Data Owner

Ventana Wildlife Society

Data Access: Level 4

Those who obtain and use these data should contact the Ventana Wildlife Society for permission and sign the Data Center's data sharing agreement.

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Abstract

Banding migratory and resident birds at Andrew Molera State Park, Monterey County, CA.

Purpose

Banding data are used to gather vital information on bird morphology and life history.

Supplemental Information

Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1977 by a group of private citizens to restore endangered species native to Central California.   Since its founding, VWS has been ‘Conserving Native Wildlife and Their Habitats’ through four programs:  1) Conservation Ecology, focusing on the research, assessment and monitoring of songbirds and monarch butterflies; 2) Education and Outreach, focusing on environmental education for all ages; 3) Species Recovery, focusing on endangered species recovery, including the California Condor; and, 4) Habitat Restoration, focusing on rebuilding lost habitats.  Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, VWS employs a staff of eight professional biologists and trains up to 20 interns throughout the year.

Through our research, assessment, and monitoring efforts of songbirds at the Big Sur Ornithology Lab (BSOL) in Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, and other sites throughout Monterey County, Ventana Wildlife Society saves native wildlife by (1) identifying songbirds in decline before their population sizes become critically small; (2) making recommendations to land managers to improve habitat quality to support wildlife in perpetuity and (3) directly interacting with the public.  Last year, VWS reached over 3,000 people through its programs and outreach events.  Further, VWS played a key role in the restoration of the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon to Central Coast of California, and today, we are working to reintroduce the California Condor to the same region.  Success of the condor project is measured by our maintenance of 41 free-flying individuals in the wild and two successful nestings earlier this year, last recorded in the Ventana Wilderness over 100 years ago.

            Ventana Wildlife Society has been recognized as a leader in the areas of conservation, restoration, education and research.  In 1996, VWS was commended by the California State Senate for its distinguished record of serving the recovery needs of central coast endangered species and for instilling a sense of stewardship for the environment through direct educational experience.  Additionally, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Chevron Corporation and other community partners have recognized us for the work we do within the community and in the recovery of the Bald Eagle, in particular, now under federal and state consideration for endangered status delisting.

Contact

Kelly Sorenson: KellySorenson@ventanaws.org