A DAY FOR THE BIRDS
Jit's not every morning that
I get up at 5:00 a.m., grab a
T-shirt off the shelf and yank on
the jeans from the nearest pile on
the floor. Okay. Volunteer list,
VIP list, press list, staff list,
camera, tape, markers, water,
sunscreen... binoculars. Where
are the binoculars?! Huh? Oh,
yeah... my neck. Ready to go.
At 6:00 a.m. the birdwatchers
began to arrive. They came
separately, but once parked,
flocked together like dull-eyed
blackbirds, groggy and not quite
ready to leave the roost. I don't
think anyone noticed the
Rufous-sided Towhee just a few
feet away, scratching in the
leaves, demanding "Drink your
tea!" Maybe it was denial on
their part. You could read their
brains through blood-shot eyes,
"I want my coffee!"
The press came too. They had
had their coffee... several cups.
"Where's Roger Tory Peterson?"
"You must introduce me to our
host, Dr. Lovejoy!" "Will the
Clintons really be here this
afternoon?'1 "How many birds
International Migratory Bird Day, May 8,1993
by: Jamie Doyle
will we see?" "What kind?"
"Excuse me... Neotropical
whats?" "Spell that, please."
At 6:30 a.m. we flushed all of
them into a charter bus and two
vans for the short ride to
Theodore Roosevelt Island, the
living monument just across the
Potomac from Georgetown. It
was the politically correct
place to go. Under Theodore
Roosevelt's administration more
than 234 million acres were
reserved for conservation; the
USFS,;five National Parks, 51
bird refuges, and four game
refuges were established.
Sometime during the short trip
from the National Zoological
Park everyone woke up.
Cognisance was rewarded with
the melody of late dawn song-
sters. It would turn out to be
one of! the best mornings of
1993 for migration in the
District of Columbia. Eighty-
some Birdwatchers saw and/or
heard 80 species: 36 neotropical
migratory birds and 20 or so
warblers. Reporters were
enthralled by a reminiscent
Roger Tory Peterson. The first
International Migratory Bird Day
(IMBD) couldn't have taken off
any better.
The Clinton women were among
the Zoo's 15,000+ visitors later
that day. At the Kids' Tent,
Chelsea and her classmates edu-
cated the public on the wonders of
the rainforest, winter home to
many neotropical migratory birds.
Staff from USFWS entertained
visitors with a "lively" introduc-
tion to avian biology and research.
cont'd on page 27
IN THIS ISSUE
Abbreviations/Calendar page 2
PIF Contacts page 3
Cornell Lab of Ornith. page 4
Nesting Gray Hawks page 7
Audubon Chapters page 8
Why Save Migrants? page 10
TN Partners in Flight page 12
Galveston Meeting page 15
PIF & the Plan ' page 16
L. American Biologists page 18
Working Groups page 19
Monitoring & Inventory page 24
USFS Research page 26
-------
for 1993
September 10: Michigan Working Group meeting, St.
Ignace, MI. Contact Dave Ewert, The Nature Conser-
vancy, 2840 E. Grand River, Suite 5, East Lansing, MI
48823 (517-332-1741).
September 14: Vermont State Working Group
meeting. Contact Diane Pence, USFWS, 300 Westgate
Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589 (413-253-8577).
September 23-24: Southeast Working Group meeting,
Charleston, SC. Contact John Cely, SCWMRD, Box
167, Columbia, SC 29202 (803-734-3916).
October 9-10: WORLD BIRDWATCH :93, a world-
wide education and public awareness event. Contact
George Shillinger, BirdLife International, Box 57242,
Washington, DC 20037-7242 (202-778-9563).
October 21: Northeast Working Group meeting, in
conjunction with the Northeast Nongame Technical
Committee meeting, Lenox, MA. Contact Diane Pence,
USFWS, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA
01035-9589 (413-253-8577).
November 4-5: North American Research Workshop
on the Ecology and Management of Cowbirds,
Austin, TX (see page 31). Contact Terry Cook (512-
327-9472).
November 5-7: Symposium/Workshop: Conservation
of Neotropical Migratory Birds in Mexico, Veracruz,
Mexico. Contact Marcia Wilson, USFWS, Patuxent
WRC, Laurel, MD 20708 (301-498-0388).
November 11-13: National Watchable Wildlife
Conference, Corpus Christi, TX. Contact Mary Garrett
-------
PARTNERS IN FLIGHT CONTACT LIST
WORKING GROUP CHAIRS
!
Monitoring: Greg Butcher, American Birdiiig Assoc.,
Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934-6599 (Phone:
719-578-9703; FAX: 719-578-1480). .;
Southeast: David Pashley, The Nature Conservancy, Box
4125, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (Phone: 504-338-1040;
FAX: 504-338-0103).
Research: Tom Martin, Montana F&W Cooperative
Wildlife Research Unit, Univ. of MT, Missoula, MT
59812 (Phone: 40-243-5372).
Midwest: Brad Jacobs, Missouri DOC, Box |180,
Jefferson City, MO 65102 (Phone: 314-751-4115; FAX:
314-751-2260). !
West: Mike Carter, Colorado Bird Observatory, 13411
Piccadilly Road, Brighton, CO 80601 (Phone: 303-659-
4348; FAX: 303-659-6005). ;
International: Herb Raffaele, USFWS, 1849 C Street
NW, ms 860 Arl Sq, Washington, DC 20240 (703-358-
1767; FAX: 703-358-2849).
Information & Education: Rick Bonney, Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY
14850 (Phone: 607-254-2442; FAX: 607-254-2415).
Northeast: Charles Smith, NY Cooperative F&W
Research Unit, DNR, 202 Fernow Hall, Cornell Univ.,
Ithaca, NY 14853-200.1 (Phone: 607-255-3219; FAX:
607-255-1895), and Diane Pence, USFWS, 3(00 Westgate
Center Dr., Hadley, MA 01035-9589 (Phone: :413-253-
8577; FAX: 413-253-8480).
Caribbean: Wylie Barrow, USFWS, Research Group,
Box N, Palmer, PR 00721 (Phone: 809-888-2930; FAX:
809-888-2920). . "
USFWS Regional Nongame Bird Coordinator list:
Catrina Martin, USFWS, 1849 C Street NW, ms 634
Arl Sq-OMBM, Washington, DC 20240 (703*358-1821;
FAX: 703-358-2217).
For additions and corrections,
contact Alison Dalsimer,
NFWF(202-857-0166; FAX:
202-857-0162).
STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRS
States: David Waller, GA G&F, Floyd Towers East,
205 Butler Street SE, Suite 1366, Atlanta, GA 30334
(Phone: 404-656-3530; FAX: 404-656-4992).
Federal Agencies: Robert Nelson, USFS, Wildlife.&
Fisheries, Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090
(Phone: 202-205-1205; FAX: 202-205-1599).
NGOs: Stanley Senner, National Audubon Society,
Rocky Mt. Regional office, 4150 Darley Street, Suite 5,
Boulder, CO 80303 (Phone: 303-499-7855; FAX: 303-
499-0286).
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS
State Fish and Wildlife Agencies: Naomi Edelson,
IAFWA, 444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 544, Washington,
DC 20001 (Phone: 202-624-7890; FAX: 202-624-7891).
The Nature Conservancy and State Field Offices:
David Pashley (see above).
National Audubon Society Chapters: Susan Carlson,
National Audubon Society, 666 Pennsylvania Ave. SE,
Washington, DC 20003 (Phone: 202-547-9009; FAX:
202-547-2454).
USFWS and Federal Agencies: Catrina Martin,
USFWS, 1849 C Street NW, ms 634 Arl Sq-OMBM,
Washington, DC 20240 (703-358-1821; FAX: 703-358-
2217).
National Forests and Grasslands: Debbie Pressman,
USFS, Auditor's Bldg., Box 96090, Washington, DC
20090-6090 (Phone: 202-205-1205; FAX: 202-205-
1599).
BLM: Terry Rich, BLM, Idaho State Office, 3380
Americana Terrace, Boise, ID 83706 (Phone: 208-384-
3153; FAX: 208-384-3290).
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Peter Stangel,
NFWF, 1120 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 900, Washing-
ton, DC 20036 (202-857-0166; FAX: 202-857-0162).
Forest Products Industry: Jim Sweeney, American
Forest & Paper Assoc., 1250 Connecticut Ave. NW,
Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036 (Phone: 202-463-
2702; FAX: 202-463-2708).
PageS
-------
1992 ANNUAL
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY
by: R. Bonney and G. Butcher
Two staff members at the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
played key roles in Partners in
Flight during 1992: Rick Bonney,
director of education and informa-
tion services, served as co-chair of
the Information and Education
Working Group; and Greg
Butcher, director of Bird Popula-
tion Studies, served as chair of the
Monitoring Working Group.
Under their direction, the Lab
facilitated much Partners in Flight
work during the year.
*Greg Butcher edited the Moni-
toring Working
Group's "Needs
Assessment:
Monitoring Neo-
tropical Migratory
Birds." Copies are
available from the Bird Population
Studies Program at the Lab of
Ornithology.
*BirdWatch, the Lab's nationally
syndicated radio program, aired
several shows on neotropical
bird populations, conservation,
and Partners in Flight. The show
has an estimated three million
listeners.
^Living Bird, the Lab's magazine,
ran three neotropical bird articles
in the Summer 1992 issue: "Save
Now or Pay Later," by Greg
Butcher and Pack Bonney; "The
Golden-cheek and the Ghost
Subdivision," by Mel White; and
"Tunnel Vision in the
Neotropics," by Herb Raffaele.
The magazine also ran a neotropi-
cal bird article in the Fall 1992
issue: "Sinking in the Shawnee"
by Jerry Sullivan.
*The Lab prepared and nationally
distributed a news release about
the Partners in Flight annual
meeting held in Estes Park.
*In cooperation with the USFS,
the Lab coordinated production of
the "official" Partners-in Flight
slide show, "Migrant Birds: A
Troubled Future," and distributed
it at cost to nearly 250 individuals
and agencies. The show includes
60 color slides, a cassette tape
narration and written narration,
and credits. It is available for $54
ppd. from the Lab's "Crow's Nest
Birding Shop."
be found and reproduced success-
fully in larger forests. We hope
land managers will identify
appropriate sites for the bird
surveys and birders will do the
surveys.
Materials for the study include a
cassette tape of tanager vocaliza-
tions, a mini-poster of the four
North American tanager species,
a description of tanager breeding
biology, data forms, and instruc-
tions. More information about
Project Tanager is available from
Bird Population Studies at the Lab.
