East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture (EGCPJV) Partner and Staff News – October 2026
October 1, 2026
Check out the second Quarterly Report from the East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture.
Meet the Newest EGCPJV Board Member, Daffny Pitchford, USFWS Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region
October 1, 2026
Daffny Pitchford has built a career around two things that continue to guide her work: people and the natural world. She joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in August 1998 and has spent more than 28 years serving in a wide range of programs and leadership roles across the Southeast.
Implementing Goals of EGCPJV Landbird Plan in Conecuh National Forest
September 28, 2026
Across the nation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program collaborates with private landowners who share a passion for conservation to improve habitat for the benefit of game species, migratory birds, pollinators, and federally listed species. Through technical and financial assistance, the program seeks to assist landowners in meeting their land management objectives, while also improving habitat for wildlife.
Meet the Duck – The Kind Without a Bill or Webbed Feet
September 28, 2026
Donald “Duck” Locascio earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Louisiana State University in 1994. His passion for wildlife prompted him to remain at LSU to pursue a master’s degree in wildlife—although some might argue that the opportunity to continue pursuing speckled trout, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys had something to do with the decision.
Building a Culture of Fire Across the East Gulf Coastal Plain
September 28, 2026
Fire-dependent habitats are among the most biologically diverse natural communities in the East Gulf Coastal Plain. From longleaf pine savannas in the Piney Woods to Blackland Prairies and open woodlands of the Loess Plains, these systems developed with frequent fire.
Bringing EGCPJV News, Stories, & Science to You!
June 19, 2026
EGCPJV Partners – We are implementing this new effort to provide news on priority projects and bird conservation successes. Please take a few moments to enjoy our quarterly report, which has links to a new national Joint Venture video and three stories on our new board member, a successful Prescribed Burn Association, and research on
Welcome Eric Soehren, Newest Member of the Mangement Board
June 2, 2026
The EGCPJV welcomes Eric Soehren as a new member on the Management Board. Eric is a Biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) with 29 years of public service.
Blue Jean Burning: Working Together to Manage Lands in Southwest Alabama
June 2, 2026
Much of the East Gulf Coastal Plain is defined by landscapes that depend on fire, which historically were started by lightning and Native Americans. Today, land managers and landowners use prescribed fire to maintain healthy, productive ecosystems and support pollinators like monarch butterflies, game species such as deer and turkey, numerous songbirds, and a variety of reptiles and amphibians.
Tracking Across JV Borders – The King Rail Telemetry Project
June 2, 2026
King Rails are an iconic secretive marsh bird species – seldom seen, occasionally heard – as they creep through the dense, tall vegetation in remnants of emergent marsh. Since the 1960’s, populations have declined an estimated 85%. Twelve states classify them as threatened or endangered; they are a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in over
Conservation Through Collaboration: The Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership
February 5, 2026
The Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP), formed in 1996, brings together 19 public and private partners to conserve and restore the longleaf pine ecosystem and unique aquatic resources of northwest Florida and southern Alabama.
Waterbird Conservation Plan Rollout Meetings
January 24, 2026
After the completion of the Waterbird Conservation Plan in 2024, EGCPJV staff were excited to share the effort with our many partners, while also learning what challenges they face when planning and implementing conservation actions for priority waterbird species like King Rail, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Plover and American Oystercatcher.
Partner Spotlight: Dr. Phil Darby
January 5, 2026
Dr. Phil Darby with the University of West Florida (UWF) began his collaboration with the EGCPJV in 2015 when he initiated a long-term wintering waterfowl survey in the Pensacola region.