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AUDUBON CALIFORNIA NOTES
June 2007 e-newsletter
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In this issue:
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Common Birds in Decline
 A new analysis from National Audubon combining 40 years of Breeding Bird Surveys and Christmas Bird Count data made big headlines in California and across the nation. The LA Times, Sacramento Bee, and three major radio programs featured Audubon California. The Oakland Tribune interviewed Golden Gate Audubon for the story. With the story going out on Associated Press wire, our phones rang steadily.
The study called Common Birds in Decline is the first installment of a new series on the state of the birds. Tens of thousands of citizens contributed to collecting this data over the years. Population declines for some of the most recognized and beloved birds in California echo the disturbing findings of a new analysis by the National Audubon Society that reveals how local, national and global threats are combining to take a toll on birds, habitat, and the environment across the country.
“While the public hears about threatened and endangered birds like the Peregrine Falcon and Brown Pelican, this study highlights that common birds like House Finches, orioles, and Killdeer are in serious decline in California and across the country,” said Audubon California Chairman Steve Blank.
The national study found that populations of some common birds nosedived over the past forty years, with several down nearly 80 percent. In California, Northern Pintail, Horned Lark, and Loggerhead Shrike topped the list with declines between 96 and 75%, mirroring national trends in the same species. The dramatic national declines are attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation with future losses expected as a result of global warming. Get the entire report, learn what’s being done to reverse the decline here.
California Condor Campaign Makes Gains
The effort to ban the use of lead ammunition in condor country is within reach, and Audubon chapters and members are mobilizing to help make a difference. All signs point to a ban in condor country this year with a state-wide ban following in the next several. We urge you to keep the pressure on the Fish and Game Commissioners or legislators with your letters and personal contacts.
 First, at the California Fish and Game Commission meeting on June 8th, the Commission voted 3-1 to take action to ban non-lead ammunition in condor range at its July 12th-13th meeting in Bridgeport. The Commission staff will need to determine if the proper environmental documentation has been completed for the Commission to take a final vote in July. If approved the ban would be phased beginning January 1, 2008. Second, AB821 (Pedro Nava), banning the use of lead ammunition in condor territory, passed out of the Assembly for the first time in three years. The bill now must be heard by two Senate committees (June 26th and July 10th).
A number of recent developments have strengthened efforts to ban lead including the banning of lead ammunition on the Tejon Ranch followed by decisions by Fort Hunter-Ligget and Camp Roberts to also ban lead ammunition in their hunting programs. Removing lead ammunition is perhaps the single most important step we can take to help California Condor recovery, and we believe that a ban is within reach in 2007. Still, we will need to reach out to moderate hunting groups and to the Governor in order to ensure success at either the Commission or in the Legislature. Read more about Condor recovery.
Register Now for the Audubon California Assembly
 Sunday - Tuesday, October 7,8, and 9 In October, Audubon members will gather at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove for 3 days of workshops, speakers and birding. This is a wonderful opportunity to sharpen your conservation skills, make new friends, and be inspired by the Audubon community. This year’s theme is Global Warming and Wildlife. Workshops include: Seabird and Shorebird Conservation, Global Warming and California Bird Populations, Global Warming Solutions, Audubon at Home: Gardening for Birds and Butterflies, Crafting a Message that Matters: Global Warming and Organizing Great Bird Festivals. Register before July 9 and save $50!
The Bird Year-Birding and Bicycling to Cool the Planet
 Meet Malkolm, Ken, and Wendy. Malkolm Madsen is a 15 year-old avid birder. Ken and Wendy are his parents. Right now, way up in the Canadian Yukon, the trio are on their bikes in the first week of a year long 'Bird Year'. (A Big Year is a year long quest to see as many North American birds as possible a la Ken Kaufmann and Roger Tory Peterson) This is far from an ‘ordinary’ Big Year. Malkolm will ride his bike 10,000 miles from the Yukon south to California and east to Florida to count birds and to protect birds by raising awareness for artic bird species and our carbon footprint. It’s a fossil fuel-free Big Year. Malkolm, being fifteen is taking along his parents Ken and Wendy. Ken and Wendy may be old pro campaigners for the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, but a fossil fuel-free Big Year on bikes will challenge everyone.
Thinking about global warming can make you want to crawl under the covers but as conservationists we know we have to take action. Bring in heroes like Malkolm. Let Malkolm inspire you to take part in the effort to curb global warming. There's so much we can all do whether it's changing to CFL light bulbs, walking more often, sending letters to your congress person or organizing a low carbon bird walk. Audubon offers more solutions and tips.
