Sunset at Navopatia Field Station (photo by Michael Krzywicki).

Wintering Birds of a Unique Coastal Thornscrub Forest

Found only in a narrow strip of southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa, the Costera Pitayal is a rapidly disappearing habitat. The Navopatia Field Station is dedicated to studying the diverse assemblages of birds and plants in the area, providing training in field techniques, and working to protect this unique environment.

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local team gathers during the San Pancho Christmas Bird Count in 2020 (photo by San Pancho Bird Observatory).

San Pancho Bird Observatory

Birdwatching can be a significant force to advance biodiversity conservation while promoting the economic development and wellbeing of local communities. Over the last decade, the San Pancho Bird Observatory has made great strides in advancing bird conservation while balancing socially responsible tourism.

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Sandhill Cranes roosting at Bitter Lake NWR, New Mexico (photo courtesy of Antonio Cantú).

Wetland Inundation Dynamics in the Chihuahuan Desert

Hydrologic alterations jeopardize the timing and duration of habitat availability for waterbirds that rely on wetlands within arid landscapes during migration. Quantifying and assessing habitat availability can help us understand migratory connectivity and guide wetland restoration.

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Alfalfa is the main crop found and used by birds in the agricultural valley of Hombres Blancos ejido in Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico (photo courtesy of Abel Domínguez-Pompa).

Importance of Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Areas for Birds in Sonora

Agricultural areas in northeastern Sonora have a high level of species richness and abundance of birds. However, they are not without their own threats including predators and pesticide use.

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Biologist Jerry Cole installs an ARU at a target area for bird monitoring (photo courtesy of The Institute for Bird Populations).

Autonomous Recording Units Assist Monitoring in Remote Areas

Autonomous Recording Units can be a great supplement to human surveys when there is a lack of funds, time, or accessibility, and can provide insight into bird activity that are impossible from a small number of human visits.

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A Loggerhead Shrike perches on barbed wire fence, looking for prey (photo courtesy of Alan Schmierer).

Non-reproductive Ecology of the Loggerhead Shrike in Sonora

In Mexico, the Loggerhead Shrike is widely distributed with both resident and migratory winter populations. However, there is little information regarding the ecology and migratory status of the species in northeastern Sonora, Mexico.

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Foraging Marbled Godwits

Advances in Pacific Flyway Shorebird Conservation

The SJV region provides critically important habitats for Pacific shorebird populations. Check out the many great tools, tips, and resources from the Pacific Shorebird Conservation Initiative.

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Least Tern brooding its chicks in the nesting colony of the Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California (photo by Jonathan Vargas).

Conservation Challenges for Least Tern

Since 2014, Pro Esteros has been working to document and protect nesting Least Terns at Estero Punta Banda. However, the species still faces many threats including high predation rates.

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Snowy plovers (Cöihíin) in Estero Punta Perla, a species of which there was no previous nesting record at the site (photo by Paulina Camarena).

Community to Conserve: Waterbirds of the Canal del Infiernillo

On the traditional lands of the Comcáac people, waterbird observers from the Kino Bay Center team up with Grupo Coijaac of the Comcáac youth community to assess bird populations and share collaborative experiences.

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Sonoran Desert

The SJV Impact

We asked some of our conservation partners to weigh in on the impacts of the SJV Awards Program to their work.

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