The Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI) represents a unique cooperative partnership of over 145 endorsing members aimed at delivering the full spectrum of bird conservation emphasizing voluntary stewardship.  In the last year, WBCI partners have undertaken many significant bird conservation projects.  Recent events and accomplishments are highlighted below:

• The WBCI All-bird Plan is up and running at www.wisconsinbirds.org/plan.  Important plan information is becoming available every day.  The Wisconsin All-bird plan identifies priority species and conservation opportunities in every habitat and landscape in the state.

• The WBCI Annual Meeting 2006 is focusing on bird monitoring in Wisconsin.  Attendees will help to frame the future of bird monitoring in Wisconsin for the foreseeable future through a coordinated bird monitoring plan.

• The WBCI Outreach committee has re-designed the WBCI website (www.wisconsinbirds.org) and will continue to work to make it more current. 

• WBCI partnered with About Place Consulting to produce a Birds of Wisconsin placemat.  The placemat is currently sold in many locations throughout Wisconsin.

• WBCI funded numerous Small Grants projects across the state on a wide variety of topics including: nesting success of Black Terns in Southeast Wisconsin, National Golden-winged Warbler Workshop, Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse conference, Whooping Crane summer habitat selection research, etc.

• The WBCI International Committee has formed as a result of the 2005 Annual meeting.  The international committee is putting Wisconsin partners in touch with partners on the wintering grounds in order to accomplish priority conservation objectives.  This committee is helping to sponsor a bird-a-thon in Ecuador to raise money for important IBAs.

• WBCI is partnering with Illinois and Indiana to identify stopover locations of migratory birds along the western shore of Lake Michigan.  Once identified the group will work on ways to create a “network” of stopover sites that these birds depend upon.

• WBCI is coordinating a project with farmers and other private landowners in the Central Wisconsin Grasslands Conservation Area to provide habitat for Greater Prairie-Chickens and other declining grassland bird species.  WBCI has provided partial funding for an implementation coordinator that will help coordinate efforts of all groups involved to create grassland habitat and promote a productive, rural economy.  The partnership will hold the first annual Prairie-chicken Festival on Earth Day 2006.  WBCI also helped to leverage additional funding for the coordinator for 06-07.

• The WBCI Issues committee has released issue briefs on a number of important bird conservation issues such as: Wind Power, Cats and Birds, Lead and Birds, etc.

• WBCI is again partnering with Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for the second annual nocturnal owl monitoring survey.  Over 50 routes were completed in 2005 and we’re looking to run 90% of the routes in 2006.