Integrating Bird Conservation into INRMPs Chris Eberly DoD Partners in Flight

 Inventory and manage significant/sensitive natural resources Inventory & monitoring Habitat conservation Collaboration (partnerships) Cooperation Outreach & public access Integration Regulations Migratory Bird Management in INRMP

Inventory and Monitoring

Red - Significant potential to impact military readiness. Orange - Moderate potential to impact military readiness. Yellow - Minimal potential to impact military readiness. White (Blank) - No known impact on military.

STATUSARMYNAVYMARINE CORPS AIR FORCE TOTAL YES NO Adequately addressed in INRMP?

 Total data elements (for each candidate species, by installation)  At least some information available – 226  Monitoring information available – 137  Actions being taken to manage – 122  Threat information available – 68  All information types available – 16 Information Available

Mission-Sensitive Priority Bird Species

Priority Species – Population Estimates

 Draft guidance on process – July 20, 2012  Part of Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC)  Exec. Summary: “…FWS must join with partners in making bold but thoughtful choices to focus our work and resources where they will have the greatest conservation benefit.” DraftTechnicalGuidanceJuly2012.pdf USFWS – Surrogate Species

 Protection  Restoration  Enhancement  Full life-cycle stewardship  Conservation Measures Habitat Conservation

NEPAMBTAESAother… Guiding Legislation Conservation Measures Resource Management Threat Management Monitoring Facilities Energy Development Partnerships, Communication and Education Plans and Guidance INRMP Species Recovery Plan Agency Guidance/Guidelines Soil Management and Grading Plan Restoration Plan Mitigation Plan Monitoring / Maintenance Plan Bird and Bat Conservation Strategy Resource Management Plan Other plans… BGEPA

Migratory Bird Treaty Act – Final Rule

 Generally accepted, informally standardized methods or processes proven over time  BMP can evolve to become better  Adaptive learning process rather than a fixed set of rules or guidelines (Adaptive Resource Management)  Promotes continuous learning and improvement Best Management Practices

 Avoiding or minimizing adverse effects “Take” “Take”  Spatial scale Local Local Regional Regional National National  Temporal aspects  Cumulative impacts  Adaptive, ongoing process Conservation Measures

 Endangered Species Act Section 7 related decisions Section 7 related decisions Candidate Conservation Agreement Candidate Conservation Agreement  Executive Order  Bald Eagle Management Guidelines Additional Conservation Measures to Benefit Bald Eagles Additional Conservation Measures to Benefit Bald Eagles  Bald and Golden Eagles Advanced Conservation Practices Advanced Conservation Practices Conservation Measures

Focus activities in the Non-breeding season  Timber harvest  Haying, mowing  Prescribed burning  Brush clearing  Construction Conservation Measures - MBTA

 Monitoring impacts of activities  Bird conservation planning  Conservation partnerships  Avoidance and mitigation APP, BBCS APP, BBCS  Pesticide reduction  Habitat conservation and enhancement  Endangered Species Act consideration  INRMP annual reviews DoD Conservation Measures

Collaboration

Cooperation  Access to DoD lands by partners  Survey/monitoring  Breeding Bird Atlas – ex., NIOC Sugar Grove  University research

Outreach / Public Access  International Migratory Bird Day  Earth Day  Bird watching  Audubon chapters, bird clubs  Ex., NAS Patuxent River

Integration

PIF Bird Conservation Plans

Priority Bird Populations and Habitats Pine savannah Red-cockaded WoodpeckerFederally endangered; remnant population reduced to as few as 3 breeding clans. Prairie WarblerDeclining; native to open pine savannah; also in early succession habitat. Bachman's SparrowNorthern edge of breeding range; requires open, grassy understory. Objective: Restore enough pine savannah to support clans of Red-cockaded Woodpecker (pre 1970s population); maintain breeding population of 2,600 Brown-headed Nuthatches. Salt marsh Salt-marsh SparrowLarge proportion of world population breeds here; requires high marsh with buffer, stable water levels. Black RailStatus poorly known; requires high marsh with buffer. Seaside SparrowLarge proportion of East Coast population; wider habitat tolerance than sharp-tailed sparrows. American Black DuckImportant breeding and wintering populations. Objective: Numerical population and habitat-area objectives for priority marsh birds have not yet been determined. Roughly 20,000 ha of marsh may be required to support 3,000 breeding pairs of American Black Ducks. Forested wetlands Cerulean WarblerPoorly monitored; small populations along forested rivers. Swainson's WarblerDisjunct population at northern edge of range; requires dense shrubby understory. Prothonotary WarblerGood indicator species for permanently forested wetlands; cavity nester. Acadian FlycatcherHabitat generalist in wet or moist deciduous forests with dense understory. Objective: Rougly 300,000 ha of forested wetland is required to support entire habitat-species suite, including 100,000 pairs of Acadian Flycatchers and 16,000 pairs of Prothonotary Warblers.

Opportunity: Engage Partners in a Strategic Vision for Wildlife Conservation State Wildlife Action Plans

[Georgia]

Regulations  MBTA  Final Rule (“Readiness”)  Permits  Banding  Depredation  NEPA

Working Groups Avian ElectrocutionsAvian Electrocutions BASHBASH CommunicationsCommunications EducationEducation InternationalInternational Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species Research & MonitoringResearch & Monitoring SeabirdsSeabirds Species of ConcernSpecies of Concern DoD PIF Network

Chris Eberly DoD Partners in Flight Guantanamo Bay, Cuba January 2004 Questions?