Symposium in Context of Yellow Rail Conservation JENNIFER WHEELER, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Waterbird Conservation for the Americas JANE AUSTIN, US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center MARK WOODREY, Mississippi State University and Grand Bay National Estuary Research Reserve

IMPETUS FOR YELLOW RAIL CONSERVATION Special Concern under Schedule 1 of the Species At Risk Act (SARA) Special Concern under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 Threatened under Québec’s Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnerable Migratory Nongame Bird of Special Management Concern (USFWS) Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern in seven States

OPEN STANDARDS

CONCEPTUALIZE: DEFINE TEAM

CONCEPTUALIZE: DEFINE SCOPE

CONCEPTUALIZE - VISION DRAFT CANADA MGMT PLAN: The objective of this management plan is to stabilize the quantity, quality and distribution of Yellow Rail breeding, moulting and migratory stopover habitat across Canada and to promote the conservation and management of suitable habitat on the wintering grounds. Achieving this objective should ensure the conservation of the Yellow Rail in Canada. (PROPOSED) AMERICAS: The distribution, diversity, and abundance of populations and habitats of breeding, moulting, migratory, and nonbreeding Yellow Rail are sustained or restored in appropriate current, transitional and future habitats of the Americas.

CONCEPTUALIZE TARGETS “Main” population ◦ Birds themselves ◦ Breeding habitat ◦ Moulting habitat ◦ Migration habitat ◦ Wintering habitat Western population ◦ Birds themselves ◦ Breeding habitat ◦ Moulting habitat ◦ Migration habitat ◦ Wintering habitat James Bay, Hudson Bay as disjunct populations?

IDENTIFY CRITICAL THREATS

COMPLETE SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS “Main” population ◦ Birds themselves ◦ Breeding habitat ◦ Moulting habitat ◦ Migration habitat ◦ Wintering habitat Western population ◦ Birds themselves ◦ Breeding habitat ◦ Moulting habitat ◦ Migration habitat ◦ Wintering habitat FACTORS STRATEGY THREAT

COMPLETE SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS - STRATEGIES 1. Identify key Yellow Rail breeding, moulting and migratory stopover sites and regularly assess habitat availability and condition at these sites in Canada. Key sites are those that are threatened, are used regularly over a period of years by Yellow Rails or used by a relatively large numbers of rails. 2. Conserve habitat at key breeding, moulting and migratory stopover sites in Canada. 3. Develop management practices for Yellow Rail habitat and promote their incorporation into existing and future wetland conservation and management initiatives. 4. Fill important knowledge gaps, particularly those related to main threats and effective management and conservation practices. 5. Develop and implement communication tools to increase public and private sector awareness and involvement in Yellow Rail conservation.

PLAN ACTIONS AND MONITORING

CANADIAN PLAN ACTIONS AND MONITORING YEARS Measure Priority Threats Addressed Timeline

PURPOSE OF SYMPOSIUM “Catch Up” Build relationships Range-wide Plan Gain momentum and resources for implementation.