This year, 2010, commemorates the 20^th anniversary of Partners in Flight (PIF). Although PIF's founders were enthusiastic and optimistic in 1990 about improved bird conservation, it is unlikely?they could have anticipated that nongame birds would become thoroughly institutionalized into the conservation culture of the United States.

PIF shares the theme of International Migratory Bird Day for 2010?"The Power of Partnerships." Partnerships are as old as civilization itself, but there has been an exponential growth of in the number and variety of partnerships in recent years. PIF owes its continued success to literally countless partners.

On Wednesday, March 24, at the 75^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Special Session 3 will examine how partnerships have led the way in bird conservation during the 20-year history of PIF. It also will explore and explain and how these partnerships must quickly be made even more effective if the extraordinary threats facing bird populations of the next 20 years are to be met.

Titled "The Power of Partnerships in Bird Conservation: North America and Beyond," this Special Session will highlight partnerships that have succeeded during the past 20 years in a number of critical regions?Hawaii, the boreal forest, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Bird conservation in the continental United States is well supported by a large network of partners that have financial and political support. However, this is not always the case in critical regions. These regions and their species and issues must soon garner more attention and partnership support if there is to be hope of success. Key points to be discussed are:

• One-third of all U.S. threatened and endangered birds listed under the Endangered Species Act occur in Hawaii. Nevertheless, the plight of Hawaii's avifauna is under-appreciated and largely unknown to the American public and political decision makers.
• How partnerships are working to address knowledge gaps for land bird conservation in Canada's vast boreal forest. This forest is breeding habitat for an estimated 2 billion to six billion birds, but is subject to significant habitat loss to forestry, energy extraction, agriculture and effects of climate change.
• The most threatened Mexican habitats not only support most Mexican endemic species at high risk, but also the largest and most diverse populations of North American land birds during winter, making their conservation a shared responsibility.
• Wisconsin is participating in the Southern Wings Program, which was established by Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to facilitate state support for protection of key neotropical migrant bird wintering areas. Wisconsin has joined an innovative public/private partnership focused on conserving the magnificent rainforests of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula.
• The Caribbean has 148 endemic bird species, 105 of which are confined to single islands. The islands also provide essential over-wintering and stopover habitat for many species of neotropical migrants. As in Mexico, the conservation for migrants and endemics often occur in the same project.
• With unprecedented challenges but also unprecedented tools, how will the next generation of partnerships operate?

Terrell D. Rich (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and PIF) and John Hoskins (Missouri Department of Conservation, retired) will cochair Special Session 3. Presenters will represent state and federal agencies and NGOs from the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.

For information about the other concurrent special sessions and other events that will take place at the 75^th North American Conference at the Milwaukee Hilton City Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, go to http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=348&Itemid=61.