the Sabine's Gull logo, and other tidbits, culminating in Guy's discovery of the Ross's Gull at the south end of the Salton Sea.
Date: 5/9/26 2:41 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Swinhoe's White-eye nesting in Northern California
I've been making regular visits to Waller Street in the Haight District of San Francisco this spring in hopes of confirming breeding by White-eyes.
Starting in January last year I had been seeing multiple birds present in street trees (primarily Ficus benjamina but also Metrosideros excelsa and various Eucalyptus sp.) along this stretch and my efforts were rewarded this morning with the discovery of a nest with begging young being provisioned by a pair of adults.
I think this is the first breeding confirmation for Northern California. The species ID is somewhat tentative based on photos and recordings of the birds. I hope to collect DNA samples in upcoming days and will update the list if this results in contrary information.
On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 8:37 PM Denise and David Hamilton via groups.io
<2napabirders...> wrote:
> Thanks, Paul, for letting us know!
>
> I "googled" Guy McCaskie and came up with some very interesting and fun
> things to read, with much more out there.
>
> Guy McCaskie <http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/CAwhoGMcC.html> - this
> one is great with pictures!
>
> Honorary Presentation for Guy McCaskie
> <https://www.californiabirds.org/GuyMcCaskie015.html>Amazing > <https://www.aba.org/amazing-milestone-for-guy-mccaskie-html/> >
> Milestone for Guy McCaskie - American Birding Association
> <https://www.aba.org/amazing-milestone-for-guy-mccaskie-html/> >
> My husband David and I never met him, but I did write to him many years
> ago when we headed to the Salton Sea years ago and he wrote us back with
> much helpful information.
>
> We truly appreciate all Guy had done for California birding!
>
> Denise and David Hamilton
> Napa
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
> <lehman.paul...> wrote:
>
>>
>> Guy McCaskie, now almost 90 years old, went into the hospital almost a
>> month ago with (primarily) heart valve issues that were also causing other
>> serious side effects. Over the ensuing several weeks there have been plenty
>> of ups and downs, but now Guy and his family feel it is time to go home
>> under some form of hospice care. If folks would like to send Guy a card
>> with well wishes, well-deserved salutations, or fond remembrances from over
>> his many decades of birding, please do. Promptly would likely be good to do.
>>
>>
>> Guy McCaskie
>> 954 Grove Ave.
>> Imperial Beach, CA 91932
>>
>>
>> --Paul Lehman, San Diego
>>
>>
>>
>
>
My husband David and I never met him, but I did write to him many years ago
when we headed to the Salton Sea years ago and he wrote us back with much
helpful information.
We truly appreciate all Guy had done for California birding!
Denise and David Hamilton
Napa
On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM <lehman.paul...> via groups.io
<lehman.paul...> wrote:
>
> Guy McCaskie, now almost 90 years old, went into the hospital almost a
> month ago with (primarily) heart valve issues that were also causing other
> serious side effects. Over the ensuing several weeks there have been plenty
> of ups and downs, but now Guy and his family feel it is time to go home
> under some form of hospice care. If folks would like to send Guy a card
> with well wishes, well-deserved salutations, or fond remembrances from over
> his many decades of birding, please do. Promptly would likely be good to do.
>
>
> Guy McCaskie
> 954 Grove Ave.
> Imperial Beach, CA 91932
>
>
> --Paul Lehman, San Diego
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 5/8/26 1:56 pm From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Guy McCaskie
Guy McCaskie, now almost 90 years old, went into the hospital almost a month ago with (primarily) heart valve issues that were also causing other serious side effects. Over the ensuing several weeks there have been plenty of ups and downs, but now Guy and his family feel it is time to go home under some form of hospice care. If folks would like to send Guy a card with well wishes, well-deserved salutations, or fond remembrances from over his many decades of birding, please do. Promptly would likely be good to do.
Guy McCaskie954 Grove Ave.Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Date: 5/5/26 8:25 pm From: Van Pierszalowski via groups.io <van...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Newsletter - April 2026 Rewind
Hi all,
I’m excited to share that the new edition of CBA’s official newsletter, Atlas Dispatch , is out now *HERE ( https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/atlas-dispatch-april-2026 )*. Huge thanks to Sam Safran, CBA’s Science Director, who did an incredible job pulling together a great recap of our first April, along with other project news and highlights.
As of this writing, we’re at *95,498* Atlas checklists. We truly didn’t think hitting 100K before the end of the first summer would be possible, and now we’re within striking distance in early May. Keep it up, everyone!
Date: 4/23/26 5:33 pm From: Aidan Sinha via groups.io <aidansinha...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] Garganey in San Mateo County
All,
Earlier today Michael Long reported a Garganey at Nob Hill Pond in San Mateo County. This appears to be the first record for San Mateo County. The bird reportedly flew east shortly after his report, but may still be in the area and could potentially return. The coordinates given by Michael were 37.52283° N, 122.25044° W for anyone planning to chase. Congrats Michael and good luck to those chasing!
