the north american bird conservation initiative and integrated bird conservation northeastern...
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The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
and
Integrated Bird Conservation
Northeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Topics
What/Who is NABCI?
NABCI In Action!
What is Integrated Bird Conservation?
Opportunities: What’s in it for States and implementing State Wildlife Action Plans?
What We Can Do?
Lesser Scaup, Photo by Dave Menke
Regionally-based,
Biologically-driven,
Landscape-oriented partnerships (Joint Ventures)
Delivering the full spectrum of bird habitat conservation across the continent.
What is NABCI?
A Vision of…
American Bittern, Photo by Gary Zahm
What is NABCI?
A Forum to…
Coordinate activities to advance integrated bird conservation.
• U.S. NABCI Committee started in 1999 - 19 members representing public and private organizations and the bird initiatives
• U.S., Mexican, and Canadian National Committees
• Trinational Committee with three members from each country
Who is NABCI?
Common Eider, Photo by Glen Smart
U.S. NABCI Committee
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Farm Service Agency
North American Waterfowl Management Plan
National Audubon Society
Resident Game Bird Working Group
National Flyway Council U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Survey
The Nature Conservancy
Waterbird Conservation for the Americas
USDA Forest Service
Partners in Flight
Association of Joint Venture Management Boards
American Bird Conservancy
Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Working Group
Wildlife Management Institute
What is Integrated Bird Conservation?
A process to integrate across… Taxonomic groups:
• Integrate biological needs of all birds of concern through landscape conservation design.
• Incorporate conservation needs of other wildlife with similar habitat requirements.
People and programs:
• Coordinate efforts across geopolitical divides for range-wide conservation.
• Coordinate across people and programs for regional delivery.
Blue Grouse, Photo by Karen Hollingsworth
Active Leadership to advance integrated bird conservation
Strong Focus on facilitating bird habitat conservation through Joint Ventures, SWAPs, federal agency plans, etc.
U.S. NABCI In Action! National Work Plan
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Photo by Karen Hollingsworth
Provide forum for exploring technical issues and recommending actions.
Draft interim report is available.
Work based on IAFWA Science and Research Committee Report – September ’04.
U.S. NABCI In Action!
National Work Plan Goal to:
Emperor Goose, Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Advance and Promote Effective Coordinated Bird Monitoring:
Fulfill needs of bird habitat conservation
Create forums to facilitate knowledge building and tool development.
Foster agency support for key components of integrated bird conservation.
Conservation design
Monitoring
Institutional support
Working internationally
U.S. NABCI In Action! National Work Plan
Northern Waterthrush, Photo by Simpson
Provide forums to develop technical knowledge and tools
April PIF landbird conservation design workshop
Increase knowledge and support at administrative and management levels
Plenary session at IAFWA ’06 meeting
U.S. NABCI in Action!
National Work Plan Goal to:
Red-throated Loon, Photo by Dave Menke
Advance and Promote Conservation Design:
Established Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) to facilitate landscape-based planning and evaluation
NABCI in Action!
Helping Joint Ventures grow and expand as the regional public-private entities to implement integrated bird conservation.
NABCI in Action!
Joint Venture: Regional Nexus for
Integrated Bird Conservation
Management Board Science Team
Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Program guidance
Technical guidance
Information
Decision Support Tools in Minnesota
Shallow Lakes WQ+
Grasslands for Ducks+
Migrant Shorebirds (grass)+
Marbled Godwits+
Grassland nongame birds+
Grasslands for Pheasants
An integrated landscape assessment createdby combining species DSTs for aparticular habitat type or treatment
Priority Landscapes forGrassland Conservation
Why Conserve on the Wings of Birds?
Well-developed implementation infrastructure
Biologically based habitat plans with goals and objectives
Science is the critical foundation
Birds are excellent focal species
Birds are conspicuous and popular with the public
Fulvous Whistling Duck, Photo by Milton Friend
All wildlife need this approach, but funds are limited, so…
Integrated bird conservation can support broader wildlife conservation
Much of SWAPs can be carried out on wings of birds!
Help direct federal funds.
