Pe cA Gaby BOON eB belek ter N 31 
New AUDUBON BULLETIN Editor Appointed 
By vote of the Board of Directors at their January meeting, D. William 
Bennett was elected a director of The Illinois Audubon Society and 
was appointed Editor of THE AUDUBON BULLETIN. With many 
years of advertising experience, Mr. Bennett is well qualified to 
assume his task. He will begin his duties with the March, 1967 issue. 
Paul H. Lobik will continue to serve the Society as an associate 
editor and consultant. 
Contributions to forthcoming issues of THE AUDUBON BULLE- 
TIN should be sent to D. William Bennett, 49 Valley Road, Highland 
Park, II. 
ft a f a 
A California Bird Census 
By John Helmer 
It's about time that the Helmers gave an account of their doings in sunny 
California during the past two years. Here are a few notes of interest to 
bird-watchers. When I read THE AUDUBON BULLETIN and the ILA.S. 
NEWSLETTER, I am continually amazed at what goes on “back home’. 
I don’t know whether to feel like something of a slacker or to be content 
with having escaped just in time. But Dorothy and I have not been loafing. 
Ours is pretty much of a pioneer bulldozing community, with much to be 
done about preserving the landscape. We are caught up in the work of 
Civic clubs, the L.W.V., and our two local Audubon clubs. 
For bird-watching, we are fortunate to have the Buena Vista Lagoon 
of The Nature Conservancy just six miles to the north. This is the best 
fresh-water refuge in the San Diego area, and our local people have been 
working to preserve the territory not owned by the Conservancy by de- 
claring the rest a state park. We hope to have the money appropriated 
next month. 
Twice a month, from December through April, we shall be making a 
count of waterfowl and shore birds for the State Fish and Game Depart- 
ment as part of a project covering all of the lagoons and salt marshes in 
this area. At Buena Vista Lagoons we have been averaging about 3,000 
individuals and 40 species per census. Half are ruddies and shovelers. 
The ducks seem like old friends, here seen at closer range. I’ve never 
seen such gorgeous pintails, and even the scaup look handsome in their 
spring plumage. The following report will give you an idea of what we 
find regularly: 
BUENA VISTA LAGOON — DEC. 14, 1966 
Canada Geese 115 (an unusually high count); Grebes — Horned 1, Pied- 
billed 57, Eared 40, Western 6; Double-crested Cormorant 67; Gadwall 1; 
American Widgeon (Baldpate) 7; Pintail 106; Cinnamon Teal 20; Green- 
Winged Teal 23; Shoveler Duck 800; Ring-necked Duck 4; Bufflehead 20; 
