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The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation

The University Of Chicago Press

Contents

Foreword...................................................................IVPreface....................................................................VIAcknowledgements...........................................................2Introduction...............................................................18Chapter 1: WatchList Birds (see index p. 439)..............................128Chapter 2: Habitats........................................................130Hawaiian Uplands Birdscape.................................................140Arctic Tundra Birdscape....................................................148Northern Forests Birdscape.................................................158Western Forests Birdscape..................................................174Eastern Forests Birdscape..................................................184Southern Forests Birdscape.................................................194Grasslands and Prairies Birdscape..........................................204Southern Arid Lands Birdscape..............................................214Western Arid Lands Birdscape...............................................228Wetlands Birdscape.........................................................246Marine Birdscape...........................................................270Human Birdscape............................................................278Chapter 3: Threats.........................................................280Habitat Loss...............................................................294Invasive and Overabundant Species..........................................316Collisions.................................................................320Exploitation and Persecution...............................................325Fisheries..................................................................329Pollution and Toxics.......................................................342Climate Change.............................................................346Chapter 4: International Bird Conservation.................................346Birds......................................................................350Habitats...................................................................354High Altitude Birdscape....................................................360Montane and Temperate Forests Birdscape....................................364Lowland Tropical Forests Birdscape.........................................370Grasslands Birdscape.......................................................376Arid Lands Birdscape.......................................................380Wetlands Birdscape.........................................................384Marine Birdscape...........................................................390International Threats......................................................402International Conservation Action..........................................408Chapter 5: Strategies and Actions..........................................419National Bird Conservation Priorities - State by State.....................429Bird Conservation Directory................................................436Bibliography...............................................................439Index......................................................................447

Chapter One

The species is still the most widely accepted unit for conservation prioritization among birds (though see The Conservation of Subspecies p. 20). Most of the 800 plus bird species that occur in the U.S. are protected by federal or state laws. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects the rarest of the rare; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Lacey Act, and state wildlife and hunting laws protect almost all other birds—only nonnative species such as the House Sparrow and European Starling have no protection at all (though animal cruelty laws may afford even these some protection depending on location and circumstance).

While these protections include both halting the killing of birds and the conservation of habitat, they are not fully enforced, and unfortunately many species are still declining due to a variety of threats. All birds listed under the ESA receive conservation attention, although in some cases this is still insufficient (e.g., some Hawaiian species), but until recently there was no single agreed list that also included the next most urgent priority bird species in the U.S. that NGOs, and federal and state governments could focus on for conservation action. The WatchList closes this gap by including species that are listed as federally Endangered, but also by providing an early warning system through the listing of additional species that, without action, may be headed in that direction. Many of these species co-occur as assemblages in rare or threatened habitats that can be conserved as suites of birds with similar needs (e.g., cavity-nesting woodpeckers and owls in fire-suppressed forests). Others face threats that must be addressed one by one, however (e.g., rare seabirds that nest on islands invaded by rats).

In the following section we present species accounts for the 212 WatchList species: the priority species for conservation in the U.S. At the top of each species account is a blue fact bar (see opposite page). The common and scientific names for each species can be found on the left hand side of this bar. In the center column is a global population estimate, and the percentage of the population found in the U.S. If the species occurs only in the U.S., it will be noted as a U.S. Endemic. Species that only breed within the U.S., but that migrate outside its borders after breeding are noted as U.S. Breeding endemics. We also note those species whose entire populations winter in the U.S.

In the right hand column of the fact bar is the species' current population trend and WatchList status, and next to the WatchList status is the WatchList combined score within a colored box. Species are assessed on the basis of population size, range size, threats, and population trend. Species that score high in all categories are of "Highest National Concern" (Red WatchList), species that score high for threats and population trend are classified as "Declining", and those that score high for population and range size are "Rare" (latter two categories both Yellow WatchList). See Butcher et al. (2007) for more information. If the species is listed under the ESA in the U.S., or is proposed or a candidate for listing (not including foreign listed species), its listing status (Endangered, Threatened, Candidate, or proposed) will be noted beneath its WatchList status.

Beneath the fact bar, the text is divided into four sections. The first, Distribution, briefly describes the species' habitat and range. For migratory species, both breeding and non-breeding distributions are described. The second, Threats section succinctly lists major threats affecting the species. Some threats, such as climate change, cat predation, and glass collisions, may affect many species, and so we only document them for species that are (or could become) particularly adversely affected. The Conservation section highlights protected areas such as National Parks (NPs) or National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that protect the species, and provides information on major species-specific...