Sandhill Crane
Latin: Antigone canadensis
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A new model for conservation.
Sandhill Cranes Photo: Choktai Leangsuksun
California’s public lands play a vital role in the success and survival of millions of migratory birds. As birds make their perilous journeys across the Pacific Flyway, they need safe and reliable places to rest and eat. These protected lands provide access to food, water, and nesting habitat needed to sustain them along the way.
There are 34 National Wildlife Refuges in California that play a key role in supporting migratory birds. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most important places for birds in North America, offering a rare spot for shorebirds to stop as they travel over large stretches of dry land.
Mono Lake and its surrounding ecosystem provide a diverse landscape, from marsh and meadow to sagebrush steppe and forest. It is ideal habitat for migrating birds, mule deer, and other big game species. In southern California, the Mojave Trails National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park provide critical habitat for species such as the Burrowing Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, and Prairie Falcon.
So what do these regions have in common? They are all part of a network of large public lands corridors providing essential habitat along migratory flyways. When public lands are well-managed and kept healthy for migratory birds and other wildlife, they provide many benefits for people, such as clean air and water, economic opportunity, recreation, hunting, mental and physical health benefits. Plus, these intact lands buffer against the effects of climate change.
Right now, California is poised to be a national leader in public lands conservation, working at the intersection of climate change, energy production, land management, and wildlife conservation. Visit the StoryMap to see how.
Black-necked Stilt Photo: Logan Southall
Explore our new StoryMap, which identifies key migratory pathways and highlights the most important public lands in California for birds.
California is first in nation to commit to protecting 30% of our lands and waters by 2030.
By partnering with landowners, we can create lasting protections for birds.
Conservation ranching techniques create habitat and sequester carbon. Under a new bill, the state would pay ranchers to implement them.
Vital protections are needed for wetlands that depend on groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
Coalition of conservation and community groups says groundbreaking is positive step towards ending years of inaction at California’s largest lake.
Audubon science finds that two-thirds of North American birds are at risk of extinction from climate change.
"Learn about it, advocate for it and go visit it, " said Andrea Jones, Director of Bird Conservation at Audubon California about the Salton Sea in an interview with Jill Buck of Go Green Radio last week.
The August 3, 2018 episode of Go Green Radio featured a conversation with Jones and Michael Cohen from the Pacific Institute about the Salton Sea and implications for public health and migratory birds if the state of California does not accelerate progress on the implementation of projects to reduce dust and stave off environmental degradation.
Listen to the full episode here.
“The clock is ticking for the people—and the birds as well,” says Frank Ruiz, Audubon California's Salton Sea Program Director in this article from NRDC. The article takes a look at the issues at the Sea facing birds and people today and the partnerships between organizations, including Audubon that are working to address the challenges at the Sea.
The article also quotes Andrea Jones, Audubon California's Director of Bird Conservation. “Three iconic birds that have used the Salton Sea in large numbers—the American avocet, the eared grebe, and the American white pelican—have all seen significant declines,” says Jones.
Read the full article here.
Learn more about Audubon California's work at the Salton Sea here.
What birds are using rice fields over the summer? Meghan Hertel, our Director of Land and Water Conservation shares a bit about one of her favorites, the Black tern, in this video from the California Rice Commission.
In a statement yesterday, The National Audubon Society praised the commitment to conservation in the 2018 Senate Farm Bill. The bill now moves to conference commitee where it will be reconciled with the House Farm Bill passed last week. Audubon urges robust conservation in the final bill.
“The Senate Farm Bill provides important tools to collaborate with producers on working landscapes to address bird habitat, water, and soil health needs,” said David O’Neill, Chief Conservation Officer for National Audubon Society. The National Audubon Society partners with private land managers on bird-friendly conservation strategies as part of the Working Lands Program.
The bill provides funding for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to bring together farm and conservation groups for mutually benedical collaborations, such as Audubon California's work to protect the Tricolored Blackbird which is now listed as a Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act.
Read Audubon's full statement here and learn more about why the Senate's 2018 Farm Bill is good for birds.
For more on the RCPP and Tricolored Blackbirds in California check out this story from earlier this year.
Great article from the The Western Hemispher Reserve Shorebird Network about the need for action at the Salton Sea with some input from Audubon California's, Andrea Jones. Check out the story here.
Our own Andrea Jones stopped by the Red Hill Bay restoration project at the Salton Sea day before yesterday. Doesn't look much like bird habitat at the moment, but our fingers are crossed that this will soon be replaced by much-needed wetland habitat.
Audubon California's Frank Ruiz today speaks at a rally for Prop 68 at an event in Brawley. The event was organized by Assembly Member Eduardo Garcia.
California is a global biodiversity hotspots, with one of the greatest concentrations of living species on Earth.
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Join the thousands of Californians that support the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument.
