In today's newscast:
The California Bird Atlas takes off
Thousands of birders across California will participate in a community science project this week. The Breeding Bird Atlas will compile data about birds across the state and help inform conservation decisions.
The California Bird Atlas is the nonprofit organizing the effort. Director Van Pierszalowski says California is behind most other states.
"Forty-four of the 50 US states had done at least one statewide breeding bird atlas, 19 had done more than one, four were working on their third, and California had zero," he said.
The effort launched in January and will continue for five years. This weekend, 54 events across the state will encourage people to get out and record observations.
"We welcome all experience levels," said Pierszalowski. "I would suggest just first by taking a look in your backyard."
Seven of the events are in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
Andrea Jones is the vice president for the California program of the National Audubon Society. She says tracking birds reveals the health of entire ecosystems.
"Birds are a bellwether of the environment," she said. "There's the expression 'canary in a coal mine,' and they really do a wonderful job of telling us how the environment is doing. They're very sensitive."
Data from the project will go to the eBird app. More information is on californiabirdatlas.org
Officials temporarily close Lovers Point Beach
The Marine Mammal Stranding Network and partners are responding to a dead whale near Lovers Point Beach. The Pacific Grove Police Department has closed access to the beach through Friday because of fears the carcass could attract sharks.
