October 2008 Newsleer of the Rocky Mountain Observatory Number 28 THE PRIMARY SOURCE

Our mission is to conserve and their habitats. RMBO finds Yellow-billed Cuckoos in western Colorado

Story and photo by Jason Beason, Special RMBO survey efforts Monitoring Projects Coordinator From 2003 through 2007, reports This summer field workers from of this rare west slope species Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory kept surfacing from a handful of (RMBO) for the first time in locations in the North Fork of a decade confirmed nesting in the Gunnison River (North Fork) western Colorado by the Yellow- valley during the breeding season. billed Cuckoo. The birds found by These observations suggested the RMBO researchers are believed that there may be a population to represent the western race of this Recently fledged Yellow-billed Cuckoo near Hotchkiss, Colorado on of cuckoos in the North Fork species which has been extirpated July 23rd, 2008. valley which includes the towns of in part of its range and is declining Hotchkiss and Paonia. We decided throughout the region. Western Colorado enough evidence existed that it History In western Colorado, Yellow-billed was time to conduct formal surveys. Cuckoos have never been considered Riparian areas are very important to RMBO’s Science Division, under the common; however, they were reported biological diversity. This is especially true Special Species Program, took the regularly in the Delta area along the in the arid western United States. Many lead on developing and conducting Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers as bird species that depend on riparian surveys for Yellow-billed Cuckoos. We recently as the early 1980s. Throughout habitat for survival are, unfortunately, wrote and received grants from the US the 1950s and 1960s cuckoos nested experiencing population declines. The Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), annually in agricultural areas near Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which inhabits Colorado Division of Wildlife Palisade, just west of Grand Junction. riparian areas with extensive cottonwood (CDOW), and the Bureau of Land Then, during the first Colorado Breeding galleries and well-developed understory Management to measure the extent of Bird Atlas (1987 to 1994), only three vegetation, is found on virtually every this population and search for evidence cuckoos were found in all of western western state’s species of concern list. of breeding. We partnered with the Colorado. USFWS, CDOW and the Bureau of Yellow-billed Cuckoos have declined In the summer of 1998, Coen Dexter, Land Management and enlisted twelve precipitously throughout the 20th century who has studied this species longer than volunteers and two interns to assist in in the western U.S. In fact, cuckoos anyone in western Colorado, floated this effort. were extirpated from British Colombia, over 200 miles of rivers in western Oregon, and Washington between Results Colorado and located no cuckoos 1920’s and 1950’s. In California, where RMBO surveyed 27 locations and was (one incidental sighting was recorded the species has been well-studied, there able to confirm breeding along the that summer near Grand Junction). It once existed an estimated 15,000 pairs North Fork of the Gunnison River. seemed that the Western Yellow-billed and today the population in that state is Cuckoos were documented during the Cuckoo was drifting towards extirpation estimated at 100 pairs. breeding season at six locations near in Colorado. Hotchkiss and one location near Paonia. Continued on page 3 Board of Directors Charles Hundertmark, Chairman From the Director... Charles Bell, Vice-Chairman Tammy VerCauteren, Interim Executive Director Warren Taylor, Ph.D., Secretary Carol Cochran, Ph.D. Fall is upon us and the majority of RMBO’s seasonal staff has returned to school Paul Slingsby with a brave few tackling fall migration surveys in the panhandle of Nebraska. Larry Modesitt, MBA, CQE, CT It is hard to see the days get shorter and the nights cooler, but we all enjoy the Joe Roller, M.D. Shawn Nowlin, J.D., LLM flurry of activity at our bird feeders as our migrant birds prepare and fuel up to Linda Luther, MBA, CPA, FLMI head south for the winter. Visit us at www.rmbo.org Cover drawing (Killdeer baby) by David Utterback Fall is also a time to celebrate harvest and the food that will end up on our tables Layout by Debra Dickey Edited by Chuck Hundertmark and accent our homes and festivities. For birders and friends that share a green RMBO Staff Contact Information gardening thumb, we are actively picking our produce and crossing our fingers Main Office: that the first freeze comes late this year. PO Box 1232, Brighton, CO 80601 As RMBO prepares for fall, we are looking forward to our rescheduled date for (303) 659-4348 Nelda Gamble - Bald Eagle