Monitoring Shorebirds and Waterbirds in Central America

Background

Many species of shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl that nest in Canada migrate and overwinter in Central America. The Environment Canada (EC) Waterbird Technical Committee determined that there is a need to obtain information on waterbirds over-wintering in Central America. In order to plan appropriately for the conservation of these species, EC needs to obtain information on the species, numbers and locations where they are found during the non-nesting season. This contract is required by Environment Canada to deliver implementation of Canadian BCR Strategies, specifically, obtaining information on areas used by Migratory Birds during the migratory and over-wintering periods. For shorebirds in particular, there is an urgent need, since Arctic-nesting shorebirds have shown serious declines; the State of Canada’s Birds – 2012 reported that arctic shorebird populations have declined by 60%. In addition, essential habitats for waterbirds such as coastal areas and wetlands are threatened by a variety of factors including climate change, coastal development, disturbance and pollution. The information from this contract is required to identify important areas for priority species while they are outside of Canada in order to inform full life-cycle conservation for birds listed under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

The purpose of this contract is to undertake the coordination and delivery of waterbird monitoring throughout Central America and provide Environment Canada with information for species listed under the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Purpose of Contract

To coordinate and deliver shorebird and waterbird monitoring in Central America and provide information to Environment Canada on species listed under the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Deliverables

The contractor must provide the following deliverables:

Deliverable 1: The contractor must coordinate and deliver Central American Waterbird Census. The contractor must prepare and submit a sampling plan and network of surveyors to undertake the census to the Project Authority in electronic format. The contractor is required to undertake outreach and promotion activities related to the census and the importance of wetland habitats for waterbirds and shorebirds. The contractor must coordinate training activities for surveyors. This deliverable is subject to the review and acceptance of the Project Authority prior to payment.

Deliverable 2: The contractor must undertake the Central American Waterbird Census. The contractor must prepare a summary report on the Central American Waterbird Census, with emphasis on Canadian species (report to include: Number of countries that participated in the census, Number of sites censused, Species observed, Number of individuals observed) to the Project Authority in electronic format, The contractor must provide data from the census to the Project Authority in a format suitable for entry into eBird (This would typically be a spreadsheet of records for each observation of each species, including AOU standard species name, location latitude/longitude, date, time, number of individuals of species observed, gender, age and comments as to habitat or activity of observed individuals [comments optional]). This deliverable is subject to the review and acceptance of the Project Authority prior to payment.