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Partners In Flight NewsletterJanuary 2001National NationalNote From PIF National Coordinator I am excited about the opportunities and challenges ahead for me as the new Partners In Flight National Coordinator. PIF has a record that all of us can take pride in. Most new initiatives have a lifespan of only a few years before they fade forever. The fact that Partners In Flight has grown steadily for over a decade provides clear testimony, not only to the hard work and dedication of all of you, but also to the simple fact that Partners In Flight is a very good idea. This success is further verified by the fact that more and more people (important people!) claim to have played a role in its creation. We're going to run some background checks soon. There are literally hundreds of individuals and organizations to thank for the growth and success of PIF. We try to recognize these contributions annually with our awards program. But I want to make sure that we all take a moment to thank David Pashley (dpashley@abcbirds.org) for his leadership over the past several years and to thank George Fenwick (gfenwick@abcbirds.org) and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) for supporting David's position. As you know, David is the U. S. Representative to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) and ABC will continue to play an ever increasing role in both PIF and NABCI. Most of you also realize that we wouldn't be where we are without the additional paid PIF staff in the regions - Carol Beardmore (Cbeardmore@gf.state.az.us), Ken Rosenberg (kvr2@cornell.edu), Jane Fitzgerald (now at jfitzgerald@abcbirds.org) and Dean Demarest (Dean_Demarest@mail.dnr.state.ga.us). But I'm not sure how many people realize the fundamental role that Naomi Edelson (nedelson@sso.org) and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA, see http://www.sso.org/iafwa/) have played in securing funding for these positions. IAFWA has been absolutely essential and will continue to be in the future, not just for funding, but for helping get PIF projects on the ground in cooperation with the various state wildlife agencies. Finally, we can all thank the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for taking the ball from ABC and institutionalizing the PIF National Coordinator position within the Service (you can contact Cyndi Perry at cyndi_perry@fws.gov). But you should know that this position will be funded by a variety of sources in the collaborative spirit that has brought PIF to this point. Although I will technically be an employee of the USFWS Washington Office (but located in Boise), I will take much of my direction from the PIF Management Steering Committee. Some of the details still have to be worked out. I'll let everyone know how this shakes out over the next few months. I am eager to hear your ideas about how to make PIF more successful and effective in the future. As we move ahead with a broader geographic and taxonomic scope, we need to keep the creative juices flowing.--Terry Rich (terry_rich@fws.gov) Reinstating the Partners In Flight Newsletter As you may have guessed, I am reviving the PIF newsletter. I think that communication is about as important as anything we do. And I believe that a good newsletter can fulfill its role without becoming a burden to anyone. Most of you know that the original PIF newsletter grew to be so large (80 pages in the final issue), as a result of the tremendous amount of activity that was going on, that it became too expensive to produce and mail. It was then replaced by the magazine, Bird Conservation, which has been very successful in bringing feature articles, photos and color to help spread the word. I have two newsletter models that I like. The first is The Ornithological Newsletter of the Ornithological Societies of America (OSNA). If you are a member of one of the OSNA societies, you know what this looks like. If not, check it out at (http://www.ornith.cornell.edu/OSNA/ornNewsl.htm). This newsletter is very efficient - no graphics, no art, no photos, no color, no fancy fonts, no elaborate layout and no feature articles. It's just a series of short text pieces with a contact for readers who want to know more. It's also organized into a number of sections that remain the same from issue to issue. Finally, it's distributed every two months. The second model I like is La Tangara. It also conveys information simply and effectively but the bonus is that it's distributed by e-mail. So, I propose to 1) produce a quarterly Partners In Flight Newsletter [issued on 1 Jan, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October], 2) include short and timely bits of information in the categories below, and 3) distribute this newsletter by e-mail. I encourage all Working Group and Committee chairs at all levels of PIF to send succinct text. This does not have to be a report of accomplishments or to cover everything you do. Think about what others might learn or need to know about what you are doing. And I would encourage anyone to send information for the Projects section. Just keep it short! We'll work on the format and content of the newsletter as we go along. The next issue will be distributed on 1 April 2001. Information must reach me by 15 March 2001 by e-mail (only!). Please put "Newsletter Item" in the subject line so that I can find it quickly.