Watch Coordinator, the annual picnic - October 18th. October is typically a pleasant month and [email protected] allows us to capture late migrants at our banding station as well as those that Nancy Gobris - Biologist/Banding Data Manager, [email protected] plan to call Barr Lake home for the winter. We hope you will join us for this Starr Nicely - Biologist, [email protected] celebration. (You’ll find details elsewhere in this newsletter.) Kristie Parker - Interim Education Coordinator, [email protected] Staff are entering and analyzing data and in this process it is apparent what a Jim Pauley - Accounting Manager, [email protected] strong contribution we have made this summer regarding species of conservation Jill Phillips - Accounting Assistant, [email protected] concern in Colorado and Nebraska and their distribution and abundance Fort Collins Office: information. We confirmed Yellow-billed Cuckoos are nesting on the West 230 Cherry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Primary Source (970) 482-1707 Slope as reported by Jason Beason in this issue of . We also Tammy VerCauteren - Interim Executive Director, were pleasantly surprised to discover Northern Saw-whet Owls and Common [email protected] Poorwills nesting throughout the panhandle of Nebraska (see Bart Bly’s article). Jeff Birek - Monitoring Biologist, [email protected] Jennifer Blakesley - Biometrician, [email protected] We are also getting ready to launch our first RMBO Conservation Birding Tour Alison Cariveau - Research Division Director, [email protected] to West Mexico. The tour promises to provide a once in a lifetime opportunity Nancy Drilling - South Dakota Colonial Waterbird Project Coordinator, to experience the diversity of life zones supported by western Mexico. More [email protected] than 500 species of birds including 90 endemics and many North American Seth Gallagher - Stewardship Division Interim Director, [email protected] migrants call this region home for at least part of the year. International Program David Hanni - Monitoring Division Director, Coordinator Arvind Panjabi’s article in this issue provides details. [email protected] Greg Levandoski - Biologist, [email protected] As we are preparing to close 2008 new opportunities for RMBO continue to Ross Lock - Mountain Plover Project Manager, develop. RMBO board and staff have determined that RMBO has an identity [email protected] Arvind Panjabi - International Programs Director, issue, and communications and outreach are critical. To advance RMBO’s [email protected] identity and better brand us as “Birds R Us”, we are working with Colorado David Pavlacky - Spatial Ecologist, [email protected] Chandman Sambuu - Computer Support Specialist, State University seniors as a part of their Public Relations class to help broaden [email protected] our identity with the general public and open new doors and opportunities with Rob Sparks - Biologist/Information Management Specialist, donors, members, and foundations. [email protected] Chris White - Biological Assistant, [email protected] We are also partnering with the National Association for Interpretation to host Nebraska Office: an interpretative course at our headquarters, The Old Stone House at Barr Lake. PO Box 489, Scottsbluff, NE 69363 Folks who attend the course will develop plans to make the Stone House into an (308) 220-0052 Bart Bly - Nebraska Prairie Partners Coordinator, educational center that marries the natural and agricultural heritage of Brighton [email protected] and Adams County. The weeklong course will culminate with teams presenting Amanda Keep - Nebraska Prairie Partners Educator, [email protected] their plans for the Stone House creating a working model for the board and Andrew Pierson - Coordinating Wildlife Biologist, staff to put into action. For more information: http://www.interpnet.com/ [email protected] certification/workshops/CIP_BrightonCO_Jun09.shtml Larry Snyder - Nebraska Prairie Partners Assistant, [email protected] As RMBO is winding down its 20th anniversary year celebration, we want to West Slope: take the time to thank you for your investment and continued support. We Jason Beason - Special Monitoring Projects Coordinator, also want to charge you with raising the stakes you have invested in us. This [email protected] Glenn Giroir - Senior Biologist, [email protected] can include upping your membership level, making a donation, volunteering, or th Private Lands Wildlife Biologists: telling a friend about us and bringing them to our picnic on October 18 . Your Patty Knupp, CDOW/NRCS, Pueblo contributions help RMBO direct our conservation efforts and help us continue to (719) 543-8386, ext. 112 conserve birds and their habitats. [email protected] Noe Marymor, CDOW/NRCS, Greeley (970) 330-0380, ext. 207 [email protected] Page 2  The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory