The Center for Biological Diversity today notified the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service of its intent to sue the agency to compel it to list the Ashy Storm-Petrel under the Endangered Species Act. You might recall that last year the agency decided not to list the species, even though it is in great danger of [...]
Entries from June 30th, 2010
Lawsuit threatened to force protected status for Ashy Storm-Petrel
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Audubon Watchlist, Bird conservation, Conservation research, Endangered Species Act, Federal Policy, seabirds
Tags: Ashy Storm-Petrel·Center for Biological Diversity·U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service·U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Surfers can help protect the Western Snowy Plover
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Audubon California, Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Bird videos, Conservation research, Endangered Species Act, Important Bird Areas, Local Policy, Nature education and activities, seabirds, Western Snowy Plover
As we learned during the recent battle over the proposed toll road in Orange County, there are few better advocates for the beach environment than surfers. They’re at the beach every day and have a personal stake in keeping the place beautiful and pristine. To that end, Audubon California and women’s surf brand Carve Designs [...]
Tags: carve designs·Orange County toll road·rodeo beach·surfers·surfers and environment·Western Snowy Plover
Orange County accepts 20,000 acres of open space from the Irvine Company
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Important Bird Areas, urban conservation
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. Share on Facebook
Animal lovers urged to leave wildlife alone
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Nature education and activities
Sage advice from experts: it’s always a bad idea to interfere with wildlife or remove wildlife from the environment. Share on Facebook
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Gulf farmers asked to flood fields to create migratory bird habitat
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Conservation research, Landowner Stewardship, Pollution
Interesting story out of the Gulf today, where a federal agency is asking some farmers to flood their fields in the hopes of convincing migratory birds to stop there instead of the oil-tainted waters of the Gulf. This strategy reminds us of what is happening in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where rice and alfalfa farms [...]
Sparrows nest in Fairfield front door wreath draws TV news
June 30th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bird Habitat, Bird videos, Birding, Nature education and activities, Video, Wildlife photos and video
Tags: fairfield·house sparrows·sparrows
Governor moves to postpone water bond until 2012
June 29th, 2010 · Comments Off · Audubon California, Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Water issues
News is spreading that Gov. Schwarzenegger is moving to postpone the Water Bond vote until 2012, citing the budget crisis and the state’s economic downturn. Although some will be happy to see this postponement as, at least, a partial defeat for the bond, there is no reason to celebrate. Both opponents and supporters of the [...]
Tags: Water Bond
Lead lobby defeats bill to protect birds from lead contamination in state wildlife areas
June 29th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Audubon California, Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Conservation research, Pollution, State Policy
Representatives of Audubon California today expressed deep disappointment after its bill to prohibit the use of lead shot in state wildlife areas was defeated in the State Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The bill, Assembly Bill 2223 (Nava), passed the State Assembly just last month, but failed to garner sufficient votes to move on [...]
Tags: AB 2223·Assembly Bill 2223·ban lead shot·Dan Taylor·lead shot·lead shot in state wildlife areas·nava·Pedro Nava
Richardson Bay Audubon Center director gets some press
June 28th, 2010 · Comments Off · Audubon California, Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary, S.F. Bay
The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary’s director, Brooke Langston, get a nice profile in the local Marin Independent Journal. Great quote: Q: What do people misunderstand about what you do? A: That this is hard work, and it was hard work just to be in this career path. Lots of people say, “Oh, you [...]
Tags: Brooke Langston
Video: Western Screech Owl chicks in Murphys, CA
June 28th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bird videos, Birding, Nature education and activities, Video, Wildlife photos and video
Roy Campbell sent us this terrific footage of Western Screech Owl chicks peeking out of their nesting box near Murphys, CA. Great stuff: Share on Facebook
Tags: baby western screech owl·roy campbell·western screech owl·western screech owl chicks
Graham Chisholm speaks at event honoring first sales of 2010 Duck Stamps
June 25th, 2010 · Comments Off · Audubon California, Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Federal Policy, Important Bird Areas, S.F. Bay, Video
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service held an event this morning at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge honoring the first sales of the 2010 Federal Duck Stamp. Our own Graham Chisolm spoke at the event about the importance of wetland conservation and the contributions of the Duck Stamp program: Share on Facebook
Tags: don edwards·don edwards national wildlife refuge·duck stamp·U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Woman steps up to defend Bodega Bay birds
June 25th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Local Policy, State Policy, Steve Blank, urban conservation
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. Share on Facebook
Tags: bodega bay·California Coastal Commission·great blue heron·great egret·Madrone Audubon·sara wan
A beautiful life list
June 25th, 2010 · Comments Off · Birding, Nature education and activities, Wildlife photos and video
Lots of people keep life lists of birds they’ve seen over the years. Our friend Erik Gauger illustrates his with terrific photography on his website, Notes from the Road. If you really want a treat, check out his illustrated Moleskine journals while you’re there. Share on Facebook
Audubon’s lead shot bill hits snag in State Senate committee
June 24th, 2010 · 3 Comments · Audubon California, Bird conservation, Bird Habitat, Conservation research, Pollution, State Policy
Audubon California’s bill to ban the use of lead shot in state wildlife areas is still alive, but it hit a snag this Tuesday before the State Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. We went into Tuesday’s hearing knowing that the vote would be close. We knew that the National Rifle Association and related groups [...]
Tags: AB 2223·Assembly Bill 2223·lead shot·lead shot in state wildlife areas
TogetherGreen fellow wears endangered species protection on her sleeve, or actually, her arm
June 24th, 2010 · Comments Off · Uncategorized
When Berkeley resident Molly Tsongas found out that a third of all animals and plants could be gone forever within her lifetime, she decided it was time to act. So she founded Tatzoo, which fuses her own interest in tatoo art with endangered species conservation. Tsongas was recently named a TogetherGreen Fellow for her innovative efforts to motivate her generation to [...]
Tags: Molly Tsongas·Tatzoo·TogetherGreen