Waterbird Species Conservation Status Assessment

Ashy Storm-Petrel: Highest Concern. Small population size and distribution, concentration at a few colonies and low reproductive rate make this species highly vulnerable.

Great Blue Heron: Lowest Concern. Though contaminants, disturbance, and increased predation threaten some populations, this stately species remains widespread and abundant.

Clapper Rail: Moderate Concern. Loss of habitat has caused some subspecies of this widespread coastal marsh-dweller to be of much higher concern than the species overall.

Process for Determining Level of Concern

Waterbird conservation status assessment characterizes the vulnerability of each waterbird species to population unsustainability within the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan area and relative to other waterbirds in the purview of the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative.

• Detailed Explanation of Status Assessment Approach
• Detailed Explanation of Factor Scores

Results

As a result of the conservation status assessment, species are classified in one of five categories indicating the level of conservation concern. The relative responsibility and importance of conservation planning efforts in the Plan area to global biodiversity vary by species. Thus, to
make concern categories more meaningful, species are also categorized by distribution. Taken together, the conservation concern and distribution categories allow prioritization of conservation strategies.

Supporting Information for Colonial Waterbird Species

The conservation status of 166 species of seabirds and other colonial waterbirds utilizing habitats in the Plan area has been assessed and was presented in Waterbird Conservation for the Americas -- The North American Waterbird Conservation Plan. Version 1. Over 150 ornithologists and wildlife managers contributed to the development of the Plan’s vonservation status assessment protocol and species information base.

• Summary Table: Conservation Status and Distribution of Colonial Waterbirds
• Status Assessment Spreadsheet - Factor Scores and Categories of Concern for Colonial Waterbirds
• Worksheets of Colonial Species Information Sources and References
  

Supporting Information for Solitary-breeding Waterbird Species ("Marshbirds")

An assessment of the conservation status of 43 solitary-nesting waterbird species -- nicknamed "marshbirds" was completed early 2006 using the same protocol as for colonial waterbirds. Over 50 species experts were consulted during the process and detailed species profiles assembled.

• Summary Table: Conservation Status and Distribution of Solitary-nesting Waterbirds
• Status Assessment Spreadsheet - Factor Scores and Categories of Concern for Solitary-breeding Waterbirds
• Marshbird Species Profiles and Other Supporting Information

Next Steps

Species conservation status assessment is a dynamic process, requiring re-examination as populations change and new information becomes available. Also, because the Waterbird Conservation for the America approach is relative to the extent of the initiative planning area, assessment must be revisited as that planning area expands. Input into the conservation status assessment is welcome; comments are logged in anticipation of a comprehensive review of all aspects of waterbird status assessment in 2007/2008.