October 2008  Number 28 RMBO 20th Anniversary Picnic Rescheduled Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory has rescheduled its 20th anniversary picnic for Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Old Stone House at Barr Lake State Park, Brighton. Popular speaker and American Please RSVP by October 15 to Jim Birding Association (ABA) Pauley Call (303) 659-4348, ext. 14. editor Ted Floyd will be the Also, check the RMBO web site www. keynote speaker. He will speak on rmbo.org for further information. “Frontiers in Field Ornithology.” The event also features: Northern Saw-whetSaw-whet Owl bbandinganding triptrip upup for bidbid at • Morning bird walks Concurrent workshop sessions will begin SSilentilent AuctionAuction!! • Visits to RMBO’s bird at 10 and 11 a.m. Susie Mottashed, author This will be a great opportuniopportunityty banding station of Who Lives in Your Backyard? Creating a for those of you interested in • Birding workshops journal that opens your eyes and heart to nearby owls to learn more aaboutbout theirtheir wonders, will be presenting a workshop on • Children’s activities ecoloecologygy and possibly see one field sketching birds. RMBO biologists • A silent auction in-the-hand. RMBO biologistbiologist Arvind Panjabi and Jason Beason will speak JJasonason Beason and White RiveRiverr on “The Mexican Connection,” and the Cost is $10 RMBO members, $12 non- National Forest biologist Kim “Yellow-billed Cuckoo” respectively; Mike members, children ages 17 and under PPotterotter will set up mist-nets and Carter, RMBO’s founder will talk about free. attemattemptpt to capturecapture and band the beginnings of the organization and NortNorthernhern Saw-whetSaw-whet Owls at a the restoration of the Old Stone House, RMBO’s banding station will be open ssiteite near Rifle,Rifle, Colorado on thethe and Lynn Wickersham, coordinator of the from 7 to 9:30 in the morning and field evening of Thursday, OctobeOctoberr project, will discuss the Colorado Breeding trips led by RMBO birding experts will 23, 22008.008. WWee gguaranteeuarantee a Bird Atlas II. leave from the Stone House between 7 campfire and goodgood stories! and 9 a.m.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, from page 1 The highlight of our surveys this summer 2) What is the breeding population for the Jacob Cooper and Bill Day. Volunteers occurred during our nest-searching North Fork Valley? on the project were Larry Arnold, st efforts on July 21 when we located a Next summer, RMBO would like to Jennifer Blakesley, Bob Bradley, nest with two nestlings. conduct comprehensive surveys in west Cheryl Day, Coen Dexter, Nic Korte, RMBO also led a broader effort to survey slope riparian areas including the North Tom Litteral, Forrest Luke, Andrea for cuckoos during the breeding season Fork of the Gunnison to better quantify Robinsong, Brenda Wright, and Dave throughout western Colorado including the Yellow-billed Cuckoo breeding Wright. the Colorado, Dolores, Gunnison, San population. This information is critical Miguel, Uncompahgre, and Yampa River to partners including the CDOW who valleys. These surveys yielded cuckoos has listed the Yellow-billed Cuckoo as a Membership Note at two new locations along the Yampa Species of Greatest Conservation Need River in Moffat County and at a historical in their Wildlife Action Plan. Results for 2009 location near Nucla in Montrose County. from our efforts will help guide them in Starting in 2009, we plan to go In total, cuckoos were reported at eleven future management and monitoring efforts digital as our main mechanism for of 80 locations. regarding this species and riparian habitat. distributing the RMBO newslet- Results will also help direct RMBO in Our success in finding cuckoos in ter. Please update your email (and future monitoring and outreach efforts. western Colorado this summer raises other) information with Starr several questions including: Yellow-billed Cuckoo Field Team Nicely at [email protected], or Jill Phillips at jill.phillips@rmbo. Jason Beason’s field team for the 1) What is the west slope population size org. of Yellow-billed Cuckoos? Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey included

