Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation (15.655)
Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation (Assistance Listing 15.655) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $13.7 million in 107 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $128,144 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $70,700. Half of the 107 awards fell between $29,493 and $147,346, and they ranged from $2,141 to $1.2 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$13.7 million
- Grant awards107
- Typical award$70,700
- Awarded in FY 2025$3.2 million
- Size rank1,417 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $2.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $3.2 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1417th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 76% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 30 states and territories.
What the program funds
Working with others to conserve, enhance, and better understand the ecology and habitats of migratory bird species.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Past notices
Of 2 notices posted under this program since 2021, most went up in January (1) and December (1).
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Federal; Interstate; Intrastate; State; Local; including Tribal Government; Public Nonprofit Institution/Organization; Other Public Institution/Organization; Federally Recognized Tribal Government; U.S. Territory or Possession; Institutions of Higher Education including Public Private, State College, University, Junior, and Community College; Individual/Family; Specialized Group; Small Business; Profit Organization; Private Nonprofit Institution/Organization; Quasi-Public Nonprofit Institution/Organization; Other Private Institution/Organization; or Native American Organization.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Grants and payments may be used for the conservation of any bird species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Special emphasis will be placed on bird species listed in USFWS conservation and management priorities documents (e.g. USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern 2008, Focal Species list). Implementing national, regional, flyway Bird Conservation Region, and state-level bird conservation plans (e.g., Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/the-us-shorebird-conservation-plan.php) North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-management-plans/waterbird-conservation-for-the-americas.php) are among the Service's highest priorities. Projects related to the priorities identified in these plans will receive the greatest funding consideration. Projects should address one or more of the following activities: a) Population surveys and monitoring to determine the health, status, trends, and distribution of bird species and groups of concern. Emphasis will be placed on landscape-level applications of standardized inventory and monitoring protocols (e.g., Breeding Bird Atlases, national marshbird call playblack surveys).
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Shrub Removal for Training and Habitat: Invasive shrubs like buckthorn and honeysuckle are spreading rapidly at Fort Drum, creating dense thickets that block military training and reduce habitat quality for native wildlife. These shrubs may also contribute to the decline of the Golden-winged Warbler, a high?priority conservation species with low nesting success on the installation. This project will test targeted mechanical and chemical treatments to remove invasive shrubs and improve both troop maneuverability and bird habitat. It will also study how shrub removal affects warbler nesting success, food availability, predation risk, and the broader bird community. Advanced remote?sensing tools, including high?resolution LiDAR and satellite imagery, will help map invasive plants and guide effective land management.Fiscal Year2026: Managing Fire and Terrain for Eastern Black Rail Recovery: William & Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology will study how fire history, hydrologic restoration features, and small?scale elevation changes affect Eastern Black Rail habitat use in South Florida. The project will survey sites across Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and nearby state lands to identify conditions that support this federally listed species. Results will provide managers with practical guidance on prescribed fire timing, placement of sheet?flow features, and use of topographic diversity to maintain or improve habitat suitability.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation (15.655) awarded $13.7 million across 107 grant awards, an average of $128,144 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 55% of the money, colleges and universities 32% and businesses 2.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 54 | $7.6 million | 55% |
| Colleges and universities | 34 | $4.3 million | 32% |
| Other | 7 | $705,777 | 5.1% |
| Businesses | 2 | $402,000 | 2.9% |
| State and local governments | 5 | $396,931 | 2.9% |
| Small businesses | 4 | $274,838 | 2.0% |
| Individuals | 1 | $22,500 | 0.2% |
By state
3 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Maine, Vermont and Alaska.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | 6 | $1.5 million |
| Vermont | 2 | $1.3 million |
| Alaska | 4 | $1.2 million |
| Virginia | 6 | $958,299 |
| Oregon | 8 | $820,921 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $760,410 |
| New York | 5 | $745,061 |
| Colorado | 8 | $596,273 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | $591,316 |
| Georgia | 3 | $467,910 |
| California | 7 | $435,985 |
| Connecticut | 3 | $433,321 |
| New Mexico | 6 | $429,130 |
| Montana | 2 | $418,914 |
| Delaware | 2 | $402,752 |
| New Jersey | 6 | $373,467 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $231,616 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $227,500 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $196,474 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $182,077 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | $179,637 |
| Utah | 3 | $156,127 |
| Nevada | 3 | $147,844 |
| Washington | 1 | $119,883 |
| Michigan | 1 | $113,069 |
| Texas | 3 | $107,406 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $22,398 |
| Idaho | 1 | $22,325 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $9,538 |
| North Carolina | 1 | $8,035 |