FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Sacramento, Calif.—May 29, 2025) – Conservationists and researchers from three nonprofits engaged in safeguarding California’s birds just lately celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership’s cornerstone program, BirdReturns, which works carefully with wetland managers and farmers to offer much-needed habitat for shorebirds and waterbirds at a time when it’s wanted most. Since its launch in 2014, the partnership has labored with over 200 farmers and wetland managers to offer 180,000 acres of habitat.
California’s Central Valley is a essential hub for the Pacific Flyway, traditionally offering tens of millions of acres of wetland habitat. But by 1984, greater than 90% of that habitat had been eradicated as these wetlands have been transformed into the agricultural engine that the Central Valley is at the moment. Recognizing that this loss threatened the a whole bunch of tens of millions of shorebirds, waterfowl, and different waterbirds that transfer all through the flyway every year, Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy and Point Blue Conservation Science joined collectively to pursue an concept that had by no means been taken to scale beforehand: offering funding to farmers and personal wetland house owners to offer water on their agricultural fields throughout peak migratory months.
“Over the years, we would occasionally see flocks of Long-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Curlew, Northern Pintail and other birds using rice fields that still had water on them because there was nowhere else to go,” mentioned Xerónimo Castañeda, working lands program director for Audubon California. “And that prompted people in the conservation world to consider working directly with these farmers to temporarily turn their farms into habitat during migration.”
The preliminary challenges dealing with the partnership have been formidable. They wanted to construct belief with farmers and develop the sensible information of learn how to flood an agricultural area in a manner that was really helpful for particular species of birds. Similarly, the workforce needed to construct an understanding of precisely when completely different species of shorebirds wanted essential wetland habitat, and what sort was required. Using this data, the partnership launched quite a lot of native/focused applications, together with with non-public wetland house owners, however these have been restricted resulting from funding availability.
The Nature Conservancy piloted BirdReturns in 2014, making a program model to construct recognition amongst members and funders. During the drought in 2021, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife supported the partnership’s thought to scale BirdReturns throughout the whole Central Valley in addition to within the Suisun Marsh. As the drought continued, the Department allotted $15 million for the partnership to develop this system to incorporate extra geographies and seasons. A notable success has been to extend the worth of personal wetlands for a better range of species, past simply waterfowl.
“While technically the partnership is these three nonprofit organizations, in reality it also includes this growing network of farmers, private wetland managers, public agencies, philanthropic partners, and many others who are thrilled at how much life we’re bringing back into these areas,” mentioned Julia Barfield, program supervisor for BirdReturns. “Together we’ve recreated so much of the habitat that these birds need to survive.”
“The field management practices that we’re asked to do are a perfect fit for what our fields need at that time of year,” mentioned Kurt Richter, farmer and vp of Richter Ag. “We’re not being asked to do anything outrageous. What we’re being asked to do are just good solid practices for our raw straw decomp that so happen to be perfect for the birds, too.”
“BirdReturns has helped our small duck club to pursue habitat improvement projects. The extra income from their programs is plowed into the property, which in turn benefits not only the shorebirds but the ducks as well,” mentioned Rick Ramirez, landowner, Riverfield Duck Club within the San Joaquin Region.
One of the necessary successes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership has been the event of a wide selection of species-specific administration practices within the area. Different species want water at particular moments of their migration, and there all kinds of issues to contemplate, resembling water depth and plant communities.
“It’s vital that when we’re using limited resources like water and a farmer’s time, that we come in with the expertise to ensure the biggest bang for our buck,” mentioned Matthew Reiter, analysis director at Point Blue Conservation Science. “Moreover, all these practices that we’ve researched, documented, and tested in the field means that our work will have an impact far beyond the specific projects that we’ve implemented.”
The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership was initially launched with funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Subsequent funding has been offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and lots of others. Additional collaborators embrace the California Rice Commission, and the Delta Conservancy.
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Contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org
About Audubon:
The National Audubon Society is a number one nonprofit conservation group with 120 years of science-based, community-driven affect, devoted to defending birds and the locations they want, at the moment and tomorrow. Birds are highly effective indicators of our planet’s well being, appearing as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and encourage motion. Audubon works throughout the Western Hemisphere, pushed by the understanding that what is sweet for birds is sweet for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan strategy throughout habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives significant and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 workers and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing power dedicated to making sure a greater planet for each birds and other people for generations to return. Learn extra at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, X and Instagram @audubonsociety.
About Point Blue:
Point Blue Conservation Science is a frontrunner in climate-smart conservation, with 160 conservation professionals working to cut back the impacts of local weather change, habitat loss, and different environmental threats by means of nature-based options that profit wildlife and other people. The group collaborates with land and water managers, fishermen, ranchers, farmers, authorities businesses, and others to advance the conservation of birds, different wildlife, and ecosystems by means of science, partnership, and outreach. From the Sierra to the ocean, throughout the Western Hemisphere and so far as Antarctica, Point Blue is getting ready for the environmental challenges forward. In 2025, the group celebrates 60 years of affect and a daring new route: Connected Conservation. Learn extra at www.pointblue.org.
About The Nature Conservancy:
The Nature Conservancy is a world conservation group devoted to conserving the lands and waters on which all life relies upon. Guided by science, we create progressive, on-the-ground options to our world’s hardest challenges in order that nature and other people can thrive collectively. We are tackling local weather change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, offering meals and water sustainably and serving to make cities extra sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make an enduring distinction around the globe in 81 international locations and territories (40 by direct conservation affect and 41 by means of companions) by means of a collaborative strategy that engages native communities, governments, the non-public sector, and different companions. To study extra, go to nature.org.
