We need everyone to send Gov. Schwarzenegger an email asking him to sign Assembly Bill 708, which creates tough new penalties for poaching violations. The Governor has threatened to veto nearly every piece of legislation that lawmakers have sent to his desk if they don’t pass comprehensive water reform. Water reform is important, but we [...]

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A few birds we’ve seen around our sites: Bobcat Ranch (Yolo): Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, Acorn Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Magpie. Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary (Marin): Common Murre, Golden Eagle, Surfbird, White-crowned Sparrows, Western Grebes. Audubon Center at Debs Park (Los Angeles): Oak Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Common Yellowthroats. Audubon Kern River Preserve (Kern): Hundreds of [...]

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We hope you’ve been enjoying the PBS series on National Parks produced by Ken Burns. It’s a thought-provoking look at our legacy of environmental protection and outdoor enjoyment. It’s also interesting to note the prominent role played by Audubon, as detailed in the series’ second episode. You can watch the episode online, for now. Share [...]

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Tomorrow, planned releases will begin from Friant Dam, beginning the gradual restoration of the San Joaquin River. Today, the Modesto Bee talks about the unprecedented opportunity that this presents. Share on Facebook

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The California Department of Fish and Game is inviting people to come out to Lodi’s Woodbridge Ecological Preserve to view Sandhill Crane as they descend upon California during fall migration. You will want to register fast, as space is limited for these tours. Share on Facebook

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Speaking at a conference in Oakland yesterday, Obama administration’s top environmental regulator put San Francisco Bay and its delta on a short list of nationally important waterways in need of restoration. The Bay-Delta is noteworthy because it not only provides water for much of the state, but also includes essential habitat for migratory birds and fish. [...]

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David Sibley, perhaps the nation’s preeminent birder, is profiled in today’s Wall Street Journal. He’s doing press for his new book, but among birders and Auduboners, he will always be hailed for his work on “The Sibley Guide to Birds.” It’s hard to adequately measure Sibley’s contribution to birding and conservation. Share on Facebook

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As you may know, the first step in restoring the San Joaquin River will take place this week, with the initial release of water from the Friant Dam. While conservationists and others hope that the nine-year effort to restore the river to its former glory will mark a major improvement for the Central Valley, the [...]

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Wow, now this is what we want to hear. Today, Gov. Schwarzenegger announced that no state parks would close as a result of this year’s budget crisis. That’s it: zero, nada. Here’s the story in the Los Angeles Times. According to the Governor’s office, there may be cuts to hours and services, but no closures. [...]

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Interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle today about a recent report encouraging youth participation in National State Parks. Those familiar with Audubon understand that we have made nature education a central tenet of our mission. This is because we understand that if we want to secure the environmental protections that we have won, we [...]

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Along with a number of other conservation organizations, Audubon California is enthusiastic about the conservation opportunities presented by the upcoming restoration of the San Joaquin River. We’ll be talking more about that in the coming weeks. But as you probably know, the issue of water in the Central Valley is controversial. Water is scarce and [...]

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Are you ready? Share on Facebook

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Restoring river ecosystems and riparian corridors can play an important role in combating climate change impacts to ecosystems by connecting one area to another, enabling plants and animals to move as the climate shifts, according to new research published by scientists from seven organizations, including Rodd Kelsey from Audubon California. The results have been published [...]

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The Audubon Kern River Preserve will hold its annual Fall Turkey Vulture Festival this weekend, Sept. 26 and 27. The event celebrates the height of fall Turkey Vulture migration through California’s “Valley Wild,” the Kern River Valley, one of the two largest known migration sites in North America (north of Mexico). The event also coincides with [...]

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According to a number of news reports this morning, Gov. Schwarzenegger has directed his Department of Finance to find other cuts in the budget that will allow the state to greatly reduce the number of parks closed. Furthermore, he has withdrawn plans to release a list of targeted parks and now says the number will [...]

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