Central Valley Joint Venture

08/18/2026

A new tracking technology is helping researchers better understand how birds move across the Central Valley.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System, developed by Birds Canada, uses small, lightweight radio tags that weigh as little as 0.2 grams and emit unique signals that can be detected by receiver towers up to 9–12 miles away.

Find out how this system can help direct conservation dollars to specific basins where they’ll be most useful.

https://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/motus-wildlife-tracking-is-revealing-bird-movements-across-the-central-valley/

08/12/2026

A new bird viewing platform is coming to Staten Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The San Joaquin County Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for a 2,875-square-foot viewing platform at The Nature Conservancy's Conservation Farms & Ranches near Thornton. Designed to accommodate up to 80 visitors at a time, the platform will provide a safe, comfortable, and accessible space for the thousands of birders who visit annually to view sandhill cranes and other migratory species of the Pacific Flyway.

The project reflects a growing recognition that connecting people to wildlife and wild places is an essential part of conservation.

https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_2911f272-e939-4815-aad9-18c0521c738e.html

08/03/2026

New state parks are on the horizon for the Central Valley, and they are set to bring important benefits for both wildlife and communities.

The proposed Feather River State Park and San Joaquin River Parkway State Park will expand access to nature, offering more opportunities for recreation, education, and connection to the region’s rivers and landscapes.

At the same time, these parks will place key riverside forest habitats into permanent protected status for birds and other wildlife.

In a region with fewer protected public lands than other parts of the state, these parks are a meaningful step forward for conservation.

https://www.islands.com/2189389/three-new-state-parks-california-heart-central-valley-preserve-outdoor-fun-natural-beauty/

07/29/2026

California now has a statewide Bird Atlas project.


Thousands of participants across the state documented breeding birds in as many habitats and locations as possible during the inaugural June 4-7 event, while dozens of local bird and conservation groups hosted community events.


This collective effort is helping build one of the most comprehensive statewide snapshots of bird distribution and breeding activity ever assembled. CVJV Management Board member Audubon California is a founding partner of the California Bird Atlas.


Everyone can participate in this ONGOING project through eBird! Go to https://www.californiabirdatlas.org/ to learn more and find out how you can get involved.

07/23/2026

Hello Board Members and Partners,

I’m excited to share an upcoming event that promises to be both informative and inspiring. On August 11th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Road to Recovery and several of our partners are hosting a dynamic conversation about the role of incentive programs on private lands in advancing bird conservation. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from experts from across North America representing Audubon, Birds Canada, Delta Wind Birds, Point Blue, Smithsonian, TNC, Virginia Tech, and more.

The event will feature discussions on incentive program design, share stories of success and lessons learned, and explore strategies for effective monitoring and growth. Whether you’re curious about new approaches or eager to learn from past experiences, this gathering will offer valuable insights for everyone involved in bird conservation.

If you’re interested in joining, please click the link below to register.
Click Here to Register

R2R hosts webinars, forums, and engagement sessions that support collaboration and shared learning among conservation practitioners, researchers, and partners

07/23/2026

The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge supports millions of birds along the Pacific Flyway, including many of the same ducks and other waterbirds that depend on the Central Valley.

In 2024, the refuge ran dry and more than 100,000 birds died in one of the worst waterfowl die-offs on record. In 2025, thanks to coordinated conservation action by CVJV Management Board member organization California Waterfowl Association and many other partners, the refuge was flooded at scale for the first time in decades, and bird populations rebounded dramatically.

But the threat hasn't gone away. As drought becomes more frequent and more severe, long-term solutions are urgently needed to ensure water reliably reaches these critical wetlands.

Read our recent blog post to learn what's at stake and what's possible.

https://www.centralvalleyjointventure.org/the-lower-klamath-refuge-could-once-again-become-a-vibrant-habitat-for-ducks/"

The Lower Klamath Refuge Could Once Again Become a Vibrant Habitat for Ducks Duck and geese populations on the Lower...

07/20/2026

The Klamath Basin plays a vital role in the Pacific Flyway. Thanks to DU and all of our partners for their collaborative efforts maintaining the habitats that sustain our migratory bird populations!

07/20/2026

The work of our partners supports so much more than migratory birds!

07/17/2026

From mid-April through mid-July, shorebirds such as the American avocet, black-necked stilt, and killdeer rely on permanent and semi-permanent wetlands, along with shallowly flooded rice fields, to nest, forage, and raise their young.

These habitats provide the mix of shallow water, mudflats, and open ground that breeding shorebirds need during this critical stage of their life cycle.

That's why CVJV is working with partners to add 45,800 acres of permanent and semi-permanent wetlands by 2030, helping ensure these iconic shorebirds continue to find the habitat they need to thrive.

Learn more in our 2020 Implementation Plan at centralvalleyjointventure.org

07/07/2026

This July, we're celebrating one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States: the bald eagle.

This bird is also one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. Once driven to the brink of extinction by habitat loss, populations have rebounded across much of the country thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts.

Yet in California, bald eagles remain listed as endangered and are one of 38 at-risk bird species, subspecies, and distinct populations identified in the CVJV 2020 Implementation Plan.

To ensure they continue to thrive, CVJV is working to restore and protect the seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands as well as riparian habitats and oak woodlands that bald eagles rely on throughout the Central Valley.

So this Independence Day, we celebrate not only our nation's freedom but also the power of conservation that helps ensure bald eagles and countless other bird species continue to soar over California.