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October 2007
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Scholarship opportunity for Mexican biologist
 Since 1996, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has partnered with various
wetland organizations and scientists from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and
the Ramsar Convention, to offer training opportunities for wetland managers in Mexico.
On February 4-17, 2008, the 10th Wetlands Training Course will take place in the Culiacan and Mazatlan, in the State
of Sinaloa, Mexico. The training course consists of lectures and field exercises
focusing on the principles and basic techniques and methodologies of modern wetland
definition, classification, evaluation, legislation, conservation, and management,
including resident and migrant bird species, with special emphasis on shorebirds and
waterfowl.
The second component of this model is a public awareness campaign that
is designed to promote the ecological and economic importance of wetland, the
Ramsar Convention, the NAWMP, NAWCA, and the Sonoran Joint Venture among the
public and governmental agencies in Sinaloa. This campaign includes a special event
to celebrate Mexico’s World Wetlands Day, on February 2, 2008 (with national media
coverage); a photography contest; an artwork contest for children; wetland-related
conferences; television and radio programs; and press conferences and releases.
The SJV and the Arizona Game and Fish Department are offering one full scholarship to attend this workshop to a biologist from the Mexican portion of the SJV region (Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, or Baja California Sur). The scholarship includes lodging, meals, and transportation during the workshop. The recipient will be responsible for his/her own travel to the workshop and must be able to commit to attending the entire workshop.
Only applicants from within the SJV region will be considered for this scholarship, and special consideration will be given to applicants who are working in wetlands conservation/management in the state of Sinaloa. To apply for the scholarship, please submit a short letter of application to Jennie Duberstein by 15 November 2007. The letter should include the following information:
- Name
- Email
- Organization
- Title
- Office/Program
- Street Address
- City
- State
- Zip code
- Phone (including area code)
- Extenstion
- Cell phone (including area code)
- Fax
- A short description (<200 words) of why you want to attend the workshop and how participating in the workshop will benefit your work. The more specific you are, the better.
Contact Jennie Duberstein with any questions or for more details.
New tool from National Audubon Society
 In line with providing materials based on regionally appropriate bird conservation priorities, Audubon has put together an initial Birds to Help online resource that provides information on how landowners can help specific species in urban, suburban, and rural properties. These initial 30 species are those that a) people can most easily help in these landscapes and b) need help to thrive in these landscapes. Future editions will include regionalized urban, suburban, and rural suggestions that include additional WatchList and other priority species when appropriate.
While most of the 85% of Americans who live in urban and suburban areas won’t be able to support WatchList or other priority species in their yards, everyone can improve the quality of the bird habitat in their yards and neighborhoods.
Visit the Birds To Help website for more information.
Special education session to be offered at McAllen PIF meeting
 Educators are invited to attend the 4th International Partners in Flight Conference in McAllen, Texas on 13-16 February 2008. The conference will share International Migratory Bird Day's 2008 theme, Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitat and People.
This is a particularly important opportunity for bird education and bird educators, and we need YOU to make this a success. The conference will include an education reception, education presentations, a meeting of the National Bird Education Working Group and more.
It is not too late to submit a paper or poster for presentation at the conference. The deadline is 16 November 2007. More details are available on the Partners In Flight website. Mark your calendars, share your programs, and meet other bird educators!
Information wanted about Christmas Bird Counts in SJV region
Are you compiling a Christmas Bird Count circle in the SJV region? Please let Jennie Duberstein know as soon as possible so we can put the information on our website. Include the name of the count, the count location, the count date, contact information, and website details (if any).
If you are interested in starting a new count, visit the CBC website for details on what is entailed and how to submit the paperwork. |
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Upcoming grant deadlines
We have recently added information about a number of new funding opportunities for those doing work in the SJV region. Please take the time to browse through the complete list of funding opportunities.
- Wildlife Without Borders
Deadline: 1 October 2007 (proposals must be submitted to both the USFWS and SEMARNAT)
Description: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico Program is currently soliciting proposals for projects that address the conservation and sustainable use of Mexico's wildlife and plant resources. Of particular interest are projects that strengthen Mexico's capability to conserve and use sustainably its biological resources, contribute to the integration of environmental concerns with sustained development processes, and results in specific and measurable on-the-ground management actions. VIsit the Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico Program grant application website for the official Request for Proposals and Assistance Awards Guidelines.
- Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program
Deadline: 1 October 2007
Description: Tourism Cares’ Worldwide Grant Program distributes charitable grants to worthy tourism-related non-profit organizations worldwide for capital improvements or appropriate. The 2007 Worldwide Grant Program goals for grantmaking call for a balanced distribution to U.S. and non-U.S. recipients. Based on merit and availability of funds, grants up to $100,000 will be considered.
- Fund for Wild Nature
Deadline: 2 November 2007
Description: The Fund for Wild Nature provides money for campaigns to save and restore native species and wild ecosystems, including actions to defend wilderness and biological diversity. The fund supports advocacy, litigation, public policy work, development of citizen science, and similar endeavors. The fund does not support basic scientific research, private land acquisition, individual action or study, or conferences, and rarely supports proposals from organizations with annual budgets greater than $250,000. The fund will only support media projects that have a clear strategic value and a concrete plan for dissemination of the final product. The fund gives special attention to ecological issues not currently receiving sufficient public attention and funding. The fund seeks proposals with visionary and yet realistic goals to create tangible change. All proposals must be highly cost effective and be for projects in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
- Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act
Deadline: 15 November 2007
Description: We are pleased to announce the 2007 Request for Proposals under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The Act establishes a matching grants program to fund projects that promote the conservation of these birds in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Projects may include activities to benefit bird populations and their habitats, research and monitoring, law enforcement, and outreach and education. All grant requests must be matched by partner funds at least 3:1. Partner funds from a U.S. federal source may be involved in the project, but are not eligible as match.
- Musser Fund
Deadline: 28 November 2007
Description: Grants are available to promote collaborative process in environmental decision making. The Laura Jane Musser Fund proposes to assist public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. State and Federal agencies based in the U.S. are encouraged to apply. Grants maximum is $35,000.
- North American Wetlands Conservation Act Program
Deadline: 30 November 2007 (U.S. Small Grants); TBA 2008 (Mexican Standard Grants); TBA 2008 (U.S. Standard Grants)
Description: The North American Wetlands Conservation Act provides matching grants to private or public organizations or to individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The program provides US, Mexican, and Canadian Standard Grants (between $50,000 and $1,000,000) and US Small Grants (up to $75,000). For more details on how to apply, visit the NAWCA section of the SJV website. And be sure to check out the Playa Lakes Joint Venture's Timeline for preparing a NAWCA Proposal. Important note: Anyone considering applying for a U.S. grant should coordinate their application with SJV Science Coordinator Carol Beardmore (602-242-0524 ext. 248). The SJV will need to be involved not only to provide guidance but also because we rank all applications that are submitted (Mexican applicants do not need to coordinate with the SJV, although we are happy to provide assistance).
Upcoming meetings and workshops
See complete details about upcoming meetings and workshops.
Western Field Ornithologists Meeting: 27-30 September 2007, Henderson, Nevada.
Colorado River Delta Shorebird Workshop: 6-8 November 2007, Yuma, Arizona. Contact: Robert Mesta.
Riparian Habitat Joint Venture Conference: Integrating Riparian Habitat Conservation & Flood Management in California: 4-6 December 2007, Sacramento, California.
4th International Partners In Flight Conference: 13-16 February 2007, McAllen, Texas.
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