Bird Conservation on Private Lands Why Birds Matter

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Bird Conservation on

Private Lands

Why Birds Matter

Keeping Common Bird CommonHazards/ThreatsEcosystem Services Birds ProvideEconomic Value of BirdsAesthetic/Intrinsic Value

Why Birds Matter

Help species at riskKeep common birds common

Work through voluntary partnerships

Keeping Common Birds Common

Endangered species approach no longer valid

Keep all species “well distributed across their historical ranges”

Birds occur in all habitats except the deep sea

They are critical players in all ecosystems

They are excellent indicators of habitat qualitySensitive to conditionsWell known – better than any other groupRelatively easy and cheap to monitorWell established monitoring protocols and data management

IdentifyLimitingFactors

Monitor Site-scale EffectsOf Management Actions

On Populations

FeedbackLoop:Assess

Net ProgressToward

PopulationObjectives

Delivery ofConservation Actions

IdentifyPriority Species

SelectFocal

Species

FormulatePopulationObjectives

Compile and ApplyModels

DescribingPopulation-Habitat

Relationships

Feedback Loop:Target Research

at Key Assumptions

Feedback Loop:Assess

ProgramAccomplish-

OpportunityAssessment

FormulateHabitat

Objectives

AssessCurrent

Stateof FocalSpecies

Populations

DevelopSpecies Habitat

DecisionSupport

Combine SpeciesDecision Support Tools

Revise ModelsAccordingly

Strategic Habitat Conservation

For the USFWS, the conservation “objective” is to characterize and maintain functional landscapes capable of supporting self-sustaining fish, wildlife, and plant populations.

Step 1. Develop and clearly specify management or conservation objectives.

Step 2. Identify Geographic Scale. Idaho

Selection of Surrogate Species

IdentifyPriority Species

SelectFocal

Species

2004U.S. + Canada448 species

2010U.S. + Canada + Mexico

882 specieswww.PartnersInFlight.org

Why Birds Matter

#1 – Habitat loss and degradation~Permanent loss of capacity

Hazards/Threats

Loss, S.R., T. Will, and P.P. Marra. 2012. Direct human-caused mortality of birds: improving quantification of magnitude and assessment of population impact. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10(7):357-364.

Why Birds Matter

Ecosystem ServicesInsect predation

During outbreaks of western spruce budworm, the Evening Grosbeak provides biological control services worth $5,167/km2

Pollination

Seed dispersal and caching

Scavenging and nutrient cycling

Rodent predation

Tree cavity production

The Need to Quantify Ecosystem Services Provided By Birds (The Auk, Wenny et al. 2011)

Why Birds Matter

Economic Value of Birds

Why Birds Matter

Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

Michael Potts

http://birdnote.org/show/brewers-sparrow-sageland-singer

InternationalMigratory

BirdDay

Proactive ConservationNon-regulatoryNon-advocacyVoluntaryLooking for shared interests among all partnersCombine priorities & objectives with opportunities

Proactive Conservation

Science-based Priorities and Objectives

Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures are self-directed, regional partnerships of public and private organizations, and individuals, dedicated to implementing bird habitat conservation.

Dave Smith – NRCS background

Proactive ConservationOccurs at other scales too

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation ActUSFWS Birds of Conservation Concern

Focal Species PlansAssociation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Bird Conservation CommitteeResident Game Bird Working GroupWaterfowl Working GroupPIF/Shorebird/Waterbird Working Group

North American Bird Conservation InitiativeCouncil for the Conservation of Migratory Birds

Implement Executive Order 13186

Bird Conservation on Private Lands Why Birds Matter

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