TWO birds. ONE final. YOU Decide who Takes the Crown.

Voting starts Weds! Join us on IG and FB for Condor vs. Burrowing Owl.

Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our web version. Burrowing Owl - Birds of La Plata (London: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1920) | Public Domain (Biodiversity Heritage Library/Flickr)⁣ | California Condor - Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d’oiseaux (Strasbourg: Chez Legras Imbert et Comp., 1838) | Public Domain (Biodiversity Heritage Library/Flickr) TWO birds. ONE final. YOU Decide who Takes the Crown. Dear KAREN, Eight birds entered Audubon California’s Bird of the Year tournament, and supporters cast thousands of votes across the opening rounds and semifinals. The matchups were close, the competition was fierce, and plenty of voters found themselves torn between two birds they love. Your votes carried four contenders into the semifinals: Western Snowy Plover, California Condor, California Brown Pelican, and Western Burrowing Owl. Now, after all those tough choices, just TWO birds remain: California Condor vs. Western Burrowing Owl! Voting begins this Wednesday, September 30 at 9:00 AM PT and closes next Wednesday, October 7 at 11:59 PM PT. Which bird will be crowned California’s Bird of the Year? YOU decide! During the final, you can vote by: Commenting on any game-related Instagram or Facebook post, Voting through the polls in our Instagram Stories  Using the voting form linked in our Instagram bio and in the links section of our Facebook page. If you’re not on social media, you can still vote using our online voting form here.  You can use any or all of these methods to support your favorite. Follow along, share the final game with a friend, and tell us why you’re on Team Condor or Team Burrowing Owl! As we celebrate Audubon California’s 30th anniversary, this final is another chance to discover the birds, habitats, and conservation work that make California extraordinary. We can’t wait to see which bird you choose. Follow along here! Missed a matchup? Catch up on the California Bird of the Year buzz! The tournament has energized passionate Bird Lovers and creative Audubon California staff campaigns! Actual California Condors even held a Zoom meeting to strategize their Bird of the Year campaign. Yes, you can seriously watch it HERE. And if a zombie apocalypse is on your mind, get survival advice from the Western Burrowing Owl HERE.  Before you vote in the final, explore more staff pitches that got our community talking: California Condor: Learn about this species’ remarkable comeback.  Western Burrowing Owl: Find out how this owl uses dung to attract food to its burrow.  Tricolored Blackbird: See why this highly social bird is apparently besties with cows.  Western Snowy Plover: Meet the F1 shorebird champion.  Surf Scoter: See how this weird duck inspired equally weird (and wonderful) artwork.  Least Bell’s Vireo: Find out why this little songbird is a Taurus.  California Brown Pelican: See exactly how this bird is capable of plunge-diving for their meals without breaking their neck.  Western Sandpiper: Hear about the superfood they slurp up to fuel such epic migrations.  Join our social community today! Connect with us Audubon California 1901 Harrison Street, Suite 1450 Oakland, CA 94612 USA (415) 644-4600 | www.audubon.org/california © 2026 Audubon California Update your email preferences or unsubscribe

See the story unfold in Audubon magazine

Hurry! The deadline to ensure you receive the next issue is rapidly approaching.

Snowy Owl. Are crows really our friends? What will it take to save Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay? Do birds in the tropics have a breeding season—or do they just mate all the time? You’ve got questions—and Audubon magazine has answers! When you become an annual supporter today, we’ll send you the latest bird and conservation news in our exclusive award-winning magazine as a token of our appreciation. That means each quarter, you’ll receive stories about protecting beloved birds like the Snowy Owl, directly to your mailbox. Claim your free Audubon magazine with an annual gift today. But hurry! The deadline to ensure you receive the next issue is rapidly approaching. If we fail to act, many of the birds we love—including the Snowy Owl—may not survive a future impacted by climate change. 93% of the icy tundra where they nest and breed could become too warm to support them. With the Arctic warming nearly four times the global average, we must flock together to protect them before it’s too late. That’s why, with your support, we’re working to halt and ultimately reverse the decline of birds across the Americas. And through Audubon magazine, you’ll see the story unfold: the challenges birds face, and the hope your generosity helps create.  Start your annual gift now and claim your special free Audubon magazine. Your gift will automatically renew each year to provide the consistent support our teams need. Sincerely, National Audubon Society Donate Photo: Vicki Jauron/Audubon Photography Awards; Graphic: Yeji Kim/Audubon National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street New York, NY (844) 428-3826 | www.audubon.org © 2026 National Audubon Society Pause fundraising emails for two weeks Update your email preferences or unsubscribe

Fall for Stunning Bird Photos 🍂

From the Audubon Photography Awards to Birds Navigating Wildfires: What’s Inside Our Next Issue?

Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our web version. |  Audubon Magazine  Fall 2026 Roseate Spoonbill (left) and Yellow-eared Parrots, Fall 2026 Audubon magazine. Feast Your Eyes on Our Fall Issue At Audubon magazine, we believe in the power of photography to bring people closer to birds. Our fall issue delivers on that promise. The latest magazine features one of our favorite annual traditions: the Audubon Photography Awards, which showcase spectacular visuals from across the Americas. Meanwhile, through informative graphics and deep reporting, our other highlighted feature explores the challenges for birds and people as wildfire smoke increasingly fills the skies. Enjoy this sampling of stories, and consider starting an annual donation to receive future issues in the mail—offering even more to connect you with birds near and far from home. Thanks for reading! —The Editors Lesser Horned Owl. 2026 Audubon Photography Awards The winners of Audubon’s annual photo awards feature stunning moments with birds across the hemisphere. Take a look. Smoke Alarm Catastrophic wildfires are stalling clean air progress. How will birds and people navigate a hazier future? Learn more. More Stories When Purple Martins come to roost, nature lovers throw a party Get your sea legs and head out for a pelagic birding adventure this fall Osprey, Summer 2026 Audubon magazine. Donate and Get Great Bird Journalism For more than 125 years, Audubon magazine has delivered essential news, advice, and reporting on the birds you love. With two-thirds of North American species at increasing risk of extinction, there’s no better time to stay informed on the issues birds face and learn what inspiring people are doing to protect them. By donating each year, you’ll ensure our beautiful, award-winning print magazine with these and more stories is delivered straight to your mailbox. Photos from top: Jacqueline Burke/Audubon Photography Awards; Santiago Giraldo/Audubon Photography Awards; Francisco Castro Escobar/Audubon Photography Awards; Mark Smith. Illustration: Julie Rossman/Audubon CONNECT WITH US National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street New York, NY (844) 428-3826 | www.audubon.org © 2026 National Audubon Society Update your email preferences or unsubscribe