Stream Dynamics giving birds a lift in Sonora

Sky Island Alliance, Stream Dynamics, and volunteers worked to restore damaged riparian bird and wildlife habitat at Rancho La Esmeralda in Sonora, México.

Extra moisture was evident across the landscape, providing beautiful working conditions for the restoration weekend February 22-24 at Rancho La Esmeralda in Sonora, Mexico.

Sky Island Alliance staff and restoration practitioner Van Clothier of Stream Dynamics, Inc. reforested two of the ranch’s riparian (a.k.a. stream-side) drainages along with a group of 16 bi-national volunteers.

The process focused on harvesting willow saplings or “whips”from established stands on the ranch and replanting them at other appropriate sites, a highly successful method for propagating many native willows and cottonwoods. An increase in woody plants along the banks anchors soils into place, allows water to better infiltrate and also provides additional wildlife habitat.

(Text revised from SIA email.)