A NOTE FROM OUR TEAM

This week, communities across the western U.S. endured yet another heat wave. Nationwide, firefighters are battling 67 large wildfires, and communities from Palmdale, California to Sunriver, Oregon are under mandatory evacuations. And the fire season is far from over.

When smoke darkens the skies, I am often asked, “how can I help the birds in my backyard?” The truth is that I don’t know yet. There isn’t enough research to recommend any specific interventions to help birds cope with smoke pollution. That’s why I started Project Phoenix – to collect the data we need to learn more about how birds respond to smoke in real time and what habitats and resources they need when it is smoky.

But I do know that we can all do more to help birds thrive year-round. We can lower our carbon footprint to reduce our personal contribution to climate change. We can plant native gardens, prevent bird-window collisions, and keep our cats indoors. We can share our love of birds with our friends and family, so they, too, take action to protect our feathered friends.

Above all, we can vote. Folks in every elected office, from local school board to the White House, have a role to play in helping us address climate change and safeguard our communities and wildlife during the fire season. Wildfires are on the ballot this fall, and showing up to the polls is one of the best ways you can support public health and wildlife conservation in an increasingly smoky world.

We love to hear from our volunteers! What motivated you to join Project Phoenix? Click here to share your story.

Allen’s Hummingbirds (Selasphorus sasin) are a vibrant, migrant species that inhabit a narrow strip of coastal scrub along the Pacific Coast of California and Oregon. The majority of populations migrate to Mexico for the winter months, but others stay in California year-round. They are relatively early migrants, arriving in December and January to catch the flowers that grow during winter rains. They feed on the nectar from gooseberry, sage, manzanita, and other coastal scrub flowering plants. They will also grab insects mid-air or off of plants for protein.

Like many Hummingbird species, Allen’s Hummingbirds’ appearance differs between males and females - a phenomenon known as “sexual dimorphism.” Male Allen’s Hummingbirds have vibrant orange coloring across their body, including a bright orange throat and belly, with green accents along their back. Females and immature males are a rusty orange, with more green coloration. Female Allen’s Hummingbirds are the nest-builders, weaving spiderwebs, flowers, and downy plant materials to build the cup-shaped nest. She will then use lichens, grass, and mosses to camouflage the nest.

UCLA Newsroom has compiled a “Bruin Field Guide” to birds that celebrates and explores the ways in which birds inspire us and are intertwined in our lives. It encompasses stories of how birds have inspired science, art, and music at UCLA and beyond. Check out UCLAvian for more!

Join UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve this Saturday to celebrate California Biodiversity Day by participating in a bioblitz!

The bioblitz is a short outdoor event where people come together to explore and document the plants and animals that live in the reserve. These observations will help inform California’s 30 x 30 initiative progress.

This free event is open to anyone of all ages! RSVP here!

by Caitlin O’Neil | Communications Lead, Project Phoenix

This past Saturday was National Hummingbird Day! This holiday has been celebrated on the first Saturday of September since its inception in 1996. Penny Elliston, a birding enthusiast, founded National Hummingbird Day to raise awareness for the important role hummingbirds play in ecosystems around the world and inspire further engagement in their conservation.

Hummingbirds are a charismatic taxa for many reasons. The 365 species of hummingbirds are incredibly beautiful - their bright, iridescent feathers and long, slender beaks make them stand out from their environment and are always a fantastic sight. Their rapid wing beats enable them to hover above the ground – the only birds capable of doing so. This is made possible by their super fast metabolisms, some of the fastest on the planet, making them an avian physiological marvel! Their tongues, which are rolled to create two tubes, are another unique physiological feature that allows hummingbirds to effectively feed on nectar and help pollinate plants. Just like bees and butterflies,  as hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowering plants, they facilitate the movement of pollen from plant to plant. This allows native plants to continue to reproduce and flourish in their environments.

National Hummingbird Day gives us the chance to slow down and appreciate all that these little birds do for their environment - and for us!

Thank you to all our partners and supporting organizations!

Project Phoenix is grateful to our partners and all the supporting organizations who help our program soar. Visit our partners page to learn more about the incredible work of these non-profit organizations – from science to conservation to outdoor recreation, these orgs are dedicated to protecting our environment for people and the birds we love.