A thousand snow geese.
One place to land.
The San Francisco Bay Delta has lost over 90% of its historic wetlands. Help us restore 600-acre Hoover Ranch into a thriving bird paradise — and protect a region that 25 million Californians depend on.
The Bay Delta is disappearing.
The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is one of the most vital — and most threatened — ecosystems on the West Coast.
Two-thirds of California's spawning salmon pass through here. A billion birds rely on these wetlands along the Pacific Flyway each year. Millions of acres of farmland draw their water from this region. And yet, over 90% of the historic tidal wetlands have been lost to agriculture and development.
John Muir Land Trust's Bay Delta Campaign is bringing them back — restoring marsh habitat, protecting wildlife corridors, and securing clean water for the communities that depend on this place.
80 species found at Hoover Ranch
Creating a bird paradise
from the ground up.
Our comprehensive plan converts nearly 600 acres into freshwater wetlands, bullrush and cattail marsh, riparian woodland, upland refugia, and preserved sand dune habitat — a mosaic of ecosystems that will attract and sustain extraordinary biodiversity.
Freshwater Wetlands
Large siphons will pull water over the existing levee to create expansive new wetlands — critical habitat for snow geese, sandhill cranes, and migratory ducks traveling south from Alaska and Canada.
Northern shoveler · Cinnamon teal · WigeonBullrush & Cattail Marsh
Native bullrush and cattails once flourished throughout the Delta. Their return will benefit tricolored blackbirds — a state-threatened species — whose buzzy calls have already been heard on site.
Tricolored blackbird · Marsh wren · Virginia railSand Dune
A rare historic sand dune at the center of the property will be preserved. Ground squirrels burrow here — and burrowing owls take over those burrows as their own nesting sites.
Burrowing owl · KilldeerUpland Refugia
The northern grassland provides nesting habitat for upland birds. The salt marsh harvest mouse needs both wetland and adjacent dry land to survive — this zone delivers both.
Western meadowlark · Savannah SparrowRiparian Woodland
Urbanization has eliminated vast stretches of riverside woodland in the East Bay. The remnant at Hoover Ranch's northeast corner will be expanded — vital for rare Delta cuckoo species.
Yellow-billed cuckoo · Bullock's orioleHawks & Shrikes
A pair of Swainson's hawks — a state endangered species — was recently spotted on site. Two active red-tailed hawk nests were observed this spring. Loggerhead shrikes impale prey on barbed wire; extraordinary to witness.
Swainson's hawk · Loggerhead shrikeThe birds of the Bay Delta are remarkable.
Sandhill Crane
Among the oldest living bird species on Earth — fossils date back more than 2.5 million years.
White-tailed Kite
Nearly vanished from California in the early 1900s, the kite made a full recovery after legal protection — a conservation success story.
Anna's Hummingbird
During courtship, males climb high then dive at breathtaking speed, producing a loud chirp with their tail feathers — not their throat.
Great Blue Heron
Capable of standing motionless for minutes before striking with lightning speed — and can swallow fish over a foot long whole.
Tricolored Blackbird
Nearly the entire global population breeds in California — making local wetland restoration a matter of species survival.
American Avocet
Feeds by sweeping its upturned bill side-to-side through shallow water — like a tiny, precise underwater scythe.
Your gift transforms
600 acres of farmland
into living wetland.
Restored habitat for wildlife. Clean water for millions. Tangible action against climate change. Lasting outdoor experiences for young people. A resilient shoreline for decades to come.