Six wins and more in the 2022-2023 Conservation Report

Started by Pacific Birds in memory of Dr. Fern Duvall to honor his incredible legacy, this award recognizes the conservation efforts of individuals who embody the innovative, inclusive, humble, and collaborative spirit that Fern brought to conservation endeavors. This year, we were pleased to award Raymond McGuire of the Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife the 2023 Dr. Fern Duvall Conservation and Collaboration Award. Raymond’s colleagues nominated him for the award for his extensive knowledge of waterbirds, ability to make others feel valued, and ability to handle difficult situations gracefully

Led by Pacific Birds, Reserve staff, and Indigenous partners at Heʻeia NERR (Hawaiʻi), Kachemak Bay NERR (Alaska), Padilla Bay NERR (Washington), and South Slough NERR (Oregon), this grant funds an effort to adapt and refine strategies for integrating Indigenous Knowledge and conventional science. The goal is to improve estuary stewardship and management, with shared benefits for coastal birds and local communities.

Thanks to the collaborative work of partners in the Pacific Northwest, three prairie-dependent species were downlisted or delisted this year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Nelson’s checker-mallow, Fender’s blue butterfly, and Golden paintbrush. Together, this reflects a culmination of years of efforts and active management, and signals hope for the future of prairie landscapes. 

Building on a previous partnership grant that helped facilitate the return of 46 acres of land to the Wiyot Tribe, a new project is working to return an additional 357 acres, including 81 acres of wetlands along Humboldt Bay (Wigi in Wiyot) to the Wiyot Tribe. With support from a 2023 Pacific Birds partnership grant and additional funds, this historic project strengthens long-term conservation relationships between Indigenous, federal, state, and non-profit partners and benefits bird species that rely on these habitats.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund recently announced their 2023 awardees which included six projects in the Hawaiian Islands. Collectively, the awards represent a substantial investment of ~$7.5 million. Each project moves forward critically important conservation projects across the archipelago– from developing green stormwater infrastructure and improving flood mitigation to creating community-based watershed management plans for Hilo Bay, restoring historic and culturally significant wetlands at Heʻeia, and moving forward with waterbird recovery plans. 

Saturna Island is a lush, biodiverse island off the east coast of Vancouver Island. In Spring 2023, The Nature Trust of B.C. acquired a property on Saturna Island that will help protect threatened Garry Oaks (Quercus garryana), in addition to wetland, grassland, and forest habitats that are essential for millions of birds that migrate along the Pacific Flyway.