OpportunityTitle: Aerial Surveys for Wintering Shorebirds
Description: This announcement is for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 9 FY 2009 project support to maintain, enhance, and better understand the ecology and habitats of migratory bird species. As justification for Single Source Determination, in accordance with Department of Interior Guidance (505 DM 2.14), USFWS Region 9 provides Notice of Intent to make a single source award in the amount of $10,000 to the New Jersey Audubon Society for the support of aerial surveys of shorebirds, and Semipalmated Sandpipers in particular, on the northern coast of South America. This project will create a cooperative effort between New Jersey Audubon, Environment Canada, and numerous organizations in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. The purpose of the study is to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of the decline of shorebirds, and particularly Semipalmated Sandpipers, along the northern coast of South America. Despite being one of the most abundant migrant shorebirds in North America, strong signals are emerging that indicate that Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) are declining substantially in Western Atlantic Flyway. The major wintering area (85%) for Western Atlantic Semipalmated Sandpipers is along the northern coast of South America. Last year, a partial aerial survey of this region (French Guiana and Suriname) suggested an 80% decrease in the number of wintering shorebirds. Whether this decline was a one-year anomaly or was concentrated only in the surveyed areas needs to be determined to assess the current conservation status of Western Atlantic Flyway Semipalmated Sandpipers. Because of this new information, Western Atlantic Flyway Semipalmated Sandpipers were included on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service&#146;s list of Birds of Conservation Concern 2008. Evaluation of the magnitude and scale of the decline will inform decisions about the need to implement targeted conservation actions for Semipalmated Sandpipers. The New Jersey Audubon Society was awarded a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant in FY2008, and this project is a continuation of the previously awarded project by expanding both the temporal and geographic scope. In addition to the continuation criterion for a single source award, the New Jersey Audubon Society and its cooperators have unique technical qualifications. The New Jersey Audubon Society staff has more than 10 years experience working with Semipalmated Sandpipers, and cooperators from Environment Canada have been conducting aerial surveys in South American for almost 30 years. Using the same aerial observers and following the same survey methods will ensure results are comparable among geographic areas and across years. This announcement is published as a Sole Source in accordance with FAR 6.302-1. This is NOT a request for quotes. The intent of this pre-solicitation notice is for informational purposes only. There is no full announcement associated with this notice of Single Source award. No substantial involvement on the part of the USFWS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. It is anticipated that the USFWS&#146;s involvement will consist of standard Federal stewardship responsibilities, such as monitoring project performance and providing technical assistance, if requested.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Work
GrantorContactText: Brad Andres &lt;br/&gt;Wildlife Biologist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 303-275-2324