About MBCP

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership (MBCP) was launched in 2014 to build the foundation of a collaborative, sustained effort to conserve Maryland birds and their habitat. Modeled after the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, MBCP is a coalition of government agencies, nonprofits, the private sector, and community stakeholders that combine efforts to ensure the long-term health of native and migrant bird populations.

As a science-driven, partner-based initiative, MBCP aims to:

• Address priority bird conservation needs and opportunities within Maryland and the region identified in the 2015 Maryland State Wildlife Action Plan.

• Establish and sustain diverse partnerships to help implement bird and habitat conservation priorities.

• Coordinate a state-wide compilation of existing avian monitoring data.

• Fund implementation of on-the-ground bird conservation projects by identifying opportunities to leverage resources, minimize duplication, and pursue additional support and resources toward shared management goals of partner organizations.

• Ensure adequate monitoring of birds and their populations by strengthening and supporting existing monitoring programs and establishing new monitoring programs where necessary.

• Broaden community participation in bird and habitat conservation and increase awareness of their importance through public, private businesses, and governmental outreach.

• Become the principal gateway for people to understand Maryland’s bird life and its conservation needs.

The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership started as a collaborative partnership. A Steering Committee developed conservation priorities and sought partners with the expertise to help implement these priorities. In 2016, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) secured funding through the federal Pittman-Robertson Act to hire a full-time Director. The Western Maryland Resource and Conservation Development (WMRCD) Council was contracted by DNR to hire the Director. The current Executive Director of MBCP is an employee of WMRCD under this continuing partnership. A portion of the required non-federal match for the Pittman-Robertson grant is provided by the Maryland Ornithological Society to DNR with the rest coming from the many volunteer hours donated by our dedicated volunteer community. Other in-kind support is provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office in Annapolis.

In 2019, MBCP became a certified non-stock corporation in the State of Maryland and received its tax-exempt, nonprofit status under IRS Section 501(c)(3).  MBCP has federal registrations with DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) and SAM (System for Award Management). A Board of Directors was established, and the Steering Committee transitioned to an Advisory Council, which provides guidance on conservation and research priorities and their implementation. MBCP currently has no paid employees (and the Executive Director is an employee of WMRCD). Volunteer coordinators oversee the Bird City Maryland and the Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring programs. In addition, we could not do what we do without the dedication of more than 250 volunteer community scientists - THANK YOU!

Board of Directors

• Mario Ramirez, Chair

• Diane Benyus, Treasurer

• Amanda Poskaitis, Secretary

• Executive Director* (ex officio) – Gabriel Foley

• Legal Counsel* – Brian Strong

* Non-voting

Program Coordinators

• Pamela Kellett – Sustainability Coordinator and Bird City Maryland Coordinator

• Christi Barnes – Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Program Volunteer Coordinator

• Lisa Flynn – Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Program Data Manager

• Andy Brown - Farmland Raptor Program Coordinator