Looks like Christmas came early, again, for the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Based on a petition submitted by CBD, the California Fish and Game Commission voted earlier this month to designate the tricolored blackbird as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act (ESA). The tricolored blackbird now enjoys the same legal protections, including the “take” prohibition, that apply to endangered or threatened species under the California ESA.
Within the next 12 months, the Department of Fish and Wildlife will prepare a status report with a listing recommendation. Based on staff comments at the candidacy hearing, it appears that report will take the full 12 months to prepare. Consequently, the Commission would likely make its final determination to list (or not to list) the tricolored blackbird as endangered at a public hearing in early 2017.
Continue Reading Your Tricolored Blackbird Problem Just Got Worse With Candidate Listing Under the California ESA