Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, intends to make a sole source award of a grant agreement to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (hereafter VCE). Funding for this project is provided under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911. VCE was selected to receive this award based on a combination of the following criteria: 1) this project is a continuation of activities for which VCE has already been funded including managing the Mountain Birdwatch Program, completing the 2010 version of the Conservation Action Plan, and , and 2) VCEâ¿¿s unique qualifications for successfully completing the work described below with regard to Bicknellâ¿¿s Thrush breeding population monitoring and various conservation activities. VCE has previously been funded to manage the Mountain Birdwatch bird monitoring program for Bicknell's Thrush and other high elevation birds, including coordinating data collection and conducting data management and analysis. VCE has also been previously funded to lead the development of the first version of the Conservation Action Plan for Bicknell's Thrush as well as implement winter habitat protection and restoration activities on Hispaniola. This project continues these various conservation efforts for Bicknell's Thrush, including monitoring the breeding population, revising the Conservation Action Plan, and continuing winter habitat conservation work on Hispaniola. The VCE staff has been conducting research and conservation activities for this species for more than 20 years, and it has an unparalleled record of experience successfully working with this bird and in leading the International Bicknell's Thrush Conservation Group, the working group that has formed to the advance conservation of this species. They have demonstrated success in managing the Mountain Birdwatch monitoring program for 15 years, in completing the development of the 2010 version of the Conservation Action Plan, and in working with a variety of partners to advance winter habitat conservation on Hispaniola.

Who can apply

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)

Contact

Program Specialist Annelee Motta 413-253-8539<br/>annelee_motta@fws.gov<br/>
annelee_motta@fws.gov