Project Tanager is a pilot project designed
to recruit birders to census tanagers
*The Lab received a three-year
grant from the Informal Science
Education program of the National
Science Foundation to develop a
series of volunteer-assisted data
collection programs intended to
involve participants in real sci-
ence. Principal investigators are
Charles Walcott, Rick Bonney,
and Greg Butcher. The program is
a model for involving the public in
neotropical bird research.
*The Lab received a grant from
the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation for the project "Breed-
ing Tanagers in Forest Frag-
ments," better known as Project
Tanager. This is one of three
National Science Experiments
currently being piloted at the Lab,
and is designed to recruit birders
to census tanagers throughout the
48 contiguous states in forests of
four different size classes. Our
hypothesis is that each of the four
tanagers species is more likely to
* A poster showing
results of the 1992
trial field season for
Project Tanager
~~ was presented in
October at the Association of Field
Ornithology meeting in New
London, CT.
*The Lab's Library of Natural
Sounds (LNS) filled numerous
requests for recorded vocalizations
of neotropical migratory birds to
help inventory, monitoring, and
research projects in North, Central,
and South America. One of LNS's
best customers is the USFS.
*The LNS also published a
new tape, Bird Songs of Belize,
Guatemala and Mexico, by Dale
Delaney, a Lab associate and
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
guide. The tape covers 70 species-
rarities, regional endemics, and
distinctive subspecies.
Submitted by Richard E. Bonney and
Gregory S. Butcher, Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods
Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607-254-
2473 ;FAX 607-254-2415).
Page 4
-------
D C JPO RT" EDITOR'S NOTE: Our apologies for not including these '•
• »^l VXi 1 i organizations in the 1992 Annual Report, Vol. 3 No. 1.
PFIONATURA CHIAPAS
Environmental outreach for forest conservation in rural communities of Mexico
Chiapas in Southern Mexico
is a critical region for conser-
vation of forest habitat for
migratory birds and a great
variety of tropical wildlife. This
is. a strategic region for migra-
tory bird populations, since it is
endowed with an extraordinary
diversity of habitat types, from
humid lowland tropical forest
to montane pine oak woodlands
and cloud forest.
; by: Rosa Ma. Vidal
nori-governmental agencies.
There is no similar project
ongoing in Southern Mexico,
and; we expect results to be
applicable to other regions with
indigenous settlements in
Central and South America.
In the pilot phase of this
project, basic information about
the communities is collected,
such as the meaning of natural
The conservation
of these areas
requires not only
research and
establishment of
protected zones, but a base of
community participation.
Chiapas is one of the poorest
states in Mexico in terms of
economic income, and close to
60% of its population are rural
indigenous communities from
different cultures. The
PRONATURA Chiapas project
is intended to create this base
of community participation.
PRONATURA Chiapas intends to create
a base of community participation
resources in terms of cultural
beliefs; use of land, medicine,
and;other plant and wildlife
uses; loss of cultural identity;
type of communications (TV,
radio, etc.) available; educa-
tional level and literacy; char-
acteristics of education infra-
structure (schools, teachers,
etc.); and the environmental
problems that are recognized
Funded by the
National Fish and
Wildlife Founda-
tion, Audubon
Chapters (Potomac
Valley, Seattle,
Atlanta), and World Wildlife
Fund, it develops educational
strategies to involve indigenous
Tzotzil communities in conser-
vation of natural resources in
the Highlands of Chiapas and
El Ocote Reserve. The project
is a model to be expanded to
different areas through the
distribution of materials pro-
duced and tested, and by
training of technical and field
staff from governmental and
PRONATURA has identified teachers,
women, and organized agricultural
groups as target publics
by the community. We collect
and janalyze all this information
to develop our outreach strat-
egy.; We select the media and
education resources, as well as
targets for outreach within the
communities.
i
To date, we have identified
teachers, women, and orga-
nized agricultural groups as
target publics in four communi-
ties (two in the highlands and
two in El Ocote). In terms of
materials, we have developed:
* A radio tape including a
traditional story from the region
(translated into Spanish and
Tzotzil), since these communi-.
ties have oral tradition cultures.
The story tells the problems of
wildlife in maintaining their
habitat and the role human
beings play;
* A series of
booklets, designed
and written consid-
ering a second grade
education, since this
is the level of under-
standing we have found in the
communities. The booklet talks
about the importance of finding
new alternatives to maintain soil,
organic agriculture, problems of
pesticides, the role of women,
and the need for increased milpa
productivity to protect forests;
* A series of images produced
in cotton about deforestation,
how to conserve firewood, water
recycling, and the
use of a tree as an
educational medium
in community
sessions with the
: field team;
* A slide show that
describes in Tzotzil different
environmentally friendly agricul-
tural technologies; and
* a series of puzzles with differ-
ent topics to increase understand-
ing of people problems.
In terms of field activities:
* We developed an important
level of comprehension and
confidence with the people to
increase participation;
! cont'd on page 6
Page 5
-------
1992 ANNUAL REPORT
ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS
by: Gregory S. Butcher
AFO agreed to sign the MOU
for Partners in Flight at its
October Business Meeting in
New London, CT. AFO pub-
lishes a quarterly Journal of
Field Ornithology. An annual
Supplement to that journal,
Resident Bird Counts, pub-
lishes the results of Breeding
Bird Censuses and Winter Bird
Population Studies. The Breed-
ing Bird Censuses (begun in
1937) are the source of much of
the original data suggesting (as
early as the mid-1970's) that
neotropical migratory birds are
declining in fragmented forests
in the northeastern United
States.
AFO sponsored a Neotropical
Migrants Symposium at their
October Annual Meeting. Peter
Stangel (NFWF) spoke on
"Partners in Flight—Aves de las
Americas;" Robert Askins
(Connecticut College) spoke on
"Habitat Needs of Migratory
Birds on the Breeding
Grounds;" Theodore Simons
(NFS) spoke on "Habitat Needs
for Birds During Migration;"
and John Kricher (Wheaton
College) spoke on "Habitat
Needs of Migratory Birds in
theNeotropics."
Contact: Gregory S. Butcher,
American Birding Assoc., Box
6599, Colorado Springs, CO
80934-6599 (Phone: 719-578-
9703; FAX: 719-578-1480).
APOLOGIES
TO OUR READERS
...and to Erica Dunn, Vice
President of the American
Ornithologists' Union. In our
1992 Annual Report, we
incorrectly credited Gregory
S. Butcher with this honor.
PRONATURA cont'd...
* In July a theater show was
presented in three communities,
with the participation of Sna
Jtzi Bajom (the house of writ-
ers), who presented a play in
Tzotzil that reflects the impor-
tance of our work;
- * In the highlands a commu-
nity tree nursery was
established (with the
support of the Canadian
Embassy), and different
activities directed to
increase agroforestry
have been developed;
and
* In El Ocote we established
family horticulture beds using
organic methods, and are now
identifying rainforest resources
they can cultivate within the
milpas and gardens.
We think an educational strat-
egy directed to indigenous
people would contain cultural
background as well as consider
the local people's level of
understanding. A combination
of materials and tools seems to
be most adequate. We have to
develop materials and activities
that help people resolve their
problems and increase their
PRONATURA has developed
materials and activities to help
people resolve their problems and
increase their quality of life
quality of life in order to
preserve the forest.
PRONATURA Chiapas ac-
knowledges those who have
been involved in and support
the Conservation and Research
Program for Migratory Birds in
Chiapas' Audubon Societies,
National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation, USFS (one of our
staff members assists in the
exchange program), Manomet
Bird Observatory's Birders'
Forum (that provided binocu-
lars and field guides), the
Smithsonian Migratory Bird
Center (especially Dr. Russell
Greenberg, who sup-
ported our 1991-1992
research project),
USFWS, the Point
Reyes Bird Observatory
(which assisted and
supported the Tropical
Ornithology Course in
April 1992), and Dr. Charles
Duncan (who helped during his
sabbatical from the Ornithology
Field Lab at Univ. of ME).
Contact: Rosa Ma. Vidal,
PRONATURA AC. Capitalo
Chiapas, Apdo. Postal 219
S.C.L.C. 29200, Chiapas, Mexico
(Phone: 011-52-96-78-18-84;
FAX: 011-52-96-78-23-22).
Page6
-------
i
Conservation Success Story
NESTING GRAY HAWKS
WITHIN THE SAN PEDRO IRIPARIAN NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
•: by:DaveKrueper
The northern gray hawk
(Buteo nitidus maximus) is one of
Arizona's specialties that birders
from around the country hope to
see on a trip to the Southwest.
The distribution of this neotropi-
cal migratory bird is primarily
Mexican, but its breeding range
extends into, southeastern Arizona
along ephemeral and permanent
Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert
rivers and streams (see "List C"
of the Partners in Flight 1991
Annual Report, Vol. 2, No. 1).
Gray hawks require large,
undisturbed, mature cotton-
wood stands for nesting. These
riparian forests also must be
adjacent to large expanses of
mature mesquite bosques where
these raptors forage for lizards
and snakes.
According to the AZ Game and
Fish Dept, gray hawks are in
jeopardy due to destruction of
riparian habitat and mesquite
bosques. In fact, extirpation is
highly probable without efforts to
preserve and protect their remain-
ing nesting and foraging habitat.
Gray Hawk Populations
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation
Fortunately, a steadily
expanding population
exists within the
Bureau of Land Man-
agement's San Pedro
Riparian National
Conservation Area
(RNCA). This
population
includes nearly
40% of all gray
hawks in the
U.S.; Volunteers
Brent Bibles,
Troy Gorman,
and, especially,
Jack Whetstone
have been moni-
toring gray hawk
nesting success for the past
seven years. Intensive
nest searches and
repeated checks of
all nest sites pro-
vide a total count
of breeding pairs
and complete
determination of
fledgling success.
The gray hawk
population has
increased since
vegetation man-
agement was
changed in 1986
(see table).
Territorial Pairs
Occupied Nests
Non-Breeders
Fledglings
Total Individuals
1986
11
9
3
15
40
1987
15
11
0
15
45
1988
12
11
2
18
44
1989
11
1 !
10 '
3 ',
17':i
!
42"
1990
13
12
3
20
49
1991
*
*
»
*
*
1992
18
18
2
18 +
56 +
* Indicates hawk count was not conducted. However, all
territories were occupied in the spring season.
Removal of
domestic
livestock from
the riparian and
adjacent
mesquite
habitats has
allowed
understory
vegetation
to respond
signifi-
cantly.
