15 Years of Successes for Southern Wings
In 2009, leaders of state fish and wildlife agencies founded a program called Southern Wings to deal with a simple fact: Birds don't recognize state and national borders.
The agencies realized that conservation work on behalf of migratory birds within their borders couldn't help species once they flew south for the winter. So, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies organized a task force that soon created Southern Wings, which this fall celebrated its 15th anniversary.
The program enables state wildlife agencies to partner with American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and other groups to invest in conservation projects for priority bird species in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Southern Wings focuses on migration stopover sites and wintering grounds, which complement states' investment in bird breeding habitats within their own borders. The program also leverages limited state funds with matching grants and in-kind contributions from ABC and our international partners.
Throughout the program's first decade and a half, 41 state wildlife agencies have contributed more than $4.2 million to Southern Wings. The funds have been aimed at conserving 81 migratory bird species on stopover sites and wintering grounds through 24 projects in 11 countries.
To date ABC has received $1.9 million through Southern Wings for projects in several countries. Examples include:
• The creation or expansion of protected areas covering nearly 11,000 acres near the Caribbean coast in Guatemala by ABC and partner FUNDAECO. The work helps migratory warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, and sandpipers.
• The restoration of 140,000 acres of grasslands in northern Mexico led by ABC and partner Pronatura Noreste. The area, known as El Tokio Grassland Priority Conservation Area, is critical for the Long-billed Curlew, Mountain Plover, and Worthen's Sparrow.
• The creation of reserves and habitat corridors in Colombia's Eastern Andes for the benefit of Cerulean, Golden-winged, and other warbler species, as well as other Neotropical migrants. ABC, ProAves, and other partners continue to plant thousands of trees in the region and are starting an internship program to engage young adults in conservation work.
ABC is grateful to the following states for their support of ABC and our partners through Southern Wings: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. We are also grateful for the support of the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Mississippi Flyway Council, and the Pacific Flyway Council.
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of Bird Conservation, the Member magazine of American Bird Conservancy. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ABC Member and join today.
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