Secretary Norton Announces Grants in 16 States, 21 Latin American and Caribbean Countries to Conserve Migratory Birds

(WASHINGTON) -- Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced 40 grants to conservation organizations working in 16 U.S. states, 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries, and Puerto Rico to support neotropical migratory bird conservation. The grants total $3.8 million in grants and will be matched by $16 million in contributions by partnering organizations.

There are 341 species of nearctic-neotropical migrants, birds that breed in the United States and Canada, and winter in Latin America. Examples of these birds include species of plovers, terns, hawks, cranes, warblers and sparrows.

"The conservation of neotropical migratory birds extends beyond our borders and depends on partnerships with other nations as well as states, tribes, conservation organizations and many others here at home," Norton said at a meeting of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. "Through these grants, the Interior Department is supporting cooperative conservation projects from Maine to Argentina."

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000 establishes a matching grants program to fund projects that promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. The money can be used to protect, research, monitor and manage these birds' populations and habitats, as well as to conduct law enforcement and community outreach and education. By law, 75 percent of the money goes to projects in Latin America and Caribbean countries while 25 percent goes to projects in the United States.

"Neotropical migratory birds are important for our ecosystems," Norton said. "They work as nature's pest controllers and pollinators and provide many hours of enjoyment for birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts."

Project summaries can be found at http://birdhabitat.fws.gov.

Projects in the United States

Alaska. "Nest Survivorship of Migratory Birds & Development in Arctic Alaska" by the Wildlife Conservation Society will match $227,077 to $79,449 in grant funds.

Arizona. "Effects of Fire on Buff-Breasted Flycatchers & Other Neotropical Migrants by the Arizona Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit will match $34,211 to $11,400 in grant funds.

Michigan. "Variables Associated with Avian Mortality from Collisions with Communication Towers" by Joelle Gehring, Ph.D. will match $198,960 to $38,500 in grant funds.

Minnesota. "Grassland Songbird Use of Conservation Buffers in Southwest Minnesota" by the Wildlife Habitat Management Institute will match $112,277 to $6,542 in grant funds.

Montana. "Conservation of Cottonwood Gallery Forest Birds in Southeast Montana" by Montana Audubon will match $30,400 to $10,120 in grant funds.

Wisconsin. "Glacial Lake Grantsburg Bird Habitat Initiative" by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will match $277,100 to $92,300 in grant funds.

Puerto Rico. "Rio Encantado Migratory Bird Wintering Habitat Conservation Project" by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico will match $1,463,000 to $250,000 in grant funds.

Projects in the United States and Latin America

Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas; Mexico. "Gulf Crossings Technical Assistance Project" by the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will match $268,905 to $33,328 in grant funds.

Alabama, Louisiana; Mexico. "Migratory Stopover Habitat Protection Along the Gulf of Mexico II" by The Nature Conservancy will match $750,000 to $250,000 in grant funds.

Alaska, California; Mexico. "Protecting Neotropical Migrants from Invasive Species in the North American Islands" by Island Conservation will match $925,365 to $250,000 in grant funds.

California; Mexico. "Bird Use of Restored Riparian Habitat in the Overwintering Period" by Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science will match $771,481 to $143,280 in grant funds.

Colorado; Mexico. "U.S.-Mexico Grassland Bird Conservation II" by the Nature Conservancy will match $683,375 to $228,125 in grant funds.

Delaware, New Jersey; Argentina, Chile. "Multi-National Conservation of Red Knots" by the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences will match $667,690 to $222,653 in grant funds.

Ohio; Venezuela. "Demography of Cerulean Warblers on Breeding & Wintering Grounds" by the Ohio State University will match $171,612 to $57,204 in grant funds.

Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean

All Latin America and Caribbean. "Advancing a Rang-Wide Approach to Waterbird Conservation" by Birdlife International will match $699,270 to $200,000 in grant funds.

