FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Paula Maxfield
831-246-0425
paula@millermaxfield.com

AUDUBON CANYON RANCH USES GOOGLE EARTH TO VISUALLY HIGHLIGHT BAY AREA'S EXTENSIVE HERON & EGRET NESTING REGION

30 Years of Heron & Egret Research Illuminated in 3-D Imagery and Detail; Community Input & Updates Wanted

January 8, 2008 - Stinson Beach, CA - Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), a leader in conservation science, regional habitat protection and restoration and hands-on environmental education programs, announced today that results from its long-term Heron & Egret Research Project can now be viewed using Google Earth. Land use and natural resource planners and government agencies can now easily access data to ensure the protection of nesting sites, and community members can locate nesting sites in their neighborhoods, or report new sites.

The file can be downloaded from ACR's website at http://egret.org/googleearth2.html

Viewers will obtain information regarding approximately 100 individual heron and egret nesting sites including ground photos from each site, location and historical data, as well as statistics.

The data, now available for use with Google Earth, has been extracted from ACR's extensive Heron & Egret Atlas published in 2006. This long term, ongoing research project, conducted throughout five north bay counties, assesses changes in colony size, location and reproductive success of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and Black-crowned Night Herons.

ACR research focuses on conservation biology and the ecological landscapes associated with ACR sanctuaries, including Marin and Sonoma counties and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Studies address topics in avian conservation, habitat restoration, and wetland ecology.

Community members with new heron or egret nesting information, or those interested in becoming trained field observers, can call 415-663-8203 or email cgrc@egret.org.

About Audubon Canyon Ranch

The mission of Audubon Canyon Ranch is to protect the natural resources of its sanctuaries while fostering an understanding and appreciation of these environments. Through ACR's preservation, education, and research programs, Audubon Canyon Ranch educates children and adults, promotes ecological literacy that is grounded in direct experience, and conducts research and restoration that advances conservation science.

Audubon Canyon Ranch properties include the Cypress Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay, the 535-acre Bouverie Preserve in Sonoma and the 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve in Stinson Beach, which is home to one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest Great Egret and Great Blue Heron nesting sites.

Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) is an independent non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status. ACR is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society. Audubon Canyon Ranch programs are made possible thanks to the contribution of thousands of hours of volunteer service, and donations from caring individuals, foundations and businesses. For more information, call (415) 868-9244, email acr@egret.org or visit www.egret.org.