Date: 5/28/26 10:09 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] California Bird Atlas: LA County Blocks that need coverage
Hi Everyone, This will be the first of two emails this weekend about LA County results for the California Bird Atlas. About three weeks ago I highlighted atlas blocks that haven't received very much attention and encouraged observers to go to them and find birds. This email will provide an update on results and describe five more blocks that are effectively unsurveyed so far. Here are quick results for the ten blocks discussed last time:
Sunland NW
May 9: Only 4 species coded with breeding confirmed for zero species.
May 28 update: 30 species coded with zero confirmed. Significant increase in the number of species coded.
Sunland CE
May 9: Only 10 species coded with breeding confirmed for zero.
May 28 update: 13 species coded with breeding confirmed for two.
Canoga Park SE
May 9: No species have been reported.
May 28 update: 11 species coded and breeding confirmed for five.
Topanga NE
May 9: No data.
May 28 update: 12 species coded with five confirmed breeding.
Malibu Beach NE
May 9: Only two species coded with breeding confirmed for zero species.
May 28 Update: No additional species have been recorded here! Eek!
Point Dume CE
May 9: No coverage.
May 28 update: Still zero coverage.
South Gate CW
May 9: No coverage This is a block in the urban core that has zero species coded or confirmed.
May 28 updte: Three species coded and breeding confirmed for one.
Glendora NE
May 9: This block hasn't received any attention yet.
May 28 update: 27 species coded and breeding confirmed for 10. Significant progress!
Glendora CE
May 9: No coverage.
May 28 update: 9 species coded with zero confirmed.
This is a block that includes a chunk of the San Dimas Experimental Forest.
Mescal Creek CW
May 9: Zero coverage.
May 28 update: No additional species yet.
El Mirage CW
May 9: This block has zero species coded or confirmed.
May 28 update: No additional species yet.
Naturally, people keep returning to their favorite spots and are boosting totals in many of those areas, but to complete the atlas, we need to branch out and survey places that aren't getting much (if any) attention.
In addition to the blocks mentioned above, here are five more that have little or no coverage. All are easy to access by car:
Azusa SE
This block has only 16 species coded with breeding confirmed for four. It covers most of Azusa but also a wide stretch of the San Gabriel River near Encanto Park with alluvial scrub, which usually has lesser nighthawks, barn owls, great horned owl, and numerous other things. There's a bike path along the east side of the river and large ponds near the NW corner of the block. This also includes the western end of Glendora Ridge, grasslands, chaparral, freeway bridges, residential areas, a golf course, parks, and a section of historic Route 66.
Baldwin Park CW
This block as 2.3 hours of effort but ZERO species with breeding codes! It's mostly residential but includes small parks, numerous fields at schools, a high-voltage power line corridor, numerous freeway bridges (good for swallows and swifts), and a vegetated section of Walnut Creek east of 605.
Perhaps its most notable attraction is the Original In-N-Out Burger Museum.
Los Angeles CE
This block has received 4.65 hours of effort but only 5 coded species, one of which has confirmed breeding. The block is east of downtown LA, includes Cal State Los Angeles, several parks, a golf course, freeway bridges, open space on some hills, and extensive residential areas.
Oat Mountain SW
This block has 0.2 hours of effort with zero species coded. It includes parts of the northwestern San Fernando Valley and Chatsworth. This area has a lot of residential neighborhoods, hillsides with chaparral and many large boulders, freeway bridges, and a large cemetery.
Sleepy Valley NE
This block has zero effort. It's west of Palmdale. It includes part of Elizabeth Lake Road through Leona Valley, the northeastern end of Boquet Canyon Road, and a lot of open space and chaparral.
So, if anyone could visit these blocks and report birds, we would really appreciate it!
Thank you for your help,
Lance
Lance Benner
Pasadena, CA
One of your friendly LA County Bird Atlas Regional Coordinators
