MD Partners in Flight - Inventory and Monitoring Committee
MHoff36100@aol.com
Mon, 8 Mar 1999 20:44:52 EST
Birders:
For those of you who missed my letter in the March-April Maryland
Yellowthroat, I am soliciting members for the Maryland Partners in Flight
Inventory and Monitoring Committee. Those interested in the specifics can
review the information appended to this email.
Our first meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, March 10th, 1999, at 6 pm,
at the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks offices in Columbia
(directions below).
Agenda Items
Introductions
History of I&M committee
Review of committee goals and objectives
PIF annual meeting
Species concern scores
It's not too late to join! If you are interested please R.S.V.P. and feel free
to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Mark Hoffman
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act Coordinator
mhoffman@dnr.state.md.us
410-260-8449
Directions:
Directions are as follows: From Washington: I-95 North, exit to Rt. 32 West,
exit to Broken Land Parkway North, turn right to Snowden River Parkway, at 3rd
light, turn right on Oakland Mills Rd., just before RR crossing, turn right to
parking lot.
left to Snowden River Parkway, at 3rd light, turn right on Oakland Mills Rd.,
just before RR crossing, turn right to parking lot.
Address is 7120 Oakland Mills, Rd. To get to conference room, go to west
(left) side of building, meeting in conference room #2.
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Dear Friend of Maryland's Birdlife:
Maryland Partners in Flight (PIF) is a partnership of organizations and
individuals committed to the conservation of Neotropical Migratory Landbirds
and their habitat through monitoring, management, research and education.
Formed in 1993 and based on a national model, PIF works through its committees
(Habitat Management, Research, Inventory and Monitoring, and Education) to
advance the cause of migratory landbird conservation.
This past summer, I agreed to be chair of the Inventory and Monitoring
Committee, following in Jim McCann's footsteps. Jim worked off and on with a
dedicated group of individuals to develop "species ranking scores" (to use in
the prioritization of conservation efforts), the Garrett County "mini-atlas"
and other projects. It has been some time, however, since the committee was
truly active.
I need your help. Partners in Flight is only as strong as the contribution of
its participants. This is a call for committee members for the Inventory and
Monitoring committee. The only requirements are an interest in migratory bird
conservation and a willingness to spend some (frequently non-birding) time
towards this cause. The committee would meet every month or two, generally at
a location in the Baltimore-Washington area, with times and places dictated by
the availability of the participants.
Although some experience related to migratory bird inventory and monitoring
efforts are a plus for committee membership, they are not needed to make a
contribution. Many individuals have experience through the atlas project,
Christmas Bird Counts, and similar efforts to monitor the species about which
we are concerned. The only requirement is a desire to participate. Former
members are especially welcomed for the historical perspective they can bring.
As for the particular duties of the committee, I have attached a copy of its
strategic plan, developed in 1995, following this letter. I believe an
appropriate starting place, given the clean slate I and perhaps others bring
to the table, is to reexamine the fundamental role of the committee given its
four or so years of existence.
Please contact me (by phone, e-mail or letter) if you are interested in
helping. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mark L. Hoffman
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act Coordinator
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave., E-4
Annapolis, MD 21401
E-mail: Mhoffman@dnr.state.md.us
Phone: 410-260-8449
INVENTORY AND MONITORING COMMITTEE STRATEGIC PLAN (1994-1999)
Goal 1. Develop and maintain a coordinated database management approach to
neotropical migratory landbird (NML) inventory and monitoring efforts in
Maryland.
Objective A. Develop and maintain a core database consisting of the MD NML
lists, concern scores, habitat associations, species status, and information
on population trends and distribution.
Objective B. Develop data management standards and procedures for NML
inventory and monitoring activities in Maryland.
Objective C. Promote and encourages the use of data management standards and
procedures for all NML inventory and monitoring activities in Maryland.
Objective D. Disseminate core data and other inventory and monitoring
information to all interested parties.
Goal 2. Develop and implement a statewide inventory and monitoring strategy to
ensure that NML populations in Maryland are adequately inventoried and
monitored.
Objective A: Determine which species/species groups are inadequately
inventoried or monitored at the state level and within each physiographic
area.
Objective B. Produce a list of high-priority inventory and monitoring needs to
be addressed over the next five years.
Objective C. Establish inventory and monitoring activities that address high-
priority needs.
Objective D. Help facilitate other NML inventory and monitoring activities in
Maryland.