Opportunity Information: Apply for F14AS00321
Apply for F14AS00321
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Forced Renesting to Prevent Population Extinction" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.657 Endangered Species Conservation Recovery Implementation Funds.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 21, 2014 and posted on Jul 21, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2014 There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point under justification 505DM 2.14B 4.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $151,692.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point under justification 505DM 2.14B 4.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Forced Renesting to Prevent Population Extinction" is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) notice of intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP). It is not an open, competitive funding opportunity and does not have an application process; instead, it is being issued under a specific single-source justification (505 DM 2.14B(4)). UWSP was selected because the project was designed alongside its faculty, the College of Natural Resources has relevant ecological and analytical expertise aligned with USFWS needs, and the university is close enough to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to support frequent and time-sensitive field monitoring. The award is expected to be one agreement with an estimated total of $151,692, with no cost-share requirement, funded under CFDA 15.657 (Endangered Species Conservation - Recovery Implementation Funds). The opportunity was posted July 21, 2014, with an original/current closing date of July 28, 2014, and archived July 29, 2014.
The project is driven by a conservation emergency for the eastern migratory population of whooping cranes. After roughly 13 years of releasing captive-reared whooping cranes in the eastern U.S., the population is estimated at fewer than 100 birds and is not self-sustaining. Although many adults are nesting on federally managed lands around Necedah NWR where they were originally reared and released, overall reproduction has been failing: hatching and fledging rates are described as near zero. A key observed problem is widespread nest abandonment since nesting began in 2005, with relatively few pairs attempting to renest after failure. The proposed management response, developed with input from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Research and Science Team, is to implement "forced renesting" as a practical intervention to improve reproductive outcomes and reduce the risk of population collapse.
Forced renesting in this context means deliberately removing eggs from early nests before black fly emergence in order to prompt pairs to start a new nest later in the season, when black fly pressure is expected to be lower. Black flies are implicated as a factor that may be contributing to nest abandonment and poor reproductive success, so shifting the nesting window is intended to improve the odds that eggs hatch and chicks (colts) survive to fledging. The approach is not theoretical; it has been used for years with the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane, where renesting rates as high as 84 percent have been reported. The USFWS positions this work as directly supporting recovery planning, including the 2007 International Whooping Crane Recovery Plan (specifically the objective tied to establishing a second migratory population), as well as goals in the Necedah NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan, the Wisconsin Whooping Crane Management Plan, and the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Five Year Strategic Plan, all of which highlight the need to improve nesting success in the Necedah area.
Field operations are planned for up to three years and focus on locating and monitoring nests on Necedah NWR and the adjacent Meadow Valley Flowage Wildlife Management Area (also referenced as Mead Valley), including coordination lands administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources under agreement with the USFWS. Nests will be located through ground searching and visual monitoring. Once found, each nest will be observed twice daily from a distance intended to limit disturbance (typically more than 100 meters) using spotting scopes, with observations lasting at least 30 minutes or until both birds are identified (using colored leg bands or VHF telemetry). Staff aim to visit nests about 5 to 10 days after incubation begins. For treatment nests, eggs will be removed before black fly emergence based on ongoing black fly monitoring. Removed eggs will be temporarily stored in a digitally controlled incubator at Necedah NWR and then transported to a captive rearing facility, preserving genetic and reproductive value while still triggering the behavioral goal of renesting in the wild.
Because forced renesting has not previously been applied to whooping cranes, the study is structured as a controlled field experiment rather than a blanket management action. Roughly half of the located nests will be assigned to treatment (egg removal) and half will remain as controls (no forced failure), allowing the partners to measure whether the intervention actually increases renesting, hatching, and fledging success. Assignment is designed to be simple and balanced: the first nest is assigned by a coin toss, and subsequent nests alternate between treatment and control as nests are discovered. Based on prior years (an average of 21 initial nests located annually between 2011 and 2013 in the project area), the anticipated sample size is roughly 8 to 10 nests per group, depending on total nests found and monitored.
