OpportunityTitle: Migratory Bird Conservation in the Upper Midwest
CategoryExplanation: Bird conservation planning, monitoring, and research.
Description: This announcement solicits proposals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service&#146;s (USFWS&#146;s) Upper Midwest (Region 3) Migratory Bird Conservation Program. In 2010, this program will provide small grants for the conservation of migratory birds that are not federally listed as Endangered or Threatened. Proposals should address the geographic area comprised by Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, or areas important for birds breeding in these states during the non-breeding season, or broad-scale actions that will have tangible benefits that include birds in the Midwest. This grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at: https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=program&amp;mode=form&amp;tab=step1&amp;id=801a19ef709c9440e2ecf95da74a0704. In 2010, the program will focus on the following: 1. Coordinated Bird Monitoring: We seek proposals that advance regional scale bird monitoring priorities as identified through the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership (http://midwestbirdmonitoring.ning.com). Priority will be given to proposals that: (1) Facilitate the flow of bird monitoring information between bird conservation partners and the Midwest Avian Data Center (http://midwestbirdmonitoring.ning.com/page/midwest-avian-data-center-1); (2) Analyze data from and standardize nocturnal bird monitoring programs in the Midwest to ensure statistical rigor in meeting information needs; (3) Improve our understanding of bird migration ecology throughout the Midwest (including routes, timing, and important stopover or wintering sites); (4) Promote the coordinated evaluation of Grassland Bird Conservation Area activities as they relate to sustainable Midwest grassland bird populations; (5) Expand piloting of the National Secretive Marshbird Monitoring Program throughout the Midwest; (6) Inform forest management decisions using existing bird monitoring datasets to meet forest bird conservation objectives throughout the Midwest; and (7) Collect and manage information on avian distribution, abundance, and/or demography through large-scale, periodic surveys (e.g., Great Lakes Colonial Waterbird Survey, State Breeding Bird Atlases). Projects that directly involve collaborative and coordinated support of several key partners within the region will be given greater consideration. Please note that this grant program is not meant to support long-term operational bird monitoring efforts; rather, it seeks to address coordination of monitoring efforts and development and evaluation of new survey and monitoring techniques (both field and analytical). If you are interested in submitting proposals to advance these Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring priorities, please contact Katie Koch, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (906-226-1249; katie_koch@fws.gov), to discuss potential projects. She will direct you to resources that identify highest priority needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate proposal. 2. Focal Species Conservation: Over the last few years, the USFWS has worked with partners to develop conservation plans and host collaborative workshops for a small number of high-priority avian focal species. In 2011, we seek proposals that advance conservation priorities expressed in planning efforts for the following focal species: Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Henslow&#146;s Sparrow (in the context of all Eastern grassland birds), American Woodcock, Wilson&#146;s Phalarope, Upland Sandpiper, Common Tern, King Rail, and Lesser Scaup. Proposals will be given greater consideration if they include a monitoring component to guide informed conservation planning and decision-making or to evaluate population or demographic success of conservation projects. If you are interested in submitting proposals to study or monitor any of these species, please contact Steve Lewis, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (612-713-5473; steve_j_lewis@fws.gov), to discuss potential projects. He will direct you to conservation plans and other resources that identify these species&#146; greatest needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate proposal. 3. Strategic Conservation: In order to focus conservation on the highest priority issues with the greatest probability of making a difference for birds, the USFWS Upper Midwest Migratory Bird Conservation Program operates under the USFWS business model that integrates biological planning, landscape design, conservation delivery, and monitoring and evaluation in a way that generates the adaptive feedback loops that enable sound decisions and constantly improve our efficiency and effectiveness in saving birds (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/science/SHC/FAQ.htm). In 2011, to check operating assumptions and ensure we are directly addressing the threats that most limit avian productivity and populations, we are seeking proposals that: a. Evaluate the direct and indirect effects of unrestrained cats and/or Trap-Neuter-Release cat colonies on the mortality or productivity of birds breeding or using migratory stopover habitat in close proximity to humans (urban, suburban, and small towns), especially high conservation priority species. b. Take significant steps toward the development of full life-cycle demographic/population models that, for select species (e.g., an urban/suburban species, an agricultural/grassland-dependent species, a forest species, or a wetland-dependent species), incorporate significant anthropogenic threats. c. Develop models that sum local, landscape, and regional bird management efforts and estimate contributions toward meeting continental objectives. If you are interested in submitting proposals under any of the three strategic areas above, please contact Tom Will, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (612-713-5362; tom_will@fws.gov), to discuss potential projects. He will direct you to resources that identify priority needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate proposal.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Agency contact
GrantorContactText: Stephen  Lewis &lt;br/&gt;Wildlife Biologist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 612-713-5473