Tricolored Blackbird Research in Monterey County

Chris Wilson, the Director of Conservation Science at the Santa Lucia Conservancy, is placing radio transmitters on breeding tricolored blackbirds on the Santa Lucia Preserve, a private reserve in Monterey County. His research, which started in May, 2012 has found that tricolors on the preserve forage extensively upon the caterpillars of oak moths (Phryganidia californica) high in oak trees, which may be the first time that arboreal foraging has been documented in the species. His work has also shown that breeding tricolors may suddenly cease breeding and move to a different nearby breeding colony. Chris will continue his research in 2013.