Nest monitoring includes remote camera documentation to capture fine-scale behavior and help determine causes of failure. During the initial nest visit, a Reconyx PC900 camera will be installed about 10 meters from the nest and programmed to take one photo every five minutes throughout the nesting period. After each nesting attempt concludes, images will be retrieved and reviewed as part of a UWSP graduate research project. For successful attempts that produce chicks, researchers will determine hatch dates and nest departure dates. For unsuccessful attempts, they will estimate the date and, when possible, the cause of failure. The photos will also be coded into standardized activity and behavior categories. Nest-specific activities include incubation, egg tending, standing, absence, and incubation switches between pair members. Individual behaviors include comfort and maintenance actions such as preening, bill flicking, head rubbing, and head tucking, which can be used as indicators of stress, irritation, or general condition during incubation.
The monitoring plan extends beyond the nest itself to evaluate pair behavior and the likelihood of renesting after failure. Once a pair's nesting attempt ends (either through natural failure in control pairs or deliberate egg removal in treatment pairs), staff will relocate the pair and conduct a daily 30-minute observation session for three weeks. Each session is randomly assigned in timing and uses instantaneous sampling every 30 seconds to record pair bond and breeding behaviors such as unison calling, copulation, and nest building. Any renesting attempts are then followed using the same general approach as for initial nests, including a visit within 5 to 10 days to install a camera, and monitoring of camera-equipped nests three times per week until the attempt ends. If chicks hatch, colt survival will be tracked through direct observation at least three times per week until 90 days post-hatch, aligning monitoring with the period when young cranes are especially vulnerable.
Analytically, the project is designed to test whether forced renesting improves outcomes and to identify which biological or timing factors matter most. Renesting probability will be evaluated using logistic regression, modeled as a function of factors such as the date of the first nest failure, growing degree days at first nest initiation (a temperature-based measure used in phenology), the length of first incubation, and whether the nest was in the treatment or control group. Similar model-based approaches will evaluate impacts on reproductive success metrics. Hatching success will be modeled with predictors including female age, prior hatching success of the pair, average expression of comfort behaviors during incubation, and treatment status. Fledging success will be modeled with predictors such as female age, duration of the pair bond, prior fledging success, and treatment status. The project also defines how nests are formally counted as "active" for study purposes, either through direct observation of eggs or through repeated observation of egg-indicative behaviors like egg rolling or incubation posture on consecutive days.
Overall, this grant is essentially a targeted, time-limited management experiment aimed at preventing extinction of the eastern migratory whooping crane population by increasing reproduction at its core nesting stronghold near Necedah NWR. The cooperative agreement structure reflects that USFWS and UWSP will work closely on implementation, monitoring, and analysis, with decisions about continuing or expanding the technique dependent on results observed over the three-year period. For access or assistance with the announcement, the listed contact is Dr. Brad Strobel at the Fish and Wildlife Service (phone 608-565-4402, email bradstrobel@fws.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Forced Renesting to Prevent Population Extinction."
Which federal agency is issuing this notice?
The notice is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. This is not an open or competitive funding opportunity. It is a notice of intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement.
Is there an application process for new applicants?
No. The notice states there is no application process because it is being issued under a specific single-source justification.
Who is the intended recipient of the cooperative agreement?
The intended recipient is the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP).
Why was UWSP selected for this single-source award?
UWSP was selected because the project was designed alongside its faculty, the UWSP College of Natural Resources has ecological and analytical expertise aligned with USFWS needs, and the university is close enough to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to support frequent and time-sensitive field monitoring.
What is the cited single-source justification?
The notice references a single-source justification under 505 DM 2.14B(4).
What is the estimated funding amount?
The estimated total funding is $151,692.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates the award is expected to be one cooperative agreement.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost-share requirement.
What program is funding this work (CFDA number and name)?
The work is funded under CFDA 15.657, "Endangered Species Conservation - Recovery Implementation Funds."
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on July 21, 2014. The original/current closing date listed is July 28, 2014. The notice was archived on July 29, 2014.
What conservation problem is this project trying to address?
The project responds to an emergency situation for the eastern migratory population of whooping cranes. After about 13 years of releases of captive-reared birds, the population is estimated at fewer than 100 birds and is not self-sustaining, with hatching and fledging described as near zero and widespread nest abandonment observed since nesting began in 2005.
Where will field work take place?
Field operations focus on Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the adjacent Meadow Valley Flowage Wildlife Management Area (also referenced as Mead Valley), including coordination lands administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources under agreement with USFWS.
How long is the project expected to run?
