In January, we held a winter bird count at the Pickleweed Community Center in San Rafael. Lots of children and families turned out. It was a great time, and proof that birds matter to everybody. Our partners on the project included WildCare and PRBO Conservation Science. Check out the video:

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The Mountain Plover is one of those birds that perfectly represents a California– in fact, a United States– that hasn’t existed for a very long time. Once plentiful across plains states in the summer and inCaliforniain the winter, the bird has declined as its habitat has been fragmented and lost. One of our staffers refers to it as the “Ghost of the Plains” for this very reason. When you see one, it’s a fleeting glimpse at the past.

Beginning Friday, Audubon California and our partners are going out into the field to count Mountain Plovers at key wintering spots throughout the state. We’re doing this because our statewide survey last year showed a dramatic decline (more then 50%) of Mountain Plovers from earlier surveys. If you want to help with the survey, there’s more information here. (photo by Glen Tepke)

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The Santa Barbara has a frightening story today about five Brown Pelicans that have been found with injuries to their wings that suggest someone intentionally harmed them. Let’s hope that’s not true.

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What you’re seeing in this photo is a wetland being burned to get rid of dead and dying cattail stems to allow for new growth to come in this spring. The site is a Kern County duck club that is working with Audubon California to water its wetlands in the spring and summer to encourage rare Tricolored Blackbirds to breed on this site rather than on nearby farms. Getting the birds to colonize habitat areas such as this is critical to the survival of the species, as birds on farms are under great threat when landowners need to harvest their crops. We’re optimistic that the birds will choose this section of newly grown cattails this spring.

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Happy Chinese New Year! Welcome to the year of the Dragon. Here are some interesting bird-related traditions associated with the holiday and Chinese astrology:

• Seeing a red bird brings good luck in the new year
• An image of a bird symbolizes family
• Birds are associated with the sun
• Cranes are one of the most important animals in Chinese folklore
• The sun can be depicted as a three-legged Crow

Do you know of any other bird-related traditions?

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The Los Angeles Ballona Wetlands are an Audubon Important Bird Area, and the news is that the state has just approved funding for a major restoration. There appears to be some disagreement over how to best implement this project, but nonetheless, great news.

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Well, they’re at it again. The latest proposed budget from the Governor’s office continues the state down a path toward shutting down 25 percent of our State Parks. Moreover, he also threatens to eliminate lifeguards and fire more rangers if his revenue initiative fails to pass this November. We’ve had enough of this. Let your legislators know that you want California State Parks protected. Not only do they provide important opportunities to connect children and families with nature, but they also provide essential habitat for birds and other wildlife. Send a letter to your leaders right now. (photo by Tobin Fricke)

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A California mayor is taking a new approach to combating his city’s problems. Mayor R. Rex Parris of Lancaster is piping in bird songs. According to a Wall Street Journal interview, minor crime is down 15%  and serious crimes fell 6% in the city and its citizens are in better spirits:

“We’re not seeing that impulse-control crime,” Mr. Parris says. “It has just been astonishing to us how the community has changed as a result of a one-half-mile stretch.”

To read more about this town’s efforts, read the entire article here
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203721704577157512700171698.html.

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We really love this article about bird feathers in the recent issue of Audubon Magazine. It’s about feathers, but it does a good job of describing a number of the things that are so awesome about birds in general.

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To the untrained eye, California’s Mojave and Colorado deserts might appear like barren, lifeless places. It would seem like an ideal location for hundreds of square miles of solar arrays and transmission lines – power plants for alternative energy that will reduce the impacts of climate change on our planet. “The reality is that these deserts host a remarkable diversity of birds and other wildlife,” says Garry George, Audubon California’s chapter network director. “It would be a tragedy if we lost this beauty in a poorly considered effort to save it.”

[Read more →]

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As told to our Facebook fan Sharon D. by her friend in Montana:

This has to be the weirdest thing that ever floated by me on the Snake River.  A Falcon and a snake were stuck together in death lock, each wanting to kill the other first.  My guess is that the Falcon snatched up the tasty snake, and it somehow got its tail around the falcon’s neck, strangling it in midair causing both of them to crash into the river.  [Read more →]

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The 2011/2012 Audubon Christmas Bird Count visited remote Santa Cruz Island (23 miles off Southern California) on Dec. 19. Audubon California was there and interviewed a few of the participants:

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Interesting article posted on the Forbes website today about the potential conflict between the resurgent  California Condor and increased wind energy development in the Tehachapi Mountains. As the endangered bird slowly begins to recover more of its historical range, representatives from both the wind energy industry and environmental advocates acknowledge that a condor death from a collision with a wind turbine would be a disaster.

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Want to hear your voice on the radio? Would you like to brag to your friends that you were on NPR?

National Audubon Society Chief Scientist (and Audubon California alum) will be on NPR Science Friday today at 12:30 PM PT and we are inviting YOU to call in and talk about what you’ve seen or want to see on your Christmas Bird Count.

The number to call is: 1-800-989-8255.

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Safe travels to everyone doing their own “migration” this season and happy holidays!

(Illustration by Alex Solis)

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