Conduct studies on grassland songbirds to gather information on migratory ecology via the motus wildlife tracking system determine the migratory routes and overwintering areas of target species that…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 awarded the North Dakota Department of Game and Fish $384,925 on January 1, 2026, under the State Wildlife Grants formula program (CFDA 15.634) to conduct studies on grassland songbirds and establish a Motus wildlife tracking system array in western North Dakota.

The recipient will deploy a functioning Motus tracking station array to facilitate local, regional, and continental-scale conservation and research on grassland birds. The work focuses on determining the migratory routes and overwintering areas of chestnut-collared longspurs and lark buntings that breed on ranches enrolled in conservation programs in North Dakota, and identifying environmental variables associated with dispersal movements. The primary deliverables include a comprehensive understanding of the full annual-cycle migratory ecology of these species and information on location and season-specific drivers of population decline to inform conservation action and prevent ESA listing.

The award runs through December 31, 2028, with performance in North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Game and Fish is a child entity of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

The Smithsonian Institution, through its Office of Sponsored Projects, serves as a sub-recipient under sub-award F26AF00478-T-60 (awarded March 23, 2026), delivering the Western North Dakota Motus Array research and migratory ecology studies component.

Conduct studies on grassland songbirds to gather information on migratory ecology via the motus wildlife tracking system determine the migratory routes and overwintering areas of target species that breed in north dakota on ranches enrolled in conservation programs identify environmental variables associated with dispersal movements.one primary result and benefit from this work will be a functioning motus tracking station array in western north dakota to facilitate local regional and continental scale conservation and research focused on grassland birds. The second primary result from this work will be a novel and comprehensive understanding of the full annual cycle migratory ecology of chestnut collared longspurs and lark buntings breeding in north dakota specifically at sites enrolled in a grassland protection program. This information is a critical first step in understanding the location and season specific drivers of population decline in this species which will inform conservation action and prevent ESA listing.