Our latest letter - describing recent victories and challenges.
Galt Winter Bird Festival, High School Wildlife Sculpture Contest. Thanks to Dakota Tharp for winning second place with a sculpture of a Swainson's Hawk!
Update on Swainson's Hawk Migration: Natural Heritage Networker (newsletter of California Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Division) reported "The Swainson's hawk migration was exceptional this year with 8,868 hawks counted, breaking the previous record of 5,378 . . . . The birds migrate through Borrego Springs twice a year." They are counted by the Borrego Valley HawkWatch. Obviously, the migration includes more than California nesting Swainson's Hawks.
Update on Swainson's Hawk Nesting: 2011 was the highest nest failure year in our memory in the Sacramento area. Poor weather conditions for nesting and nestlings significantly reduced reproduction this season. We'll be checking on other areas as well. To keep up with Swainson's Hawk news, join our Yahoo Discussion Group and Facebook page.
Our Research. We've completed phase 1 of our evaluation of CEQA mitigation for Swainson's Hawks and have received funding to move on to phase 2. Thanks to our consultant Melinda Bradbury for keeping the project on track.
Update on the Army Corps of Engineers Levee Vegetation Removal Policy We and our allies were successful in halting implementation of the Army Corps' scorched earth policy on levees in California. Many thanks to the State of California Water Resources and Fish and Game for leading the fight. Fish and Game recently joined a lawsuit against the policy.
Recent Events:
Free Program October 27. It was great connecting with about 75 folks at REI for our fall free educational program. Informative discussion by state scientists Todd Gardner and Mike Bradbury about their observations of Swainson's Hawks in our region; exciting photos by Robert Sewell; and inspiring presentation by Lori Ward for neighborhood action group, Friends of Sutter Landing. Thanks to our co-sponsors - Sacramento Audubon, SARA, REI, Friends of the River Banks and Friends of Sutter Landing Park.
Nest Site Field Trip June 26. Frank Gray, Michael Bradbury and Ross Campbell led the trip for our largest turnout ever. Only one nest site was available to visit. The group also got an excellent tour of a Natomas Basin Conservancy preserve. In coming years we will be doing reservation only field trips to better control the size and impact of the group.
Return of the Swainson's Hawk at Sutter's Landing Park Saturday April 9, 2011
Plan to join us the second Saturday in April, 2012 for this event. Thanks to co sponsors and helpers, we had a great welcome for the return of the Swainson's Hawk with California Raptor Center, Sacramento Audubon Society, Friends of the River Bank and Save the American River Association. Photos by Robert Sewell below.
