Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation

Grants and payments may be used for the conservation of any bird species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Special emphasis will be placed on bird species listed in USFWS conservation and management priorities documents (e.g. USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern 2008, Focal Species list). Implementing national, regional, flyway Bird Conservation Region, and state-level bird conservation plans (e.g., Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/the-us-shorebird-conservation-plan.php) North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/waterbird-conservation-for-the-americas.php) are among the Service's highest priorities. Projects related to the priorities identified in these plans will receive the greatest funding consideration. Projects should address one or more of the following activities: a) Population surveys and monitoring to determine the health, status, trends, and distribution of bird species and groups of concern. Emphasis will be placed on landscape-level applications of standardized inventory and monitoring protocols (e.g., Breeding Bird Atlases, national marshbird call playblack surveys). Local-scale monitoring (e.g., local land management units) activities will generally not be a focus of this program; b) Applied research, including but not limited to, studies of habitat requirements, limiting factors, and population responses to habitat conservation activities; development of new monitoring techniques and programs for poorly-surveyed species; use of Geographic Information Systems, bird habitat modeling, and similar tools to identify bird habitat focus areas and further bird conservation planning efforts; and investigation of avian mortality events and monitoring of health and disease problems; c) Compilation of technical information, such as status reviews of bird species of concern, development of habitat management and restoration guidelines, disseminating updates and providing training about current and emerging diseases which impact migratory bird populations, and other outreach and education programs including programs structured towards youth and connecting people with nature. Habitat management projects are generally not covered under this program. Additionally, construction or real property acquisition projects may not be funded under this program. For further information, please contact the regional office. Approximately 15% of program funding may be discretionary depending on annual appropriations and program priorities.