Tracking Endangered Animals Kim Grveles Endangered Resources Volunteer Opportunities with Volunteer Opportunities with The Natural Heritage Inventory Program

WI Natural Heritage Inventory Program rare or declining species, high quality or rare natural communities and unique natural features rare or declining species, high quality or rare natural communities and unique natural features Established in 1985 Established in 1985 Part of an international network Part of an international network

Taxa Groups Tracked by NHI Mammals Mammals Birds Birds Natural Communities Natural Communities Invertebrates Invertebrates Plants Plants Species Concentration Sites Species Concentration Sites Herptiles Herptiles Fishes Fishes Courtesy R. Brady

NHI Working List of Rare Birds 83 species currently 83 species currently Last updated in January 2004 Last updated in January 2004 Species that have State/Federal status Species that have State/Federal status

Working List of Rare Dragonflies and Damselflies 65 species currently 65 species currently Last updated in January 2004 Last updated in January 2004 No changes since December 2003 No changes since December 2003 Species that have State/Federal status Species that have State/Federal status Photo Courtesy Kathryn Kirk Hines Emerald (Somatochlora hineana)

Why track this information? 1. What rare species and ecosystems exist in the State? exist in the State? 2. Where precisely are they found? 3. What is their status and which are priorities for conservation? priorities for conservation?

Peatlands Rare Bird Study Northern Sedge Meadows Northern Sedge Meadows Nocturnal Nocturnal Mid-May – June 30 Mid-May – June 30 Selected Sites Selected Sites Northern Counties Northern Counties Central Plains Central Plains Photo Courtesy Eric Epstein

Peatlands Target Bird Species Yellow Rail Yellow Rail American Bittern American Bittern Le Contes Sparrow Le Contes Sparrow Nelsons Sharp-tailed Sparrow Nelsons Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Photo Courtesy A. B. Sheldon

Odonata Surveys 2007 Collect Exuviate Collect Exuviate Select Streams Select Streams Target Species Target Species Ophiogomphus susbehcha Ophiogomphus susbehcha O. anomalus O. anomalus O. howei O. howei O. smithi O. smithi

Peatlands and Odonata Collect Exuviate Collect Exuviate Targeted Study Sites Targeted Study Sites All Working List Species All Working List Species Photo Courtesy E. Judziewicx

WI Odonate Atlas Survey

More Information: Contact: Contact: Bill Smith NHI Zoologist On-Line: On-Line:

Forest Bird Inventory Breeding Surveys Breeding Surveys State Lands State Lands Property Near You Property Near You Sight and Auditory ID Sight and Auditory ID

Why is CBM Important for NHI? Citizen-based reporting can: Help fill the gaps of our database Help fill the gaps of our database Increase knowledge of species distribution Increase knowledge of species distribution Make a powerful contribution to the protection of biodiversity Make a powerful contribution to the protection of biodiversity Photo Courtesy Sumner Matteson

Contributing to the NHI Database: Opportunities for CBM Volunteer opportunities Volunteer opportunities Everyday possibilities: Everyday possibilities: Field Trips Field Trips Backyard Observations Backyard Observations

How to Get Started: Packets Available Packets Available Rare Animal Field Reports Rare Animal Field Reports Look for: Look for: Working List Species Working List Species Breeding Evidence Breeding Evidence Appropriate Habitat & Appropriate Habitat & Season Season Species Concentration Sites Species Concentration Sites

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