Young
cottonwoods
are now
becoming
established to
provide
future nest
trees. Although
not monitored, prey species that
frequent the heavily-vegetated
habitats likely have increased as
well.
Contact: Dave Krueper, San Pedro
Riparian National Conservation Area,
Box 9853, Huachuca City, AZ 85616
(Phone: 602-457-2265).
f Page 7
-------
National
Audubon
Society
"Audubon chapters are
leaders In migratory
bird conservation.
Perhaps no other net-
work of local organiza-
tions and grassroots
leaders possesses
greater knowledge of
the habitats needed by
birds and a stronger
commitment to protect-
ing and preserving
those special places."
Susan Carlson
Audubon Chapters Fuel
MINNESOTA AUDUBON COUNCIL
by: Andy Romero*
The north woods of Minne-
sota are a vitally important
breeding ground for migratory
birds, and contribute signifi-
cantly to the biological diver-
sity of the Great Lakes Forest.
Forest songbirds comprise
nearly 70% of all forest verte-
brate species and are an impor-
tant ecological benchmark for
forest health as well. Yet the
statistics do not bode well for
forest-dwelling migrants in the
Great Lakes region: 65% of the
neotropical migratory birds that
nest in Great Lakes states are in
decline.
monitoring program, a model
of bird habitat relationships,
and production of educational
materials and management
prescriptions.
Long-term monitoring data are
an essential foundation to such
an initiative. The first compo-
nent seeks to collect critical
information through a system
of 28 road transects and 1,200
off-road sampling points. Birds
respond to forest-wide patterns
of vegetation and land use, and
to the structure and composi-
tion of vegetation within a •
The Forest-Bird Diversity Initiative is a
model of key partners coming together
to protect common ground
To address the need for a
broad-scale avian and habitat
conservation strategy in Minne-
sota, several parties have
formed a partnership to develop
an innovative forest landscape
project called the Minnesota
Forest-Bird Diversity Initiative.
The program is being coordi-
nated by the MN DNR; partici-
pants include MN Audubon
Council, Natural Resources
Research Institute, Univ. of
MN, and USFS. The Forest-
Bird Diversity Initiative is a
progressive model of key
partners from different back-
grounds coming together to
protect common ground:
migratory birds and the forests
upon which they depend. The
program aims to investigate
how forest bird diversity relates
to regional land use patterns
through three major
components—a forest bird
given forest stand. Therefore, a
model of bird habitat relation-
ships also will be constructed.
A GIS will be developed with
mapping layers that depict land
use, vegetative patterns and
composition, and bird distribu-
tion and abundance. GIS
techniques will be applied to
these data to modelbird habitat
relationships, and assess the
impacts of future forest change.
Educational materials describ-
ing the significance of forest
birds will be prepared, and
management prescriptions will
be designed to integrate the
needs of forest birds into forest
management practices to
promote long-term forest bird
conservation.
Contact: Lee Pfannmuller, Minne-
sota DNR, Box 25, £>NR Bldg., St.
Paul, MN55155 (Phone 612-296-
0783; FAX: 612-296-1811).
Pages
-------
Partners in Flight
ASOCIACION TSULI TSULI AUDUBON DE COSTA RICA
i by: Andy Romero *
Costa Rica's Audubon chap-
ter, Tsuli Tsuli Audubon
Society (the name means
"many parrots" in the indig-
enous Cabecar language) has
launched a campaign to inform
thousands of Costa Ricans
about their rich avifauna, the
diverse habitats upon which
they depend, concepts of bird
migration, and the
unique importance of
migratory birds as a
shared resource
between the U.S. and
Costa Rica.
kno;w very little about their
fabulous avifauna. Further-
more, despite its impressive
network of spectacular parks
and'preserves, Costa Rica
suffers one of the highest rates
of deforestation in the world.
Approximately 40,000 hectares
of tropical forest are lost
annually in a country just half
Tsuli Tsuli Audubon Society has
developed a walk-through
educational exhibition in San Jose
Costa Rica has achieved a
reputation as a paradise of
protected areas and wildlife.
Ecotourism is the second most
important industry in the
country, and Costa Rica is one
of the best known destinations
for birders in the world. For the
most part, though, Costa Ricans
themselves, who make the
management decisions affect-
ing birds and their habitats,
the size of Tennessee! Biolo-
gist^ assume that this rapid loss
of stop-over and wintering
ground habitats will negatively
affect populations of resident
and migratory species.
Thrpugh the assistance of a
matching grant from the Na-
tional Fish and Wildlife Foun-
datipn, the chapter has devel-
oped a walk-through exhibition
which will be on display in
museum and university build-
ings in San Jose for four
months. The Exhibition then
will travel to other public
buildings throughout Costa
Rica. Tsuli Tsuli also is making
arrangements with the Ministry
of Education to include a visit
to titie exhibit as a mandatory
activity for schools, and
the chapter will be
collaborating with other
agencies to offer
birding seminars and
field trips to the public.
A selection of outreach
materials, including a guide to
the exhibition, issues of
Adventuras Audubon, and a
booklet on the birds in Costa
Rica, will be distributed to
enhance the educational value
of the project.
Contact: Susan Carlson, National
Audubon Society, 666 Pennsylva-
nia Ave. SE, Suite 200, Washing-
ton, DC 20003-4319 (Phone: 202-
547-9009; FAX: 202-547-9022).
ACTION PACKET
NAS has recently produced the Birds in the Balance Action
Packet to help local chapters participate in Birds in the
Balance and Partners in Flight activities. The Action Packet
provides guidance for monitoring, habitat protection, educa-
tion and outreach, and international partnership project
ideas. It also contains contact lists for Partners in Flight
working group chairs and state agency representatives, as
well as a resource list of key reference and educational
materials available from NAS and other participating organi-
zations. To obtain an Action Packet, send $2.00 S&H to
Birds in the Balance, National Audubon Society, 666 Penn-
sylvania Ave. SEJ.Washington, DC 20003.
*Andy Romero is currently interning with Susan Carlson at the National Audubon Society in Washington, B.C.
Page 9
-------
WHY SAVE NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRDS?
Part 2
by: Arthur Weissman
(This column explores some of the reasons behind all the activities described in the rest of the Partners
in Flight newsletter. The reasons for saving neotropical migratory birds are, of course, multifarious--
biological, ecological, aesthetic, economic, philosophical, and even spiritual. As the Partners in Flight
Program broadens its base and begins to have real effects, the question will inevitably be asked: why
save the birds? You don't have to be an avid birder or ornithologist to appreciate the answers.)
With all the irony and
surprise found in the natu-
ral world, we can truly say
that we need to save nature to
save ourselves, and to care
for other animals to become
better human beings. —
becomes a speculative matter,
hypothetical but not proved,
that certain ecosystems may
become impaired or de-
stroyed without birds. With a
few exceptions, such as the
That we depend physi-
cally and biologically
on the world around us
is at once obvious to the
point of tautology and
also frustratingly elusive.
Nature provides the basic
materials and energy neces-
sary for all life to survive and
reproduce. Birds play an
important role in the so-
called life-support systems by
keeping in balance the growth
of insects and other prey, by
spreading seeds and in some
cases causing them to germi-
nate, and by providing food
to their predators.
But would removal of the
avian class—much less the
subset of neotropical migra-
tory birds—in itself under-
mine these
systems? The
very question
makes us shift
uncomfortably,
both because it
evokes a horrible
As human beings we strive to
save birds... because we have
learned to care
oilbirds of Venezuela, we
lack the definitive connection
demonstrating not only that
birds are part of the web of
life, which is self-evident, but
that their absence would tear
the web asunder. (As a result,
we often fall back on the
equally compelling notion
that birds are indicators of
ecosystem health: if they go,
the rest is going too.)
And so it is throughout
nature. It is difficult enough
to obtain an accurate baseline
along one ecosystem dimen-
sion (witness the continuing
Birds play an important role in life-support
systems by controlling the growth of
insects and by spreading seeds
becomes a formidable task
that often eludes us in all but
the most egregious (or el-
egant) cases. A still further
connection then needs to be
made between ecosystem
structure and function
and the presence of
any particular species,
and then between
ecosystem health and
the health of our
species; a connection
which, in view of society's
indifference to the loss of
species and to global warm-
ing, does not appear to be
transparent or automatically
compelling.
So we can't with certainty
assert that loss of birds or any
subset of bird species neces-
sarily undermines ecosystems
and endangers our existence.
Many of us remain convinced,
however, that major ecologi-
cal processes cannot be
destroyed or grievously
altered without threatening
our very survival. In the spirit
of Leopold, we
are also inclined
to believe that
major compo-
nents of an
ecosystem are
vital to its sur-
thought and because it is so
difficult to answer affirma-
tively. We can tally up the
tons of insects removed by
feeding birds, the number of
seeds ingested and dispersed,
the larvae that might other-
wise smother a forest. It
controversy about the real
population trends of neotropi-
cal migrants; see Hagan and
Johnston, eds., Ecology and
Conservation of Neotropical
Migrant Landbirds). Trying
to correlate two or more
variables in an ecosystem
vival, and that removal of a
number of bird species, for
example, could damage the
ecosystem irreparably.
As human beings we are
also concerned about our
moral state. If we were truly
Page 10
-------
children of nature, we would
not consciously consider the
welfare of other species,
except perhaps as it might
affect our own survival. But
we are endowed with the
potential of a moral con-
science—both a curse
and a blessing, but
most of all an
underused faculty. The
development of a
moral conscience is
directly correlated
with the extent to
which one is truly concerned
for the welfare of "others"—
outside the self (the first
step), outside the family,
outside the nation... and
ultimately outside our own
species. The vanguard of
humanity has just reached this
final moral frontier; the vast
majority scarcely realizes it
exists, or is more likely to
belittle the notion of caring
intrinsically for other species,
especially if it compromises
its own immediate desires or
needs.
This is why it is essential for
us as human beings
to care
about the
welfare of
the rest of
nature. Yes,
there are many
unmet needs in
our own species:
people are starv-
ing, living in
substandard
conditions, or
not getting
opportunities
to produce or
be fulfilled. While these
social needs must be ad-
dre'ssed even more than they
are; today, we must reserve an
important portion of our
efforts to benefit other species
as well. The other species we
Caring about the small and
unglamorous species reflects a
greater love for the whole of life
expanding our love to rela-
tives or friends; there's noth-
ing wrong with it, but it is a
limited and somewhat self-
serving love. Caring about the
small and unglamorous (even
ugly) species reflects not only
a fuller appreciation
of the web of life but
also a greater love for
the whole of life.
help tend at first to be the
glamor species or those with
whom we can best identify or
empathize: large mammals of
land or sea, birds, big trees,
and fish. This is equivalent to
Indigo Buntings
winter in southern
Florida, Central
America, the
Bahamas, and the
Greater Antilles.
