Posted April 23rd, 2008

To read archived announcements for March and February of 2008, click on one of the links below:
March 2008
February 2008

Announcements

Notice of Proposed Revision to Guidelines for Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation (CELCP) Program
Comments due June 9, 2008
CELCP provides grants to state agencies and local governments to acquire property or conservation easements within a state's coastal zone or coastal watershed boundary.

Simon Fraser University researcher seeks participation in western sandpiper study
SFU is conducting an extensive project to map western sandpiper migratory connectivity and look for "carryover" effects of birds' condition from one season to another. To help capture birds for collection of feather or blood samples, please respond to David B. Lank, (778) 782-3010 http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/lank.html

Contribute to Encyclopedia of Earth
Apply to become a contributor to this Wiki-style electronic reference. Contributors must be a recognized expert in a subject area of the encyclopedia.

Partners in Flight Western Working Group Action Plan
Five-Year Action Plan 2008-2012 includes development of decision support tools, species-habitat modeling, and species monitoring. Upcoming meetings: Sierra Vista, AZ (fall 2008), British Columbia (spring 2009). For plan copies, more info or to participate: Rex Sallabanks.

Grants and Grant Resources

National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program
June 6, 2008
Open to non-governmental, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and Native American tribes working on or adjacent to National Forests and Grasslands. Program areas: Wildlife Habitat Improvement, Recreation, Community-Based Forestry, and Watershed Health and Restoration.

Waterbird Society research grants
Deadline: July 15, 2008
Nisbet Research Grant - $2000 awarded to support research on gulls and terns. Kushlan Research Award in Ciconiiform Biology and Conservation - $1000 to $7000 awarded to support scientific advances in the biology, ecology or conservation biology of wading birds.

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grants
Deadline: November 13, 2008
Promotes the conservation of neotropical migratory birds in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean: protection, management and restoration of bird populations and habitat; research and monitoring; law enforcement; community outreach and education.

Grant Resource:
2008 USDA Grant and Partnership Programs that can Address Invasive Species Research, Technical Assistance, Prevention and Control

Wetlands and Estuaries

EPA Announces Release of Indicator Development for Estuaries Manual
This manual provides the user with a logical, stepwise process for developing and implementing indicators for the estuarine environment.

Planner’s Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments
Environmental Law Institute (ELI)
State-of-the-art and the range of current practice in protection of wetland buffers by local governments.

The Next Generation of Stormwater Wetlands
Center for Watershed Protection, Article 5 in Wetlands and Watersheds Article Series
Reviews the evolution of stormwater wetland design, summarizes lessons learned. Presents two new designs: an emergent wetland/pond system and a wooded wetland that increase habitat value, enhance pollutant removal, and minimize problems with invasive species and mosquitoes.

Birds and Biodiversity—Technical Resources

Avibase
the world bird database
Over 3.5 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies, including distribution information, taxonomy, and links to more information.

Biofilm Grazing in a Higher Vertebrate: The Western Sandpiper.
Kuwae, T., P.G. Beninger, P. Decottignies, K.J. Mathot, D.R. Lund and R.W. Elner. 2008. Ecology 89: 599 - 606.
The authors “describe the grazing behavior of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and estimate that biofilm accounts for 45–59% of their total diet....We stress the importance of the physical and biological processes maintaining biofilm to shorebird and intertidal conservation.”

North American Shorebird Literature – 2007
Extensive bibliography compiled by Brad A. Andres, National Coordinator, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This document will also be posted in the next
International Wader Study Group Bulletin.

Partners in Flight Species Management Synthesis
This updated page has links to online species accounts providing information on effects of management practices on particular bird species.

All-Bird Bulletin—Special Issue—March 2008
Bimonthly newsletter of the U.S. NABCI Committee
Articles in this issue are based on presentations at the 4th International Partners in Flight Conference, February 2008.

4th International Partners in Flight Conference (Feb. 2008)
Abstracts now online

Training

GIS Tools for Strategic Conservation Planning
Registration deadline: May 1
June 16-19, 2008 National Conservation Training Center
Shepherdstown, WV

NEPA: Writing the perfect EA/FONSI or EIS
Northwest Environmental Training Center
May 28 - 29, 2008
Portland, OR

Calls for conference papers and abstracts

Society for Conservation GIS Annual Conference
Call For Papers, Posters, Symposia, and Workshops: Deadline May 15, 2008
Conference August 12-15, 2008
Monterey, California

Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change
Call for Papers extended to May 15, 2008
Conference: September 15-19, 2008
Portland, Oregon

Third North American Sea Duck Conference
Abstract submission deadline: June 13, 2008
Conference November 10-14, 2008
Québec City, Canada

33rd Annual Meeting of Western Field Ornithologists
Call for Papers: deadline June 15, 2008
Meeting: October 9-12, 2008
San Mateo, California

Birds and Birding—general resources

Birdnote
Radio series: short vignettes about birds and the environment. Website offers access to past episodes; resources on birds; sign-up for advance email notice of upcoming shows.

Encyclopedia of Life
The first 30,000 pages of a massive online Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) are available. A tool for scientists and policymakers as well as the general public.

Two Nation Birding Vacation
Driving loop features 24 birding locations in southeastern British Columbia, north Idaho and northeast Washington. More info on bird watching on scenic byways throughout the U.S.: http://www.byways.org/explore/activities/birding

Wildlife Viewing Resources: Research, Design, And Development
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Links to designs for wildlife viewing and photography blinds, impacts of viewing on birds and other wildlife, and opportunities for professional development.

Citizen Science

Cornell Lab of Ornithology launches NestWatch
NestWatch teaches people about bird breeding biology and engages them in collecting and submitting nest records (site location, habitat, species, number of eggs, young, and fledglings). Observations submitted to an online database are compiled in a continent-wide effort to better understand and manage the impacts of environmental change on bird populations.

Great Backyard Bird Count
2008 results now online

Back to Top of Page