Family-Outdoors

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Birds play a significant ecological, economic and cultural role in our lives. Success in recovering endangered bird populations — and those of so many other imperiled species — depends on collaboration. A key part of the effort to recover these species has been our partnerships with state and local governments, other federal agencies, non-government organizations and private citizens who come together with a shared mission to conserve birds and the habitat they depend on. The latest edition of the Endangered Species Bulletin highlights the work of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and partners to ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy the many benefits that birds bring to our lives. Here is a sampling of stories in this edition:        Holly Freifeld, Sheldon Plentovich, Chris Farmer and George Wallace write about the historic effort to create a second population of the Nihoa Millerbird on Hawaii...

Red-cockaded Woodpecker , Picoides borealis, photograph (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced recipients of the 2011 Recovery Champion award, which honors Service employees and partners for outstanding efforts to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants. A total of 56 teams and nine individuals were honored as Recovery Champions for work to conserve species ranging from the polar bear in Alaska to the Appalachian elktoe mussel and spotfin chub in North Carolina. “Recovery Champions are helping listed species get to the point at which they are secure in the wild and no longer need Endangered Species Act protection,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “These groups and individuals have done amazing work in helping to bring dozens of species back from the brink of extinction, while improving habitat that benefits many other species and local communities.” From the bull trout in Wa...