For Immediate UseContact: Garrison Frost
May 23, 2007(323) 951-9620

Audubon California and the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society announced on May 23rd that they had reached an agreement with a farmer in Riverside County to help protect southern California's largest colony of rare Tri-colored Blackbirds (see map).

Audubon paid a San Jacinto area dairy an undisclosed amount to delay the harvest of 13 acres of wheat where the blackbirds have set up a dense nesting colony. In return, the landowner voluntarily agreed not to harvest for 30 days. The one-month delay provided enough time for the estimate 5,400 young blackbirds to mature and leave the nest. While the one- month delay is a benefit for the birds, it is an economic hardship for the farmer, which is why a market solution was needed. The nutritional value of the wheat, and hence its market value is lost when the harvest is delayed to this extent.

The estimated global population of Tri-colored Blackbirds is approximately 250,000-300,000 birds, with 99% of these birds occurring in California. The southern California portion of the population, which is geographically and may be genetically distinct from the Central Valley population, has dwindled to perhaps as few as 12,000 birds.

It is estimated that this Tricolored Blackbird colony held over 8,000 adults and fledged over 5,400 young birds. While in most years the Tricolored Blackbirds nest in restored wetlands on California's San Jacinto Wildlife Area (WA), this year the blackbirds set up their colony nearby in a wheat field three miles from the wildlife area.

Recognizing the risk to southern California's largest remaining Tricolored Blackbird breeding colony, Tom Paulek of the California Department of Fish and Game, Area Manager of the San Jacinto WA, alerted Audubon to the need to negotiate an agreement with the dairy farmer to delay the harvest in a portion of the farmer's wheat field.

Tricolored Blackbirds have declined dramatically in the past century as native habitat has been lost in California. With the loss of wetlands and surrounding feeding habitats, Tricolored Blackbirds often nest in agricultural fields, making them vulnerable to nest failure when the fields are harvested before the young birds fledge. Public and private land managers are working to manage habitat for Tricolored Blackbirds in order to encourage the birds to nest in wetlands and other secure habitats as opposed to agricultural fields.

Dr. Robert Meese, a Tricolored Blackbird researcher from U.C. Davis, noted the importance of this buyout for the conservation of the blackbirds in southern California by stating that "it is essential to conserve the largest remaining breeding colony in southern California, as the young birds produced here will help to sustain the species in the San Jacinto area in the future."

The 19,000-acre San Jacinto Wildlife Area, managed by the State of California's Department of Fish and Game, and surrounding agricultural lands are home to the largest remaining southern California population of Tricolored Blackbirds. With rare exception, the birds have historically nested on the San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

The area around the San Jacinto WA is undergoing rapid conversion from agricultural use to residential development in one of California's fastest growing counties.

Drew Feldman, President of the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society, said, "This purchase is a stop-gap measure. We have to preserve the open space around the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and similar open space elsewhere in California or this bird is doomed."

Audubon is part of a statewide working group, including public agencies, farmer and rancher organizations, conservation organizations, researchers from UC Davis and others to develop a comprehensive strategy to protect Tricolored Blackbirds.

For more information contact: Graham Chisholm, Audubon California’s Director of Conservation at gchisholm@audubon.org or Drew Feldman, President of the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society at drew-f@att.net.

About Audubon California

Audubon California is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of Audubon. This relationship links Audubon California to a national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engaging millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.