Nebraskaland

MARCH 2017 • NEBRASKAland 51 there is no one easily-implementable solution to overcome the loss of habitat. Outlawing unregulated shooting of birds in the early 1900s and banning DDT in 1972 after its use caused bald eagles, peregrine falcons and ospreys populations to decline were effective in reversing declines in those species. Restoring and enhancing habitats on the scale needed to bring back populations of some declining species is a big challenge, particularly considering the increasing demands on our resources. Also sobering are data showing that downward trends have accelerated in recent years for nearly half of the declining species. Migrants and Wintering Species Only about half of the bird species that occur in Nebraska breed here. Most of the other species are transients passing through as they migrate between breeding and wintering areas, while the rest may only spend the winter in Nebraska. Migratory habitat was once considered secondary in importance to breeding habitat by conservation managers, but increasingly, we are recognizing that quality stopover habitat for a migratory bird is of tremendous importance. Migration is a dangerous, energy- demanding business so access to safe migratory stopover habitat with an abundance of food is critically important. A bird that is unable to refuel may not be able to continue its migration. It may arrive in breeding areas in poor physical condition or not at all, and may not breed successfully. If this scenario plays out with increased frequency, a migratory bird's population will likely decline. Nebraska landscapes and ecosystems are nationally and internationally renowned for their importance to migrating birds, particularly in spring. The spectacle of the sandhill crane migration in the central Platte River valley is an example. The Platte River and the wetlands of the Rainwater Basin are vitally important in supporting mid-continental populations of waterfowl, shorebirds and the critically-endangered whooping crane. But there are other lesser-known Migratory birds present a conservation challenge because they use specifi c habitat over large geographic areas. Because of this, conservation efforts must consider the full life and annual cycles of birds to be effective. Most of our bird species, including those that breed here, only spend a part of their year in Nebraska. For example, satellite telemetry showed that female long- billed curlews may spend as few as 8-12 weeks on their nesting grounds in the Nebraska Sandhills. The rest of the year, curlews, as well as many other birds, are elsewhere, including areas well south of the United States. This means that even if birds have everything they need to be successful during their time in Nebraska, populations may still be vulnerable to declines because they may experience stressors elsewhere. Thus, focusing solely on the needs of migratory birds in Nebraska may not lead to conservation success. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission supports and has been involved with an innovative program called Southern Wings, coordinated by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, since 2012. Nebraska, along with several nearby states, has provided seed money to support fl edgling conservation efforts in the El Tokio Priority Grassland Area in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The project works with several ejidos – areas of communal agricultural land – to implement best management practices on the landscape, restore degraded lands and monitor the impacts on target species that includes the long-billed curlew, mountain plover and burrowing owl. To date more than 110,000 acres of grasslands have been restored or conserved. The project has already improved grasslands habitat that is paying dividends for our shared birds and the people that depend on the land for their livelihood and is a model for future conservation efforts. ■ Full Life Cycle Conservation and Southern Wings Program BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE BY ROCKY HOFFMANN Nuevo Leon

• Cover