Birds

Yellow-billed Magpie named 2009 Bird of the Year

The Yellow-billed Magpie named Audubon California’s 2009 Bird of the Year

The Yellow-billed Magpie, a bird that is popular among bird enthusiasts, but perhaps not well known to most Californians, has been named Audubon California’s 2009 Bird of the Year. The bird was chosen through an online poll conducted over a six-week period ending Dec. 7, 2009. In many ways, the selection of the Yellow-billed Magpie as our first Bird of the Year is fitting, as the bird is a true endemic that lives only in California, and its population may be rebounding after experiencing major population declines. As Californians, the Yellow-billed Magpie is our bird, and it will benefit greatly from the increased awareness that this recognition will generate.

A true California bird

The Yellow-billed Magpie is one of California’s most striking birds. Aside from its signature yellow bill, the bird is easily recognizable from its white, black and iridescent body and wings. Its range includes the Sacramento and San Joaquin valley floors and foothills, and valleys of the Coastal Ranges from San Francisco Bay south to Santa Barbara County. In some areas, the species coexists with dense human settlement, but in other parts of the bird’s range, populations have declined or vanished in apparent response to development of housing or agriculture.

A possible comeback

For a variety of reasons – including habitat loss, pesticide use, and West Nile Virus – the Yellow-billed Magpie population has found itself at risk in recent years, and it is now an Audubon Watchlist species. There were increasing signs of hope in 2008 and 2009, as a great deal of anecdotal evidence suggests a rebound in the species.

Researchers with Audubon California recently identified the Yellow-billed Magpie as being particularly susceptible to climate change. According to models created with historical climate data, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, and the Breeding Bird Survey, researchers determined that the species could lose as much as 75 percent of its range (a loss that could push it over the brink into extinction) in the next 100 years if we do nothing to address global greenhouse gases. However, if we aggressively cut emissions, Yellow-billed Magpies could lose as little as 9 percent of their range.

Yellow-billed Magpie conservation

Audubon California is helping the Yellow-billed Magpie in several ways. Working with our chapters and other organizations, we continue to promote the conservation of oak woodlands – prime habitat for this species. – throughout California’s Central Valley. We are also looking at ways to help landowners maximize the habitat potential on their properties. In the coming year, we will expand our survey, and do what we can to raise awareness about the Yellow-billed Magpie and its challenges.