I Bird, I Vote!

From the National Audubon Society:

Birds are telling us we are in a climate emergency and it is wreaking havon on our communities, our lands and our waters. We're living on a warming planet, with growing inequities, where natural spaces, birds, and wildlife are disappearing at an alarming rate. The survival of some of our most beloved and familiar birds, including the Common Loon, Rufous Hummingbird, and Wood Thrush, is in question. Nearly every species will see changes to its habitat, range, and migratory patterns.

But, there is hope. Join Audubon in working for science-based solutions to counteract the effects of climate change and pollution. We need to dramatically reduce carbon emissions wherever possible, and offset

what we cannot eliminate by maintaining healthy forests, supporting sustainable agricultural practices, and more.

Pledge to stand with Audubon as we call on elected leaders to create a brigher future for birds and people through durable and inclusive policies and climate solutions.

Whittier Audubon Endorses Measure PH to Protect Our Hills

What is Measure PH?

We’re blessed to live next to some of the most beautiful lands in Southern California, where you can share a view withour native deer, coyotes, and owls overlooking the city lights of Los Angeles. This isn’t just where our endangered wildlife is sheltered - this is where our communities find belonging, between the stars and sunsets of our trails.

But if we are to preserve our precious natural spaces for current and future generations - we should pass Measure PH. Measure PH helps protect our property values, safeguard the specialness of our area, and ensure a safer future for our community for all future generations.

As evidenced by the Sycamore/Spyglass Fire, Colima Fires, and fires in La Habra Heights near the Skyline/Schabarum Trail and Punta del Este, wildfire season can be year-round in our area - threatening our communities and the wildlife that call the hills home.

The Habitat Authority has created safe habitats for important wildlife including birds protected by the federal Endangered Species Act and foxes, deer, and bobcats. Without Measure PH, the Habitat Authority will not have the funding to protect these areas.

Measure PH will allow current residents and future generations to access our area’s natural scenic beauty and live in a healthier environment by supporting conservation efforts, including protecting native wildlife and habitat, cleaning up and protecting hillsides, and safeguarding open space and natural areas. For more information go to https://www.protectourhills.org/

Are you thinking of removing your lawn? Consider Native Plants.

Landscaping with native plants is a great alternative to lawns.  They are low water tolerant and have the added benefit of enhancing your area for our native Southern California birds.

There are some great resources to help people get started.

National Audubon Society has launched a database of plants that are great for birds. You can search by your zip code to explore the best plants for birds in your area.

https://www.audubon.org/native-plants

The California Native Plant Society has many resources to learn and explore. Check out a chapter in your local area for outdoor hikes and walks, programs, and much more.

https://www.cnps.org/chapters

And look for plants using the Calscape database.

https://calscape.org/

The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants provides many materials and educational resources.

https://theodorepayne.org/

The Metropolitan Water District also has resources on native plants along with various water saving incentive programs.

https://www.bewaterwise.com/california-native-plants.html

You will love learning about plants that support our local native birds!

Find out about Project Phoenix: Investigating Bird Responses to Smoke

Whittier Area Audubon Society is encouraging all our members to participate in an important research project by counting and reporting the number of birds seen or heard, by species, for 10 minutes each week in a location convenient to them. Eventually this information will support our efforts to maintain or improve the abundance of birds in our area by clarifying the impacts of wildfires due to anthropogenic Climate Change.

Project Phoenix is a community science project supported by the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC). The goal is to engage communities in monitoring birds in their neighborhoods during Summer and Fall to learn more about how wildfire smoke and urban air pollution impact bird behavior and species distributions. This research will help identify the places and resources birds use when it is smoky to inform local conservation strategies and protect birds in the age of megafires. The program is open to birders of all ages and backgrounds including families and beginner birders. There is no cost to participate, and online training is available for folks new to birding. Volunteers sign up to conduct weekly, 10-minute, stationary point counts of birds at a monitoring site of their choosing – their backyard, favorite park, etc. They may contribute additional observations (e.g., from additional surveys or opportunistically) if they choose. Last year’s Project focused on monitoring birds in California for 3 months - August through October. In 2024, it is expanding to include communities in Washington and Oregon and collecting data for 5 months - July through November. Identification of species by sound may be determined using “TheCornellLab Merlin” app on your smartphone. Reporting of the data is via eBird.

Project Phoenix research goals:

  • Collect data on the presence and abundance of birds during the fire season.

  • Evaluate the impact of urban air pollution and wildfire smoke on bird distributions, and consider if these responses vary across habitats.

  • Propose local intervention strategies to help birds during acute smoke events

To participate, go to https://www.project-phoenix-investigating-bird-responses-to-smoke.org/

Owl Release at Whittier Narrows Nature Center

It was great fun to see three Great-horned Owls released back into the wild at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center on October 8, 2022. It was a family event and about 50 people attended.

