Friends of the Swainson's Hawk

06/18/2026

Hope for the future of land use planning -

Cofer’s exchange with an unresponsive board exemplifies a generational shift in local politics.

06/18/2026

very shameful and would be very destructive to Swainson’s hawk population that nests in Natomas if Fish and Wildlife and State Water Board don’t stop this. The unnecessary project has the biggest impact on Swainson’s hawk nesting we’ve ever seen - 14 active nest sites will be destroyed. Suitable habitat is all occupied - these pairs will be locked out.

Sacramento County supervisors voted on the Upper Westside Project housing development after months of delay.

06/14/2026

Enviro friends - this project is a stalking horse in the assault on ESA and CESA. It directly interferes with the implementation of two (linked) habitat conservation plans and will permanently diminish the range and populations of rare and threatened wildlife in Natomas Basin, esp the Swainson’s Hawk. The barn is burning, folks. Please help out. https://www.ecosacramento.net/2026/06/upper-westside-vote/

Can you even imagine approving a town the size of Galt in just one meeting?? With little to no public input? Well, that’s what the County Board of Supervisors is poised to do, on June 16, 2026. Learn more at https://www.ecosacramento.net/2026/06/upper-westside-county-vote-june-16-n-magazine/

06/09/2026

Wow

06/03/2026

Dave Harper grabbed some great shots of second year Swainson's Hawks in Solano County recently. Thanks for sharing Dave!

05/31/2026

Every raptor’s journey starts somewhere, and for many rescued eggs and babies near us, it starts at the California Raptor Center. 🐣

When eggs arrive at the CRC, they are placed in incubators set to mimic a mother’s warmth. Hatchlings are fed multiple times a day by volunteers wearing puppets and masks so the babies never imprint on humans, giving them the wild life they deserve.

As they grow, they meet their own species, learn to be raptors in the wild, and eventually move into hack boxes—the final stepping stone before their release. The door to the box is eventually opened, and they can leave on their own.

Through our Adopt-A-Bird program, your gift keeps this whole process going. You’ll receive a certificate of “adoption” (please send an email 📧 to [email protected] indicating the type of bird you would like on the “adoption” certificate), two glossy photos of a bird, and more information/stories about your nursery “adoption.”❣️

🔗 Visit this link to get started: https://give.ucdavis.edu/VRAP/V160BIR?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Image Description: A close-up photograph of three Northern Harrier chicks huddled together in a ground nest made of dry grass and straw. The chicks are covered in soft white downy feathers with small dark beaks and eyes. Two chicks face forward while a third nestles beneath them. The background is softly blurred dry grassland. White bold text at the bottom reads "Adopt The Nursery" with the subtitle "California Raptor Center" in smaller text below.

05/24/2026

“Mom, can we visit Ember and Citrine at the California Raptor Center?”

“We have Ember and Citrine at home.”

The Ember and Citrine at home: 🍏🍎

Forget an apple a day—we prescribe a visit to the CRC to visit Ember and Citrine! Stop by any time from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays, and 9 am to 12 pm on weekends! 🦉

Image Description: A 2x2 grid of four photos. Top left: a green apple sliced in half, showing the core and two seeds, on a white background. Top right: a close-up portrait of a Barn Owl with a warm brown and tan heart-shaped face, looking directly at the camera. Bottom left: a red apple sliced in half, showing the core and seeds, with whole red apples blurred in the background. Bottom right: a close-up portrait of a Barn Owl with a pale white and cream heart-shaped face, looking directly at the camera.

05/15/2026

Endangered Species Day is today
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1401923008633245&id=100064466783186

Today is Endangered Species Day! A reminder that wildlife protection works when we choose to act. 🐺🦋🐋

For more than 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has helped prevent the extinction of 99% of listed species, protecting the wildlife and wild places that future generations deserve to inherit.

From wolves and whales to pollinators and shorebirds, every species plays a role in keeping ecosystems healthy and connected. But many still face threats from habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and political attacks on wildlife protections.

Today, we celebrate the progress made, the species recovering, and the people fighting every day to defend biodiversity.

Because protecting endangered species means protecting the future we all share. 🌎

05/15/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1413330247497145&id=100064605502401

In honor of Mother’s Day, Meet Toriel, a Swainson’s Hawk, visual surrogate mother, and Education Ambassador at the CRC! 🍃

Toriel arrived at the California Raptor Center in August of 2010 with an injury to her right wing. She was also born with reduced extension in her left wing and still cannot fully spread her wings. To improve her wing extensions, Toriel received physical therapy from professionals at the CRC, but it was determined that she could not fly well enough to survive in the wild. She became a permanent resident at the CRC, and because of her calm behavior around humans, she became a great candidate to be an Education Ambassador!

Toriel is sometimes used as a visual surrogate mother for young Swainson’s Hawk orphans that are in the CRC’s rehabilitation program. To prepare for their release, they watch Toriel perform natural behaviors and learn how to act like wild Swainson’s Hawks. 

✨Toriel is named after Toriel from Undertale, due to her being an excellent “tutorial” bird for volunteers learning raptor handling skills and young Swainson’s Hawks learning survival skills!

Image Description: A close-up photo of a Swainson’s Hawk perched on a green carpet-covered bar inside a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Its bright yellow feet grip the perch as it looks directly into the camera.

05/10/2026

Go for it!

May is a special time at the Cosumnes River Preserve—it’s Migratory Bird Day season! 🐦

Each spring, thousands of birds pass through the Preserve, using this vital habitat to rest, refuel, and continue their incredible journeys. From colorful songbirds to soaring waterfowl, it’s one of the best times of year to witness the beauty and diversity of migratory species.

Stop by, bring your binoculars, and experience the sights and sounds of migration in action. Every visit is a reminder of how important protected spaces like this are for wildlife.