Celebrating 10 Years of BirdReturns

This year marks a decade of BirdReturns—a groundbreaking program that brings together private wetlands managers, farmers, scientists, and conservationists to create vital habitat for migratory birds across California’s Central Valley. To celebrate this milestone, the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership (Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy, and Point Blue Conservation Science) hosted a gathering in Sacramento on April 9, complete with a new video, refreshed logo, and our first-ever BirdReturns Awards.

The celebration brought together growers, agency leaders, researchers, donors, and long-time partners who have shaped the program’s success. Keynote speakers included Chuck Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and State Senator Jerry McNerney, both of whom underscored the importance of continued public investment in habitat programs like BirdReturns. 

For our Working Lands team, the celebration started in the field before sunrise, when they joined other members of the MBCP from UC Davis, CDFW, and others to wrap up shorebird capture efforts for a four-year drought study—part of an ambitious research collaboration with Oregon State University, The Nature Conservancy, Point Blue Conservation Science, and Audubon California. The study explores how limited habitat during drought years affects the physical condition of migratory shorebirds, including Dunlins, across the winter season in California and other coastal sites along the Pacific Flyway. 

Since fall 2023, BirdReturns has continued to build on its success—creating nearly 60,000 acres of seasonal habitat in just one year to support shorebirds and waterbirds. The program also expanded its reach to Suisun Marsh, completing its footprint across the entire Central Valley and reinforcing its vital role in providing migratory birds with the habitat they need, when and where they need it most.

This is the magic of BirdReturns: a science-driven, collaborative approach that works hand-in-hand with landowners to support birds throughout their journey.

We’re carrying the momentum of a decade of BirdReturns into 2025 with renewed energy—and we can’t wait to share what this year’s efforts have made possible. Moments like these, whether in a crowded room of supporters or visiting a Central Valley wetland at dawn, remind us what’s possible when we work together. Thank you to all the wetlands managers, growers, partners, and supporters who have helped make over 180,000 acres of high-quality wetland habitat a reality. Celebrate with us, and watch the new BirdReturns video now!