Peter Martinelli of Fresh Run Farm grew up on a 250-acre ranch in Bolinas, California. He has a deep love of the landscape and its inhabitants, and finds numerous ways to incorporate practices that support them.

Watch video about the Power of Raptors at Fresh Run Farm.

One practice this past winter was building raptor perches on his irrigation pipe. The raptors that were attracted scared sparrows which were shredding his broccoli plants, resulting in a good crop after all. He is thoughtful about his approach to managing wildlife on his land and strives to give them the space they need, making room for everyone.

Ryan Bourbour, PhD student at UC Davis, is interested in understanding the importance of raptors in agriculture and the practices that landowners can use to best support them on and around farms. He is currently studying the diet of raptors that hunt in agricultural fields and their exposure to rodenticides.

Throughout his research, he has found that raptors can be a farmer’s best friend when it comes to pest control. When farmers understand the unique differences of how various raptors nest and find food, they can adopt practices that will increase their chances to benefit from them.

Learn more about Peter Martinelli of Fresh Run Farm

You can watch our other videos and learn more on WFA's Beneficial Birds Multimedia Story Platform.

If you are interested in installing bird boxes and would like assistance, please contact us!

Visit WFA's One Million Nest Boxes and Perches Program