We had a banner year at our banding station at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. 2020 proved to be our busiest season there to date. We set new highs for total banded birds and added several new species that had never been banded there before. All of this was while simultaneously adapting to meet health and safety guidelines that enabled visitors to experience bird banding firsthand in a safe way.
205! That’s the number of species counted at our Annual Wildcat Hills Bioblitz. People of all ages came out to explore the Western Nebraska landscape through hands-on learning, and in the process made a wonderful contribution to science.
The Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program started in Colorado in 2008 and has since expanded to 15 states and 10 Bird Conservation Regions. In honor of its 10th anniversary, we invite you to explore a few examples how IMBCR data has benefited bird conservation over the past decade.
Bats have a lot in common with birds. These flying mammalian counterparts can fly, eat insects, are found in a variety of habitats, and are an indicator species when studying landscape health. They also have similar habitat needs to many birds, making bat conservation a winning proposition for both furry and feathered friends.
Family Nature Nights bring kids, parents and conservation organizations together for an evening of learning, exploration and fun—connecting local residents with the natural world and the ecosystems of the Nebraska Panhandle.
The BioBlitz that took place this June at Oliver Reservoir in Nebraska was a weekend full of science, education, fun and adventure! Over 30 participants, mostly children, spent two days learning about dozens of different species of birds, insects and plants.
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (formerly Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory) and partners wrapped up their seventh season of surveys under the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program, one of the largest breeding bird monitoring programs in North America. Seasonal biologist David Kramer offers highlights from a wet, snowy survey season.
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory is assisting federal and state partners in studying Golden Eagles breeding in Nebraska and Colorado. We are learning where these eagles go using satellite telemetry, as well as their nesting success, habitat use, and survival rate and mortality factors. Find out where one Golden Eagle traveled during a 10-day period this June!
Spring is nearly here, and with the changing seasons comes the spectacular migration of birds. We’re getting prepared and stoked for the upcoming bird banding season. To whet your appetite, we wanted to share the birdy highlights from the fall bird banding season. Enjoy!
This spring, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory began conducting bird population monitoring surveys along the Niobrara National Scenic River in Nebraska. Outreach Biologist Jeff Birek was fortunate enough to land that area as one of his survey locales this summer. Jeff reports on the impacts a recent fire along the Niobrara River has had on birds and provides a species list from the summer.
