Great Basin Bird Observatory facts for kids

The Great Basin Bird Observatory is a special group based in Reno, Nevada. It is a nonprofit organization that studies and protects birds, also known as ornithology. Since it started in 1997, its main goal has been to help birds and their homes in Nevada and nearby areas. They do this by working with others, doing scientific research, and teaching people.

What is the Great Basin Bird Observatory?

The Great Basin Bird Observatory was created as a science group focused on protecting nature. It does not take sides in politics. Its first big project was the first complete Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas. An atlas like this is a detailed map or book showing where different kinds of birds live and breed.

How it Started

For the atlas project, scientists worked in the field from 1997 to 2000. The results of this huge effort were published in a book by the University of Nevada Press in 2007. This book helped people understand where birds were found across Nevada.

Watching and Protecting Birds

Since 2002, the Great Basin Bird Observatory has focused on watching birds and using science to protect them. Their Nevada Bird Count program aims to bring together all the ways people watch birds on land across the state. They also have many projects to plan how to protect nature and check if those plans are working.

Some of their current activities include:

• Watching birds along the Lower Colorado River as part of a big conservation program.
• Helping to plan bird protection in the Walker River Basin.
• Long-term watching of the Lower Truckee River and places where they are fixing up areas along the river.
• Many smaller projects to count birds and plan for their protection in National Wildlife Refuges and other important areas.

Tracking Birds with Technology

The Great Basin Bird Observatory also does research projects. These include tracking birds like the elf owl, pinyon jay, and greater sage-grouse using special electronic tags called telemetry. They also create models to understand where many different birds live, how many there are, and what kind of places they like to use in the Intermountain West and Southwest.

Working with Others

Beyond these projects, the Great Basin Bird Observatory is also active in bigger efforts across the country. They work with groups like the Partners-in-Flight initiative and the Avian Knowledge Alliance. They also join other regional science groups and government programs that protect wildlife.

For example, in 2010, they finished the Nevada Comprehensive Bird Conservation Plan. This was a big plan to protect birds for the Nevada Partners-in-Flight chapter. In the same year, the observatory worked with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and other groups to create a wildlife plan for the entire state.