Neotropical migratory
landbirds probably fit
in both categories.
Many are colorful and aes-
thetically appealing, stars of
the nature-appreciation
sweepstakes. But as a group
they suffer from being out of
sight for over half the year, as
well as from having an
uncatchy name. Even birders
are not apt to think about
what happens to them outside
breeding season. It takes a
moral leap to appreciate their
special existence and the
vicissitudes involved.
As ecologists, then,
. we seek to save birds
because we have
reason to believe they
are important to the
ecosystems
upon which
we and all
living things
depend. As human beings, we
strive to save birds, including
neotropical migratory birds,
because we have learned to
care.
Contact: Arthur Weissman,
Green Seal, 1250 23rd Street
NW, Washington, DC 20037
(Phone: 202-331-7337; FAX:
202-331-7533).'
Page 11
-------
TENNESSEE PARTNERS IN FLIGHT
BIRDS AND BIODIVERSITY
by: Bob Ford
Gary Myers, Director of the
Tennessee Wildlife Re-
sources Agency (TWRA),
recently volunteered Tennes-
see as a state model for devel-
opment and implementation
of active management pro-
grams for neotropical migra-
tory birds. What follows is
Tennessee's strategy for a
five-year plan. This strategy
is offered to provide ideas to
other states, as well as to
solicit ideas for improvements
from others involved in
Partners in Flight.
Tennessee's Biodiversity
Program
Tennessee's Birds and
Biodversity program is the
vanguard project of the Ten-
nessee Biodiversity Program
(TBP), a partnership initiative
begun in 1990 to develop
appropriate tools for conser-
vation into the next century.
The TBP combines two
national initiatives, the Bio-
logical Diversity Inventory
(Gap Analysis) and Partners
in Flight. Gap Analysis will
provide a coarse scale, com-
puterized vegetation map of
the state. Wildlife species
distributions will be overlaid
on this map.
TCL
Other than huntable species,
Tennessee's most accurate
wildlife database is for breed-
ing birds, thanks to a BBA
project completed in 1991.
These data will be supple-
mented with a state-wide
vegetation map, and display
associated distributions of
breeding neotropical migra-
tory birds.
The TBP currently proposes
to transfer this information to
local communities and coun-
ties in Tennessee through a
telecommunications partner-
ship. The vegetation and
distribution maps as described
above will be computer-based
maps that can be used to
better integrate development
of agriculture, industry, and
natural resources.
Partnerships and committees
The Tennessee Conservation
League (TCL), state affiliate
of the National Wildlife
Federation, is the lead coordi-
nating body of the TBP. Other
leaders include the Tennessee
Dept. of Environment and
Conservation, TWRA, Ten-
nessee Ornithological Society
(TOS), Tennessee Valley
Authority^USFWS, USFS,
and others. Primary funding
has been provided by the
National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and the Lyndhurst
Foundation.
Oversight committees were
formed to
bring together
a diverse
group of inter-
ests that could
mold the results
of this program into useful
products for Tennesseans.
These committees include a
Steering Committee, a Com-
mittee of Planners and Com-
munity Leaders, a Forestry
and Agriculture Committee,
and a Bird Monitoring Com-
mittee.
Through these committees,
groups such as the Farm
Bureau, the Cotton Council,
and the Soil Conservation
Districts come together with
Tennessee's Local Planners
and economic and community
development leaders to assist
development of conservation
tools and strategies for birds
and biodiversity. Lists of
committee members are
available upon request.
A five-year program
Through the TBP and the
above-mentioned partner-
ships, Tennessee has devel-
oped a five-year plan (1993-
1998) to begin implementa-
tion of management for
neotropical migratory birds.
Pending adequate funding,
most management responsi-
bility will be transferred to
the TWRA by 1998.
In 1993, four public wildlife
management areas and two
private areas will serve as
pilot areas. The public areas
represent five different physi-
ographic provinces, and assist
linkages with regional
projects in the Blue Ridge and
the Mississippi River Alluvial
Plain. The two private areas
are a land trust in the Tennes-
see River Gorge and proper-
ties of the Westvaco Co. (a
Page 12
-------
forest products industry) in
Tennessee. Additional public
and private lands will be
added annually.
Each area is proposed to be
part of an initial five-year
cycle that includes:
(1) Bird and habitat invento-
ries: A minimum of 150 to
200 point counts will be
established on each area,
distributed to
adequately
sample each
habitat type.
For vegetation
descriptions, bird
observers will be
asked to general-
ize habitats at each point
count by using diagrams and
categories of various succes-
sional stages and composition
types. Mini-routes are 7.5
mile roadside counts, similar
in technique to the BBS.
Mini-routes will be designed
to sample birds by roadside
both on and off target areas to
provide a regional perspective
of bird distribution. Casual
birding trips and general
searches for birds will also
add to the
collective
knowledge
about the
inventories can be compared
to Tennessee
BBA and BBS data for the
surrounding counties. This
information can be compared
further to recommendations
of the Partners in Flight
physiographic province
committees.
i
With these comparisons we
can ask: Which bird species,
species assemblages, and
"Birds and Biodiversity" is a vanguard
partnership project to develop
conservation tools into the next century
habitats are in most need of
management on specific are
as to strengthen low popula-
tions in the physiographic
province?
(3) Monitoring bird response:
After habitat manipulations,
the same point counts used to
inventory birds will be used to
monitor bird population
response to management
actions. These counts are
planned to be repeated every
areas.
Tennessee has developed a five-year plan
to begin implementation of management for
neotropical migratory birds
(1) Habitat
management
recommendations: Once
specific bird inventories have
been completed (one to three
years), the information pro-
vided can be compared to
more general landscape
knowledge of bird distribu-
tions. For example, specific
projects in Tennessee are
investigating different aspects
of breeding bird productivity.
As monitoring of bird popula-
tions continues, further re-
search questions will become
apparent.
(4) Public education:
Educational materials are
being produced to provide
current information to the
general public, conservation
groups,
sportsman's
clubs, and private
landowners. For
example, articles
have been pub-
lished recently
in Tennessee
Wildlife and the Tennessee
Conservationist, and a column
appears bi-monthly in Tennes-
see-Out-of-Doors. Further-
more, an Agricultural Exten-
sion Bulletin on the subject
will be published.
Once bird inventories and
habitat recommendations are
completed, we propose to
publish handbooks specific to
each area and distribute them
to nearby landowners, so they
can better
understand and
may participate
in the objec-
tives of the
project^.
three years. Bird response to
management actions will then
dictate future management
decisions.
Research is an integral part
of developing this program
both now and in1 the future.
Currently, several research
(5) Continuing education for
natural resource profession-
als: Through the TBP, topics
are being developed to pro-
vide continuing education
opportunities to wildlife
officers and managers, forest-
ers, soil conservation profes-
sionals, and agricultural
cont'd on page 14
Page 13
-------
Tennessee cont'd...
extension agents. TCL has
completed a series of focus-
group sessions to better
identify the needs of county
and regional natural resource
professionals. A "practice"
course is scheduled for this
fall, with full implementation
in 1994.
In the meantime, up to nine
TWRA staff members will
participate in a two-week
workshop on neotropical
migratory birds offered
through East Tennessee State
University.
(6) Southeastern U.S. and
international communication:
Although state management
programs may necessarily stop
at state boundaries, the need
for coordination and communi-
cation for migratory bird
management clearly tran-
scends both state and interna-
tional boundaries. For this, the
best mechanisms are the
physiographic province com-
mittees designed through
Partners in Flight. Tennessee
and other states in the south-
east have remained active in
these committees, and are
beginning to develop interstate
projects for management.
Tennessee has also recently
begun to investigate interna-
tional opportunities.
Contacts:
For more information about
Tennessee Birds and
Biodiversity, or suggestions for
improvement on this plan, please
contact one of the following
people:
Bob Ford or Kay Linder, (NOTE
ADDRESS CHANGE) TN Conser-
vation League, 300 Orlando Ave.,
Nashville, TN 37219 (615-353-
1133); Daryl Durham, Ecological
Services Division, TN Dept. of
Environment and Conservation,
L&C Tower, 8th Floor, 401 Church
Street, Nashville, TN 37243 (615-
532-0436); Bob Hatcher, TN
Wildlife Resources Agency,
Ellington Ag Center, Box 40747,
Nashville, TN 37204 (615-781-
6612); Chuck Nicholson, TN
Valley Authority, 216 Natural
Resources Bldg., Norris, TN 37828
(615-632-1590).
PARTNERS IN FLIGHT ARTICLES OF INTEREST
"Bird Migration, Counting the
Costs," Terry B. Johnson, in
Arizona Wildlife Views.
November 1991. AZ G&F,
2221 W. Greenway Rd.,
Phoenix, AZ 85023-4312.
"The Birds of Summer." Terry
B. Johnson, Arizona G&F
Brochure. March 1992. (see
above).
"Effeqt'of even-aged timber
management on bird species
diversity and composition in
northern hardwoods of New
Hampshire," CJ. Welsh and
W.M. Healy, in Wildlife Soci-
ety Bulletin, 21(2): 143-154.
"Effects of Changes in Forest
Ecosystem on the Biodiversity
of Minnesota's Northern Forest
Birds," Lee Pfanmuller and
Tom Klein, 1990. MN DNR,
Box 25 DNR Bldg., 500
Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN
55155.
"The Birds Can't Wait," Hugh
E. Kingery, in Colorado Out-
doors, Vol.41, No. 2. March-
April 1992. CO DNR, 6060
Broadway, Denver, CO 80216.
"On a Wing and a Prayer,"
Dana Bradshaw, in Virginia
Wildlife, Vol. 53, No. 5. May
1992. VA DGIF, Box 11104,
Richmond, VA 23230.
"Saving Migratory Birds Here
and in the Tropics," Peter
Stangel (NFWF), wAudubon
Naturalist, Vol. 19, No. 3. April
1993. Audubon Naturalist
Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815.
"Silence of the Songbirds," Les
Line, in National Geographic,
Vol. 183, No. 6. June 1993.
National Geographic Society,
17th & M Streets NW, Wash-
ington, DC 20036.
