Bird on a Wire: Latest news from Audubon California

Migration Issue: Pachanga De Las Americas | Bird Migration Explorer | Mapping Migraciones | Migratory Birds in Alaska

 

Migration Issue: Pachanga De Las Americas | Bird Migration Explorer | Mapping Migraciones | Migratory Birds in Alaska

Look to the Skies Dear KAREN, Each fall, I marvel to encounter an Olive-sided Flycatcher as it sits bolt upright on top of the highest dead branch of a tree, calling with its distinctive pip-pip-pip. This passerine bird is en route from Alaska through California and on its way to its winter home in South America, an epic journey of 7,000 miles on wings that are only seven inches long.  For centuries, the details of bird migration journeys were a mystery: Does the Olive-sided Flycatcher fly through Mexico City? Brave a nonstop flight between the Yucatán and Columbia? How long does it take to arrive in Bolivia? This month, Audubon and our partners launched a breakthrough in modern science, decoding where birds migrate with the new Bird Migration Explorer. Track your favorite migratory birds as they make heroic journeys each fall.  Gaylon Parsons Interim Executive Director Audubon California

Olive-sided Flycatcher. Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren/Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Bird of the Month: Elegant Tern Amazingly, 90% of Elegant Terns breed on one island in the Sea of Cortez. Then, they come to San Francisco Bay, particularly Aramburu Island near Richardson Bay Audubon Center, where they feast on anchovy. After refueling on that tasty treat, they fly south all the way along the west coast of South America.   Read more Elegant Tern. Photo: Jacqueline Deely/Audubon Photography Awards Native Plant: Creambush (Holodiscus discolor) Also known as Ocean Spray, this fast-growing, deciduous shrub has lilac-like flower plumes in late spring to early summer, nearly covering the shrub completely. The flowers then turn a tan to brown color and last through winter. It grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers rocky soils. Learn more about Native Plants and Trees Creambush (Holodiscus discolor). Photo: Brent Miller

Pachanga de las Americas Latino Outdoors live streamed this year's Pachanga de las Americas at the Audubon Center at Debs Park. Watch "Yo Cuento: Mapping Migraciones y Más" to hear a personal migration story about how birds and people are connected through geography and culture. Featured speakers include José González, Founder of Latino Outdoors, and Moisés Moreno-Rivera, the Assistant Secretary for Equity and Environmental Justice at the California Natural Resources Agency.   Watch Now

Pachanga de las Americas. Video: Latino Outdoors

Bird Migration Explorer Have you ever wondered where your neighborhood birds go throughout the year? With the new Bird Migration Explorer, you can find out! As millions of birds are flocking to their wintering grounds, check out your guide to the epic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species, and the challenges they face along the way. Track your favorite bird along its journey and learn more about the species that travel to and from your neighborhood. Explore Now

Snow Geese. Photo: William Petrunich/Audubon Photography Awards

VIDEO: Bird Migration Explorer We're in a golden age of migration tracking technology and research, and the Bird Migration Explorer puts this information in one accessible and interactive location for birders and conservationists alike. Learn all about it with this introductory video. Watch Now

Bird Migration Explorer. Video: National Audubon Society

Mapping Migraciones Mapping Migraciones is a partnership between Audubon and Latino Outdoors to celebrate Latinidad, migration, and the stories that connect us globally. In our interactive storytelling map, enjoy a family story from Xerónimo Castañeda who shares, "my abuela, Genoveva, loved the 'sinsonte,' a mockingbird that sang beautifully at sunrise and sunset. She always said, 'El sinsonte me está cantando. The mockingbird is singing to me.'" Enjoy more heritage stories featuring the White Pelican, Swainson's Hawk, Wilson's Warbler, and Swainson's Thrush. Read more

Mapping Migraciones. Image: National Audubon Society

Alaska's Migratory Birds Alaska is home to nearly 250 species of migratory birds that fly thousands upon thousands of miles each spring, many making their way here to California including the Whimbrel, Surf Scoter, and Brant. The treacherous journeys they undertake are quite astonishing as they overcome countless hurdles such as exhaustion, starvation, pollution, disease, predators, tall buildings, bright city lights, and extreme weather to find the ideal place to feast, breed and nest. Enjoy this creative collaboration between Audubon Alaska and Anchorage-based artist and filmmaker Max Romey that showcases the important role of Alaska's migratory birds and key conservation areas. Read More

Whimbrel. Image: Max Romey

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