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Latest News and Updates from Audubon in California
California Condor. Photo: Scott Frier/USFWS
Mantis religiosa, commonly known as a preying mantis, photographed by Marcos Trinidad at Audubon Center at Debs Park.
I had it all planned out. I assembled the perfect blood moon charcuterie and paired it with a nice bottle of red. We left the house early since it was a FREE night at Griffith Park Observatory, promising to be the best star party in all of LA featuring the super blood moon. Telescopes were being provided for public use and the LA Phil’s pianist was set to play Beethoven sonatas to boot!
We knew we were doomed when my car started to slow down to a near stop on the main parkway to the observatory. Too many cars and the lunar eclipse was fast approaching. The park ranger controlling the traffic shared, “If it were me, I wouldn’t drive any further.” We quickly and disappointedly began to brainstorm where to go. My boyfriend reminded me that I had the keys to Audubon Center at Debs Park. We found a way out of the Hollywood Hills without much trouble and made it over to Debs within 15 minutes. There, we found other super moon enthusiasts hiking up the steep hills to the highest points to catch a glimpse! No one was in our way and we were determined to go higher and further east.
By 7 pm, we started to see the earth’s shadow appear on the moon through a cloudy sky. As we settled into our spot I could finally focus. I could see and hear trains, car horns and engines revving. I was hearing a new rendition of the moonlight sonata. The best sounds were laughter and “ooooohs and awwwwwws” from the people sitting in between coastal sagebrush, on coast live oaks, and blankets along the trails. The whole evening reminded me of how special this place is for people and wildlife. Later that evening, on our way home, I reflected that we were like the animals living in and around LA. I felt crowded out of Griffith Park and sought refuge in Debs Park. This refuge turned into an outdoor amphitheater last Sunday night and I was so content that my plans had changed last minute.
Next day, the Los Angeles Times reported that the views from Griffith Park were not as good as all the hype and traffic was jammed for hours.
The California Air Resources Board Friday voted to reinstate regulations aimed at cutting transportation fuel emissions by 10 percent over the next five years. This action follows through on Gov. Jerry Brown’s commitment to continue his fight for tougher climate change policies in the Golden State following the Legislature’s failure to impose strict reductions on petroleum use (50 percent over the next 15 years) during its 2015 session. Audubon California supports these measures, not just because these emissions drive the changes in climate that are putting birds at risk of extinction, but also because air pollution poses direct threats to public health and the health of birds and the environment.
A team of researchers in England is seeking volunteers to help them understand the evolution of bird bills. The team is from the University of Sheffield's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences and they are scanning 10,000 bird bills. Once completed, this will be the largest study of bird bills ever undertaken.
How can you help? The 3D scans are incredibly detailed but before the team can use them they require a process called landmarking. Landmarking involves placing points on features of the bill that are common to all specimens. The team will use the landmarks to mathematically describe the shape of bills so that they can compare and test how they differ among species. Visit their website at www.markmybird.org to sign-up and start landmarking.
Terrrific video by San Diego Public Television takes a close look at a terrific push from San Diego Audubon to expand wetlands in the north end of Mission Bay. The project would have tremendous benefits not just to birds and wildlife, but for San Diegans, as well.
A few of our favorite ornithologists are having a laugh at the expense of lawyers representing the Southern California building industry trying to delist the Southwest Willow Flycatcher. Not only is their petition totally reliant on bad science, but they seem to think there's something called a "coastal Southwest Willow Flycatcher." There isn't. Obviously, they just cut-and-pasted from the Coastal California Gnatcatcher petition, which is also going to fail.
California is a global biodiversity hotspots, with one of the greatest concentrations of living species on Earth.
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