The Rio Grande Joint Venture (RGJV) covers roughly 63 million acres, crisscrossed by seemingly infinite boundaries: natural, cultural, and political. The diverse geography supports about 700 bird species, 75% of which are landbirds. Along with the Sonoran Joint Venture (SJV), the RGJV is the only other Migratory Bird Joint Venture whose geography spans the border [...]
A Different Perspective on Spring Migration I have never seen a Yellow-billed Loon in full breeding plumage, which isn't surprising when you consider the range map below. Living in southcentral Alaska, and seeing other species of loons with some frequency, the Yellow-billed Loon piqued my interest. Ten years ago they were a candidate species for [...]
Hiding deep in the marsh, inaccessible to even the most dedicated birders and researchers, Black Rails have kept much of their ecology a secret for centuries. Now the species is facing alarming declines and solutions are urgently needed to stabilize the population. Given how little is known about the species and their habitat, the Atlantic [...]
By Amelia DuVall, Seabird and Habitat Restoration Ecologist, California Institute of Environmental Studies This article was originally published by the Sonoran Joint Venture and reposted with permission. Scripps’s Murrelets typically lay two-egg clutches. Chicks spend just two days in the nest before heading out to sea with parents (photo courtesy of Darrell Whitworth). On a [...]
The 2014 Farm Bill Field Guide to Fish and Wildlife Conservation is a collaborative effort by conservation partners that provides a new tool for those who work with private landowners and agricultural producers in adopting conservation practices included in the 2014 Farm Bill. It provides biologists, range conservationists, foresters, and others with a road map [...]
The Rio Grande Joint Venture recently met with partners in Monterrey, Mexico to develop a draft conservation plan for the Worthen’s Sparrow.
In pre-settlement days, Greater Sage-Grouse numbered in the millions across the American West. Their populations have since plummeted to about 200,000. Fortunately, much of this bird’s ideal habitat is found on private ranchlands and what’s good for rangelands is often good for grouse. Ranchers and wildlife conservationists are sharing a vision for conserving sagebrush habitats [...]