Bird banding stations established at Barr Lake monitor and collect data about migratory and resident birds, contributing to understanding about population changes among songbirds in the West.

Colorado Bird Observatory (CBO) founded by Michael Carter through a challenge grant from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (now Colorado Parks & Wildlife)

Bald Eagle Watch becomes first major initiative managed by CBO, enlisting citizen scientists to monitor a rare pair of nesting Bald Eagles at Barr Lake in Colorado.  In the first year, 100 people volunteered over 1500 hours of time. That spring, the pair successfully fledged a male and female eaglet!

CBO initiates the Western Songbird Conservation Network which aims to increase cooperation across borders to conserve birds in the United States and Mexico. Concurrently, the West Mexico for Land Managers program engages partners and landowners to study migratory birds on the wintering grounds.

Partners In Flight Species Assessment Database created, coinciding with setting of conservation priorities for neotropical migratory birds in all 50 states.  The database draws on a peer-reviewed, scientific methodology for analyzing, evaluating, and categorizing information related to the conservation of birds.

Birds Beyond Borders (Aves Sin Fronteras) program links classrooms in the U.S. and Mexico in the study of migratory birds. Teachers in both countries learn how to identify birds, collect data, and integrate the scientific process into the classroom. Students connect across borders to learn about bird conservation and their shared natural heritage.

CBO moves into its permanent headquarters, the Old Stone House, a refurbished 1880s home located near the shores of Barr Lake. The new facility provides meeting space for community groups and staff offices, as well as base of operations for educational programs.

Name changed to Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) to reflect the expanding impact and regional approach of the organization’s mission. A MacGillivray’s Warbler continues to adorn the logo, celebrating the local and international connections that this species represents. By 2001, RMBO is working in 9 states—from Canada to Mexico, and the Great Plains to the Colorado Plateau.

Chihuahuan Desert Grassland Bird Conservation is created to inventory and monitor wintering grassland bird populations in the most important grasslands in this region of northern Mexico. This bi-national project produced—for the first time—rigorous information on the distribution, density and habitat use of nearly 30 grassland species that overwinter in the Chihuahuan Desert.

In partnership with Colorado Division of Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Private Lands Wildlife Biologist program is established with four biologists in communities across Colorado.  This program, which continues in 2018, utilizes a network of strategically-placed biologists to provide technical expertise to landowners and managers in their area.

For the first time in a decade, RMBO’s Special Species Monitoring Program confirms nesting of Yellow-billed Cuckoo in western Colorado.  Continued surveys focusing on this species provide useful data and inform Colorado’s State Wildlife Action Plan, which listed the Yellow-billed Cuckoo as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

The Nelda Gamble Volunteer of the Year Award is created to recognize outstanding volunteer service. Nelda Gamble, for which the award is named, started the groundbreaking Bald Eagle Watch citizen science program in 1988. This award honors the dedicated volunteer spirit of those who give their personal time in an effort to conserve birds and their habitats.

RMBO and partners Carolyn Gunn and Kim Potter discover the wintering grounds of the Black Swift, solving a mystery that had confounded scientists for over half a century. Using geolocator technology, scientists learn that Black Swifts travel more than 4,000 miles to spend the winter in Brazil, a country where they had never been documented before.

RMBO adds a new citizen scientist initiative with Eastern Screech-Owl monitoring along the Poudre River in Fort Collins, Colorado.  As an indicator species, data about screech-owl populations sheds light on the overall riparian health along the river’s urban corridor—guiding future conservation and management plans for this critical natural resource.

Colorado Bluebird Project citizen science program launched in Larimer County, CO.  Volunteers collect data on breeding birds using bluebird boxes posted along hiking trails, then submit the data to Cornell Ornithology Lab’s NestWatch, providing much-needed information about bluebird populations on Colorado’s Front Range.

RMBO migrates to become Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, adopting a new logo and slogan: Connecting people, birds and land.  The name reflects the scope of our cutting-edge research, private lands conservation and international programs—and reinforces our continuing mission of conserving birds and their habitats through science, education and land stewardship.

In 2018, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies commemorates 30 years conserving birds and their habitats!  We celebrate this milestone with you, the countless individuals, volunteers, partners, collaborators and staff who have made it all possible. Thank you for your support of our work and mission, and we look forward to the next 30 years!