The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory  October 2008  Number 27  Page 3 RMBO Tests New Protocol in Black Hills By Emily Jerman, Field Intern in the grasslands, while Western Tanagers RMBO’S mission is conserving birds and and Ovenbirds sang with pride over their their habitats. This protocol is working new found spring territory in this beautiful towards that mission. The collaboration island in the prairie. between NGPN and RMBO will produce My time spent in the Black Hills was pure a better understanding of what is causing enjoyment. This enjoyment also had a trends such as the Burrowing Owl research purpose. We were testing a bird population decline in the Park. It will also monitoring protocol to provide 13 National help detect unseen, unconfirmed, or rare Parks units in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and birds in the area. RMBO will be able to add The Black Hills, SD. Photo Ted Toombs. eastern Wyoming with information they precision to the bird data field biologists collect. This protocol will also assist with The Black Hills of South Dakota and need to conserve their bird populations and habitats. limited budgets and allow more date to be Wyoming are referred to as “An island of collected, interpreted, and incorporated into trees in a sea of grass”, and rightfully so. Many current bird-monitoring protocols management efforts. The pillars of tree covered Precambrian include distance sampling. This kind of granite disgorge into the sky from the sampling requires a North American Plains, making it a harbor large number of bird for plant and life in the area that detections to make Emily Jerman, Intern is truly worth observing. These pillars are a useful model of Emily Jerman is a most notably recognized for the well kown the data collected, senior at Colorado Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, and Crazy making it difficult to State University. She is Horse Memorial. The hills were formed understand rare bird expected to graduate from volcanic uplift millions of years ago, populations due to in May, 2009 from with the core of the dome shaped island their small individual the Warner College Au recording unit used in of Natural Resources reaching 7,424 ft. above sea level. the Black Hills. The fur numbers. This led shields the microphone to a new monitoring with a degree in Parks and Protected Area There is a myriad of North American from wind noise. Management. She worked for RMBO in the habitat types in the Black Hills such as protocol, in which participating parks set out Automated summer of 2008 as a seasonal field intern mixed short-grass prairie at the edge of the in the Black Hills of South Dakota at Wind peaks, quaking aspen stands, spruce forests, Recording Units (ARUs) provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, for field Cave National Park and now supports and Ponderosa pine dominated regions RMBO in the Fort Collins office. on the drier south facing slopes. This is workers like myself this season. Upon arrival at these ARUs placed along my During her summer internship, she had where eastern deciduous trees such as bur a chance to work with an experimental oak and American elm reach their western transects, I would simply blurt “start”, record the birds that I detected for seven project to answer important questions extent, creating a confluence of eastern about point count monitoring methods. At and western habitats. The Lakota Indians minutes as well as their distances on a datasheet, and call out “end” when the some points on her count routes, Audio looked at these Hills with a respectful Recording Units recording singing activity eye due to the beauty and diversity of the time was up. I made a total of 120 audio recordings, visiting four units a day for two before, during, and after her count periods. area, making the Black Hills a spiritual and By comparing her counts with the recorded geological monument. months in my assigned transects scattered randomly throughout Wind Cave National data, RMBO analysts will try to answer My experience as a 2008 seasonal Park, a participant of this new protocol. several questions: 1. How do birds respond field intern for Rocky Mountain Bird to the observer being present (i.e. do they Observatory (RMBO) at Wind Cave The audio recordings will be analyzed stop singing as the observer approaches)? National Park was nothing short of the using Raven, a sound analyzer software 2. When do singing males arrive? 3. Are description above. I have never in my 22 developed by Cornell. It will compare any species are missed by the observer or years seen comparable magenta and orange the on-the-ground distance sampling the ARU? (The observer can obviously see sunrises spreading across dew soaked recorded by field workers to this new ARU individuals and hear individuals further than short grass prairie and ponderosa covered detection technology. Hopefully, with the ARU.) 4. How do singing rates change hills. There were countless elk herds and both field workers and audio recordings, over the duration of a count day. pronghorn antelope, and I witnessed a an understanding of bird populations This article is her personal account of her bison being born 300 meters away from me through visual and audio detections will summer experience on the project. and my dangling-with-field equipment self. create a more precise understanding of the The Upland Sandpipers made passes at me community dynamics and individual bird populations of the 13 National Parks.

