The wind was whipping across a dark, open field near the southern edge of Yolo County when two small burrowing owls suddenly burst into flight. For a team of birders from UC Davis, the birds marked the 173rd species of the day, breaking a county record that had stood for 25 years.

It was the exciting conclusion of their “Big Day,” a fast-paced birding challenge to find and identify as many bird species as possible in a 24-hour period. Their effort – spanning 150 miles of driving, 17 miles of walking and 41 stops – combined careful planning with a love of birds.

At UC Davis, Daniel Karp leads studies on how we can protect wildlife while growing abundant, healthy safe food. His USDA-funded research shows that removing natural habitat from farmland—often done to reduce foodborne illness—can actually make things worse. Farms that preserve habitats attract birds that eat crop-damaging pests and are less likely to carry foodborne disease. Karp’s work helps farmers adopt win-win practices that support biodiversity, food safety and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Eric Post is a Professor in the Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology Department, a member of the Graduate Group in Ecology and the Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management.