Interesting new research on the demise of the Passenger Pigeon

GrrlScientist wrote an excellent piece on Medium, "Passenger pigeon extinction: it’s complicated," about new research behind what led to the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. It's an interesting look at the how population fluctuations and human-based causes led to the demise of a once abundant bird. There are certainly lessons to be learned and correlations to our own campaign to save the Tricolored Blackbird from a similar fate.

Read the story here.

Madrone Audubon Society BirdSeasons program featured in Petaluma Argus Courier

Madrone Audubon Society are involved with a phenology program designed by Sandy DeSimone of Starr Ranch Sanctuary. Their local paper, The Petaluma Argus Courier, recently intervied chapter members about the volunteer program.

Beginning last month, a group of 10 volunteers armed with clipboards, binoculars and data sheets began to observe the changes and behaviors of a handful of plants and birds as well as an animal at Paula Lane Open Space Preserve, logging their findings into the USA National Phenology Network “Nature’s Notebook” database, which gives scientists access to aggregated data from participants around the nation to inform their research.

A team of about five volunteers is also undergoing monthly observations of the migratory cliff swallow population that makes its home each year at the Petaluma River Bridge from March until August, according to Susan Kirks, a Petaluma resident who’s spearheading the local efforts sponsored by the Santa Rosa-based Madrone Audubon Society...

As part of the project that kicked off the week of May 16, trained volunteers spend about an hour and a half at the preserve once a month to record observations on nine bird species — including several that have been identified by the National Audubon Society as being threatened by climate change — as well as four native and non-native plant species, while also tracking the behavior of the mule deer that populate the land, Kirks said.

Read the rest of the article here.

Before and after at the Salton Sea

A picture says a thousand words, as the saying goes. The above postcard from the 1950s shows a bustling Salton Sea Marina, a center of fun and recreation.San Bernardino Valley Audubon's Drew Feldman recently visited the exact same location and took the photo below, which shows just how much things have changed over the years.

Andy Samberg digs birding

Outside Magazine informs us that Andy Samberg and his wife grew up birding in Los Angeles, and he still does it often to unwind from the rigors of filmmaking.

Fight for transparent California Coastal Commission gains momentum

Yesterday produced a victory in our fiight for a transparent and fair California Coastal Commission. Assembly Bill 2002 was voted through the assembly late last night. AB 2002 was introduced by Assemblymembers Toni Atkins, Mark Stone and Marc Levine in reaction to the fiing of former Executive Director Charles Lester and it requires any agent that lobbies the Commission to register as a lobbyist with the Fair Political Practices Commission. The bill also requires that in the seven days prior to a public hearing on a specific matter, a Commissioner must report any ex parte communication within 24 hours, and no ex parte communications may occur in the 24 hours immediately preceding a public hearing. 

Our Associate Director of Public Policy, Juan Altamirano, was present at the now infamous Commission meeting where Lester was ousted and he was also there last night when the final tallies were made in support of AB 2002. He and other advocates worked until 9:30 pm to get the necessary 2/3 votes. Assemblymember Stone was especially appreciative of Audubon member emails to their electeds. Stay tuned for more on this effort, we will send action alerts when it comes up for vote again.