Urban Bird Foundation 2016 Annual Report
Dear Friends,
With the help of our incredible supporters, Urban Bird Foundation continues to be a leader in burrowing owl conservation.
In 2008, we rejuvenated a movement to save burrowing owls. It was a hard fought battle that united organizations, communities and people across the state and country. We first came together to protect 25 acres of breeding habitat that 18 burrowing owls called home. It was critical suburban habitat in which 9 pairs of owls were successfully fledging between 27 and 48 young, or more, each year – nurturing a dwindling San Francisco Bay Area population. But this was not just about one habitat or one city or one colony of burrowing owls, it was an all too familiar situation taking place every day across the golden state and beyond.
We formed Burrowing Owl Conservation Network to:
- Lead and support on-the-ground conservation action for burrowing owls and their habitat in urban and suburban environments;
- Provide much needed protection to burrowing owls residing in habitat slated for development or undergoing construction; and
- Advocate for burrowing owls locally, regionally and nationally.
As we expanded our work and evolved into Urban Bird Foundation in 2013, we continued a primary focus on saving burrowing owls while ensuring other birds and wildlife also have a place in our communities. We work to conserve one of the most important and impactful places on the planet — your community! This is a place where you live, work, play, and educate your children. And your community is a place that has the power to significantly shape and change lives.
This year we are celebrating 8 years of challenging inadequate conservation policies, serving as a leading burrowing owl organization, and making progress for birds, people, and communities.
In the 2016-2017 year it is imperative we strengthen communities’ ability to conserve their natural resources and open spaces, transform policies to reduce local impact to habitat and bird populations, work towards a California state-wide burrowing owl conservation strategy, and
mobilize people to support the conservation of urban and suburban birds.
We owe special thanks to our supporters for making many great victories possible and for helping us reach these goals…creating a better, sustainable living for all.
With kind regards,
Scott Artis
Executive Director