Bird Monitoring in Rocky Mountain National Park

Connor, Jeff

Rocky Mountain National Park initiated a raptor and owl monitoring program in 1988 and a songbird monitoring program in 1993. Before 1988 there was no long-term monitoring program other than work on white-tailed ptarmigan. However, there were a number of research projects related to birds (reports, thesis and dissertations are in the park library). The protocols for songbird monitoring were modified in 1994, and the modified design was used to survey breeding birds through 2000. In 2000, Park staff requested that the U.S. Geological Survey undertake an external scientific review of the existing monitoring program design and protocols. This review coincided with a new initiative in the National Park Service to develop a standardized national monitoring program at national parks across the U.S. The parallel efforts to evaluate current monitoring programs provided an opportunity to assess the ROMO avian monitoring program in the context of the broader monitoring initiative. In turn, the review of ROMO avian monitoring program can provide guidance to national efforts on: 1) procedures for evaluating monitoring programs, 2) identification of potential deficiencies that may be common to existing programs, and 3) recommendations for improvements.

Bird Monitoring in Rocky Mountain National Park

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