Frequently asked questions

This program is designed to provide valuable agricultural habitat for shorebirds in fall and late winter/early spring or other periods of habitat shortfall in drought years. The bird species of interest include shorebirds, ducks, geese, swans, and cranes.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with producers to incentivize bird-friendly flooding practices on agricultural land under Farm Bill conservation programs such as RCPP using federal funding. Like RCPP, we are interested in funding certain practices that are proven to work in bird habitat creation. Unlike RCPP, this is not a cost-share program nor does it pay a flat fee for practices, but rather allows farmers to name the price they would be willing to accept to create the desired habitat. While this program is intended to complement NRCS waterbird habitat incentive programs, it is a separate program, independent of NRCS.

Bids can be submitted by the stated deadline using the one-page form on our BirdReturns website for the BirdReturns—Delta Farmlands and BirdReturns—Wetlands programs.

Bids are evaluated based on the flooding length and the quality of the habitat. Habitat quality is determined by The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership (Audubon California, Point Blue Conservation Science, and The Nature Conservancy) scientists based on location, importance to birds, timing, and habitat need. Submitted bids are also evaluated by price with similar properties. The bids with the lowest cost and highest habitat scores are selected for participation.

Payments through this program will be made based on the bid amount ($/acre) submitted by the applicant. Growers are free to include costs they feel are reasonable. A helpful way to think about this is to focus on the additional costs incurred to create the habitat, above those costs normally incurred in the course of farming and/or hunting operations. Also, keep in mind that participants will be partially selected based on the cost-effectiveness of their bid.

No, the program does not require costs to be itemized. The bid form simply asks for a bid stated in the form of $/acre.

We expect that bids will vary depending upon the differing costs of participating in the program, including the cost of acquiring or pumping water. We cannot speculate on whether an individual bid will be too high.

Since the program’s inception in 2014, growers have submitted a wide range of bids reflecting the varied costs across farms. The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership selects bids that are deemed competitive based upon the program’s conservation objectives and the available budget. Bids are evaluated based on duration, timing, cost, and habitat value. Thus, the exact level of competition and price levels will be different for each program option.

Keeping in mind that a neighboring grower may not be selected based on the bids of those selected to participate, program success depends upon fulfilling the commitments identified in the contract. In the unlikely event that a grower is unable to fulfill their obligations, The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership may not be obligated to pay the grower for participation.

The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership will tell each grower if their bid is competitive or if it has been provisionally rejected because it is too high.

Growers with limited access to reliable water during winter may participate in the program if they are confident that they can achieve the desired field conditions. We have heard from growers who intend to participate in the program using water obtained through a variety of means: surface water deliveries (including holding water starting at the date of their district’s closure through the duration of this program), pumping groundwater, etc.

Yes. In addition to adding flooded acres, the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership is interested in maintaining flooded acres of shallow water habitat that is suitable for shorebirds. In addition, the timing of the flooding period is critical for meeting bird habitat needs, so even small changes in the timing of flooding may have significant benefits for migratory birds.

Any lands that are receiving payment, through easements, mitigation, and/or other programs, to create similar habitat during the BirdReturns program are ineligible. But if your current program timeline does not overlap with the timing of this program, you are eligible to participate.

Yes. Fallow fields provide an excellent opportunity to create short-term wetland habitat for waterbirds.

Yes, fields with duck hunting activities are eligible for this program. Field technicians will need to have reasonable access to the flooded acreage for bird observation and water depth monitoring for the duration of the program, but participants will be contacted prior to entry to avoid unreasonable disruptions to farming or hunting operations.

Lessees may submit a bid and participate in this program as long as they are authorized to sign a contract of this kind. This is likely to include a consultation with the landowner to inform the landowner about the program and to ensure that this program is consistent with other management considerations and agreements concerning the property.

Growers should ensure they are in compliance with their local mosquito restrictions and fees. The program takes several basic precautions to reduce mosquito impacts. In early fall, fields within 3 miles of residential or commercial areas are prohibited from participating.

Although some fields may provide suitable migratory bird habitat with no modifications to typical practices, the specific requirements and preferences of shorebirds, a key target species group, require minimal vegetation. Typical practices do not always achieve these ideal conditions. Thus, proper management of vegetation is a critical component of this program’s success and Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership’s ability to continue this incentive.

The program requires participants to achieve certain field conditions, mainly by performing post-harvest mechanical treatment(s) which disrupt the soil and encourage straw-soil mixing and straw decomposition so that the field is free of standing vegetation or matted straw.

For more information, please refer to the field condition requirements listed on the webpage for the program to which you’re applying (Delta Farmlands and Wetlands).

Guidance on required field conditions is provided on the Delta Farmlands and Wetlands pages on the BirdReturns website or on an individual basis with interested growers. Most BirdReturns habitat programs require water management that results in the shallow-depth flood conditions preferred by migratory shorebirds.

For more information, please refer to the water management requirements listed on the webpage for the program to which you’re applying (Delta Farmlands and Wetlands).

Adequate field preparation will be verified during a site visit by field technicians as soon as possible after bids are accepted. Water depths will be monitored throughout the enrollment period.

Field technicians will visit participating fields in order to verify that the habitat conditions are being met (looking at both field preparation and water depth and duration) and to monitor for bird response. Typically, these visits will occur immediately before and during the contract period. Participants will be contacted prior to entry to avoid unreasonable disruptions to farming or hunting operations, but they must allow reasonable access to participating properties for the duration of the program.

If your participating field is determined to be out of compliance, you will be informed and asked to adjust water levels or make other changes as needed to bring your field into compliance. If it is not possible to make requested adjustments, your payment may be reduced, per the terms of your contract. However, growers will have an option to bring their field into compliance with the program’s required conditions.

We expect all selected growers to be confident that they can provide the desired habitat conditions in their field. If lack of rainfall or other extenuating circumstances prevents a grower from maintaining or establishing the habitat conditions, there may be a reduced or zero payment.

The number of passes will not be considered in bid selection. However, if selected, participants must comply with the field condition requirements to fulfill contract terms.