E2: The Tricolored Blackbird, a Complicated Conservation Story with Robert Meese PhD.

Today we do a deep dive into one of my favorite bird species, the tricolored blackbird. On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robert Meese, a UC Davis biologist who has spent the last almost 20 years studying this threatened bird species, which I feel symbolizes this notion that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to land conservation and wildlife protection, especially in California’s Central Valley. You’ll learn about the historic plight of the tricolored, the cessation of its decline, and future success, which embodies a complex of environmental and social issues that neither I nor Bob are qualified to completely analyze, but we touch on several. We discuss the Tricolored Blackbird Statewide survey, a collective effort most recently led by Bob, which utilizes over 100 volunteers to detect and monitor tricolored numbers across California's Central Valley, Coast Ranges, and Central Coast; the adaptability of this bird species, and how it’s come to rely extensively on an altered landscape, characterized by working lands, agriculture, grazing, and dairies; and touch on Bob’s work with state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and numerous private property owners educating, guiding, and studying the bird, from which he has gained a number of insights documenting patterns of movement across the state. Here's the link to Bob's reference to footage capturing tricolored blackbirds & cattle foraging together: https://vimeo.com/230616322