Raptor Program Overview

The Statewide Volunteer Raptor Monitoring Program is a coordinated and standardized method of monitoring and cataloguing raptor activity within State Parks.  We currently have volunteers working at Barr Lake, Castlewood Canyon, Cherry Creek, Chatfield, Eldorado, Golden Gate Canyon and St. Vrain.  We are planning to begin programs at Cheyenne Mountain and John Martin State Park.  Stewardship is adding parks slowly due to the small staff size.  We need to be able to manage the volunteers, so that they get the optimal experience and we get the necessary data to protect these marvelous creatures and our parks resources. 

There are two primary goals of the program.  The first is to document raptor nests and GPS locations.  The raptor nests are then monitored bi-weekly by volunteers who send in Excel spreadsheets with species, behavior, location and eventually nest success information.  The second goal is to document raptor usage of the parks during the winter.  Volunteers travel bi-weekly to pre-determined winter monitoring reports and again, send in detailed Excel spreadsheets with sightings and behavior information.  This information is compiled at the Stewardship office and has become a valuable tool for evaluation park resources and development projects.

This program would not be a success without the dedication and hard work of the Statewide Volunteer Program and the Park Volunteer Coordinators that assist with this program.  This is truly a collaborative effort that is helping us to understand and appreciate our park systems! 

Thank you to everyone who participates in this program!

Check out our Statewide Volunteer Raptor Monitoring Handbook.