Saving Migratory and Endemic Birds in Western Mexico
Gregory Butcher, Ph.D. Migratory Species Coordinator USDA Forest Service International Programs Washington DC Alliance for the Conservation of the Central American Pine-Oak Forest Chipe Caridorado/Golden-cheeked Warbler
Breeding range
Wintering range International Migratory Bird Day Partners in Flight Tri-national Vision for Landbird Conservation Why Work Internationally?
• Shared Species
• Global Economy – Land-use impacts – Invasive species – Invasive diseases – Wildlife trade
• Global Warming Question:
Why should Mexicans care what happens in the western forests of Canada and the USA?
Why should Canadians or U.S. citizens care what happens in Mexico? Continent of Birds Few Endemic Bird Species
Of 883 bird species in the 48 contiguous states, only 15 are endemic to the USA
Temperate and Tropical America ~Shared Species - Shared Goals~
• More than 360 U.S. breeding birds winter south of our border
• 99 are on WatchList 2007 Full Life Cycle Stewardship Shared Concerns: Loss of Diversity • 148 Species of High Tri-National Concern • 44 species with very limited distributions are most imperiled and are mostly in Mexico • Another 80 tropical residents have ranges in Mexico and often farther south • Another 24 species breed in the United States and Canada and continue to decline Shared Concerns: Loss of Abundance • 42 common bird species in steep decline Conserving Migrants, Conserving Residents Geographies are based on wintering areas. Focal breeding grounds are related to wintering grounds via BCR. West Mexican Thornforest Bird Conservation Plan
• From USA to Costa Rica • Including Baja and mangroves • From sea-level to 900 m • Pine-oak conservation plan for higher elevations • Thornforest, thornscrub, tropical deciduous forest, semi-deciduous forest, riparian forest Migrants of High Conservation Concern
• Vireo Gorrinegro/Black-capped Vireo • Zumbador Rufo/Rufous Hummingbird • Colorin Sietecolores/Painted Bunting • Colorin Morado/Varied Bunting • Vireo Gris/Gray Vireo • Vireo de Bell/Bell’s Vireo • Playero Occidental/Western Sandpiper • Other playeros/shorebirds
Western Hummingbird Partnership
Rufous Hummingbird migration
• Lowland Pacific Coast in spring
• Breeds in Alaska!
• Alpine meadows in summer/fall
• Winters in Mexico, spreading to Gulf Coast of SE USA
Shared Birds of Conservation Concern
• Garza Piquirosa/Reddish Egret • Cuitlacoche de Bendire/Bendire’s Thrasher • Zacatonero de Cinco-rayas/Five-striped Sparrow • Tecolotito Enano/Elf Owl
Endemics of High Concern
• Globally Endangered: – Cotorra-serrana Occidental/Thick-billed Parrot • Globally Vulnerable: – Loro Corona-violeta/Lilac-crowned Amazon – Ninfa Mexicana/Mexican Woodnymph – Martin Sinaloense/Sinaloa Martin
Endemics of High Concern
• Globally Near-threatened: – Tecolote de Balsas/Balsas Screech-Owl – Colorin de Rosita/Rose-bellied Bunting – Zacatonero de Sumichrast/Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow
Important U.S. Programs for international conservation
• NAWCA in Canada and Mexico (FWS) • The Neotrop Act (FWS) • Wildlife Without Borders (FWS) • Wings Across the Americas (FS) • Park Flight (NPS) • Global Environment Fund (GEF) • Biodiversity Conservation (USAID) • Tropical Forest Conservation (debt- for-nature swaps; Treasury) • Wildlife adaptation funding in all global warming treaties and legislation • Southern Wings (AFWA) U.S.-based NGOs that work internationally
• Ducks Unlimited • World Wildlife Fund • Conservation International • The Nature Conservancy • Wildlife Conservation Society • American Bird Conservancy • Rare • Island Conservation • National Audubon Society, especially through BirdLife International U.S.-based Joint Ventures that work internationally
Cross border JVs: • Sonoran • Rio Grande
Others: • Pacific Coast • Appalachian U.S. States that work internationally
• New Jersey • Idaho • Vermont • Montana • Tennessee • Wisconsin • Missouri • Florida • Arizona • Colorado • New Mexico • Nevada • Texas • • Ohio Nebraska • Alabama • Oregon A Call to Action
1. Protect and recover species at greatest risk 2. Conserve habitats and ecosystem functions 3. Reduce bird mortality 4. Expand knowledge base for conservation 5. Engage people in conservation action 6. Increase the power of international partnerships