The North American Bird Conservation Initiative and Integrated Bird Conservation

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The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
andIntegrated Bird Conservation
Northeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies
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Topics

• What/Who is NABCI?
• NABCI In Action!
• What is Integrated Bird Conservation?
• Opportunities Whats in it for States and
  implementing State Wildlife Action Plans?
• What We Can Do?

Lesser Scaup, Photo by Dave Menke
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What is NABCI? A Vision of
Regionally-based, Biologically-driven,
Landscape-oriented partnerships (Joint
Ventures) Delivering the full spectrum of bird
habitat conservation across the continent.
American Bittern, Photo by Gary Zahm
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What is NABCI? A Forum to
Coordinate activities to advance integrated bird
conservation.
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Who is NABCI?

• 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

Common Eider, Photo by Glen Smart
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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
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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
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U.S. NABCI In Action! National Work Plan

• Active Leadership to advance integrated bird
  conservation
• Strong Focus on facilitating bird habitat
  conservation through Joint Ventures, SWAPs,
  federal agency plans, etc.

Northern Saw-whet Owl, Photo by Karen
Hollingsworth
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U.S. NABCI In Action!National Work Plan Goal to
Advance and Promote Effective Coordinated Bird
Monitoring

• 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.

Emperor Goose, Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
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U.S. NABCI In Action! National Work Plan

• 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

Northern Waterthrush, Photo by Simpson
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U.S. NABCI in Action!National Work Plan Goal to
Advance and Promote Conservation Design

• 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

Red-throated Loon, Photo by Dave Menke
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Established Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) to
facilitate landscape-based planning and evaluation
NABCI in Action!
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NABCI in Action!

• Helping Joint Ventures grow and expand as the
  regional public-private entities to implement
  integrated bird conservation.

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Joint Venture Regional Nexus for Integrated
Bird Conservation
Program guidance
Management Board
Science Team
Information
Technical guidance
Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
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Decision Support Tools in Minnesota
Shallow Lakes WQ Grasslands for Ducks Migrant
Shorebirds (grass) Marbled Godwits Grassland
nongame birds Grasslands for Pheasants
Priority Landscapes for Grassland Conservation
An integrated landscape assessment created by
combining species DSTs for a particular habitat
type or treatment
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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
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Opportunities for States

• 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.

American Avocets, Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
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Opportunities for States

• Focal Bird Species Mascots for Biodiversity
• Habitat Common Ground for Wildlife
• Northeastern early successional forests
• Western sagebrush biome
• Midwestern tallgrass prairie
• Southeastern croplands, pine forests, grasslands

Greater Prairie-chicken, Photo by Dave Menke
American Woodcock, hoto by Richard Baetsen
Northern bobwhite, Photo by Brandychloe
Greater Sage-grouse, Photo by Gary Kramer
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Opportunities for States American Woodcock
Initiative
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI

• Goal Recover to 1980s 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

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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
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What Can We Do?

• Establish a Bird Conservation Committee in 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.
• Work across state boundaries emphasize regional
  projects - consider landscape-level wildlife
  needs.

California Quail, Photo by Gary Kramer
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What Can You Do?

• Take an active role in your Joint Venture
  Management Board.
• Support SWAP implementation staff involvement in
  bird initiatives and conservation design
  efforts.
• 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
  Flyways nongame technical sections.

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International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies 2006
Waterfowl at Lacassine NWR, Louisiana, Photo by
John and Karen Hollingsworth
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The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
andIntegrated Bird Conservation
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The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
andIntegrated Bird Conservation
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The North American Bird Conservation Initiative
andIntegrated Bird Conservation
Western Association of Fish Wildlife Agencies
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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

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Opportunities for States Greater Prairie-chicken
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI

• Iowa DNRs landscape-scale Grassland Areas
• Kellerton Area 10,500 ac. based on largest
  prairie-chicken lek in state and nesting
  Henslows Sparrows
• Also benefitting white-tailed jackrabbit,
  Franklins ground squirrel, smooth green snake,
  regal fritillary butterfly
• Working with Missouri to expand to 50,000 ac.
• Voluntary science-based partnerships conserving
  working landscapes

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Opportunities for States Northern Bobwhite
American Woodcock Initiative - WMI

• 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.