Burrowing Owl ©Alan Vernon
Good New for Birds and the
Places They Need
In mid-October, Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity announced that the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to consider the Western Burrowing Owl for protection under the California Endangered Species Act (see press release here). The commission will conduct a full status review for the next year to year and a half to decide if the owl should be listed as threatened or endangered, and during this time they will be fully protected.
The Burrowing Owl has vanished as a breeding species in nearly one-third of its former range in California, due primarily to loss of habitat. The Imperial Valley currently is the most successful area for the owl with some 4,000 breeding pairs. According to Catherine Postman, founder of the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, there have been no breeding pairs found in Yolo County for several years.
The Yolo Bird Alliance signed on to the initial petition for the listing and will keep members and friends apprised of developments.
Audubon California scored a policy win for wetlands and bird habitat in California with enactment of AB 2875. This measure, which was authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman and co-sponsored by Audubon California, establishes a policy of “no net loss” of wetlands in the state, and commits California to long-term gains in the quantity and quality of wetlands. This is especially important now in light of a recent federal Supreme Court decision which reduced federal protection for seasonal wetlands. California has lost over 90% of its historic wetlands, which provide crucial habitat for many bird species.
Audubon California also was instrumental in the passage of SB 583 by Senator Steve Padilla, which establishes the Salton Sea Conservancy. The Salton Sea provides critical habitat for many bird species and has been in serious decline for many years. The enactment of this measure will help to secure future funding for habitat restoration projects at the Sea, and to address public health impacts experienced by communities living near the Sea. You can read more about both of these measures here.
On to local news:
Call for Bobcat Ranch bird survey volunteers! We need help with the phenology survey on November 30th. Email Sonjia Shelly here to sign up.
Christmas Bird Counts are around the corner. The Yolo Bird Alliance Putah Creek count is on December 15 this year, and the I.D. workshop will be held on December 4 on Zoom. Click here to see the names and emails of the area leaders and to sign up. More information to follow. The Woodland-Davis CBC will be held on December 27. Contact Bruce Christensen here to learn more.
Finally, check out YBA’s new Instagram account here! Stay current with YBA events and local bird news by following us.
–Ann Brice and Genevieve Colborn