August 2020 Bobcat Fire; © Dash Weidhofer
The migrating warblers have decreased significantly in my yard and are being replaced primarily by yellow-rumps. Other old friends are showing up: White-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Spotted Towhees, Hermit Thrushes, […]
Giant Garter Snake; © Dave Feliz
In the field of endangered species management, the term Safe Harbor refers to agreements with the US Fish and Wildlife Service by which a landowner voluntarily improves or expands habitat […]
Townsend's Warbler; © Ann Brice
It’s been a challenging summer for all of us with Covid and the fires, but I hope you’ve managed to do some birding close to home. I’ve had fun photographing […]
Green-tailed Towhee; © Ann Brice
There are few birds more spectacular than a breeding plumaged Red Phalarope. Three of them arrived on May 18 during a morning thunderstorm and spent a few hours in a […]
Yellow-billed Magpie; © Erna Tarara
Late last year National Audubon published Survival by Degrees–389 Bird Species on the Brink, an analysis of the likely effects of climate change on the abundance of North American bird […]
On May 21, 2020, Yolo Audubon Society submitted the following Forum Commentary for publication in the Davis Enterprise. It concerns the development of a commercial solar array on former ponds at the Davis Wastewater Treatment Facility. It reiterates several concerns that were left out of Mayor Brett Lee’s and Davis City Council Member Dan Carson’s April 26 Forum Commentary that mentioned YAS’s letter to the Davis City Council about this matter.
Refurbished Nesting Boxes at Bobcat Ranch; photo courtesy Dash Weidhofer
A lot has been happening at Audubon California’s Bobcat Ranch recently.
Nina Tortosa, Restoration Intern at the ranch, compiled a comprehensive report of ranch restoration work that she was involved in from September 2019 through March 2020. One of many projects involved repair of part a birding trail used by the Yolo Audubon phenology group. You can read her full report below.
In addition, quite a few nesting boxes have been refurbished for some lucky new owners. (Photo above.)
Rob Furrow biking to bird; © Josiah Clark
On Friday, May 1st, I did a biking big day in Yolo county, starting at 3am from my house in Davis and finishing at 8:10pm back at home, after looping […]
SLEWS participants at Yanci Ranch; © Center for Land-Based Learning
Which local program has finished nearly three hundred habitat improvement projects, mostly on farms, as part of formal high school course work? The answer is SLEWS (Student and Landowner Education […]
Local birding, at least at certain locations, may have increased under the COVID shutdown, allowing many to enjoy the start of spring migration. The highlight was the county’s first ever […]
On April 14, 2020, Yolo Audubon Society Board President Ann Brice transmitted the following letter to the Davis City Council regarding its plans to accept a proposal for a large commercial solar array at the Davis Wastewater Treatment Facility ponds.
The 'catio' keeps cats and birds separated; © Lynda Goff
Our February article described the huge losses that cats inflict on wild birds in California and around the country. Recognizing this as an important conservation problem, YAS explored the issue […]