Bird Conservation on Private Lands Why Birds Matter

1. Bird Conservation on Private Lands Why Birds Matter

2. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

3. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

4. Goals Help species at risk Keep common birds common Work through voluntary partnerships

8. Keeping Common Birds Common Endangered species approach no longer valid Keep all species “well distributed across their historical ranges” Birds occur in all habitats except the deep sea They are critical players in all ecosystems They are excellent indicators of habitat quality Sensitive to conditions Well known – better than any other group Relatively easy and cheap to monitor Well established monitoring protocols and data management

9. Strategic Habitat Conservation Compile and Apply Models Describing Population-Habitat Relationships Identify Limiting Factors Select Focal Species Formulate Population Objectives Develop Species Habitat Decision Support Tools Assess Current State of Focal Species Populations Identify Priority Species Revise Models Accordingly Feedback Loop: Target Research at Key Assumptions Feedback Loop: Assess Net Progress Toward Population Objectives Feedback Loop: Assess Program Accomplish- ments Combine Species Decision Support Tools Opportunity Assessment Formulate Habitat Objectives Revise Models Accordingly Monitor Site-scale Effects Of Management Actions On Populations Delivery of Conservation Actions

10. Selection of Surrogate Species Select Focal Species Identify Priority Species Step 1. Develop and clearly specify management or conservation objectives. For the USFWS, the conservation “objective” is to characterize and maintain functional landscapes capable of supporting self-sustaining fish, wildlife, and plant populations. Step 2. Identify Geographic Scale. Idaho

11. 2004 U.S. + Canada 448 species 2010 U.S. + Canada + Mexico 882 species www.PartnersInFlight.org

12. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

13. #1 – Habitat loss and degradation ~Permanent loss of capacity

14. Hazards/Threats

15. Loss, S.R., T. Will, and P.P. Marra. 2012. Direct human-caused mortality of birds: improving quantification of magnitude and assessment of population impact. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10(7):357-364.

16. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

17. Ecosystem Services Insect predation During outbreaks of western spruce budworm, the Evening Grosbeak provides biological control services worth $5,167/km2 Pollination Seed dispersal and caching Scavenging and nutrient cycling Rodent predation Tree cavity production The Need to Quantify Ecosystem Services Provided By Birds (The Auk, Wenny et al. 2011)

18. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

19. Economic Value of Birds

20. Economic Value of Birds

21. Why Birds Matter Keeping Common Bird Common Hazards/Threats Ecosystem Services Birds Provide Economic Value of Birds Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value

22. Aesthetic/Intrinsic Value Michael Potts

23. http://birdnote.org/show/brewers-sparrow-sageland-singer

24. International Migratory Bird Day

29. Proactive Conservation Non-regulatory Non-advocacy Voluntary Looking for shared interests among all partners Combine priorities & objectives with opportunities

30. Proactive Conservation Science-based Priorities and Objectives

31. Joint Ventures Joint Ventures are self-directed, regional partnerships of public and private organizations, and individuals, dedicated to implementing bird habitat conservation. Dave Smith – NRCS background

32. Proactive Conservation Occurs at other scales too Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern Focal Species Plans Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Bird Conservation Committee Resident Game Bird Working Group Waterfowl Working Group PIF/Shorebird/Waterbird Working Group North American Bird Conservation Initiative Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds Implement Executive Order 13186