--Terry Rich (terry_rich@fws.gov). Brad Andres Selected as National Shorebird Coordinator The USFWS selected Brad Andres, as the National Shorebird Coordinator, to work out of the Division of Migratory Bird Management, Branch of Bird Conservation. Since 1993 Brad has been the landbird and shorebird coordinator for Alaska (FWS-Region 7). In that role he undertook field projects, provided technical assistance, coordinated statewide programs, engaged in public outreach on migratory birds, and represented Alaska interests on national and international working groups. He can be reached by phone at 703-358-1714 or 703-358-1828 and by e-mail at Brad_Andres@fws.gov. Special Meeting of the Management Steering Committee The PIF Management Steering Committee met on 11-12 January 2001 in Washington DC to discuss the future needs of PIF and how NABCI may be able to assist. A report from this meeting will be delivered to the U. S. NABCI Committee on 30 January 2001, also in Washington. Terry Rich (terry_rich@fws.gov) Next Meeting of the Management Steering Committee The next regular meeting of the PIF Management Steering Committee will be held 13-15 March 2001 in conjunction with the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (http://www.jwdc.com/wmi/toc2001.html). As with all PIF meetings, anyone is welcome to participate. E. J. Williams (ej_williams@mail.dnr.state.ga.us) Executive Order Passed President Clinton signed the Executive Order Responsibilities Of Federal Agencies To Protect Migratory Birds on 11 January 2001. The potential for advancing bird conservation under this E. O. are immense. Much more on this in the near future.--Mila Plavsic (mila_plavsic@fws.gov) North American Grouse Partnership Formed The North American Grouse Partnership is now up and running under the direction of President Steve K. Sherrod (also Executive Director of the Sutton Avian Research Center). According to the premier issue of Grouse Partnership News, the goal of this NGO is "To promote the conservation of grouse and the habitats necessary for their survival." Contact Clee Sealing (sealingc@acsol.net) to get a copy of the News. Potential contributors to the newsletter should contact Kent Christopher (grouse@micron.net). Next International PIF Conference PIF has had major conferences in 1992 (Estes Park, CO) and 1995 (Cape May, NJ). The next conference will be held at the Asilomar, CA conference center on 20-24 March 2002. The program committee is seeking general concepts for conference content. Plan implementation, projects and past accomplishments are expected to be among the topics featured. Sandy Scoggin at (sscoggin@prbo.org). Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (Formerly Colorado Bird Observatory) Colorado Bird Observatory, which continues to play a major role in PIF on the continent, is now the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. This name change reflects the true extent of the observatory's geographic and conceptual scope. The mailing address for the RMBO main office is 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton, CO 80601 (303-659-4348). The Fort Collins office address is 1510 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970-482-1707). The Grand Junction Office will be up and running by mid-spring, 2001. Staff members have new e-mail addresses that can be changed by simply replacing the "@cbobirds.org" with "@rmbo.org". Check out their new web site at http://www.rmbo.org. Summary Of A Literature Review On Avian Mortality From Collision With Telecommunication Towers The subject document provides a succinct summary of tower kill issues, suitable for quick digestion. It also provides an entry into both the literature and to web sites. -- Sandra J. Nagiller (snagiller@fs.fed.us) Challenge Grants For Conservation On Private Lands The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Association of Conservation Districts, is providing a funding opportunity for projects that positively engage private landowners, primarily farmers and ranchers, in the conservation and enhancement of wildlife and natural resources on their lands. The Foundation has received $3 million from the NRCS in support of this challenge grant program for conservation projects across the country. The Foundation will award challenge grants through a competitive process to eligible grant recipients including federal, state, and local governments, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Grants to, or in partnership with, the NRCS or local conservation districts will receive special consideration. Note that the deadline for pre-proposals is April 2, 2001, but the Foundation encourages applicants to submit pre-proposals as soon as possible. High priority and especially timely projects will be moved forward on a faster schedule to facilitate work during the summer field season. The complete announcement is at http://www.nacdnet.org/eNotes/nfwf.htm and on the foundation's web site at www.nfwf.org. Technical Working GroupsInternational