As you may have heard, a recent study found that nearly one in three birds have been lost since 1970. Grassland birds have been hit the hardest. Their populations have declined an average of 53% since 1970.
Photo by Kevin Cole
Here in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, our native grassland birds rely on patches of bare ground between the grasses and occasional shrubs. Burrowing owls search for squirrel burrows in the ground to den in. Raptors such as white-tailed kites and red-tailed hawks depend on open spaces in the grass to spot prey. But invasive plants almost completely cover patches of bare ground, and even when they die off and dry out in the summer, the gray desiccated husks still cover the ground in a dense layer of thatch.
The sad news was hard to miss; nearly 1,700 news outlets reported on it. The nation was shocked and saddened, and the most common response was: “How can I help?” Despite the bleakness of these findings, there is reason for hope. The sheer magnitude of the media coverage and people’s immediate reaction of wanting to fix this, shows that people care and a ready for positive action. As a result of the demand, the website 3billionbirds.org was created to make the findings available and list ways for people to help. One of those ways? Plant native plants.
Here on the Central Coast, we’re working hard to ensure that birds can always call this home. Our work at the San Marcos Foothills Preserve is specifically designed to improve bird habitat. The Preserve contains over 50 acres of open grassland habitat, and such an expanse is found almost nowhere else in the Santa Barbara - Goleta area. While the Preserve is home to one of the best and most extensive native grasslands in the region, much of the grassland habitat on the Preserve is covered by invasive annuals like ripgut brome, black mustard, and other species from Europe and the Mediterranean region. These don’t provide the habitat structure that many grassland-dependent birds need.
Channel Islands Restoration is working to restore grassland habitat throughout the region. This is our second year of bringing sheep to the San Marcos Foothills. We bring the sheep in and they graze intensively for short periods of time. The sheep trample the thatch and eat everything they can reach – invasives and natives alike. Luckily, many of our native grasses are perennial – meaning they survive year after year – and can regrow from their deep roots. We are hoping that, over the course of 5 to 10 years, the acres of native grassland and the numbers of individual native grasses and their associated wildflowers will increase. This takes time, patience, hard work, and more money.
We are also working on 1,500 acres of open grassland at the northern edge of the Los Padres National Forest, along the ridge of the Sierra Madre Mountains. In 2019, we conducted a comprehensive biological survey of the “Sierra Madre Potreros” to understand its need and potential for habitat restoration. In these areas, an average of 72% of the species are native to the area. We are currently fund raising to support restoration of native grassland in the potreros. Again, this will take time, patience, hard work, and money, but we think that we can make a difference for birds.
Your support of Channel Islands Restoration makes this work possible. There are still many things you can do to help as an individual, but know that your support, whether as a volunteer or donor, means you are making a difference.