WBCI International Committee

Members

  • Craig Thompson (Committee Chair; WDNR)
  • Andy Paulios (WBCI Coordinator; WDNR)
  • Vicki Piaskowski (Milwaukee County Zoological Society)
  • Susan Ermer (Global Environmental Teachings, UW-Stevens Point)
  • Tim Vargo (Urban Ecology Center)
  • Joel Trick (USFWS)
  • Leakhena Au (USFWS)
  • Kay Brockman-Mederas (WDNR)
  • Yoyi Steele (WDNR)
  • Jerry Bartelt (WDNR)
  • Andrew Rothman (WDNR)
  • Karen Etter Hale (WBCI Chair; Madison Audubon Society)
  • Tod Highsmith (Madison Audubon Society)
  • Tom Will (USFWS)

Goals

  • Raise awareness of and appreciation for the importance of tropical habitats for Wisconsin’s Neotropical migrants.
  • Serve as a source of information about bird-oriented conservation projects in the tropics that have a link to Wisconsin.
  • Promote sustainable ecotourism as a means of conserving tropical habitats.
  • Identify and implement strategies to advance conservation of tropical habitats important for Neotropical migrant birds that breed in Wisconsin.

Accomplishments

Current Activities

  • Creating an annotated list of active bird-oriented projects with a demonstrable link between Wisconsin and the tropics.
  • Compiling a list of “things to consider” when traveling to the tropics as an eco-tourist.
  • Developing an International Committee page on the WBCI website (including development of a fact sheet on Neotropical migrant ecology and conservation).
  • Working with the Wisconsin IBA program to explore potential for developing a “Sister Reserve Program”.

For more information about the International Committee or to join, please contact

Craig Thompson, WDNR, 3550 Mormon Coulee Rd., LaCrosse, WI 54601. (608)785-9985. craig.thompson@dnr.state.wi.us.