CONSERVING BICKNELL THRUSH WINTERING HAB

Bicknell's Thrush (BITH) concentrate on their wintering grounds in the Dominican Republic (DR).

With past NMBCA ..support, significant progress has been made in identifying, protecting, managing and restoring critical DR BITH ..habitat; this project builds and expands upon those advances.

With NMBCA funding, we will: 1) conduct critically ..needed management activities in areas of key habitat for BITH and other migratory birds by providing equipment, ..infrastructure, and guard training; 2) restore 20 Ha of forest within Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve (LQESR); ..3) monitor presence, abundance and distribution of BITH and migratory birds on ten established forest plots and ..conduct habitat specific searches for BITH in Bahoruco using Vermont Center for Ecostudies' protocol; and 4) ..support a Field Supervisor to supervise and train guards at Domingo Fuerte National Monument (MDFNM).

With ..matching funds, we will: 1) renew a cooperative management agreement with the Ministry of the Environment for the ..3,350 Ha MDFNM; 2) conduct management activities that include training of a dozen staff; 3) protect 208 Ha in ..LQESR through compensation agreements made with landowners; 4) restore 20 Ha in the buffer zone of LQECR ..as part of the Plan Vivo program; 5) enforce laws preventing illegal forest cutting using proven strategies and ..protocols employed in Sierra de Bahoruco National Park; and 6) conduct at least ten community outreach meetings ..to build support for forest protection.