| The Value of Monitoring Demographic
Parameters and Associated Habitat: The BBIRD Program Courtney J. Conway1 and Thomas E.
Martin1
| ABSTRACT— To
simultaneously conserve all species of non-game birds in North America, we need a
long-term plan that includes an effective national monitoring program. Effective
monitoring programs should provide (1) early warning signals about potential or developing
population declines, (2) information on habitat requirements for population maintenance,
and (3) information on the potential causes of observed population declines. A program
that monitors demographic parameters can potentially meet these 3 criteria. The BBIRD
program was established in 1992 as a national avian monitoring program that replicates
intensive local studies of avian nesting productivity at sites across North America. After
only 4 years, the program has been extremely successful. BBIRD participants have collected
data on more than 25,000 nests from 76 BBIRD sites in 28 states, including data on >20
nests for 102 species. Products resulting from BBIRD nesting productivity studies include
24 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 10 technical reports, 5 book chapters, and 11
completed graduate theses/dissertations. The BBIRD program has both a national and local
component and serves both a monitoring and research role, and should be instrumental in
aiding avian conservation efforts in North America. |
1Montana Cooperative
Wildlife Research Unit
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812 |