"Sounds of Silence," Kristen ,
Merriman, in Outdoor
America-The Official Publica-
tion of the Izaak Walton
League of America. Spring
1993. IZWLA, 1401 Wilson
Blvd., Level B, Arlington, VA
22209.'
"Neotropicals in Trouble," Dr.
Gary Graham, Madge Lindsay,
and Kelly Bryan, in Texas
Parks & Wildlife. May 1993.
TX P&W, 4200 Smith School
Rd., Austin, TX, 78744.
Page 14
-------
GALVESTON MINUTES: NOTES FROM THE APRIL 1993 MEETING
by: Kathleen Milne
The semi-annual National
Joint Committee Meeting for
Partners in Flight was held
April 26-29, 1993 in Galveston,
Texas. It was hosted by the
USFWS (Migratory Bird Man-
agement Office in Washington,
DC and Region 2 Regional
Office in Albuquerque) and
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD). Houston
Audubon Society organized the
field trips and assisted with
registration.
The Management Steering
Committee (comprised of the 10
Working Group Chairs and
several national-level coordina-
tors from various agencies and
NGOs) met on the 26th for a
detailed discussion of Working
Group priorities. Each Working
Group presented from one to
several priorities for the next
year. The Management
Steering Committee fine-
tuned these priorities for
presentation to the Joint
Committee. They were
approved by the Joint
Committee on the
27th. The priorities
will be pulled
together into one
document and a
strategy will be
developed for
implementing
and marketing
the projects. The priorities
will help set the course for
the Working Groups for the
next year and will help focus
fundraising on a few, high-
priority projects (contact
Working Group Chairs for
additional information, page 3).
A meeting was also held on the
26th to kick-off the Model
States Program. These states are
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado,
Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and
Tennessee. Each state has
volunteered to develop a five-
year action plan for neotropical
migratory birds. These plans
will serve as templates for other
states to adapt for their own
neotropical migratory bird
programs. The Model
States committed to
ha.ving their plans
completed by
sometime this
© Tamara Sayre
Chimney Swifts, so named
because they breed and roost in
; chimneys, nest throughout
eastern North America from
Canada south to the Gulf states,
but winter only in the upper
Amazon basin.
fall (contact Naomi Edelson,
page 3).
The Federal, State, and Non-
governmental Committees met
for a half day on the 27th, then
met as the Joint Committee for
the remainder of the day. High-
lights included the decision to
complete development and
implementation of the
National species
prioritization scheme.
Funded by USFWS,
USFS, BLM, DOD,
and EPA, this scheme
utilizes all data
available on birds
and their habitats to
develop a prioritized
list of species-of-
concern. The
scheme will use
BBS data, state
heritage program
information, local
studies, and GAP
analysis habitat classi-
fication. The Joint
Committee endorsed the
Working Group priorities
(contact Committee Chairs for
more information, page 3).
Other happenings included
discussion of the weather radar
system along the Gulf Coast.
The current system, in place
since 1957, is being converted to
a new radar system. These radar
stations provide valuable infor-
mation on trans-Gulf migration
and funding needs to calibrate
the old to the new system to
facilitate continued tracking of
migration.
The National Information and
Education Working group
announced that the new Part-
ners in Flight brochure and the
Citizen's Action Guide for
cont'd on page 29
Page 15
-------
PARTNERS IN FLIGHT AND THE PLAN
Complementary Conservation Programs
Although the
North American
Waterfowl Management Plan
(Plan) and the Partners in
Flight Neotropical Migratory
Bird Conservation Program
have different focuses (the Plan
focuses on wetland-dependent
birds while Partners in Flight
focuses on migrating forest and
grassland birds), the programs
are complementary. In fact, 20
species of ducks and geese are
actually neotropical migratory
birds, with part or all of their
populations spending the non-
breeding season in the
neotropics (Rappole et al.,
1983).
Also, both programs promote
comprehensive conservation on
both the breeding and non-
breeding grounds, as well as
along migration routes. Both
are also proactive in nature,
trying to stem the decline of
avian species before their
numbers become threatened or
endangered. Even the habitat-
based focus which the two
programs have in common is
complementary.
The Plan provides a strategy for
protecting, restoring, and
enhancing more than six
million acres of wetlands and
associated habitats in areas of
critical importance to many
species of migratory birds.
Partners cooperating in the
Plan's 12 habitat joint ventures
are vigorously implementing
wetlands conservation projects
that are creating increased
diversity. The Plan recognized
that wetlands projects would
benefit many species besides
by: Angela Graziano
waterfowl, and the vast number
of projects and many acres of
managed habitat result in more
benefits for wetlands-associ-
ated neotropical migratory
birds .and many other species
than any other on-the-ground
habitat conservation effort.
Several components of the Plan
directly complement objectives
of the Partners in Flight pro-
gram. For example, one Part-
ners in Flight objective is to
conserve more continuous
blocks of forest and grassland
cover. To assist in this effort,
the Lower Mississippi Valley
Joint Venture (LMVJV) in the
Plan has an objective of restor-
ing more than half a million
acres of marginal cropland to
bottomland hardwoods. The
USFWS and other partners in
the LMVJV are
already protecting large
blocks of forests. For example,
in the Cache River Wetlands
Project, a cooperative effort to
protect and restore 60,000 acres
of swamps and bottomland
forest along the Cache River
and its tributaries, a combina-
tion of shallow water, mudflats,
and moist-soil foods will attract
many shorebirds and provide
excellent breeding and migra-
tion habitat for other neotropi-
cal migratory birds, such as
Swainson's Warbler. Many
non-forest neotropical migra-
tory birds benefit from moist-
soil impoundments and flooded
croplands that Plan partners
initially began creating for
waterfowl. Moreover, the
LMVJV s Monitoring and
Evaluation Team is building a
Northern
Waterthrush (on
mangrove branch)
winter from Mexico
and the West Indies to
South America, and
breed from Alaska
and Canada to
the northern
U.S.
© Tamara Sayre
Page 16
-------
STATE V/ORKING GROUPS
TEXAS PARTNERS IN FLIGHT
,- by: Jane Lyons
Over 120 people from all over
Texas converged on Brownsville
on January 15 for the second state-
wide meeting of the Texas Part-
ners in Flight Working Group.
This workshop was introduced by
Dr. John Rogers, Director of
USFWS Region 2, and featured 18
speakers from government
agencies and private institu-
tions who spoke on monitor-
ing, education, and manage-
ment efforts aimed at pro-
moting the protection of
neotropical migratory birds
and their habitat. In addition to
hearing from experts, the audience
was treated to a showing of Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department's
(TPWD) new video on neotropical
migratory birds, "Out of the Blue"
(see page 31), and to brief presen-
tations by six students from
Matamoros, Mexico (part of
National Audubon Society's
International Youth Alliance) who
spoke about their environmental
concerns.
The workshop was followed by
a reception, hosted by the
Brownsville Convention and
Visitors' Bureau, and by Satur-
day morning field trips to
Brownsville-area wildlife
sanctuaries and birding hot spots
(where a Rose-throated Becard
For the first time this spring,
BBS routes have been
conducted in northern Mexico
welcomed the birders!). The
workshop was also featured on
the evening news report of the
Brownsville CBS affiliate.
Additional meetings of the state
steering committee, education
committee, and physiographic
area Coordinators were held to
organize sections of the Texas
Partners in Flight master plan.
Plans are already underway for
next:year's workshop!
High Island/Gulf Coast Initiatives
On April 28,1993 the Houston Audubon Society and The Nature Conser-
vancy announced the High Island and Gulf Coast Conservation Initiatives,
a partnership under Partners in Flight-Aves ,de las Americas, to protect and
restore coastal woodlots and other migration habitat on the Chenier Plain of
Texas and Louisiana.
Partners and their contributions include: TPWD: $60,000 and habitat
restoration expertise; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: $130,000;
USFWS: $42,000; Amoco Production Company: $200,000 and 155 acres
of land valued in excess of $700,000; and Phillips Petroleum Company:
$ 120,000 and professional expertise.
The High Island/Gulf Coast Initiatives will concentrate on four main tasks:
habitat protection/restoration at High Island and Little Pecan Island, LA;
inventory and evaluation of woodlots on the Chenier Plain; establishment
of a field research station at Little Pecan Island; and development of a long-
term conservation plan for the area that includes a Gulf Coast bird observa-
tory at High Island. The initial phase is expected to take two years to
complete and represents an investment of more that $1 million.
Contact: Stephen Cast, Houston Audubon Society, 444 Wilshire Blvd., Houston,
TX 77079-7199 (Phone: 713-669-7516; FAX: 713-669-3725).
For the first time this spring,
BBS routes have been conducted
in the northern Mexico states of
Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon,
Coahuila, and Chihuahua by
Mexican biologists in conjunc-
tion with the USFWS, TPWD,
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies, and
the National Audubon
Society. This three-year
pilot project is officially
authorized and permitted by
the Mexican Federal Gov-
ernment. A bilingual coordi-
nator has provided training
workshops, as well as English
and Spanish language field
guides and tapes of bird vocal-
izations, to 15 biologists in
northern Mexico. The biologists
have already completed 14 routes
and anticipate completing an
additional 26 routes this year.
Anyone willing to donate perti-
nent information, books, or tape
recordings that can be used in
additional training workshops
over the next three years is asked
to contact Jane Lyons at the
address below.
Contact: Jane Lyons, Texas Part-
ners in Flight, Box 26823, Austin,
TX 78755-0823 (Phone: 512-327-
1943; FAX: 512-327-1264).
A migratory songbird
conservation project in
Coahuila, Mexico, needs
donated binoculars for bird
observers and breeding sur-
veys. This project also needs
money to purchase Spanish-
language birding guides.
Anyone wishing to donate
binoculars or money may write
to: NTMB Texas-Mexico
Project, Nongame Program
Office, 4200 Smith School
Road, Austin, TX 78744
Page 19
-------
STATE WORKING GROUPS
The Michigan Partners in
Flight working group has
gathered three times since our
initial May 1992 meeting.
Results include formation of a
steering committee composed
of university
scientists (Drs.
Donald Beaver,
Richard Brewer, and
Michael Hamas); public
agency personnel represent-
ing the Michigan DNR (Bill
Rockwell, Dan Tucker, and
Tom Weise), USFS (Kevin
Doran), and ^
USFWS
(Richard
Urbanek);
NGO staff
from Kalamazoo
Nature Center (Ray
Adams), Whitefish Point
Bird Observatory (Dave
Evers), and The Nature
Conservancy (Dave Ewert,
Mary Rabe, and Leni
Wilsmann); and corporate
members Mead Corpora-
tion (John Johnson) and
White Water Associates,
Inc. (Beth Rogers). Applied
research and development
and implementation of man-
agement activities for migrant
birds will be the group's pri-
mary focus.
