American bird conservancy (ABC), will work collaboratively with its partners at audubon texas, coastal bend bays and estuaries program (cbbep), gulf coast bird observatory (gcbo), and houston…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $3,176,250 Cooperative Agreement to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program (CFDA 15.658). This 5-year project, starting February 2024, will work to stabilize and increase beach-nesting bird populations in Texas through habitat protection, stewardship, outreach, and monitoring activities. The project focuses on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Birds of Conservation Concern and Texas Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover, Least Tern, and Black Skimmer. ABC coordinates with sub-grantees Audubon Texas, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and Houston Audubon Society to implement on-the-ground conservation interventions and engage the public. The project aims to enhance recruitment and survival of these imperiled focal species, directly contributing to the recovery of losses from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

American bird conservancy (ABC), will work collaboratively with its partners at audubon texas, coastal bend bays and estuaries program (cbbep), gulf coast bird observatory (gcbo), and houston audubon society (has) to accomplish objectives of the texas breeding shorebird and seabird stewardship project (project). The primary objective of the project is to stabilize and increase beach-nesting bird populations in texas through various stewardship and outreach activities. The project also addresses the texas tigs restoration planning efforts of restoring and conserving wetland, coastal, and nearshore habitats and additional restoration and protection of avian resources. We currently do this by 1) protecting coastal habitats for migratory birds year-round 2) fostering habitat stewardship, conducting community-based education events, and engaging the public through intervention at sensitive nesting locations and 3) monitoring the birds reproductive output, abundance, and distribution using standardized data collection protocols.project focal species include, US fish and wildlife service (FWS) birds of conservation concern (BCC), texas species of greatest conservation need (sgcn), and gulf coast joint venture (gcjv) priority shorebird species: wilsons plover (BCC, sgcn, gcjv), snowy plover (BCC, sgcn, gcjv), least tern (BCC, sgcn), and black skimmer (BCC, sgcn). These species were directly impacted by the oil spill and or by the cleanup activities on their nesting grounds and are in immediate need of conservation interventions. In this collaborative effort, project partners provide intervention at specific locations along the texas coast through on-the-ground stewardship engagement with managers and coastal recreationists to ensure breeding birds are protected. Stewardship is especially important in texas, where the open beaches act ensures that the public has unrestricted access to public coastal resources. Through habitat protection and stewardship, we enhance recruitment and survival of imperiled focal species and directly contribute to recovery of losses from the deepwater horizon damages.