Variable drawdown field in winter. © Melany Aten
Conservation is complicated. Science makes it simpler.
Not only do we need to understand the current state of a system, but the predicted future of that system as well. We need to have an idea of where to employ activities such as easements and acquisitions and we need to know how to restore or manage single sites and entire landscapes. We need to know if we have been successful, and if we are not, how to adapt our approaches to make them more effective.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership believes that the scientific method is an essential ingredient in the conservation soup.
We do applied research to find the best restoration and management practices that benefit farmers and birds. We use predictive models to understand where to prioritize conservation given limited resources and an uncertain future, and we monitor our progress toward restoring populations of migratory birds. By sharing our findings with other conservation scientists, we make our science stronger and contribute to a growing body of knowledge that is improving conservation throughout the world.
Recent Publications by the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership
- Local and landscape factors influence shorebirds in managed wetlands: Implications for wetland management and conservation planning
Authors: Reiter, M.E., J.E. Isola, D. Jongsomjit, C.M. Hickey, M. Carpenter, J.G. Silveira, and M.A. Wolder
Status: In press, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management - Does restored riparian habitat create ecological traps for riparian birds through increased Brown-headed Cowbird nest parasitism?
Authors: Dybala, K.E., N.E. Seavy, M.D. Dettling, M. Gilbert, R. Melcer, Jr., and T. Gardali
Status: In press, Ecological Restoration - The eBird enterprise: An integrated approach to development and application of citizen science
Authors: Sullivan, B. L., J. Aycrigg, J. Barry, R. Bonney, N. Bruns, C. Cooper, A. Dhondt , T. Dietterich, A. Farnsworth, D. Fink, J. Fitzpatrick, T. Fredericks, J. Gerbracht, C. Gomes, W. Hochachka, M. Iliff, C. Lagoze, F. La Sorte, M. Merrifield, W. Morris, T. Phillips, M. Reynolds, A. Rodewald, K. Rosenberg, N. Trautmann, A. Wiggins, D. Winkler, W. Wong, C. Wood, J. Yu, and S. Kelling
Status: Published, 2014, Biological Conservation 169:31-4 - The importance of agriculture to Long-billed Curlews in California’s Central Valley in fall
Authors: Shuford, W.D., G. Page, G. Langham, and C. Hickey
Status: Published, 2013, Western Birds 44:196-205
Publication Brief - Winter management of California’s rice fields to maximize waterbird habitat and minimize water use
Authors: Khara M. Strum (Point Blue Conservation Science), Matthew E. Reiter (Point Blue Conservation Science), C. Alex Hartman (Audubon California), Monica N. Iglecia (Audubon California), Rodd Kelsey (Audubon California), Catherine M. Hickey (Point Blue Conservation Science)
Status: Published, 2013, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 179:116–124
Publication Brief
Full Text - Assessing migratory stopover site quality for birds during fall migration along two California rivers
Authors: Renée L. Cormier (Point Blue Conservation Science), Thomas Gardali (Point Blue Conservation Science), Julian K. Wood (Point Blue Conservation Science)
Status: Published, 2013, Western North American Naturalist 73(1): 72-79
Publication Brief
Full Text - Integrating Avian Habitat Distribution Models into a Conservation Planning Framework for the San Joaquin River, California, USA
Authors: Nathaniel E. Seavy (PRBO), Thomas Gardali (PRBO), Gregory H. Golet (TNC), Dennis Jongsomjit (PRBO), Rodd Kelsey (Audubon California), Sandi Matsumoto (TNC), Seth Paine (TNC), Diana Stralberg (PRBO)
Status: Published, 2012, Natural Areas Journal 32:420-426.
Publication Brief
Full Text - Use of Data on Avian Demographics and Site Persistence during Overwintering to Assess Quality of Restored Riparian Habitat
Authors: Steven C. Latta (PRBO), Christine A. Howell (PRBO), Mark D. Dettling (PRBO), Renée L. Cormier (PRBO)
Status: Published, 2012, Conservation Biology 26:482-492.
Publication Brief - Maximizing benefits from riparian revegetation efforts: local- and landscape-level determinants of avian response
Authors: Thomas Gardali (PRBO), Aaron L. Holmes (PRBO)
Status: Published, 2011, Environmental Management 48:28-37.
Publication Brief
Full Text - Least Bell’s Vireo breeding records in the Central Valley following decades of extirpation
Authors: Christine A. Howell (PRBO), Julian K. Wood (PRBO), Mark D. Dettling (PRBO), Kenneth Griggs (USFWS), Codie C. Otte (PRBO), Linette Lina (PRBO), and Thomas Gardali (PRBO)
Status: Published, 2010, Western North American Naturalist 70(I):105-113.
Publication Brief
Full Text - How can we improve delivery of decision support tools for conservation and restoration?
Authors: Nathaniel E. Seavy (PRBO, UC Davis), Christine Howell (PRBO).
Status: Published, 2010, Biodiversity and Conservation 19:1261-1267
Publication Brief
Full Text - Why climate change makes riparian restoration more important than ever: Recommendations for practice and research
Authors: Nathaniel E. Seavy (PRBO, UC Davis), Thomas Gardali (PRBO), Gregory H. Golet (TNC), F. Thomas Griggs (River Partners), Christine A. Howell (PRBO), T. Rodd Kelsey (Audubon California), Stacy Small (Environmental Defense Fund), Joshua H. Viers (UC Davis), James F. Weigand (BLM).
Status: Published, 2009, Ecological Restoration 27:330-338
Publication Brief
Full Text - Broad-scale surveys of long-billed curlews in California’s Central Valley in 2007 and 2008
Authors: W. D. Shuford (PRBO), G. M. Langham (Audubon California), G. W. Page (PRBO), and C. Hickey (PRBO).
Status: Published, 2009, Central Valley Bird Club Bulletin, 12:29-44. - Riparian bird response to vegetation structure: A multiscale analysis using LiDAR measurements of canopy height
Authors: Nathaniel E. Seavy (PRBO, UC Davis), Joshua H. Viers (UC Davis), Julian Wood (PRBO).
Status: Published, 2009, Ecological Applications 19:1848-1857
Recent Presentations by the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership
- The Grasslands Ecological Area: A site of international importance for shorebirds
Monica Iglecia, Grasslands Water District Landowner Meeting, 5/17/2014
Slides - Managing wetlands and rice to improve habitat for shorebirds and other waterbirds
Matthew E. Reiter, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Management Workshop, 5/9/2014
Slides