Accomplishments include: (1)
identification of 24 regionally
important declining neotropical
migratory bird species with
significant breeding popula-
tions in Michigan, and (2)
identification of major threats
to neotropical migratory birds
in three Michigan landscapes:
southern, agricultural areas;
transitional areas of northern
lower Michigan and parts of the
southern Upper Peninsula; and
the largely forested landscape
Page 20
MICHIGAN
by: David Ewert
of most of the Upper Peninsula.
Collectively, Michigan working
group members are monitoring
or inventorying populations of
breeding neotropical migratory
birds in southern Michigan,
the Upper Peninsula, and at
selected Nature Conservancy
preserves. A landscape
ecology study of breed-
ing Black-throated
Blue Warblers and
American Red-
starts started in
spring 1993
on the
Hiawatha
anticipated for a few areas in
southern Michigan that may
harbor relatively large numbers
of breeding migratory birds.
MAPS studies are being con-
ducted at several sites. Studies
of bird distribution in managed
forests are also in progress.
Funding for these projects has
been provided by the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
USFS, USFWS, Central Michi-
gan Univ., Kalamazoo Nature
Center, Michigan DNR, The
Nature Conservancy, Whitefish
Point Bird Observatory of
Michigan Audubon Society,
Mead Corporation, White
Water Associates, National
Council of the
Sedge Wrens winter
in the southern U.S.
and south-central
Mexico.
effects
of burning
on migratory
birds are being
evaluated at Seney
NWR. Migration
studies continue at
Kalamazoo Nature
Center and Whitefish
Point, and have been initi-
ated along Lake Huron.
Incorporation of BB A data
with GIS land cover data is
Paper
Industry
for Air
and Stream
Improvement,
Champion
International, Dr.
and Mrs. Lewis Batts,
Jr., and many dedicated
volunteers.
The next meeting of
the Michigan work-
ing group is Septem-
ber 10,1993 in St.
Ignace, MI.
Contact: David Ewert,
The Nature Conser-
vancy, 2840 E. Grand
River, Suite 5, East
Lansing, MI 48823
(Phone: 517-332-
1741; FAX: 517-
332-8382).
-------
On November 21,1992,
nearly 30 people representing
state and federal agencies,
nongovernmental organiza-
tions, businesses, and academic
institutions met in Camp Hill to
discuss state-wide participation
in the Partners in Flight
project. The meeting was
hosted by the Audubon Council
of Pennsylvania and the Mid-
Atlantic Re-
gional Office
of Audubon.
PENNSYLVANIA
' by: Paula Ford
\
Participants had the opportunity
to briefly describe the activities
of their organizations. Tom
Eubanks (International Paper)
spoke of the company's vast
forest holdings in Pennsylva-
nia. Dave de Calesta (USFWS)
described research projects in
the Allegheny National Forest.
Bob Martin, Pennsylvania
Society for Ornithology (PSO),
Charles Smith
(Cornell Lab of
Ornithology),
chair of the
Northeast Region Working
Group, provided an overview
of Partners in Flight and an
update on activities in the
Northeast. He reviewed BBS
data for the region and sug-
gested a model for a state
working group.
Stan Senner (National Audubon
Society) participated via
speaker phone from Colorado.
Stan has recently joined the
National Audubon staff as
director of its Birds in the
Balance program, a component
of Partners in Flight. He spoke
about Audubon's goals: to
lobby for improved appropria-
tions for Partners in Flight and
to involve local chapters and
staff in identifying, protecting,
and managing priority habitats.
Dan Brauning (PA Game
Commission) provided an
analysis of Pennsylvania's BBS
data. He pointed out the need
for further research because
significant trends appear only
in abundant populations.
Chandler Bobbins (USFWS) summarized 25
years of data on neotropical migratory birds
and made a compelling argument for birders'
participation in Partners in Flight
discussed the group's Special
Areas Project in 40 state parks
and state forest national areas.
Jeff jKeller spoke about the
need for clear assumptions
when setting up research
projects. Margaret Brittingham
(Penn State) reviewed her
research on reproductive
success. She serves as co-chair
of the Partners in Flight Infor-
mation and Education Working
Group. Brad Nelson (USFWS)
discussed breeding bird moni-
toriitig.
Dart! Devlin (PA Bureau of
Forestry) described manage-
ment of 2.1 million acres of
forest land for multiple re-
source values. Frank Felbaum,
PA Wild Resources Conserva-
tion :Fund (WRCF), spoke
about funding available through
the income-tax check-off.
Neotropical migratory birds are
featured in this year's WRCF
information campaign. Chuck
Yohn (Juniata College,
Raystown Field Station)
described cooperation with the
Army Corps of Engineers in
developing management plans
for "Raystown Lake.
Paul Zeph, PA Department of
Environmental Resources,
spoke about the scenic rivers
program, wetlands program,
involvement with schools, and
the proactive role of state
parks. Cindy Dunn (Alliance
for the Chesa-
peake Bay)
discussed plans
to expand
water quality
monitoring to
include other
kinds of moni-
toring and the availability of
educational materials on back-
yard habitats. Laurie Goodrich
(Hawk Mountain Sanctuary)
described long-term data on
raptors at the Sanctuary and
cooperative programs with
Mexican ornithological
organizations.
Those attending agreed to form
a state working group and made
preliminary plans to draft a set
of goals. PSO offered to co-
sponsor a conference devoted
to Fanners in Flight in con-
junction with its spring meeting
in May 1993. This suggestion
was enthusiastically endorsed.
At a follow-up meeting held on
April 5,1993, at Penn State's
Forest Resources Lab, the
Pennsylvania working group
established the following
committees: Research and
Management; Monitoring and
Inventory; and Information,
Education, and International.
The group also developed a
draft mission statement and
discussed goals and priorities.
cont'd on page 23
Page 21
-------
REGIONAL WORKING GROUP
News from Calves ton
The most recent national
meeting of Partners in Flight
was held in Galveston, TX on
April 27-29. A primary focus
of the meeting was to discuss
priority actions for each of the
working groups. The Northeast
Working Group (NWG),
represented by Charles Smith,
NY Cooperative F&W Re-
search Unit, and Diane Pence,
USFWS, made the following
recommendations (see page 23
for report on Galveston):
* Completion of species rank-
ing systems in the Northeast.
Conservation needs for neotro-
pical migrants in the 13-
state Northeast Region
were prioritized
according to the
species ranking
system developed by
the national Management
Steering Committee. These
results will be published in the
Estes Park proceedings of the
National Training Workshop.
The next step is to complete the
rankings for each state;
* Agreement among species
lists. A list of species-of-
management-concern devel-
oped by USFWS should be
compatible with lists developed
by Partners in Flight;
* Development of a habitat
classification system for the
Northeast. This project is
being completed by The
Nature Conservancy through
cooperation with the USFWS
Gap Analysis Program. The
classification will be completed
by the end of 1993. These
classifications will be used
with the species ranking
system to identify habitats for
conservation;
NORTHEAST
by: Diane Pence
* Monitoring programs for
grassland, wetland, and noctur-
nal birds, and raptors, swal-
lows, and swifts. Specific
monitoring programs should be
developed and implemented for
these groups of birds, which are
not adequately addressed by
other surveys;
© Tamara Sayre
Lincoln's Sparrows winter in
woodland thickets and brushy
pastures from the Gulf Coast and
California south to Guatemala;
breeding season is spent in Alaska,
northern Quebec, Labrador, and
Newfoundland south to northern
New England and California.
* Funding for state wildlife
agencies. State agencies are
digging into their limited
resources to participate in
Partners in Flight. Federal
assistance to states would go
a long way to facilitate their
involvement;
* Identification of important
stopover areas and corridors.
Further information needs to be
gathered on these important
habitats in the Northeast.
Action Items
The Colorado Bird Observatory
(CBO) will complete species
rankings for each state. Various
federal agencies agreed to
provide funding to CBO so the
numerical rankings will be
standardized among the
states. Each state Partners
in Flight coordinator will
have the opportunity to
review the rankings and
make adjustments to their
state-specific variables.
The final product will be
available on a software
program developed by CBO;
CBO will complete species
rankings within physiographic
regions at a later date. Contact
your state coordinator or
Diane Pence for further
information.
State Coordinators
Connecticut: Jenny Dickson,
Dept. of Environmental Conser-
vation, Wildlife Division,
Sessions Woods WMA, Box
1238, Burlington, CT 06013
(203-584-9830);
Delaware: Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer,
Division of F&W, 89 Kings
Highway, Box 1401, Dover, DE
19903 (302-739-4782);
Massachusetts: Brad Blodget,
Division of F&W, Field Head-
quarters, Westboro, MA 01581
(508-366-4470);
Maryland: Glenn Therres, MD
Forest, Park & Wildlife Service,
Box 68, Wye Mills, MD 21679
(301-827-8612);
Maine: Patrick Coor, Dept. of
Inland F&W, Box 1298, Bangor,
ME 04401 (207-941-4474);
New Hampshire: John Kanter,
NH F&G Dept., 2 Hazen Drive,
Concord, NH 03301 (603-271-
2462);
Page 22
-------
New Jersey: Larry Niles,
Division of Fish, Game &
Wildlife, Box 383, RD-1,
Hampton, NJ 09927 (609-628-
2103);
New York: Bob Miller, Dept. of
Environmental Conservation,
Wildlife Resources Center,
Delmar, NY 12054 (518-439-
7635);
Pennsylvania: Dan Brauning,
PA Game Commission, RD 2,
Box 484, Montgomery, PA
17752(717-547-6938);
Rhode Island: Christopher
Raithel, Division of F&W, Box
218, West Kingston, RI02892
(401-789-0281);
Virginia: Dana Bradshaw,
Dept. of Game & Inland Fish-
eries, Box 11104, Richmond,
VA 23230 (804-367-6913);
Vermont: Chris Rimmer, VT
Institute of Natural Science,
Woodstock, VT 05091 (802-
447-2779); and
, West Virginia: Scott
Butterworth, DNR, Box 67,
Elkins, WV 26241 (304-637-
0245).
