Nick Komar retired from his biologist position at the end of 2022 and the next day began a year-long quest for 900 species of birds without leaving the USA. To accomplish this record-setting feat, he would visit over 20 USA states, including Alaska, Hawaii, and four territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). 

Pinyon Jays are unique corvids with fascinating and complex life histories. In recent years, their long-term declines have led to increased attention from managers and a petition for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Pinyon Jay conservation is now at a critical inflection point, with decisions pending that could influence the species’ trajectory for years…

With their famous songs and nocturnal lives, nightjars are among the most iconic birds in the U.S. For centuries, they’ve shaped our songs, poetry, and literature. For many of us, nightjars like Eastern Whip-poor-wills and Common Nighthawks also root us in the places we call home. But despite their importance, nightjar numbers are declining. Most…

Join hawk watch counter Emma Riley to learn about raptor migration along Dinosaur Ridge in Colorado. Emma returns in 2025 for her fourth year counting migrating raptors on Dinosaur Ridge. Named for its world-renowned fossil beds, this ridge is also a window to the seasonal movement of raptors through Colorado. The birds migrate along the Front…

Join Eric as he shares the details of his 28-day journey to Aotearoa (the Maori language name for New Zealand), where he explored both the North and South Islands, visiting a land that has been known to birds for nearly 70 million years but to land mammals and humans for less than one thousand.

Dr. Horton will discuss how his lab uses remote-sensing tools, like radar, to better quantify the number of migrants filling nighttime airspaces, determine where and when migrants are impacted by artificial light, and how these data can be integrated with community science records to better understand migration and forecast movements. Dr. Kyle Horton is an assistant…

Whether looking for a new birding spot near home or planning an extended trip to the far corners of the state, you’ve probably used a bird-finding guide to help find a prime location. Ten years ago, Ken Ostermiller was thinking about bringing bird-finding guides into the 21st century using crowd-sourcing. The site he developed based…

On January 25, 2024 the Speaker Series will re-start with Dr. Lauryn Benedict, a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, speaking on the fascinating world of female bird song. Female birds of most species were thought to not have any song for much of the history of ornithology. Recent work shows…

Erin Gelling is the Executive Director for Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition. Erin has a strong background in avian wildlife, botany, and environmental education. She completed her Master of Science in Rangeland Ecology from the University of Wyoming working with Greater Sage-grouse and completed her undergraduate degree in Ecology with minor in Geographic Information Systems from…

Whether or not your upcoming travel plans include Africa, this talk will offer lots to think about regarding global and local conservation, plus the importance of vultures in our landscape.