Archives for Habitat

This Plan is focused on forests and agroforestry systems located at mid-elevations in Central America and northern South America, which are recognized as critical habitats for several species of migratory birds in steep decline.

Developed by California Partners in Flight and PRBO Conservation Science, the Desert Bird Conservation Plan (BCP) is a non-regulatory document intended to educate and assist land managers and researchers interested in improving desert habitat for bird populations. The plan addresses management and conservation issues of the Mojave and Lower Colorado River Valley section of the Sonoran Desert, two desert eco-regions that encompass southeast California, southwest Nevada, western Arizona, and northwest Mexico.  The plan provides an overview of desert ecology, the challenges facing desert ecosystems and its birds, species accounts for 15 desert focal species, desert bird population targets, overall conservation objectives for the Mojave and Colorado deserts, specific recommendations, and guidance for implementing the plan. 

Though the Desert BCP was originally conceived to address desert habitats exclusively in California, interest in a comprehensive, habitat-based desert plan extends beyond California’s borders into Nevada, Arizona, and northern Mexico. The Desert BCP therefore addresses Mojave and Colorado Desert habitats throughout a multistate / transnational region with the goal of complementing and adding to existing bird conservation plans in Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico.

The California Coniferous Forest Bird Conservation Plan (Conservation Plan) has been developed to help guide conservation policy and action on behalf of coniferous habitats and associated landbirds throughout California. The Conservation Plan is a synthesis of the current state of knowledge concerning birds in California’s coniferous forests and the problems they face. Recommendations presented here can be used by land managers to support viable populations of birds that depend on these forests for breeding.

Conservation plan for landbirds in Alaska, multi-authored volume designed and written by members of Boreal Partners in Flight, under the auspices of the international Partners in Flight cooperative program.

Many species of migratory birds travel thousands of kilometers between their breeding grounds in Canada and the United States and their wintering grounds across Latin America. During these movements they will experience different geographies, land cover types and threats. Among all migrants, those going as far as South America are declining most steeply. While the exact cause of declines for these species is not always clear, considerable evidence suggests that extensive loss of mid-elevation forest in their Andean wintering grounds is a primary contributor.

David I. King, US Forest Service Northern Research Station, Amherst, MA 01002 Like many North Americans, I spend a lot of time in mid-spring scanning the still bare maples for the first migrant songbirds to return. These days this otherwise casual pursuit is tinged with a little anxiety because I am aware of the challenges […]

Deb Hahn, International Relations Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Migratory birds bring us great joy. They make spectacular migrations; bring beautiful songs and colors into our yards, parks, and wild places; and play important roles in the health of our world. In these unprecedented and uncertain times, the return of birds during spring […]