Q & A: Andrea Jones
Andrea Jones
We recently caught up with Andrea Jones, Audubon California’s Important Bird Area director, and asked her a few questions about her work and other stuff.
What drew you to Audubon, and how long have you been working here?
I have been working at Audubon California for two years and before that I worked for Massachusetts Audubon for 13 years. I was originally drawn to Audubon because I wanted to work on conservation issues with birds and bird habitat, and my goal was to do this at an NGO because of the opportunities to interact with the public, volunteers, landowners, managers, etc. That part of the work is very rewarding and I feel like I can make a difference at Audubon.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite is the Pygmy Falcon (an East African bird) because I am fascinated that something like a falcon has adapted to be that small in Africa (smaller than an American Kestrel) and can have the "attitude" and hunting skills of a Falcon like our Peregrine Falcon. It even has big talons. In general, pygmy species are fascinating – like the Pygmy Poppy.
Where is your favorite place to go birding?
I have a lot of favorite birding experiences around the world, but one of my most memorable happened while visiting Mono Lake (an Important Bird Area) two years ago, shortly after I started working in California. I arrived alone early one morning in July, and watched the water whirling with thousands upon thousands of Phalaropes as the sun rose and changed the colors of the lake. I had a poster of Mono Lake on my wall in high school and never knew I would see this place in person, let alone work with an organization that help protect it. I marveled at the migration these Phalaropes take each year that includes a critical stop at Mono Lake, as well as just the scene of this place – the tufa formations, the sage brush, and the surrounding mountains.
Does your background relate to conservation and birds? Or is it something you came to later on?
In high school, I decided I would pursue a career in wildlife management and knew I wanted to work outdoors and make a difference but I didn't really know what that meant. I wasn't a birder growing up, but just enjoyed the outdoors – hiking, camping, etc. After my first summer field tech job studying warblers in Maine, I knew birds were the route I would pursue in my career. My first real job was at Massachusetts Audubon and it was there that I got my real education in conservation.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a restoration project at San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. We've received funding to partner with the refuge to restore tidal marsh habitat for rails, shorebirds, and tidal marsh vegetation at the San Pablo Bay Important Bird Area. I am currently working on setting up a cooperative agreement with the refuge to receive funding, lining up contractors for consulting firms to design and implement the physical restoration, organizing a project budget, and working with other Audubon staff on preparing a research plan at the refuge to measure our success in improving marsh habitat.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're not working, besides birding?
Cross-country skiing.
What do you want Californians to know about the state's environment that they don't already know?
Coming from working most of my career in New England, where the land is more crowded with people, and the landscapes you are working on are, for the most part, remnants or are highly altered and only small parcels remain to protect, I want to tell Californians to love it, learn about it, and protect it while you can. I have been amazed with how much open space and wilderness is still within our grasp (and some too remote to grasp) in California. I can tell you that this is a well-kept secret from easterners. The species diversity here is astounding here, from birds to plants, really like nowhere else on earth and it’s changing fast. But it's not too late.
What are your favorite field guides or other books?
My favorite bird field guide is the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. The best botanical guide I've ever seen was just given to me by a board member, "Flora of the Santa Ana River and Environs" – a must for botanists in Southern California. My favorite novels are anything by Alice Walker.
