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and open water and have gradual, gently-sloping shorelines. Because the wetlands on the property will be filled only with rain water, they will act as seasonal marsh that will not be inundated through the summer. Some nesting may occur on levees and in dense emergent growth in early spring,particularly if cattle are removed and upland cover improves. The permanent Tracy Lakes with suitable emergent edge will support numerous broods (Biotics Survey, 1993). The creation of huge nesting islands by peninsula-cutting in South Tracy Lake will provide secure upland nesting cover for mallards and cinnamon teal. Wintering Shorebirds. Currently Tracy Lakes provide little available habitat for migrant shorebirds. Some seasonal water is found in the lake bottoms by late November, but migrants have generally passed through the Delta by this date. Therefore the Buckeye Ranch does not support large numbers of wintering shorebirds. In spring, if rainfall has been steady, small vernal pools do support some migrating shorebirds,predominantly long-legged waders such as yellowlegs and black-necked stilt. Common snipe and greater yellowlegs have been observed feeding in shallow pools left after water levels recede. If managed properly, these pools and related wetlands could benefit shorebirds of all types. The expansive flooded fields of the Delta and the Cosumnes Preserve do support thousands of wintering shorebirds including: dowitchers, Calidris sandpipers, black- bellied plover, and long-billed curlew. These birds move freely to find optimal foraging conditions, which can be provided, to a limited degree at Buckeye Ranch,particularly in fall. Shorebirds exploit a wide range of water depths from exposed mud flats (plovers), water's edge (small sandpipers) to deeper water (up to 6 inches). The latter group wade in the shallows picking at the surface or probe in soft, submerged mud flats. Black-necked stilt, Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) 183