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August 20, 2024

SFVAS Urges Action as Sepulveda Basin Fires Continue

This morning at 4:07 a fire was reported in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, between the Wildlife Lake and the 405 Freeway, north of Burbank Blvd. The fire, which reportedly had multiple points of origin, ended up consuming approximately 20 acres of dense brush, with firefighters still on scene 6 hours later. The very welcome…
July 18, 2024

Advocates say homeless encampments in Sepulveda Basin raise fire risk

Check the link below to see Chapter President Kathy Barton interviewed by local KABC 7 Eyewitness News about the hazardous conditions brought on by illegal encampments in the Sepulveda Basin. https://abc7.com/videoClip/15062000/
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July 11, 2024

Homeless: Audubon Society activists pressure elected officials to enforce no-camping rules in Sepulveda Basin

“Our main concern is public safety,” Barton said, adding that the fire danger is so extreme in the Basin during hot summer months. “There’s so much weedy growth and so many encampments.” Click to read full article

SFVAS issues urgent press release in response to dangerous situation in the Sepulveda Basin

PRESS RELEASE Contact: Katheryn Barton 747-237-3720 June 25, 2024: Yesterday June 24, 2024, a brush fire started at an illegal encampment in the Sepulveda Basin resulting in an explosion injuring 11 of our LAFD firefighters, one severely. As reported by KTLA: LAFD Capt. Freddy Escobar, who is also president of the union representing L.A. firefighters,…
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May 25, 2024

Come Celebrate Black Birders Week at Sepulveda Basin!

To celebrate #BlackBirdersWeek2024, San Fernando Valley Audubon will be hosting 2 bird walks at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, one on Sunday May 26, and the other on Saturday June 1. Both will start at 9 am, and be led by Alexander deBarros. Alexander is a black birder who has been interested in birds for…
March 23, 2024

Birdathon 2024 Announcement

LOOK!: Up in the SKY! It’s…it’s… It’s Birdathon 2024! Actually, the picture shows one of our dedicated Birdathon team leaders, Luisa, along with one of her “Young Birders Group in the final Birdathon event for 2023. It is our tradition to hold “Birdathon”, our major annual fund-raising event for the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society…
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December 21, 2023

Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan – Act Now!

Written by President Katheryn Barton, Pat Bates, Joanne Millius, and Muriel Kotin on behalf of the SFVAS Conservation Committee The Sepulveda Basin Vision Plan Public Draft lays out the framework for expanding the footprint of the Los Angeles River and its tributaries throughout the basin, while retaining and expanding recreational facilities, flood and water storage…
May 23, 2023

Allan and Muriel Kotin’s Malibu Area 2023 Birdathon

Earlyish Start: Getting up before 6:00am, I checked the iffy weather forecast and rousted Allan after showering. While warming yesterday’s coffee at 6:44, I watched a flock of Brown Pelicans (#1) fly upcoast over the shore. Many more flocks followed, several accompanied escorted by gulls. At 7:10 an American Crow (#2) flew past. I phoned…
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March 19, 2023

New Tours, New Science!

We've got a fresh slate of dates for tours of the Moore Lab bird collection and some exciting new science to tell you about. Scroll on for links and details. And you might not know it from the weather, but the bird migration season is upon us. The migration count at Bear Divide starts next…
December 28, 2022

Winter Visitors to the Sepulveda Basin: American White Pelicans

While the Sepulveda Basin is a winter home to many species of migratory birds, the largest of these by far is the American White Pelican. Traveling in squadrons and weighing up to 30 pounds with 9 foot wingspans, they are among our largest boreal flying birds. Their breeding grounds extend as far north as central…
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