Recently, Angelinos have been witnessing huge flocks on Vaux’s swifts in and around downtown LA.  Here at the Audubon Center at Debs Park, we have been seeing White-throated and Vaux’s, plus several swallow species. Just downstream from us at the new Los Angeles State Historic Park, the cliff swallows return every year, and the folks (Thomas [...]

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The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee this week approved Senate Bill 51 (Ducheny) which will create a new planel to oversee restoration of the Salto Sea. Audubon California, along with groups such as Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Pacific Institute, and the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance all back this legislation, which will go a long way [...]

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In an elegant opinion piece in today’s Los Angeles Times, author Olivia Gentile argues that we should devote more resources to the protection of threatened bird species. Some environmentalists talk about saving species because we have a moral imperative to do so. Others emphasize that we never know when a plant or animal will prove [...]

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OK, it’s just a survey, but a very important one. And we’ll need your help. On June 5-8, Audubon California and our partners are going to hold a statewide survey of Yellow-billed Magpies. We’ll be asking volunteers to count magpie sightings during this period and enter their observations on eBird. We’ll use the data to [...]

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You wouldn’t think that a simple camera cleaning and adjustment would be so interesting, but yet it is. Check out the defensive posturing from the Barn Owls yesterday at Starr Ranch when Ranch Manager Pete DeSimone goes in to make some improvements. Rest assured, they were back to sleep minutes after this was shot. Share [...]

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The California Senate Natural Resources Committee has approved legislation to  protect the beauty and integrity of California´s state parks by preventing their conversion for private or corporate use. The bill is Senate Bill 679 from Senator Lois Wolk of Davis. Audubon California supports this legislation because, as we learned with the proposal to build a [...]

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Reports of the first Condor nest in San Benito County in more than 70 years on a private ranch. Share on Facebook

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The Obama Administration today revoked changes to the Endangered Species Act rules that allowed federal agencies to move forward on certain projects without consulting government wildlife experts. This is a huge victory for endangered species throughout the United States, and a huge victory for conservation groups, including Audubon, that argued strongly that the Bush Administration [...]

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* Note: Just heard via the Sacramento Bee that this nest has collapsed and the webcam turned off (5/27/09) Someone just sent us a link to this great live webcam of a Swainson’s Hawk nest in Natomas (Sacramento). More about the webcam can be found after the jump: Share on Facebook

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This just in: the Audubon California-backed bill to substantially increase penalties for poaching just passed in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife committee with a unanimous vote. Several members of the committee asked to be co-authors. Thanks to all those who reached out to the committee to ask for their support. Share on Facebook

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With the passage of Assembly Bill 821 in 2007, California banned the use of lead ammunition in California Condor habitat. The reason for this — as we’ve stated elsewhere — is that condors are often poisoned by lead when they feed on carcasses left behind by hunters. An increasing amount of research is showing that [...]

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Last weekend, Audubon California was out at the annual Heron Festival in Clear Lake. We had a great time, and got a chance to catch up with our friends at Redbud Audubon (co-presenter of the event) and Altacal Audubon. Share on Facebook

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Audubon California is supporting Assembly Bill 708, which greatly increases penalties for poaching in California. According to the State Department of Fish & Game, poaching violations rose from 6,538 in 2003 to 17,840 in 2007, with sensitive species of geese and ducks taking the hardest hit. AB 708 gets its first hearing before the Assembly’s [...]

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Sure, this isn’t California, but it’s close enough to give one pause. Every year, folks at Walker Lake in northern Nevada hold a festival dedicated to migrating loons. But not this year — the water’s gone, and so are the loons. Share on Facebook

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The Los Angeles Times has an interesting article today about some in the conservation world who feel that the combination of a down economy and increased federal spending may mean that this is the perfect time to purchase land and set it aside. Share on Facebook

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