When we think about bird habitat in California, we all too often overlook the importance of the deserts. That’s understandable given our lush forests, oak woodlands, and energetic coastlines. But when one looks at the maps of California Important Bird Areas, it becomes clear that the deserts are vital places for birds, particularly during spring migration when so many birds are making their way up from the south. “People tend to think of the deserts as these dry places with nothing but Joshua trees and cactuses,” says Andrea Jones, Audubon California’s Important Bird Areas Director. “But when you go there you actually encounter these amazing green swaths. Birds concentrate there in amazing numbers.”

One hotbed for spring migrants is the Amargosa River, which fills with Western Tanagers, as well as birds like the Yellow-billed Cuckoo which are increasingly rare in California. The river is part of the Shoshone-Tecopa Important Bird Area, which is part of a network of desert IBAs that Audubon California is working to identify and protect.

Many of the birds that come through the desert pour northward into the Sierras or divert into habitat in the South Fork Kern River Valley, home of the Audubon Kern River Preserve (pictured below). This area is considered an Important Bird Area of global significance, and we're fighting hard to protect this incredibly rich habitat for birds.

One important aspect of this is our work with the state to craft a long-term plan for the deserts that will help site alternative energy development in ways that avoid sensitive bird and wildlife habitat. Garry George, who represents Audubon California on the state and federal partnership creating a Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan has long argued that the plan should take into account migratory pathways in addition to sensitive species. He says that in order to do this, the state will need to greatly improve its knowledge of migratory pathways through the desert.

“If we don’t know the pathways that birds are using, we should not be developing wind power in windy areas that the birds are probably using for migration until we have the data and analysis,” he said. “This is what Audubon is pushing for in these discussions.”

The desert renewable energy planning area covers a vast portion of southeastern California, from the Mexican border to the Salton Sea to the Mojave Desert to Lancaster and Owens Lake. Audubon California is the primary voice on this panel for birds.

(photo of Amargosa River by Andrea Jones, Kern River Preserve by Alison Sheehey)