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 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 BoardScience 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 created by combining species DSTs for a particular habitat type or treatment Priority Landscapes for Grassland 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? Establish a Bird Conservation Committee in the Regional Association. Establish a Bird Conservation Committee in the Regional Association. Nominate a bird conservation liaison to NABCI from the Regional Association. Nominate a bird conservation liaison to NABCI from the Regional Association. Fully consider helping advance JV bird conservation design work as a tool to help implement the SWAPs. Fully consider helping advance JV bird conservation design work as a tool to help implement the SWAPs. Work across state boundaries – emphasize regional projects - consider landscape-level wildlife needs. Work across state boundaries – emphasize regional projects - consider landscape-level wildlife needs. California Quail, Photo by Gary Kramer

What Can You Do? Take an active role in your Joint Venture Management Board. Take an active role in your Joint Venture Management Board. Support SWAP implementation staff involvement in bird initiatives and conservation design efforts. Support SWAP implementation staff involvement in bird initiatives and conservation design efforts. Make sure that your waterfowl, waterbird, shorebird, and landbird biologists work together. Make sure that your waterfowl, waterbird, shorebird, and landbird biologists work together. Insure your State bird biologists participate in Joint Venture technical/science teams and on the Flyway’s nongame technical sections. Insure your State bird biologists participate in Joint Venture technical/science teams and on the 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

Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

Opportunities for States: Greater Sage-grouse Sagebrush biome covers 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.