The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) is a conservation

Conservation movement

The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....

 strategy targeting shorebirds in the Americas

Americas

The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...

 launched in 1985. Its aim is to protect the nest

Nest

A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building...

ing, breeding and staging

Staging area

A staging area is a location where organisms, people, vehicles, equipment or material are assembled before use.- In construction :...

 habitat

Habitat

* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...

s of migratory

Bird migration

Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...

 shorebirds. The first site to be classified was Delaware Bay

Delaware Bay

Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...

, which was dedicated in May 1986 as a site of Hemispheric Importance.

Sites in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network may also be classified as Important Bird Area

Important Bird Area

An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...

s, Ramsar wetlands of international importance

Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance

This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...

, or both.

There are three possible classifications for sites in the network. Landscapes are always classified as being of Hemispheric Importance.

Hemispheric Importance

sites that act as staging

Staging area

A staging area is a location where organisms, people, vehicles, equipment or material are assembled before use.- In construction :...

, nest

Nest

A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building...

ing or breeding grounds for at least 500,000 shorebirds annually, or at least 30% of the biogeographic population of any species.

International Importance

sites that act as staging, nesting or breeding grounds for at least 100,000 shorebirds annually, or at least 10% of the biogeographic population of any species

Regional Importance

sites that act as staging, nesting or breeding grounds for at least 20,000 shorebirds annually, or at least 1% of the biogeographic population of any species