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December 2007
Shorebird experts gather in Yuma
On November 6-8, 2007 shorebird experts from the United States and Mexico gathered at Yuma 
Crossings State Park to discuss coordinated shorebird monitoring needs for the Colorado River delta and northwest Mexico. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Sonoran Joint Venture, Pronatura Noroeste, the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve, and the Colorado River Delta Coordination Network.
The first day of the workshop included three sessions: (1) the Colorado River, its shorebirds, and habitats; (2) presentations of examples of shorebird conservation and monitoring projects from the United States and elsewhere; and (3) and open session with presentations from shorebird researchers from other areas in northwest Mexico.
The second day of the workshop was dedicated to an open discussion to identify conservation, management, and research needs for shorebird conservation and monitoring in the Colorado River delta, including a discussion of possible proposals and funding sources. This was followed by a special session on the development of a Gulf of California Shorebird Monitoring Initiative.
Presentations from this meeting will be posted on the SJV website by the end of January. For more information about this meeting, please contact Carol Beardmore.
Christmas Bird Counts in the SJV Region
Christmas Bird Count time is here and the Sonoran Joint Venture region has plenty from which to choose. In addition to counts in Arizona and California, there are a number of counts taking place in our region in Mexico. Click on the links below for more information. Please contact Jennie Duberstein if you would like to update your information or add a count.
NOTE: Counts that are not listed on the National Audubon Society website are detailed below. Follow the "Arizona Counts" and "California Counts" links for more counts in these states that are not listed here.
Other Arizona Counts:
Where: Audubon Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch
When: 5 January 2008
Contact: Robert Weissler; 520-803-0794; Website
Other California Counts:
Where: San Diego
When: 15 December 2007
Contact: Phil Unitt
Where: Santa Cruz Island
When: 17 December 2007
Contact: Andrea Jones
SPECIAL INFORMATION: includes accommodations and boat trip
Mexico Counts:
Where: Desemboque de los Seris, Sonora
When: 14-16 December 2007
Contact: Gary Nabhan or 928-523-6726
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Participation in this count costs $150, which includes native foods meals, transport by boat in the sea and mangrove lagoons and by van in giant cactus forests, with rustic lodging, interpretation, and round-trip transportation from Tucson.
Where: Ensenada de la Paz, Baja California Sur
When: 16 December 2007
Contact: Eduardo Palacios
Where: Puerto Peñasco, Sonora
When: 15 December 2007
Contact: Steve Ganley
Where: Colorado River Delta, Sonora
When: 18 December 2007
Contact: Osvel Hinojosa
Where: Navopatia, Sonora (southwest of Alamos)
When: 21 December 2007
Contact: Chris Baum; Website
Where: Hermosillo, Sonora
When: 28 December 2007
Contact: Eduardo Gómez-Limón
Where: Alamos, Sonora
When: TBA 2007
Contact: Dave MacCay
Where: San Carlos, Sonora
When: 29 December 2007
Contact: Terry Brownell
Where: Estero del Yugo, Sinaloa
When: 30 December 2007
Contact: Biól. René Valdés Peña; Website
Where: Ejido San Pedro, Chihuahua (Janos prairie)
When: 3 January 2008
Contact: Dave Mehlman
SPECIAL INFORMATION: Participants must contact Dave to sign up and arrive for an orientation on 2 January. Participants must also pay the research station for accomodations and bring their own food.
The United States WatchList
of Birds of Conservation Concern
The United States WatchList, a joint project between American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society, reflects a comprehensive analysis of all the bird species in the United States. It reveals those in greatest need of immediate conservation attention to survive a convergence of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, invasive species, and global warming. The list builds on the species assessments conducted for many years by Partners in Flight (PIF) on landbirds, using those same PIF standards, but expanded to cover species of all taxa. The list is based on the latest available research and assessments from the bird conservation community, along with data from the Christmas Bird Count and Breeding Bird Survey.
The WatchList 2007 identifies 217 species. It is divided
into 59 continental and 39 Hawaiian “Red” species of greatest concern and 119 “Yellow” species that are still of conservation concern, but not to the extreme level of those on the Red List. The Yellow list is further divided into "Declining" species that may currently be widespread and relatively abundant, but are facing significant threats and undergoing population declines, and "Rare" species, whose populations may be stable and not facing extreme threats, but which have small ranges and small population sizes.
Identifying and spotlighting the species at greatest risk is the first step in building the public policies, funding support, conservation initiatives and public commitment needed to save them. The WatchList lays the groundwork for an “industry standard” to guide conservation priorities among conservation organizations and government agencies. Audubon and ABC will use materials, including state-focused fact sheets, to help mobilize concerned citizens to become involved in local, regional, and national activities that can make a difference for these imperiled birds – and for other wildlife and the habitat that sustains us all.
