MT Bird Conservation Partnership
The Montana Bird Conservation Partnership is a group of individuals representing governmental, tribal, nongovernmental, and private organizations dedicated to bird conservation in Montana. Our goal is to facilitate statewide implementation of the four National bird initiatives, Partner’s in Flight, Waterbirds, Waterfowl, and Shorebirds, and the overarching North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI).
Guiding Principles
Provide information to collaborating partners for consideration in land management decisions.
Keep common birds and their habitats common so that they do not become endangered, threatened, or rare.
Conserve, protect, and restore endangered, threatened, and rare bird species and their habitats so their populations are again secure.
Recognize the social and economic value of birds to the people of Montana.
Identify opportunities to conserve birds and their habitats within Montana using the best available science.
Current Objectives:
1. Develop and implement a coordinated bird monitoring program for all birds in Montana
2. Facilitate conservation and restoration of important bird habitats throughout the state
3. Consolidate information on energy development and birds to better inform land management and policy decisions
4. Disseminate information on bird conservation to traditional and nontraditional audiences
Coordinated Bird Monitoring
The Montana Bird Conservation Partnership is a coalition of representatives from state, federal, and tribal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector dedicated to conserving bird populations and habitats in Montana. Our mission is to “keep common birds common” while also conserving sensitive or rare species. We use science to direct habitat conservation priorities, and work with landowners and managers to recommend conservation actions that are practical and sustainable for land stewards.
We support a partnership-based approach to state and regional implementation of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) and the four National Bird Conservation Initiatives:
- -Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan
- -U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan
- -Waterbird Conservation for the Americas
- -North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Habitat Conservation
The Montana Bird Conservation Partnership is working with the Joint Ventures in Montana to prioritize and implement habitat conservation delivery. There are three Joint Ventures that cover Montana: the Intermountain West, Northern Great Plains, and Prairie Pothole Joint Ventures. We are developing or energizing state steering committees for the different Joint Ventures to better engage local partners. Our July 21, 2009 meeting in Malta focused on habitat conservation and opportunities for collaboration between the Joint Ventures and Montana Bird Conservation Partnership. Please see the July 21 meeting notes for additional details.
The following is some information on grants and programs that support habitat conservation delivery.
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grants program
Energy and Birds
Members of the Montana Bird Conservation Partnership have been tracking and sharing information on energy development and bird conservation. Some recent publications are posted here:
NEW BOOK AVAILABLE
Energy Development and Wildlife Conservation in Western North America
-edited by David E. Naugle
WIND and BIRDS 
An Ecological Risk Assessment of Wind
Energy Development in Montana (TNC 2009)
DRAFT Wind Energy Siting Policy Guidance Document - Janet Ellis. Nov 2007
Wind Power-Related Resources at
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Papers from Journal of Wildlife Management 2007
Assessing Impacts of Wind-Energy Development on Nocturnally Active Birds and Bats: A Guidance Document
Wind Energy Development and Wildlife Conservation:
Challenges and Opportunities
Estimating Wind Turbine–Caused Bird Mortality
Education and Outreach
We are working toward better dissemination of bird conservation goals and objectives through presentations to community and professional organizations, a new Fish, Wildlife and Parks web page (coming soon!), and press releases of our activities. We are planning MBCP participation in International Migratory Bird Day in 2010. Please check back for more details later this winter.
We also have a partial list of best management practices and strategies for conserving birds.
What you can do to protect Ospreys from bailing twine hazards
Birds in a Sagebrush Sea
Shortgrass Prairie
ABC ponderosa pine management brochure
MBCP GOOGLE GROUP
Please join our Google Groups email list for updates on meetings and bird conservation issues:
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CONTACTS
MBCP Directory & Partner Information [.pdf]
For more information about the Montana Bird Conservation Partnership, contact:
Catherine Wightman
Avian Biologist and All-Bird Conservation Coordinator
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Helena, MT
406-490-2329
cwightman@mt.gov
For web page questions contact:
Megan Fylling
Avian Science Center
406-243-2035
Megan.fylling@mso.umt.edu
We have developed a list with over 235 names and contact information of folks who have been involved with the MBCP. Download HERE.