Bird Conservation 1

Progress in the field of bird conservation has advanced at an increasingly rapid rate. With the publication of this volume, the first in a projected series of Bird Conservation annuals, the U.S. Section of the International Council for Bird Preservation provides a review of research, and detailed discussions of key ecological topics, that help to synthesize and communicate the current wealth of information related to bird conservation in the United States. Concerned conservationists and both professional and amateur ornithologists will welcome this comprehensive guide to a burgeoning field.     This premier edition reflects the composition and goals of the ICBP’s annual publication. Each yearbook will first present a series of reports on a specific conservation issue or program submitted by biologists active in the field. Complementing this detailed forum on a crucial ornithological theme are two features conceived as regular components of the yearbook, and considered vital to its aims. A section dedicated to bird conservation news and updates presents current, concise reports by involved experts on various bird populations, conservation activities, and international treaties. This section is supplemented by a review of bird conservation literature that cites, and often annotates, recent published accounts of population trends, biology, and ecological standing of endangered birds.     It is most appropriate that the U.S. Section of the ICBP should sponsor this venture. As the world’s oldest international conservation organization, one that has played a prominent role in bird conservation and enjoyed an impressive record of success, it is well equipped to manage the ambitious project.