Summary of Landbird Planning
Dan Casey of American Bird Conservancy and the Landbird Science Team (made up of scientists from throughout the IWJV) is expanding and strengthening biological foundation and conservation design tools for landbird conservation throughout the IWJV. This includes development of a decision-support database patterned after the Hierarchical All-Bird Strategy (HABS) database pioneered by the Playa Lakes Joint Venture. This database ties together trend-based population objectives from Partners in Flight (PIF) North American Landbird Conservation Plan and analysis of regional Geographic Information System (GIS) outputs to predict the relationship between habitat protection, enhancement and restoration efforts and population change for priority landbird species.
We have developed step-down population objectives for 20 landbird species, tiered from the continental PIF plan, and are developing a rigorous model to assess landscape capacity to meet those objectives while developing appropriate “bottom-up” estimates of populations and ecoregional carrying capacity. We are currently basing our assessments on regional ReGAP habitat and other appropriate habitat layers. Model development includes the assembly of density-habitat relationship and occupancy data into tables that directly relate population size to the distribution and condition of habitats. The set of 20 priority landbird species (and one shorebird, the Long-billed Curlew) identified by the Landbird Science Team includes 18 landbird species on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Birds of Management Concern” list, 13 PIF “Watch List” species, and an additional 4 species considered “Stewardship” species for the Intermountain West. In combination, they represent a spectrum of habitat types and conditions considered as high priority conservation issues in previous IWJV Implemention Plans, State Wildlife Action Plans, and PIF Landbird Conservation Plans in each of the 11 IWJV States.
Conservation Effects and Assessment Project.
In June 2008 ABC and the Joint Venture signed an agreement with the national office of the NRCS to conduct a Conservation Effects and Assessment Project (CEAP) analysis to assess the effectiveness of Farm Bill program projects in BCR 9 on priority bird species, using our pilot HABS database. The purpose of this assessment is to leverage the science foundation being developed in the IWJV to support the objectives of the Wildlife Component of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) of NRCS. This process is ongoing.