NAVY TO RESTORE DUNE HABITAT FOR RARE BIRDS

By U-T San Diego 12:01 A.M.MARCH 5, 2013Updated9:42 P.M.MARCH 4, 2013

CORONADO — The Navy aims to restore nine acres of dune habitat along Silver Strand Highway during the next three years to improve habitat for two species of sensitive shorebirds.

The areas targeted for replanting supported 669 nests of federally endangered California Least Terns and 53 nests of federally threatened Western Snowy Plover in 2012, said Tiffany Shepherd, wildlife biologist for the Coronado Naval Base.

The dune restoration will include removing invasive ice plant and planting native dune flora, including sand verbena, beach bur, beach evening primrose and beach morning glory, Shepherd said.

Removing ice plant and restoring native flowers will open up space where terns and plovers can place their camouflaged eggs in small nest scrapes in the sand. Those actions are also expected to stabilize the dunes.

The entire Coronado Naval Base supported 1,078 tern nests and 146 plover nests last year, making it one of the last remaining dune ecosystems in the region.

Throughout Southern California coastal dunes have been lost to urbanization, leaving sensitive animal and plant species dependent on vanishing habitat, she said.

“Removing invasive species from the site and planting native species will protect and enhance the biodiversity of an ecosystem that already supports many native species, including several threatened and endangered species,” Shepherd said.

The work is being done under a cooperative agreement between the Navy and San Diego State University’s Soil Ecology and Restoration Group.

The dune restoration will include installation of drip-irrigation systems, protective cones and wire cages for 12 to 18 months to prevent animals from eating the new plants.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/05/tp-navy-to-restore-dune-habitat-for-rare-birds/

Wildflower Center Awards $638,000 to Protect Endangered Species

Nov. 1, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — Eight organizations supporting the conservation of federally endangered species have been awarded grants totaling $637,858 distributed by The University of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

The one-year Endangered Species Conservation Grants are to conduct conservation research or set aside habitat to assist the recovery of Texas’ black-capped vireo, golden-cheeked warbler, Navasota ladies’ tresses, Texas prairie dawn and Tobusch fishhook cactus. The two bird and three plant species are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The Wildflower Center was chosen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to distribute the funds based partly on the center’s conservation efforts for the three endangered plant species. “The Wildflower Center cares for about a dozen plant species that are endangered or rare in Texas and has years of experience in this area,” said Karen Clary, the center’s manager of plant conservation. Clary manages the new conservation grant program.

The grant recipients were chosen by Wildflower Center and outside experts on the endangered species. Their projects are:

Black-capped vireo, $39,478: Rich Kostecke, The Nature Conservancy and colleagues will count male and female vireos during their breeding season at multiple locations in Val Verde County. The surveys at Dolan Falls Preserve and other conservancy-affiliated land along the upper Devils River will improve statewide statistics on the vireo. Studies will also be done to determine whether vegetation changes on this land over time shift the birds’ habitat.

Continued:  http://www.utexas.edu/news/2012/11/01/wildflower-center-awards-grants-protect-endangered-species/