As Audubon California marks 30 years in 2026, we’re also celebrating a conservation legacy in California that spans far longer than 30 years. Long before we were established as an official state office in 1996, Audubon was already helping protect vital habitats, advance major conservation wins, and advocate for birds and communities across the state. This anniversary, we invite you to join us in reflecting on the incredible work that has changed the face of California conservation over the years.
Short on time? You can jump around to some key milestones by clicking the shortcuts below:
First Audubon Chapter founded in California | Founded in 1904 as “California Audubon” after renowned field biologist Joseph Grinnell’s first Pasadena bird list was published, the organization became the first local Audubon chapter in California. In 1909, members held their first outdoor meeting in the Arroyo Seco, identifying 22 bird species, and the group adopted the name Pasadena Audubon Society to distinguish itself from other Audubon chapters. 1939
Building Audubon’s California Presence | In 1939, the Los Angeles Audubon Society created and began operating the San Gabriel River Wildlife Sanctuary in Whittier Narrows. By 1942, the National Audubon Society had established a small nature center there known as the Audubon Center of Southern California. Established as part of a major membership effort that also helped launch several new California chapters, the Audubon Center of Southern California later became the Whittier Narrows Nature Center, now operated by the County of Los Angeles, and served as a precursor to what is now the Audubon Center at Debs Park.
1957
Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary | The center & sanctuarywas established in 1957, securing a vital Bay habitat that would become a lasting place for bird conservation, stewardship, and community connection.
1968
Audubon’s Western Regional Office (based in Sacramento) | The office was established in 1968, laying the foundation for a stronger and more sustained presence in California policy and conservation work.
1970
California Brown Pelican
1970—The California Brown Pelican was federally listed as endangered in 1970 as DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) driven reproductive failure pushed the species into steep decline.
1971—California adds state protection: California state-listed the Brown Pelican as endangered in 1971, reinforcing urgent efforts to protect the species from pesticide-driven decline.
2009—Recovery after the DDT era: Brown Pelicans were removed from both the state and federal endangered species list in 2009 after a substantial recovery following the DDT ban in 1972.
2025—Community science study advances Brown Pelican conservation: A scientific paper published in Marine Ornithology (2025) showed how volunteer surveys coordinated by Audubon California and Bird Alliance of Oregon helped reveal important patterns in Brown Pelican productivity, movement, and distribution across the West Coast. Drawing on counts conducted from 2016 to 2019, the study demonstrated the value of community science in informing conservation for this climate-vulnerable seabird.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) |The act was established in 1970 as a statewide process for reviewing environmental impacts, considering alternatives, and reducing avoidable harm before projects move forward. For Audubon California, CEQA has long been an important law for protecting birds, wildlife, and communities from harmful development, and one that Audubon California, alongside California chapters, continues to work to uphold.
California Endangered Species Act (CESA)|The protections were originally enacted in 1970 and updated in 1984, creating a strong state framework for protecting species at risk of extinction. CESA is an essential safeguard for birds and wildlife, helping protect species such as the Tricolored Blackbird, California Least Tern, and Least Bell’s Vireo.
1973
Starr Ranch
Starr Ranch came under National Audubon stewardship in 1973, protecting an extraordinary Southern California landscape that would become central to research, restoration, and education.
1997—Starr Ranch began upland invasive species control and restoration work, launching long-term efforts to improve habitat quality and ecological resilience.
2000—Starr Ranch Field Ecology Programs, connecting people to science outdoors: Starr Ranch launched its Field Ecology Programs in 2000, creating hands-on opportunities for students and educators to learn through nature and science.
2011 — Starr Ranch cougar research, deepening ecological understanding: A research partnership with UC Davis began at Starr Ranch in 2011, expanding understanding of mountain lions and broader ecological relationships across the landscape.
1975
Bobelaine Sanctuary | Established in 1975 through a donation from Bob and Elaine Crandall, the sanctuary helps protect rare Central Valley riparian habitat along the Feather River. Today, it is considered a "State Ecological Reserve" and an Important Bird Area.
