*Full-time Hawkwatcher Not Available at Dinosaur; HawkWatch Education Programs Continue*
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) has been unable to obtain funding for a full-time hawk watcher at the Dinosaur Ridge for the spring season. Though a hawk watcher will not be available, HawkWatch education programs at the sites will be conducted from March 16 through May 8. In addition, two training sessions will be offered for prospective hawk watchers as the first step toward developing a cadre of volunteer hawk watchers. RMBO biologists have gathered data on raptor migration at the Dakota Hogback (Dinosaur Ridge) for most of the last 15 years. However, funding shortfalls have made it difficult to support a full-time hawk watcher in recent years. Consequently, the observatory will be assessing ways to maintain the raptor migration data collection in future years. Included in the plans will be consideration of use of volunteers to help maintain continuity of observation. On two days this season, RMBO biologists will provide training at the hogback on identification of raptors in flight and HawkWatch data collection protocols. Data collected by volunteer hawk watchers after training will be accepted by RMBO as part of the program. The first training date will be March 28, 2009. Please contact Jeff Birek at jeff.bi...@rmbo.org to reserve a spot. RMBO has also provided education programs at the HawkWatch site. Those programs for school classes and other groups, will be continued this spring, beginning March 16. RMBO’s Hawk Watch program takes participants to the ridge to see how the geologic features influence the hawks’ flight and why such large numbers of birds are moving through that area in the spring. Educators will teach about the different types of hawks that might be seen, their adaptations to specific habitats, and differences between hawk species and other raptors. To schedule a Hawk Watch program, contact Cassy Bohnet at 303-659-4348 ext 15 or cassy.boh...@rmbo.org. Thanks, Jeff Birek Biologist, RMBO --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---