About the project
Most raptor species rely on perches for hunting, resting, preening and roosting and in many agricultural areas the availability of adequate perches can limit raptor abundance and diversity. This has negative implications for both raptor conservation and for the provisioning of natural pest control services for farmers. Installing artificial perches on agricultural lands can therefore benefit both raptors and farmers. However, little work has been completed to test the effectiveness of different types of installed perches for attracting raptors to agricultural lands. Furthermore, installing perches under current practice specifications is difficult on California’s 38 million acres of rangeland, where rocky soil and large areas can be restrictive to anchoring poles belowground.
In 2017, we started a two-year project to design, install, and monitor artificial perches on The Nature Conservancy's Dye Creek Preserve in Tehama County, California. The project is funded by the California Conservation Innovation Grant, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Use the links below to learn more about our findings, our modified perch design, the raptors that we are trying to provide perches for, and the pest-control services they are likely to provide.
In 2017, we started a two-year project to design, install, and monitor artificial perches on The Nature Conservancy's Dye Creek Preserve in Tehama County, California. The project is funded by the California Conservation Innovation Grant, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Use the links below to learn more about our findings, our modified perch design, the raptors that we are trying to provide perches for, and the pest-control services they are likely to provide.
notes from the field
Our blog about the project.
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artificial perchesLearn about the perch design we settled on, how to construct your own perches, and tips for installation.
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about raptors
Learn a little about the raptor species that we observe using artificial perches on California farms.
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preliminary findings
We will share our preliminary findings and student projects here.
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Our Team
Learn about the people we work with.
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slideshow
See some of our best photos from the field.
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