NWRS SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT: CENTRAL FLYWAY WATERFOWL

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This announcement is for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 2, FY 2008 National Wildlife Refuge System for the conservation of bird species. Special emphasis will be placed on bird species listed in USFWS conservation and management priorities (e.g., regional USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern 2002, Focal Species list, Birds of Management Concern). Implementing national, regional, flyway, Bird Conservation Region, and state-level bird conservation plans (e.g., Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (http://shorebirdplan.fws.gov), Norht American Waterbird Conservation Plan (http://www.waterbirdconservation.org), North American Waterfowl Management Plan (http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/NAWMP/nawmphp.htm), and State Wildlife Action Plans) are among the USFWS's highest priorities. The USFWS manages an extensive amount of land as National Wildlife Refuges for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. Justification for Single Source Determination - in accordance with Department of the Interior guidance (505 DM 2.14) the USFWS provides notice of its intent to make a single-source award in the amount of $55,600 via an intra-agency agreement with the U.S.G.S. Oklahoma Wildlife and Fisheries Cooperative Research Unit at Oklahoma State University. This project will form a collaborative working relationship among USFWS NWRS and Division of Migratory Birds at Regions 2 and 6, individual refuges in USFWS Regions 2 and 6, and Oklahoma State University. The goal of these efforts is to analyze 23 years of waterfowl survey data to determine the effectiveness of habitat management on National Wildlife Refuges, detect changes in migration chronology in response to global climate changes, and estimate the importance of National Wildlife Refuges for conservation of migratory waterfowl in the Central Flyway. Oklahoma State University is uniquely qualified to perform the role of project coordinator for this effort due to being centrally located in the project area to minimize travel to participating refuges, containing the unique data management capability (spatial and large data sets), and having both the administrative and scientific staff required to successfully manage the proejct in full consultation and cooperation with project partners. These factors together provide the USFWS with a cost-sharing opportunity to address its migratory bird management issues with significanly less staff and funding than would be possible otherwise. There will not be a full announcement associated with this notice of a single-source award.

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