Tag Archives | wildlife

Wildfires and Wildlife

Wildfires are an important part of many ecosystems around the world. Fires provide an opportunity for new growth, to return nutrients to the soil, and to create a wholly unique type of habitat. Many species are adapted for these ever-changing systems, and they have developed a wide variety of strategies for making the best of the post-fire habitat. However, these systems exist in a delicate balance. Recently, forest fires have been increasing in size, intensity, and frequency due to human activities, and even fire-adapted species are struggling to keep up. In this talk we discuss how animals survive and thrive in a system defined by fire and what we can do to help protect the balance of these special ecosystems.

Lynn Schofield is a biologist for the Institute for Bird Populations. Her research covers a diversity of topics including bird migration, forest fire ecology, and wetland conservation. In addition to using her research to help inform effective conservation strategies, Lynn also works to help make connections with nature accessible to all. She is one of the core members of the Cal Falcons social media project, a frequent trip leader for the Bay Area chapter of the Feminist Bird Club and a long-time volunteer for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory.

Join our Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84733389834?pwd=K2lMTnczczlVaUhSMlk3R0dZOGZpQT09

Meeting ID: 847 3338 9834
Passcode: 973520
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,84733389834#,,,,*973520# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,84733389834#,,,,*973520# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 847 3338 9834
Passcode: 973520
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kAtl65pjv

0

Southern Africa’s Birds and Wildlife

Purple-crested Turaco

Purple-crested Turaco

Both Judee and Bill Adams have been birding for over 40 years traveling to numerous birding locations in Alaska, Canada, Central and South America, Australia, East Africa, and Europe. They will be presenting a photographic wildlife journal of their most recent trip to Southern Africa including a self-drive tour of the world famous Kruger National Park.

Wintu Audubon Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Southern Africa’s Birds and Wildlife
Time: Dec 9, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92044713582

Meeting ID: 920 4471 3582
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,92044713582# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,92044713582# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 920 4471 3582
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abM1gFb4qi

 

0

New Endangered Species Act Rules Will Weaken Protections for Birds and Other Imperiled Wildlife

Bald Eagle

Final regulations diminish science-based decision-making and will reduce protections for birds

WASHINGTON – The final Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulatory reform package, released today by the Departments of the Interior and Commerce, fails the most important measure of any changes to a bedrock environmental law by marginalizing science-based protections for wildlife.

As a whole, the rule changes are political, unwise, and will only increase litigation. They tip the balance in decision-making against vulnerable wildlife and undermine incentives for effective conservation,” said Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy at the National Audubon Society.

While some of the new rules are reasonable – including making it easier to direct resources to conservation projects by speeding up consultation requirements for federal projects that are beneficial to species – other changes would severely weaken protections for imperiled species.

The most egregious of the new changes would allow the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to consider the economic costs of listing a species – something expressly prohibited under existing law. Other changes will make it much more difficult to provide any protections to newly listed “threatened species” or to designate the “critical habitat” species need to recover. The new rules also allow the FWS to ignore the dire effects of climate change on imperiled species – effects we are seeing with greater regularity, such as hurricanes that jeopardize the Piping Plover.

While Audubon could have supported some changes that may improve implementation while speeding up support for at-risk wildlife, these damaging new rules will weaken protections for imperiled species and include language that is wholly contrary to the law,” said Greenberger.

The ESA is our nation’s most powerful tool for protecting wildlife. Protections provided by the Act have succeeded in preventing the extinction of 99 percent of the species listed and benefitted many others that depend on the landscapes it’s helped to protect. The ESA has helped numerous species recover, including the Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, and Brown Pelican, and set many other species on the path to recovery.

0

Effects of Climate Change on Mammals of Lassen National Park

Mike Magnusson, Wildlife Biologist at Lassen Volcanic National Park, will report on his research on pikas and the Sierra Nevada red fox. Can pikas survive rapid climate change? How is the red fox, one of the state’s rarest mammals, faring? Come learn from the biologist studying them about these hidden beauties of our locale!

0

Fire at Whiskeytown – Infrastructure and Wildlife Impacts

Carr Fire

What really are the impacts of the Carr Fire on our closest National Park lands? Infrastructure damage from the fire and ensuing weather will be reviewed by Bob Shive, NPS volunteer and Wintu Audubon member. Matt Switzer, interpretive ranger and information officer, will report the fire’s impacts on park wildlife. We all know that fire is part of our ecosystem, but what can we expect from burns like the Carr Fire?

0