Migratory Bird Day This year International Migratory Bird Day falls on 12 May 2001. Check out the PIF home page or go directly to http://birds.fws.gov/imbd.html. This year's art is again outstanding. Susan Bonfield (sbonfield@aol.com) and Jennifer Wheeler (IMBD@fws.gov) Geographic Working GroupsNext Meeting of the Western Working Group The next meeting of the Western Working Group will be in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico on 3-5 April 2001. The theme for the meeting, aside from continuing to build relationships between the U. S. and Mexico, will projects and project funding. -- Carol Beardmore (Cbeardmore@gf.state.az.us) Boreal Working Group Steve Matsuoka (Steve_Matsuoka@usgs.gov) will be taking over the reins of the working group. Current high priority tasks include: 1) evaluation of MAPS in Alaska with respect to priority species and precision of estimates 2) annual variability in point count methods (BBS and off-road point counts) and allocation in sub-units within BCRs 3) literature search for information to assess usefulness of singing owl surveys 4) evaluation of annual variability in migration banding stations 5) outreach needs for Alaska. California Working Group The California chapter was formed in 1993 and meets twice annually. Among Cal PIF's greatest successes are the establishment of the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture (a diverse coalition of nineteen federal, state, and non-profit organizations, and landowners dedicated to pooling resources and conserving California's riparian habitats) and the publication of the highly successful Riparian Bird Conservation Plan. This and other plans are available at http://www.prbo.org/Consplans.html. The next meeting of CalPIF will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2001, in conjunction with the Western Section of the Wildlife Society's next annual meeting in Sacramento (meeting, lodging, or registration info at http://www.tws- west.org/2001conference/index.html. Session schedule and draft meeting agenda are available at http://www.prbo.org/CPIF/Meetings/CPIFsess.html. -- Sandy Scoggin (sscoggin@prbo.org) Midwest Working Group Greg Butcher (butcherw@wiredglobal.com) will be the new Midwest Coordinator for Partners in Flight, replacing Jane Fitzgerald (jfitzgerald@abcbirds.com), who is now the coordinator for the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region, which includes her home territory in the Ozark Mountains. The Midwest Partners in Flight Annual Meeting was December 4 in conjunction with the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Contact Greg for minutes. The Midwest newsletter has been replaced by the MWPART-L newsletter. To subscribe, send an untitled e-mail to listserv@listserv.uark.edu and type "subscribe MWPART-L." Discussion is open to any topics that relate to Partners in Flight and the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI). Mike Estey (mike_estey@fws.gov) is creating GIS maps to help identify grassland bird conservation areas for the Prairie Potholes Joint Venture. He has already created draft maps for the Dakotas and is beginning work on Iowa and Minnesota. Mike expects preliminary maps for Iowa and Minnesota in about six months. Jeff Price (jprice@mho.net) of the American Bird Conservancy has prepared short two-page synopses of the possible effects of climate change on the avifaunas of each of the midwestern states. Six of the ten physiographic area bird conservation plans for the Midwest are complete and are available on the Partners in Flight web site, www.partnersinflight.org. Two others will be complete in a few months; the last two are expected by the end of the year. -- Greg Butcher (butcherw@wiredglobal.com). PrioritizationOn 4-5 January 2001, representatives from PIF, NABCI, waterfowl, shorebirds and waterbirds met at Patuxent to continue discussions of species prioritization issues. Canada also was represented. A report on the status of the prioritization process is being prepared. -- Jon Bart (jbart@eagle.boisestate.edu). ProjectsNorth American Bird Conservation InitiativeThe next meeting of the US NABCI committee will be in Washington DC on 30 January 2001. Participants will discuss the draft "business plans" submitted to NABCI from each of the major bird initiatives. -- David Pashley (dpashley@abcbirds.org). The second tri-national NABCI meeting will be held in Queretero, Mexico, on 13-18 February 2001. The meeting is by invitation only but results will be widely distributed upon completion. -- David Pashley (dpashley@abcbirds.org). Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve Web Sites Personnel from the Grupo Ecologica Sierra Gorda will be hosting field trips at the NABCI meeting. A web article in Changemakers (http://www.changemakers.net/ journal/ 00january/index.cfm) has some great photos of the biosphere reserve while the Woodrising site (http://www.woodrising.com/gesg/homepage.htm) gives an overview of the Grupo's holistic approach to conservation and community well being. Other MeetingsSee meetings listed in the Ornithological Newsletter (http://www.ornith.cornell.edu/OSNA/139.htm#meet).
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