Tricolored Blackbirds being saved

Audubon is working with a local dairy farmer to help save thousands of rare Tricolored Blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) nesting in his wheat field, AP story:

Audubon California will pay the farmer an undisclosed amount to delay harvesting 13 acres of wheat where thousands of the birds are nesting, the organization said in a statement released Tuesday.

Delaying the harvest until June 12 will give the young birds time to mature and leave the nest, but also will cause the unidentified farmer to lose money because the nutritional value of his crop will be reduced.

Tricolored Blackbird links