For Immediate Use Contact: Garrison Frost
September 10, 2007(323) 951-9620

Sacramento – An alliance of 16 leading environmental, agricultural and government agencies and organizations have finalized an agreement that charts a cooperative approach for restoring the rapidly declining Tricolored Blackbirds that are an important part of California’s native wildlife. The agreement, hammered out over 18 months, pledges diverse interests to work together as opposed to seeking additional regulatory protection for this species through the Endangered Species Act.

Among the parties to the agreement: Audubon California, California Farm Bureau, California Cattlemen’s Association, California Department of Fish and Game, Sustainable Conservation, University of California, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

California is home to 95 percent of the world’s population of Tricolored Blackbirds, and while recent trends appear to indicate the species numbers have stabilized at around 250,000-300,000 birds, these numbers are far below numbers in the 1930s. They are listed as a state species of special concern. The birds commonly nest in silage fields and other areas around dairy farms in the San Joaquin Valley and in limited areas in southern California, which presents a risk when fields are ready for harvest and young birds cannot yet fly.

“This agreement is an important down payment on the Tricolored Blackbird’s future,” said Graham Chisholm, Audubon California’s Director of Conservation. “Californians have a special responsibility to secure its future, and we’re committed to working with farmers in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys to protect this bird’s nests and young.”

By signing the agreement, participating organizations are committing to working together to help the Tricolored Blackbird survive. Each organization represents a constituency – be it advocate, land manager or farmer – that has something significant to offer to the effort.

“This voluntary, collaborative approach provides the best chance for conserving the Tricolored Blackbird,” said Ashley Boren, Executive Director of Sustainable Conservation, the organization coordinating the partnership. “The alliance has taken on the challenge of increasing the population to a self-sustaining level, and this cooperative conservation provides a model for supporting other species around the world.”

"Cooperative conservation works for wildlife and it works for family farmers and ranchers," said California Farm Bureau Federation President Doug Mosebar. "This agreement recognizes the important role that productive farmland plays in providing habitat for the Tricolored Blackbird."

Bringing everyone into the cooperative agreement will go a long way toward addressing the inherent challenges in the actual restoration work.

According to Steve Thompson, Manager of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s California/Nevada Operations, “Tricolored Blackbirds are particularly vulnerable to large-scale nest failures such as a sudden harvest of their habitat early in the spring. At times you can find up to 80,000 nesting adults on only 40 acres, that’s a significant portion of the entire world’s population. Under this new agreement, the partners will help facilitate management strategies to implement actions spelled out in this plan, including habitat creation, research, monitoring, and outreach.”

This agreement is one of a series of conservation efforts that Audubon California has supported on private lands. The organization’s Landowner Stewardship Program works with private landowners to conserve and restore wildlife habitat on farms and ranches in a manner compatible with existing agricultural operations. Audubon has also helped negotiate agreements with farmers to help protect Tricolored Blackbird colonies. These agreements compensate farmers for delaying the harvesting of silage crops in order to allow the young blackbirds to leave the nest.

The Tricolored Blackbird Working Group included: Audubon California; California Association of Resource Conservation Districts; California Farm Bureau Federation; California Cattlemen’s Association; California Department of Fish and Game; California Department of Food and Agriculture; Central Valley Bird Club; Central Valley Joint Venture; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Pacific Gas and Electric Company; PRBO Conservation Science; Sonoran Joint Venture; Sustainable Conservation; University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Geological Survey; and the Western United Dairymen.

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.