Partnerships and Initiatives

Within the Migratory Bird Program, the Divisions of Migratory Bird Management (DMBM) and Bird Habitat Conservation (DBHC) collaborate with other Federal and State agencies, tribes, and other organizations to manage migratory bird species through the support of partnerships that deliver regional, national and international management plans that conserve habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.  These partnership opportunities include Memorandums of Understandings (MOU).

Existing Migratory Bird Program Partnership Agreements
(MOUs, MOAs, Interagency Agreements)

Executive Order to Protect Migratory Birds (PDF) and Q&A's. Memoranda of Understanding which have been finalized in accordance with the Executive Order
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
Department of the Interior U.S. Minerals Management Service
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
National Park Service
Bureau of Land Management

Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds

The Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds is a unique, collaborative effort between FWS and participating U.S. cities, bringing together private citizens, Federal, State, and municipal agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan

North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (NAWCP)

The DMBM is also engaged in a variety of activities to ensure colonial-nesting waterbird populations remain healthy including monitoring of nesting colonies, conducting or funding research, and restoring nesting habitats.  Our Waterbird Coordinator is responsible for helping to develop and implement the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan.  The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) is also a contributor to the NAWCP by supporting the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas Home Page.

Partners in Flight (PIF)

The Partners in Flight National Coordinator is supported through the DMBM.  The coordinator oversees the broad partnership of Federal agencies, State agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry,academia,and individuals in the United States that works for the conservation of 448 species of landbirds in the Western Hemisphere.  Species assessment, planning, monitoring, research, land management recommendations, and various needs assessments are prepared for all lands in the United States, and in cooperation with international partners, for lands in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP)

Through the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for coordination and implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Efforts are coordinated with the governments of Canada and Mexico through interactions with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Committee, other Fish and Wildlife Service program areas, Joint Ventures, and a variety of public and private conservation agencies and organizations  

Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures are collaborative, regionally-based partnerships of agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations and Indian tribes that work to implement bird conservation plans within a specific geographic area. Eighteen Joint Ventures in the United States address bird conservation issues based on the habitats and bird species within their areas, and three species-based Joint Ventures work to further the scientific understanding needed for effective management of specific bird species or groups of species.

These plans all contribute to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), an effort to align the avian conservation community to implement bird conservation through regionally based, biologically driven, landscape-oriented partnerships across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

Migratory Bird Flyways

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and it's partner agencies manage for migratory birds based on specific migratory route paths within North America (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific).  Based on those route paths, state and federal agencies developed the four administrative Flyways that administer migratory bird resources.  Each of the flyways has a Flyway representative and assistant which work for the DMBM.  Each flyway also has a Council, consisting of representatives from state and provincial agencies.  These councils serve to direct the hunting regulations process.  The Councils are advised by Flyway technical committees consisting of state and provincial biologists who evaluate species and population status, harvest, and hunter-participation data.

Atlantic Flyway     Mississippi Flyway    Central Flyway     Pacific Flyway

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnerships