Audobon Society plans nature programs

The Conejo Valley Audubon Society will host its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology at 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo.

Aerospace engineer Phil Barnes will present a talk, "How flies the albatross: understanding dynamic soaring."

For more information, call (805) 987-2721 or visit www.ConejoValleyAudubon.org.

The society will also sponsor the following birding field trips in January:

•Sat., Jan. 5, Lake Casitas. Meet at Las Posas park-and-ride at 8 a.m. or the lake at 8:30. Ducks, grebes, sparrows, hawks and woodpeckers. John Pavelko, (805) 640-9040.

•Fri., Jan. 11, Point Mugu Naval Base. Call Don Williamson at (818) 889-4498 at least three weeks prior to get on the list, limited to 25 people. Must bring photo ID. Vermilion flycatcher, peregrine falcon, ducks, shorebirds, reddish egret, longtailed duck and possible tundra swan.

•Sat., Jan. 19, Santa Clara River Estuary. Meet at 8 a.m. at Las Posas park-and-ride or 8:30 at Surfer's Knoll parking lot on Spinnaker in Ventura Harbor. Shorebirds, ducks, snowy plovers, black-necked stilts, American avocets, gulls, grebes and loons. Thelma Williams, (805) 492-2796.

•Sun., Jan. 27, Simi Valley hot spots. Meet at 2 p.m. at Rancho Simi Park, on the Erringer side. Ducks, herons and passerines, also Arroyo Simi and the ferruginous hawk roost. Tom Halpin, (805) 7464598.