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AUDUBON CALIFORNIA NOTES

Audubon California Chapter Assembly Asilomar

March 19-21, 2006 - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Saving the Endangered Species Act

For those who remember the good old days of Audubon Western Region gatherings at Asilomar, we are making a happy return!

On March 19, 20, and 21, Audubon California hosts the State Assembly at the beautiful coastal Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. Chapter leaders, volunteers, fellow birders, scientists and your friends will gather for two days of workshops, birding, and an exclusive evening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

This year’s theme is Saving the Endangered Species Act. We welcome first time attendees and our old friends. The Assembly promises to be a wonderful variety of interactive workshops, plenary sessions, renowned speakers emphasizing the importance of effective conservation of California’s endangered species and their habitat. Add to that, world class birding at your doorstep, and a pre-Assembly pelagic trip and post-Assembly Condor viewing trip.

Early bird registration by January 17th starts at $250 per person for two nights/three days including lodging, six meals, workshops and the aquarium visit.

Assembly_At_A_Glance_2006.pdf

Save the Endangered Species Act Campaign

After 30 years of serving as America’s premier safety net for wild animals and plants on the verge of extinction, the Endangered Species Act faces its most serious attack from a Congressman in our own backyard. Rep. Richard Pombo has authored a rewrite of the ESA, an “Extinction Bill” that would repeal designation of critical habitat among other devastating policies. In September, this bill passed the US House of Representatives and now is in the hands of US Senate. Our job is to make sure that Senator Diane Feinstein knows that Californians care about endangered wildlife and critical habitat. 

Audubon California's state office and our chapters are working on a comprehensive campaign to save the Endangered Species Act. Chapters are leading Endangered Species Field Trips around the state to highlight the success of the ESA. We are reclaiming the loudspeaker for Endangered Species to shift the dialogue back to the value and protection of wildlife and away from the defense of greedy developers.

Want to get involved? Host an Endangered Species Field Trip, have your Chapter write a letter to Feinstein to be delivered in person this winter, send Feinstein a personal letter. More info- call or email or 510.601.1866 x3
Read more about this campaign here:

New Funding Source for Chapters

Your Chapter can apply for project funds through Audubon California Collaborative Funding program. Collaborative funds, which were recommended by Audubon’s Ad-Hoc Committee and approved by the national Board, are new monies being made available to support Chapters that have worked with their state office, to develop specific conservation projects that advance the missions of both organizations, to be undertaken by the Chapter.

Audubon California will administer a simple grant program to distribute collaborative funds in the state. For fiscal year 2006, there is a total of $25,000 in collaborative funding available to the Chapters of California. We will be making 10-15 grants of $1,500 to $2,500.

There are four granting areas- Outreach, Advocacy: Education: IBA/Habitat project. The granting process application is available on our website at http://www.ca.audubon.org/collaborative_funding.html. Deadline to apply January 15, 2006.

First Ever Pasadena BirdFest- Interview with Ron Cyger, Pasadena Audubon Society

On November 5th and 6th, Pasadena Audubon Society had their first ever BirdFest. The event was a resounding success as a fundraiser, for developing new chapter leaders, and educating the public on the birds of Pasadena. I took a moment to catch up with past President and current Program Chair Ron Cyger to hear about this event.

Click here to read the interview with Ron Cyger:

For more information on BirdFest and Pasadena Audubon Society go to http://www.pasadenaaudubon.org/

Conservation Funding Bond on Nov. 2006 Ballot

Audubon and other conservation groups have submitted bond language to the California Attorney General to qualify a $5.4 billion conservation and water quality funding bond for the November 2006 ballot. The bond contains substantial funding for most of Audubon’s conservation priorities, including $47 million for Salton Sea restoration, $108 million for San Francisco Bay, $45 million for working landscapes, $135 million for the Wildlife Conservation board, $135 for the Coastal Conservancy, and much, much more. You can view the full breakdown of funding categories, as well as the actual bond language, by clicking on the links below. We are also continuing to work on legislation, SB 153 (Chesbro – D, Arcata) which would provide legislative authorization for a second or substitute bond for the November 2006 ballot, depending on what the final terms are in SB 153. Either or both conservation funding bonds will require organizing public support to ensure their passage next November. We will provide updates and campaign materials as we move forward.

Full text of proposed Conservation Bond Act of 2006

Outline of proposed Conservation Bond Act of 2006

Regional Elections for the Chapter Representative to the National Audubon Society Board

The National Audubon Society's Board of Directors has nine Regional Directors -- members elected by chapters-- of a total 36 directors that set the overall priorities of the NAS. Recently the regions have been redrawn to evenly distribute chapters and now California is in a region with only Guam and Hawaii. Previously our region included the Pacific Northwest and our Regional Representative was Charlie Kahl from the Seattle Audubon Society. However, as Washington is no longer in our district, we need to elect a new Regional Representative to serve on the Audubon National Board. I say “we” because as California Chapters greatly outnumber Guam and Hawaii, I’d guess the Rep will come from our Golden State. Go to http://www.audubon.org/nas/board/regional/elections/2006/westernElection_2006.html
for position description and more information.

Christmas Bird Count Season

From December 14, 2005 to January 5, 2006, the National Audubon Society’s longest-running wintertime tradition, the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), will take place throughout the Americas. The dates for California CBC’s are posted on the Audubon California website at http://www.ca.audubon.org/cbcs.htm. Take a look to see what other counts you could join and if your Count is listed. For those wanting to post your date for the 106th CBC calendar, send your dates as soon as you know them to: Alison Sheehey. Include the date, CBC Name, CBC County, Compiler (s), Phone: (optional), E-Mail:
More information at http://www.ca.audubon.org/cbc.htm

Upcoming Events

Morro Bay Winter Birding Festival
San Diego Bird Festival

Salton Sea International Bird Festival

See: CALIFORNIA NATURE FESTIVALS for a calendar of events through the year.
 

California Chapter Coordinator

– Chapter Coordinator

Audubon California
4225 Hollis Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 601-1866 extension 3
(510) 601-1954 Fax