THE WESTERN HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT (WHP): HUMMINGBIRD
CONSERVATION IN NORTH AMERICA
CONTACT INFORMATION
Susan M. Wethington, PhD, Executive Director, Hummingbird Monitoring Network,
P.O. Box 115, Patagonia, AZ 85624, 520-394-2350, swething@dakotacom.net
Diana L. Craig Regional Wildlife Ecologist, Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5)
USDA Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, 707-562-8930, dcraig01@fs.fed.us.
Cheryl Carrothers, Wildlife Program Leader, USFS Pacific Southwest Region
Ecosystem Conservation, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592-1110, 707-562-8929, ccarrothers@fs.fed.us.
INTRODUCTION
The US Forest Service (FS) as part of the Wings Across the Americas Program, and the Hummingbird
Monitoring Network (HMN) are working together to develop and implement the Western
Hummingbird Project (WHP), which will address hummingbird conservation issues in North America.
This program will build partnerships and collaborations with FS regions across the west, non-profit
organizations, universities and other governmental agencies at both the federal and state levels. The
conservation programs developed will include habitat restoration and enhancement, monitoring,
research, and education/outreach.
Hummingbirds are the feathered jewels of the migratory bird world, but receive relatively little
attention from a conservation standpoint, yet there are indications that populations of at least some of
the species are declining. The Rufous Hummingbird is identified as one of the “20 Birds in Decline”
by The Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy and is a Partners in Flight (PIF) species of
continental concern. In addition to the Rufous Hummingbird, that migrates from Alaska to southern
Mexico, the Calliope, Anna's, Broad-tailed, Lucifer, Broad-billed, and Costa’s Hummingbird are all
identified as Birds of Conservation Concern and all form a group of species very attractive to the
public and birders, yet for which little is known of their natural history, habitat requirements, and
threats.
HMN is a science-based, project-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of
hummingbird diversity and abundance throughout the Americas. HMN currently maintains over 30
study sites in Canada and the USA and is expanding into Mexico. Our field studies’ sites are chosen
using geographic, habitat, and disturbance factors and are evaluated using hummingbird diversity and
abundance patterns, levels of breeding activity, and migration stopover use. We now have the
opportunity to ask questions at landscape levels.
The mission of the FS is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and
grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. As such, the FS is an important partner
for hummingbird conservation. Most North American hummingbirds live and rely on forests where
their diversity is greatest in western North America. The FS is a critical link for integrating current
science into land management actions toward the protection and enhancement of hummingbirds and
their habitats.
MISSION OF THE WHP
The mission of the Western Hummingbird Project is to work together to maintain thriving
hummingbird populations and their habitats throughout western North America.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
We will accomplish our mission by bringing conservation focus to western hummingbirds through
habitat restoration and enhancement, monitoring, research, and education/outreach projects and
through the creation of a broad partnership of non-profit organizations, universities, and governmental
agencies at both the federal and state/provincial levels within the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
There are many gaps in information. Therefore, the intent of the Western Hummingbird Project is to
investigate what hummingbirds in North America need to survive, successfully reproduce, and sustain
viable populations and to inform policy makers so habitats can be managed in a way that help
hummingbirds and their communities thrive. The products of this partnership will be conservation
action plans and recommendations to land management agencies.
Our goal is to establish the most effective conservation program for hummingbirds in North America
by creating a broad partnership of collaborators. We invite those interested in working on these issues
to join the Network. If you are interested in participating, please send Susan Wethington an e-mail,
swething@dakotacom.net, describing how you would like to be involved.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The partnership and collaborations of the WHP will develop a network of professionals working on
hummingbird conservation issues. The success of this project depends upon open communication and
cooperation; therefore, the following guidelines will apply:
• The partnership is mission-based and all efforts should be consistent with and further the
mission
• Participants are empowered to make individual contributions; hence sharing information and
educating are important because this provides the basis for making meaningful contributions
and the understanding of why the effort is important
• This results in a partnership that works with integrity and provides a framework for solving
problems
STARTING THE WHP
Our first step is to sponsor a workshop/symposium that creates a forum for focused discussions on
issues related to hummingbird conservation. The workshop will create a common understanding of the
state of knowledge and conservation of hummingbirds and identify key actions and projects that will
best use the available resources to advance hummingbird conservation issues. Products of this
workshop will be the formation of a working group that will develop an action plan to address the
project goals and the publication of the workshop proceedings.