Alamos Wildlands Alliance and international monitoring efforts
(Reprinted with permission from the 2007 AWA Annual Newsletter)
In 2006-07 the Alamos Wildlands Alliance
began participation in the MoSI
program. MoSI (Monitoreo de
Sobrevivencia Invernal; Monitoring Overwintering
Survival), is a program run by
the Institute for Bird Populations
(IBP). MoSI brings together organizations and individual
banders throughout Mexico,
Central America, and the Caribbean to
monitor the variation in habitat
and survivorship of Neotropical
migratory landbirds.
This project involves
mark-recapture analysis
of migratory landbirds. Over a
five month period, each winter,
mist-nets are used to capture and band passerines. Individually numbered bands, furnished
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
are placed on the leg of each
bird. Data are recorded on each
individual’s species, age, molt,
weight, feather wear, and other characteristics
of the bird’s current physical
condition. These data are used by AWA,
IBP, and other researchers to evaluate different aspects of biology, conservation, migration, and management.
This year the Alamos Wildlands Alliance was one of 85 banding stations operating throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Their participation in this program will help to identify areas of concern for migrants and overall winter survivorship of these amazing organisms. In their first season of banding, the AWA contributed to knowledge of the distribution of birds in the vicinity of Navopatia. They captured 225 individual birds of 33 different species, including some not previously recorded at Navopatia or coastal Sonora.
For more information about the Alamos Wildlands Project, contact Chris Baum.
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.
- Bureau of Reclamation Water Conservation Field Services Program
Deadline: 14 December 2007
Description: The Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office is requesting proposals to fund projects for activities in support of its Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) within the Phoenix Area Office boundaries. The area includes most of Arizona except northwest Arizona, and the areas along the Colorado River which are served by other Reclamation offices. More information is available at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/wtrconsv.htm The primary purposes or four major components of the WCFSP are to: (1) Assist in developing effective water management and conservation plans; (2) Encourage and promote implementation of water efficiency measures; (3) Demonstrate conservation technologies; and (4) Promote and support water education and training. - EPA U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Education Program Grants
Deadline: 15 December 2007
Description: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation is soliciting proposals from eligible U.S. entities capable of designing and implementing a US-Mexico Border Environmental Education Program to provide both undergraduate and graduate students in science, engineering, and other relevant fields with financial support to encourage students to undertake air quality-related research and training on air quality issues characteristic of those found in the US-Mexico border region. - National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program
Deadline: 15 December 2007, 6 June 2008
Description: For the Matching Awards Program, the NFF accepts applications from non-governmental, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and Native American tribes working on or adjacent to National Forests and Grasslands throughout the United States to implement on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects. All MAP awards require at least a 1:1 match of non-federal funds. Federal funds and in-kind contributions may be noted to show leverage for a project, but cannot be matched by MAP funds - EPA Environmental Education Grants
Deadline: 20 December 2007
Description: This document solicits grant proposals to support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop aware and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support to seed innovative projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. Any local education agency, college or university, state education or environmental agency, nonprofit
organization as described in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entities as defined and licensed by Federal Communications Commission may submit a proposal. Applicant organizations must be located in the United States or territories and the majority of the educational activities must take place in the United States; or in the U.S. and Canada or Mexico; or in U.S. Territories. - USDA International Science and Education (ISE) Competitive Grants Program
Deadline: 17 January 2008
Description: Cooperative State Research, Education, and ExtensionService (CSREES) requests applications for the International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE) for fiscal year (FY) 2008 to support research, extension, and teaching activities that will enhance the capabilities of American colleges and universities to conduct international collaborative research, extension and teaching. CSREES anticipates making approximately $1,900,000 available for ISE awards, including an estimated $950,000 in FY 2008 funds. This notice identifies the objectives for ISE projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for an ISE grant. CSREES additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party for use in the development of the next RFA for this program. - Water Conservation Program, Yuma, Arizona
Deadline: 1 February 2007
Description: The Bureau of Reclamation, Yuma Area Office, is requesting proposals to fund projects for activities in support of its Water Conservation Program within the Yuma Area, for Federal fiscal year funding 2008. Activities to be considered for financial assistance should address one of the following: (a) Implement more efficient water management/conservation measures with special emphasis on outdoor water management practices; (b) Demonstrate innovative technologies in water conservation to increase technical understanding of unfamiliar water management and conservation principles and practices that have not been previously used locally; or (c) Improve a segment of the public's understanding of good water management and water conservation principles through education and training programs.
Upcoming meetings and workshops
See complete details about upcoming meetings and workshops.
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.