1976
The California Coastal Act|The act created one of California’s most important conservation frameworks, to protect public access and helping safeguard coastal habitats and wildlife. Support for that vision reaches back even earlier: local coastal chapters, including Santa Barbara Audubon, were encouraging members to engage in 1972 around Proposition 20, the ballot initiative that helped lay the groundwork for the California Coastal Act. Audubon California has long supported and defended the Coastal Act’s promise, andin 2026, we are supporting the legislative resolution honoring its 50th anniversary.
The Williams Sisters Ranch Sanctuary| Through the sisters' donation, the sanctuary was established in 1976. The addition of this sanctuary protected working landscape to Audubon’s California sanctuary system. The 1,200-acre historic cattle ranch is located along Skyline Drive in Woodside, California.
A Last Resort for California Condors | As California Condors hovered on the brink, Audubon advocated for the controversial decision to bring the last wild birds into captivity—a critical step toward recovery and reintroduction.
California Condor #20 is the oldest living condor in the wild and one of the last surviving birds born in the wild before the remaining population was brought into captivity to begin the breeding program. Captured in 1985, #20 later sired more than 30 chicks that were released back into the wild, and he was released in 2015.
California Condor History
1988—California Condor captive breeding begins to turn the tide: The first condor chick hatched in captivity in 1988, marking a pivotal milestone in rebuilding a species once perilously close to extinction.
2007—AB 821: Audubon California, with legislative and conservation partners, helped lead the push for AB 821, which passed in 2007. The law eliminated the use of lead ammunition in the range of the California Condor—an important step in addressing one of the species’ most persistent threats.
2013—AB 711: Audubon California joined a broad coalition that successfully passed Assembly Bill 711 (AB 711), requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting in California by 2019. The bill was co-sponsored by Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States.
Wattis Sanctuary | Located in Colusa, California (Sacramento Valley), the sanctuary was established in 1989, expanding Audubon’s network of protected lands in California.
1992
Marbled Murrelet Protections | The Audubon network played an important role in advancing protections for the Marbled Murrelet over several decades.
Marbled Murrelet History
In 1988, the National Audubon Society petitioned for federal protection of the species, helping launch the process that led to its 1992 listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to the loss of old-growth nesting habitat in Washington, Oregon, and California. Redwood Region Audubon Society also petitioned for state protection under CESA, helping secure state endangered status for the species.
2016—Audubon continued that advocacy by supporting the defense of nearly 3.7 million acres of critical habitat, upholding protections that included Northern California forests relied on by this rare seabird.
1993
Western Snowy Plover Support Along the Pacific Coast | Audubon helped ensure crucial safeguards for the Western Snowy Plover.
Protecting Western Snowy Plovers
After the National Audubon Society petitioned in 1988 for federal protection of the Pacific coast population of the Western Snowy Plover, the bird was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993. The listing recognized the vulnerability of this small beach-nesting shorebird to habitat loss and disturbance along the Pacific Coast.
Audubon California was established, creating a statewide organization dedicated to bird conservation, habitat protection, and environmental policy across California.
1997
Kern River Preserve| The preserve was established in 1997, protecting a vital riparian landscape in the southern San Joaquin Valley for migratory birds and resident wildlife.
2003
The Audubon Center at Debs Park Opens
2003—Debs Park, an urban center for birds and people: The Audubon Center at Debs Park opened in 2003, creating an urban hub for nature education, habitat restoration, and community leadership in Los Angeles.
2003—A landmark in green building: In 2003, the Audubon Center at Debs Park became the first LEED Platinum-certified building in the country at the time of its construction—making sustainability part of the center’s mission from the start.
2023—L.A. River restoration supports Least Bell’s Vireo: Audubon California’s Debs Park team and partners advanced native habitat restoration along the Los Angeles River, helping support the return of the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo near Rio de Los Angeles State Park. That success was highlighted as part of a hopeful comeback story in the LA Times in 2024.
