Executive Director’s Blog

News and updates on the Conservancy

The Latest at the conservancy

A large Burrowing owl standing on Natomas Basin Conservancy mitigation land.

They’re back!

We are so pleased to see one of the NBHCP’s “Covered Species,” the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), back on Conservancy property! Going back 15 years, the owl used to be seen frequently on Conservancy mitigation lands. At the time, we documented too-common depredation of them by dogs from nearby residential…

Side view of a Swainson's hawk taking flight from the ground, its wings outstretched.

Complex Versus Simple

The Conservancy has worked hard and spent money trying to improve prey production for the Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsonii). The hawk is one of two “primary” species covered under the HCPs. It has our attention due to diminished…

Close-up of an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying overhead from a nearby perch. Its wings are outstretched and its talons visible and long.

Nail Trim Needed?

Conservancy field personnel captured this close-up of an osprey (Pandion haliaetus) flying overhead from a nearby perch. The photo was taken on Conservancy mitigation land associated with a managed marsh complex. In prior years, some called this species…

A Swainson's hawk stands in the middle of an alfalfa field in the process of being harvested.

It Really, Really Works!

The Conservancy causes the planting of various kinds of crops that promote Swainson’s hawk foraging. One of those crops is alfalfa. In this series of photos, you can see a Conservancy alfalfa field in the process of being…

“In essence, the Conservancy provides refuge and sanctuary for wildlife displaced by urban activity in the Natomas Basin.”

– John Roberts, Executive Director