Study Delves into Winter Life of Grassland Birds

By April 27, 2012Science
Baird's Sparrow

Baird’s Sparrow by Jose Hugo Martinez

RMBO has released Wintering Grassland Bird Densities in Chihuahuan Desert Grassland Priority Conservation Areas, 2007-2011 documenting bird abundance, distribution, habitat use and other information collected over five years in three U.S. and six Mexican states. The Chihuahuan Desert is the primary wintering grounds for more than 90 percent of western North America’s migratory grassland birds.

Insight into the poorly known wintering ecology of grassland birds is critical to determine causes for their ongoing population declines and to support their full-life-cycle conservation needs. This first-ever region-wide survey effort was made possible thanks to many supporting agencies and partners, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Leon’s Facultad de Ciéncias Biológicas in Monterrey, Mexico. Visit our Chihuahuan Grasslands web page to stay informed on our habitat conservation, research and outreach efforts in the Chihuahuan Desert.