The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies’ social media posting on August 31 grabbed my attention. Featuring a close up of a Black Swift in hand, the accompanying post announced that the Black Swift Research Team had recently caught three Black Swifts, all of which had been banded 17 years ago in 2005 as adults, breaking the longevity record of oldest known for the species. My heart nearly stopped.
The Black Swift is an aerial insectivore that has evolved an almost exclusive lifestyle on the wing. This species is of continental concern, but little is known about its movement ecology. We recently discovered a new behavior, an amazing adaptation to moon light and gained insight into their foraging patterns during the breeding season.
Tune into this webinar to learn what the Black Swift research team has learned from the Black Swift Movement Ecology project. This webinar is presented by Rob Sparks the Black Swift Research team lead at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.
The program fee is $3 to attend this webinar.
In order to provide equitable access to all, complimentary tickets are available at no cost to the participant thanks to support from generous donors.
Follow this LINK to register!
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing the ZOOM link to be used the day of the webinar.
The Bird Migration Explorer reveals migration data consolidated for 458 bird species found in the United States and Canada. It allows users to see the most complete data collected on migratory species in their neighborhoods and where those birds go throughout the year. Read on to find out how Bird Conservancy was involved in the creation of this platform.
Did you enjoy our last post about IMBCR? In this post, we explore a brief overview of IMBCR’s unique study design, explore two of IMBCR’s core data products, and find out how you can use this freely-available data.
Every year, biologists and technicians traverse on foot across mountains, prairies, and deserts to survey breeding birds under the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program. The second largest breeding bird monitoring program in North America, IMBCR’s footprint stretches across private and public land from the Great Plains to the Great Basin. Check out this StoryMap for a closer look at this impressive program!
Visit our Bird Banding Station located at Barr Lake State Park this fall for an up close and personal experience with birds! You will have a unique opportunity to experience science in action and observe a wildlife biologist banding and collecting important scientific data on live, migrating birds. You will also learn about specialized bird adaptations and behavior, annual migration, crucial habitat requirements, and key conservation issues. Bird banding data increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and is often utilized in management and conservation projects!
The Banding Station is open from August 24th – October 23rd, 2022 and one hour programs are available Tuesdays – Fridays from 7:30-8:30a, and Saturday-Sunday from 8-9a, 9-10a, and 10-11a (closed Mondays). Registration is required for all timeslots.
Schedule is weather permitting. Station is closed during rain or high winds, and may close early during very hot weather and open later if very cold.
Programs are limited to a total of 15 participants to ensure the safety of all visitors, staff, and volunteers.
Access to the Banding Station requires a short walk on a gravel trail. Please let us know if we can offer any accommodations or assistance to help you get to the Station.
Please note a $9 Daily or Annual Colorado State Parks Pass is required for entry into the park at all times.
Scholarships are available! Please follow visit our SCHOLARSHIPS PAGE for more information. Scholarships cannot be applied after registration is complete.
Grassland bird populations have seen a greater decrease than any other guild of birds in North America since the 1970s. To address these steep declines, Bird Conservancy implements a Non-breeding Grassland Bird Monitoring Program in the Chihuahuan Desert where the majority of North American migratory grassland birds overwinter. We are using this survey data to establish baseline population estimates for several species of grassland birds and to track changes in populations, habitat types and conditions across years.
In this presentation, Avian Ecologist Annie Hawkinson will share background information on this program and provide an example of how data collected can benefit the conservation of the Baird’s sparrow. Annie will also share what it is like to coordinate a monitoring effort across the US and MX border.
The program fee is $3 to attend this webinar.
In order to provide equitable access to all, complimentary tickets are available at no cost to the participant thanks to support from generous donors.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing the ZOOM link to be used the day of the webinar.
* Registration closes at 11:59 pm on 8/18/22
Of the shorebirds species that breed in North America, a clear majority migrate to wintering grounds in the temperate and tropical regions of Central and South America. Shorebirds whose breeding and wintering grounds are far apart must replenish their fat reserves during migration. They do this by stopping at a chain of staging areas, such as the Texas Coast, Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas, the Rainwater Basins in Nebraska, and the Prairie Potholes of the Dakota’s. Threats to shorebirds have become more diverse and widespread in recent decades and pose serious conservation challenges. Effective conservation requires a wide-ranging approach to identify and reduce threats throughout the flyway.
A chewed tree stump, an interwoven dam of sticks, logs, and mud, or a what might look like a pile of mud with branches and grasses are all signs you are in a beaver territory. And this territory is on its way to becoming a thriving part of our ecosystem!
Visit the bird banding station at Chatfield to witness real research in action and see warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, thrushes, and other songbirds up close! Operated in partnership with Denver Audubon.
