On September 6, 2007, I personally saw 11 Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) on the Kismat tract in the Conservancy’s Central Basin Reserve Area. This is the first time these birds, some having wing spans of 80 inches, have been seen on Conservancy preserves. While the birds are not one of the HCP’s “covered species,” they are nonetheless striking in their beauty and sheer size, and at least in recent history, are unusual in the Natomas Basin. The group was wading in water control structure “K” on the preserve, and white faced ibis (an HCP covered species) were in the same area. Truly a breathtaking scene.
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 nest success. We don’t want that metric to decline. We need more,… Continue Reading Complex Versus Simple