The owls had been transported from Wild Wings, where they had been rehabilitated, to the Nature Center in boxes. They were released one at a time. Below is a slide show and three slow-motion videos below will give you an idea of how beautiful and powerful they are.

Although the owl below flew from the box in a few seconds, in the slow motion video below you can see how it grabbed the side of the box and then turned its head forward before taking off.

Follow up about the Poo-Poo Project

From our September Speaker Amanda Penn regarding the Poo-Poo Project led by the Teton Raptor Center to protect cavity nesters from becoming trapped in outhouses in our state and national parks.

Thank you so much for having me as a speaker last night! I wanted to follow up about local areas that may be in need of Poo-Poo Screens. I have attached a list of areas that have partnered with us. Please take a look at the areas listed under California. If you have local areas that aren't listed or just notice any unscreened vault toilets, please let me know. Feel free to share my email with the group. Also, here is some information on the

Sponsor- A -Screen program: https://tetonraptorcenter.org/sponsor-a-screen . I would be happy to send a pack of Poo-Poo stickers to you.

Action item: if you are in any of the following areas in the San Gabriel Mountains, please check for vault toilets with unscreened vents.

  • Mt Wilson

  • Chantry Flats (Off Santa Anita)

  • West Fork (Off Hwy 39 Azusa Canyon)

  • Chilao 

  • Grassy Hollow

  • Bighorn Mine Trail

  • Icehouse Saddle

  • Devil's Punchbowl / Devil's Chair

  • Fish Canyon Falls

  • Lewis Falls

  • Cooper Canyon Falls

  • Telegraph Peak / Manker Flat

  • Stoddard Peak

Remembering Bob Brooks

Our hearts go out to long-time Board Member Letty Brooks on the passing of her husband Robert "Bob" Brooks, September 5th, 2020. After his retirement from the aerospace industry he spent many hours supporting various environmental groups, especially Whittier Area Audubon Society. He was president of the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, a docent at Cabrillo Marine Museum, and a member of the LA Mushroom Society. We will miss his big laugh and sense of fun. Rest in peace.

Donations in his Bob’s name can be made to the environmental organization of your choice. If you wish to donate to the Whittier Area Audubon Society, you may do so here. 

Remembering Grace Nakamura

Grace Nakamura, beloved Audubon member, passed away on May 30, 2017 from complications of pneumonia.

She and her husband Yosh received Whittier Area Audubon’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She was instrumental in getting a viewing platform installed at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center and started a native plant greenhouse project at La Serna High School through an Audubon YES! grant.

Grace is survived by her husband, Yosh Nakamura; daughter, Linda Nakamura Oberholtzer; son, Daniel Nakamura and daughter-in-law, Paula Stinson; son, Joel Nakamura and daughter-in-law, Kathleen Nakamura; and grandchildren, Paloma and Kai Nakamura.

Please see the Whittier Daily News obituary to learn more about Grace’s fascinating life.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at the Hillcrest Congregational Church, 2000 West Road, La Habra Heights, CA.


Remembering Thomas Drouet

Please join us in remembering Thomas Drouet (July 16, 1931 – April 8, 2017)

A message from the family:
Thomas L. Drouet (July 16, 1931 – April 8, 2017) was a kind-hearted, life-long teacher, and volunteer who helped many people reach for their dreams. He loved teaching and always did so with witty humor and humble pride, whether he was: instructing as a math professor; discussing the stars and universe as an amateur astronomer; sharing his love for concert band music as a devout musician; pointing out birds as an avid nature lover; or chatting about the games of baseball, football, and basketball as a sports enthusiast.

Tom was a life-long Southern Californian. His stories of the orange groves of yesteryears and his love for his own orange and fig trees could make anyone wish for days gone by. His excitement and aggravation for the Clippers and Lakers as well as the Angels and Dodgers could make anyone a fan: he always said, “You only really have to watch the last two minutes or innings, but hey why not watch the whole game.”
Above all else, he completely adored UCLA football – well, anything UCLA.

Tom loved performing as a clarinetist with the Los Angeles Police Band (now COPS), Covina Band, and UCLA Alumni Band (30+ year member.) He was a committed supporter of Los Angeles Astronomical Society, Orange County Astronomers, and Griffith Observatory and often brought his telescopes for the public’s use in viewing the stars above. He also participated in astronomy outreach programs at our local schools, enthusiastically sharing the wonders of our sky with the scientists of tomorrow.

We love you so very much Dad and will miss you every day. We are thankful for you and we know you are now a star shining down on the City of Angeles that you loved so very much. Thank you for everything you did for all of us and for showing us how to live life to its fullest.

Tom is survived by his sister Pauline Ide and his two daughters, Marie and Louisa Drouet. He passed away peacefully in his hometown of Whittier, California at the age of 85. Celebrations of his life will be held privately.

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