Joint Venture Conservation Planning

Effective conservation planning is the foundation for successful bird habitat delivery. The Joint Venture begins conservation planning by stepping down population objectives from continental and national bird conservation plans to the JV region. These regional population objectives are then translated into measurable habitat objectives through a scientific process described in the Joint Venture Implementation Plan and Bird-group Strategies.

A Waterfowl Foundation

When the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) was developed in 1986 to guide the recovery of declining continental waterfowl populations, “joint ventures” were described as regional partnerships of conservation organizations that would be required to achieve NAWMP goals. Because biological and social systems vary considerably across North America, the JV concept was adopted to account for regional differences while working toward continental goals. The subsequent recovery of many waterfowl populations is a testament to the effectiveness of this approach.

The original Implementation Plan for the UMGL JV was finalized in 1993 and updated in 1998. At that time JV partners mutually agreed to safeguard the waterfowl habitats of the nation’s only inland coastal area – the Great Lakes – plus interior wetlands, including the floodplains of four of the country’s major river systems – the lower Missouri, upper Mississippi, the Illinois, and Ohio. The 1998 JV Plan update also included provisions for protecting or increasing habitat for upland wildlife species that are associated with wetland habitats, and that of declining non-waterfowl migratory birds, as long as the efforts were consistent with waterfowl objectives.

All-Bird Evolution

Building on the successes of NAWMP, continental conservation plans were developed for other bird guilds: Partners in Flight (landbird focus), Waterbird Conservation for the America’s, and the National Shorebird Plan. The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) evolved to help provide coordination between these continental plans.

In the spirit of cooperation and partnership, the UMGL JV Management Board pledged in a 2001 Resolution to conduct all-bird conservation, accommodating other bird groups while implementing the NAWMP. The UMGL JV Landbird, Shorebird, Waterfowl, and Waterbird Habitat Conservation Strategies outline our shared goals and commitment to all-bird habitat conservation.

Conservation Planning

Conservation planning is the foundation for successful bird habitat delivery. The Joint Venture carries out conservation planning by stepping down national bird conservation plans and laying out measurable objectives through the Joint Venture Implementation Plan and Bird-group Strategies.

Focal Species

Please see the corresponding bird group strategy appendices to find detailed Species Accounts for each of the JV’s Focal Species.

Landbirds

Forests and barrens
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Wood Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Kirtland’s Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Canada Warbler
Rusty Blackbird
Blackpoll Warbler

Grasslands
Henslow’s Sparrow
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Short-eared Owl
American Tree Sparrow

Urban
Chimney Swift

Shorebirds

American Golden-Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Phalarope

Waterfowl

Breeding Period
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck

Non-breeding Period
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Lesser Scaup

Waterbirds

Breeding Period
American Bittern
King Rail
Sora
Yellow Rail
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Black Tern
Common Tern
Common Loon

Non-breeding Period
American Bittern
Sandhill Crane
Sora
Great Blue Heron
Pied-billed Grebe
American Coot
Common Tern
Common Loon