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July 31, 2020
Let’s Keep An Eye On This
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), signed into law in 1918, is among the oldest wildlife protection laws on the books. Its creation was one of the National Audubon Society's first major victories, and in the years since its enactment, the MBTA has saved millions, if not billions, of birds. Today, enforcement of key provisions of the MBTA is… read more
July 12, 2020
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Big Victories for California’s Birds
On California Audubon's Virtual Advocacy Day, June 2nd , your SFVAS Conservation team and many other active Audubon California Staff and Chapter members held 50 virtual (Zoom) meetings with California legislators and sent over 16,000 letters on top issues affecting birds and our communities. Our voices were heard and secured significant victories in our state… read more
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July 7, 2020
Back to the Drawing Board…
Only a few days ago, SFVAS was discussing the resumption of birdwalks, contacting leaders and getting pretty excited about a limited and careful return to our favorite pastime. Here at the website, we were sharpening our digi-pencil to write the welcome words in bright red at the top of the landing page: WALKS RESUMING! Alas,… read more
June 20, 2020
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Can’t Bird But Got the Itch?
Did you know you can get live closeup views of Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon nests from the comfort of your own home? Snoop on Penguins and Avocets? Access more than a dozen webcams hosted by Cornell, some located in exotic, far-off locations? It may not equal getting out in your sunhat and binoculars, but… read more
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June 10, 2020
We Stand Together
When we go out to birdwatch we bring our equipment and our knowledge, and foremost our respect for nature and our fellow birdwatchers. In recent weeks we have been made aware of the inequity experienced by our fellow enthusiasts, in the Black communities, who do not feel safe and fear encounters that quickly and easily… read more
May 18, 2020
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A Great Season for Horned Owls
Great Horned Owls (GHOWs) are amazing creatures. These night-hunting apex predators have adapted to almost every nook and cranny of the N. American continent. They prey on just about anything that walks, crawls or flies -- as long as it isn’t more than two or three times their size. Woodley Park, home of the Sepulveda… read more
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April 23, 2020
Bored? Bird!
No doubt many, if not most, of our members and friends are doing some birding – or a lot – while in forced domestication. After all, it is migration season. Even though most of the choicest migrants are seen in parks and on hikes, nevertheless the observant back-yard birder will see an itinerant stranger from… read more
April 4, 2020
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Griffith Park Raptor Survey
In January of this year, Courtney McCammon contacted SFVAS to see if our chapter wanted to partner with Friends of Griffith Park in their 3rd season of monitoring raptor nests. Courtney partners with Dan Cooper and their data is shared with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We were excited to learn about this program and… read more
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March 17, 2020
Sometimes The Good Guys Win
Since 2007, the Mountains Recreation and Conservancy Authority (MRCA), a local public agency established in 1985 to manage, promote and protect open and wild land for public enjoyment, had its eye on 285 idyllic acres in the southern Santa Susana Mountains. MRCA works with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and other local groups and… read more
March 7, 2020
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