The WHP workshop will be held in conjunction with the Cooper Ornithological Society (COS) annual
meeting/conference in Tucson, Arizona from April 16-18, 2009. The WHP workshop will be held on April
16. During the morning, a hummingbird symposium will be held to create a common understanding of
the state of knowledge of hummingbirds. In the afternoon, breakout session will be held to focus
attention on conservation needs / issues of North American hummingbirds. On Friday April 17, we
will synthesize the afternoon discussions and then present the information at an informal lunch meeting
on Saturday, April 18.
On Sunday morning, HMN monitors hummingbird populations at a number of sites in southeastern
Arizona. Participants are welcomed to attend these sessions.
PRELIMINARY AGENDA FOR WHP APRIL WORKSHOP
Hummingbird Conservation Symposium
WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 8:00am-12:30pm
WHERE: COS meeting room at the Double Tree Hotel, Tucson, AZ
INVITEES: Workshop participants. For people attending the COS meeting, please visit their
website for registration. For others interested in the WHP but not the COS meeting,
information about registration will be provided in February.
AGENDA: The first part of this workshop will focus on creating a common understanding of the
state of knowledge and conservation of hummingbirds. Presented papers will include the following
topics (* indicates papers with authors):
1. *Systematics / Evolution, Dr. Douglas Altshuler, UC Riverside
2. *Conservation Genetics, Dr. Holly Ernest, UC Davis
3. Physiology
4. *Energetics, Dr. Don Powers, George Fox University
5. *Foraging Strategies, Dra. Ma del Coro Arizmendi, UNAM, Mx
6. *Population Health Issues (Disease and Parasites), Dr. Lisa Tell and Dr. Holly Ernest, UC
Davis
7. Biology of hummingbird nectar resources
8. Pollination Biology
9. *Breeding biology, Dr. Harold Greeney, UNV Reno and Yanayacu Biological Station Ecuador
10. *Migration and movement patterns, Dr. Susan Wethington, HMN
11. *Over-wintering Ecology, M.C. Sarahy Contreras Martinez, U. de Guadalajara, Mx
12. *Linking populations, Dr. Jonathan Moran, Royal Roads University, BC Ca
13. *Conservation Status of Western Hummingbirds, Diana Craig and Cheryl Carrothers, USFS
SCHEDULE: TBD
Lunch 12:45-2:00 pm
Working Breakout Sessions
WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 2:30pm-5:00pm
WHERE: University laboratories
INVITEES: Symposium attendees and other registered participants
AGENDA: Small working groups will meet to discuss a conservation issue, identify gaps in
knowledge, and recommend key actions needed to address this issue for western hummingbirds.
Proposed topics include:
1. Population Trends / Coordinated Monitoring
2. Phenology and climate change
3. Effects of fire on hummingbird resources
4. Hummingbird biology needs (include insects)
5. Diversity, distribution and abundance patterns
6. Habitat Relationships
7. Citizen Science / Environmental Education
8. Pollination biology
9. Human Impacts
10. Primary threats
11. Other Conservation Issues
WHP Evening Social
WHEN: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 7:00pm-9:30pm
WHERE: TBD
INVITEES: Open Invitation but will require reservations
AGENDA: Celebrate the start of WHP, recognize HMN supporters, and provide an informal
setting for continued discussions
Cooper Ornithological Society (COS) Meeting
WHEN: Friday, Saturday April 17-18, 2009, all day
WHP Core Working Group Meeting
WHEN: Friday, April 17, 2009, 8:00am to 5:00pm
WHERE: TBD
INVITEES: Breakout Session Representatives
AGENDA: Refine the products from Thursday and prepare for the Saturday noon summary
presentation. A representative of each break out session will meet with the steering
committee to summarize the results their session.
WHP Initial Project Definition
WHEN: Saturday April 18, 2009, noon meeting
WHERE: COS Meeting Room
INVITEES: WHP Partners and Interested Individuals
AGENDA: Summarize results of the workshop and present initial WHP definition
For those participating in HMN’s monitoring session, provide information about monitoring
locations and schedule.
HMN Monitoring
WHEN: Sunday April 19, 2009, sunrise to noon
WHERE: Monitoring sites
INVITEES: WHP Partners and Interested Individuals – all are welcomed to attend with
limited opportunity to participate.
AGENDA: Participate in a spring monitoring session