Water

Water and wetlands are vital for the survival of California’s birds.

Wood Duck Photo: Harry Collins

Water is fundamental to our lives, our communities, and our economy. Water is also of vital importance to the survival of California’s birds and the habitats that support them. From our coastal estuaries to inland wetlands and waterbodies, water is the foundation of life.

Central Valley wetlands Photo: Lighthawk

That’s why Audubon California has been leading efforts to secure water when and where birds and people need it.  This includes working on the policies and in the places where water matters most. We advocate for birds and drinking water for communities in five key ways:

 

  • Implementing California’s new groundwater management law;
  • Mobilizing our network during drought to monitor the health of birds;
  • Advocating for our elected leaders to protect water for habitat;
  • Restoring coastal and Salton Sea wetlands that provide habitat, filter water, and recharge groundwater supplies; and
  • Advocating for long-promised water deliveries to vital wildlife refuges.

 

Read more about the important work that Audubon California is doing to secure water for birds and for communities below.

Central Valley wetlands Photo: Lighthawk
The Case for Wetlands in the Central Valley
Water

The Case for Wetlands in the Central Valley

Vital protections are needed for wetlands that depend on groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

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Fighting for Central Valley birds
Working Lands

Fighting for Central Valley birds

Audubon California continues to advocate for adequate water supplies for Central Valley refuges.

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Study: Wetlands Restoration Can Improve Water Quality in Central Valley
Water

New Study Highlights Opportunity for Wetlands Restoration to Improve Water Quality in the Central Valley

Vibrant ecosystems can absorb carbon dioxide helping mitigate climate change and nitrogen cleaning the run-off from human use of the land for agriculture or development.

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Restoring Sonoma Creek for Climate Resilience
Coastal Resiliency

Restoring Sonoma Creek for Climate Resilience

First-of-its-kind project restores 400 acres of tidal marsh habitat along Sonoma Creek in northern San Francisco Bay, helping withstand sea level rise and storm surges from climate change.

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Restoring the Sonoma Creek Marsh
Audublog

Restoring the Sonoma Creek Marsh

Audubon California is nearing the end of a massive restoration of wetland habitat in San Francisco Bay.

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Governor Newsom Issues Groundbreaking 30 x 30 Executive Order
Press Center

Governor Newsom Issues Groundbreaking 30 x 30 Executive Order

California is first in nation to commit to protecting 30% of our lands and waters by 2030.

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Salton Sea
Salton Sea

Securing a home for birds at the Salton Sea

Audubon California is helping secure the future of one of the state's key bird habitats.

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State Habitat Restoration Project Breaks Ground at Southern End of Salton Sea
Press Center

State Habitat Restoration Project Breaks Ground at Salton Sea

Coalition of conservation and community groups says groundbreaking is positive step towards ending years of inaction at California’s largest lake.

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Audubon Kern River Preserve
About Us

Audubon Kern River Preserve

One of the first ten sites in the U.S. to receive "Globally Important Bird Area" recognition.

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Northern Pintail

Latin:  Anas acuta

Illustration for Northern Pintail

American Avocet

Latin:  Recurvirostra americana

Illustration for American Avocet

Wood Duck

Latin:  Aix sponsa

Illustration for Wood Duck

American Bittern

Latin:  Botaurus lentiginosus

Illustration for American Bittern

Long-billed Dowitcher

Latin:  Limnodromus scolopaceus

Illustration for Long-billed Dowitcher

Snow Goose

Latin:  Anser caerulescens

Illustration for Snow Goose

Greater Yellowlegs

Latin:  Tringa melanoleuca

Illustration for Greater Yellowlegs

Bufflehead

Latin:  Bucephala albeola

Illustration for Bufflehead

Latest news

Intermountain West Shorebird Survey: Preliminary Results Indicate 250,000 Migratory Shorebirds at the Salton Sea
Salton Sea

Intermountain West Shorebird Survey: Preliminary Results Indicate 250,000 Migratory Shorebirds at the Salton Sea

Conservation investments at the Salton Sea must embrace a holistic approach, considering the well-being of all waterbirds, including shorebirds.

