A recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) fact sheet on migratory bird science highlights the essential role federal research plays in supporting the Central Valley Joint Venture’s mission. The document explains how USGS science programs inform management decisions that are fundamental to CVJV’s work protecting and restoring habitat for resident and migratory birds across the Central Valley.

The USGS brief, titled “Migratory Bird Science: Supporting Flyways and Joint Ventures,” validates what CVJV partners have long understood: Effective bird conservation requires a robust scientific foundation, paired with collaborative partnerships.

The fact sheet also highlights the important role birds play in our nation’s economy. Bird watching and waterfowl hunting contribute more than $283 billion in annual economic output and support more than 1.4 million jobs.

The research framework of the USGS, a federal agency, directly supports CVJV’s conservation strategy in several key ways. For example, the emphasis on strategic habitat management aligns with CVJV’s evidence-based approach to habitat protection and restoration. Using good science to inform management decisions around agricultural and working lands reflects the CVJV’s commitment to finding win-win strategies that allow working lands to support food production while also providing critical wildlife habitat in the heavily developed Central Valley.

Bird populations are declining nationwide, with duck populations dropping by 31% since 2015 and three billion fewer birds overall in North America since 1970. These sobering statistics underscore the urgency behind CVJV’s conservation objectives and they reinforce the critical importance of protecting and restoring Central Valley habitats that serve as vital stopover and wintering areas for Pacific Flyway birds.

“USGS science makes an important contribution to the informed decision-making that guides our habitat conservation priorities,” said Greg Yarris, CVJV’s Science Coordinator. “Their research on population trends, habitat needs, and management effectiveness directly supports our efforts to maintain and restore the Central Valley’s role as a critical link in the Pacific Flyway.”

The partnership between USGS and Migratory Bird Joint Ventures represents a proven model for translating scientific research into on-the-ground conservation action (also known as Science to Implementation, or S2I). By providing objective, rigorous science that informs management partnerships, USGS enables CVJV to target conservation efforts where they can achieve maximum benefit for migratory bird populations facing an uncertain future.

For more information about USGS bird research, visit the Species We Study: Birds webpage.