While the species identified in this document are believed to be of high priority for additional research and conservation actions, we do not believe that it is appropriate to focus conservation actions (including management and research activities) on these species to the exclusion of all others. For example, on an individual basis, most species of shorebirds, beach-nesting terns, and marsh-nesting birds did not rank out as species of National concern. Still, there is little doubt that the habitats used by these assemblages should be high priorities for management and protection.
On a regional basis, a certain amount of discretion and flexibility should be applied in using this document to provide guidance to local managers and landowners. For example, it is conceivable that in some situations, species not listed in Table 1 may be of sufficient concern at a local scale (e.g., physiographic regions, States, USFWS Regions) to still warrant priority action. Conversely, it is likely that certain species of "concern" in a given Region (Table 1) will be relatively low priority for management action. Table 1 can be used to coordinate management efforts on those species that occur in more than one Region, and to track progress in meeting management goals.Earlier, reference was made to the need to protect the habitats and ecological communities upon which the "species of management concern" depend. Accordingly, it is suggested that Table 1 be used, in concert with other available information (e.g., Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network sites, atlases of colonial waterbird breeding sites, etc.), to identify avian habitats most in need of management attention.
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