# Presentation: 130990

## PART Assessment for Migratory Birds

- PART Assessment for Migratory Birds

## USFWS Migratory Bird Program Program Summary

- Responsible for maintaining healthy migratory bird populations for the benefit of the American people
- Accomplish this by:
- Conserving and restoring mig bird populations
- Restoring and acquiring mig bird habitat
- Surveying and monitoring mig birds
- Regulating take of mig birds
- Working closely with partners to ensure bird conservation

## Slide 3

## Long-term Goal 1  

**Increase the percent of species of migratory birds that are at healthy and sustainable levels**

## Annual (Output) Goals and Measures

**1) Percent of population management needs met to achieve healthy and sustainable levels of migratory birds**
**2) Percent of habitat needs met to achieve healthy and sustainable levels of migratory birds.**

## Focal Species

- emphasis on changing population status required a new and concerted effort by the Program
- strategy proposed to and accepted by OMB was to select **Focal Species**** **to be the subject of systematic, cross-programmatic campaigns

## Focal Species Team

- Brad Bortner	R1
- Dave Krueper   	R2
- Sean Kelly        	R3
- EJ Williams      	R4
- Scott Johnston 	R5 Stephanie Jones R6
- Bob Leedy		R7

- Jennifer Wheeler   Waterbird Initiative and Team Leader
- Bob Trost 		Flyways
- Seth Mott     NAWMP, DBHC
- Brad Andres        Shorebird
- Terry Rich    	PIF

## Focal Species Characteristics

- Biological or ecological need - species at the highest levels of conservation concern; population status greatly below or above healthy and sustainable levels
- Broad application - will focus advance our ability to manage for a number of priority species
- Existing efforts – current efforts could include comprehensive planning and funded monitoring, research, habitat enhancement projects, etc.
- Campaign for species could become a new or stronger unifying element for the Program - across regions and between habitat and population components
- Likelihood of measuring success and improved status in the available timeframe (by end of FY2007)?

## Focal Species Campaigns 

- Development of comprehensive Action Plan
- Clear statement of the responsibilities for actions within the Program
- _Focus_ of Program resources on implementing those actions
- Communications to solicit support                      and cooperation from partners                          inside and outside the Service

## Focal Species Performance Indicators for FY07 

- Northern Pintail				R9
- Common Eider				R7 (Pacific), R5 (Atlantic)
- Laysan Albatross _or _Black-footed Albatross	R1
- King Rail					R4, with R3
- Snowy Plover (except on Pacific Coast)	R2, with R4
- American Oystercatcher 			R5, with R4
- Black Oystercatcher				R7
- Long-billed Curlew				R6
- Cerulean Warbler				R5, with R3 and R4
- Henslow’s Sparrow				R3, with R4
- Painted Bunting				Region 4, with R2
- Tri-colored Blackbird				Region 1
- American Woodcock				R9, with R3, R5, R4

## Painted Bunting

## Snowy Plover, King Rail & Oystercatcher

## Henslow’s Sparrow, Cerulean Warbler & Pintail

- Henslow’s Sparrow, Cerulean Warbler & Pintail

## Focal Species Action Plans

- Minimum Requirements

## Action Plans Must Contain...

- Summary of Status
- Threat assessment
- Identification of key limiting factor(s)
- Strength of evidence for status and limiting factor determinations
- Statement of What Constitutes Desired Status
- Indicators of desired condition (what are they and how do we determine when they are achieved)
- Actions to Achieve Desired Status
- List of projects and activities (i.e., tasks) necessary to achieve desired condition
- Assuming resources are not limiting and plan implementation starts 10/1/06,                 for each task provide...
- Indication of importance relative to achieving goal
- Sequence/relationship relative to other tasks
- Estimated timeline (start, finish)
- Responsible partner (e.g., States, FWS MBP, BLM, NGO) – highlights need for workshops and agreements among partners
- Estimated cost

## Plan Management

- Plans will be kept in original format, but should be scanned into .pdf files
- Task details will be incorporated into an MS Project database for each focal species
- This will allow:
- Estimate of time needed to achieve goal if resources were unlimited
- Cost to accomplish goal
- Partnerships required and responsibilities
- Automatic revision of timelines if task deadlines slip due to resource deficiencies

## SMA Project Proposals FY06

- _Region   Rank__	__Project__	__   FY06__	__   FY07      ._
- R1-3	1	Albatross	  $  69,250	 $  69,250
- R4-1	2	Ptd Bunting	  $130,000	 $130,000
- R1-1	3	Sno Plover	  $  93,540	 $    9,727
- R3-2	4.5	Henslow’s Sp  $  70,000
- R5-1	4.5	Cerulean Wa	  $  40,000
- R3-1	6	King Rail	  $  70,000

## PABU Project 

- 1) Estimate reproductive success and demographic parameters of E & W breeding populations - viability and relative productivity across habitats
- 2) Develop and implement an improved monitoring program for eastern PABU
- 3)  Identify areas in northern Mexico and southwestern US where western PABU disperse for post-breeding molt
- 4)  Quantify the extent and impact of the caged bird trade in Mexico (E & W PABU)
- 5)   Better document wintering areas of eastern and western populations of PABU

## PABU Project Products

- Demographic data to assess productivity and survival of coastal and interior breeding populations
- Identification of important areas and habitats used during post-breeding molt migration (W)
- Quantitative assessment of the impact of cage bird trapping in Mexico on E & W PABUs
- GIS tools that allow explicit consideration of PABU in JV and other planning, implementation and evaluation efforts

## PABU Existing Efforts & Partnerships

- South Atlantic PABU Conservation Initiative
- Organized in 2003 – State/Fed/NGO partners
- Baseline research – habitat, survival
- Outreach materials
- Expanding SAPABUCI to include West
- Region 2 FWS, states
- Priority Species in CWCS – FL, GA, SC, etc
- Active involvement by Mexico
- Efforts to track legal and illegal trade
- CITES
- Indirect connection to Cuba

## Painted Bunting

## PART Accountability  

**Long-term Goal 1 **
**	****Increase the percent of species of migratory birds that are at healthy and sustainable levels**

## PART Accomplishments

- Percent of migratory birds that are at healthy and sustainable levels
- Not more PABU
- Assumes hold BCC list steady

## PART Expectations

- Accountability relative to population sustainability
- Compatible with NEAT
- Population based habitat objectives
- “conservation targets rooted in population abundance and landscape sustainability”
- Assumptions based on habitat not enough
- 		“if we build it they will come”
- 	follow thru with productivity/survival study
- OMB called our hand