This Saturday March 16th, the Audubon Center at Debs Park proved that birds and politics do mix well!  We were honored to host Coffee & Birding with Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo of California’s 51st District and 30 local community birders.  We invited our community to come out and bird with Audubon staff and Assemblymember Carrillo’s office throughout Debs Park, featuring breath-taking sights of Downtown LA, cool birds, and great conversations.

The event began at 8:30 a.m.   Birders met at our Center’s courtyard for some hot coffee and pan dulce.  Before the walk, birders had an opportunity to connect with Assemblymember Carrillo and her staff to discuss local issues, avenues for change, and community concerns.  Our community was also able to learn about measures being debated in Sacramento, which provided greater transparency on California politics.  After warming up with some hot coffee, Center Director, Marcos Trinidad and Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo gave a short introduction.  After that, walkers strapped on their binoculars and were off!

The walk went through Debs Park’s City View trail and up to Peanut Lake at the top of the hill.  Peanut Lake is a great birding location with different types of waterfowl, warblers, finches, and even raptors.  Some of the day’s sights included orange-crowned warblers, hermit thrushes, and bushtits.  The highlight of the walk was a Blue heron that flew above the birders across the park!  Throughout the walk, birders were welcome to talk to Assemblymember Carrillo and her team. 

The walk ended back at the Courtyard, where families were excited to learn about the different activities held at the Audubon Center at Debs Park.  We were happy to provide an event that combines our two loves – community advocacy and good old-fashioned birding!  We were proud to be able to provide a fun and unique opportunity for our community to learn more about the birds that surround us every day in Northeast LA and local advocacy.  We hope to see our birders and the rest of the community again for our bird walks on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday of every month and for our Advocacy Days on the 4th Tuesday of every month!