Near the north edge of Yolo County, a little-known birding hotspot lies along County Road 98A where it meets State Highway 45. A grove of big valley oaks along the highway tapers into a line of trees, mainly along the east side of the road, with a wide drainage canal downslope along the west side. The combination of oaks, permanent water and farmland edge, plus having the Sacramento River as a migration corridor just across the levee, makes for decent birding. 125 species have been recorded on eBird, including an American redstart in fall 2018.
Now the birding is set to get much better. Audubon California, in partnership with the landowner, River Garden Farms, has proposed to restore forest and wetland habitat along Road 98A. The idea is to link the oak grove along the river with permanently protected wetlands two miles to the south at Roosevelt Ranch. The first phase of restoration will put nineteen acres of trees and shrubs along a mile and a half of both sides of the road. A second phase would create a wider and more nearly natural wetland between the road and the canal. Staff of the Wildlife Conservation Board have recommended approval of the first phase. The Board will vote on the project in early or mid-2022.
This is indeed good news. On the other hand, the WCB did not approve the proposal to improve shorebird and land-bird habitat at North Regional Pond in Woodland, described in this column in May. The proponent, the Yolo Resource Conservation District, will continue to seek funds for what I regard as a sorely needed project. Small amounts of money from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Yocha Dehe tribe will likely allow some planting there this fall or winter.
The contact person for the project at River Garden Farms is Khara Strum of Audubon California, kstrum@audubon.org.
Michael Perrone, YAS Conservation Chair