Page 4  The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory  October 2008  Number 28 West Mexico Conservation Bird Tour Scheduled By Arvind Panjabi, International Program Director endemic and near-endemic species! All this in Some of the unique birds we will seek an area less than 1/8 the size of Colorado! out include Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, Singing Quail, Lilac-crowned and Yellow- RMBO Conservation Birding Tours combine headed Parrot, Military world class bird-watching with science- Macaw, Mexican based education to showcase the biodiversity Parrotlet, Colima of continentally-important bird areas and Pygmy-Owl, Sparkling- support local conservation programs. These tailed , tours are geared for serious nature enthusiasts Mexican , and bird-watchers who enjoy getting off the Bumblebee White-throated Magpie-Jay beaten path, becoming better informed about Hummingbird, Cloud Forest, Jalisco biodiversity conservation, experiencing local Flammulated Flycatcher, Slaty, Dwarf, and This winter, Rocky Mountain Bird culture, seeing lots of amazing birds – and Golden vireos, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Observatory will offer its first RMBO making a difference!. Trips are led by regional Aztec Thrush, Red-breasted Chat, Red Conservation Birding Tours trip to two West and international bird conservation experts Warblers, Orange-breasted Buntings and Mexico biosphere reserves. The trip to this with local knowledge and access to key many more! birding areas. neotropical biodiversity hotspot is scheduled Cost for this 7-night, all-inclusive trip is $2000 for March 7-14, 2009. On this trip, we’ll per person (excl. airfare to Guadalajara, Join Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and explore the Sierra Jalisco). The trip is limited to 8 participants, the Manantlán Institute of Ecology and de Manantlán and and will include at least two guides at all Biodiversity Conservation in Jalisco, Mexico, Chamela-Cuitzmala times. For more information, including a and discover the extraordinary abundance and biosphere reserves, complete bird list, tentative itinerary, how to diversity of endemic and migrant birds in this two of Mexico’s Aztec Thrush reserve your spot, and more, visit www.rmbo. globally-important biodiversity hotspot! Over most important org. Proceeds of the trip will support bird 520 bird species can be found in southern protected areas, and stay overnight at research conservation in West Mexico. Jalisco and adjacent Colima -- including the stations in these reserves’ core zones – areas majority of wintering migrants from western that are closed to the public. We’ll also visit other Bird photos, Ken Rosenberg North America, and an astonishing 91 sites to experience the full diversity of birds Habitat photo, Arvind Panjabi and habitats native to the region. RMBO to Add Private Lands Wildlife Biologists By Seth Gallagher, Interim Stewardship Division Director In July, RMBO’s Stewardship Division to expand habitat conservation efforts to throughout the state, benefitting not only received the exciting news that it was awarded the western half of the state. For the past grassland birds, but also species dependent on a 5-year contract from the Colorado Division 10 years, the Stewardship Division’s Prairie sagebrush, mountain shrub, and other habitat of Wildlife (CDOW) in partnership with Partners program has addressed the decline types. the Natural Resources Conservation Service of grassland bird species by enrolling more The new RMBO biologists will be based out (NRCS), to place four Private Lands Wildlife than 80,000 acres of shortgrass prairie and of Greeley, Pueblo, Durango, and Steamboat Biologists throughout the state. associated habitats in eastern Colorado, Springs and will have responsibility for The Private Lands Wildlife Biologist Program Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota implementing habitat conservation and (PLWB) places wildlife biologists into into conservation and habitat enhancement outreach efforts in their respective geographic NRCS offices around the state to provide programs. regions. Two biologists, Noe Marymor technical resources to landowners who want We have reached thousands of landowners (Greeley) and Patty Knupp (Pueblo), were to incorporate wildlife conservation efforts and resource professionals through retained from a previous contract and into their private operations. Under the workshops, meetings, and one-on-one will continue to apply their experience