A local team gathers during the San Pancho Christmas Bird Count in 2020 (photo by San Pancho Bird Observatory).

San Pancho Bird Observatory

Birdwatching can be a significant force to advance biodiversity conservation while promoting the economic development and wellbeing of local communities. Over the last decade, the San Pancho Bird Observatory has made great strides in advancing bird conservation while balancing socially responsible tourism.

A Sierra Madre Sparrow perched on vegetation, Ex Hacienda Coyotes (photo courtesy of Armando Sánchez).

Searching for the Sierra Madre Sparrow

Endemic to subalpine grassland habitat and highly endangered, the Sierra Madre Sparrow population is limited to just a few isolated areas in Mexico. A dynamic team of researchers is searching for the species in the Sierra Madre Occidental in Durango to update their population status, learn more about their genetic structure, and identify priorities for conservation.

Open Pipes: A Hidden Killer for Birds

We are working to raise awareness about a silent killer within the bird conservation community, open vertical pipes. They can be found almost everywhere – on homes, office buildings, construction sites, agricultural fields, mining operations, even on protected public lands. They can take the form of fence posts, sign posts, irrigation systems, survey markers, vents on buildings and even vault toilet ventilation ducts. Any open vertical pipe between one and 10 inches in diameter with smooth walls (such as PVC or metal) is basically a death trap where birds and other wildlife can become ensnared and perish.

Safeguarding Our Shorebirds: Launch of the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy

Led by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Audubon Society, 15 different countries participated in the development of a major new resource for the conservation of shorebirds along the entire Pacific Americas Flyway. The Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy integrates conservation actions across the full suite of geographical, ecological, and cultural landscapes to provide a coordinated and connected framework to protect shorebirds and their habitats.

Research and Conservation Needs of Long-billed Curlews Wintering in the SJV Region

Did you know Long-billed Curlews are snowbirds? Researchers from Intermountain Bird Observatory found that birds breeding in the Intermountain West are wintering in the Mexicali and Imperial valleys of the Sonoran Joint Venture. IBO Research Director Dr. Jay Carlisle shares some thoughts on collaboration for conserving this declining species.

10 Years Later…SJV Tours Neotrop Act Grant Funded Riparian Area in Sonora, Mexico

Ten years ago, the Sonoran Joint Venture received a Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grant to fund riparian restoration and research at a private ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Recently, SJV Science Coordinator Carol Beardmore had the opportunity to visit one of the project sites and tag along with researchers running camera traps at Rancho El Aribabi in northern Sonora.

A hundred ways to sustain grasslands and ranchers now at your fingertips: new online tool corrals best practices from across North America

A new online tool was just launched with nearly 100 beneficial management practices aimed at ranchers, conservation organizations, government, and academic institutions in North America. Ranging from local techniques to national and continental approaches, the tool contains a wealth of practical and innovative ideas for conserving and restoring native grasslands and boosting the economic stability … Read more