Welcome to the American Ornithological Society 2018 Annual Conference. We are pleased to have you join us at the lovely Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, AZ.
The Great Plains of North America support a unique group of grassland bird species that are well-adapted to their treeless, arid and dynamic environment. Their nomadic behavior, both within and between seasons, is distinct from other birds and is one of the most poorly understood aspects of their ecology. Eighty-five percent are migratory and 90\% of those winter in the Chihuahuan Desert. More than 75\% of grassland bird species are declining, but those wintering in the Chihuahuan Desert have declined twice as much as species wintering elsewhere. Grassland birds face threats across their full annual cycle from habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation and disruption, and numerous sources of human-induced mortality. Climate change will exacerbate the already variable climate of the Great Plains and shift suitable climate envelopes latitudinally across great distances. Despite challenges, we are making advances, especially in our knowledge of distribution, habitat use, intra- and inter-seasonal movements, connectivity and survival. New technologies are emerging to assist with tracking and monitoring. New analytical tools such as dynamic occupancy models can help us better understand year to year movement, while integrated population models can help us understand the impacts of demographic rates across the full annual cycle. We are also making strides in conservation with several initiatives and partnerships focused on developing regional and continental conservation strategies. Grassland bird conservation has to occur primarily on private lands and we're doing a better job bridging the divide between scientists and managers through private lands outreach, grazing management and conservation.