new agreement, this successful program will conversations to engage them in stewardship and expertise in Northeast and Southeast continue to use CDOW and NRCS expertise efforts for species of conservation concern. Colorado. They have been coordinating and and resources but will gain additional strength The success of this program has served working with RMBO on conservation efforts by incorporating RMBO’s 10-years of as a model for how to achieve wildlife for years and are a huge addition to the experience in private land conservation. conservation on private land. With the team. The Durango and Steamboat Springs The addition of four biologists represents additional staff and Farm Bill funding in positions will be filled in upcoming months. a major growth phase for RMBO’s place, the Stewardship Division now has the RMBO welcomes these new biologists and is Stewardship Division and an opportunity tools to develop habitat enhancement projects excited about the opportunities that lay ahead. The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory  October 2008  Number 28  Page 5 Nighttime Surveys in Nebraska Staff Migrations Panhandle Yield Interesting Results Migrating In... Bart Bly, Nebraska Prairie Partners Coordinator Jeff Birek, Biologist Nebraska. Results from this study suggest Jeff received his B.S. that instead of Northern Saw-whet Owls in Environmental being rare and limited to a small portion Biology and of northwestern Nebraska, they are more Management from common and widespread and thus should University of be considered and incorporated into California, Davis management and monitoring efforts. (2003). Since 2003, he has worked with In late May and early June, RMBO and raptors, songbirds, and NGPC technicians conducted over 50 survey gamebirds in 4 U.S. states and Mexico. Jeff Chadron State Park, NE. Photo Travis Wooten transects for Common Poorwills throughout was the Wyoming crew leader for RMBO in the panhandle and southwestern Nebraska, During the early spring months of 2008, 2007 and conducted point counts in Southern beginning at sunset and going through Colorado in 2008. He is currently working Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) sunrise when poorwills are active. Poorwills employees, in cooperation with Nebraska on monitoring projects in the Fort Collins were encountered on most transects, office. Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and did not appear to be limited to any through Nebraska Prairie Partners, conducted specific portions of the study area. While Patty Knupp, Private Lands Biologist nighttime surveys for Northern Saw-whet they appeared to be most abundant and Patty received Owls and Common Poorwills in the pine commonly encountered in areas with both her B.S. from forests and rocky escarpments of western rocky escarpments and coniferous trees, they the University Nebraska. Nocturnal surveys were an were also located on rocky, broken terrain of Wisconsin- adventure to say the least; the terrain looks without trees. As a result of this RMBO Stevens Point different at night and your mind tends to study, there is now quantitative support in in Wildlife wander to what may be following/tracking western Nebraska for the conservation status Management, you. What an awesome experience to have of Common Poorwills in the Nebraska Biology and Natural Resources and an M.S. close encounters with owls and poorwills, as Natural Legacy Plan. in Wildlife Management from South Dakota well as the diversity of wildlife supported in State University. Her thesis included work on western Nebraska. As a result of this cooperative study we wild turkeys and their habitat. Patty worked anticipate helping with a state-wide protocol as a Farm Wildlife Biologist with the VA While it was previously believed that a few for nightjars. We pair of Northern Saw-whet Owls may breed Department of Game and Inland Fisheries also anticipate (VDGIF) for 13 years, with statewide duties in the western Pine Ridge of Nebraska, and wildlife biologists that Common Poorwills were abundant and working primarily on bobwhite quail and in the panhandle other early succession wildlife on private widespread throughout the panhandle, data incorporating supporting these claims were limited at best. lands. Patty has been working as a Private our results into Lands Wildlife Biologist in Southeast Therefore, RMBO designed and implemented their management a study to survey for these nocturnal species Colorado with NRCS and CDOW for the prescriptions past