2025—Los Nogales Nursery Opened to the Public: While the nursery started in partnership with the Theodore Payne Foundation several years ago, the nursery opened its gates to the public for native plant sales for the first time in 2025, supporting habitat restoration and nurturing community involvement!
2006
Bay Area HQ| Audubon California established its Bay Area Office in 2006, expanding regional capacity for restoration, policy, and partnership work in the San Francisco Bay.
2007
Bobcat Ranch| The ranch was established in 2007, protecting a working landscape that supports birds, biodiversity, and conservation on private lands.
2008
Audubon California Helps Launch a Collaborative Path Forward at Owens Lake |The lake islocated at the base of California's Inyo Mountains, covering nearly 100 square miles.
“For many years, Mike Prather (Eastern Sierra Bird Alliance) was a lone voice for Owens Lake. By the time we met in 2006, he showed up with huge three-ring binders full of articles, photos, data, and testimony from years of public advocacy. He really accosted me with those binders—and I mean that affectionately. It was clear how much urgency, persistence, and personal commitment he had brought to protecting Owens Lake. In response, Audubon California immediately committed staff time and resources to Owens Lake, and Mike’s determination was a big part of why that work moved forward.”
—Andrea Jones
Owens Lake
1985—Bird observations help renew conservation attention. Eastern Sierra Audubon leader Mike Prather documented shorebirds using Owens Lake during the 1985 Christmas Bird Count, helping renew attention to the lake’s importance for birds.
2001—Owens Lake is recognized as an Important Bird Area. As habitat conditions changed, Owens Lake was designated an Important Bird Area, recognizing its growing value for shorebirds and other waterbirds.
2008—After years of protracted negotiations, Andrea Jones and Audubon California issued an invitation to anyone with a stake in Owens Lake: conservation groups, such as the Native Plant Society and the Sierra Club; state and federal agencies; county and Los Angeles officials, and everyone accepted. These discussions focused on shared habitat goals for the entire lake and showed that it was possible to protect significant bird habitat while also reducing water use.
2013—Long-term habitat planning gains momentum: Audubon California and Eastern Sierra Audubon helped advance a long-term vision for Owens Lake that emphasized bird habitat alongside dust control and water management.
2018 — Owens Lake joined the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, an exclusive group of 104 areas from the southern tip of South America to Alaska certified for their outstanding numbers of birds.
The Tejon Ranch Conservation and Land Use Agreement | Audubon California helped secure a landmark conservation agreement at Tejon Ranch, and joined conservation partners in the Tejon Ranch Conservation Agreement, helping protect up to 240,000 acres of grasslands, oak woodlands, streams, and desert habitats. These stunning landscapes support birds such as the Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Western Burrowing Owl, Swainson’s Hawk, state-threatened Tricolored Blackbird, and Loggerhead Shrike, and are also home to the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox.
The conservation easements were purchased by the independent Tejon Ranch Conservancy, which was created as part of the 2008 agreement, through a grant provided by the State Wildlife Conservation Board. (Audubon California plays a special role on behalf of the conservation groups that signed the 2008 agreement by holding third-party enforcement rights should the easements ever be violated).
2012
North Coast Marine Protected Areas | Audubon California and Mendocino Coast Audubon helped lead efforts to establish the North Coast Marine Protected Areas, a network of more than 100 protected ocean areas and special closure zones approved from the Oregon border to Point Arena. The protections, which remain in place today, helped safeguard seabirds, shorebirds, and important coastal bird habitat along California’s North Coast.
Aramburu Island Shoreline Protection | After the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill, Audubon California identified Aramburu Island in Richardson Bay as critical refuge habitat for birds escaping contaminated waters. That urgency helped spark the Aramburu Island shoreline protection and ecological enhancement project, completed in 2012 to stabilize the island’s eroding eastern shoreline, improve aquatic, wetland, and upland habitat, and strengthen resilience to sea level rise. Since then, thousands of native plants have been installed and volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to ongoing restoration and stewardship.
