Landmark BirdReturns Partnership Celebrates 10 years of Creating Habitat for Central Valley Birds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Sacramento, Calif.—Could 29, 2025) – Conservationists and researchers from three nonprofits engaged in safeguarding California’s birds just lately celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Migratory Fowl 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 thousands and thousands of acres of wetland habitat. However by 1984, greater than 90% of that habitat had been eradicated as these wetlands had been transformed into the agricultural engine that the Central Valley is in the present day. Recognizing that this loss threatened the a whole lot of thousands and thousands of shorebirds, waterfowl, and different waterbirds that transfer all through the flyway annually, Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy and Level 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 time, we might often see flocks of Lengthy-billed Dowitcher, Lengthy-billed Curlew, Northern Pintail and different birds utilizing rice fields that also had water on them as a result of there was nowhere else to go,” stated Xerónimo Castañeda, working lands program director for Audubon California. “And that prompted folks within the conservation world to think about working straight with these farmers to briefly flip their farms into habitat throughout migration.”

The preliminary challenges going through the partnership had been formidable. They wanted to construct belief with farmers and develop the sensible data of learn how to flood an agricultural area in a approach that was truly helpful for particular species of birds. Equally, the group needed to construct an understanding of precisely when totally different species of shorebirds wanted essential wetland habitat, and what sort was required. Utilizing this data, the partnership launched quite a lot of native/focused packages, together with with non-public wetland house owners, however these had been restricted attributable to funding availability.

The Nature Conservancy piloted BirdReturns in 2014, making a program model to construct recognition amongst contributors and funders. In the course of the drought in 2021, the California Division of Fish and Wildlife supported the partnership’s thought to scale BirdReturns throughout your complete Central Valley in addition to within the Suisun Marsh. Because the drought continued, the Division 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 higher range of species, past simply waterfowl.

“Whereas technically the partnership is these three nonprofit organizations, in actuality it additionally contains this rising community of farmers, non-public wetland managers, public businesses, philanthropic companions, and lots of others who’re thrilled at how a lot life we’re bringing again into these areas,” stated Julia Barfield, program supervisor for BirdReturns. “Collectively we’ve recreated a lot of the habitat that these birds must survive.”

“The sector administration practices that we’re requested to do are an ideal match for what our fields want at the moment of 12 months,” stated Kurt Richter, farmer and vice chairman of Richter Ag. “We’re not being requested to do something outrageous. What we’re being requested to do are simply good strong practices for our uncooked straw decomp that so occur to be good for the birds, too.”
“BirdReturns has helped our small duck membership to pursue habitat enchancment tasks. The additional revenue from their packages is plowed into the property, which in flip advantages not solely the shorebirds however the geese as properly,” stated Rick Ramirez, landowner, Riverfield Duck Membership within the San Joaquin Area.

One of many vital successes of the Migratory Fowl Conservation Partnership has been the event of a wide selection of species-specific administration practices within the area. Completely different species want water at particular moments of their migration, and there all types of issues to think about, equivalent to water depth and plant communities.

“It’s important that once we’re utilizing restricted sources like water and a farmer’s time, that we are available in with the experience to make sure the largest bang for our buck,” stated Matthew Reiter, analysis director at Level Blue Conservation Science. “Furthermore, all these practices that we’ve researched, documented, and examined within the area implies that our work will have an effect far past the precise tasks that we’ve carried out.”

The Migratory Fowl Conservation Partnership was initially launched with funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Basis. Subsequent funding has been supplied by the California Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bonneville Environmental Basis, and lots of others. Further collaborators embody the California Rice Fee, and the Delta Conservancy.

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Contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org

About Audubon:

The Nationwide Audubon Society is a number one nonprofit conservation group with 120 years of science-based, community-driven influence, devoted to defending birds and the locations they want, in the present day 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 nice for birds is nice for the planet. Via a collaborative, bipartisan strategy throughout habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives significant and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 employees and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing drive dedicated to making sure a greater planet for each birds and folks for generations to return. Be taught extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, X and Instagram @audubonsociety.  

About Level Blue:

Level 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 nature-based options that profit wildlife and folks. 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 science, partnership, and outreach. From the Sierra to the ocean, throughout the Western Hemisphere and so far as Antarctica, Level Blue is making ready for the environmental challenges forward. In 2025, the group celebrates 60 years of influence and a daring new path: Related Conservation. Be taught extra at www.pointblue.org.  

About The Nature Conservancy:

The Nature Conservancy is a worldwide conservation group devoted to conserving the lands and waters on which all life relies upon. Guided by science, we create modern, on-the-ground options to our world’s hardest challenges in order that nature and folks can thrive collectively. We’re 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 a long-lasting distinction around the globe in 81 international locations and territories (40 by direct conservation influence and 41 by companions) by a collaborative strategy that engages native communities, governments, the non-public sector, and different companions. To study extra, go to nature.org.