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California’s Geospatial Science in Action
How our mapping, research, and advocacy help bring restoration planning to life.
What does geospatial science look like at Audubon California in 2025? It starts at the Salton Sea, where our science is helping move roughly 2,000 acres of wetland habitat toward restoration planning. From there, it expands statewide: research that informs California’s climate policy, modernized data models that support smarter renewable energy siting, and science-driven convenings that bring researchers and decision makers to the same table.
Our small-but-mighty team of ecologists brings technical expertise in geospatial science, including GIS, satellite imagery analysis, and predictive modeling using machine learning. The goal is simple: to develop science that helps people make data-driven decisions that benefit birds, wildlife, and communities across California and the West, and to deliver those science products to the agencies, partners, and advocates who need them most.
Emerging Wetlands at the Salton Sea
For over 5 years, we have used satellite imagery and GIS to map newly emerging wetland habitat at the Salton Sea and bring that information to regulatory boards and state and federal agencies. We advocate for these habitats to be recognized and incorporated into restoration planning because we could see what was happening on the ground in near real time: as the Sea changes, new wetlands are forming, and birds are using them.
At a California State Water Resources Control Board meeting in the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea Management Program presented a new project to protect and enhance emerging wetlands in the northern Salton Sea, totaling roughly 2,000 acres. This kind of mapping and advocacy is essential — without it, decision makers often do not have the timely, habitat-specific information needed to plan for protecting these wetlands.
These wetlands are supporting waterbirds and riparian species (including threatened and endangered wildlife), while also helping reduce harmful dust emissions that impact public health in surrounding communities.
What We’re Learning About Birds and Shifting Habitat at the Sea
In addition to this on-the-ground momentum, we looked back across 7 years of Audubon’s science at the Salton Sea to better understand how birds and habitat have changed during a period of rapid transformation. The Salton Sea is a site of hemispheric importance for migratory birds, and the scale of change there demands careful, long-term tracking.
This year, we published a scientific brief detailing what we found over those 7 years: how habitats are shifting, and how birds are responding. That research strengthens our ability to advocate for birds, habitat, and community needs at the Sea, grounded in clear trends and evidence.
2025 Science Brief
Shifting Habitat Conditions at the Salton Sea Create New Opportunities for Conservation
Surprising increase in wetlands provides habitat for shorebirds.
Exploring How Climate May Impact Birds
Our continued engagement with agencies, conservation partners, and researchers also led to an important statewide role: we were invited as contributing authors to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, focused on the Inland Deserts region. In that assessment, we are contributing information on how climate change may affect birds and their habitats in the inland deserts in the coming decades.
These assessments are underway across the state. Draft reports are moving through peer review now, with final reports expected after that process concludes.
We were also invited to contribute to the Central Coast regional assessment, reflecting years of work on coastal species, including the Black Oystercatcher. Building from a decade of community science monitoring, we published findings on productivity trends (how successfully the population is reproducing), the factors influencing that success or failure, and how future climate conditions may affect this small population of rocky intertidal birds.
An Update to Marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) Map
Along California’s coast, we are also focused on ensuring renewable energy development is sited responsibly, using the best available science to reduce impacts to birds.
Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have long helped guide energy siting decisions on land, especially in the desert. Offshore, we want decision makers to have equally strong tools. This year, we updated and strengthened our Marine IBA data by using new NOAA models to reassess bird population estimates within current IBAs. That work helps ensure our Marine IBAs remain relevant today, and it updates the bird numbers in our IBA database so Audubon teams, decision makers, and resource managers have the most accurate information possible when evaluating offshore wind proposals.
The power of Audubon’s Network: Community Science at Scale
One of Audubon’s greatest strengths is our network—including volunteers, chapters, and partners up and down the coast.
This year, we published research with our partners documenting findings from the Community Science Brown Pelican Survey. The paper shows a northward shift in the species consistent with climate change, and it documents increased nesting success, likely tied to changes in prey availability. This type of work is especially challenging because roughly 75% of California Brown Pelicans nest on islands in the Sea of Cortez. Community science made it possible to monitor this species across a vast geography in a relatively cost-effective way. From the Mexico border to Grays Harbor, Washington, coastal chapters and volunteers contributed time and observations that strengthened what we can collectively understand about how California Brown Pelicans may be responding to a changing climate.
California's Geospatial Science Work in the News
A lot of our critical work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is becoming more visible. Over the last year, our science and priorities showed up in major print and TV coverage, helping more people understand the challenges (and solutions) we work on—including ecosystems like eelgrass that are hidden from sight underwater.
Looking Ahead
We are excited to carry this momentum into the next year. In 2026, we are looking forward to:
- Expanding our work on Marine IBAs,
- Completing climate assessment contributions and peer review.
- Continuing our eelgrass work in estuaries.
- Growing our work in the desert, groundwater, and wetlands in the Central Valley.
- Supporting Audubon California programs, including Conservation Ranching, with stronger data tools and decision support.
Our work touches every part of California’s conservation efforts, and it depends on the support of our network and partners. Thank you for being part of what makes this science possible, and for helping ensure California’s birds and the places they need are protected for generations to come.