U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Northeast Region Division of Migratory Birds Fiscal Year 2013 Accomplishments

Surf Scoter. Bill Hubick

The Division of Migratory Birds (DMB) maintain shorebirds into the future. The Tracking Offshore Occurrence of Common in the Northeast Region maintained a document draws on expertise of over Terns and American Oystercatchers with swift pace in moving bird conservation 50 international shorebird scientists, VHF Arrays forward within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife managers, and conservationists from DMB is coordinating a pilot study, Service (Service) and with its many government agencies, NGOs, universi- in partnership with the University partners. The DMB's team of dedicated ties, and the public, who were assembled of Massachusetts and funded by the biologists and examiners provided by DMB for an intensive multi-day Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leadership in developing initiatives and working meeting at the National Conser- (BOEM), to track the offshore plans, progressing the science of bird vation Training Center. In addition, two movements of Common Tern and conservation, and enabling the public to workshops were held with Caribbean and American Oystercatcher throughout enjoy migratory birds. South American biologists to ensure full Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts using engagement and input from all parts of NanoTags and an array of automated Conserving Migratory Birds: the flyway. Concrete actions are identi- radio telemetry stations. The study Populations Branch fied to address fundamental threats that objective is to test and refine NanoTag Conserving birds means understanding shorebirds face flyway-wide, from habitat technology for tracking offshore and managing populations and focusing loss to hunting. The National Fish and flights, including improving detection on species of highest concern. Much of Wildlife Foundation is currently review- ranges and analytical methods used our work is directly involved in ing the Strategy for adoption as a formal to model the data, in order to assist developing and working in large Keystone Initiative. BOEM and partners to determine conservation partnership initiatives the potential effects of offshore wind that conserve priority bird populations 5th International Partners in Flight development. During the summer of through research, monitoring, biological Conference 2013, we captured a total of 73 Common planning, and outreach. R5 Division of Migratory Birds staff Tern and 14 American Oystercatcher made significant contributions to the from nesting areas on Monomoy Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Conservation 5th International Partners in Flight NWR and Nantucket and constructed Business Strategy (PIF) Conference by planning and an array of eight automated radio DMB staff, in partnership with Manomet leading geographic-based work sessions telemetry stations, including a receiving Center for Conservation Sciences and to develop conservation business plans antenna on a passenger ferry, to many other partners, published the first focusing on neotropical migratory birds track their movements around-the- ever Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Conser- of high conservation concern. clock. These stations recorded over vation Business Strategy in June 2013. Todd Fearer and Randy Dettmers co- 1.6 million detections of the terns and The strategy aims to initiate coordinated led the Central and South American oystercatchers, and over 5,000 detections conservation at a flyway scale to re- Highlands geographic focal group, of seabirds that were NanoTagged verse shorebird population declines and focusing on Cerulean, Golden-winged and by researchers in the Gulf of Maine Canada Warblers. Becky Keller served as that passed through Nantucket Sound facilitator and leader for the Caribbean during fall migration. We anticipate that Islands geographic work group. Species results of this pilot work will provide in this group included Bicknell’s Thrush, baseline information on the movements Cape May Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and of terns and oystercatchers throughout