Field operations are planned for up to three years.
What is "forced renesting" in this project?
Forced renesting is described as deliberately removing eggs from early nests before black fly emergence to prompt pairs to start a new nest later in the season, when black fly pressure is expected to be lower.
Why focus on black flies?
Black flies are implicated as a factor that may contribute to nest abandonment and poor reproductive success. The strategy aims to shift nesting later to improve the chances of successful hatching and chick (colt) survival.
Has forced renesting been used successfully in other species?
Yes. The notice states it has been used for years with the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane, with reported renesting rates as high as 84 percent.
Is forced renesting already proven for whooping cranes?
No. The notice states forced renesting has not previously been applied to whooping cranes, which is why the work is set up as a controlled field experiment.
How will the study be designed (treatment vs. control)?
Roughly half of located nests will be assigned to treatment (egg removal) and half will be controls (no forced failure). This is intended to allow measurement of whether forced renesting increases renesting, hatching success, and fledging success.
How are nests assigned to treatment or control?
The first nest assignment is determined by a coin toss, and subsequent nests alternate between treatment and control as nests are discovered.
How many nests are expected to be included?
Based on an average of 21 initial nests located annually (2011 to 2013) in the project area, the anticipated sample size is about 8 to 10 nests per group, depending on how many nests are found and monitored.
How will nests be found and monitored?
Nests will be located through ground searching and visual monitoring. Once found, each nest will be observed twice daily from a distance intended to limit disturbance (typically more than 100 meters) using spotting scopes, with observations lasting at least 30 minutes or until both birds are identified (using colored leg bands or VHF telemetry).
When do staff plan to visit nests after incubation begins?
The plan is to visit nests about 5 to 10 days after incubation begins.
When are eggs removed for treatment nests?
For treatment nests, eggs will be removed before black fly emergence based on ongoing black fly monitoring.
What happens to eggs that are removed?
Removed eggs will be temporarily stored in a digitally controlled incubator at Necedah NWR and then transported to a captive rearing facility. The purpose is to preserve genetic and reproductive value while still triggering renesting behavior in the wild.
What role do cameras play in the project?
Remote cameras are used to document nest behavior and help determine causes of failure. A Reconyx PC900 camera will be installed about 10 meters from the nest and programmed to take one photo every five minutes throughout the nesting period.
How often are camera images collected and reviewed?
Images will be retrieved after each nesting attempt concludes and reviewed as part of a UWSP graduate research project.
What types of behaviors will be measured from camera images?
Photos will be coded into standardized categories. Nest-specific activities include incubation, egg tending, standing, absence, and incubation switches. Individual comfort/maintenance behaviors include preening, bill flicking, head rubbing, and head tucking, which can indicate stress, irritation, or general condition during incubation.
How will researchers determine success or failure of nesting attempts?
For successful attempts, they will determine hatch dates and nest departure dates. For unsuccessful attempts, they will estimate the date and, when possible, the cause of failure using observations and camera documentation.
What monitoring happens after a nest attempt ends?
After a nesting attempt ends, staff will relocate the pair and conduct a daily 30-minute observation session for three weeks to document pair bond and breeding behaviors and evaluate the likelihood of renesting.
How are post-failure observation sessions conducted?
Each session is randomly assigned in timing and uses instantaneous sampling every 30 seconds to record behaviors such as unison calling, copulation, and nest building.
How are renesting attempts monitored once they occur?
Renesting attempts are followed using a similar approach as initial nests, including a visit within 5 to 10 days to install a camera, and monitoring of camera-equipped nests three times per week until the attempt ends.
How is chick (colt) survival tracked?
If chicks hatch, survival is tracked through direct observation at least three times per week until 90 days post-hatch, aligning monitoring with a period when young cranes are especially vulnerable.
What outcomes will the project analyze?
The project is designed to test whether forced renesting improves renesting probability, hatching success, and fledging success, and to identify biological or timing factors associated with these outcomes.
What statistical methods are planned?
Renesting probability will be evaluated using logistic regression, modeled as a function of factors such as date of first nest failure, growing degree days at first nest initiation, length of first incubation, and treatment status. Similar model-based approaches will be used for hatching and fledging success.
What is "growing degree days" as used in this project?
