Dear Project Phoenix community,

As October rolls around, we want to thank you again for participating in Project Phoenix. By going out each week and completing your surveys, you are contributing valuable data on birds that we will use to learn more about our feathered friends and what they need to thrive. Let’s make these last two months count!

We’d love to hear your Project Phoenix story. We love learning about our volunteers: who you are, your motivations, and your experiences volunteering with Project Phoenix. Send us an email or fill out the form at the bottom of our volunteers page linked above. We are excited to highlight more of our amazing volunteers on our website and in future newsletters!

Happy Birding!

Yuka Wu | Communications Lead, Project Phoenix

BIRD OF THE WEEK:

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron of North America, with long legs, a long, slender neck often curled into an “S” shape, and an impressive wingspan of six feet. This bird is bluish gray overall, with a paler face and a dark blue stripe above its eyes. These peculiar birds are often found hunting, where they stand incredibly still, waiting for the right moment to strike their prey. They typically reside in saltwater and freshwater habitats as they hunt for fish, but can also be found in grasslands and parks in search of gophers to snatch. Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers known as “powder down” on their chests that continually grow, never molting, and form fine powder when they break down. The heron applies this powder to its other feathers and its beak using its middle claw, protecting itself from oils and fish slime. They make grunting, croaky calls when alarmed or when landing at their nest.

Great Blue Herons are an adaptable species with an increasing population thanks to conservation efforts, but they have not always thrived. Until the passing of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, herons were hunted heavily for their plumes and faced habitat loss and degradation due to logging, agricultural, and industrial development. Current consevation efforts to protect Great Blue Herons focus on habitat protection and restoration, especially at nesting sites.

Feature Story

What is Molting?

You might have noticed some birds looking odd these days, with scraggly and missing feathers. This can sometimes make them difficult to identify. Chances are, that bird is going through a molt — the process by which birds replace some or all of their feathers by shedding the old and growing in the new. Molting is valuable to birds for many reasons. First, feathers are delicate structures made of keratin that can’t heal on their own, so when they are inevitably damaged over time, replacement becomes necessary. Second, molting provides for seasonal changes in plumage that help birds attract mates during the breeding season and survive winter conditions. Birds also alter their feathers as they transition from juveniles to adults.

Molting strategies are highly variable across species. Smaller birds are able to molt more frequently and can undergo a complete molt or two each year, whereas larger birds may require multiple years to replace all their feathers. Since molting requires a lot of energy, birds must be strategic with the timing of their molts. They typically avoid molting during other energy-taxing times of the year, such as the breeding season and migration. Thus, many North American songbirds molt between these two seasons, in late summer and early fall (right around now).

To learn more about molting, check out these articles in All About Birds and Audubon Magazine. 

Events Calendar

Warbler Workshop

As we enter fall migration season, you might start to see several new species of birds in your neighborhoods, including warblers! In this bird workshop, we will go over how to identify some common warbler species you might encounter. This workshop will take place on Zoom on Saturday, October 4th at 5 p.m. Sign up here.

Coming Up: October Big Day

We are organizing bird walks and sits for October Big Day (Saturday, October 11th). So far, we will have a walk in Pasadena and Los Angeles. If you are interested in leading a bird walk or bird sit in your area please contact us!

In the News

Audubon Washington: Project Phoenix Tracks How Birds Respond to Wildfire Smoke (September 12, 2025).

From Our Partners

Check out these upcoming in-person events offered by our partners and other local bird organizations!

Bruin Birding Club

• Friday, October 3, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Weekly Bird Walk at the UCLA Botanical Garden

UCLA La Kretz Center

• Saturday, October 11, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 14th Annual Public Lecture: Biotechnology for Conservation Success

Los Angeles Audubon

• Saturday, October 4, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open Wetlands at Ballona Salt Marsh

San Fernando Valley Audubon 

• Sunday, October 5, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sepulvida Basin Walk

Golden Gate Bird Alliance

• Wednesday, October 8, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Hilltop Lake Park (Richmond)

Birds Connect Seattle 

• Wednesday, October 1, 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Birds of Seattle Lunch and Learn

Follow us on Instagram @projectphoenix_socal and join us on Slack for more content on birds and Project Phoenix!