Pacific Birds in California covers some of the most important migratory bird stopovers of the conterminous United States. Humboldt Bay, the Eel River Delta, and Lake Earl are the largest coastal wetlands between the San Francisco Bay and the Columbia River, supporting hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each year.
Humboldt Bay, including the mouth of the Eel River, is designated as a site of International Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN).
Humboldt Bay is also a critical area for Pacific Brant due to the extensive eelgrass beds and the Bay’s location along the Pacific Americas Flyway. Adding in the species within the region’s coniferous and broadleaf forests, almost 450 avian species occur in the Pacific Birds area of Northwest California.
Climate change, sea level rise and human development are the primary threats to this regions’ natural ecosystems. Although drought severity in northern California is far lower than in the south, increased demand for freshwater and subsequent diversions may impact riparian species. Estuaries are the richest and most imperiled ecosystems on the Pacific Coast, with sea level rise being recognized as the most significant threat to low-laying coastal areas. Competing land use issues will necessitate continued restoration and mitigation in the coming years to offset accelerated habitat loss and degradation.
In California, Pacific Birds works on conservation in Coastal Wetlands and Oak and Prairie habitats.
The Coastal Wetlands Strategic plan identifies shared conservation strategies and actions, developed in collaboration with partners in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, to catalyze positive change for Pacific Coastal wetlands in the U.S. over the next ten years (2024-2034). This work is based on a guiding principle that coastal wetlands are most effectively conserved through an approach that transcends political boundaries, regulatory jurisdictions, and public and private ownership to address habitat needs at an ecosystem level.
The Prairie, Oaks and People plan aims to connect timely funding opportunities to the clearly defined restoration needs of oak and prairie ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
The investment strategy and business plan is designed to focus resources on the highest-priority needs over the next 5 years. It also presents funding requests that can be realistically implemented within that time frame. It defines the baseline level of resources needed for conservation partnerships to operate effectively, secure funding, and coordinate and implement on-the-ground restoration work.
Where We Work
