Migratory Bird Conservation

Grants may be used for the conservation of any bird species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and occurring in IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, and WI). Special emphasis will be placed on Midwest Birds of Concern (see https://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird/concern.html) as these species are experiencing known or suspected population declines, are recreationally important, or are party to biological or social conflicts. Implementing national, regional, and flyway bird conservation plans is the USFWS's highest priority—including the Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (https://www.shorebirdplan.org/), North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/waterbird-conservation-for-the-americas.php), North American Waterfowl Management Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/north-american-waterfowl-management-plan.php), Mississippi Flyway bird management plans (http://mississippi.flyways.us/), and the habitat conservation strategies and research priorities of the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture (http://www.uppermissgreatlakesjv.org/Plans.htm). Proposals related to the priorities identified in these plans and Bird Conservation Region and state-level bird conservation planning efforts will receive high funding consideration. The following activities are also of high interest to the USFWS: (a) Population surveys, monitoring, and assessments to determine the status, trends, distribution, demography, and responses to management of bird species and groups of concern. Emphasis will be placed on landscape-level applications of standardized inventory and monitoring protocols as identified through the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership (http://midwestbirdmonitoring.ning.com). Local-scale bird monitoring (e.g., local land management units) will generally not be a focus of this grant program, nor will support for long-term operational bird monitoring efforts. Rather, the program seeks to address coordination of monitoring efforts and development and evaluation of new survey and monitoring techniques (both field and analytical); (b) Conservation of focal species for which conservation plans and/or working groups have been developed and research, monitoring, and other priorities have been identified. Examples of focal species with such plans include: Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, and other Midwestern grassland birds; Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and Canada Warbler; Wood Thrush; American Woodcock, Wilson’s Phalarope, Upland Sandpiper, and Marbled Godwit; and Common Tern, Black Tern, King Rail, and Lesser Scaup. (For further information on focal species, see http://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird/concern.html); and (c) Strategic Conservation, wherein the USFWS and partners integrate biological planning, landscape design, conservation delivery, and monitoring and evaluation in a manner that generates the adaptive feedback that enables sound decisions and continue to improve our efficiency and effectiveness in saving birds (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/science/SHC/FAQ.htm). Strategic conservation involves applied research, including studies of bird habitat requirements, threats, limiting factors, full life cycle migratory connectivity, and population responses to habitat conservation activities; testing of biological and conservation delivery assumptions; social science research that informs and facilitates conservation delivery; and use of Geographic Information Systems, modeling, and similar tools to identify bird habitat focus areas and further bird conservation planning efforts.