Focal Species Strategy

Henlow's Sparrow Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

The Migratory Bird Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently started a new program called the "Focal Species Strategy for Migratory Birds". The focal species strategy involves campaigns for selected species to provide explicit, strategic, and adaptive sets of conservation actions required to return selected species to healthy and sustainable levels. As part of the strategy, a Program team identified 139 species of management concern that are to receive increased attention over the short-term. Included on this list are the Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) and King Rail (Rallus elegans), both of which have shown long-term population declines based on various data sources. The Migratory Birds Program in Region 3 is responsible for developing conservation action plans to help guide future management actions benefiting these species. Plans for both species are scheduled for completion by October 2007. For more information on the Focal Species Strategy visit http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/.

Download the Focal Species Strategy (147KB PDF)

Henslow's Sparrow

Workshop Summary (PDF) - Summary of the Henslow's Sparrow Workshop Held March 7-8, 2007.
Location Database (Excel Spreadsheet) - Database Showing Recent Henslow's Sparrow Locations. Send Corrections or Additions to Tom Cooper, see contact information below.
Henslow's Sparrow Fact Sheet (PDF) - Fact Sheet Describing the Importance of the Conservation Reserve Program to Henslow's Sparrow.
More information on the Biology of the Henslow's Sparrow is available on the USGS web site.

Kings Rail

Kings Rail Missouri Department of Conservation photo by Noppadol Paothong

Executive Summary of King Rail Conservation Plan (PDF) - Brief summary of the King Rail Conservation Plan including the top five unfunded priorities identified in the plan.
King Rail Conservation Plan - Version I (PDF) - Conservation Plan Developed with Partner Input
Workshop Summary (PDF) - Summary of the King Rail Workshop Held November 14-15, 2006
Location Database (Excel Spreadsheet) - Database Showing Recent King Rail Locations. Send Corrections or Additions to Tom Cooper, see contact information below.
King Rail Bibliography Link - A Bibliography of King Rail Literature Developed by Ashton Drew, Research Associate, North Carolina State University.
King Rail County Distribution Map (JPG) - Counties where King Rail presence has been documented between 1996 and 2006.
More information on the King Rail is available on the USGS web site.

If you have further questions after browsing this site you may contact Migratory Bird Biologist Tom Cooper by email at Tom_Cooper@fws.gov or by phone at 612-713-5338.