Dear KAREN,
How has your spring migration been? Here in the Bay Area, I felt very lucky to catch glimpses of the Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler, and the family of Red-tailed Hawks in my neighborhood. I love this time of year when we get to see some of the millions of travelers come from all over and we truly understand the importance of California in the greater global dance of bird migration.
It's inspiring to think about their remarkable voyages, some stretching thousands of miles from the Boreal forests of Canada all the way through South America. Along the way, they take full advantage of our state's rich and diverse landscape: resting in the waving eelgrass beds of the sanctuary at Richardson Bay, breeding in flooded farm fields dotting the Central Valley, and feeding along the briny shores of the Salton Sea.
As the season starts to shift, I am also reflecting on the very human journeys we have the privilege of witnessing and guiding here at Audubon California. Our Audubon Youth Leaders (AYL) have just finished their year and we are so proud of everything they accomplished. These innovative programs are building the next generation of conservation heroes through hands-on restoration experience, exciting field trips, and environmental education. (I am frequently a bit jealous of the very cool efforts they lead and participate in.)
At the Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary, our 18 Audubon Youth Leaders (our biggest cohort yet!) celebrated their graduation with a well-deserved camping trip in the Presidio, after a productive semester planting native pollinator gardens, learning about climate action, and of course, identifying birds through Bird Bingo. Check out the wealth of projects from our AYL at the Audubon Center at Debs Park, from a Birds and Plants zine that pairs native plants with local birds, to a beginner's guide to advocacy for youth.
We are also thrilled to announce that we are launching TWO new leadership programs this year. This summer, we kick off our first Coastal Leadership Program in Los Angeles County, tailored for a diverse cohort of college students and early career professionals to become coastal stewards. Later this year, we will start a third Audubon Youth Leaders program, focused on paving conservation pathways for young changemakers around the Salton Sea.
Our work is all about creating a better future for the birds, for our communities, and for our beautiful state. We know that these brilliant young leaders, with their enthusiasm and passion, are an integral part of building that future.
Madhavi Colton, Ph.D. (she/her)
Vice President & Executive Director, Audubon California |
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