For the Birds

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Audubon CEO on Shell drilling "pause"

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Spectacled Eider

Published: Feb 27, 2013

New York, NY - 

Responding to news that Shell has decided to "pause its exploration drilling activity for 2013," the National Audubon Society released the following statement: “Shell has seen the ice. Or the light,” said Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold. “Drilling amid ice floes in the neighborhood of nurseries for threatened wildlife isn't either smart or safe. Shell seems to have come to its senses for now – but how many accidents did it take? We’re going to keep fighting for clean air and water, healthy wildlife populations, and effective energy policies for the future.”
David Yarnold writes for POLITICO, "The real dangers of Arctic drilling": http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/81923.html

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Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org

Global Great Backyard Bird Count Shatters Records

 

Published: Mar 1, 2013

New York, NY - 

From Antarctica to Afghanistan, bird watchers from 103 countries made history in the first global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 15–18, 2013. In the largest worldwide bird count ever, bird watchers set new records, counting more than 25.5 million birds on 120,000+ checklists in four days—and recording 3,144 species, nearly one-third of the world’s total bird species. The data will continue to flow in until March 1.

Building on the success of the GBBC in the United States and Canada for the past 15 years, Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada opened the count to the rest of the world for the first time this year, powered by eBird, a system that enables people to report birds globally in real-time and explore the results online. Bird watchers are invited to keep counting every day of the year at www.eBird.org.
Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham:
“People who care about birds can change the world,” said Audubon chief scientist Gary Langham. “That’s why this year’s record-setting global participation is so exciting. Technology has made it possible for people everywhere to unite around a shared love of birds and a commitment to protecting them.”

Cornell Lab director Dr. John Fitzpatrick says:
“This is a milestone for citizen science in so many respects—number of species, diversity of countries involved, total participants, and number of individual birds recorded. We hope this is just the start of something far larger, engaging the whole world in creating a detailed annual snapshot of how all our planet’s birds are faring as the years go by.”
Other Key Preliminary Findings:
Top 5 Most Reported Species (reported on highest number of checklists): Northern Cardinal; Dark-eyed Junco; Mourning Dove; Downy Woodpecker; House Finch
Top 5 Most Common Birds (most individuals reported): Snow Goose; Canada Goose; Red-winged Blackbird; European Starling; American Coot
Finch Invasion: A massive number of northern finch species moved into the U.S. including the Common Redpoll, reported in a record 36 states. Scientists believe these periodic movements are related to natural fluctuations in crops of conifer cones and other seeds in Canada.
Hurricane Sandy: The weather system that caused Sandy's landfall also blew some European birds to North America and evidence of this is still showing up in GBBC results. The colorful, crested Northern Lapwing was reported in Georgia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts during the GBBC.
GBBC First: A Red-flanked Bluetail has wintered at Queens Park, Vancouver, and was also reported for the GBBC’s first record ever. This British Columbia bird has been drawing bird watchers from all over the U.S. and Canada hoping to see this rarity. This little thrush is one of the only birds in the world with a striking blue tail and is native to Asia; the other GBBC report of this species this year was from Japan.
Sign up for future Citizen Science projects at http://www.audubon.org/citizenscience
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible in part thanks to founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit membership institution interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s website at www.birds.cornell.edu.
Bird Studies Canada administers regional, national, and international research and monitoring programs that advance the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and their habitats. We are Canada's national body for bird conservation and science, and we are a non-governmental charitable organization. www.birdscanada.org

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Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon online at www.audubon.org.

Bird Hotline Telephone Numbers

SOCAL links and Telephone contact information 

for help

-injured birds and wildlife

-conditions that endanger birds, wildlife, and water resources

Bird Walks with Los Angeles Audubon

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Join experienced bird walk leaders who will help you explore the varied habitat in and around the greater Los Angeles Area.  Enjoy woodland nature areas, parklands and lakes, natural coastal scrub habitat and saltwater marshes. Binoculars are provided on many of the walks.
Bird walks are geared for the beginner/intermediate birders looking for an introduction to local birds and/or interested in reducing their carbon footprint by birding relatively close to home. . . . 



See Also: Field Trips with Los Angeles Audubon.

LAAS bird walks and field trips delve into identification, natural histories and interactions observed in the field.  All are welcome on either event, but no pets or small children, please.  Appropriate for young bird watchers age 6 years and older. Binoculars are provided on some walks as noted below.  For further birdwalk information contact Eleanor Osgood at birdwalks@laaudubon.org or call (310) 839-5420.  Bird walks DO NOT require advance sign-up, just show up at the specified meeting time and place.

Carpooling is encouraged:  
If you wish to share your name and contact information on a carpool list for bird walks, call (323) 876-0202 or email membership@laaudubon.org.  Please lprovide: name, daytime telephone, event day telephone, and the date/destination of the birdwalk. Leave a message on the answering machine if we are unable to answer your call.

1st Sunday of the month
Sun Apr 07 @ 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Topanga State Park, Time: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

Wed Apr 10 @ 7:30PM - 09:30PM
April Program Presentation at Debs Park

 

2nd Sunday of the month
Franklin Canyon / Sooky Goldman Nature Center . 

Sun Apr 14 @ 8:00AM - 11:59AM
Franklin Canyon Bird Walk, 2nd Sunday
 

3rd Saturday of the month (except July and August)
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

 Sat Apr 20 @ 8:00AM - 11:30AM
Kenneth Hahn Bird Walk, 3rd Saturday, except July and August

 

3rd Sunday of the month (except for December)
Ballona Wetlands Time, 8:00 a.m. - Noon


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