The 2004 Annual Meeting of Boreal Partners in Flight

December 8-9, 2004

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gordon Watson Conference Room

1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska

AGENDA

Wednesday, December 8^th
Introductions, program updates
8:30	Welcome, introductions, and agenda. Nancy DeWitt, Alaska Bird Observatory
8:50	Update on the national and western regional programs. Bob Altman, American Bird Conservancy PDF
9:10	Update on State of Alaska Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) and ADF&G Partner Program. Mary Rabe, ADFG PDF
9:30	Update on landbird conservation In Canada. Wendy Nixon, Canadian Wildlife Service
9:55	International Polar Year Initiative. Wendy Nixon, Canadian Wildlife Service
10:10	Break
10:30	Update on BCR4 All Bird Conservation Plan. Susan Sharbaugh, Alaska Bird Observatory PDF
10:50	Raptor Update: overview of current work. John Wright, AK Dept. of Fish and Game PDF

Conservation issues
11:10	Regional updates on current and emerging issues challenging the conservation of landbirds in Alaska. BCR Coordinators (Rob MacDonald, Togiak NWR; J. Wright, ADFG; Debbie Nigro, BLM; Michelle Kissling, U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service- Juneau; Heather Renner, Alaska Maritime NWR) PDF for BCR 1, 3, 4
11:40	Statewide updates on conservation issues: NGO updates: John Schoen, Audubon Alaska…Other speakers (Nature Conservancy, ABO, etc.)
12:10	Lunch.
Species at risk, declining species
13:20	Overview of declining species. Steve Matsuoka, USFWS/MBM PDF
13:35	Update on Species at Risk “poster children” (Olive-sided Flycatcher, Blackpoll Warbler, Smith’s Longspur, Rusty Blackbird). John Wright, ADFG; Jim Johnson, USFWS/MBM; Melanie Cook, NPS/Deb Nigro, BLM; Susan Sharbaugh/ABO, respectively.
14:10	Open discussion of landbird conservation issues: “immediate” issues (e.g., logging, oil/gas development) versus “distant” issues (e.g., global warming/climate change, water rights, etc.) AND declining species: ramifications for statewide monitoring strategies, research, etc. BPIF members; moderators: Colleen Handel, USGS/BRD and Stan Senner, Audubon Alaska.
15:10	Break
15:25	Continue open discussion of conservation issues and declining species; revise BPIF goals/objectives in light thereof???
16:00	Other Species of Concern: “Prince of Wales” Spruce Grouse. Michelle Kissling, USFWS Black Swift. Bob Altman, American Bird Conservancy Arctic Warbler. Alaska Bird Observatory PDF McKay’s Bunting. Steve Matsuoka and Jim Johnson, USFWS/MBM PDF Aleutian Islands Landbirds (rat control efforts). Heather Renner, Alaska Maritime NWR
16:45	Other Landbird Research: Presentations and those presenting to be announced
17:15	Adjourn
	Thursday, December 9^th
8:00	Introduction to the day’s topics. Chris Harwood, Kanuti NWR
Education and Outreach updates
8:05	Overview. Nancy DeWitt, Alaska Bird Observatory PDF
8:25	BPIF Website. Steve Matsuoka, USFWS/MBM PDF
8:45	Annual Report and proposed Project Summary. Chris Harwood, Kanuti NWR PDF
Monitoring bird populations
9:05	Update on the Alaska Landbird Monitoring SYSTEM framework document. Karen Oakley, USGS/BRD PDF
9:25	Update on 2004 Breeding Bird Survey effort. Steve Matsuoka, USFWS/MBM PDF
9:45	Update on 2004 Migration Monitoring effort. Bud Johnson, Tetlin NWR
10:05	Break
10:25	Update on monitoring program in Denali National Park & Preserve. Carol McIntyre, Denali National Park & Preserve PDF
10:45	Update on 2004 Alaska Landbird Monitoring SURVEY effort: MOU update. Steve Matsuoka, USFWS/MBM PDF Habitat module progress. Melissa Cady, USGS/BRD PDF 2004 participation/results. Melissa Cady, USGS/BRD PDF
11:20	Review of Alaska Landbird Monitoring SURVEY by first-time participants. Kristin Sesser, Alaska Peninsula/Becharof NWRs PDF Dave Tessler, ADFG PDF
12:00	Lunch
13:10	Discussion: Continuing obstacles to wide-scale participation in the Alaska Landbird Monitoring SURVEY and strategies to mitigate (e.g., limiting habitats available in sampling universe, etc.). Colleen Handel, USGS/BRD and then members
13:50	Distance estimation (e.g., efforts to reduce error, etc.). Colleen Handel, Bill Thompson, USGS/BRD PDF
14:20	Discussion: Training issues. Moderator: Carol McIntyre, Denali National Park & Preserve
15:00	Break
Inventorying landbird populations, closing business
15:20	A 2004 inventory of riparian habitats in Gates of the Arctic NPP. Nikki Guldager, National Park Service PDF
15:40	An integrated inventory on Kanuti NWR, Chris Harwood PDF
16:00	Future business… Is BPIF functioning optimally? Does BPIF need a steering committee? Should we be updating the Alaska Landbird Conservation Plan? Where do gamebirds fit in with BPIF? Other???
17:00	Adjourn