Masked Bobwhite Quail Survey - Mexico

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The objective of the agreement is to maintain a long-term Masked Bobwhite Quail (MBQ) Survey Program in Sonora, Mexico. The MBQ is arguably the most endangered bird in North America and a high priority species for recovery efforts by the Service. They are extinct in the wild in the United States and there are very few left in Mexico. The key to its recovery is to annually monitor areas in Sonora where they are still known to exist, survey other parts of their historic range to find new populations and to identify and record areas where good habitat still exists for use as introduction sites in the future. The purpose of the modification to the existing cooperative agreement is to maintain the current level of survey effort and consistency in the performance of the surveys, and to avoid any delays that could cause the program to lose valuable information. Substantial involvement by the FWS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objective of the agreement. In particular, the FWS will be responsible for a) providing the recipient and recipient’s assistants training in the latest survey techniques, and instruction on procedures for recording data; b) assisting in conducting masked bobwhite quail surveys during the peak period of the bird’s breeding season; c) reviewing data collected to insure that it is collected and recorded according to FWS monitoring protocols; d) meeting with the recipient monthly to review progress and provide input as needed; e) serving as liaison between the recipient and the Masked Bobwhite Quail Recovery Team; and f) collaborating with the recipient to provide updates to the Recovery Team.

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