Memphis Migratory Bird Field Office

Memphis, Tennessee Field Office was established in 1983 and services Tennessee, Kentucky and North Alabama.  The goals of this station is to conserve, protect and enhance federal trust resources and their habitats. To provide biological assistance and support to national wildlife refuges in Tennessee, Kentucky and North Alabama for assessing the wildlife population and habitat management, monitoring and evaluation programs needed to fulfill the purposes for which the refuge was established. We provide assistance to private landowners for the purpose of improving habitat for migratory birds and other trust resources.  This office also works with other Federal agencies, State and local agencies and groups in developing and delivering programs that will improve habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The Memphis Migratory Bird Field Office assists in the development of migratory bird management plans including the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), state implementation plans for the NAWMP, state Partners In Flight physiographic plans for land birds and specific area bird conservation plans.  We conduct biological reviews of lands proposed for acquisition for the national wildlife refuge system and assist national wildlife refuges with development of comprehensive conservation plans.

Refuges are assisted with vegetation composition surveys including utilization of the Moist Soil Management Advisor Program.  Also, to identify, develop and support research projects that will provide valuable management information for migratory birds.

A few other assistance that the Memphis Migratory Bird Field Office conducts is land bird point counts on refuges, periodic waterfowl surveys on refuges, non-game bird surveys on refuges, Wood Duck banding, Mourning Dove call count survey, December goose surveys, Mid-Winter waterfowl surveys, and Moist soil plant composition surveys to name a few. Canada Goose population data analyses are conducted for Region 4 refuges located in the Mississippi Flyway and published data as appropriate. Research is needed to find the effects of Winter water benefits to birds and agriculture, Cerulean warbler biology on refuges and Black Duck blood lead levels. Management consists of Wetland protection, restoration and enhancement. Also Grassland, Riparian, Bottomland hardwood restorations. We also provide guidance with hunting regulations development and technical assistance for migratory bird management.