Growing degree days are described as a temperature-based measure used in phenology, and they are included as one of the predictors in models related to renesting probability.
What predictors are mentioned for hatching success models?
Predictors listed include female age, prior hatching success of the pair, average expression of comfort behaviors during incubation, and treatment status.
What predictors are mentioned for fledging success models?
Predictors listed include female age, duration of the pair bond, prior fledging success, and treatment status.
How does the project define an "active" nest for study purposes?
Nests are counted as active either through direct observation of eggs or through repeated observation of egg-indicative behaviors (such as egg rolling or incubation posture) on consecutive days.
Which plans or strategies does USFWS say this work supports?
The notice describes the work as supporting recovery planning including the 2007 International Whooping Crane Recovery Plan (with an objective tied to establishing a second migratory population), and goals in the Necedah NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan, the Wisconsin Whooping Crane Management Plan, and the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Five Year Strategic Plan, all emphasizing improved nesting success in the Necedah area.
Who contributed to development of the management response?
The management response was developed with input from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership Research and Science Team.
What does the cooperative agreement structure imply for how the work will be carried out?
The notice indicates USFWS and UWSP will work closely on implementation, monitoring, and analysis, and that decisions about continuing or expanding the technique would depend on results observed over the three-year period.
Who is the contact for access or assistance with the announcement?
The listed contact is Dr. Brad Strobel at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 608-565-4402. Email: bradstrobel@fws.gov.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Geo Scientist in Parks Mosaics in Science Youth Internship Program
Previous opportunity: OSERS/NIDRR Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training (ARRT) Program Advanced Rehabilitation Research Policy Fellowship CFDA Number 84.133P 5
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for F14AS00321
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F14AS00321) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BLM AZ Gila District Youth Internships and Public Land Corps Opportunities Apply for L14AS00276 Funding Number: L14AS00276 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| BLM AZ Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Management Partnership Apply for L14AS00304 Funding Number: L14AS00304 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Fish Screen Corrective Action and Improvements Apply for R14AN20025 Funding Number: R14AN20025 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,100,000 |
| Create Model of Glacier Bays Late Pleistocene Coastline Apply for P14AS00298 Funding Number: P14AS00298 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $95,561 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant 2015 Apply for USDA NRCS CA 15 0009 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 15 0009 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| South Shore Service Yard California State Parks Apply for 15AN20006 Funding Number: 15AN20006 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,383,451 |
| Open Space Management Apply for R15AN20014 Funding Number: R15AN20014 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $49,755 |
| Endangered Species Program Support Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) Apply for R15AN20010 Funding Number: R15AN20010 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,651,656 |
| Extending Alaska Region National Hydrography Dataset Editing Protocols and Data Production to Accommodate Wetlands and other Value Added Attributes Apply for NPS DOIP15AC00448 Funding Number: NPS DOIP15AC00448 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Westside Regional Drainage Plan San Joaquin River Salinity Management 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement Apply for R15AN20005 Funding Number: R15AN20005 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $3,750,000 |
| Watershed Rehabilitation and Sediment Control Apply for R15AN20026 Funding Number: R15AN20026 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,331,126 |
| Weed Management and Jobs Creation Project, Phase 2 Apply for R15AN20017 Funding Number: R15AN20017 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,499,181 |
| WLCI Support of Watershed Management Habitat Enhancement for Triple Creek Forage Reserve Apply for RFA WY08 9012 Funding Number: RFA WY08 9012 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Georgia Resource Conservation Development Projects Apply for USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Agency: Georgia State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| CESU Quantify Thickness of Harding Icefield Apply for J9845100013 Funding Number: J9845100013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Farm Bill Assistance in Trinity County, CA Apply for USDA NRCS CA 10 0004 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 10 0004 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Farm Bill Assistance in Kern County, CA Apply for USDA NRCS CA 10 0005 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 10 0005 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Herbarium Study of Plant Samples from the Arctic Network of Alaskas National Parks Apply for J9840100052 Funding Number: J9840100052 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Systemic Treatment Research Study Letters of Interest Apply for NPS LIGRSM100104 Funding Number: NPS LIGRSM100104 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Vascular and non vascular plant specimen identification, curation, and technical support for vegetation monitoring in the Southwest Alaska Network Apply for J2101100015 Funding Number: J2101100015 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "F14AS00321", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.