William Majoros William Louisiana Waterthrush. Deb Reynolds eastern Nantucket Sound and help to also participated in this group, providing evaluate the feasibility of expanding this guidance on communications and human technology to additional areas of the U.S. dimensions aspects of conservation Atlantic. strategies as well as co-leading a special session on Human Dimensions. Prioritizing Information Needs to Support Conference participants and others Management Decisions for Priority Sea unable to attend the PIF Conference will Duck Species continue to work together to develop a DMB staff have been working with comprehensive Conservation Business state, federal and provincial partners Plan for North American migrants. representing the Atlantic, Mississippi Cape May Warbler and Pacific Flyways in an effort to Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for energy supply, currently thought to the engage the harvest management Protected Species (AMAPPS) major factor limiting wintering Black community and determine priority The purpose of this multi-agency (U.S Duck populations, for the Mid-Atlantic information needs to support decision- Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS], and southern New England coasts. making for sea ducks. Formed in 2012 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Using information on individual's, by the Sea Duck Joint Venture, the Administration [NOAA], Bureau of metabolic requirements in combination Harvest Management Subcommittee Ocean Energy Management and U.S. with migration chronology, we can is conducting population assessments Navy) project is to gather baseline estimate total non-breeding season for 5 priority sea duck species and information on the distribution and demands. Initial results suggest that contrasting estimates of sustainable take density of marine birds (FWS), turtles supply is barely meeting demands in levels with current harvest levels. Focal and mammals (NOAA) in the marine southern New England and exceeds species and populations were selected environment. The Division of Migratory demand in the Mid-Atlantic region. based on the Sea Duck Joint Venture Bird Management (FWS) is in the 4th We are currently evaluating several Strategic Plan, the North American year of aerial seabird surveys. During simplifying assumptions we made during Waterfowl Management Plan, their these surveys all seabirds encountered our initial analyses and are incorporating regional significance as game birds, as well as sea turtles and marine competition for similar food resources by and their overall conservation concern. mammals are counted. In September other waterfowl species. The results of The assessments are being conducted (2013), USFWS flew a full coast survey these analyses will be incorporated into to identify and prioritize key areas with four air crews with personnel a decision support tool to strategically of uncertainty that can be addressed from the Division of Migratory Bird guide partner conservation actions for through the Sea Duck Joint Venture's Management (R5 & HQ) and the Coastal American Black Duck. research and monitoring programs. Program (R5). Data from this effort Regulatory implications of the will give the USFWS and partners in Permits Branch assessments, if any, will be considered marine conservation better scientific The objective of the Permits Branch is through the administrative processes information about the distribution and to enable the public to collect, possess set by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, abundance of seabirds in the offshore and otherwise take migratory birds for Canadian Wildlife Service and the 3 environment. These data also are being a variety of purposes. Permit examiners relevant Flyway Councils. provided to other researchers to aid and DMB biologists use the best in modeling the exposure component available science and expertise to make Habitat Branch, Joint Ventures: of risk; risk analyses will be used for permitting decisions that consider the The Atlantic Coast Joint Venture regulatory planning when reviewing risks and benefits of proposed activities. (ACJV) and Appalachian Mountains potential alternative energy leases along This fiscal year, the Permits Branch Joint Venture (AMJV) are partnerships the Atlantic Coast. aggressively worked on reducing the focused on the conservation of habitat response time for issuing permits. The for native birds in the Atlantic Flyway Forest Management Guidelines for examiners collectively issued almost and Appalachian Mountains, respectively. Cerulean Warblers 75% of all migratory birds permits The ACJV stretches from Maine south to The AMJV worked with partners to within 30 days of receipt of a completed Puerto Rico, and the partnership consists develop a new Forest Management application, a great achievement for the of the 17 states and commonwealths Guidelines for improving the condition three dedicated examiners. Examiners from Maine south to Puerto Rico; the of Appalachian hardwood forests issued 1,892 migratory bird permits AMJV covers the Appalachian portions for Cerulean Warbler. This species’ including 970 depredation permits of 11 states and commonwealths, from population has plummeted by nearly 70% for land owners, authorizing take of southern New York to northeastern over the last half century, with the loss migratory birds causing damage or Alabama. Both partnerships also work and degradation of large areas of mature loss to property or health hazards. The with key federal and regional habitat deciduous forest contributing to those Northeast Region has approximately conservation agencies and organizations declines. These new guidelines provide 600 registrants in the National in their joint venture areas. The ACJV land managers with recommendations Resident Canada Goose Registration and AMJV focus on the conservation for conserving and enhancing habitat. website which was developed to enable of habitats for all birds consistent The guide is based largely on the landowners to better control the damage with major national and continental Cooperative Cerulean Warbler Forest caused by resident Canada Geese. bird conservation plans and the North Management Project in the states of American Bird Conservation Initiative. Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky which provides partner Thirty-one North American Wetland organizations with resources to assist Conservation Acts (NAWCA) Funded in the wildlife managers and biologists in timber management decision-making. Atlantic Coast Joint Venture For additional information or questions Atlantic Coast Joint Venture partners contact: protected or conserved well over 65,000 American Black Duck Energetic Study acres of habitat in fifteen states and ACJV staff are working with Black U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service commonwealths in Fiscal Year 2013 Duck Joint Venture (BDJV) and Northeast Region including thirty-one approved North Ducks Unlimited (DU) staff to develop Division of Migratory Birds American Wetland Conservation Act energetic supply and demand curves to 300 Westgate Center Drive standard and small grants for a total of better define habitat goals for American Hadley, MA 01035 $16.7 million in grant funds matched by Black Duck along the Atlantic Coast. 413/253 8539 $50.3 million in partner funds. Using results from three field studies funded by the BDJV and DU, we have developed spatially-explicit models of December 2013