Despite decades of ecological research, implementing effective marshbird conservation remains limited by barriers in translating science into management. The Midwest Marshbird Partnership, with the Upper Mississippi Great Lakes Joint Venture, developed a conservation framework to directly address this science-to-management gap. The framework establishes four hierarchical goals designed to improve communication, prioritize decision-relevant science, and support adaptive management aimed at increasing marshbird habitat. To support this effort, we integrated two complementary sources of information: a literature synthesis of marshbird habitat needs and threats, and structured focus groups with land managers and decision-makers to identify barriers to implementation. Together, these efforts highlighted key mismatches between available ecological knowledge and on-the-ground conservation constraints. To capitalize on information generated through these projects, the partnership reorganized in 2026 into focused work teams dedicated to providing mechanisms for translating scientific knowledge and practitioner perspectives into management-relevant guidance, coordinated conservation planning, and adaptive management. Key findings from the literature synthesis and stakeholder input will be highlighted in context of the next phase of the Midwest Marshbird Partnership, building organizational capacity to better translate science into conservation action for marshbirds across the Midwest.