San Joaquin River Restoration | Audubon California launched the “I’m for the River” campaign with coalition partners to build public support for San Joaquin River Restoration Program (approved by Congress in 2009), working with San Joaquin Audubon, Stanislaus Audubon, Fresno Audubon, and Yosemite Audubon to encourage grassroots advocacy across the Valley. Through local outreach and coalition work, Audubon helped rally support for restoring habitat, clean water, and public access along one of California’s most altered river systems.
2014
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)| Audubon supported SGMA,a landmark law that created a new framework for balancing groundwater use with the long-term health of farms, wetlands, and wildlife habitat; requiring sustainable groundwater management by 2040. Local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) are now required to develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GPSs) to chart a course to 20-year sustainability in overdrafted basins.
BirdReturns Pilot | The initial BirdReturns program pilot launched in 2014 during severe drought, providing habitat where birds need it most. BirdReturns is a collaborative program of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, which is comprised of Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Point Blue Conservation Science, working together to create habitat for resident and migratory birds across the Pacific Flyway. The initial pilot for the collaborative BirdReturns project was managed by TNC in 2014.
Richardson Bay Youth Leaders|Initially launched in 2014, the program helps young people build environmental knowledge, leadership skills, and a deeper connection to local conservation.
2016
Salton Sea Program Established | Building on years of prior engagement at the Salton Sea, Audubon California officially established the Salton Sea Program, deepening its commitment to one of the most important places for birds in North America. Audubon California works in collaboration with partners to ensure habitat restoration strategies address the needs of both birds and people in the region.
Select Salton Sea Milestones
The QSA was a 2003 set of Colorado River water agreements among the State of California and major Southern California water agencies that quantified water rights and enabled large long-term transfers of conserved Imperial Valley water to urban Southern California. A major consequence was reduced inflow to the Salton Sea. Audubon California advocated during the 2003 State Water Resources Control Board transfer hearings, urging regulators to require stronger mitigation for the Salton Sea and to protect future restoration options for birds and habitat as inflows declined.
2016: Audubon California established its Salton Sea Program in 2016. 2018: The establishment of a Salton Sea office in 2018 strengthened Audubon California’s on-the-ground capacity for science, advocacy, restoration, and partnership.
In 2020, Audubon secured federal support for restoration near Bombay Beach—building on emergent wetlands that can both improve habitat and help reduce harmful dust, with thousands of acres of wetlands forming around the Sea from agricultural outflows and springs.
In June of 2020, we released a report titled "Identifying Existing Areas for Habitat Protection/Enhancement and Dust Suppression Projects on the Salton Sea Exposed Playa" that assesses the amount and distribution of these newly emerging wetlands on the exposed playa. It found over 6,700 acres of emerging vegetation including 5,400 acres of vascular plant vegetation and 1,300 acres of algal mat vegetation that provide at least temporary dust suppression for local communities and habitat for birds and other wildlife. These incidental wetlands could be used for lower-effort habitat and dust suppression projects using a less engineered approach by expanding, stabilizing, and enhancing them, as opposed to creating new interventions.
Measure AA | Endorsed by Audubon California and local chapters, Measure AA(one of the first property taxes in the United States helping a region adapt to the effects of climate change) passed in June 2016, delivering sustained regional funding to accelerate San Francisco Bay wetland restoration—supporting habitat for birds while strengthening shoreline resilience. Audubon California and all eight local Audubon chapters supported the measure by organizing phone banks, hosting events, and leading field trips to local wetlands.
Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) | For eight years, Audubon California served as a voice for birds in the federal and state planning process for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, working alongside Eastern Sierra Audubon, Kern Audubon, Kerncrest Audubon, San Fernando Valley Audubon, San Bernardino Valley Audubon, and San Diego Audubon. Finalized in 2016, the plan set a framework for renewable energy development across California’s desert while protecting more than 20 Important Bird Areas and strengthening safeguards for birds, habitat, and other ecological values. Species that stand to benefit include the Golden Eagle, Burrowing Owl, Tricolored Blackbird, Swainson’s Hawk, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
2017
Humboldt Bay Habitat Protected | In 2017, after an 18-month campaign led by Audubon California that included thousands of public comment letters and a lawsuit, the California Coastal Commission denied the original proposed expansion of oyster farming into sensitive bird habitat and eelgrass beds in Humboldt Bay. The revised project, approved later that year, reduced and consolidated existing operations to lessen disturbance in one of the Pacific Flyway’s most important estuaries, including habitat used by up to 60% of Pacific Black Brant and supporting nearly 10% of all wintering shorebirds along the Pacific Coast in the U.S.
2019
AB 454: a State Backstop for Migratory Birds |Audubon supported AB 454, which created a California backstop for migratory bird protections at a time of instability in federal enforcement.
Threatened Status Takes Effect for Tricolored Blackbirds Under California's Endangered Species Act (CESA) | The Tricolored Blackbird was formally added to California’s list of threatened species. Mike Lynes, Policy Director at Audubon California, reflected on a behind-the-scenes advocacy effort to secure protections for Tricolored Blackbirds, beloved birds that nest in large, dense colonies and often rely on farmlands for nesting habitat in response to wetland habitat loss. This breeding behavior puts the birds at risk, as farmers often need to harvest crops before chicks have fledged:
“Sammy Arthur and I were literally walking the swing-vote commissioner through why the species needed to be listed, the night before the vote, writing things out on napkins and explaining the whole colonial nesting process. That moment has stayed with me because it captured both the urgency and the determination to protect Tricolored Blackbirds.”
—Mike Lynes
Protections for beloved Tricolored Blackbirds
The Tricolored Blackbird’s 2019 CESA listing marked a major milestone in the long advocacy effort by Audubon California and partners to secure lasting protections for one of California’s most vulnerable birds.
1994—To get the most accurate Tricolored Blackbird population counts, Audubon California, along with partner organizations, the University of California, Davis, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, coordinate a survey every three years in April . The statewide effort started in April, 1994.
2014—As Tricolored Blackbird numbers continued to fall, California granted the species emergency endangered status under CESA. Audubon supported stronger state protections for the species during this period of steep decline.
2015—The species’ temporary emergency protections expired in June 2015, underscoring the need for longer-term safeguards.
2018—California votes to list Tricolored Blackbird as threatened: On April 19, 2018, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to list the Tricolored Blackbird as threatened under CESA. Audubon strongly advocated for state action to protect the species as population declines continued.
2019—Lasting protections for the Tricolored Blackbird take effect on March 18, 2019, when the species is listed as state-threatened under CESA.
2020
California's Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) Program | California's ACR program launched in 2019, pairing bird-friendly grazing practices with certification and market recognition to help conservation scale across rangelands. Using Regenerative Grazing to sequester carbon, increase grassland climate resiliency, and improve bird habitat, the ACR program partners with sustainable ranches and other working lands partners committed to conservation. Bobcat Ranch became the first demonstration site in California for the Audubon Conservation Ranching program.
California’s 30x30 Executive Order (EO) |30x30 EO elevated nature-based solutions and biodiversity protection within a broader statewide conservation framework. Audubon California sponsored AB 3030, laying the groundwork for Governor Newsom’s October 2020 executive order committing California to conserve 30 percent of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. Newsom’s EO, based on the AB 3030, follows the international movement to set aside 30 percent of the earth’s land area to preserve wildlife habitat and protect against climate change. It also recognizes the rights, stewardship, and wisdom of Indigenous People and prioritizes ensuring the benefits of cleaner lands, waters, and air are shared by all people.
