What Is Expected From Adopting Organizations?

1. Ideally the adopting organization will develop a positive relationship with the landowner(s) of the IBA, working collaboratively (when possible) to safeguard and enhance avian habitats on the site. When threats facing birds and/or bird habitat arise, the adopting organization will immediately inform Audubon PA’s IBA Coordinator, and take a lead role in their local community to minimize any adverse impacts of such threats. Under ideal circumstances, Audubon-PA, the adopting organization, the landowner(s), and many other groups would work collaboratively on an ongoing basis to ensure the long-term viability of the IBA.

2. We hope to establish annual breeding surveys on most IBAs. The adopting institution is expected to be the lead group in recruiting volunteers to conduct on-site bird inventory/monitoring efforts. These volunteers will help document the occurrence, relative abundance, breeding status, long term population changes, and habitat relationships for the birds inhabiting the site. The state IBA Coordinator (Audubon staff) will establish the methodology, conduct any necessary training, provide data sheets, data analysis, and other oversight, as necessary. In short, our hope is that the adopting organization will recruit volunteers to help carry out science-based bird inventory and monitoring efforts to determine habitat preferences, develop manage-ment guidelines, and assess long-term changes in breeding populations.

3. The stewardship organization is expected to work closely with Audubon-PA and the landowner(s) and local community to develop a conservation/management plan for the IBA, as needed. (If plans already exist we will work together to strengthen these plans to ensure the long-term viability of the target birds and their habitat on the site.)

4. It is suggested that the adopting organization appoint interested members to a standing IBA Stewardship Committee to coordinate the activities described above. Audubon-PA’s primary contact with the stewardship organization concerning IBA conservation/bird monitoring issues will be the chair of this committee.

5. We request the adopting organization make a 2-year commitment, with the intent that such a relationship (with Audubon-PA) would likely continue for a longer period.