A NOTE FROM OUR TEAM

It’s (almost) Labor Day weekend, and we’ve officially reached the halfway point of our 2024 data collection season! Our research would not be possible without the dedication and support of every single one of our volunteers and partners, so thank you all so much for all the work you’ve put into Project Phoenix this year.

The community we’ve built spans over 1,200 miles of the West Coast and encompasses hundreds of people, all brought together by our love and care for our feathered friends - a pretty incredible feat. While our research is focused on learning how to support birds in ever-smokier summers, we are also here to support you throughout the data collection process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email with any questions or request a Zoom meeting to chat with one of our team members. You can also email us to request N95 masks to help protect yourself if you choose to go birding during poor air quality conditions. We are here for you!

Wishing you all safe & happy birding!

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

As you may have guessed from its name, the European Starling is not native to North America. Starlings were brought to New York in the 1890s by Shakespeare enthusiasts, who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned, including the starling featured in Henry IV. (Fun fact: The starling is only one of 64 bird species that are mentioned throughout 606 of Shakespeare’s works – check out a full list here!)

One hundred of these starlings were subsequently released, and today, there are over 200 million European Starlings across the continent. Given such a short period of time (on an evolutionary scale) since their release, starlings in North America have low genetic diversity. This means that the DNA of starlings on the East Coast of the United States is almost indistinguishable from starlings on the West Coast, a rare phenomenon for isolated groups of the same species.

From a distance, European Starlings appear to be simple, black birds. But up close, their green and purple iridescent feathers shine in the summer and are replaced by brown feathers and white spots in the winter months. You can find starlings in urban environments and the countryside near human-made structures; they are often perched on wires and buildings and feed on the ground in fields and lawns, or at bird feeders.

by Caitlin O’Neil | Communications Lead, Project Phoenix

With fall on the horizon, pinecones will soon be abundant on forest trails all along the West Coast. This simple DIY art project is a family-friendly activity that transforms these bunches of seeds into birdfeeders that can be enjoyed from your yard or balcony!

Supplies needed:

• Pinecone (preferably one with open scales)

• Peanut butter 

• Birdseed

• String/wire

• Plates 

• Butter knife

• Scissors

To begin, you’ll need to find a pinecone! Please do not collect pinecones from protected areas, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, or beaches. Your pinecone should have open scales to provide you with more surface area for your birdseed. Tie your string or attach your wire to the top of your pinecone, it’s important to do this step first, before your pinecone gets messy! Pour out some of your birdseed onto one of the plates - if you’re not sure which birdseed to use, check out this guide from Project Feederwatch! Using the other plate to keep your table clean, use the butter knife to spread peanut butter all over the pinecone, making sure to get the peanut butter into the open scales. Then, roll your pinecone in the birdseed until it's fully covered. Once you’re happy with how it looks, you’re ready to hang it up outside! Make sure to choose an area that is out of reach of cats or dogs and far away enough from windows to avoid collisions. Check out last week’s newsletter for more information on best practices for feeding birds. Now, you can enjoy watching all the many different birds that come by and grab a snack!

Audubon Center at Debs Park:

• Habitat Restoration (September 1st - 8:00 am)

• Somos Semillas - Latino Conservation Through Nuestras Historias (September 14th - 8:00 am)

LA Birders:

• Webinar: SoCal Parrots (September 17th - 7:00 pm)

Los Angeles Audubon & Nature Nexus Institute:

• Open Wetlands at Ballona Salt Marsh (September 8th, 9th - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm)

Morro Coast Audubon:

• Field Trips (September 10th, 14th, 17th)

• Virtual Community Program: The Language of Birds (September 16th - 7:00 pm)

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy:

• Guided Nature Walk (September 7th, 21st)

• Outdoor Volunteer Day (September 7th, 8th, 14th, 22nd)

Pasadena Audubon:

• Field Trips (September 5th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 18th, 21st)

Pomona Valley Audubon:

• Field Trips - RSVP Required (September 1st, 7th, 22nd)

UCLA Botanical Garden:

• Guided Garden Tour (September 7th, 10:00 am)

• Twilight in the Garden (September 19th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm)

UCLA Stunt Ranch:

• California Biodiversity Day Bioblitz - RSVP Required (September 14th, 8:00 am - 1:00pm)

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.