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.
Local television station KMIR today launched the first in a series of pieces about the Salton Sea. Today's piece is about the history of the Sea. Learn more about our efforts to find a solution at the Salton Sea here.
Audubon California's Bobcat Ranch is a participant in Audubon's Conservation Ranching program. Learn more about that program here.
Clearly, the Desert Sun has had it with the state's inability to get projects moving at the Salton Sea:
This harkens to the years of “one more study is needed” that we’d wearily grown accustomed to as we witnessed the sea’s long decline, which shifted into overdrive with the end of Colorado River water inflows at the close of 2017.
Still, it is shocking to hear this type of refrain so shortly after the state finally stepped up with its plan to fulfill its commitment to sea restoration under the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement that has shifted the water that had been replenishing the sea to thirsty urban customers.
Get to work, folks. Promises were made and the state cannot let the now more-rapidly receding sea spiral into an ecological and environmental disaster which will have effects far beyond its own shores.
Audubon Calfornia's Frank Ruiz talks about the need for the everyone to pull together to avert an ecological crisis at the Salton Sea -- to protect people and birds at the Salton Sea. Thanks to the Walton Family Foundation for putting this video together. Learn more about our work at the Salton Sea.
The California Water Resources Control Board yesterday heard a presentation from state officials on their progress toward meeting their goals for habitat restoration and dust control at the Salton Sea. According to an agreement completed late last year, the state must complete work on 500 acres by the end of the year, but there is little indication that it will reach even that modest goal.
Micheal Lynes, Audubon California's policy director, had this to say after the hearing:
"The deterioration of the Salton Sea continues, and the rate of progress on the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) is not keeping up with the rapidly changing conditions. We encourage the State Water Resources Control board to work closely with state officials to ensure that upcoming deadlines are met– including constructing 500 acres’ worth of projects at the sea by the end of 2018.”
Michael Cohen, senior associate at the Pacific Institute, added:
"While the state has taken some steps towards implementing the Salton Sea Management Program, the rate of the progress is not nearly enough to keep up with the sea's decline. It is imperative that the State Water Resources Control Board hold the state to its commitment to build habitat and dust control projects at the Salton Sea, this year.”
It's hard to imagine any piece of federal legislation more complex -- or more wonky -- than the Farm Bill. But as this great Audubon story suggests, there's a lot in the Farm Bill for birds. Here in California, Farm Bill helps provide habitat for birds on Central Valley farms and protect rare Tricolored Blackbirds, but that's just the beginning.
Terrific op-ed in Water Deeply from Allison Harvey Turner Allison Harvey Turner, of the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, and Barry Gold, of the Walton Family Foundation, about the State of California's recent progress addressing the environmental and public health crises at the Salton Sea:
"At the Salton Sea, the state has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to supporting human health, a resilient environment, a strong economy and a sustainable water strategy for Southern California. Now, promising plans on paper must turn into critical progress on the ground. We are closer than ever to solving the Salton Sea crisis. This is the time for diligence and dedication to make it happen."
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.