Argentina. "Management Plan for Migratory Bird Conservation at Small Sea 'Mar Chiquita' RAMSAR Site" by the National University of Cordoba will match $141,470 to $45,860 in grant funds.

Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay. "Shorebird Conservation & Rice Cultivation in Southern South America" by Wetlands International Argentina will match $63,250 to $20,932 in partner funds.

Bahamas. "Tools for Sustainability: Benefitting From All 'Dem Birds by the Bahamas National Trust will match $294,005 to $99,550 in grant funds.

Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica. "Caribbean Pride" by RARE will match $753,190 to 75,000 in grant funds.

Brazil. "Protecting Migratory Shorebird Habitats in the Amazon Estuary & Coast" by the Nature Conservancy; Brazil Program will match $655,000 to $100,000 in grant funds.

Brazil. "Conservation of Neotropical Migratory Birds in Brazil" by Conservation International will match $957,426 to $100,000 in grant funds.

Caribbean wide. "The West Indian Whistling Duck & Wetlands Conservation Project" by the Society for the Conservation & Study of Caribbean Birds will match $777,010 to $100,000 in grant funds.

Colombia. "Silvopastoral Systems as Habitats for Wintering Neotropical Migratory Passerines" by the American Bird Conservancy will match $124,820 to $41,108 in grant funds.

Colombia. "Migratory Birds in the Fuquene Lagoon" by the Wetlands Foundation of Colombia will match $64,000 to $21,300 in grant funds.

Colombia. "Conservation of Migratory Birds in the Coffee-producing Zone of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta" by the Alliance for Critical Ecosystems will match $ 103,282 to $33,727 in grant funds.

Colombia. "La Conejera Wetland" by the La Conejera Wetland Foundation will match $349,270 to $105,514 in grant funds.

Colombia, Venezuela. "Providing Safe Haven: Habitat Conservation For Migratory Birds in the Orinoco River Basin" by the Nature Conservancy will match $679,129 to $150,000 in grant funds.

Costa Rica. "Conservation Project for Migratory Birds in Costa Rica" by the Costa Rican Conservation Foundation will match $167,510 to $55,128 in grant funds.

Ecuador. "Wild Birds Project: Sharing the Beauty." by the Animal Protection Foundation will match $15,580 to $5,060 in grant funds.

Ecuador. "Protection of Neotropical Migrants in Lowland Chaco Forest" by Jocotoco Foundation will match $135,000 to $45,000 in grant funds.

Mexico. "Western North American Migratory Landbird Project: Wintering Habitats in Mexico" by the Sonoran Joint Venture will match $339,350 to $100,000 in grant funds.

Mexico. "National Program for Managing & Monitoring Bird Populations in Natural Protected Areas" by the Manantlan Foundation for Western Biodiversity will match $374,563 to $24,850 in grant funds.

Mexico. "Management Plan for Bird Conservation in Cacaxtla National Park" by Pronatura Northeast - Sea of Cortez will match $468,181 to $80,000 in grant funds.

Mexico. "Protection & Restoration of a Grassland Ecosystem in Northwest Mexico" by Pronatura Northeast will match $890,810 to $250,000 in grant funds.

Mexico. "Protecting Black-capped Vireo & Golden-Cheeked Warbler" by Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon will match $205,404 with $68,468 in grant funds.

Mexico. "Conservation Project for Migratory Birds in Calakmul" by the Friends of Calakmul will match $303,000 to $101,000 in grant funds.

Panama. "Partnerships for Migratory Bird Conservation in the Canal Area" by the Panamanian Center for Research & Social Action will match $475,590 to $53,133 in grant funds.

Peru. "Reforestation in the Wakarpay Wetland" by the Nature Foundation will match $50,260 to $16,740 in grant funds.

Peru. "Management of Freshwater Wetland Habitat, Pacific Coastal Lowlands of Peru" by Association Naymlap will match $200,064 to $66,600 in grant funds.

Venezuela. "Neotropical Migratory Birds & Mangrove Restoration" by PROVITA will match $301,400 to $100,320 in grant funds.