California is 16,527 blocks, and every one has a story.
The California Bird Atlas maps where birds live and how they use the landscape, one 3×3-mile block at a time. But every block is also a place someone loves.
Maybe it’s where we live or work, where we had one great morning, where we first heard a Wrentit sing, or where someone special taught us to really listen.
Sponsor a block for $100 to support the Atlas. If you’d like, tell us what that piece of California means to you or someone you care about, and your story will go on the map, right beside the birds.
Your sponsorship stays on the map through the end of the project, and every sponsor will be acknowledged in the planned Atlas book.
Recent stories
The Atlas, block by block
California has more breeding bird species than any other state, and more than 60% of them are declining. Yet it's one of the few states that has never had a statewide Breeding Bird Atlas. The California Bird Atlas is changing that.
From 2026 through 2030, thousands of volunteers are surveying more than 16,500 blocks and recording breeding evidence: a singing male, a carried twig, a fledgling begging for food. Together they're building California's first statewide baseline of where and when birds breed. That baseline will map breeding ranges for 300+ species, show how nesting timing is shifting with climate, and feed into state wildlife databases that guide habitat management, land protection, and conservation decisions.
Your $100 sponsorship supports the project as a whole, not just one block. It helps make the whole map possible.
Three steps to put your story on the map
Find your block
Search for a town, a trailhead, or an address, tap Near me, or just wander the map. Any block without a sponsor is available.
Sponsor it
Sign as yourself, a group, or "Anonymous." Add a message about what the place means to you, or someone you're honoring, if you like. Then complete a secure $100 payment.
We review and publish
An Atlas team member reads every submission before it goes live, usually within a few days. You'll get an email when your block appears. It stays on the map through the end of the project.
Good to know
Do I have to survey the block I sponsor?
No. Sponsorship has nothing to do with who surveys a block. You aren't responsible for it, you don't get exclusive access, and anyone can still atlas there. That said, we'd love for you to visit and submit your observations. Getting started is easy.
How will my sponsorship be recognized?
Your name and story will stay on this map through the end of the Atlas project, and sponsors will be acknowledged in the planned Atlas book. If you'd rather not be named, you can sponsor anonymously.
Do I have to write a message?
No, a message is optional. Without one, your block still shows as sponsored, with your name (or "Anonymous"). You can also add an "In honor of" line without a message.
Can more than one person sponsor the same block?
At this time, each block has one sponsor. If your favorite spot is taken, try another place you have a connection to (big or small).
Can I sponsor more than one block?
Yes. Each block is a separate $100 sponsorship with its own story.
Why is my message reviewed?
We check each submission for spam and inappropriate content before it goes live. We may also fix obvious typos, but we won't change what you've said. If we can't publish a submission, we'll refund it.
Where does the money go?
Sponsorships support the California Bird Atlas as a whole, including fieldwork in hard-to-reach blocks, the Atlas's eBird project portal, and staff time for coordination, science, and outreach that helps turn Atlas results into conservation impact.
Is my sponsorship tax-deductible?
Yes. The California Bird Atlas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 33-2290415). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Can I sponsor a block as a gift?
Absolutely. Use the "In honor of" field to name the person you're celebrating or remembering, and it will appear with your story.