*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
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