STRATEGIES FOR BIRD CONSERVATION:
THE PARTNERS IN FLIGHT PLANNING PROCESS

PREFACE

This web site, “Strategies For Bird Conservation: The Partners in Flight Planning Process” is the electronic proceedings of the 1995 Partners in Flight (PIF) International Workshop, “Partners in Flight Conservation Plan: Building Consensus for Action,” held October 1-5, 1995, at the Grand Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey.

The workshop, constituting the third International Partners in Flight conference, was organized by the PIF Management Steering Committee to develop a blueprint for building a coherent, large-scale, bird conservation Plan. The PIF management committee hoped to build consensus for the plan by involving all states and regions in developing one coordinated effort to maintain bird populations nationwide and beyond. More than 700 people attended the workshop, including biologists, researchers, educators, natural resource managers, and industry representatives.

The workshop had three main objectives:

1) Train wildlife biologists, land managers, education specialists, administrators, and other professionals involved in the long-term protection of landbirds in current knowledge of landbird research, monitoring, management, education, and on-the-ground conservation.

2) Devise a mechanism for developing regional bird conservation plans, and an overall national plan, by coordinating the actions and desires of all geographical and technical working groups.

3) Begin the planning process by setting goals, objectives, and timelines; assigning tasks; and helping four newly hired PIF coordinators get their work under way.

Now, four years later, much of what we dreamed about at Cape May has become reality. Bird Conservation Plans for virtually all of the continental United States are being completed. Implementation of ambitious conservation recommendations is under way, and new partnerships are developing that should result in the resources necessary to greatly speed the rate of implementation.

But even though the process is well along, the invited papers presented at the Cape May workshop stand as important, often unique, tools and references for conservation planning. They are presented here as a permanent reference and record.

None of the papers are printed exactly as they were presented. Many have been completely revised to update information and changes during the past four years. Some represent combinations of two or more papers that were presented separately at the workshop. Two are brand new. All of them have been peer reviewed, accepted for inclusion, and modified through an intensive editorial process to ensure that this publication is a worthy and useful product of the PIF planning process.

We are indebted to many people who made this workshop happen. First and foremost is Sharon Paul, who served as conference coordinator. The planning committee, chaired by Rick Bonney, Larry Niles, and David Pashley, included Amanda Dey, New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife; Naomi Edelson, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Martha Fischer, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Brad Jacobs, Missouri Department of Conservation; Dick Jahowski, National Biological Service; Dan Petit, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Debbie Pressman, USDA Forest Service; C. J. Ralph, USDA Forest Service; Terry Rich, Bureau of Land Management; Roberta Roca, The Nature Conservancy; and Marcia Wilson, National Biological Service. Session moderators were Rick Bates, Rick Bonney, Greg Butcher, Susan Carlson, Bob Cooper, Naomi Edelson, Chuck Hunter, Brad Jacobs, Stephanie Jones, Madge Lindsay, Jim Nichols, Larry Niles, Nadav Nur, Chris Paige, David Pashley, Dan Petit, Bob Petty, Debbie Pressman, Terry Rich, John Sauer, Frank Thompson, and Marcia Wilson. And, the local committee included Steve Atzert, Emile Devito, Pete Dunne, Jay Laubengeyer, and Joan Walsh.

We also thank the following individuals who provided editorial expertise: Greg Butcher, Nadav Nur, Ken Rosenberg, and John Sauer.