SAFE North American Songbirds Action Plan (August 2020- August 2023)
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SAFE North American Songbirds Action Plan (August 2020- August 2023) 1 | P a g e Table of Contents Program Goal 3 Program Operating Structure 4 Conservation Target 8 Status of songbirds Within AZA 10 Origin of SAFE North American Songbird 10 AZA Conservation & Public Engagement 11 Conservation Status of North American Songbirds 13 Recovery Plan or Other Conservation Plan In Effect 15 Threats To Native Songbirds 16 SAFE NAS Program Objectives and Actions 25 Conservation Objectives 20 Public/Stakeholder Engagement Objectives 21 Communication/Public Awareness Objectives 22 Fundraising Objectives 23 Actions 30 References 34 Appendix I: List & Status of North American Songbirds 36 Appendix II: SAFE NAS Program Partner Activities 50 Appendix III: SAFE NAS Endorsement Policy 59 APPENDIX IV: SAFE NAS Social Media Policy 61 2 | P a g e The 2020-2023 SAFE North American Songbirds (NAS) Action Plan was developed by the SAFE NAS Steering committee consisting of leaders from 12 AZA member institutions (Akron Zoological Park, Brevard Zoo, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Detroit Zoological Society, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Saint Louis Zoo, Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, The Wilds, Toronto Zoo and Zoo Miami,) along with project partners and external advisors. The SAFE North American Songbird program invites and welcomes all interested zoos and aquariums to become program partners, funders and collaborators in our efforts to save and protect North American songbirds. Program Goal The goal of Saving Animals From Extinction North American Songbirds (SAFE NAS) is to reduce the threats to North American songbirds and secure sustainable wild populations of these species throughout their ranges. We will achieve measurable successes by harnessing the collective strengths of zoos, aquariums, and partners through supporting education and on-the- ground conservation activities on AZA facilities, in the community, and at state, national and provincial levels. The goal of this three-year action plan is to collect information, develop an awareness campaign for use by the AZA community, and implement conservation activities in 90% of our member organizations. For this action plan, SAFE NAS focuses on three areas of native songbird conservation: 1. Reducing bird collisions with glass 2. Reducing free-roaming cat impacts on wildlife 3. Preserving, enhancing, and building native habitats It also begins to address: 4. Reducing contaminants that affect North American songbirds 5. Promoting Bird Friendly coffee 6. Promoting and participating in citizen science 7. Reducing North American songbird trafficking To create an effective campaign that truly increases behaviors beneficial for the conservation of North American songbirds, all zoos and aquariums participating in SAFE should have a unified approach to increasing specific behaviors in visitors. A complete behavior change model that addresses all of the relevant North American songbird conservation issues which could be mitigated, or even resolved, by visitors’ changing behavior, will be an important tool in promoting how to implement this change with AZA visitors. SAFE NAS will identify which favorable behaviors will have the highest impact on NAS conservation, then determine one tool for behavior change to use for each behavior identified as being the most desirable change aligned with a specific NAS conservation issue. Determining 3 | P a g e the most effective tool will require assessing the types of behaviors, the types of audiences, how the behaviors will be promoted, and tracking the desired change. SAFE NAS will aim to summarize all these considerations into a single document to be shared with SAFE NAS partners in order to unify our approach of changing our visitors’ behaviors for the benefit of SAFE NAS conservation. Program Operating Structure The operations of the SAFE NAS program are conducted by the Chairs, Steering Committee, Secretary, Treasurer, and general membership. While the structure will develop over time as the program grows, leadership roles and the list of participants for this 3-year action plan are listed below. Chairs: The Chairs provide overall direction to the program, set up and lead program-wide working meetings, monitor program progress, inform and involve the AZA WCC Liaison, provide status reports to the program members and AZA and participate in working groups. They also manage the AZA SAFE NAS listserve. The Chairs appoint the program Secretary, Treasurer, and working group leads. Chairs monitor work and progress of each of the initiatives through monthly