http://www.sfvaudubon.org/">San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

The Corps of Engineers has developed an alternative proposal for a pilot recreational boating program on the Los Angeles River in the Sepulveda Basin that appears to sufficiently address the primary concerns of the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society.

The put-in and take-out points have been changed and restricted to areas that will not have any significant impact on wildlife or habitat; any necessary portaging around obstacles will be performed within the river itself – avoiding impacts to the shoreline. The program will begin on August 12 and end by September 25. There was a staff training event on July 22. We concur that these changes, this time frame, and the low impact of non-motorized boating, will have no impact on breeding birds. Corps of Engineers surveys found 63 bird species within the project area. Of those, 53 were believed to be breeding.

Public comments and involvement were instrumental in altering the original proposal to avoid or minimize disturbances to wildlife. In the process, we brought attention to this section of the LA River and the environmental organizations that have been championing its wildlife values since 1978.

Thank you for your support. For additional information visit www.sepulvedabasinwildlife.org.

Kris Ohlenkamp

SFV Audubon Conservation Chair Kris Ohlenkamp has sent two letters of comment to the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the pending proposal to permit non-motorized boating in the portion of the Los Angeles River lying within the boundaries of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. His letters express the concerns that the SFVAS Board of Directors have over this particular kind of recreation, its affect upon wildlife breeding there and any negative precedents it may introduce. Click here for the full text of these two letters.

The winning photo in the August/September issue of the Phainopepla newsletter was submitted by a new member of our San Fernando Valley Audubon chapter, Marietta Ewing. Her photograph of a juvenile Mute Swan was taken December 18, 2010 at Anthony Beilenson Park (Balboa Lake). Taken with a Nikon D80. Lens: Nikkor VR Lens 55-200mm F/4-5, Focal Length: 55mm, 1/100 sec – F5, ISO 100.

She is a self-taught nature photographer and two of her photographs have been published in Photographer’s Forum, “Best of Photography 2009″ and “Best of Photography 2010″.

Please submit your photos to gro.nobuduavfsnull@xoddaM.nnyL. Only one picture per photographer per month please! Ideally, the picture will be taken within our area and the information will include the location and the date it was taken, what camera and lens was used, a short account of how the picture was taken, and profile of the photographer. Good shooting! Thanks, Lynn.

The $20 Target gift card for the most fundraising in the Children’s Birdathon went to Alyssa Berman and the $10 gift card for runner-up went to Parker Jackson. Between them they raised over $300!

We wish to thank all our generous contributors for their donations! If you meant to send in a contribution, it is not yet too late, but mail it in right away!

Also a very big THANKS goes to all who contributed, participated and/or helped in this year’s Birdathon!
Thanks,
Rose

The June / July 2011 issue of the Phainopepla newsletter is now online.