New Bird Conservation Initiative Focuses on Flying South for the Winter

As cooler temperatures are now upon us in most of North America , it's not hard to understand why millions of birds make their way South for the winter season. Latin America is home to migratory birds that use the forests as warmer wintering grounds or as stopovers when migrating from north to south habitats.

It is estimated that between 20-30 percent of the diversity of bird species found in the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico is represented by song birds from the United States , Canada and Alaska that spend their winter months in these rainforests. Hence, the relevance of these tropical areas for the conservation of birds transcends the regions in which they are found in southern Mexico . So much so, in fact, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' Bird Conservation Committee is looking to find ways to bring more funding into Latin American countries by way of federal and state fish and wildlife agencies as well as many non-governmental organizations.

The initiative is called "The Southern Wings Program," and today there are a number of proposals for projects in Latin America and they make a direct link between areas in the US and Canada on the basis of shared birds. Although the idea for the program was born in the Association's Bird Conservation Committee, the Committee worked hard to ensure that directors participating in each of the state regional associations were made aware of The Southern Wings Program, and have asked for support to advance the project.

"The Southern Wings Program was created to provide opportunities for state fish and wildlife agencies to partner in projects that benefit wintering habitat in Latin America and the Caribbean for priority birds that breed in their state," said Deb Hahn , the Association's Migratory Bird Coordinator.

It is anticipated that non-governmental organizations will organize funds from state agencies and other sources to help implement the projects. Projects can vary in scale from those that are relatively modest to others of significantly greater scope and cost.

Although the Trinational Projects being developed by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) that link the United States , Mexico , and Canada are complementary to this program, The Southern Wings Program is focused on increasing state participation and developing a program to help facilitate state involvement in partnerships in the long term.

The NABCI effort is focused on acquiring new and innovative funding sources for bird conservation, but both efforts (Bird Conservation Committee and NABCI) are based on connections driven from high priority migratory birds and both are focused on multiple funding sources. Even with differing origins and somewhat different objectives, the two projects are sufficiently complementary that each should increase the effectiveness and success of the other.

In the future, proposed projects from the two approaches will no longer be presented separately, but rather will be merged into a single menu. There will be opportunities for State agencies to contribute to either type of project while NGOs and other partners will strive to raise the funds to complete all of the projects on the menu. As projects are completed or new projects rise in prominence, the menu will evolve from year to year.

For more information on this program, visit the Southern Wings Program online.