Make a Gift!
Support Our Work
Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device
What kind of birds do you see in your backyard? These DIY Binoculars can help you spot birds all around! Check out this video to see how to make your own using materials you can find around your house. Make your own and show us what cool birds you've seen in your backyard!
YOU'LL NEED:
At the direction of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Centers across the country will remain closed to the public until at least June 30th. We will not be hosting any in-person community events during this time. However, our team continues to work hard from home to produce virtual content for our website and social media channels. You can check out this content on Instagram, Facebook, or the Audubon California Youtube channel - we have Backyard Birding Tips, Nature Arts & Crafts activities, and more!
At the direction of local public officials, the Debs Park trails are now reopened for pedestrian access. The parking lot off of Griffin Ave. adjacent to the Center will remain closed through June 30th, however the pedestrian gate has been reopened. We are happy that the local community can once again enjoy the park and take advantage of the healing qualities that nature has to offer, but please ensure that you are a wearing a mask and maintaining adequate social distancing measures if you choose to visit. Additionally, please be aware that gatherings of any kind are still prohibited.
We look forward to the time when we are able to once again gather in person, in whatever capacity that may look like. Although we are extremely grateful to live in a time where we can continue to connect virtually, we sincerely miss working alongside our valued volunteers, community members, and partners! Please let us know if there’s any way we can support you during this time.
While continuing our work at the Rio de Los Angeles State Park, Center Director Marcos Trinidad was able to see a least Bell's Vireo! This bird is a federally endangered species due to loss of riparian habitat and cowbird brood parasitism. This was an especially exciting sighting, as there were no recorded sightings of the least Bell’s vireo in the park since 2017 - this sighting will help us justify the designation of a portion of the LA River as an Important Bird Area (IBA), which would be a huge win in terms of habitat protection for our local and migratory birds.
Birds’ beaks, feet, and bodies are adapted to help them survive. Make your own bird using cut up scraps of paper and some glue! How does its beak help it eat? Is it short and stout like the seed-eating house finch or is it long and thin to help it fish like the avocet? What about its feet – how do they help your bird navigate it’s environment? Don’t be afraid to get creative – make it as silly and colorful as you can imagine! And don’t forget to name your bird!
California Thrasher is a medium sized bird with long tail and feet, and a long curved bill. You definitely cannot miss it! They are mainly insectivores are often in the ground sorting through leaves or poking into the ground with it’s beak. Occasionally, you will also see them eating fruit especially from coffeeberry, toyon, and other native plants. During breeding season, you will often find them in pairs and they will likely even remain together for a year taking care of their young and foraging together. California Thrashers are considered to be a flagship species of chaparral are only found in California and Baja California. If you are at Debs Park, you will occasionally see them around the yucca in our parking lot, but often you will have to go scouting for them. When you do catch a glimpse of them however, your hard work pays off.
Like the California Thrasher, Chaparral yucca is a native plant in California and Baja California. It is part of the yucca family and contains a cluster of sharp, point and rigid leaves. These leaves had a lot of uses from our Tongva indigenous community. They would use them to weave baskets, make rope, sewing, and natural soap to name a few. The highlight of this plant however, is the flower stalk that grows after 5-10 years when the plant reaches maturity. The flower stalk reaches 10-15 feet and displays clusters of bell-shape white and purplish flowers. These flowers can only be pollinated by the yucca moth, who has a symbiotic relationship with this plant. Without yucca moths, this plant will not be able to exist. After pollination, this chaparral yucca will die, however the flower stalk will remain intact for more years, providing a perfect perch for a lot of birds. You can find these plants through our Center and parking lot, and if you are lucky, you will find them flowering.
Words from the Center Director, April 2020 from estefania palacio on Vimeo.
Words from the Center Director, April 2020
The Audubon Center at Debs Park is currently closed through at least April 30th. All Debs Park hiking trails are also closed to the public until further notice, due to the mandatory citywide park closure order. We will continue to keep everyone posted in regards to the status of the Center and surrounding trails as we receive further direction from the relevant authorities, as well as the National Audubon Society. During the Center closure we will not be offering any in-person programming or events, however staff have been working hard from home to create fun and family-friendly educational activities for our social media audience, so please consider following us if you are not already doing so!
Staff have been checking in on the Center and the nursery regularly (while maintaining social distancing) and we are happy to report that the park itself is currently thriving, blossoming, and full of life. Pictured above is Blue Eyed Grass in the Center courtyard, Bush Sunflower along the driveway trail, and a water lily in the Center pond. Although the park is no longer accessible, we hope that everyone is still able to enjoy nature in some capacity during this time - whether it be in your backyard or on a walk around the neighborhood. We especially recommend backyard birding as a great way to pass the time outdoors. It’s times like this when it is especially important to remember the ways in which nature can serve to connect, heal, and ground us.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, concerns, or thoughts as we all continue to navigate these uncertain times the best that we can.
One of the most important foundation species of the coastal sage scrub community is the California sagebrush. The California sagebrush, Artemisia californica, is a highly aromatic native shrub that belongs to the asteraceae family- that’s right the sunflower family. It doesn’t exhibit bright flowers like most plants in this family, but if you look closely, you will find small white flowers on the top of each stalk. This native plant is also one of the most drought-tolerant that can withstand thriving with no water in the California summer months. This plant is earned the nickname “cowboy cologne” because it is told that cowboys from the wild west used this plant as a natural deodorant to freshen up. The cowboys were not the only ones the used it however. Our local indigenous Tongva community also uses this native shrub for its amazing medicinal properties. This plant was brewed in teas for respiratory sickness, and gynecological aide for menopause, menstrual cramps and child labor pain. Amidst all the social distancing, be on the lookout for this plant around your neighborhood!
One of our most common birds at Debs Park is our little Bewick’s Wrens. Although very small, these little ones are full of energy and a lot of noise. Very similar to the House Wren, however these little ones have a super prominent white eye brow or supercilium. Their diet mostly consists of insects and you will constantly find these wrens hopping from plant to plant, ground to plant, turning leaves over, climbing on trunks, or looking through crevices. They are extremely active birds! Like their foraging behavior, their songs are also very active, versatile, and can differ quite immensely based on geographic region. To catch a glimpse of wrens it is best to learn it’s song and track it by sound since they are so small. Come check us out at our park and catch a view of the Bewick’s Wren!
You can find nature all over your neighborhood. Nature Journals make it easy to keep track of what you’ve seen on your walks, bike rides, and hikes! Check out this video to see how to make your very own Nature Journal at home!
Get creative and make your journal unique!
YOU'LL NEED:
Make your own and show us what you've seen on your nature walks!
How do you fill out your nature journal? Check out the guide below to see how best to log information from your nature walks:
We send out periodic emails about programs, events, and volunteer opportunities at the Center.
Audubon Center at Debs Park is located at 4700 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Center Hours:
Trail Hours:
You can help us continue to deliver this outstanding programming to the Los Angeles area by making a generous gift today. Thank you!