Opportunities for States
American Avocets, Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Focal Bird Species = Mascots for Biodiversity
Habitat = Common Ground for Wildlife
1. Northeastern early successional forests
2. Western sagebrush biome
3. Midwestern tallgrass prairie
4. Southeastern croplands, pine forests, grasslands
Opportunities for States
American Woodcock, hoto by Richard Baetsen Greater Sage-
grouse, Photo by Gary Kramer
Greater Prairie-chicken, Photo by Dave Menke
Northern bobwhite, Photo by Brandychloe
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI
Opportunities for States:
American Woodcock Initiative
• Goal: Recover to 1980’s levels in BCR 14
• Woodcock rely on young forest and shrubland habitats
• Habitats shared by 59 spp. of “Greatest Conservation Need” in 7 northeast SWAPs
• Large public-private coalition - 24 cooperators
• Implement breeding habitat BMPs on public demonstration areas
• Use public demonstration areas to motivate private landowners
State Wildlife Action Plans
Opportunity to be more cost effective with state and partner resources.
Use bird conservation information and landscape designs to implement broader wildlife conservation.
Find the common ground!
Help achieve habitat objectives.
Showcase accomplishments.
Western Sandpiper, Photo by Karen Hollingsworth
What Can We Do?What Can We Do?
Establish a Bird Conservation Committee Establish a Bird Conservation Committee in the Regional Association.in the Regional Association.
Nominate a bird conservation liaison to Nominate a bird conservation liaison to NABCI from the Regional Association.NABCI from the Regional Association.
Fully consider helping advance JV bird Fully consider helping advance JV bird conservation design work as a tool to help conservation design work as a tool to help implement the SWAPs.implement the SWAPs.
Work across state boundaries – Work across state boundaries – emphasize regional projects - consideremphasize regional projects - consider landscape-level wildlife needs.landscape-level wildlife needs.
California Quail, Photo by Gary Kramer
What Can You Do?What Can You Do?
Take an active role in your Joint Venture Take an active role in your Joint Venture Management Board. Management Board.
Support SWAP implementation staff involvement in Support SWAP implementation staff involvement in bird initiatives and conservation design efforts.bird initiatives and conservation design efforts.
Make sure that your waterfowl, waterbird, shorebird, Make sure that your waterfowl, waterbird, shorebird, and landbird biologists work together. and landbird biologists work together.
Insure your State bird biologists participate in Joint Insure your State bird biologists participate in Joint Venture technical/science teams and on the Venture technical/science teams and on the Flyway’s nongame technical sections.Flyway’s nongame technical sections.
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
2006
Waterfowl at Lacassine NWR, Louisiana, Photo by John and Karen Hollingsworth
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
and
Integrated Bird Conservation
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
and
Integrated Bird Conservation
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
and
Integrated Bird Conservation
Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Opportunities for States:
Greater Sage-grouse
• Sagebrush biome covers 118.6 million acres, 14 states, and 3 provinces
• Detailed conservation assessment and management strategy completed
• North American Grouse Partnership
• 350 species of flora and fauna depend upon sagebrush habitat
• Great Basin ecoregion - second highest number of U.S. imperiled species, such as Pygmy rabbits
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI
Opportunities for States:
Greater Prairie-chicken
• Iowa DNR’s landscape-scale Grassland Areas
•Kellerton Area – 10,500 ac. based on largest prairie-chicken lek in state and nesting Henslow’s Sparrow’s
• Also benefitting: white-tailed jackrabbit, Franklin’s ground squirrel, smooth green snake, regal fritillary butterfly
• Working with Missouri to expand to 50,000 ac.
• Voluntary science-based partnerships conserving working landscapes
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI
Opportunities for States:
Northern Bobwhite
• Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI)
• Plan has population and habitat objectives for each of 15 BCRs and 22 states.
• Based on land-use data from National Resources Inventory updated every 5 years.
• Objectives for agricultural lands, pine forests, grasslands stepped down to individual states.
• Many other birds and wildlife benefits, including Painted Bunting, Sedge Wren, and Loggerhead Shrike.