Getting More Involved

As a new member of Arizona Partners in Flight, you can get involved in a variety of aspects of conservation. Currently, most of our efforts are being concentrated on developing a statewide Bird Conservation Plan. This plan will be a powerful conservation tool for both government agency and nongovernment land managers alike. The plan earmarks priority species and habitats and offers researched and informed conservation recommendations about managing for birds, now and in the future. This document is scheduled to be completed by 1999. The Arizona Partners in Flight members completed a first draft of the plan in March of 1997. Information for the plan is gathered during our Conservation Planning meetings which are held periodically throughout the year. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Some of the other Arizona Partners in Flight projects include in Inventory and Monitoring: the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas with over 400 volunteers statewide, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys, and the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) stations. Information and Education projects and materials include the Arizona Partners in Flight slide show, Songbird Blues Box and Adopt-a Block programs for school children, International Migratory Bird Day Educator's packets, and brochures on neotropical migratory birds. The slide show and script are available to anyone who would like to talk to schools or conservation groups about the importance of protecting neotropical migrants and native birds.

Partners in Flight members can also get involved in the United States Important Bird Areas (IBAs) program by nominating areas in Arizona that provide essential habitat to birds. Last year, the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in Sierra Vista, was nominated the nation's first Globally Important Bird Area. Western Working Group members joined Arizona partners in the celebration ceremony. Nominations for six other areas in Arizona have been forwarded to the American Bird Conservancy for consideration.

Each year in May, we help celebrate the return of millions of migratory birds back to their breeding grounds during International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). Partners in Flight has information and education materials available to help plan and organize IMBD activities throughout the state. IMBD events include bird walks, birding workshops, information booths, banding demonstrations, and interactive children's programs.

As you can see, we are involved in many facets of bird conservation. If you would like to get more involved in the Arizona Partners in Flight conservation efforts, please call Margie Latta at (602) 789-3575 for more information or send email to mlatta@gf.state.az.us.

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