two years. She is stationed in Pueblo in order to fill knowledge gaps for the state on private and wildlife action plan, the Nebraska Natural Northern Saw-whet owl. NRCS Field Office. Photo Nancy Bell public lands. Legacy Plan. The Nebraska Greg Levandoski, Biologist, International In April and early May, RMBO technicians Natural Legacy Plan is the guiding Program conducted a total of 20 walking/road surveys document for NGPC and the results form Greg received a B.S. in repeated three times each in the Pine Bluffs this survey effort helps provide important Ecology and Evolutionary area of the southwestern panhandle, Wildcat feedback loops for the guide as well as Biology from the Hills, and Pine Ridge of western Nebraska. future conservation efforts the partnership University of New Of these 20 locations, Northern Saw-whet embarks on. RMBO’s mission is to conserve Hampshire in 1996 and Owls were recorded on 14 of the survey birds and their habitats, and abundance, then promptly fell in love sites, including all sites in the Wildcat Hills distribution, and habitat information are the with avian field research. and most sites in the Pine Ridge. Of the 14 foundation to make this happen. Through He has worked on a wide sites where owls were recorded, four of the the Nebraska Prairie Partnership, we have a variety of research projects ranging from surveys in the Pine Ridge yielded multiple network in place to help share these results monitoring nesting alcids in the Bering Sea, saw-whets in the respective areas. Also, including an upcoming workshop in the to counting migrating raptors along western during the Common Poorwill surveys, NGPC Pine Ridge for landowners and resource ridgelines and chasing warblers through employees encountered Northern Saw-whet professionals. Caribbean thorn forests. However, most of Owls in the Loess Canyons of southwestern his work has been in monitoring populations

Page 6  The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory  October 2008  Number 28 of passerines in the western U.S. The search Kristie Parker, Interim Education scholarship to study Wildlife Ecology in for a broad base of experience to understand Coordinator Australia and is currently finishing his PhD avian conservation needs has led him to work Kristie is a 2003 from the The University of Queensland. in 13 U.S. states (8 western), 3 Mexican states, graduate of the David first worked for RMBO 1995 as a and Jamaica. Currently, Greg is working with University of field technician and continued to work on the International Program on a broad scale Wisconsin-Milwaukee the landscape ecology of birds in juniper project throughout northern Mexico which with a degree in woodlands and subtropical rainforests. David joined RMBO in April 2008 and is working Ross Lock, Mountain Plover Nest Biology and a concentration in wildlife. She researched Chronic Wasting Disease on the spatial ecology of playa wetlands in Conservation Project Manager/Wildlife eastern Colorado. Biologist in White-Tailed Deer populations for Ross received a B.S. in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Chris White, Biologist Resources before moving to Colorado to Zoology and Botany (1964) Chris received a B.S. in study Mountain Plover populations for and a M.S. in Zoology (1966) Biology from Arizona the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Kristie both from Fort Hays State State University in 2002. worked for the City of Fort Collins where she University. He worked for After graduating, he managed a crew of 10 seasonal employees the Nebraska Game and volunteered at Liberty responsible for habitat improvement on over Parks Commission as a Wildlife, an avian 33,000 acres of municipal open space. She Wildlife Biologist from 1966 rehabilitation facility in joined RMBO in March 2008 and is currently to 2001, serving as a District Supervisor of Arizona, and worked the interim Education Coordinator until Wildlife Management Areas for 5 years and occasional field jobs. After moving to Fort March of 2009 at which point she will enjoy as the Nongame and Endangered Species Collins, Colorado, he took a job working spending time with her newborn. Coordinator for 30 years. Ross was a member for RMBO as a data entry technician in of the Whooping Crane and Piping Plover the fall of 2006. He currently works in the national recovery teams. Ross moved to James Pauley, CPA; Monitoring Division planning and conducting Colorado in 2001 and began working with Accounting Manager field work. RMBO in 2004 