Listening to the Land—and the Birds

The early morning light was just beginning to reveal the mountains of Pine Valley as I pulled up to the front gate of Rancho Corta Madera. I was greeted by the chittering of Spotted Towhees in the scrubby oaks to my left, a frosty meadow to my right, and the distant hum of vehicles on the highway behind me.

A moment later, two pairs of headlights appeared on the road, signaling the arrival of the two people I would be joining for that day’s point counts: Mel Preston, a consulting ecologist, and Sam Rapp, a Partner Biologist with Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue). We were here to conduct the first of what will become a regular breeding bird survey on this soon-to-be Audubon Certified Bird Friendly ranch—and notably, the first-ever Rangeland Monitoring Network (RMN) survey conducted by Point Blue in San Diego County.

You heard that right— a ranch in San Diego, a place more often associated with sprawling suburbs and beautiful beaches. In fact, ranching is the largest agricultural land use in the county, making ranchers essential stewards of the land. These working lands consistently maintain the highest portion of native habitat compared to any other agricultural use.
Quality land stewardship is especially critical in San Diego County, the most biodiverse county in the contiguous United States, home to over 520 species of birds. The way this land is managed carries profound implications for the region’s unique species—with birds serving as sensitive, and visible indicators of ecosystem health.

That’s where our early morning bird surveys come in.

Land management is only as effective as the data that informs it. Our point counts—five-minute surveys recording all birds seen or heard within a 250-meter radius at randomly selected locations—contribute to a growing dataset collected through the Rangeland Monitoring Network (RMN), a long-term, statewide program launched by Point Blue in 2014. In addition to supporting this broader effort, the findings will directly inform land management decisions at Rancho Corta Madera.

As part of Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program in California, these surveys are conducted every three years on every enrolled ranch. We follow the standardized RMN protocol developed by Point Blue and contract with Point Blue and other experts to carry out the surveys. The resulting data feeds into Audubon analyses, such as our Bird-Friendliness Index (BFI), which helps us measure the benefits to birds on our certified ranches compared to other rangelands.

Hiking from point to point—across open meadows, through oak and pine woodlands, up steep stream banks, and over hills dotted with shrubs regenerating from last year’s prescribed fire—I was struck by the sheer diversity surrounding us.

A pair of American Kestrels defended their nest in a pine snag from a passing Red-tailed Hawk. Black-chinned Sparrows and Lazuli Buntings called to partners from opposite scrub-covered hillsides. Lark Sparrows and Cassin’s Kingbirds sang from the meadow edges, while a juvenile Bald Eagle circled overhead. And yes—even a surprise mountain lion encounter kept us on our toes!

This kind of fieldwork tells a big story. Bird surveys like these help us understand how working lands support wildlife. For Rancho Corta Madera, the data will directly guide decisions on managing the ranch for humans, cattle, and conservation. And for the rest of us, it’s a reminder: sustainable ranching and biodiversity protection are not opposing goals - they’re deeply interconnected.

As we packed up at the end of the morning—sweaty, dusty, and a little sunburned—I carried with me a sense of profound gratitude. As Manager of Audubon California’s Conservation Ranching program, I consider the opportunity to witness these species and landscapes—and to contribute to their care—one of the greatest privileges and responsibilities of this work.

So, here’s your invitation:
Get outside.
Take time to listen.
Look closely.

Ranches like Rancho Corta Madera are proving that with thoughtful management, working lands can be vibrant refuges for wildlife. They’re part of the solution—and we all have a role to play in recognizing, supporting, and learning from them.