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The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP), with funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, is now accepting applications for the BirdReturns Sandhill Crane Program to incentivize Sacramento Valley and Delta farmers to create new crane habitat in their fields. Applications for the program are due September 11, 2026 at 11:59pm. Applicants will be notified of award decisions between September 25-29, 2026.

What is the purpose of the program?

The Sandhill Crane Program seeks to incentivize farmers to create new crane habitat to increase the resilience of Central Valley’s population in California. The goal is to complement existing habitat by providing additional foraging and roosting habitat in fields.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be farmers located in the Sacramento Valley and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta—which is the primary wintering area of the Greater Sandhill Crane subspecies. Fields should be located in the following California counties: Butte, Contra Costa, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba.

Participants may submit multiple applications.

What fields are eligible?

For the Fall/Winter Program, available start dates are: October 5, 12, 19, and December 7, 2026.

• Roost habitat must have a minimum of 30 acres, with enrollment capped at 250 acres per site/farm.
• Forage habitat must have a minimum of 50 acres, with enrollment capped at 500 acres per site/farm.
• Habitat complexes (combined roost and forage habitat) must have minimum of 50 acres, with enrollment capped at 500 total acres per site/farm, including a maximum of 250 acres of roost habitat.

For the Winter/Spring Program, available start dates are: January 18, February 1, and February 8, 2027.

• Roost habitat is the only option for the Winter/Spring Program and must have a minimum of 30 acres, with enrollment capped at 500 acres per site/farm with a required gradual draw-down over the final two weeks of the program.

Ineligibility

• Fields enrolled in any annual incentive program (i.e., NRCS EQIP) that provides payment to conduct flooding during any overlapping time period.
• Fields located within five miles of major airports, including Travis AFB, Beale AFB, and Sacramento International.
• No hunting is allowable on roost fields or fields directly adjoining.
• Roost fields with trees along their borders are excluded.
• Forage fields are not eligible if they were idle in 2026 or flooded after the 2026 harvest.

What funding is available?

The 2026/27 Sandhill Crane Program has $400,000 in available funding, with the goal of funding 4,300 habitat acres.

Successful applicants will receive a payment rate of $90 per acre for fall/winter enrollments and $95 per acre for winter/spring enrollments.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.