as a seasonal field biologist James earned his BS conducting Mountain Plover nest surveys in and MS in Accounting southeastern Colorado and bird surveys on from the University of Staff Migrating Out playa lakes throughout the eastern plains of Wyoming in 2002 and Amanda Morrison, Education Colorado. Ross became the Mountain Plover 2003 respectively. After Nest Conservation Project Manager in 2007. Coordinator finishing his education, Amanda came to RMBO he worked for two years Noe Marymor, Private Lands Biologist as Assistant Education in Public Accounting in Noe received her B.S. in Director coordinating Lubbock, Texas, passed and teaching the Denver Wildlife Biology from the Uniform CPA exam, Colorado State University metro area programs and and became a Certified Public Accountant the Birds Beyond Borders in 2005. Since then she has (CPA). After moving to Colorado, James worked as a private lands program. In 2005 she worked for two years as Reimbursement created the Summer Bird biologist in both Nebraska Analyst for The University of Colorado and Colorado, helping Camp and directed it until Hospital. James began working for RMBO in 2008. She co-organized landowners develop September 2007. and implement habitat public outreach events such as the Kite & Flight Festival, International conservation projects on David Pavlacky, Migratory Bird Day, and the Fall Bird Festival, their land. Noe joined Spatial Ecologist and was involved in the recently-created RMBO in September 2008 as a Private A Colorado native, Bird Education Network speaking on the Lands Wildlife Biologist and works with the David received a BS panel at the first national conference. As Natural Resources Conservation Service in Wildlife Biology Education Coordinator, she worked closely and Colorado Division of Wildlife to deliver from Colorado State with volunteers, educators, field staff, and habitat conservation projects through Farm University (1995) and partners to facilitate all of RMBO’s Colorado Bill funding sources in Northeast Colorado. a MS in Zoology and education programs. Her plans are to finish Noe is based out of the Regional NRCS Physiology from The a Master’s of Education degree at Colorado office in Greeley. University of Wyoming State University and continue to teach about (2000). He accepted an international wildlife.

The Primary Source  Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory  October 2008  Number 28  Page 7 Join Us! 6KRZ\RXUVXSSRUWIRU5RFN\0RXQWDLQ %LUG2EVHUYDWRU\ Experience the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to protect some of the world’s most important, enjoyable, and beautiful creatures! Become a ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY member today! 10% discount for members! (If you are already a member, please recycle this newsletter by sharing it with a friend and encouraging membership!) Short Sleeved T-Shirt (ash, white) $15.00 Long Sleeve T-Shirt (ash, white) $20.00 Polo Shirt (forest green, charcoal) $20.00 ` Benefactor...... $5000 Name______Baseball Cap (dk gray, navy, sage green, khaki) $17.00 Large Organic Cotton Tote Bags (color logo) $15.00 ` Patron...... $1000 Address______City/State/Zip______Travel Tumbler and Velvet Bag $15.00 ` Steward...... $500 Email ______Shirt Sizes: S M L XL 2X (LS white T-Shirt also in ` Guardian...... $250 Phone ______Youth Large - compares to Adult XS) ` Sponsor...... $100 Amount enclosed ______` Dual/Family...... $60 ` New Member ` Renewal 1) Send order form below and check to: ` Supporter...... $35 Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory ` Please send me information about planned giving. Attn: Merchandise Department ` Student...... $20 ` I am interested in volunteering. PO Box 1232 Brighton, CO 80601 Please make check payable to Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and mail with this form to: 2) Pay with Visa or Mastercard by calling (303)659-4348, ext 12 RMBO ATTN: Membership P.O. Box 1232 Shipping & Handling Charges Sub-total: ______Brighton, CO 80601 $0.00-25.00..... Add $4.95 10% member discount: ______$25.01-75.00... Add $6.00 Shipping: ______MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS? $75.01-125.00..Add $8.00 TOTAL: ______Call (303)659-4348 or e-mail [email protected] THANK YOU for supporting Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Name: ______and western bird conservation! Address: ______City/State/Zip: ______Phone or Email: ______

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The Primary Source # 28 October 2008