Study of bird populations during the breeding season is the foundation of conservation and ecology. The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is one of the largest, long-term avian monitoring programs, and the NBGI CIP follows this with some modifications.

CIP habitat will benefit many species beyond bobwhites, including song birds, pollinators, herptofauna, mammals, etc. NBGI breeding season monitoring includes 56 species of birds, including the male Northern Bobwhite, and also Bewick’s Wren, Bobolink, Blue-winged Warbler, Dickcissel, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Prairie Warbler, Ring-necked Pheasant, Upland Sandpiper, etc.