Several Audubon chapters will host events to greet Malkolm, Ken and Wendy as they ride along the California coast. Stay posted for more updates or you can follow along their journey at http://birdyear.blogspot.com. If you have done something to help curb global warming and protect the artic birds that Malkolm loves, send Malkolm a message through the blog to keep their spirits fueled during the long rides.
Bobcat Ranch Becomes Audubon's Newest Sanctuary
 Audubon California is in the final steps of acquiring the 6,800 acre Bobcat Ranch in western Yolo County. The Bobcat Ranch extends from the floor of the Central Valley near the town of Winters, to the west into the Coast Range and north along the foothills in Yolo and Napa counties. It’s magnificent swath of endangered blue oak woodland along the north bank of Putah Creek and the native grasslands host a wide diversity of bird and wildlife life.
In May, Audubon received a $6.35 million grant from the State of California’s Wildlife Conservation Board and a $610,000 grant from the Great Valley Center to help acquire the ranch. In addition, four Audubon chapter (Yolo, Stanislaus, Madrone, Napa/Solano, Sequoia) have provided an additional $9,000. We still need to raise an additional $30,000 to complete the purchase.
The property is at the heart of some of the best birding in the Central Valley along the Hwy 128 corridor between Winters and Lake Berryessa. Audubon chapters will be welcome to hold field trips on the ranch which will be managed as an Audubon Sanctuary. If you chapter would like to schedule a field trip or donate to this project, please contact
Vance Russell.
Curlew Survey Volunteers Needed
Audubon California will be working with PRBO Conservation Science and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to survey Long-billed Curlews this September.
Andrea Jones is coordinating the Carrizo Plains,
Gary Langham, new Bird Conservation Director is coordinating the Central Valley, and Kathy Molina is coordinating the Imperial Valley. The team is collecting information on past sightings of 100 or more birds in these interior valleys. Based on past information, half-day survey routes (by car) will be created. Volunteers will then count all the curlews they see on the route and send in the numbers. Volunteers receive a detailed report of the findings.
Volunteers are needed to conduct these half-day surveys anytime between Sept 13-16th 2007. Also please send in any reports of past fall sightings of Long-billed Curlews in the Central or Imperial Valleys or the Carrizo Plain. Reports must have street crossings or GPS coordinates. Contact a coordinator to participate. Please pass the word along know anybody who might be able to help.
Do you eBird?
 EBird is a premier online bird observation program especially developed for birders and citizens in California! Audubon California, PRBO, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology partnered to create California eBird, a real-time online bird observation checklist. California eBird provides a quick and easy way for birders, citizens, and scientists to enter their bird observations into a common database accessible to those working to protect and restore habitats for birds in California. eBird provides on-line birding checklists to keep track of your observations at multiple sites, accessible at any time from your home computer. Bird sightings are safely stored in Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s database.
California eBird tailors the standard eBird site to California birders. If you are looking for a place to make bird observations, try selecting one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in California, keeping track of your sightings, and entering your records (for a list of IBAs go to www.ca.audubon.org/iba). Or, choose your favorite birding site or “hot spot” using the interactive Google maps provided. By selecting any IBA site and learn about the birds others have seen at the site, times of year, abundances, and more. With your help, we can begin to paint a complete picture of how birds are distributed across the diverse California landscape and track what changes may be occurring in the future. Visit the California eBird website (www.ebird.org/California) to read timely information on birds and birding news in California and try entering some bird data!
Mendocino Coast Audubon Gets
Coastal Commission to Take Action
Concerned that a proposed 4th of July fireworks display by private landowners along the coast near the Gualala River would disturb roosting seabirds, Mendocino Audubon’s Richard Kuehn and other members notified Audubon California. Audubon California shared the information with Steve Blank who wears dual hats as Audubon California’s Chairman and California Coastal Commissioner. Steve was quickly brought the concern to the attention of Commission's executive director who insured that the Commission staff investigated the issue and then issued a strongly worded letter requiring the event proponents to get a permit from the Commission in order to ensure that the action does not disturb birds or other wildlife.
Steve Blank and Audubon California encourage Audubon chapters to bring coastal issues to the Commission’s attention and attend Commission hearings. Visit the Commission's webpage: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/.
If there are coastal protection or birds and wildlife issues along the coast that you believe the Commission can help address, please feel free to share with Steve Blank and
Graham Chisholm, Audubon California’s Director of Conservation.
Upcoming Events and Meetings
- California Amphibian & Reptile Celebration
- July 7, 2007 Weldon
- Visit the Southern Sierra's Kern River Valley to experience a sampling of the diversity of reptiles and amphibians along with the regions breeding bird populations.
- Audubon California Assembly
- October 7-9, 2007 Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove
California Chapter Coordinator
– Chapter Coordinator
Audubon California
4225 Hollis Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 601-1866 x (extension) 3
(510) 601-1954 Fax
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