Centennial_Flyer_Handout.pdf

Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial 1916-2016 100 Years of Migratory Bird Conservation Conserving today’s birds for tomorrow

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Our Vision A world where birds and people thrive

Our Goal Create awareness, promote key actions, increase support, and expand opportunities for engagement in the conservation of migratory birds

Why Celebrate the Migratory Bird Treaty?

The year 2016 marks the centennial of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protection of Migratory Birds, signed on Aug. 16, 1916. The resulting Migratory Bird Treaty, and three others that followed, form the cornerstones of our efforts to conserve birds that migrate across international borders.

The Treaty connects the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) with our federal, state, private, non-governmental, tribal, and international partners, who share our long, successful history of conserving, protecting, and managing migratory bird populations and their habitats. Celebrating the centennial of the first Treaty allows us to bring together those who have contributed to its success.

Migratory birds …connect people with nature and add beauty, sound, and color to our world. They provide countless opportunities for enjoyment by birders, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts and have cultural and spiritual importance.

…contribute environmental benefits, including pollination, insect and rodent control, and seed dispersal.

…are good indicators of environmental health because they are so visible and relatively easy to study. Studying birds can give us a picture of what is going on in the world.

…play a key role in the U.S. economy, supporting recreational opportunities that create jobs and generate billions of dollars in revenue.

Goals and Potential Objectives Create awareness about the importance of migratory bird conservation Encourage stories in news media about Treaty achievements, migratory birds, and habitat conservation

Connect people to migratory bird conservation via social media

Promote key actions to help conserve birds Increase participation in citizen science programs Expand property/homeowner use of best practices (lights out, reduce collisions, wildlife-friendly gardens)

Increase support for funding that benefits migratory bird conservation Strengthen international partnerships Increase knowledge and understanding during reauthorization of key legislation

Expand opportunities for engagement in bird watching, hunting, and conservation Support bird-focused programs and festivals in Urban Bird Treaty Cities and Urban Refuge Partnerships

Increase participation in Duck Stamp/ Jr. Duck Stamp

Promote youth birding and hunting events at National Wildlife Refuges

Next Steps Throughout 2016 the Service will work with partners to create awareness, promote actions, increase support, and expand engagement in the conservation of migratory birds.

A Service team is developing a national strategy that will provide the framework for our agency and our partners to work together to achieve mutual goals and objectives. This centennial celebration is a big one, and we hope your organization will join us. We need your input, ideas, and commitment to participate.

Help shape and lead this effort to celebrate the legacy of the Migratory Bird Treaty. Together we can inspire the next 100 years of international collaboration for bird conservation.

Contact us to learn more and get involved:

Email: MBTreaty100@fws.gov Web: http://fws.gov/birds/MBTreaty100

September 2014

Protecting birds for future generations.

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