California Bird Atlas Board of Directors
Van Pierszalowski
President & Executive Director, CBA
Van's childhood was split between Cambria, CA, and Kodiak Island, AK, where he worked on his father's commercial salmon fishing boat for 8 years. After earning a degree in Anthropology at UC Berkeley, he embarked on a successful career as a songwriter and musician, appearing on TV shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien and CBS News Sunday Morning. Now living in LA, he's fallen in love with the area's varied habitats and stunning vagrant birds, and is continually inspired by its diverse birding community. In 2023, Van completed a California Big Year, recording 503 species -becoming only the second birder to surpass 500 in a single year in the state. He is an eBird Regional Reviewer for Los Angeles County, and leads trips for several local organizations, including Los Angeles Birders and the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Andrea Jones
Vice President, CBA
Interim Executive Director & Conservation Director,
Audubon California
Andrea Jones is the Senior Director of Conservation and Interim Executive Director for Audubon California. For the past 19 years, she has worked with staff and Audubon chapters across the state to implement conservation projects at high-priority Important Bird Areas. She leads Audubon's conservation efforts across the state, with a focus on habitat restoration, advocacy, community engagement, and providing scientific expertise. Andrea played a key role in negotiating conservation agreements at saline lakes, including Owens Lake and the Salton Sea. Andrea also serves as a spokesperson for state and federally endangered species throughout California. Before her work in California, Andrea served as Director of the Coastal Waterbird and Grassland Bird Programs at Massachusetts Audubon Society. She earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts, where she conducted thesis research on grassland sparrows.
Graham Chisholm
Board Director, CBA
Senior Strategist, The Wildlands Conservancy
Graham Chisholm currently is Senior Strategist at The Wildlands Conservancy and has worked in the field of conservation including at The Nature Conservancy, Audubon California and Conservation Strategy Group. He grew up birding in along the Missouri River in Nebraska relying on The Golden Guide to Bird Identification. He co-founded Great Basin Bird Observatory and helped launch the Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas, and co-founded the Bird Conservation Fund with friends to help support grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world. He lives and birds in the San Francisco East Bay enjoying birding in local urban patches.
Kevin Hunting
Board Director, CBA
Former Chief Deputy Director,
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Kevin is retired after a career with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Resources Agency as a biologist, administrator, and policy lead. He has worked in wildlife management, conservation planning, resource assessment, and wildlife policy for over 30 years. His most recent state service was as a gubernatorial appointee under both Governors Schwarzenegger and Brown in the role of Chief Deputy Director for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife overseeing department operations, policy development, administration of department divisions and functions and strategic program growth. During his career, he worked closely with NGO’s and state and national conservation organizations to effect bird conservation throughout the state. While working as a biologist he was the non-game bird coordinator, worked with Partners in Flight on Bird Conservation Plans, and led the effort, in collaboration with experts throughout the state, to develop the most recent Bird Species of Special Concern publication. Kevin is retired and currently resides in Davis, California.