Our History

The Working Group was founded on 8 October 2008 with a primary goal of developing a conservation strategy for the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, with a focus on populations in California and Arizona. Over the subsequent years, the geographic scope of the Working Group has continually expanded with the ultimate goal of including the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s entire breeding, migratory, and wintering ranges. In addition, our goals continue to evolve, adapting to changes in the status of the cuckoo and information needs of the scientific and management communities.

Our Mission

The Working Group seeks to bring diverse contributors together to 1) promote research on western populations of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2) further efforts to assess the cuckoo’s current United States west-wide status, and 3) establish goals for reducing existing and future threats to the cuckoo and its associated habitats (Feb 2010). 

Our Geographic Scope

The Working Group includes the entire western range of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. We are diligently working to expand this scope by engaging partners south of the US border, such as those in Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Gran Chaco region of South America.

Our Successes

• Facilitating science communication, partnership, and networking by hosting symposia on the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, holding two annual meetings (Spring and Fall), and compiling and disseminating information useful to partners, such as that on funding sources, scientific and conservation advancements, trainings, and workshops

• Developed standardized cuckoo survey protocols and survey forms (Survey and Habitat Forms)

• Crafted a working list of priority research topics (updated 2 March 2022)

• Developed a working database of funding sources (updated 17 November 2021)

• Drafted a conservation assessment prior to US Federal listing of the cuckoo as Threatened

• Provided information on best available science and other input to assist in US Federal listing of the cuckoo, designation of cuckoo critical habitat, and identification of high priority actions for achieving recovery

Our Listserv

The Working Group currently manages a Listserv of approximately 200 members and we strive to keep our membership current on meetings, trainings, and significant developments in Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo science, conservation, and recovery. To sign up for the Listserv, please fill out this form.

Our Action Plan Table

During our 16-17 November 2021 Working Group Meeting, we held discussion sessions to help identify which specific and achievable scientific, conservation, and recovery actions can benefit the cuckoo and, more specifically, effectively reduce population declines and promote recovery. Information from these discussions were input into a living document, our Action Plan Table, which is regularly updated. Please click below to see our most current Plan by Subcommittee.

Research & Monitoring Recovery & Planning Restoration

Grants & Fundraising Co-Production

If you would like to 1) volunteer to oversee some of the Actions in the Action Plan Table as a Directly Responsible Individual or 2) suggest other Goals, Objectives, and/or Action Items, please send Hira Walker, Coordinator, an email or input the information in our shared Action Item Table (please make sure that your edits are marked as suggestions by clicking Table Option-Suggestion).