Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Common Sense Conservation of Endangered Species

Location: Midwest/Northern High Plains Region: Nebraska

Project Summary: Established in 1999, this Partnership protects river birds, prevents or resolves bird-industry conflicts, and educates and involves local communities.

Interior least tern nesting on sand and gravel mine site. Wayne Hathaway, In Plains Sight.

Resource Challenge

Endangered least terns and threatened piping plovers are vulnerable to predation and conflicts with mining operations when they nest on gravel mine spoil piles. Avoidance of conflicts with mining operations is imperative for protection goals, given that severe disturbance can lead to mortality of adult and young birds as well as nest loss. Furthermore, the presence of these protected birds can delay mining activities, causing hardship and loss of income.

Examples of Key Partners

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lyman-Richey Corporation, Western Sand and Gravel, Arps Gravel and Concrete, Overland Sand and Gravel, Mallard Sand and Gravel, Girl Scouts - Great Plains Council, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Results and Accomplishments

2004

●Effectively prevented or resolved 10 conflicts between threatened / endangered birds and industry work needs.

●Adopt-a-Colony program – trained 28 volunteers (16 returns; 12 new), 4 sessions, about Mine Safety and Health Administration federal safety regulations, birds, and river systems; volunteers helped erect fences around nesting colonies and monitor nest success at 12 colonies along the lower Platte; hosted 6th annual volunteer thank-you picnic .

●Distributed spring & fall issues of newsletter for volunteers & partners (As the Plover Terns),

●Initiated Job Shadowing program for older teens.

Impacts

●Adopt-a-Colony program: 28 volunteers in 2004 contributed >146 volunteer hours.

●Completed A Tale of Two Birds educational poster (reviewed nationally) and supporting Educators’ Packet (hard copy) and CD, which includes a printable pdf version of the Packet and original song (Sing Along Sandy Shores), playable on CD player or computer. The educators’ packet answers questions raised on the poster and provides background information for teachers; includes several original activities and some adapted from other sources. Since project completion in October, 160 sets have been distributed, mostly to Nebraska extension educators who will provide them to school teachers. Impacts: This grant-funded poster project is national in scope and unique in use of new educational techniques. The song has been effectively used in preliminary trials as a sing-along learning tool, a technique often used by teachers. Science teacher review: Poster is beautiful, map is great, well organized, so easy to find and get info from, the little cartoons are great!, Packet does an excellent job of giving teachers needed facts and concepts, nice overview – whole picture at once, like suggested uses by subject – gives teachers’ brains a jumpstart.

●Educational presentations/workshops: 14 (1160 participants: 770 youth,100 adults, 290 mixed audiences). Impact from youth evaluations 1) Prior to workshop, 99% were unaware of terns and plovers but after 3 activities, 98% gained awareness of the birds and importance of the Platte River ecosystem; 2) Prior to presentation, ~75% were aware of Platte River as bird habitat and ~25% were aware of nesting materials used; after presentation, 100% gained knowledge of these two natural resource issues.

Innovation/Highlight

Developed deterrent/attractant methods to shift nest-site selection away from planned-use areas to sites without planned activity. $520,000 estimated savings in 2004 based on industry estimates.

Project Contact

Renae Held
Program Coordinator
Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership
313 Biochemistry Hall P.O. Box 830758
Lincoln, NE 68583-0758
402-472-8878
rheld3@unl.edu

Ron Johnson
Professor of Wildlife Ecology and an Extension Wildlife Specialist
University of Nebraska Lincoln
School of Natural Resources 202 Natural Resources Hall University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68583-0819
402-472-6823
rjohnson4@unl.edu

Website: www.ternandplover.unl.edu

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