check in’s with each Point of Contact, monthly Steering Committee calls. Steering Committee: The Steering Committee consists of representatives from zoos and aquariums that served in the North American Songbird Working Group (NASWG) (an initiative of the AZA Passerine Taxon Advisory Group) when the conservation part of NASWG became the origin of the SAFE NAS program. Steering Committee members assist the Chairs in setting program direction, chair working groups, and provide regular updates to the SAFE NAS Chairs. Secretary: The Secretary takes meeting minutes, distributes them to the appropriate program members, and posts them on the SAFE NAS listserve. Treasurer: The Treasurer maintains and disperses funds acquired for the operation of the program and for meeting the objectives of the Action Plan. Budget oversight is provided by the program chairs who will provide an annual accounting report to the program membership. Program Partners: Program partners are subject-matter experts on a variety of bird conservation initiatives who provide guidance to program members to ensure that program actions address current North American songbird conservation needs. They are invited to collaborate with the program in many aspects including participating in working groups, attending meetings, and providing relevant subject-related information. Anyone in the SAFE NAS program may suggest and work with a potential partner. With approval of the Chairs, the partner can become “official.” Partners may come from government or non-government organizations, other AZA institutions, and the private sector. 4 | P a g e Facility Representative Contact Information Program Leaders Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Dr. Mike Kreger, Co-Chair 614-724-3409, [email protected] Smithsonian National Zoo & Sara Hallager, 202-633-3088, [email protected] Conservation Biology Institute Co-Chair Secretary Smithsonian National Zoo & Jessica Greensmith 202-633-3102; [email protected] Conservation Biology Institute Treasurer Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Dr. Joe Smith 260-515-0928, [email protected] Steering Committee Akron Zoo Shane Good 330-375-2550 x7268, [email protected] Brevard Zoo Michelle Smurl 321-254-9453, x217, [email protected] Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Dr. Joe Smith 260-515-0928, [email protected] Lincoln Park Zoo Matt Igleski 312-742-2460, [email protected] Saint Louis Zoo Anne Tieber 314-440-5203, [email protected] The Wilds Dr. Stephen Spear 740-638-5030, [email protected] Toronto Zoo Dr. Kevin Kerr 416-392-5962, [email protected] Zoo Miami Jim Dunster 305-251-0400 x5084965, [email protected] SAFE NAS Program Partners Facility Contact Title Contact information person Akron Zoo Shane Good Director of Collection Management 330-375-2550 x7268, [email protected] Assinboine Park Zoo Laura Burns Research Conservation Specialist 204-927-6096, [email protected] Audubon Aquarium William Robles Curator of Birds 504-378-2507,[email protected] of the Americas Birmingham Zoo Jessie Lead Animal Care Professional 205-879-0408 x218, Griswold [email protected] Bramble Park Zoo Dan Miller Director 605.882.6269, [email protected] Brevard Zoo Michelle Director of Animal Programs 321-254-9453, x217, [email protected] Smurl Columbus Zoo and Dr. Mike Vice President of Conservation and Sustainability 614-724-3409, Aquarium Kreger [email protected] Columbus Zoo and Brianne Senior Educator 614-724-3568, Aquarium Warthman [email protected] Columbus Zoo and Nikki Smith Assistant Curator 614-724-3675, [email protected] Aquarium Cosley Zoo Natasha Education Supervisor 630-510-5041, [email protected] Fischer Detroit Zoo Bonnie Van Associate Curator of Birds 248-336-5784, [email protected] Dam Fort Wayne Dr. Joe Smith Director of Animal Programs 260-515-0928, [email protected] Children’s Zoo Lee Richardson Zoo Julianne Werts Conservation Education Specialist 620-276-1250, [email protected] Lincoln Park Zoo Matt Igleski Student and Teacher Programs Developer 312-742-2460, [email protected] Lincoln Park Zoo Sunny Nelson Curator of Birds 312-742-8859, [email protected] Lion Country Safari Ashleigh Curator 561-793-1084 Kandrac x2411,[email protected] Los Angeles Zoo Mike Maxcy Curator of Birds 323-644-4208, [email protected] Moody Gardens Greg Animal Husbandry Manager 409-683-4101, [email protected] 5 | P a g e Whittaker New York State Zoo Larry Sorel Executive Director/CEO 315-755-0892, [email protected] at Thompson Park North Carolina Nicole Warren Educator and Bird Trainer 252-247-4003 x287 Aquarium at Pine [email protected] Knoll Shores North Carolina Rhana Paris Outreach Coordinator 252-475-2344, [email protected] Aquarium on Roanoke Island North Carolina Zoo Debbie Curator of Birds 336-879-7605,