Search for and protect large nesting colonies of tricolored blackbirds on agricultural grain crops that are threatened with destruction due to harvest

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) received a $215,385 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8 to provide services aligned with the State Wildlife Grants program objectives. The award will support CDFW's efforts from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026 to locate and monitor tricolored blackbird breeding colonies on agricultural grain crops in California's San Joaquin Valley threatened by harvest. Key services include fieldwork to detect and assess colonies, outreach to enroll landowners in colony protection programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and collaboration with partner agencies and organizations. The State Wildlife Grants program aims to help state fish and wildlife agencies strategically design and implement conservation programs for at-risk species. This award will allow CDFW to continue proven programs that protect an important habitat for the tricolored blackbird, a priority species under California's conservation plan for the species.

Where possible, reproductive success of breeding colonies will be estimated to evaluate the impact of colony protection programs. These actions are high priority goals of the tricolored blackbird conservation plan (tbwg 2007). This project will continue proven programs that detect, monitor, and protect colonies that occur on agricultural grain fields. Over three breeding seasons, field work will be conducted to locate and monitor all tricolored blackbird breeding colonies on grain fields in the SAN joaquin valley. Landowners will be offered participation in colony protection programs administered by the natural resources conservation service (nrcs). California department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) staff will collaborate with agencies, non-profits, and dairy trade organizations to coordinate fieldwork, outreach efforts, and enrollment in colony protection programs.