Hello!

My name is Yuka Wu, and I am the Communications Lead for Project Phoenix. It has been such an exciting couple of weeks for our team, with data collection in full swing and extensive press coverage of our program. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to share their excitement for Project Phoenix 2025! Your enthusiasm and dedication to our project shines through in our conversations and email correspondence, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to connect with you all and share our appreciation for birds.

I am currently planning a series of community events for the 2025 season of Project Phoenix. Several volunteers have expressed interest in participating in virtual events this year, and we are brainstorming what these might look like. As we plan future events, I would love your input! If you have any ideas for community events (such as trivia, virtual coffee breaks to chat about birds, workshops on backyard bird ID, etc.) that you’d like to see on the calendar, or thoughts on ways we could better connect our volunteers across the West Coast, please share those suggestions with us.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up and started their surveys! We are so grateful for all the time and energy that you put into Project Phoenix, and we hope you are enjoying your weekly birding sessions :)

Sincerely,

Yuka

Yuka Wu (she/her), Communications Lead | Project Phoenix

BIRD OF THE WEEK: Rock Pigeon

The Rock Pigeon, also known as the Rock Dove, is considered by many to be a pest or nuisance – “rats with wings” that overcrowd city streets and skylines. But these spectacular gray birds were not always pushed to the curb – they were originally domesticated by humans over 5,000 years ago! Rock Pigeons were likely domesticated due to their incredible ability to return home from faraway locations. This ability was harnessed to create “pigeon posts” all across the globe. The Romans, Genghis Khan, and soldiers in World War I and World War II used pigeon posts to deliver mail across their vast empires.

Today, Rock Pigeons are found all across North and South America and in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa! Their ability to thrive in urban environments supports their expansive range. Pigeons have adapted to urban life by making nests in overhangs, stairwells, and rain gutters, which mimic the nooks and crannies of cliffs they use for nesting in the wild. Both male and female Rock Pigeons incubate their eggs and feed their young.

IN THE NEWS

The Los Angeles Times: Hardcore birders and casual sparrow spotters: Science needs you (July 1, 2025)

KNX News: Volunteers needed to study the effects of wildfire smoke on birds (July 1, 2025)

LAist: This UCLA research project needs your help studying birds after wildfires (July 6, 2025)

JOIN OUR WEEKLY BIRD WALKS

Join us on our weekly bird walks on Tuesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County! This is a great chance to meet and talk with other Project Phoenix volunteers and team members in the L.A. area while enjoying all the wonderful birds who call the nature garden home.

VIRTUAL SEMINAR

Out of the Fire, Into the Smoke: How wildfire smoke impacts birds with Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot

Join Project Phoenix and Birds Connect Seattle on Wednesday, August 6th from 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. for an evening seminar with Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, Program Director here at Project Phoenix. Olivia be giving a talk all about how wildfire smoke impacts birds. She will share what we know so far about the effects of smoke on avian physiology, behavior, and reproductive success and highlight opportunities for you to get involved in critical research on this urgent conservation topic. If you are interested in tuning into this talk, please register. The event is open to members of the public and there is no fee to participate.

MEET OUR PARTNERS

Birding with San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

Join a bird walk with the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society on Saturday, July 26th at Hansen Dam! More than 280 species of birds have been spotted at Hansen Dam, a spot that also holds the record for greatest number of species seen in a day in the San Fernando Valley – 120! Learn more about the event here.

Neighborhood Bird Outings with Birds Connect Seattle

Birds Connect Seattle is hosting a series of accessible, family-friendly bird walks in neighborhoods across Seattle this summer. From Green Lake to Ballard to the waters of the Puget Sound, these birding outings are a great way to get to know the diversity of birds in the Pacific Northwest and meet fellow birders. Learn more here.

Virtual Office Hours

Do you have a question about our survey protocol? Are you struggling to use eBird? Feeling a little lost on species ID? Come chat with us! Our team hosts virtual office hours upon request. Just send us an email at projectphoenix.socal@gmail.com, and we’ll set up a time to chat on Zoom.

COMING SOON: Volunteer Spotlight

Our Volunteer Spotlight is dedicated to celebrating all the wonderful volunteers who make Project Phoenix possible!

We’d love to share your story. Consider telling us more about your journey to Project Phoenix by filling out the form at the bottom of our volunteers page.

We encourage our volunteers to let us know why they’re excited about Project Phoenix, but we’re keen on learning more about you, too! Here are some questions to think about:

• When did you first become interested in birding?

• What is your favorite place to explore, or just be outside?

• Do you have a favorite bird (or more than one)?

• Tell us about a memorable birding experience.

• What are you hoping to learn from participating in Project Phoenix?

We’d also love to celebrate your nature photography, artwork, writing, and other creative endeavors. Feel free to send us examples of your art and photos of your birding adventures to projectphoenix.socal@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you soon!