Last spring, a huge flock of Vaux’s Swifts took up temporary residency in an old chimney in downtown Los Angeles. The spectacle of the birds going in at dusk caused quite a stir. Jeff Chapman, director of the nearby Audubon Center at Debs Park, shot some video, and is getting set for the birds’ return [...]
Entries Tagged as 'urban conservation'
Waiting for Vaux’s Swifts in downtown Los Angeles
September 1st, 2010 · by gfrost
Tags: Audubon Center at Debs Park · Bird videos · Birding · Nature education and activities · urban conservation
Golden Gate Audubon helping promote Lights Out for Birds in the Bay Area
August 30th, 2010 · by gfrost
The Golden Gate Audubon Society is partnering with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the San Francisco Department of the Environment announce the fall Lights Out for Birds. The program enables building owners, managers and tenants to save energy and money while protecting migratory birds. Lights Out for Birds participants turn off unnecessary building lights during the [...]
Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Conservation research · Local Policy · S.F. Bay · urban conservation
Important wetlands protected in So. California
August 27th, 2010 · by gfrost
The State Wildlife Conservation board yesterday approved the purchase of the Hellman Ranch wetlands, adding its 100 acres to about 62 other acres already set aside for restoration. The wetlands are part of a corridor of important bird habitat along the Long Beach-Orange County shoreline. (photo by Daryl Supernaw)
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Tags: Audubon Chapters · Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Graham Chisholm · Important Bird Areas · urban conservation
Proving it can be done — kayaking the L.A. River
August 1st, 2010 · by gfrost
With the recent designation that the Los Angeles River is a navigable waterway, and thus subject to the Clean Water Act, L.A. Times reporter Louis Sahagun and a group of river activists decided to kayak part of the river and take a look at what’s in there. Gabriela Castañeda, from the Audubon Center at Debs Park, [...]
Tags: Audubon California · Audubon Center at Debs Park · Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Federal Policy · Nature education and activities · Pollution · urban conservation
Children’s art saves Western Snowy Plovers
July 8th, 2010 · by gfrost
A while back, we mentioned that a number of California Audubon chapters were participating in a program to use children’s art on the beach to encourage protection of the Western Snowy Plover. Several of these chapters have sponsored art shows of the work that the kids have produced. Los Angeles Audubon is sharing some of [...]
Tags: Audubon California · Audubon Chapters · Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Endangered Species Act · Nature education and activities · Western Snowy Plover · urban conservation
EPA declares L.A. River a ‘traditional, navigable waterway’
July 8th, 2010 · by gfrost
In a decision that could lead to major restoration of the Los Angeles River, the Environmental Protection Agency yesterday declared the waterway “traditional and navigable.” The designation means that the river qualifies for protection under the Clean Water Act, and points the way toward restoration. This opens the way to removing the concrete-lined banks and [...]
Tags: Audubon Center at Debs Park · Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Conservation research · Federal Policy · Important Bird Areas · Nature education and activities · urban conservation
Orange County accepts 20,000 acres of open space from the Irvine Company
June 30th, 2010 · by gfrost
The Orange County Board of Supervisors yesterday formally accepted 20,000 acres of permanently protected, pristine open space from the Irvine Company. The gift more than doubles the total parkland in the County.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Important Bird Areas · urban conservation
Woman steps up to defend Bodega Bay birds
June 25th, 2010 · by gfrost
Interesting story about one woman in Bodega Bay who wants to ensure that a new development won’t harm a rookery for Great Blue Heron and Great Egrets. She’s enlisted the help of the local Madrone Audubon Society and two Coastal Commissioners.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Local Policy · State Policy · Steve Blank · urban conservation
Dear newspaper: What kind of bird?
June 22nd, 2010 · by gfrost
Just a small pet peeve. It would be great if, when newspapers breathlessly report yet another bird being found with West Nile Virus, they shared the name of the bird in question. That would be a big help for those of us concerned with the fate of birds — such as the Yellow-billed Magpie — [...]
Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Conservation research · Yellow-billed Magpie · urban conservation
Famed Swallows of Capistrano now hanging out in Chino Hills
June 7th, 2010 · by gfrost
Apparently, the famed Swallow of Capistrano having taken up residence at a country club in Chino Hills. Now the question is why.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Birding · Nature education and activities · urban conservation
Least Bell’s Vireo found nesting in Playa Vista
June 7th, 2010 · by gfrost
Biologists have discovered nesting Least Bell’s Vireo within the Plata Vista development, near Los Angeles. Pretty amazing story, given how much habitat was altered to build this giant project.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Birding · Conservation research · Nature education and activities · urban conservation
Turtle Bay Bald Eagles lay first egg of the season
February 16th, 2010 · by gfrost
The popular Turtle Bay Bald Eagles have apparently laid their first egg of the season. Typically, this kind of thing would happen in private, but thanks to Caltrans, viewers from around the world can keep tabs on the eagles through a terrific webcam set up right next to Highway 44.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Bird videos · Birding · Video · urban conservation
L.A. Times: Prune your trees now before birds build winter nests
January 8th, 2010 · by gfrost
Great piece in the Los Angeles Times today talks about how to best get your garden ready for birds, starting with the importance of not pruning during nesting season. Do it now, the piece argues, or you’ll disturb the birds as they build their winter nests:
…. As we head into growing season, the last pruning [...]
Tags: Bird Habitat · Birding · urban conservation
Caltrans Eagle Cam in Redding gets expanded view
December 19th, 2009 · by gfrost
Have you ever checked out the Caltrans Turtle Bay Bald Eagle Cam? It’s one of the coolest things going. According to the Record Searchlight, it just got an upgrade.
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Tags: Bird Habitat · Bird conservation · Bird videos · Wildlife photos and video · urban conservation
Audubon Center at Debs Park helping get to the bottom of new disease affected walnut trees
December 15th, 2009 · by gfrost
The Audubon Center at Debs Park is working with arborists and conservationists to investigate the impacts of a new disease affecting native walnut trees.
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Tags: Audubon Center at Debs Park · Bird Habitat · Conservation research · urban conservation