The Sonoran Joint Venture recently selected its finalists for the 2019 SJV Awards Program. The objective of the SJV Awards Program is to support the investigation and conservation of birds and their habitats within SJV boundaries by providing funds through a competitive program. The SJV is pleased to announce that the following projects were awarded funds for the 2019 cycle:
Conservation of the Bendire’s Thrasher in Sonora, Mexico
The Bendire’s Thrasher has declined by 87% in the past 40 years, and this globally understudied species is poorly understood in its Mexican range, where most of the population winters and much of it breeds. Great Basin Bird Observatory was awarded $14,927 to translate materials into Spanish, develop a network of partners in Mexico that will be trained to conduct surveys, host training workshops, conduct pilot studies, and share this data to the Borderlands Avian Data Center. The main project goal is to create lasting partnerships among Mexican and U.S. partners that will fill critical gaps in our knowledge of distribution, habitat use, and threats of Bendire’s Thrasher in Mexico.
Habitat Enhancement for Montezuma Quail in Arizona
Borderlands Restoration Network was awarded $12,650 to support grassland and oak-woodland restoration on 100 acres of the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve in southeastern Arizona through hydrological improvements, and seeding to enhance habitat for Montezuma Quail. At least 75 rock dams will be constructed and seeded with seed pellets to repair gully cuts, increase sedimentation and accumulation of organic matter, and increase establishment of food plants for Montezuma Quail and other species. The impact of this work will be magnified through field-day events to encourage private landowners to adopt these methods for quail habitat restoration.
Population Status of American Oystercatcher in Sinaloa, Mexico
The American Oystercatcher subspecies H. p. frazari, is a resident on both coasts of the Baja California peninsula and along the western coast of Mexico, and is a high conservation priority due to its small population size, restricted distribution, and high susceptibility to human activities. Recent estimates suggest that Sinaloa is an important breeding and wintering area, but the population dynamics here are understudied. Conselva, Costas y Comunidades was awarded $14,630 to determine the population size and habitat use during the full annual-cycle of American Oystercatchers in three coastal lagoons in Sinaloa, with the goal of identifying critical zones to support conservation and management actions for the species.
Chestnut-collared Longspur Winter Habitat Land Management
The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a charismatic grassland bird that has declined by more than 87% since 1966, with an estimated 33% decline from 2003-2015. Tucson Audubon Society was awarded $8,600 to continue and expand ongoing survey efforts for the species at key grassland areas in southeast Arizona. With a focus on Las Cienegas NCA and San Rafael Grasslands Important Bird Areas, studies will include presence/absence, grass species identification, assessing and quantifying the properties of livestock water tanks/ponds as water resources for the birds, and the use of sound recorder technology. The long-term objective of this project is to determine best management practices for winter grassland habitat, and to create educational materials to help guide landowners and managers to support grassland bird conservation.
Long-term Monitoring of Priority Waterbird Species and Habitats in Sonora, Mexico
Prescott College Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies was awarded $15,000 to continue its multiyear Waterbird Monitoring Program in the Eastern Midriff region. The overarching goal of the program is to protect nesting, wintering and migratory waterbird species through long-term data collection, education, and collaborative management with government agencies and the local community.
Are you interested in opportunities from the SJV Awards Program? Visit our Funding page to learn more, and stay tuned for our 2020 call for proposals. Please contact Adam Hannuksela for additional questions.