Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international program was started in 1990 because of concerns about continental declines in populations of many landbird species. Initially the program focused on species that breed in North America and winter in the Neotropics (Central and South America) but it now addresses all North American landbirds and other species that use terrestrial habitats, such as shorebirds, owls and grouse.
Return to Terrestrial Ecosystems >> Landbird Research in Alaska >> Boreal Partners in Flight
Who are we?
Boreal Partners in Flight has over 100 members, including representatives from all the major federal land and resource managers in Alaska and Canada, state and provincial agencies, universities, Alaska Native corporations, and local environmental consulting firms. Nongovernmental organizations such as the Alaska Songbird Institute, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, and local chapters of the National Audubon Society play key roles. The foundation of the program, however, relies on the commitment of individuals. Boreal Partners in Flight includes biologists, land managers, teachers, and birders--a diverse, active, and dedicated group.
What are our objectives?
When Boreal Partners in Flight was first formed in November 1991, we were concerned with the downward trend in populations in other parts of the continent, and realized that we knew little about the landbirds that breed in boreal regions. We decided to combine our efforts to determine the status of northern bird populations. Our main objectives are to:
- establish statewide bird inventory and monitoring programs,
- conduct research on factors affecting the status of northern populations,
- provide information about birds to land managers in Alaska,
- educate the public about the conservation of birds and their habitats, and
- share information about our birds with people who live where our birds migrate and winter.
How are we organized?
Boreal Partners in Flight meets as a statewide group once a year, usually in early December. At our annual meeting we discuss what progress we've made during the past year and decide what new projects to work on during the upcoming year. We elect a Chair who serves for two years to lead the efforts of the group and represent us at regional and national meetings. Within the state we are organized into five Bird Conservation Regions (BCR): Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands (BCR 1), Western Alaska (BCR 2), Arctic Plains and Mountains (BCR 3), Northwestern Interior Forest (BCR 4), and Northern Pacific Rainforest (BCR 5). Each biogeographic region has a Chair who leads the efforts within that part of the state during the year. We also have Committee Chairs to coordinate different statewide programs for monitoring, research, and education.
Membership is completely voluntary, and there is no funding directly associated with Boreal Partners in Flight. Members simply combine their efforts and resources to accomplish common goals that lead to conservation of northern bird populations.
Boreal Partners in Flight Terms of Reference - November 2013
How can you become a member?
There are many ways in which you can help our efforts. Search our web site to learn about bird projects in your area. Many of these projects could use volunteers, and you can contact the project leaders directly. There are also a lot of educational materials available. If you wish to become a member of Boreal Partners in Flight, we will place you on our mailing list to receive more information and to be notified about upcoming meetings and events. Please send your name, affiliation, address, phone number, and e-mail address to:
Colleen Handel
Alaska Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Anchorage, AK 99508
cmhandel@usgs.gov
907-786-7181
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Boreal Partners in Flight
Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight
Monitoring and Research Boreal Partners in Flight Projects
Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey
Conservation of Landbirds in Alaska
Bird Conservation Areas
Festivals Celebrating Birds in Alaska
Alaska Raptor Group
Resources and Links for Boreal Partners in Flight
There is enormous value in learning about our natural world. Educational resources help us with this endeavor and help us teach others about landbirds. Note: This list is for your convenience. We are not advertising or endorsing any product or entity listed.
Beak Deformities in Landbirds
Landbird Research in Alaska
- Overview
Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international program was started in 1990 because of concerns about continental declines in populations of many landbird species. Initially the program focused on species that breed in North America and winter in the Neotropics (Central and South America) but it now addresses all North American landbirds and other species that use terrestrial habitats, such as shorebirds, owls and grouse.
Return to Terrestrial Ecosystems >> Landbird Research in Alaska >> Boreal Partners in Flight
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Female McKay's Bunting on St. Matthew Island.(Credit: Rachel Richardson, USGS, Alaska Science Center. Public domain.) Who are we?
Boreal Partners in Flight has over 100 members, including representatives from all the major federal land and resource managers in Alaska and Canada, state and provincial agencies, universities, Alaska Native corporations, and local environmental consulting firms. Nongovernmental organizations such as the Alaska Songbird Institute, Alaska Natural Heritage Program, and local chapters of the National Audubon Society play key roles. The foundation of the program, however, relies on the commitment of individuals. Boreal Partners in Flight includes biologists, land managers, teachers, and birders--a diverse, active, and dedicated group.
