This past weekend, our partners at the Putah Creek Council brought 22 volunteers out to Audubon’s Bobcat Ranch in Winters. Photo: Amy Williams

They harvested over 25 pounds of ripe acorns from over 25 blue and live oaks around the ranch. Photo: Amy Williams

They then washed and packed the acorns for cold storage. Later this winter, when conditions are right for germination, more volunteers will plant these acorns on public and private properties throughout the Putah Creek watershed. Photo: Amy Williams

Once established, these oaks will provide food, nest sites, perches and shelter for a huge variety of our native birds. Oak woodlands, which are declining throughout the state due to disease, development, lack of recruitment and other stress, host over 160 species of birds, including Lark Sparrow, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Nuttall’s Woodpecker and Western Bluebird. We are pleased to be able to support these volunteer-driven efforts to improve habitat conditions for wildlife. Photo: Amy Williams