Mount Diablo Bird Alliance will meet Thursday, June 6, in the Camellia Room at the Gardens at Heather Farm.

6:30 PM Doors Open
7:00 PM Birding Info: Winners of the MDBA photo contest
7:15 PM Announcements
7:30 PM Refreshments and Raffle
7:45 PM Main Program: Conservation Ranching
*as a conservation organization we encourage you to bring your own mug for coffee or tea

7:00 PM Birding info: Winners of the MDBA photo contest
We reviewed your submissions, now it is time to reveal the winners of the fourth annual Mt Diablo Bird Alliance Photo Contest! See who won in six categories: Bird Beauty, Birds and Humans, Birds Dining, Birds in Action, Worst Bird Photo EVER, and Youth: For photographers aged 8-17. (Any type of bird photo can be submitted in this category. Membership is not required.)

Winners and runners-up will be announced at the meeting, so come enjoy the best photos from our local birding community!

7:45 PM Main Program: Conservation Ranching in California
Pelayo Alvarez

Audubon Conservation Ranching Program: Partnering with ranchers to protect bird habitats.

Grassland bird species are experiencing steep declines across California and the United States. In 2019, Audubon launched its Conservation Ranching program (ACR) in California. This program is designed to stem the loss of bird habitat and improve the ecological function of rangeland ecosystems by partnering with ranchers to implement regenerative management practices via a ranch certification program. This presentation will highlight the ACR program components, which include the development of ranch-specific Habitat Management Plans and a third-party certified set of conservation practices to protect and enhance bird habitats while providing additional environmental benefits such as increased soil health, carbon sequestration, resilience to drought and increased biodiversity. Participating producers receive technical assistance and support promoting their certified products. Audubon is building local partnerships with chapters, Resource Conservation Districts and others to support certified ranchers. This presentation will highlight program practices and standards, chapter participation, marketing opportunities and the potential for scaling up and developing new partnerships.

Pelayo Alvarez works as the Director of the Conservation Ranching Program in California. Before joining Audubon, Pelayo worked for the Carbon Cycle Institute where he helped establish carbon farming programs across California. Pelayo has experience working with the ranching community, government agencies, academia and other stakeholders on rangeland conservation initiatives including the development of programs to incentivize good stewardship practices on rangelands. Pelayo also worked for Defenders of Wildlife as the Conservation Program Director for the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition where he coordinated research and outreach activities. Pelayo also teaches Rangeland Ecology and Management at American River College in Sacramento. His previous work experience includes positions at UC Davis, The World Bank and The Nature Conservancy. He has a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine from Universidad de Leon (Spain), a MS degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and a PhD in Ecology from UC Davis.