Subsidios
With regards to the small grants program, in these past few years the Western Hummingbird Partnership has worked to build an effective and sustainable hummingbird conservation program through research, monitoring, habitat restoration and enhancement, and education. WHP has had limited funding, with most projects in the $1,000 – $5,000 range, for activities that have benefitted the knowledge of hummingbird populations and their conservation and public awareness of hummingbirds, especially migratory species with ranges in western Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Examples of projects that have been funded include those that have explored climate change impacts on hummingbirds, examined the habitat requirements of migratory hummingbird species, promoted habitat restoration, and/or demonstrated successful methods of engaging the public in hummingbird conservation, education and citizen science.
The following is a list of ongoing education and outreach efforts by supporting partners of the WHP. This section of the Western Hummingbird Partnership website is dynamic and will change as new projects begin and others end, as projects expand to include more and/or different partners, and as new conservation issues arise.
Project Lead: Dede Steele
Lead Organization: US Forest Service
Description: A native plant garden was planted in 2017 that includes nectar producing species for hummingbirds and other pollinators to improve the visitor experience at Rimrock Springs Wildlife Management Area (WMA), an established wildlife viewing and interpretive area. The garden was planted with the help of local schools to promote conservation education. In addition, interpretive signs were installed to promote hummingbird and pollinator education, as well as good stewardship for visitors to the Rimrock Springs WMA.
Project Lead: Ivana Noell
Lead Organizations: US Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest, Mt. Pinos Ranger District
Description: Working with partners, Frazier Mountain High School and Garden Club, the locally collected native seeds have been propagated for habitat restoration and public land enrichment at the end of 2017. The project shares knowledge and experience with the community, offering informative presentations, interpretive materials, and engaging pollinator walks.
Project Leads: Jenny Hazlehurst, Dr. Erin Wilson Rankin
Lead Organization: The Regents of the University of California
Description: A significant proportion of flowering plants available in or around human habitation are either non-native ornamental plants or invasive plant species. This research of 2017, quantifies the impacts of non-native plants on (1) the diet of sedentary subspecies of the Allen’s hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin sedentarius) and (2) on pollination services by hummingbirds to native California plants.
Project Leads: Ruby Seitz, Penny Harris
Lead Organizations: US Forest Service, Willamette National Forest, McKenzie River Ranger District
Description: In 2016, the “Hummingbirds Forever!” project measured the success of meadow restoration activities, while engaging and educating youth and volunteers about the importance of hummingbirds and pollinators. Surveys were conducted by volunteers and youth recording flowering plants and hummingbird presence in nine meadows in various stages of restoration. The ongoing habitat enhancement includes restoring open conditions and native flowers forbs and shrubs in meadows, timber harvest gaps, and wetlands, while engaging youth crews and volunteers in these activities.
Project Lead: Beatriz Maruri Aguilar
Lead Organization: Cadereyta Regional Botanic Garden
Description: In March of 2016, hummingbird conservation was further promoted at the Cadereyta Regional Botanic Garden, through three main activities: (1) the creation of a “Hummingbird Hub”: a section with native plants inside the Garden’s Botanic Collection, to offer resources and habitat to hummingbirds; (2) the installation of signs with information about features of hummingbirds and their ecological relevance, their habitat requirements for nesting and feeding, and cultural and historic facts, and (3) design and adaptation of several educative activities related to hummingbirds, to be implemented in the Garden’s environmental education program.
Project Lead: Daniel Vasquez
Lead Organization: ProFaunaBaja
Description: In the fall of 2015, ProFaunaBaja staff coordinated a pilot project based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The project aimed to encourage the general public, especially youth groups, to report sightings of hummingbirds and host nectar plants. Daniel Vasquez collaborated with Raiz de Fondo, a non-profit organization in La Paz that maintains three community gardens in La Paz. He worked with Raiz de Fondo volunteers and staff to provide not only workshops about the basic of hummingbirds and species identification, but the groups worked together to build a hummingbird garden.