Proposed Changes for NAWCA Grant Program Schedules
An important schedule change has been proposed for the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant Program. The North American Wetland Conservation Council has indicated support for a change in the annual proposal submission cycle, starting next year.
Do you have a Golden-winged Warbler habitat management project?
The Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) Working Group is honoring its 20th [...]
Joint Venture GLRI Funding Opportunity is Open for Applications, due March 18, 2024
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now available for the Joint Venture Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)! This competitive funding process will fund proposals that focus on habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement, for the conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly of migratory birds.
Ducks Unlimited Fellowships – Announcement of 2024 competition
Ducks Unlimited is pleased to announce that this is the first year that they will be offering the David R. Luukkonen Waterfowl and Wetland Graduate Student Fellowship. Dave was a long-time partner and contributor to the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture.
Northern Forest Birds Network 2023 Conference
The Northern Forest Birds Network is a collaborative conservation [...]
Northern Forest Conservation Delivery Network welcomes Jayme Strange as new coordinator
The Midwest Region is pleased to welcome Jayme Strange to our Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Ventures staff where she will work in a leadership role on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partner forest habitat issues in our region.
Migratory Bird Conservation in the Midwest – 2023 Request for Proposals
The Midwest Migratory Bird Program is pleased to announce the Notice of Funding Opportunity to support priority bird species monitoring, research, and conservation.
Job opportunities with the American Bird Conservancy and Forest Stewards Guild
American Bird Conservancy and the Forest Stewards Guild are pleased to announce two position openings, both working to coordinate northern forest bird habitat conservation.
Surviving on the Trailing Edge: Climate-induced Declines in Boreal Birds and Identifying their Refugia
Earth is approaching a tipping point toward a new “hothouse” planetary state due to human-induced climate change. Amid a warming climate, we are witnessing unprecedented changes to bird communities and their habitats.
Proceedings of the 2022 Connecticut Warbler Conservation Summit
In response to major declines in Connecticut Warbler populations across the northern United States, the Northern Forest Bird Network convened a one-day virtual summit on October 21, 2022.
New Forestry for Michigan Birds Toolkit Now Available
Over three years ago, a group of natural resource professionals started working on an initiative titled Forestry for Michigan Birds. These professionals were interested in improving the knowledge of landowners and other natural resources professionals on the topic of bird habitat and forest management.
JV-Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding Opportunity is Now Available!
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now available for the Joint Venture portion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This competitive funding process will fund proposals that focus on habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement, for the conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly of migratory birds. Applications due by September 20, 2022.
Adapting Great Lakes Coasts to Climate Change
A new menu of climate adaptation strategies and approaches details a range of actions to help Great Lakes coastal ecosystems cope with climate change. The menu can be used by natural resources professionals to support management decisions for a variety of coastal ecosystems across the Great Lakes states.
Updates from the Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team
Get updates from the Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team, including news about the Kirtland's Warbler Census 2021, the Michigan 2022 Wildlife Habitat License Plate, and information about the Kirtland's Warbler Weekend, June 3-4, 2022.
REMINDER! Joint Venture Science Grant Opportunity – Apply by May 31st, 2022
Reminder! Get your applications into GrantSolutions by May 31st, 2022! [...]
Avian Radar Project – New Website and Story Map
The US Fish and Wildlife Service Avian Radar Project is excited to share their new website and Story Map that showcases their Great Lakes Airspace Map Decision Support Tool!
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Boreal Chickadee
Boreal Chickadees live in northern boreal coniferous forests. This species can be found in highest densities in Alaska and Canada, but the most southern portion of their range extends into the forested peatlands located in the northern section of Bird Conservation Region 12
Joint Venture Science Grant Opportunity is Available! – Apply by May 31st, 2022
We are pleased to announce the availability of funds through the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture and Midwest Migratory Birds Program. The grant program title “Science Needs for Bird Habitat Conservation in the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture ,” also known as the Improving Science Foundation for Bird Conservation Grant, is now available through the Funding Opportunity Number F22AS00315.
Katie O’Brien, leader of the Northern Forest Birds Network, Moves On
Katie O’Brien, our fearless Northern Forest Birds Network leader of over a decade, is moving onto a new opportunity within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has left us with very heavy hearts and big shoes to fill. We will miss Katie dearly!
Congratulations to the JV Science Staff for Recent Book Chapter Publication
Please help us congratulate our Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture Science staff, Mohammed Al-Saffar and Greg Soulliere! Greg and Mohammed recently co-authored a chapter in a book, Wildlife management and landscapes: principles and applications
Understanding Declines in Connecticut Warblers
UNDERSTANDING DECLINES IN CONNECTICUT WARBLERS Presented by Dr. Michael Hallworth, [...]
Species Spotlight: Canada Warbler
by Ryan Brady, Wisconsin DNR Canada Warbler (photo credit: [...]
Grant Opportunity: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection – Apply by June 15th
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now available for the Joint Venture portion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This competitive funding process will fund proposals that focus on habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement, for the conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly of migratory birds.
Grants Available: JV Flex Fund and Migratory Bird Conservation in the Midwest – Apply by May 10th, 2021
We are pleased to announce the availability of funds for two programs. First, is the Joint Ventures – Improving the Science Foundation for Bird Conservation, and the Migratory Bird Conservation in the Midwest grant opportunity.
