2015 Marks the 30th Anniversary of WHSRN

In the beginning… During the 1980s, scientists from around the Americas were documenting serious population declines in shorebirds. Recognizing that these birds were in trouble prompted the science community to take action and develop the framework for an international strategy to protect shorebirds and their habitats.

The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) is that conservation strategy. WHSRN was formalized in 1985, and in 1986 the Network became a reality with the designation of its first site: Delaware Bay (New Jersey/Delaware, USA).

Today… there are 90 sites in 13 countries. Five major languages are spoken among the Network’s hundreds of partners. These partners are conserving more than 32 million acres (13 million hectares) of habitat on public and private lands throughout the Americas for the benefit of shorebirds.

To read more, go to WHSRN News.