California Bird Atlas

The California Bird Atlas is a first-ever statewide effort to document where birds are breeding across California and how they are using the state’s diverse landscapes. Over five years, birders, community scientists, and Audubon California teams will collect and contribute data on breeding birds across the state, including at our centers, sanctuaries, and beyond.

California is one of only six states that has never completed a statewide Breeding Bird Atlas, despite supporting more breeding bird species than any other place in the country. The effort comes at a pivotal moment, as wildfires, climate change, habitat loss, and increasing pressure on land and water resources rapidly reshape landscapes across the state. Scientists and land managers increasingly need long-term data to understand how wildlife populations are responding.

Audubon California is proud to support this statewide community science effort alongside 28 local Audubon chapters, scientists, agencies, conservation organizations, and birders across California. Together, we are helping build one of the most important biodiversity datasets in state history.

“As champions for all of California’s 600+ bird species and our state’s incredible biodiversity, we are thrilled to help launch our state’s first and only Breeding Bird Atlas. This community-powered initiative is one of the most exciting opportunities to advance avian science and conservation planning for the millions of birds that rely on California to breed, feed, and rest during their remarkable migrations.”

—Andrea Jones, vice president of Audubon California, a founding partner organization of California Bird Atlas.