— selected local and regional suggestions for SW Colorado
Updated April 2024
This list will be expanded as we identify more opportunities — please let us know if you are monitoring now, have suggestions, need help, or want to get involved.
- See our HCFS Observing Indicators page for an intro to “Observing & Citizen Science” and pages including Citizen Science apps. Our specific target species are also listed in the sidebar to the right.
- Daily Colorado Bird Sightings from ABA — see daily reports to be aware of rare sightings in your area
- Colorado River Watch — Volunteer river water quality monitoring.
- Mountain Studies Institute — Citizen Science projects including Forest Health Partnership, PikaNet, Bighorn Sheep, 416 Fire, and more.
- Monitor Bighorn Sheep while hiking in the alpine.
- La Plata Great Old Broads: monitoring Pikas, Bighorn Sheep, and invasive weeds.
- CoCoRaHS: Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network — volunteer reporting of rain, snow, hail, and associated data.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Wildlife Reporting Forms and Wildlife Viewing Locations.
- American Bird Conservancy — See current research on Brown-capped Rosy-Finches in alpine areas and report on eBird or CitSci.org
- I See Change — Easy reporting on how weather and climate are affecting your environment, bringing citizen observations and experiences to scientists and the media.
- Audubon Climate Watch — focusing on volunteer surveys of three species of bluebirds, four species of nuthatches, two goldfinches, Painted Buntings, and two towhee species twice a year as indicators of climate change.
- Sign up for Audubon, Cornell, and other birding groups to be notified of special “Bird Count” events through the year.
We also suggest:
- Unless you are reporting elsewhere above, simply use e-Bird to report these specific birds of concern:
- Pinyon Jays due to widespread loss of pinyon trees in the Southwest. And see the Pinyon Jay CitSci Hub.
- Lewis’s Woodpecker due to declining numbers.
- Brown-capped Rosy-Finches in the alpine as noted above.
- Bluebirds, nuthatches, goldfinches, Painted Buntings, and towhees if not reported through Audubon Climate Watch as above.
- Southwest Wetland Focus Area Committee has priority birds (and other wetland species) listed on page 4 and 5 in its Strategic Plan.
- Durango Bird Club Hotspots—see your local bird club for your area
