From the Oregon border, south to San Diego, and east through the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra – local Audubon chapters are voicing strong support in their communities for a bill that will remove toxic lead from the environment. Assembly Bill 711, recently approved by the State Legislature and now awaiting the Governor’s signature, would require nonlead ammunition for hunting beginning in 2019.

In all, at least 37 chapters from around the state have asked Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the legislation on his desk.

“The membership and board of Stanislaus Audubon Society strongly support AB711, which would require the phasing out of lead-based ammunition for hunting throughout California,” wrote Stanislaus Audubon Society President Salvatore Salerno on behalf of his chapter to Gov. Jerry Brown, asking him to sign the legislation. “This legislation would stop the substantial damage that has been done for decades to humans, wildlife, and the environment.”

All of the chapters are highlighting the risk that lead from spent ammunition poses to birds, other wildlife and people. Recently a group of 30 researchers in the field of lead toxicology called lead from ammunition the largest source of unregulated toxic lead knowingly released into the environment.

“With viable alternatives that are just as effective widely available, we see no reason that California should continue to expose the environment, wildlife and people to health risks associated with lead in bullets or shotgun shells used in hunting,” said Keith Wagner, conservation chair for Sacramento Audubon Society. This legislation would stop the damage that lead ammunition used in hunting does to wildlife, the environment, and to people,” said Drew Feldman, conservation chair of the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society. “Just as we once had legislation to remove lead from gasoline, now we need legislation to remove it from ammunition.”

The chorus of community support for Assembly Bill 711 comes as the bill also enjoys widespread support from groups in the areas of conservation, public health, and animal protection. The bill is co-sponsored by Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States. The number of groups that support AB 711, beyond the co-sponsors, includes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Medical Association, Children Now, California Coastal Protection Network, California Public Interest Coalition, Clean Water Action, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, and more than 30 others.

“The support from local Audubon chapters in rural and urban California shows just how strong the support for this bill is,” said Dan Taylor, director of public policy for Audubon California. “These chapters are part of the fabric of these communities. Many have seen firsthand the devestating effect of lead poisoning on birds like the Golden Eagle and California Condor.”

Below is a list of Audubon chapters in California that have expressed support for AB 711:

• Central Sierra Audubon (Tuolumne County)
• Golden Gate Audubon (San Francisco area)
• La Purisima Audubon (Lompoc)
• Los Angeles Audubon
• Madrone Audubon (Sonoma)
• Mendocino Coast Audubon
• Mt. Diablo Audubon  (Contra Costa)
• Napa-Solano Audubon
• Ohlone Audubon (Contra Costa)
• Pasadena Audubon
• Peregrine Audubon (Ukiah)
• Plumas Audubon (Plumas County)
• Sea & Sage Audubon (Orange County)
• Sacramento Audubon
• San Diego Audubon
• San Joaquin Audubon (Stockton)
• Santa Barbara Audubon
• Santa Clara Valley Audubon
• Seqouia Audubon (San Mateo)
• San Fernando Valley Audubon
• Stanislaus Audubon (Modesto)
• Ventura Audubon
• Yosemite Area (Mariposa)
• Kern Audubon (Bakersfield)
• Morro Coast Audubon  (San Luis Obispo)
• San Bernardino Valley Audubon
• Buena Vista Audubon (San Diego)
• El Dorado (Long Beach)
• Marin Audubon
• Monterey Audubon
• Whittier Audubon
• Redwood Region Audubon (Del Norte/Humbolt County)
• Palos Verdes-South Bay (Los Angeles County)
• Wintu Audubon (Redding)

(photo by Michael Privorotsky)