Sonoma Creek Restoration | The Sonoma Creek Enhancement Project restored hundreds of acres of tidal marsh habitat in the North Bay—showing how restoration design can better prepare marshes (and the birds and people that rely on them) for climate change-related threats, like sea level rise and stronger storms.
2023
California's Desert Priorities | Audubon California expanded our work in the Salton Sea region, rebranding it as the Salton Sea & Desert Program, reflecting a broader regional conservation vision including the local team's work on the Chuckwalla National Monument Campaign.
Audubon California's Coastal Leadership Program |The inaugural Coastal Leadership Program cohort launched in Los Angeles County, supporting emerging leaders through six months of skill-building, community connection, and capstone projects focused on coastal environmental challenges—all grounded in the joy of birding.
Assembly Bill 2877 |Co-sponsored by Audubon California, AB 2875 establishes a policy of “no net loss” of wetlands in the state and commits California to long-term gains in both the quantity and quality of wetlands that communities and wetland-dependent bird species depend on. The Legislature passed AB 2875 to protect California’s wetlands in response to the rollback of federal protections under a Supreme Court decision in 2023. (The court’s ruling in Sackett vs. EPA redefined the federal scope of wetlands, removing protections for many streams that do not flow year-round).
Senate Bill 583|Audubon California supported SB 583, creating the Salton Sea Conservancy Act and setting the stage for long-term restoration and governance tools tied to bond funding—helping protect vital habitat for birds and support healthier, more resilient communities around the Sea.
Proposition 4| The $10 billion Climate Bond, supported by Audubon California and coalition partners, was approved by California voters in 2024, unlocking major new funding for climate resilience, habitat restoration, and community protection across the state.
2025
Chuckwalla National Monument | After years of advocacy supported by Audubon and many partners, Chuckwalla National Monument was designated on January 14, 2025—protecting a vast California desert landscape important to birds, wildlife, cultural resources, and climate resilience.
BirdReturns Celebrates 10 years|Since 2014, BirdReturns has provided more than 180,000 acres of habitat through partnerships with over 210 wetland managers and farmers, giving birds hundreds of thousands of birds critical food and shelter along the Pacific Flyway throughout the annual cycle. During the 2021 drought, CDFW supported the partnership’s vision to scale BirdReturns across the Central Valley and into the Suisun Marsh, later allocating $15 million to expand the program across additional regions and seasons.
Permanent Protections for California's Migratory Birds | Co-sponsored by Audubon California, AB 454 passed in 2025 to reinstate andmake permanent the California Migratory Bird Protection Act, locking in state-level protections even amid federal rollbacks.
Inaugural Salton Sea Leadership Program | Audubon California launched the Salton Sea Leadership Programto connect participants with hands-on learning, field trips, and community engagement opportunities that deepen understanding of the region’s ecology, build advocacy skills, and support the communities connected to this unique ecosystem.
Salton Sea Science Brief| A new Audubon California science brief highlighted how shifting conditions at the Salton Sea are creating new opportunities for shorebirds and wetlands, helping inform restoration and future decision-making.
Forming New Alliances on Rangelands |Audubon California's Conservation Ranching program continues reaching new audiences in 2026, bringing together ranchers, bird experts, food advocates, and conservationists through its “Grazed on Bird-Friendly Land” certification. The program highlights how healthy working lands can support birds, resilient food systems, and the long-term stewardship of California’s rangelands.
Bombay Beach Wetland Restoration Received Federal Investment| We’re thrilled to see that the bipartisan package of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations allocated $4 million for the Bombay Beach Wetland Restoration Project at the Salton Sea, a critical investment for the region’s communities. In partnership with Audubon and state and federal agencies, the project stabilizes and expands wetland habitat, improves conditions for migratory birds, and reduces harmful dust from the receding shoreline affecting nearby communities. The funding supports the expansion of public access at Bombay Beach, helping more people experience nature at the Salton Sea through places to walk, birdwatch, and gather outdoors.
