The report will assist efforts by Federal and State agencies, conservation organizations, private companies, and landowners to protect and restore bird habitat and reduce the impact of their activities on species of concern. In addition, species included in this report can be given priority consideration for funding for research, monitoring, and management.
"We need to do more to protect declining species before they become threatened or endangered,"said Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton."This list will help the Fish and Wildlife Service work in partnership with states, conservation groups, and others with an interest in bird conservation to take action now to keep species from declining to the point of requiring listing under the Endangered Species Act. It provides a road map for conserving hundreds of bird species across the country that have suffered habitat and population losses."
Developed in consultation with the leaders of ongoing bird conservation initiatives and partnerships such as Partners in Flight, the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan and the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, the list prioritizes species based on the threats they face and the declines they have suffered. Species that are currently declining or uncommon, have small ranges, and/or face significant threats to their future survival were included on the list. The list will be used by a broad array of agencies and organizations to shape spending and research priorities, habitat acquisition and restoration needs and to minimize the impacts of their activities on identified species.
"The Federal government needs to take the lead in efforts to conserve migratory birds. Release of this report will guide ongoing efforts to avoid impacts to migratory birds, and enhance migratory bird conservation," said Service Director Steve Williams.
Release of the 2002 report takes on special significance for Federal agencies. Executive Order 13186 directs all Federal agencies taking actions having or likely to have a negative impact on migratory bird populations to work with the Service to develop an agreement to conserve those birds, focusing on species identified in the Birds of Conservation Concern 2002 report. As a result, the Service is currently developing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with dozens of Federal agencies that will help guide future agency actions and policy decisions; renewal of permits, contracts or other agreements; and the creation of or revisions to land management plans.
In addition to avoiding or minimizing impacts to bird populations of conservation concern, agencies will be expected to take reasonable steps to restore and enhance habitats, prevent or abate pollution affecting birds, and incorporate migratory bird conservation into agency planning processes whenever possible and to the extent that these actions are compatible with their primary missions.
The development of an "early warning" list of bird species in potential trouble is mandated by a 1988 amendment to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980. The number of such species has grown from 30 in 1987, to 122 in 1995, to 131 in 2002. This growth partly reflects the addition of eligible species in Hawaii and other U.S. Pacific Islands. Scientists also know more about the status of some bird species and that knowledge has increased the pool of eligible species. Publication of the 2002 report is expected to prompt heightened efforts to improve habitat conditions, conduct monitoring, and initiate status assessments for some of the highest priority species.
The newly revised report is actually a series of 45 individual lists that identifies bird species of concern at national, regional and landscape scales. The lists include a principal national list, seven regional lists corresponding to the Service
