Today’s Los Angeles Times features a long look by Margot Roosevelt at how California’s natural landscapes can play an important role in the state’s efforts to reduce global greenhouse emissions. The article focuses on forests, and how an investment in conservation can result in the trapping of a great deal of carbon: In the struggle over how [...]
Entries from May 2009
California forests hold one answer to climate change
May 31st, 2009 · by gfrost
Tags: Alternative energy · Bird Habitat · Conservation research · Global Warming · State Policy
Invasive plants cost California at least $82 million each year
May 30th, 2009 · by gfrost
Recent study by the California Invasive Plant Council shows they cost the state $82 million each year. Click here to see details. Share on Facebook
Tags: Uncategorized
Feds seek duo who plundered Snowy Plover nest in No. Cal.
May 29th, 2009 · by gfrost
Federal authorities are seeking two women who were caught on video removing Western Snowy Plover eggs on Clam Beach in Northern California. The camera had been set up by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor a threatened nest. The Service is asking the two people in the video to identify themselves to law [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Endangered Species Act · Western Snowy Plover
More on potential state park closures
May 28th, 2009 · by gfrost
Peter Fimrite of the San Francisco Chronicle today takes a look at the massive proposed cuts to California State Parks and paints a picture that is far from pretty: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest proposal to tackle the state’s $24.3 billion shortfall includes the elimination of all general fund contributions to California’s 279 parks within two years. [...]
Tags: Bird Habitat · California State Parks · State Policy
Obama Administration to call a ‘timeout’ on road building in National Forests
May 28th, 2009 · by gfrost
The Los Angeles Times reports that the U.S. Forest Service will call a halt to new road-building and other development in National Forests. A ban on such development was first announced in the final days of the Clinton Administration, but the rule was undercut by President Bush, who exempted large portions of federal land. Share on [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Federal Policy
Study provides hope that damaged ecosystems can bounce back
May 28th, 2009 · by gfrost
A new study conducted by researchers with the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies indicates that some damaged ecosystems can recover within one human lifetime if people commit to restoration and conservation. Although the research was by no means limited to California, the work provides hope to all of us in the state’s conservation [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Conservation research
Duck painting wins California stamp contest
May 28th, 2009 · by gfrost
If you’re not familiar with the California duck stamp, today’s Sacramento Bee provides an interesting overview of both the program and this year’s art contest. Share on Facebook
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · State Policy
Governor proposes massive cuts to state parks
May 27th, 2009 · by gfrost
You might recall the battles waged last year over the proposed closures of California State Parks. Well, if this report is to be believed, you haven’t see anything yet. Along with other massive cuts to state services and supports, Schwarzenegger is apparently proposing to close 80 percent of the state’s parks: The governor’s budget also [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · California State Parks · State Policy
Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary to host marine debris event May 30
May 27th, 2009 · by gfrost
The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary in Tiburon will host Our Plastic Oceans on Saturday, May 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event, which will include fun and entertaining activities for all ages, is intended to help the community understand the problem of plastics entering San Francisco Bay and our oceans. Featured activities [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Nature education and activities · Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Natomas Swainson’s Hawk nest featured in popular webcam collapses
May 26th, 2009 · by gfrost
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that a Swainson’s Hawk nest featured in a popular online webcam has collapsed, killing the unhatched young. The webcam has apparently been shut down. Word apparently came from Michael Bradbury, the researcher who organized the effort. This blog featured the cam in an earlier post, and judging by the traffic [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Bird videos · Birding · Video · Wildlife photos and video
Landfill methane towers pose danger to perched raptors
May 26th, 2009 · by gfrost
None of the examples in this story are from California, but we have to imagine that the problem exists here to some degree. Apparently, when these landfills do their occasional methane burns through their towers, they frequently scorch raptors perched there. Share on Facebook
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat
Officials renew calls for water bond
May 26th, 2009 · by gfrost
There are a lot of issues out there that have been ominously staring conservationists in the face, and one of them is the looming problem of water in California. Indeed, the problems with our current water delivery infrastructure are so dire that officials this week restated their desire to place an roughly $10 billion water [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · State Policy · Water issues
How will state budget cuts impact conservation?
May 26th, 2009 · by gfrost
That’s a good question, and one that lots of people in our business are asking. With the failure of the budget-related ballot initiatives last week, all of Sacramento is talking about the substantial cuts that will be necessary to get the state’s fiscal situation under control. We’re watching carefully to see what impact all this [...]
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · California State Parks · State Policy
L.A. Audubon working with high school kids to bring the Cactus Wren back to Culver City
May 24th, 2009 · by gfrost
Nice article in today’s Los Angeles Times about a group of high school kids working to bring the Cactus Wren back to the recently-restored Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, an area that hasn’t seen the bird in decades. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park is a panorama of undeveloped hills and wilderness where gray foxes still [...]
Tags: Audubon Chapters · Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · Birding · Nature education and activities
NY Times looks into Condor shootings
May 24th, 2009 · by gfrost
The New York Times today delves into the recent shootings of two California Condors. Share on Facebook
Tags: Bird conservation · Bird Habitat · California Condor · Endangered Species Act