State Working Group
Meetings
Massachusetts held its first
meeting in Westboro, February
23. Massachusetts Audubon
hosted a meeting on grassland
birds in New England on
February 26. Maine held its
first! state meeting in Bangor,
May 12. New York and Mary-
land are planning meetings
for late summer. Vermont is
planning its third meeting for
September 14.
Become A Model State
Any state is welcome to
become a Partners in Flight
model state. All it takes is a
commitment to focusing on
neotropical bird conservation.
We don't yet have a model
state in the Northeast. You
could be the first! Contact the
chairs for more information.
Funding Opportunities
USFWS Challenge Grants are
a great way to double your
money. Challenge grants are
awarded to projects that are
cooperating with a USFWS
refuge or Ecological Services
field office. Anyone can submit
a proposal to match their non-
federal money 1:1. Awards
typically range from $1,000 to
$40,000. Neotropical bird
projects have been recipients in
the past! Contact Tom Goettel,
USFWS, 300 Westgate Center
Dr., Hadley, MA 01035-9589
(413-253-8517). Proposal
deadline is October 1,1993.
Next Working Group Meeting
in the Berkshires
This year's meeting of the
Northeast Working Group
(NWG) will be held on Thurs-
day, October 21 in the town of
Lenox, MA. The meeting will
be held in conjunction with the
Northeast Nongame Technical
Committee. Additional details
will be available at a later date.
Any Updates?
If you have any news, please
advise the NWG chairs:
Charles Smith and/or Diane
Pence (see page 3).
Pennsylvania cont'd... •
At the PSO meeting held in May at Millersville University, the agenda was devoted to neotropical
migratory birds. Margaret Brittingham; (Penn State) reviewed the Cornell Nest Record Program. Dan
Brauning (PA Game Commission) provided an update on the Pennsylvania Working Group, and
Fran Williams (Audubon) reviewed Birds in the Balance. Laurie Goodrich (Hawk Mountain Sanctu-
ary) discussed research on edge effects at Hawk Mountain. Doug Gross (PSO) updated the
group on the 40 Special Areas Projects in state parks and other public lands. Paul
Schwalbe (PA Coordinator, BBS) gave a presentation on warbler identifi-
catioil A highlight of the meeting was an inspiring speech by
Chandler Robbins (USFWS) on the importance of an
holistic approach to conservation of neotropical
migratory birds. He summarized 25 years of
data on neotropical migratory birds and
.made a compelling argument for birders'
participation in Partners in Flight.
Kentucky Warblers winter from
southern Mexico and the Contact: Paula Ford, Audubon Council of
Caribbean south to northern Pennsylvania, Box 674, Hollidaysburg, PA
South America: 16648 (814-695-4799).
-- © Tamara Say re
Page 23
-------
MONITORING AND INVENTORY
A National Perspective
by: Kathleen Milne
One of the many benefits of
the Partners in Flight Pro-
gram is increased communica-
tion, not only within the re-
search and management com-
munities, but also between
researchers and land managers.
Many researchers realize
that, while more research is
certainly needed, we also
need to apply what we
already know. Managers
realize they need
researchers to provide
the tools and informa-
tion to best manage
for neotropical
migratory birds.
particularly neotropical migrant
birds. Fanners in Flight has
served as the mechanism to
bring experts together from all
over the U.S., Canada, Mexico,
and other Latin Ameri-
can countries to talk
about birds and their
conservation. PIF
members all agree
that a need exists
to standardize
baseline
inventory
and moni-
toring
projects.
Before we can manage
for neotropical migra-
tory birds, however, we
must know what the
species are, where they are
found, what their population
trends are, what affects their
populations, and what we can
do to improve their situation.
Once w.e have developed
hypotheses about all or some
of these questions, and
have implemented
recommended
© Tamara Sayre
management practices, then
we have to determine if our
management is effective.
Monitoring programs help
provide these answers.
Because there is no perfect way
to study or monitor bird popu-
lations, we must identify
methods that best answer the
particular questions posed
about birds and/or their habitat.
Partners in Flight has helped
stimulate national interest in
monitoring bird populations,
Hermit Warblers live in mature
coniferous forests in the Pacific
Northwest during the breeding
season; they winter in Mexico
and Central America.
Most current avian projects are
done at a small scale, such as a
refuge, a park, or a watershed.
But more and more we are all
recognizing the need to look at
the larger scale, to pull together
these tidbits of information and
look at the larger scale of
ecosystems and bioregions.
Standardization of methods can
help with this effort.
There are basically two aspects
to a national approach to
monitoring:
1) Provide overall guidance and
priorities for research and
management; and
2) Promote the use of standard-
ized techniques for comparative
purposes.
Recently, four significant
events related to a national
monitoring program have
occurred. The first was a
"Monitoring Landbird Popula-
tions" workshop held at Point
Reyes Bird Observatory in
California in June of 1991. A
report from this workshop,
titled "Priorities for monitoring
landbird populations," suggests
four objectives for a
National Monitor-
ing Program:
l)Determine popula-
tion trends on a broad
scale to provide an early
warning of decline;
2)Inventory all species, both
locally and regionally, to
document extent of range and
regional variation in density;
3)Determine the habitat asso-
ciations and effects of habitat
managembnt on populations,
especially on a small scale,
such as a Forest or BLM
District; and
4)Determine the causes of
population trends.
The report suggested establish-
ment of a National Survey
Project, initiation of a National
Demographic Project, long-
term monitoring sites, and
National or Regional Data
Centers.
Page 24
-------
Second was development of a
monitoring needs assessment
by the Monitoring Working
Group in late 1992, which
detailed
specific
recommenda-
tions to
improve
monitoring of
birds in North
America. The
report provided a
theoretical per-
spective on moni-
toring, and
reviewed
major bird
and
habitat
monitoring
programs in North
America; it also
provided a bibliography
of habitat classification
schemes, a comparison of
the kinds of data that are
collected using a variety of bird
monitoring techniques, and a
preliminary list of high priority
species.
Third was a Maryland work-
shop held in November 1991
on the point count method of
monitoring birds. The group
issued a report titled "Manag-
ing and monitoring birds using
point counts: standards and
applications," by C. John
Ralph, Sam Droege, John
Sauer, and the members of the
Point Count Workshop. The
report suggests standards for
point counts during the breed-
ing season to track population
trends or determine associa-
tions between birds and their
habitats.
And fourth was publication of a
draft report in March 1992
titled "Field Methods for
Monitoring Landbirds," by C.
John Ralph, Geoffrey Geupel,
Peter Pyle, Thomas Martin, and
David DeSante. This report
outlines steps that might be
followed in monitoring many
species of landbirds.
regional, National, or hemi-
spheric.
Contact: Kathleen Milne, USFWS,
Div. of Refuges, 500 GoldAve.,
SW; Rm. 4021, Albuquerque, NM
87103 (Phone: 505-766-8035).
It covers methods for
monitoring population
size,: age and sex ratios,
survivorship, habitat
relationships, and other
parameters.
A National monitoring
program will soon be
here;: You can contribute
now; by using the sug-
gested methods when
conducting any sort of
inventory or monitoring
effort for landbirds. Your
information will play a
role in learning more
about neotropical migra-
tory 'birds, particularly if
it can be used at several
scales such as local,
Yellow-rumped Warblers
(courtesy ofDeerlodge
NF) winter in the
southern U.S. and south
to Central America.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
DIEERLODGE NF
First Annual
MIGRATORY
BIRD DAY
Saturday
May 8, 1993
Page 25
-------
3{esearcti J&ghtigfit
USFS: NORTHEASTERN FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION
by: Richard M. DeGraaf
The Northeast Forest
Experiment Station (NEFES)
has conducted research on
neotropical migratory birds since
the mid-1970s, largely in
conjunction with the White
Mountain NF. hi addition,
cooperators at the Hubbard
Brook Experimental Forest have
studied many aspects of neotro-
pical migratory bird habitat use
in northern hardwood stands for
many years. Some objectives of
current research are to:
* investigate the relationships
between stand structure and
forest-dwelling neotropical
migratory birds in the major
forest types in New England;
* determine trends in breeding
populations of neotropical
migratory birds in extensive
forests (away from roads) while
accounting for vegetation
change;
To this end, NEFES recently
published a guide to wildlife
habitat management, which
summarizes 14 years of research
and literature review and provides
Management for neotropical
migratory birds must be planned
and conducted with the needs of
other species in mind
TIPS TO BIRDWATCHING
* Binoculars help!
* Observe silhouette of bird.
* Observe head of bird:
-markings
-eye stripes or rings
-color
-beak shape
* Check for:
-wing bars
-tail spots
-rump patches
-streaking
* Look for distinctive
actions:
-tail wagging/flicking
-walking, hopping
-feeding and flying
* Note habitat and time of
year.
* Compare with a field guide.
* investigate the energy expen-
ditures of selected forest-
dwelling neotropical migratory
birds in extensive U.S. frag-
mented forests within an overall
forested landscape;
* investigate rates of predation
on artificial nests (simulating
ground and cup nests of
— -\ neotropical migratory
birds) in fragmented vs
extensive forest and in
large and small forest
patches in a forest/agricul-
ture landscape; and
* relate reproductive
success of ovenbirds to
distance from clearcut
edge in extensive forest.
Habitat Management
Research
Management for neotropi-
cal migratory birds must
be planned and conducted
with the needs of other
species in mind. Because
management for any one
species or group likely
affects other species or
groups, research at NEFES
has focused on modifica-
tion of standard forest
management practices to
meet the habitat needs of
all inland vertebrates in
New England across the
landscape and over time.
habitat management information
at the landscape, forest, stand,
and within-stand levels for six
major forest types/groups in New
England (aspen, paper birch,
northern hardwoods, swamp
hardwoods, spruce-fir, hemlock,
oak-pine, and pine).
Recent relevant NEFES
publications
New England Wildlife: Management
of Forested Habitats, R.M. DeGraaf,
M. YamasaM, W.B. Leak, and J.W.
Lanier (1992: GTR NE-144, NEFES,
Radnor, PA, 271 pp.)
Forest and Rangeland Birds of the
United States. DeGraaf, R.M., V.E.
Scott, R.H. Harare, L. Ernst, and S.H.
Anderson. 1991. Ag. Handbook 688,
USFS, Washington, D.C.
Effects of thinning and deer browsing
on breeding birds in New England oak
woodlands. R.M. DeGraaf, W.M.
Healy, and R.T. Brooks. 1991. Forest
Ecology and Management. 41:179-
191.
Effects of even-aged management on
forest birds at northern hardwood
stand interfaces. DeGraaf, R.M. 1992.
