The Conservancy’s preserves have now been infested by smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus). This is going to be very difficult to get rid of, and maybe impossible. According to Cal-IPS News (Winter 2010), one smutgrass plant can produce 45,000 seeds per year. Our concern is that if allowed to spread on Conservancy preserves, Swainson’s hawk won’t be able access prey in a tall stand of smutgrass. Moreover, our standard method of treatment, livestock grazing, won’t be effective because livestock won’t eat it according to a recent UC-Davis Cooperative Extension paper. We’ll have a tough one with this beast. Any ideas out there?
What’s important
We are often asked by outsiders what a day is like at the Conservancy. Otherwise stated: what’s important enough to get your daily attention? We maintain a couple of exhibits at the Conservancy to remind us of what we are really and truly needing to be focused on. In this …