What's New!

2009 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey

Survey indicates increase in many duck species

The preliminary estimate of total ducks from the 2009 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey was 42 million, which is 13 percent greater than last year’s estimate and 25 percent greater than the 1955-2008 average.

The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey samples more than two million square miles of waterfowl habitat across the north-central and northeastern United States, south-central, eastern, and northern Canada, and Alaska. The survey estimates the number of ducks on the continent's primary nesting grounds.

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-2009
July 1, 2009

This report summarizes information on the abundance and harvest of Mourning Doves collected annually in the United States, the White-winged Dove populations in Arizona and summarizes information on the abundance and harvest of Band-tailed Pigeons collected annually in the western United States and British Columbia.

Annual Report

American Woodcock
Population Status, 2009

International Migratory Bird Day is an invitation to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation!

Typically held on the second Saturday in May (May 9 in 2009), IMBD is celebrated whenever migratory bird arrival is celebrated in your community.

Find out more! http://www.fws.gov/birds/imbd.html

Birds of Conservation Concern

The Division of Migratory Bird Management announces the availability of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008.
This publication identifies species, subspecies, and populations of migratory and nonmigratory birds in need of additional conservation actions. We hope to stimulate coordinated and collaborative
proactive conservation actions among Federal, State, tribal, and private partners. The species that appear in Birds of Conservation Concern 2008 are deemed to be the highest priority for conservation actions. We anticipate that the document will be consulted by Federal agencies and their partners prior to undertaking cooperative research, monitoring, and management actions that might directly or indirectly affect migratory birds. The Notice of Availability.

Take of Migrant Peregrine Falcons for Use in Falconry.

The Division of Migratory Bird Management has published a Notice in the Federal Register that it has published a Final Environmental Assessment on take of migrant peregrine falcons for use in falconry.  The Division published a draft Environmental Assessment in 2007 and considered public and agency comments on the draft. In the final EA, the Service revised the alternatives and selected one that will allow take of 36 fall migrant peregrines east of 100 degrees longitude.  Allowing the take of migrants required that the Service revise the allowed take of nestling peregrines in the western U.S. The states will need to coordinate through the four U.S. flyways and the National Flyway Council to decide how to allocate the take of nestling and migrant peregrines.

Revised Regulations for Falconry in the U.S.

We have published revised regulations that change a number of provisions for falconry in the United States.  After adoption of the regulations, a State, tribal, or territorial falconry permit will suffice for the practice of falconry.  We also will implement electronic reporting of acquisition, transfer, or loss of raptors held for falconry.

Because it will take time for States to change their falconry regulations to comply with the new regulations, the final compliance date for them is January 1, 2014.  The States will continue to operate under the current falconry regulations until they are certified to change to the new ones. Q&As Prior regulations

Permits Conditions to Allow Use of Raptors for Abatement Activities.

We have published a Notice announcing finalized permit conditions to allow the use of raptors protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for commercial abatement activities. Abatement refers to the training and use of raptors to flush, haze, or take birds (or other wildlife where allowed) to mitigate depredation and nuisance problems, including human health and safety threats. Abatement is not falconry. We will authorize abatement under our Special Purpose permits (50 CFR 21.27). Migratory Bird Permit Memorandum; application form and fact sheet.