Navigating Drought: Understanding Shorebird Impacts Through the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership's Research
Water

Navigating Drought: Understanding Shorebird Impacts Through the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership's Research

Drought conditions significantly impact winter landscapes by restricting water availability. In drier years, water restrictions lead to reduced habitat for birds, especially shorebirds.

Twenty Years On, Historic Water Deal Still Fails to Deliver for Salton Sea
Water

Twenty Years On, Historic Water Deal Still Fails to Deliver for Salton Sea

— Green heron at the Salton Sea
New Publication Finds Most California Groundwater Sustainability Plans Fail to Protect Vulnerable Communities and the Environment
Water

New Publication Finds Most California Groundwater Sustainability Plans Fail to Protect Vulnerable Communities and the Environment

— ​The Nature Conservancy, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Audubon California, and Clean Water Action suggest that without course correction, State’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act will fall short of goals

How Has Drought in the Central Valley Affected Migratory Shorebirds?

Examining a Long-billed Dowitcher Photo: Samantha Arthur

It takes more work than you might think to measure the health of a Long-billed Dowitcher. Not only do you have to be up before dawn, sloshing through muddy rice fields to set up mist nets in the dark, but once the target birds are caught, you have to move fast. You have three minutes to draw a blood sample before stress hormone levels rise, throwing off measurements of their baseline condition. 

Prior research suggests Long-billed Dowitcher and other shorebirds are under a lot of stress. According to a landmark 2019 study by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, shorebird populations have declined steeply over the past 50 years, by more than a third since 1970. Audubon is working with Point Blue Conservation Science and The Nature Conservancy, as part of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership to study the impact of years of drought on migratory shorebirds in the Central Valley.  

The Central Valley is an ideal place to monitor shorebird populations. This 600-mile-long cleft through California’s center acts as a funnel for a wide range of birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, including millions of waterfowl and hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, many of which spend the winter in the valley’s temperate climate. This year’s heavy rains notwithstanding, the region has also been hard hit by recent drought, shrinking wetlands at vital wildlife refuges and on private lands. While we don’t know exactly how hard the drought has been on shorebirds, we do know that shorebirds face habitat deficits even in non-drought years, especially in fall and spring, when rice fields and wetlands are largely dry.  Audubon works as part of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership and many other partners, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Rice Commission, to fill this habitat gap facing shorebirds. 

 While there’s no workaround for predawn hours and muddy slogs through flooded rice fields, newer technology allows us to tag these shorebirds with tiny trackers that communicate with the North American Motus Wildlife Tracking System, a network of receiving towers that get their name from the Latin word for “motion.” This is the same technology that powers Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer, and it allows us to track where shorebirds are finding habitat… and where they’re not. Another vital piece to understanding drought affects shorebirds is to learn how the birds use existing protected lands at state wildlife areas. In coordination with California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff at state wildlife areas, we are conducting monthly shorebird surveys to understand the contribution of these protected areas to shorebird habitat use. 

The study is funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Audubon California’s Frank Ruiz Named to California Colorado River Board
Audublog

Audubon California’s Frank Ruiz Named to California Colorado River Board

— “…a longtime advocate for water and the Salton Sea who puts the wellbeing of communities above all else.”
Salton Sea Summit brings experts together to tackle region-wide problems
Salton Sea

Salton Sea Summit brings experts together to tackle region-wide problems

Potential of lithium extraction adds new layers to complicated discussion of California's largest lake

Drought in the Sacramento Valley - a Bird's Eye View
Fire And Drought

Catching Shorebirds at Dawn

Drought in the Sacramento Valley - a Bird's Eye View

Chart the Future of the Salton Sea
Salton Sea

Chart the Future of the Salton Sea

Community Engagement Opportunities Fall 2021

Audubon California: Newsom Expansion of Drought Declaration Means Badly-Needed Water for Migratory Birds
Press Center

Audubon California: Newsom Expansion of Drought Declaration Means Badly-Needed Water for Migratory Birds

— “The Governor and stakeholders need to shift gears and manage for drought as the new normal, rather than an emergency that we address every few years.”

How you can help, right now