Photo Credits

Cover photo: James Scott Introduction photo: Jerry Ting Figure 2: Ted Beedy

Figure 3: Gary Kramer

Figure 4: Ted Beedy Introduction As a recognized agricultural and conservation Figure 5: Dave Hamilton organization, the California Rice Commission Figure 6: Jerry Ting is committed to providing key information Figure 7: Don Des Jardin and resources to its growers to help them understand the ecology and specific regulatory Figure 8: Samantha Arthur protections of California’s wildlife. Of particular Eggs in nest (circle): Samantha Arthur concern to rice growers is the status of the Rice field: Brian Baer Tricolored Blackbird ( tricolor), as this species occurs primarily in the Sacramento Group Tricolored Blackbirds: James Scott Valley in mid-summer to late fall and is Male and female Tricolored Blackbirds (circle): intimately related to rice. Ian Souza-Cole Due to widespread habitat loss and several other factors, the Tricolored Blackbird has fallen into hard times, with populations plummeting in recent years (Figure 1). Therefore, it would be helpful for For more information on Tricolored Blackbirds: rice growers to learn more about this species and tricolor.ice.ucdavis.edu Tricolored Blackbirds and Rice the potential impacts resulting from regulations Guidelines to Growers on Ecology, established by state and federal agencies. Regulation and Stewardship September 2017 Figure 1: Recent Population Trend

400,000

200,000

0 2008 2011 2014 2017 CalRice.org General Ecology Use of Rice Regulatory Status, Penalties and Identification The relationships between rice and and Management Guidance The Tricolored Blackbird is a medium-sized Tricolored Blackbirds are complex. The Tricolored Blackbird is a candidate for listing under both songbird that closely resembles the familiar Initially, in late spring, soon after the state and federal Acts. Additionally, and abundant Red-winged Blackbird the rice is planted, the tricolor the species is protected under the Migratory Treaty Act (Agelaius phoeniceus). The male tricolor has wades through flooded fields which is enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This glossy black plumage, a red wing patch, and and soft mud to consume the Act makes it illegal for anyone to take or possess any migratory Male and female Tricolored Blackbirds a bright white wing bar (Figure 2), unlike the sprouted seeds. This interval , or the parts, nests, or eggs of migratory birds without male red-wing which has duller plumage, an lasts for only a few days and a permit. Penalties for violations are up to $15,000 and/or orange-red wing patch, and a pale or no wing ceases when the sprouts Recommended Best imprisonment for up to two years (16 U.S.C. § 703-712). bar (Figure 3). The females of the two species have grown sufficiently to be Management Practices The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is are nearly indistinguishable, with the only unattractive to foraging birds. currently conducting a status review to determine if listing reliable plumage difference being the streaking Then, for an interval that lasts Efforts to repel Tricolored Blackbirds are only appropriate the Tricolored Blackbird under the California Endangered on the breast and belly. In the female tricolor, several weeks, the tricolor can be in situations where nesting is not occurring. Species Act (CESA) is warranted. As a “candidate species,” the streaks merge into a chocolate brown belly highly beneficial to the rice grower by To repel foraging blackbirds, including tricolors, make the Tricolored Blackbird is fully protected under state law. (Figure 4), while the streaks continue through consuming vast numbers of aquatic insects, loud noises while standing conspicuously in the vicinity Unauthorized take of Tricolored Blackbirds is prohibited, the belly on the female red-wing (Figure 5). including larvae of the water scavenger beetle (Family Hydrophilidae). The larvae of many aquatic of foraging flocks and appear on roads around fields during with take defined as to “hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, Unlike the red-wing, which is widely distributed insects feed on young rice plants. Thus, by the approximately two-week interval when the rice is or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill” (Fish & throughout North America, nearly all tricolors live consuming large numbers of aquatic insects, nearly ready for harvest. Audio, visual, or mechanical Game Code, § 2050-2115.5). Penalties range from $25,000 to in California, and during the breeding season tricolors are reducing the impacts of insects on devices can be used as deterrents within the bounds of $50,000 for each violation and/or imprisonment for up to (February to July) they occur in dense colonies the growing rice. Later in the summer and early the take avoidance measures detailed in the last section one year (Fish & Game Code, § 12008.1(a)). sometimes consisting of thousands of birds. in autumn when the rice is almost ready to of this brochure. CDFW has produced take avoidance measures for Tricolored In the Central Valley, the tricolor usually breeds harvest, blackbirds, including tricolors, feed on Depending upon the amount of non-cropped, Blackbirds. They state that the use of live falcons or drones to twice: once in the San Joaquin Valley (in March the ripening rice and may cause reductions in natural areas around your farm, you haze Tricolored Blackbirds is considered take and is, therefore, and April) and again in the Sacramento Valley (late yield in affected fields (Figure 7). could encourage habitat types that are prohibited. Audio devices (predator calls, electronic noise, May through July). Following the breeding season, helpful to this species. The types of air/propane canons, etc.), visual devices (light reflecting both tricolors and red-wings and other species of vegetation most useful to them for objects, predator decoys, lasers, etc.), and mechanical blackbirds occur together in large flocks in the their nesting and loafing include devices (rotating rods, or other continual motion Sacramento Valley, often in fields of ripening rice cattails (Typha latifolia), tules devices) can be used as deterrents if employed prior (Figures 6 and 7). These multi-species foraging (Schoenoplectus acutus), and to nest establishment. However, if these methods flocks persist in the Sacramento Valley until Himalayan blackberries (Rubus are used after nests are established they could cause mid-November, following the rice harvest, when armeniacus). Maintaining and/or nest abandonment and, therefore, their use is not many birds move down into the Sacramento- expanding these plant types in recommended as they could result in take. Dogs can San Joaquin Delta while others disperse into smaller your open space areas could be be used as a visual deterrent during the non-breeding groups and move throughout the Central Valley and helpful to the recovery of the species, season if they are under the control of their owners and coastal regions in search of food resources that are but they may also increase conflicts not pursuing birds. Dogs chasing tricolors is considered often associated with livestock and cultivated fields. during the non-breeding season. pursuit, which is take.

Figure 2: Male Tricolored Blackbird Figure 3: Male Red-winged Blackbird Figure 4: Female Tricolored Blackbird Figure 5: Female Red-winged Blackbird Figure 6: Multi-species flock (Tricolored and Red-winged Blackbirds) Figure 7: Blackbirds foraging in rice Figure 8: Tricolored Blackbird chicks