Setting Conservation-based Management Goals for Inland Breeding Common Terns in North America: Declines, Threats, Solutions, and Priorities
Common Tern breeding populations in inland North America have declined throughout their regional strongholds since the 1960s. These trends have intensified in recent years (e.g. 40% loss in the Great Lakes since 2010, 75% loss in 20 years across the large lakes of Manitoba, declines across boreal Canada) making coordinated conservation initiatives for these populations critical. Additionally, research has demonstrated that this is a large interconnected meta-population that requires broad-scale coordination to the extent possible. The Waterbirds Annual Meeting in Sept 2025 at Traverse City, MI is ideally located in the middle of the inland breeding range to be a convenient meeting place for managers and scientists working on inland breeding Common Tern to address these needs. The goals of this symposium/roundtable are to (i) communicate the latest information on status of Common Terns across inland North America, (ii) present and discuss the main threats to inland Common Tern populations and solutions that have worked, (iii) to compile these ideas in a conservation and management recommendations document to be published in a journal (Waterbirds?) that would include co-authorship of attendees and guide future coordinated initiatives, and (iv) to establish a working group going forward to coordinate initiatives for Common Tern recovery throughout the region.
Rail-y Great Partnerships: Case Studies of Collaborative Marshbird Conservation
This symposium will provide a forum for bringing together secretive marshbird researchers and conservation professionals to learn from each other, connect local and regional efforts, and link conservation science and actions occurring throughout the full marshbird range. We intend to present case studies that have implemented philosophies promoted in translational ecology, co-production, and other frameworks that outline the inclusion of resource managers, resource users, and decision makers in all steps of a research or conservation project. Each case study will highlight the importance of stakeholder buy-in, decision-framing, planning, and/or communication in partnership building in addition to research, monitoring and management activities. By bringing together professionals from across the continent, we aim to increase understanding of how different groups have organized to conduct effective partnerships across the range of North American marsh birds. Additionally, we hope to highlight and discuss the challenges marshbird partnerships have faced, and how these challenges are being addressed or overcome.
The Colonial Waterbirds of the Great Lakes: Monitoring, Research and Management
An intro to the largest freshwater system in the world, that includes geology, history, natural history, invasives, etc. – a theme of constant change that continues now and into the future.
1. Monitoring species' population and productivity trends and Contaminants (legacy and new compounds)
2. Research on use of urban habitats / efficacy of management techniques for RBGUs
3. Management of increasing populations – DCCOs, GREGs, AWPEs, SACRs, TRUS
Conservation and Recovery of Piping Plovers in the Great Lakes and Beyond
Piping Plovers represent one of North America's most intensively managed and closely monitored endangered shorebird species. In the Great Lakes region, recovery efforts have relied on close collaboration among agencies, researchers, landowners, and conservation practitioners - often across jurisdictional and geographic boundaries. Yet the challenges facing Piping Plovers extend far beyond the Great Lakes, from Atlantic Coast beaches to the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains, requiring coordinated management and creative problem-solving at a broad scale.
This symposium will highlight recent advances in Piping Plover science, conservation, and management. Presentations will focus on population dynamics, habitat modeling, predator management, threat mitigation (including climate-driven changes) and lessons learned from successful partnerships. Speakers will share insights from the Great Lakes and other regions, offering perspectives on the evolving challenges - and opportunities - for supporting the long-term viability of Piping Plover populations.
Waterbird Conservation Plan Round Table
The primary purpose of this roundtable is to establish a clear process for updating the 2002 Waterbird Conservation Plan. Participants will review the current status of waterbird populations in North America, examining conservation challenges, threats, habitat requirements, and key information gaps across their annual cycles.
The roundtable has three main goals:
To provide an overview of the original 2002 plan and assess whether its format and content remain relevant.
To identify and prioritize key species, threats, and conservation actions-using breakout groups to guide focused discussion.
To outline concrete next steps, including a timeline and structured approach for completing the update.