Spring/Summer 2014 Newsletter of Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Number 45 the PRIMARY SOURCE
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Spring/Summer 2014 Newsletter of Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Number 45 THE PRIMARY SOURCE Our mission is to conserve birds and their habitats. RMBO Leads Landmark Meeting in Costa Rica By Teddy Parker-Renga to breeding, threats to non-breeding and it’s important for RMBO and partners to Communications Manager population trend) using the Partners In support and advance conservation abroad, In March, Rocky Mountain Bird Flight species assessment process. Scores he said. Observatory spearheaded the first-ever ranged from 1 (low vulnerability) to 5 Next steps include developing com- conservation assessment of the birds of (high vulnerability) for each factor, with munication tools and messages to engage Central America. a higher overall score indicating a greater stakeholders in conserving at-risk species. At the meeting held in San Vito, Costa vulnerability to population decline or Thank you to all of the partners who Rica, 30 participants representing the extinction. attended the meeting and Environment seven Central American countries, Mexico International Director Arvind Panjabi Canada, Missouri Department of Conser- and the U.S. assessed all 407 bird species said partners who attended the meeting vation and USGS for funding. unique to Central America, as well as 500- saw tremendous value in the process as View photos from the meeting and the plus species shared between Mexico and a way to establish conservation priori- amazing species we saw birding in Costa Central America. This included landbirds, ties for birds and habitat in their own Rica at www.facebook.com/RMBObirds. shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl. countries. Since many bird species that To learn more about the Partners In During the assessment, birds were breed in the Rockies and elsewhere in the Flight species assessment process, visit http:// assigned scores for three factors (threats western U.S. winter in Central America, rmbo.org/pifassessment/. Where Do Colorado Osprey Go in Winter? By Jason Beason Special Monitoring Projects Coordinator On June 19, 2013, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the National Park Service attached satellite transmit- ters to two Ospreys in the Arapaho National Forest just west of Rocky Mountain National Park. Specific locations were at Rainbow Bay at Lake Gran- by and Shadow Mountain Reservoir in Grand County, Colo. The birds were named “Rainbow” and “Shadow” after their nesting areas. Both Ospreys were females and successfully bred after RMBO and the satellite transmitters were attached. Rainbow fledged two National Park Service and Shadow three young Ospreys during the 2013 breed- tracked two Ospreys ing season. from the Rockies OSPREY to their wintering See on page 9 grounds. View their Osprey by migration routes at Quinn Burrell www.RMBO.org. From the Director: Opportunities to Explore Nature for All Ages From being key partners in onto and makes a reality. The your kids and grandkids for camp if you a new community-based fes- morning was filled with activ- haven’t already. See page 3 for info. tival to expansion of our bird ity at our bird banding station, For all of you older folks, we’ve got banding season in Fort Collins, as well as at the education opportunities to get you outdoors as spring is off to a great start. classrooms at the Fort Collins well. Gain a unique, historical perspec- The parking lot and hallways Museum of Discovery and tive on birding in Colorado with our have thinned as our biologists cleanup efforts along the river. very own Jason Beason and Norm Lewis have spread out across the My heart skipped a beat as I of the Denver Museum of Nature & Rockies, Great Plains and else- drove into the festival grounds Science as we follow the birding trail where in the West to conduct in the afternoon and observed of Alfred Bailey and Robert Niedrach bird surveys on public and private land. 40 partner and sponsor booths, activities across this beautiful state. See the events Spring seems to be a bit delayed this year, for people of all ages, a stage, bike racks calendar to the right for info on this so it will be interesting to see what our filling up and people heading into the one-of-a-kind field trip. crew leaders and technicians have to re- venue. Our sponsors and the team spirit No BBQ for the Birds in 2014 port from the field. made the day a great success and we can’t RMBO was excited to collaborate wait for next year. After 11 great years of annual picnics with local partners in Fort Collins and We have highlights from our fall 2013 for our members, we’ve decided to take bring our combined expertise together for banding stations in this issue, and though a