Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Focal Area (WLFW)

The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Focal Area represents an area of interest pertaining to the southwestern willow flycatcher under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).Working Lands for Wildlife is a partnership between NRCS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to use agency technical expertise and financial assistance from the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program to combat the decline of seven specific wildlife species whose decline can be reversed and will benefit other species with similar habitat needs. The WLFW project will target species whose decline can be reversed and will benefit other species with similar habitat needs. The seven species identified include the Lesser Prairie Chicken, New England Cottontail, Southwestern Willow flycatcher, Greater Sage-Grouse, Gopher Tortoise, Bog Turtleand Golden-Winged Warbler.The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) is a small Neotropical migratory bird that breeds in the arid southwestern United States. It has been federally listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act.The flycatcher’s current range is similar to its historic range; however, the amount of suitable habitat within the range is greatly reduced from historic levels. The flycatcher's current range is similar to its historic range; however, the amount of suitable habitat within the range is greatly reduced from historic levels. The flycatcher’s distribution follows that of riparian habitat. It depends upon dense tree and shrub communities associated rivers, swamps and other wetlands, and has become increasingly isolated and widely dispersed as the result of surface water diversion, groundwater pumping, changes in flood and fire regimes, and the establishment of non-native and invasive plants.Working Lands for Wildlife will assist landowners restore degraded riparian ecosystems and conserve existing healthy riparian systems. The program will focus on increasing and improving occupied, suitable, and potential breeding habitat, supporting southwestern willow flycatcher recovery.See also http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/financial/whip/?&cid=STELPRDB1046975Contact the WLFW program leadership regarding any usage questions, concerns or constraints pertaining to this boundary layer.