The Los Angeles Times takes a look at a natural island that was devastated in the recent Orange County fires. The park was home to nearly 200 species of birds, including the threatened Least Bell’s Vireo. The park is part of the Puente-Chino Hills Important Bird Area. Share on Facebook

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Southern California environmental groups are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the state acquiring the Ballona Wetlands. It’s important to note that the wetlands are part of the Ballona Valley Important Bird Area, and are the most significant coastal wetland in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles Audubon has been active on ongoing issues relating the wetlands. [...]

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Information is still coming in from our recent San Francisco Bay shorebird survey, including this nice video shot by Audubon California’s own Alison Sheehey. Enjoy.   In the video, approximately 800 Willets, 200 Marbled Godwits, 36 Black-necked Stilts, 5 American Avocet, and 12 Ring-billed Gulls were hanging out in this densely packed flock. They would [...]

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Audubon this week joined with nearly 30 of the nation’s most prominent environmental organizations to outline first steps that they believe President-Elect Barack Obama should take upon entering office. The list includes early and decisive action on global warming, as well as alternative energy development and conservaiton. The groups also recommend a re-emphasis on science, [...]

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The L.A. Times has an interesting story about naturalist Rick Halsey, founder of the California Chaparral Institute, who says we need to learn a thing or two about California’s native vegetation. Share on Facebook

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Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered his staff to go beyond coming up with measure to avoid global warming and instead begin to identify ways for the state to adapt to inevitable changes that climate change could bring. This includes moving oceanside highways to higher ground, creating flood-resistent building, and conducting “triage” to determine [...]

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The Los Angeles Times today takes a closer look at the Los Cerritos Wetlands, and the land swap deal that may save a large portion of this important bird habitat from development. Here at Audubon California, we talk quite a bit about the complicated issues around urban conservation, and this project is a classic example. [...]

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Nice story about how Marin Audubon recently acquired a key piece of tidal wetlands in San Rafael, which it planned to restore and permanently protect. Apparently, the deal was finalized after Marin Audubon resident Barbara Salzman simply asked for it. (Of course, we’re certain pulling off a deal like this involves quite a bit more [...]

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From the the Los Angeles Times: In recent days, the Bush administration announced new rules to speed oil shale development across 2 million rocky acres in the West. It scheduled an auction for drilling rights alongside three national parks. It has also set in motion processes to finalize major changes in endangered species protection, allow [...]

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This is not a pleasant story, for a lot of reasons. According to the Chronicle, not only did a Gilroy man illegally hunt and kill more than 300 birds — some of them listed — but the penalty for this crime was incredibly slight: two years probation, 100 hours of community service and a $7,105 fine. Here’s [...]

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We’ve been hearing chatter that a decision from the Department of Commerce on the Orange County Toll Road extension is imminent, and now there’s this in the L.A. Times. As you know, Audubon California strongly opposes this extension through important habitat. Share on Facebook

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The California State Legislature is now in special session to consider a number of proposals to balance the budget and bolster the economy. Among these proposals are several that could weaken the state’s environmental protections laws and open the door to circumvention of the state’s recently-passed anti-sprawl law. While Audubon California understands that the increasing budget deficit [...]

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As we mentioned in an earlier post, this past weekend, volunteers combed the edges of San Francisco Bay for this year’s shorebird survey. Over the course of three gorgeous days, 142 people in 68 teams surveyed 240 sites. Approximately 1.4 million acres were covered by foot, bicycle, car, and airplane. We also were able to [...]

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Of the current wildfires burning throughout Southern California, the only one with direct implications for bird conservation appears to be the “Freeway Compex Fire” in Orange County, which is directly hitting the Puente-Chino Hills Important Bird Area. Fires, in general, are tough on birds that currently reside in these areas. While many survive, they are often [...]

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Brian Murphy of the local Mt. Diable Audubon Society offers a possible solution to the problem that homeowners in Rossmoor are experiencing with Acorn Woodpeckers (via the Contra Costa Times). Share on Facebook

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