U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Program Conserving America’s Birds Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act & Birds of Conservation Concern

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act What is it? Passed in 1980 –to assist States “… to conserve and to promote conservation of nongame… fish, wildlife, & habitat” §§ – re: States developing plans and financial assistance to States for plans

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act Provides Direction to Address Non-game Birds §2912 – ‘Federal Conservation of Migratory Nongame Birds’ amendment added in 1988 to assist Secretary “… to conserve migratory nongame birds… under… MBTA, ESA…” © Jeff Koch

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act What does it call for? 1.Monitor & assess trends/status of species…of all migratory non-game birds 2.Identify effects of environmental changes and human activities on these species 3.Identify species that without additional conservation actions, could be listed under ESA 4.Identify conservation actions for the species 5.Identify lands and waters in and outside of the US whose protection/management will conserve these species.

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Birds of Conservation Concern Proactive Conservation of Species FWS report on species that without increased conservation efforts may be candidates for the ESA list

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Birds of Conservation Concern Assesses Bird Populations for Vulnerabilities Combines information from: Bird Conservation Partnership Plans Species Assessment Database

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Three Geographic Scales Birds of Conservation Concern National USFWS Regions Bird Conservation Regions

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Birds of Conservation Concern FWCA and BCC

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds Why use the BCC List? Birds of Conservation Concern FWS priority species for conservation; Executive Order references BCC list; Focus agency on species of highest conservation need; Focus NEPA analyses; Impress your local FWS office.

Migratory Bird Program - Conserving America’s Birds How to use the BCC list Birds of Conservation Concern Consider scale of action… Single or multiple BCRs? FWS Region? Consider habitats affected… Waterways = wetland habitats = waterbirds/riparian birds/shorebirds Consider season of action Some species on BCC BCR lists for winter or breeding only