For Immediate Use Contact: Garrison Frost, (510) 601-1866, Ext. 225
August 6, 2010

Emeryville, CA – Yellow-billed Magpies were observed in 22 of California’s 58 counties during a recent volunteer survey sponsored by Audubon California to help support the conservation of this dynamic species. The survey – held June 4-7, 2010 – was the second annual effort to rally birders all around the state to venture outside in search of the Yellow-billed Magpie.

“We really had a great turnout this year, and that really made a difference in the number of magpies that were observed,” said Andrea Jones, Audubon California’s director of Important Bird Areas. “It really shows how much people love this bird.”

Popular among birders and compelling for conservationists, the Yellow-billed Magpie lives only in California’s Central Valley and Coastal Ranges, and may be may experiencing a comeback after major declines due to habitat loss, West Nile Virus and pesticide use. Voters in an online poll named the Yellow-billed Magpie Audubon California’s Bird of the Year for 2009.

Volunteers in the June survey counted 3,607 birds across 22 counties (up from 18 counties last year), with the most birds counted in Sacramento, Yolo, and San Luis Obispo counties. The highest count of birds from a single checklist was 55 observed in Sacramento along the parkway and many flocks of 40+ in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Yolo, and Monterey counties. The northernmost Yellow-billed Magpies were again observed in Bella Vista, just north of Redding in Shasta County. The southernmost birds were also observed again in Solvang, in Santa Barbara County.

The complete survey report can be found at http://ca.audubon.org/birds/magpie-survey.php

“This information is really useful to those in the conservation community who need to know where the bird is and in what numbers,” said Jones. “The survey also helps us raise awareness about the bird and spread the word about how to help it prosper.”

Audubon California’s Yellow-billed Magpie survey is notable for its simplicity and for how easy it is to participate. People were asked to look for the bird anytime during the survey period and then go online to eBird to register their findings. Participants don’t need to be bird experts and they don’t need to look for birds during the entire survey period.

Data from the survey will be shared with researchers at UC Davis and elsewhere, who are monitoring the Yellow-billed Magpie and identifying ways to help grow the population. Using eBird for data collection ensures that information about the bird is fed directly to bird researchers and conservationists around the world.

About Audubon California
Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of the National Audubon Society. Learn more at www.ca.audubon.org.