At the Fall AMJV Management Board Meeting, Dan Brauning with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Mike Burger of Audubon New York were unanimously voted as new Chair and Vice Chair respectively. They will take over leadership duties from David Whitehurst of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Paul Johansen of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, who have admirably guided the AMJV since its foundation and were instrumental in building the successful partnership we have today. Dan Brauning has been an integral part of the AMJV Management Board since 2008. He currently juggles the multi-faceted issues
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The Georgia USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the GA Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) announce the availability of funding and technical assistance for landowners to enhance habitat for bobwhite quail and other priority wildlife species. Through a combination of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the WRD Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI), funding and technical assistance are being offered to eligible landowners across 67 counties (see map). Georgia’s quail population has declined by more than 90% since the early 1960s primarily due to loss of quality early succession habitat. Habitat restoration for bobwhites benefits
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New birder or old hand? No matter. It’s hard not to be moved by the sight of more birds erupting in flight than you’ve ever seen in your life. National wildlife refuges make great festival sites because so many of these special places are located along the country’s key migratory bird routes. Many festivals coincide with spring or fall migration. Here are some great refuge bird festivals to catch in 2016. The National Wildlife Refuge System, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, protects natural habitat for America’s treasured wildlife species. JANUARY 2016 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
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Researchers have found clear evidence that biological communities rich in species are substantially healthier and more productive than those depleted of species. Using new scientific techniques, U.S. Geological Survey research ecologist Jim Grace and a group of international scientists have resolved a long-standing debate about whether species diversity is necessary for a healthy ecosystem. Scientists have long hypothesized that biodiversity is of critical importance to the stability of natural ecosystems and their abilities to provide positive benefits such as oxygen production, soil genesis, and water detoxification to plant and animal communities, as well as to human society. In fact, because
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A third year of a research project on wild turkey survival to help improve the management of this popular game bird will kick off in January, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced. “Wild turkey populations have changed dramatically in New York over the past decade,” Commissioner Martens said. “This project will provide valuable information on turkey survival rates and harvest to help guide management of this important game species. I encourage landowners that have wild turkey on their property this winter to consider participating in this study.” Over the past 10 years wild
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We finally sealed the deal on a treasured 76-acre piece of the Roan landscape just below Carver’s Gap, a popular access point for the Appalachian Trail! In so doing, we have protected scenic views and hiking experiences for future generations to enjoy along the trail — and honored a civic leader of Spruce Pine who committed a lifetime to serving his rural mountain community. “This tract has been a priority for SAHC for over 40 years, and we are thrilled to be able to conserve it,” said Carl Silverstein, SAHC’s executive director. “It was the last privately owned tract before
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