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LA County Bird Atlas Blocks that need attention
[Posted by Chuck Almdale, submitted by Edna Alvarez]
Just in case you have some time this weekend, or this summer, and want to look for signs of breeding bird activity in areas that have so far gone woefully unexplored, here’s a message from Lance Benner who is keeping his eye on the California Birding Atlas (CBA) sighting reports as they avalanche in. Results are tabulated as they are entered and approved by you, the reporter, unlike our recent state, county and city voting process. Not a criticism though, as all signatures are verified whenever we vote, whereas with eBird, you don’t sign anything, anywhere, ever.
LA County Bird Atlas Blocks that need attention
From: Lance Benner
Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:32:18 PDT
Hi Everyone,
Here are some more bird atlas blocks in Los Angeles County that need attention. All can be accessed by roads and some have had zero coverage so far.
Acton CW
This block includes part of Soldedad Canyon Road and the community of Ravenna. Currently there are zero hours of effort in this block. The habitat includes a lot of open areas with grasslands, chaparral on trails to the south, and riparian habitat along the Santa Clara River. 61 species were coded in this block during the atlas in the 1990s.
Baldwin Park CW
I mentioned this one in a recent email. Although observers have contributed 5 checklists and 2.9 hours of effort, only one species has been coded with zero confirmed breeding. 28 species were reported here during the atlas in the 1990s, but with some effort, we could probably increase that total to at least 50.
Lake Hughes SW
Lake Hughes Road recently reopened following repairs from winter storm damage so a number of blocks are now accessible by car again. This one has riparian habitat, chaparral, easy access to the Pacific Crest Trail (which crosses the road), and side canyons that can be quite productive. 46 species were coded here during the previous LA County Breeding Bird Atlas.
Mescal Creek CW
Any takers on this one? It’s on the north slope of the San Gabriel Mountains and has juniper-pinyon-Joshua tree woodlands, desert scrub, and Mescal Creek and Canyon. During the atlas in the 1990s, observers coded 57 species in this block, so there is a lot to see. Currently there has been zero effort in this block.
Topanga CW
This block still hasn’t received much attention. It includes the southern end of Topanga Canyon Road, the Getty Villa Museum, chaparral, woodlands along canyons, and, unfortunately, some areas that burned in the Palisades Fire. 60 species were coded in this block during the LA County atlas in the 1990s.
If you can cover any of these blocks, we’d love to have your help!
Regards,
Lance
Lance Benner
Pasadena, CA
Malibu Creek State Park
1925 Las Virgenes Rd, Calabasas
Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 8am
This is always a lovely walk past grassy fields and groves of Live Oak. We should see resident species such as Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Acorn Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse and Western Bluebird. Many may be nesting.
We’ll look for raptors, hummers and swifts, flycatchers, swallows, wrens, warblers and late migrants. Lazuli Bunting and Phainopepla are possible. Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and American Kestrel are all nesting raptors. Parakeets too, plus swifts overhead. Are the White-tailed Kites still there? Come and find out. Deer, Coyote and Bobcat and Ground Squirrels are resident though seeing a Bobcat is a rare treat.
Link to prior trip reports: May 2024, Nov 2012, Nov 2011, Nov. 2010
Family guide: 2-3 miles walking on some pavement but mostly crushed gravel and dirt trails. Morning temperatures start cool.
[Directions] From the Ventura Fwy (101): exit at Las Virgenes Rd. Go south on Las Virgenes Rd. for about 3 miles. Continue past the traffic light at the intersection with Mulholland Hwy. The Park entrance is on the right just south of the traffic light.
Coast Route: From PCH, take Malibu Canyon Road inland. The main entrance of the park is on the left about 1.5 miles past the traffic light at Piuma Rd. (Do not turn at the entrance to Tapia Park which is just after Piuma Rd.)
If you don’t have a CA State Park pass, the day-use fee is $12 per vehicle, $11 for seniors, or $3/hour. Go straight after you pass the kiosk. We’ll meet in the second (lower) parking lot. Look for the sign that says “Main Trailhead Parking”. Look for us near the building (restrooms). Either way, allow 45 minutes travel time from Santa Monica.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Main Trailhead parking lot near the bathrooms. Watch for roadside birds on your way into the park.
For additional information, e-mail Jean; reservations not needed: <jeangarrett2001 [AT] aol.com>
[Posted by Chuck Almdale, submitted by Lillian Johnson]
This answers your questions about:
Just what did dinosaurs eat 95 million years ago?, and
Why is that bird hanging around while we’re talking?
Click the link below for the 17 1/2 – minute podcast.
Malibu Creek State Park
1925 Las Virgenes Rd, Calabasas
Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 8am
This is always a lovely walk past grassy fields and groves of Live Oak. We should see resident species such as Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Acorn Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse and Western Bluebird. Many may be nesting.
We’ll look for raptors, hummers and swifts, flycatchers, swallows, wrens, warblers and late migrants. Lazuli Bunting and Phainopepla are possible. Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and American Kestrel are all nesting raptors. Parakeets too, plus swifts overhead. Are the White-tailed Kites still there? Come and find out. Deer, Coyote and Bobcat and Ground Squirrels are resident though seeing a Bobcat is a rare treat.
Link to prior trip reports: May 2024, Nov 2012, Nov 2011, Nov. 2010
Family guide: 2-3 miles walking on some pavement but mostly crushed gravel and dirt trails. Morning temperatures start cool.
[Directions] From the Ventura Fwy (101): exit at Las Virgenes Rd. Go south on Las Virgenes Rd. for about 3 miles. Continue past the traffic light at the intersection with Mulholland Hwy. The Park entrance is on the right just south of the traffic light.
Coast Route: From PCH, take Malibu Canyon Road inland. The main entrance of the park is on the left about 1.5 miles past the traffic light at Piuma Rd. (Do not turn at the entrance to Tapia Park which is just after Piuma Rd.)
If you don’t have a CA State Park pass, the day-use fee is $12 per vehicle, $11 for seniors, or $3/hour. Go straight after you pass the kiosk. We’ll meet in the second (lower) parking lot. Look for the sign that says “Main Trailhead Parking”. Look for us near the building (restrooms). Either way, allow 45 minutes travel time from Santa Monica.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Main Trailhead parking lot near the bathrooms. Watch for roadside birds on your way into the park.
For additional information, e-mail Jean; reservations not needed: <jeangarrett2001 [AT] aol.com>
[Posted by Chuck Almdale, suggested by several people]
Read more about it on the link below
California Bird Atlas calls for public help to map breeding birds
Source: UCLA Newsroom | by Holly Ober | 29 May, 2026
Media Contact: Holly Ober, 310-956-6465, hober@stratcomm.ucla.edu
Key takeaways
- A new project called the California Bird Atlas will document the breeding distribution and timing of every bird species in a defined region, providing a time-bound snapshot of where and how birds use the landscape.
- Bird atlases inform policy decisions around land protection, habitat management and climate resilience. Forty-four states have already completed a breeding bird atlas, but only 15 of California’s 58 counties have done so, capturing just 17% of the state’s land area.
- The California Bird Atlas is a collaborative, multi-year statewide project to document breeding birds, with an inaugural Big Weekend for data collection running June 4-7.
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 