Forest Ecology and Management.
46:95-110.
Contact: Richard M. DeGraaf, USFS,
NE Forest Experiment Station,
Holdsworth Hall, Univ. of Massachu-
setts, Amherst, MA 01003 (Phone:
413-545-0357; FAX: 413-545-1860).
Page 26
-------
IMBD cont'dfrom cover...
A Broad-winged Hawk and
Gyrfalcon from the Wildlife
Center of Virginia made meet-
ing a migrant an up-close and
personal venture. Children
gathered around crayon-strewn
tables drawing migratory birds
for unknown peers in
Latin America. They,
in return, received a
letter from a Mayan
child, pleading for
help... together they
must save the migra-
tory birds.
Elsewhere in the
park, local experts,
videos, displays, and
slide shows ex-
pounded upon vari-
ous aspects of migra-
tory bird biology,
decline, and conser-
vation. Teachers
participated in a
workshop on birds.
Zoo visitors took time
out from viewing
animals to help create
an exhibit for wild-
life, The Migratory Bird Gar-
den. Dirt-clad children and
muscle-sore adults planted more
than 150 native plants donated
by nurseries and individuals.
Before the day ended, a pair of
Gray Catbirds claimed the new
fern-edged stream that runs
from dripping faucet to frog-
rimmed pond as their own.
No, it is not every morning that
I get up at 5:00 a.m. For the life
of me, I can't figure out why
not.
The program organized by the
Smithsonian Migratory Bird
Center, National Zoological
Park, National Wildlife Federa-
tion, Audubon Naturalist Soci-
ety, Sidwell Friends School, and
The Nature Conservancy-
Maryland was only one of many
throughout the Western Hemi-
sphere on or about May 8,1993.
Although details of many events
are still coming in, we can give
you some highlights from the
first IMBD:
Chelsea Clinton and a classmate attend International Migratory
Bird Day celebrations at the National Zoo.
* Several states had Migratory
Bird Day officially declared by
the governor, including: CA,
OR, WA, and ID.
* In Alaska, Tongass NF hosted
a misrt-netting demonstration.
Staff;also "appeared" on a radio
talk show, wrote an article for
the local paper, and presented a
slide ishow to a college biology
classi On the Stikine Area a
slide :show was presented to
school children and adults from
Wraingell, and posters celebrat-
ing migratory birds were made
by home-schooled children and
displayed around Petersburg.
In Adak the USFWS offered a
film series on waterfowl and
shorebirds and a birding trip. In
Anchorage a public bird walk
was held. In Cordova the
Copper River Delta Shorebird
Festival hosted birding trips,
educational programs, and other
activities. In Dillingham educa-
tional programs and a spring
count were provided for school
students. In Fairbanks activities
and displays focused on migra-
tory waterfowl. In
Homer the
Kachemak Bay
Shorebird Festival
included bird walks,
lectures, and pelagic
birding trips.
Ketchikan biologists
gave programs on
birds and birding. In
Portage USFWS and
USFS staff gave a
banding demonstra-
tion and slide show.
In Prince William
Sound a boating
regatta toured the area
and USFS staff
educated the public
on migratory birds. In
Seward the USFS
delivered a slide
show. At Tok refuge
biologists and the
Upper Tanana Natural His-
tory Association participated in
the North American Migration
Count and presented a slide
show.
* In California, Sequia NF
sponsored "Sequoia Bird Day"
in conjunction with the Tulare
Audubon Society, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Scicon,
and the Porterville Breakfast
Lions. The events featured
educational talks, birding tours,
a barbecue, and a birdathon.
Eldorado NF featured a display
in the Placerville Ranger
District information center.
Tahoe NF conducted educa-
tional, programs. Los Padres
NF exhibited a poster display at
several locations, presented a
slide show, and led field trips for
cont'd on page 28
Page 27
-------
NEWS AND...
There are approximately 20 species
of hummingbirds in North
America. Found mostly in the west,
at least 15 of these are considered
to be neotropical migrants.
CLEAR A SPACE ON YOUR BOOKSHELF!
Status and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds
It's here! The much antici-
pated proceedings from the
September 1992 Estes Park
National Training Workshop
will be available in August.
Edited by Deborah Finch and
Peter Stangel, the Proceedings
are chock-full of the latest
management and monitoring
information relating to neotro-
pical migratory birds. Sections
include: Population Dynamics
and Habitat Concerns; Priori-
tizing Species of Concern;
Monitoring Bird Populations
and Habitats; Land Use
Practices and Neotropical
Migrants; and Conflicts and
Solutions for Integrating
Neotropical Migratory Birds
with Management of Other
Wildlife. Those who were
registered for the Estes Park
Training Workshop will
automatically receive a copy
free-of-charge. If you were not
registered at Estes Park and
would like a free copy, write:
USFS Rocky Mountain Forest
and Range Experiment Station,
Publication Division,
Craddock Building, 3825 E.
Mulberry, Ft. Collins, CO
80524-8597.
* NEEDED*
Ornithological Slides
for Belize Birdbook
BirdLife International will soon
publish a book written by avian
researcher Carolyn Miller
featuring 100 common and
resident birds of Belize. The
series benefits the layperson
and anyone interested in
birdwatching, conservation,
and nature.
We desperately need color
slides of these species: Slaty-
breasted Tinamou (Crypturellus
boucardi); Black-shouldered
Kite (Elanus caeruleus);
Crested Guan (Penelope
purpurascens); Black-throated
Bobwhite (Colinus
nigrogularis); Red-billed Pi-
geon (Columba flavirostris);
Purple-crowned Fairy
(Heliothrix barrotf); Rufous-
tailed. Jacamar (Galbula
ruficauda); Yucatan Vireo
(Vireo magister); Black-headed
Saltator (Saltator atriceps); and
Montezuma Oropendola
(Psarocolius montezuma).
All photographers will be
credited in the book, and slides
will be returned.
This is an excellent opportunity
to help complete an important
educational project. All photog-
raphers will receive a copy of
the final publication.
Contact: George Shillinger,
BirdLife International, Box 5242,
Washington, DC 20037-7242
(Phone: 202-778-9649; FAX:
202-293-9342).
Page 30
-------
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
in the San Francisco Area
The Papageno Project, sponsored by the
Golden Gate Audubon Society, offers bird
feeders and seed to people who are house-bound. Muriel
Leff started the program when she saw that birds at feeders
encouraged and gave a sense of companionship to the
lonely. Volunteers are needed to help set-up bkd feeders,
and to visit people and talk about their bird viewing experi-
ences. To get involved contact Muriel Leff, Urban Catalyst,
240 Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA 94111.
CALL FOR PAPERS
North American Research Workshop on
the Ecology and Management of Cowbirds
As cowbirds have expanded their range across North America,
the level of scientific inquiry has also increased. This special
workshop will address an array of topics related to cowbirds,
including, but not limited to, host-parasite relationships, population
dynamics, reproductive energetics, landscape influences, manage-
ment and control, and impacts of brood parasitism. Papers are
invited to be submitted for presentation. Selected papers will be
eligible for inclusion in an edited volume concerning the manage-
ment and ecology of cowbirds. ;
Workshop will be held November 4-5, 1993 in Austin, TX.
Program Chairs: Terry Cook, The Nature Conservancy; Stephen
Rothstein, Univ. of California; James Smith, Univ. of Brithish
Columbia; Scott Robinson, Illinois Natural History Survey;
Spencer Sealy, Univ. of Manitoba. For further information
contact: Cowbird Conference, The Nature Conservancy, Box
164255, Austin, TX 78716. !
AVAILABLE!
"Out of the Blue" video (see ad below).
"Birds of Two Worlds - Tropical Birds
of the Midwest" poster. Contact Brad
Jacobs, MO Dept. of Conservation, Box
180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (314-751-
4115).
"Directory of Selected Tropical
Forestry Journals and Newsletters"
includes most major and many local and
regional publications. Contact Lynne
Tittman, USFS, International Forestry,
RPE Room 711, Box 96090, Washington,
DC 20090-6090 (703-235-1676; FAX:
202-235-3732). .
"Disappearing Habitat, Disappearing
Birds" full-color poster portraying
neotropical migratory birds and their
habitats. Comes with teacher's guide.
$7 folded; $10 unfolded. Contact Midge
Smith, National Audubon Society,
Education Division, 700 Broadway, New
York, NY 10003-9501.
"1993 International Migratory Bird
Day Report" celebrating birds on the
national forests and grasslands. A report
on USFS activities. For a free copy
contact Debbie Pressman, USFS, Box
96090, Auditor's Bldg., Washington, DC
20090-6090.
"Winging into the Future" full-color
brochure describing BLM's nongame bird
program. Contact Michelle Dawson,
ELM, 1849 C Street NW, ms 5600 MIB,
Washington, DC 20240 (202-208-5717).
OUT OF THE BLUE
If you've ever visited the upper Texas coast during the
annual spring migration of songbirds, you know ho,w awe-
inspiring this phenomenon of nature can be. If you haven't
experienced this for yourself, there is a videotape available
that will give you an impression of what these coastal
woodlots are like as they fill with colorful, weary travelers!
making their way north. <
"Out of the Blue," a production of the Texas Parks &
Wildlife Department, documents this annual event with
vivid footage of bird species that most Texans never see.
Videotaped over a three-year period, this stereo VHS tape
includes interviews with birders who come from around the
world to witness this event. It illustrates why these scattered
coastal woodlots are so important to the birds and explains
what can be done to halt further reduction in bird popula-
tions. Run time is 10 minutes, 30 seconds.
'Out of the Blue" Order Form
Cost: $19.95 each X quantity =
TX residents add 8.25% sales tax
TOTAL:
Name: '
Address:
City/St./Zip;
Phone:
Send checks to Texas Parks and Wildlife
Dept., "Out of the Blue," 4200 Smith
School Road, Austin, TX 78744
Page 31
*please allow 2 weeks for delivery
-------
A
dd me to the mailing list!
Name
(code 3,2)
Street
City/State/Zip
Please also use this form for change of address.
I YES! This is an address change.
Mail to: Peter Stangel
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 900 Bender Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20036
©1993 by the Information and
Education Working Group and the
National Fish and Wildlife Founda-
tion. Reproduction of articles from
this Newsletter is encouraged, with
full acknowledgment to the above.
Artist approval is required for
reproduction of any artwork.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 900 Bender Building
Washington, D.C. 20036
nmtu WITH
SOYINK
5%-10% VOCs
100% recycled
------- |