What are our objectives?
When Boreal Partners in Flight was first formed in November 1991, we were concerned with the downward trend in populations in other parts of the continent, and realized that we knew little about the landbirds that breed in boreal regions. We decided to combine our efforts to determine the status of northern bird populations. Our main objectives are to:
- establish statewide bird inventory and monitoring programs,
- conduct research on factors affecting the status of northern populations,
- provide information about birds to land managers in Alaska,
- educate the public about the conservation of birds and their habitats, and
- share information about our birds with people who live where our birds migrate and winter.
How are we organized?
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.American Tree Sparrow in low to medium shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula.(Credit: Rachel M.Richardson, USGS, Alaska Science Center. Public domain.) Boreal Partners in Flight meets as a statewide group once a year, usually in early December. At our annual meeting we discuss what progress we've made during the past year and decide what new projects to work on during the upcoming year. We elect a Chair who serves for two years to lead the efforts of the group and represent us at regional and national meetings. Within the state we are organized into five Bird Conservation Regions (BCR): Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands (BCR 1), Western Alaska (BCR 2), Arctic Plains and Mountains (BCR 3), Northwestern Interior Forest (BCR 4), and Northern Pacific Rainforest (BCR 5). Each biogeographic region has a Chair who leads the efforts within that part of the state during the year. We also have Committee Chairs to coordinate different statewide programs for monitoring, research, and education.
Membership is completely voluntary, and there is no funding directly associated with Boreal Partners in Flight. Members simply combine their efforts and resources to accomplish common goals that lead to conservation of northern bird populations.
Boreal Partners in Flight Terms of Reference - November 2013
How can you become a member?
There are many ways in which you can help our efforts. Search our web site to learn about bird projects in your area. Many of these projects could use volunteers, and you can contact the project leaders directly. There are also a lot of educational materials available. If you wish to become a member of Boreal Partners in Flight, we will place you on our mailing list to receive more information and to be notified about upcoming meetings and events. Please send your name, affiliation, address, phone number, and e-mail address to:
Colleen Handel
Alaska Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Anchorage, AK 99508
cmhandel@usgs.gov
907-786-7181
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. Visit Media to see details.Logo by Bryce Robinson, ornithologi.com - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Boreal Partners in Flight
WELCOME to the Alaska Landbird Resource Information System, the official web site for Boreal Partners in Flight! Thanks for taking the time to learn more about the Boreal Partners in Flight program and our efforts to understand and conserve northern populations of landbirds.Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight
Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.Monitoring and Research Boreal Partners in Flight Projects
Boreal Partners in Flight has five major regional projects designed to monitor broad-scale trends in populations of landbirds. There are also many projects throughout Alaska that address specific research questions or local monitoring needs.Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey
Alaska provides breeding habitat for >140 regularly occurring species of landbirds, half of which breed predominantly north of the U.S.–Canada border. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska, but most northern species are inadequately monitored by that continental program because of a paucity of roads. Boreal Partners in Flight...Conservation of Landbirds in Alaska
Alaska lies at the convergence of four major global migration flyways and encompasses a diverse array of important landbird habitats. Temperate rainforests tower along the southern coast, boreal forests span the vast interior, and low-lying tundra blankets the continent’s northern and western fringes.Bird Conservation Areas
Five Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) were designated in Alaska as part of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative in order provide a framework that would facilitate coordinated conservation and evaluations of major bird initiatives.Festivals Celebrating Birds in Alaska
Here are a few festivals celebrating birds around the state of Alaska.Alaska Raptor Group
Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.Resources and Links for Boreal Partners in Flight
There is enormous value in learning about our natural world. Educational resources help us with this endeavor and help us teach others about landbirds. Note: This list is for your convenience. We are not advertising or endorsing any product or entity listed.
Beak Deformities in Landbirds
Over the past 20 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds. This disease, called avian keratin disorder (AKD), is characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening, and may suffer high rates of mortality.Landbird Research in Alaska
On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight. - Multimedia