Get Involved: Resource Stewardship - Raptor Monitoring

Raptor Monitoring

Description:

Welcome to the Raptor Monitoring Department!

Raptors are keystone predators - animals without which the ecosystem would fail. 

Raptors are carnivores, and their food base is comprised of fish, mammals, and reptiles. If there is a lack or decline in raptor population, one of the reasons is often lack of prey species. Therefore, these top-level carnivores provide insight into populations of small animals within the parks. 

Some raptors have specific breeding and nesting needs that can indicate something about the functions of the larger system. Bald eagles and northern harriers provide good windows into the ecosystem puzzle, and whether certain areas of the park may be experiencing excess disturbance. From there, we can formulate suggestions about how to promote healthy system functioning. 

Besides these invaluable benefits, raptors are amazing, charismatic creatures that are relatively easy and a whole lot of fun to monitor! It’s a great way to learn about the ecosystem and get volunteers involved in public land stewardship and management.

Seeing a bird of prey in the wild is an incredible experience and one that is quite common in many of our state parks. We want to keep it that way. By staying on top of the whereabouts, behaviors and populations of the raptors that call our parks home, we can plan ahead when considering land use and recreation changes. By protecting their territory and allowing them their space, we carry on the opportunity to spot a raptor for generations to come. 

Responsibilities:

1.) Must become trained as Raptor Monitor by CPW Resource Stewardship and able to make at least a 1-year commitment

2.) Intermediate raptor identification skills and access to necessary equipment such as binoculars or a spotting scope required.

3.) Become familiar with a particular State Park and observe raptors during both the winter and the summer nesting season twice per month.

4.) Use email and computers to enter data and communicate with the project managers.

5.) During the winter, travel around the park on a regular basis, visiting winter monitoring points and following a standardized monitoring protocol to observe and record raptor activity. During the summer, identify and monitor raptor nests. Follow a standardized monitoring protocol to observe and record raptor nesting activity. Complete raptor monitoring datasheet for every formal observation and enter data in online database.

6.) Attend meetings and training events.

7.) Have a good time and get recognized for your efforts!

QUALIFICATIONS DESIRED

- Have own transportation and be willing to travel to site

- Ability to walk the site. Length and level of difficulty of getting to site varies by park. Some require only minimal walking. Others require traversing sometimes difficult and unmarked terrain (such as at State Forest, Mueller, Spinney/Eleven Mile, Staunton, Eldorado, and Golden Gate).

Time Commitment:

Bi-weekly hour needs range between state parks and seasons. 1 full year commitment required.

Volunteer Benefits:

1.) Collaborate and connect with CPW staff and volunteers

2.) Increase raptor identification skills and natural history knowledge

3.) Receive Resource Stewardship Volunteer uniform items

4.) Access to raptor monitoring and identification resources and materials

Interests:

Outdoors and Community Science - Bird Watching, Outdoors and Community Science - Raptor Monitoring, General - Ongoing Volunteering

Places:

Steamboat Lake State Park, Barr Lake State Park, Rifle Gap State Park, John Martin Reservoir State Park, Cherry Creek State Park, Lake Pueblo State Park, Chatfield State Park, Lathrop State Park, Navajo State Park, Spinney Mountain State Park, Mueller State Park, Staunton State Park, Eleven Mile State Park, Lory State Park, James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park, State Forest State Park, Boyd Lake State Park, Highline Lake State Park, Harvey Gap State Park, Ridgway State Park, St. Vrain State Park, Stagecoach State Park, Jackson Lake State Park, Rifle Falls State Park, Pearl Lake State Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Roxborough State Park, Castlewood Canyon State Park