Collaborative Funding Report: San Diego Audubon

San Diego Audubon used their 2008 Collaborative Funding grant to create a brochure and signage for Anstine-Audubon Nature. The 11 acre property was bequeathed to the San Diego Audubon Society by John Anstine in 1999 to fulfill a promise he had made to his wife that the property would not be subdivided or developed. For more on the Nature Preserve go here

Morro Coast Audubon acquires 8 acre bay front addition to Sweet Springs Nature Preserve

The charming East Sweet Springs property includes 400 feet of Morro Bay’s southern shoreline including critically important coastal wetlands, marsh, mudflats, and upland coastal scrub.

“We are thrilled to expand the Nature Preserve to include this important shoreline property. We look forward to expanding our restoration efforts and trails on this new property and opening the site up for public enjoyment and education,” says Jan Surbey, president of the Morro Coast Audubon Society.

In 1995, the Morro Bay Estuary was included in the National Estuary Program (NEP) due to its water quality issues and critical importance for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. A community and multi-agency effort known as the Morro Estuary Greenbelt Alliance (MEGA) emerged shortly thereafter to protect the multiple endemic special status species, the remaining undeveloped lands on the shoreline, and important habitat lands and trails between Montana de Oro State Park and Morro Bay State Park. Audubon California includes Sweet Springs in the Morro Bay Important Bird Area identified in 2004.

“Every year, Morro Bay ranks among the Audubon Society’s Top Ten Birding Areas in the nation. This acquisition will greatly expand birding opportunities for everyone,” says Henry Pontarelli, Strategic Development Chair of MCAS.

A special community event to celebrate the new addition to the Preserve will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at 2pm. The event is open to the public and will include a brief ceremony about the project and land, docent-led tours, fun activities for kids, food and drinks Everyone is welcome.

Funding for the acquisition was generously provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board, State Coastal Conservancy, the USFWS National Coastal Wetlands Program, and the USFWS Section VI – Recovery Land Acquisition Program, with support from Senators Feinstein and Boxer for the federal monies.

Audubon California supports delisting of Peregrine Falcon

Dan Taylor, Director of Policy and Gary Langham, Director of Bird Conservation, made the following announcement:

"Following the filing of a petition to delist the Falcon, Audubon California in June of 2008 convened a forum of Peregrine Falcon experts to discuss the issue. Based on this forum, coupled with our own independent analysis, a strong scientific case exists for the delisting of this subspecies. Audubon supports the delisting, provided that subsequent follow-up activities are built into the decision to ensure that population monitoring remains a part of the ongoing peregrine management effort.
We will continue to pressure state and federal agencies to monitor the progress of the Peregrine Falcon to ensure that the bird’s progress continues."

More info here

Yosemite Audubon Board members scales Mt. Whitney

Update: After surviving the fires in Mariposa, Yosemite Audubon Field Trip Chair Lowell Young scaled Mt. Whitney at the age of 73. To his dismay, his granddaughter arrived at the summit before him.

Yosemite Audubon leaders survive Mariposa fire

Lowell & Sue Young of Yosemite Audubon report that none of the chapter leaders' homes have been damaged in the Telegraph Fire which has destroyed 32,000+ acres and 21 residences. The fire is 20% contained.

Lowell and Sue recommend that you go here to keep up to date on the fire in Mariposa near Yosemite.

Check out this Firefighter's blog here

More bad news for raptors and chapters at Altamont wind farms

The mortality rate of raptors including Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and Burrowing Owl increased 27 percent over two years in an ongoing monitoring study, according to an executive summary of the data issued by Alameda County's Scientific Review Committee. The five member panel advises the county on progress being made to mitigate bird deaths in the Altamont Pass windmill area as part of a settlement with Golden Gate Audubon, Ohlone Audubon, Marin Audubon, Mt. Diablo Audubon and Santa Clara Valley Audubon and others. The settlement included a commitment to reduce raptor mortality by 50% by 2009.

The new data estimate a total of 2,236 birds from the four targeted species were killed annually.

For details, quotes from Golden Gate's Executive Director Elizabeth Murdock in Oakland Tribune story of July 23, 2008 and executive summary of the study, click here.

San Fernando Valley & Los Angeles Audubons celebrate CALTRANS victory

Chapters in SoCal celebrated CALTRANS selection today of Alternate 1 for a project to improve the southbound San Diego Freeway (I-405) connector to the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101). A Negative Declaration (ND) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) have been approved. Activists including Muriel Kotin, Seth Shteir, Kris Ohlenkamp and Garry George from the chapters wrote comments and appeared publicly to defeat the other alternatives.

The project will involve a new, upgraded 50 mph two-lane connector that would replace the existing 20 mph single-lane connector, and require right-of-way from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near the Sepulveda Dam but avoids direct impacts and encroachment on Sepulveda Wildlife Area, a 225 acre reserve that includes some of the best riparian habitat on the LA RIVER, a wildlife lake and extensive plantings of native annuals, shrubs, and trees.