OUR MISSION: Conservation Through Education, Advocacy, Land Management, and Monitoring
A San Diego County Chapter of the National Audubon Society
We are listening and learning.
"There's a quiet privilege to forgetting history. There’s also a sin in omitting it. We forge stronger ties to our public lands by knowing them from their inception." On Juneteenth, read writer and ecologist Dr. J. Drew Lanham's reflection on the steps we can take to make public lands an even more inclusive ideal.
BVAS UPDATES
Conservation Research of Western
Burrowing Owls in San Diego County
with Colleen Wisinski, Wednesday, September 20
Social: 6:45 p.m., Program: 7:00 p.m.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) Burrowing Owl
Recovery Program is a conservation initiative aimed at protecting
and restoring the population of Burrowing Owls in San
Diego County. Recognizing the decline of these charismatic
birds due to habitat loss, urbanization, and other threats,
the SDZWA has implemented a comprehensive strategy to
aid in their recovery, including population monitoring,
conservation planning, captive breeding, and public
education. Through collaborative efforts with local
communities, landowners, and government agencies, the
SDZWA works to conserve and enhance Burrowing Owl
habitats and to develop effective management practices.
Colleen Wisinski is the Conservation Program Manager for this program, where
she has worked for the past 14 years. Colleen earned her bachelor’s degree in
biology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and her
master’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State
University-Boseman. She also worked as a wildlife rehabilitator, where she
trained raptors for education purposes, and as a Whooping Crane tracker,
where she used radio and satellite telemetry to monitor them. She is currently
the Chapter Representative for The Wildlife Society’s Western Section.
Join us via Zoom to learn more about these endearing birds and what is being
done to help them in our region.
Please RSVP to Bob Crowell at bva3ruddyducks@att.net if you would like to join us on Zoom.
The Zoom link will be emailed to you on the day of the lecture.
Have you missed a Monthly Program, or Want to Watch it Again?
Please see Zoom Lecture Series for past lectures (just one month past).
Did you know BVAS has its own youtube channel? Here, you can view past monthly programs, and San Diego County birds, plants and animals around the Buena Vista Lagoon. The link for our youtube channel is found at https://www.youtube.com/@
Summer Camp 2023 was a success! Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers that made this a special week for a group of young people.
Kids' Clubhouse is Back!!!
The kids’ clubhouse program is back with a new look! Nature Guide, Liz Black, along with her two crafty daughters, Phoebe and Sonya, will host a fun-filled nature-based activity. Join them at the Nature Center on the second Sunday of each month from 10:00-noon. The family tortoise, Frodo, will make occasional appearances as well. Please bring your elementary-aged children and grandchildren to the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center and enjoy these activities for free. Remember, masks are still required indoors at the Nature Center.
Preserve Calavera and Dorrance Family Foundation fund the next Phase of the Wetlands Reserve Restoration Project
BVAS is grateful to the Dorrance Family Foundation and Preserve Calavera's Oceanside Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Fund for funding Phase 2 of the Wetlands Reserve Restoration Project. For more information.
The Nature Center is now open!!
Our Nature Center is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Come and enjoy our new exhibits and new look!! We have a shortage of Nature Center hosts right now, so best to call before visiting the Nature Center to ensure we are open. However, our beautiful native garden and Lagoon Trail are always open! You will also find a new loop that takes you through coast live oaks.
Note on Events, Birding Tours, and other Activities
Please see our newsletters for the most current information and calendar on these activities.
Important Updates on the BVAS Wetlands Restoration Project!!
BVAS is at the beginning stages of the next step in this important project: the 65% design, permitting, and CEQA. In 2022, we finished our first year of designing the restoration of the Wetlands Reserve, culminating in an open house December 1 to share the results and preliminary conceptual plan with the public. This was the 30% design, a conceptual map based on the studies and surveys conducted on the project site. This powerpoint presentation describes the project and proposed preliminary plan. BVAS will soon reach out to the public for input on the proposed 65% design. Stay tuned! For more information: buenavistanature@gmail.com. Thank you to the Dorrance Family Foundation and Preserve Calavera's Oceanside Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Fund (OGHGERF) at the San Diego Foundation for funding this important work.
BVAS received media on our Wetlands Reserve Restoration Project: Channel 8 and San Diego Union Tribune.
Thank you to the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians generously awarded BVAS a $2,500 grant to support our nature center and programs. BVAS appreciates the support, which will help with our efforts to enhance our exhibits and nature center experience.
Help Save Oceanside's Farmland in South Morro Hills!
The city of Oceanside is in the process of updating its General Plan, and preparing a community plan for the South Morro Hills agricultural area- the South Morro Hills Community Plan (SMHCP). While it says its primary goal is to preserve agricultural land, it allows thousands of housing units. That is not farmland preservation, it is more sprawl development that we all pay for. We pay for it with more traffic congestion, air pollution, and higher costs for public infrastructure of roads, and water and sewers. What you can do.
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON OCEANSIDE'S GENERAL PLAN AND SMH!
BVAS and the Buena Vista Creek restoration project: we want your input!!!
Buena Vista Audubon Society is partnering with the City of Oceanside and Dudek to help restore a section of Buena Vista Creek near Lake Blvd and Thunder Dr. The City was awarded a $275,800 grant from the California Department of Water Resources in 2020 to plan and design a restoration project for this heavily urbanized and degraded section of creek. This stretch of creek has been marred by stream bank erosion, overgrown areas, and trash and pollution from illegal encampments. The grant will fund planning, design, and community engagement activities. These activities include engineering a design for stream bank stabilization and riparian vegetation restoration, creating plans for public access opportunities, and community outreach.
The City will host follow up workshop (in-person or virtual) in 2023 following the completion of technical studies and design based on feedback from the first presentation (from 2022).
For more information on the project, and to see the video, please go to: https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/water/services_programs/clean/default.asp
BVAS now accepts online donations & membership!
You can now become a BVAS member, or renew your membership, and support the Nature Center by giving on-the-go or from the conform of your home by visiting our online payment portal: https://bvaudubon.org/donate/.
Our Mission
Conservation Through Education, Advocacy, Land Management, and Monitoring
Mailing Address
Buena Vista Audubon
PO Box 480
Oceanside, CA 92049
Nature Center
2202 S. Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-439-BIRD
(760-439-2473)
Hours
Sunday CLOSED
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 10 am-1 pm
Wednesday 10 am-1 pm
Thursday 10 am-1 pm
Friday 10 am-1 pm
Saturday 10 am-1 pm