Cecilia Riley and Ian Hartzler watching birds at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

Cecilia Riley and her colleague, Ian Hartzler, have a vision for the Gulf of Mexico. They want to make sure that migratory birds have the critical stopover habitat necessary for their survival as they go from north to south and back again each year. "Though it seems like a huge task, it makes sense scientifically and ecologically to have a coordinated effort around the Gulf," explains Ms. Riley. "Birds that breed in North America and winter in Latin America must utilize the shores of the entire region at least twice a year, every year."

In 1992, the Nature Conservancy of Texas and the Houston Audubon Society combined efforts to purchase and preserve important stopover habitats in northeast Texas and west Louisiana, where hundreds of thousands of birds stop each spring. Their effort was so successful that the two groups decided to establish an independent, nonprofit organization. Ms. Riley, who was state coordinator of the Partners in Flight program at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was hired as the executive director of Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Inc. (GCBO).

"I think our greatest accomplishment to date has been creating this network of local and international partnerships and creating an enthusiasm for migratory bird conservation," Ms. Riley observes. GCBO’s partners include landowners, governments and corporations. "The petro-chemical industry is the most dominant industry along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Giving them an opportunity to participate in conservation is very important and has been very worthwhile for us. Phillips Petroleum early on recognized the value of protecting habitat for birds in the areas where their people live and work. They came on board as major contributors in 1992 and have encouraged other companies to participate. Last year Dow Chemical gave us a no-cost lease on our present site for three years to see what we do. If they’re pleased, the land will be donated to GCBO."

So far, GCBO has helped establish and maintain 34 stopover sites in the United States, Mexico and Cuba. According to Ms. Riley, "Migrating birds don’t need huge habitats like birds do during breeding season. Even an acre or two of habitat in important coastal areas is very, very valuable, so I don’t think it’s too much to expect that we set aside some property for them, even as we increase our use of the Gulf region."

GCBO and its partners continue to identify sites that still are unprotected with hope they can add to the network. Ms. Riley concludes, "We’re looking for the places along those highways in the sky that birds typically use." Mr. Hartzler adds, "Migratory birds are a shared resource. They don’t belong to a specific country, they belong to all of us, like the air we breathe."

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