Bird
Conservation on
Private Lands
Why Birds
Matter
Why Birds Matter
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Why Birds Matter
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Goals
Help species at risk
Keep 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Endangered species approach no longer valid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 quality
Sensitive to conditions
Well known – better than any other group
Relatively easy and cheap to monitor
Well established monitoring protocols and data management
Strategic Habitat Conservation
Select
Focal
Species
Formulate
Population
Objectives
Identify
Priority Species
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Net Progress
Toward
Population
Objectives
Identify
Limiting
Factors
Revise Models
Accordingly
Compile and Apply
Models
Describing
Population-Habitat
Relationships
Feedback Loop:
Target Research
at Key Assumptions
Feedback
Loop:
Assess
Program
Accomplishments
Assess
Current
State
of Focal
Species
Populations
Combine Species
Decision Support Tools
Revise Models
Accordingly
Monitor Site-scale Effects
Of Management Actions
On Populations
Develop
Species
Habitat
Decision
Support
Tools
Opportunity
Assessment
Delivery of
Conservation Actions
Formulate
Habitat
Objectives
Select
Focal
Species
Selection of Surrogate Species
Step 1. Develop and clearly specify
management or conservation objectives.
Identify
Priority Species
For the USFWS, the conservation “objective” is
to characterize and maintain functional
landscapes capable of supporting selfsustaining fish, wildlife, and plant populations.
Step 2. Identify Geographic Scale.
Idaho
2004
U.S. + Canada
448 species
2010
U.S. + Canada + Mexico
882 species
www.PartnersInFlight.org
Why Birds Matter
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
#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
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Ecosystem Services
Insect 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
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Economic Value of Birds
Economic Value of Birds
Why Birds Matter
Keeping Common Bird Common
Hazards/Threats
Ecosystem Services Birds Provide
Economic Value of Birds
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value
Michael Potts
http://birdnote.org/show/brewers-sparrow-sageland-singer
International
Migratory
Bird
Day
Proactive Conservation
Non-regulatory
Non-advocacy
Voluntary
Looking for shared interests among all partners
Combine 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 Conservation
Occurs at other scales too
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern
Focal Species Plans
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Bird Conservation Committee
Resident Game Bird Working Group
Waterfowl Working Group
PIF/Shorebird/Waterbird Working Group
North American Bird Conservation Initiative
Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds
Implement Executive Order 13186