Conservation Projects
Throughout its history, the Sacramento Audubon Society has advocated for smart growth, the protection and expansion of wildlife habitat, and the reduction of hazards to birds. As the population of the Sacramento area expands, bird habitat can be lost or impacted by adjacent land use changes.
The Sacramento Audubon Society sits on the Board of the Environmental Council of Sacramento whose mission is to achieve regional sustainability, livable communities, environmental justice, and a healthy environment and economy for existing and future residents. Sacramento Audubon also sits on the Habitat Committee (Habitat 2020) which is a coalition that works to protect the lands, waters, wildlife and native plants in the Sacramento region.
In addition, Sacramento Audubon has a Conservation Committee that meets regularly to discuss local projects that may impact birds and identify projects that Sacramento Audubon can support or develop to benefit birds in our region.
Red-winged Blackbird at Cosumnes River Preserve. Image by Elliot Chasin
In addition to Sacramento Audubon Society’s work on local issues with Habitat 2020, we support these other conservation efforts.
Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary
A 430 acre wildlife preserve in Sutter County, Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary is a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of the confluence of the Bear and Feather rivers in the Great Central Valley. The Sanctuary was donated to National Audubon in 1975 by Bob and Elaine Crandall (for whom Bobelaine is named). Though owned by National Audubon Society, it is managed and maintained by Sacramento Audubon Society volunteers. The sanctuary is registered as a “State Ecological Reserve” and is protected by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and the National Audubon Society.
In 2008, National Audubon Society received a substantial bequest from the estate of Bob and Elaine Crandall. National Audubon Society placed the Crandall bequest into an endowment fund which covers the Sacramento Audubon Chapter’s ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs for the sanctuary. Prior to the establishment of the Crandall Endowment, Sacramento Audubon was solely responsible for the sanctuary’s funding for management and upkeep.
Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary is free to visit. Become a steward of Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary by donating to the SAS Bobelaine Fund and/or joining Sacramento Audubon!
Bushy Lake Restoration Project
The Bushy Lake Restoration Project originated in 2015, when Dr. Michelle Stevens, a Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at CSU Sacramento, spearheaded a pilot phase. This eco-cultural restoration project has incorporated experimental design and adaptive restoration methods to inform restoration practice, wildlife monitoring and adaptive management. It is a collaborative effort involving Sacramento County Parks, local community engagement, environmental groups, as well as CSU Sacramento faculty, students, and the University’s offices of Public Affairs and Advocacy and Sustainability. Sacramento Audubon contributed volunteers and funds to help support and maintain this effort.
Professor Steven’s department received funds from the Wildlife Control Board Lower American River Conservancy Program to develop a Conceptual Restoration Plan for Bushy Lake (CRPBL). The area has been serving as a living lab for Sacramento State, with Professor Stevens and her students conducting annual planting, monitoring, and adaptive management. The overarching objectives of CRPBL are to 1) protect, enhance and restore a sustainable habitat refuge for pond turtles; 2) enhance habitat for fire resiliency; and 3) enhance the education and interpretation of resources in the Parkway, specifically showcasing tribal cultural use of the Parkway.
Sacramento Audubon continues to support this environmental educational opportunity that helps to promote the restoration of Bushy Lake and the populations of wild birds for the community and future educational outreach and conservation activity. Long-time Sacramento Audubon member and biologist Dan Williams currently leads CSU Sacramento student interns in avian surveys at Bushy Lake. The avian surveys will be integral to planning and design for Bushy Lake’s restoration.
To learn more visit the Bushy Lake website.
Advocacy and Legislative Actions
Sacramento Audubon Society participates in Audubon California’s Annual Advocacy Day. Representatives from all the California Audubon Chapters meet with legislators urging them to support legislation protecting birds and the habitats on which they depend.
Banner Photo Credit: Sandhill Crane by Elliot Chasin