Conserving Forest Birds of Management Concern
by Dr. Alexis Grinde (agrinde@d.umn.edu) and Ryan Steiner (stei1265@d.umn.edu) Woodcock, [...]
Open Position: Southern Driftless Grasslands Project Manager (Apply by Jan. 29)
This position will coordinate and implement grassland conservation initiatives in southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, a region that is crucial within the Upper Midwest for the conservation of prairie, oak savanna, idle grass, pasture, trout streams, and associated plant and animal species, including grassland birds, monarchs, and pollinators.
Just completed! – JV Landbird Habitat Conservation Strategy-2020 Revision
A committee of the Joint Venture Science Team recently completed a 2-year effort revising the JV Landbird Habitat Conservation Strategy. This Strategy establishes regional objectives for landbird population and habitat conservation while using current data and new tools for integrating social considerations into bird habitat decisions.
Forestry for Michigan Birds
Forestry for Michigan Birds (FMB) is a new program all [...]
Introducing the Priority Forest Bird Species-Habitat Matrix
At our 2018 workshop in Ashland, attendees expressed desire for a consolidated list of forest bird species that conservationists, land managers, and foresters could rally around for planning efforts or conducting on-the-ground activities. To meet that need, the Northern Forest Bird Network steering committee is pleased to announce the Priority Forest Bird Species-Habitat Matrix.
Two New Partners Added to JV Management Board
The Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture Management Board held the biannual business meeting on September 30. A highlight of the meeting was the vote to accept two new organizations to the management Board: Nestle Purina, represented by Jack Scott, and Ruffed Grouse Society, represented by Brent Rudolph.
News From the Northern Forest
It’s been awhile since you have heard from us, but rest assured it’s not for lack of activity. Since our last gathering in Ashland, we have increased our communications of forest bird news, broadened our steering committee, realigned our partnership within the Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture, and developed a priority species list to guide forest bird conservation activities in the region.
2020 GLRI-JV Funding Available – Proposals Due May 29th
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now available for the Joint Venture portion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
Completion of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy
The recently completed Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy is now available. This tool was developed collaboratively by numerous Wisconsin partners with support from our JV Science Staff to guide and inform decisions for waterfowl habitat conservation.
Celebrating 30 years of NAWCA!
December 2019 kicks off the 30th anniversary of NAWCA! This video on Pickerel Creek in Ohio highlights an early project done with NAWCA and was among the first of many great NAWCA projects to occur in the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture.
Celebrating the recovery of the Kirtland’s Warbler
The dedicated work of many conservation partners from the UMGL Joint Venture region has paid off. It is time to celebrate the recovery of the Kirtland’s warbler, a Joint Venture Focal Species, which has been recently “delisted” and no longer needs protection from the Endangered Species Act.
NAWCA Funding Announced
We would like to give recognition to Ducks Unlimited, a substantial Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture partner, for successfully securing North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funding for two proposals within our JV!
2019 Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Symposium
The Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture is proud to help underwrite the 2019 Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Symposium, which will be held at Maumee Bay in Oregon, Ohio, September 19-20.
Summer Board Meeting Updates
Conservation delivery, landbird planning, and Nebraska’s natural resources were the main themes of our most recent Joint Venture Management Board meeting, held in Lincoln, Nebraska, August 13th-14th.
Summer JV Board Meeting – August 13th and 14th
We will be having our annual summer Management Board meeting August 13th-14th, 2019, in Lincoln Nebraska. We will attend meetings at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Nebraska Outdoor Education Center, and are planning an exciting field trip looking at saline wetlands and tallgrass Prairie Corridor work in the area.
Greetings from the new JV coordinator!
I'm excited to switch hats and work with everyone to advance bird conservation in our joint venture. Strong partnerships, good communication, and focus on mission have been hallmarks of our JV, and building on those strengths will keep us working together to make meaningful impacts on bird habitat and society in our ten states.
New Joint Venture Coordinator Announced
We are excited to officially announce the selection of Doug Gorby as the new Coordinator for the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture! His official start date will be Tuesday, May 28th, and his office will be located at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s East Lansing Field Office.
JV Landbird Committee Meeting, May 1-3
The Joint Venture Landbird Committee met May 1-3 on the shores of western Lake Erie. The focus of the meeting was revision of the 2007 JV Landbird Habitat Conservation Strategy.
JV Flex Fund Grant – Apply by April 30, 2019
We are pleased to announce the availability of funds for the Joint Ventures – Improving the Science Foundation for Bird Conservation program, also known as the JV Flex Fund grant. The goal of this grant program is to assist partners in implementing effective science-based bird conservation projects in the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture (UMGL JV) region.
Newly Revised! – Joint Venture Waterfowl and Waterbird Habitat Strategies
The UMGL JV is pleased to showcase the newly revised Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy, and the Waterbird habitat Conservation Strategy.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 2019 – Applications due Feb. 28
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is now available for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This competitive funding process will fund proposals that focus on habitat protection, restoration, or enhancement, for the conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly of migratory birds.
Human Geographic Data Helps Prioritize Conservation on Landscape
This model-based tool will support the JV partner organizations’ efforts to both improve waterfowl habitat and to provide outdoor recreation opportunities across the landscape in the most cost-effective way possible.