Did you know Great Horned Owl nests with young (NY) are also possible in January? Photo: Mick Thompson/Flickr.
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It’s Official: California Bird Atlas Has Launched!
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Today marks the launch of California’s first statewide Breeding Bird Atlas, a community-powered initiative to document breeding birds across the state and generate the science needed to guide habitat protection, restoration, and long-term conservation planning for decades to come.
Thank you again for joining the California Bird Atlas (CBA) newsletter — your official source for updates from CBA, the newly formed independent nonprofit leading this landmark initiative alongside state agencies, dozens of partner organizations, and (starting today) thousands of birders like you.
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Take 2 Minutes to Join the Atlas Project!
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All birders are now officially invited to join the project by visiting the new California Bird Atlas eBird website here. Simply click “Join Project” (or “Log In to Join Project”), and you will automatically be able to contribute checklists to the Atlas project.
How to submit your checklists:
On mobile (app) | The Atlas is fully integrated with the eBird mobile app. This Quick Start Tutorial video provides a brief overview of how to submit your first Atlas checklist.
On the website (desktop or mobile browser) | You can also submit checklists by entering your observation details and clicking “Submit” on the CBA eBird site.
Please visit the Atlas 'About' page here for resources, basic guidance, and everything you need to begin contributing to this statewide initiative.
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Brandt's Cormorants may return to their colony sites as early as January! Photo: Rick Evans.
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Did you know some of California’s colonial waterbirds may have already returned to their colony sites?
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We encourage all eBird checklists submitted year-round to be entered through the Atlas project (even if they don’t include breeding behavior).
While we’re still a few months from peak breeding season, you can learn more about colonial waterbirds, doves and pigeons, raptors, hummingbirds, desert breeders, and other species with a history of breeding in January in California by exploring January Breeding Activity here.
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Colonial waterbirds. Photo: Van Pierszalowski, Executive Director (California Bird Atlas).
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We will be growing our team, expanding resources, and continuing to build this grassroots movement in the coming months. As we launch, early donations are especially impactful — supporting training, field tools, and outreach in the first critical months. We’re a nonprofit, and every contribution is tax-deductible and genuinely appreciated. If you have the means, please consider making a gift today to help the Atlas start strong — your support right now truly matters. Donate here.
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For more information, see the California Bird Atlas website here.
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