year off from the BBQ for the Birds Poudre RiverFest. It is amazing what can the spring season is winding down, be sure in 2014. Don’t worry; we plan to bring happen with an idea that a team latches to mark your calendars for the fall 2014 back the picnic in 2015 and have plans banding season. We are coordinating a for a gathering this fall, just not the BBQ. The Primary Source meeting this summer with researchers from I also encourage you to attend the Fall the University of Colorado Denver and the Birding Festival on Sept. 6 at Barr Lake The Primary Source is the member newsletter of Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Smithsonian to discuss our long-term data State Park. It’s always a blast! sets from banding stations and how we can Also this fall, we’re bringing back our Board of Directors Larry Modesitt, M.B.A., CQE, CTP, Chair collaborate to analyze and apply the data popular speaker series with the Denver Stephen L. Bloom, Ph.D., ABPP, Vice Chair to understand connectivity, full life cycle Museum of Nature & Science. We’ll be Warren Taylor, Ph.D., Secretary modeling, climate change and more. hosting two avian experts from the Cor- Peter Ampe, J.D. David Charles, M.D. Nature Camps, Field Trip nell Lab of Ornithology: evolutionary Steven Deitemeyer, C.F. biologist Ed Scholes on Sept. 11 to share Jack Ferguson We’re thrilled to be offering another images and adventures from the Birds- Grady Grissom, Ph.D. Joe Roller, M.D. full schedule of camps this summer. Our of-Paradise Project, and audio curator D. Jean Tate, Ph.D. Taking Flight overnight camp for 12- to Greg Budney on Oct. 21 to present bird Ed Warner, M.S. 14-year-olds in the Rockies is full, and sounds, from the beautiful to the bizarre. Tiffany Watts, CPA other camps are nearing capacity. We A third presenter is also in the works. Tammy VerCauteren - Executive Director have a new camp this July for younger Stay tuned to www.dmns.org/afterhours [email protected] kids on Fridays, as well as a Leaders-in- for details on getting tickets. Visit www.RMBO.org for staff list. Training program for teens and preteens, Have a happy spring and summer. I Main Office: inspired by older RMBO campers who hope to see you out in nature! 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton, CO 80603 volunteered to help out and work with - Tammy VerCauteren (303) 659-4348 kids during day camps in 2013. Sign up Executive Director 230 Cherry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521 (970) 482-1707 330243 C.R. H, Minatare, NE 69356 (308) 783-1019 Thank You to Thrivent! The Primary Source logo with a baby Killdeer and a primary feather from a Pelican was designed by In November of 2013, four individuals directed nearly $2,000 in Thrivent Granby, Colo., artist David Utterback. Primary Choice funds to Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. feathers give power to a bird’s flight. Our mem- bers, Friends, volunteers and partners are the pri- Members of Thrivent Financial have a voice in where some of Thrivent’s mary source of RMBO’s power to accomplish its charitable funding is distributed through this program. We are grateful for this mission to conserve birds and their habitats. gift and appreciate the support of Thrivent members. Thank you! Editing and design: Teddy Parker-Renga 2 Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 2014 Calendar of Events For the latest on events, activities and programs, visit www.RMBO.org, sign up for our e-newsletter on our website or become a fan of RMBO on Facebook. July 12: Barr Lake Appreciation Day, Sept. 6: Fall Birding Festival, 7 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Barr Lake State Park, a.m. to noon, Barr Lake, Brighton, Brighton, Colo. Stop by the Old Stone Colo. House and pitch in! Sept. 11: Speaker series at July 20: Food Coop Earth Day (event DMNS: Birds-of-Paradise with Mountain Plover by Sherrie York rescheduled from April), downtown Fort evolutionary biologist Ed Scholes, time Collins, Colo. Stop by RMBO’s booth! TBD, Denver Museum of Nature & Sept. 27: NoCo Nature Festival (formerly Science. Info and tickets posted soon at known as the Northern Colorado Birding Aug. 16: Outdoor Mentors, 9 a.m. to 2 www.dmns.org/afterhours. Fair), location TBD, Fort Collins, Colo. p.m., Barr Lake, Brighton, Colo. Sept. 12-15: Yampa Valley Crane Festival, Oct. 21: Speaker series at DMNS: World Late August to mid-October: Bird various locations, Steamboat Springs and of Sound with Greg Budney, curator banding stations, various locations in Hayden, Colo. of audio at the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Colorado and western Nebraska. Visit Library, time TBD, Denver Museum of www.RMBO.org for information. Sept. 20: Brighton EcoFair, Brighton Nature & Science. Info and tickets posted Cultural Center, Brighton, Colo. soon at www.dmns.org/afterhours.