Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Rob Fergus Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

    Uploaded by

    Rob Fergus
    48 views25 pages
    This document discusses bird conservation efforts in Central Texas over time. It outlines how the Austin population and number of observed bird species have increased from the 1920s to 2000s. It describes organizations like Travis Audubon Society and programs they have led such as the Christmas Bird Count. It also discusses key habitats like Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and programs at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Finally, it advocates for a more integrated approach to bird conservation that prioritizes at-risk species, sets population goals, establishes conservation plans, manages habitats, monitors birds, and organizes collaborative efforts.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    HBBO Bird Conservation

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    This document discusses bird conservation efforts in Central Texas over time. It outlines how the Austin population and number of observed bird species have increased from the 1920s to 2000s. It describes organizations like Travis Audubon Society and programs they have led such as the Christmas Bird Count. It also discusses key habitats like Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and programs at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Finally, it advocates for a more integrated approach to bird conservation that prioritizes at-risk species, sets population goals, establishes conservation plans, manages habitats, monitors birds, and organizes collaborative efforts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    48 views25 pages

    Rob Fergus Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory

    Uploaded by

    Rob Fergus
    This document discusses bird conservation efforts in Central Texas over time. It outlines how the Austin population and number of observed bird species have increased from the 1920s to 2000s. It describes organizations like Travis Audubon Society and programs they have led such as the Christmas Bird Count. It also discusses key habitats like Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and programs at Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. Finally, it advocates for a more integrated approach to bird conservation that prioritizes at-risk species, sets population goals, establishes conservation plans, manages habitats, monitors birds, and organizes collaborative efforts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 25

    HBBO and Bird Conservation in

    Central Texas
    Rob Fergus
    Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
    www.hornsbybend.org
    Birds of the
    Austin Region
    George Finlay Simmons
    1925

    Austin Population:
    34,876
    273 Bird Species
    Birds of Travis
    County
    2004
    Austin Population:
    647,698
    420 Bird Species
    Travis Audubon
    Society
    • Founded 1952
    • Screen Nature Tours 1950s-80s
    • Austin Christmas Bird Count 1953
    • City of Austin Bird Sanctuary 1955
    • Nature Trail 1950s
    • Austin Bird Checklist 1950s
    • Baker Sanctuary 1966
    • Austin Natural Areas Survey 1970s
    Balcones Canyonlands
    Preserve
    • 30,428 acres required by the 1996 BCCP
    permit (27,547 acres acquired as of July 2004).
    • Golden-cheeked Warbler
    • Black-capped Vireo
    Hornsby Bend Bird
    Observatory
    • Citizen Science Bird Monitoring
    • Workshops
    • Elementary Education Programs
    Bird Monitoring at Hornsby Bend
    • Monthly Bird Survey (1999-2004)
    • Autumn Hawkwatch (10 -12,000 birds Aug-Oct)
    • International Shorebird Survey
    • MAPS Banding Station
    • Weekly Waterfowl Count
    • Purple Martin Colony Nest Monitoring
    Travis County Bird Atlas Project

    Goal:
    Survey and
    map the
    distribution
    of all
    species in
    Travis
    County.
    Atlas Grid 2.5 x 2.5 km

    • Each grid
    square
    assigned to a
    surveyor
    •
    Standardized
    survey
    protocol
    • Online data
    entry
    • Additional
    Public data
    entry
    Urban Habitat Program
    Opportunistic vs. Integrated Bird
    Conservation

    • How are we doing?


    • How many species are protected
    and maintaining sustainable
    populations?
    Integrated “All Bird” Conservation
    Regionally based, biologically driven, landscape partnerships
    • Prioritize species of concern
    • Set population goals
    • Establish conservation plan
    for each species and protected
    area
    • Manage for population goals
    • Monitor populations
    Prioritize Species of Concern
    Prioritize Species of Concern
    • By BCR Status
    Attwater’s Prairie Chicken
    • By County or Landscape Status
    Golden-cheeked Warbler
    Black-capped Vireo
    Bell’s Vireo
    Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
    Northern Bobwhite
    Painted Bunting
    Black-chinned Hummingbird
    Cave Swallow
    Cassin’s Sparrow
    Set Population Goals

    • How many pairs of each


    species do we have?

    • How many pairs do we


    need to maintain
    populations?

    • How much habitat will


    we need for each species?
    blish Conservation Plan for Each Species and

    Community-
    based
    Conservation
    Plans

    • County
    • City
    • Neighborhood
    blish Conservation Plan for Each Species and

    How should we manage current habitat?


    How can we enhance or expand habitat?
    Manage for Population Goals

    What would our cities and neighborhoods look like if


    managed to sustain wildlife populations?
    Monitor Populations and
    Adjust Plans
    How do birds
    respond to our
    plans?

    How do populations
    change through
    time?

    How do we need to
    adjust plans to
    account for
    population and
    habitat changes?
    Organizing for Action
    • Bird Atlas
    Project
    • County and
    Neighborhood
    Conservation
    Planning
    • Hornsby Bend
    Programs

    How do we best organize these efforts?


    Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
    Bird Atlas Project
    • Partnership with Westcave Preserve

    Conservation Planning Working Groups


    • Partnership with National Wildlife Federation

    Hornsby Bend Bird Monitoring


    • Partnership with COA Water Utility
    fergus@mail.utexas.edu
    www.hornsbybend.org

    You might also like