Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative
Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative supports conservation organizations and researchers in habitat protection, management and monitoring to increase shorebird populations across their migratory network.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates: November 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (Full proposal)
Funding Amounts: Typically $75,000–$200,000 for 1–3 years | $172,800 available for a piping plover project
Summary: Supports habitat conservation, management, research and monitoring for Atlantic Flyway shorebirds, with a dedicated piping plover opportunity.
Key Information: Minimum 1:1 non-federal match required, except for the piping plover project, which requires no match.
Description
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative supports coordinated conservation across the migratory network of American oystercatcher, red knot and whimbrel. Guided by its business plan, the initiative aims to increase these focal species’ populations by 15–20 percent over 10 years through habitat conservation and restoration, reduced human disturbance, improved harvest management, and monitoring.
The 2027 competition emphasizes full-lifecycle conservation, species research, improved habitat management, site protection and tracking infrastructure. Its geographic focus includes priority sites along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard and Gulf Coast, plus wintering sites in the Caribbean and South America. A dedicated piping plover project will support site-based management to improve breeding productivity and recovery.
