[Douglbirds] Second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas

[Glenn Walbek]

All,

I am forwarding this message from Tony Leukering regarding the 2nd Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas.  Your help in the form of field work and/or contributions is requested.  I am a Regional Coordinator for this project, overseeing the region (R17) that includes Douglas and Elbert Counties (and more).  Please read the attached message, and contact Tony or I if you'd be willing to survey a block, or if you have further questions.

Glenn Walbek
Castle Rock, CO
720-560-3671

Announcing the Second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas – Atlas II!

 Atlas II: About the Project

Field work for the first Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas was initiated in 1987.  As Breeding Bird Atlases are typically repeated every 20 years, the Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership has initiated efforts to conduct a second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas -- 

 Atlas II.

Field work will begin in 2007 and the project is expected to take at least five years to complete.  The Atlas II results will provide many practical and scientific benefits to various governmental and non-governmental organizations through:

• Use in wildlife management and planning,
• Use in environmental impact statements,
• Comparison with the first Atlas's results, and
• Increased knowledge about Colorado's birds.
 
The results will be available in three forms:


• A digital database,
• A published book, and
• An Atlas II Internet document.

How it Works

The Atlas II project adds a unique dimension to birding, one through which field workers can enjoy their hobby, or work, but at the same time provide valuable information about Colorado's birds.  The Atlas II project plans to survey one of the six blocks (about 3 miles on a side) of each USGS 7.5' topographic map in the state (>1700 blocks).  Observers do not have to find actual nests, rather they record birds observed and categorize them as Confirmed, Probable, or Possible breeders by the behavior they exhibit.  Each block will require an estimated 20-30 hours to complete, thus most observers will have time to survey multiple blocks during the five years.


How You Can Participate

You can volunteer as a field worker, support the project financially, or both. Field workers commit to surveying one or more blocks during the Atlas period and report the results to the Atlas II project.  The project welcomes both birders and professional ornithologists as field workers, and invites any who support efforts to learn about Colorado's wildlife to make a financial contribution.  Should you wish to donate to the project and/or volunteer to do some fieldwork, please contact me (tony.leukering at rmbo.org), as I am the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator.  If you are interested in conducting field work, I will send you printed materials on the hows, wheres, and whys of the project. 

I will be presenting about the Atlas II project to many bird clubs and Audubon chapters throughout the state (I have already presented to the Durango Bird Club and the Denver Field Ornithologists), and I encourage all to attend where possible, as I will be taking block signups at those events.

 The Need for Sponsors 

As volunteers will do most of the field work, Atlas II will cost a small fraction of what a large paid staff would cost.  However, the cost will still be substantial, only a small part of which is covered by cooperating agencies.  Simply organizing and administering the project requires a full-time Project Director.  Therefore, the Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership seeks funding from corporations and foundations and has revived its membership system for individuals and organizations. 

The Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and our charter partners include: 
    100s of volunteers 
    Audubon Colorado and chapters 
    Colorado Division of Wildlife 
    Colorado Field Ornithologists 
    Denver Field Ornithologists 
    Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
    ERO Resources Corp. 
    Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 
    SWCA, Inc. 
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

Sincerely,

Tony Leukering
Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
14500 Lark Bunting Lane
Brighton, CO 80603
http://www.rmbo.org/specialproj/atlas2.html

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