The Pinyon Jay Working Group (PIJA WG) was formed in 2017 with a goal of bringing together Pinyon Jay experts to discuss conservation needs of the species. The small initial group slowly expanded into a large, diverse partnership (35+ partners) whose goal has been expanded to develop a range wide conservation strategy for the species. PIJA WG partners are concerned by the significant long-term population declines of the species, which are among the steepest declines of any bird in North America. Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) suggest that Pinyon Jay numbers have decreased survey-wide by -3.69% per year from 1967-2015, with an overall population loss of approximately 83.5%. Pinyon Jays populations are predicted to be reduced by an additional 50% from 2016 to 2035 (the so-called population “half-life”). Partners in Flight (PIF) considers Pinyon Jay a yellow Watch List species with a goal of reversing population declines. PIF criteria for inclusion as a yellow Watch List species is due to population declines and threats to habitats on breeding and nonbreeding grounds. Pinyon Jay has been identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife Action Plans in most states across its range.

The Pinyon Jay is understudied and poorly known in most areas of its range. The PIJA WG recognize the need to greatly increase our limited knowledge of the species and their habitat use and requirements across their range and causes of population declines. The group recognizes the challenges of working with a species that uses a large landscape (8,000-15,000 acres) and a wide variety of piñon-juniper and other pine-dominated woodlands and structures to meet their daily and annual requirements. Despite the challenges, the PIJA WG believes we can effectively fill key information gaps about the species and develop habitat management recommendations that can benefit the jay while also working in concert with other management and conservation objectives.

Goals and Objectives

The PIJA WG strives to coordinate and collaborate among partners to address key information needs for the species across its range, including assessing habitat use and requirements, causes of population declines, and the impact of habitat management on the species. A long-term goal is to develop geographically specific habitat management recommendations designed to reduce, minimize, or mitigate negative impacts to the species.

Members

The group consists of a diverse partnership of federal, state, and non-governmental organizations including: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Defense, Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Game and Fish Department, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, University of New Mexico, Great Basin Bird Observatory, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Intermountain Bird Observatory, National Audubon Society, among others.

To learn more about the Pinyon Jay Working Group, please contact: Scott Somershoe (USFWS) at scott_somershoe@fws.gov

Resources (coming soon)

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