The California Building Industry has filed a petition with the California Fish and Game Commission to "delist" the Swainson's Hawk.  That means removing the species from the protections of the California Endangered Species Act.  This means that the impacts on the species will not longer be identified and mitigated under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The Commission is scheduled to act on this petition at its meeting in Sacramento, December 16-17,  and our petition must be submitted by December 1.  So let's get this petition rolling!  We are asking the Commission to reject the building industry petition and maintain the Swainson's Hawk listing as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act.  

The California Building Industry petition relies heavily upon a 2018 survey of California Swainson's Hawks published in 2022 that extrapolated an estimate of 18,000 nesting pairs based on a survey that counted 265 pairs.  This study finding is highly suspect, dependent on data manipulation and highly speculative modeling assumptions.   A similar study published in 2019 by respected wildlife biologists estimated a population of 3,800 nesting pairs. Credible wildlife biologists tell us there has been a growth in the Swainsons Hawk population thanks to the protections of the California Endangered Species Act, but the claim of 18,000 nesting pairs in California is clearly off-base.  Growth couldn't be that fast. These two estimates are wildly different.  That alone signals suspicion. Protections should remain in place. 

If the Commission accepts the building industry petition in December, that will kick off a year to 18 months of research and discussion by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  This is a misuse of the Department's limited time and resources which should be focused on how to conserve and protect California's wildlife, especially its most vulnerable populations.  If we can persuade the Commission to not accept the building industry petition, we can conserve energy and effort for what matters: protection of wildlife.

Commission acceptance of a building industry petition to delist will be damaging to existing habitat conservation plans.  The heart of the Swainson's Hawk nesting population in California is in Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin and Solano Counties where rapid urbanization is squeezing these key nesting areas and eliminating trees suitable for hawk nesting.  Protections in place include at least 7 habitat conservation plans that establish clear and consistent standards for mitigation of impacts of new development.  Delisting will have a damaging effect on these habitat conservation plans and may even eliminate existing habitat plans.

Habitat conservation plans (HCPs) protect rare species but also ensure that the State meets its goals for open space, habitat and farmland protection, climate action and air quality.  

For more information, visit https://www.swainsonshawk.org/blog and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064833817047