Bird on a Wire: Latest news from Audubon California

Happy Solstice | Birding for Health | Salton Sea | Bird Story Hour | Sonoma Creek | Slow Birding | Lights Out

 

Solstice | Birding for Health | Salton Sea | Bird Story Hour | Sonoma Creek | Slow Birding | Lights Out

Dear KAREN, Happy Winter Solstice! Who are your favorite wintering birds? In my neighborhood, I love the flurry of Cedar Waxwing flocks as they feast on holly berries. If you'd like to attract birds this season, enjoy our top 9 tips for creating an avian winter wonderland. As we head into 2023, it's time to start fresh and imagine new ways to experience birds. Maybe you'll begin birding by ear or incorporate mindfulness into your birding. Is this the year to attract birds with a few native plants in your outdoor space – whether it's a lawn, patio, balcony, or windowsill? Or, if you'd like to go birding with community, join a local Audubon Chapter to enjoy fun field trips. We invite you to share your birdy resolutions! Gratefully, Gaylon Parsons Interim Executive Director Audubon California

Cedar Waxwing. Photo: Sandy Spicknall/Audubon Photography Awards

Bird of the Month: Mountain Chickadee The song of the Mountain Chickadee sounds a lot like the Charlie Brown Christmas song.  Learn More Mountain Chickadee. Photo: Melissa Haylock/Audubon Photography Awards Native Plant: Eastwood Manzanita It bears clusters of white to pink flowers from January to March, followed by reddish-brown berries.  Learn More about Native Plants Arctostaphylos glandulosa. Photo: David A. Hofmann/Flickr Creative Commons

Surprising Health Benefits of Birding How a Yellow Warbler rescued Tammah Watts from chronic pain and depression and brought her back to life. All it takes is one special bird to spark a lifetime of birding.  Read more

Yellow Warbler. Photo: Joshua Parrott/Audubon Photography Awards

Major Step Forward for the Salton Sea In a major victory, the state of California, two Southern California water districts, and the federal government announced they would provide $250 million for projects to create habitat and suppress harmful, windblown dust at the Salton Sea to safeguard community health and migratory birds. Read more

Frank Ruiz at the Salton Sea. Photo: Audubon California

General Motors Funds $500K for Work at Salton Sea New funding from General Motors will support the design of public recreational access facilities at the 900-acre Bombay Beach wetland restoration site. We will also conduct research into the lake's bacterial species, assess the Sea's overall ecosystem health, and engage local communities. Read more

Eyes on the Salton Sea. Photo: Ryan Llamas

Bird Story Hour This month, our storytelling theme was A GIFT A BIRD GAVE TO ME. Our guest storyteller is Evelyn Serrano from the Audubon Center at Debs Park. She shares a special story about her grandparents who deliver messages with Mourning Doves. Watch or Listen to Episode

Bird Story Hour. Mourning Dove. Photo: Sharon Arndt/Audubon Photograph Awards. Photo: Evelyn Serrano. Tammah Watts. Photo: Dominique Labreque, Photo: Molly Tsongas.

Sonoma Creek is National Model of Climate Resiliency The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has recognized Audubon California's Sonoma Creek Enhancement Project as part of its North American Restoration Road Trip, part of "a global rallying cry to heal our planet by preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide."  Read more

Sonoma Creek Marsh Photo: Haymar Lim/Audubon CA

Slow Birding Have you ever practiced slow birding? A new book proposes a more mindful and less competitive form of birding that reveals fascinating secrets about the everyday birds we love. Read more

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Photo: Nick Saunders/Audubon Photography Awards

Lights Out for Birds Did you know that 80 percent of migratory birds migrate at night? They need dark skies to navigate by the stars. We are thrilled to announce that Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Santa Clara) reintroduced an Audubon California-sponsored bill that would limit light pollution to protect the night sky for migratory birds.  Read more

Snow Goose. Photo: Deborah Felmey/Audubon Photography Awards

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