Breeding Bird Survey routes available in Colorado

[David Suddjian]

Colorado Birders,

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is our continent's premier long term bird monitoring program. There are many active BBS routes in Colorado, and right now 35 routes are open for a new observer. Open Routes are listed below, and you can view the vacant routes and some details for each at the BBS's Vacant Routes page. Choose the state and find the route. You can choose to show the route on the map, and view route details including species recorded on the route in prior years. 

Many open routes are in interesting areas of Colorado, and some are near to the Denver area. If you wish to sign on, your survey materials will be sent promptly. Routes are surveyed in the window of May 27 to July 7. So the season is upon us.

If you are an experienced BBS surveyor and would like to add a new route, great. If you would be new to the BBS, conducting these surveys requires significant field ID skills (especially by ear), and familiarity with the birds that live in the region. And the BBS is looking for a minimum of a three year commitment to survey the route. You should be able to identify the species known to be along the route by sound; that is, you, and not Merlin ;-)  You can view the list of species for each route. And be ready for the energetic commitment and time needed to perform the survey, which might include distant driving to and from the route on additional days. A scouting day is usually also needed for a new route. 

I'd be happy to talk about what is needed and how to prepare with anyone who is interested. I've been a BBS surveyor since 1992 and it is the best part of my birding year. I have multiple routes that I survey in Colorado, and there are many other surveyors, too, working behind the scenes and loving it. I think all strong Colorado birders who can make the time commitment should consider being a BBS volunteer surveyor. You will learn a lot, too.

David Suddjian

BBS Colorado state coordinator

Available Colorado Routes for 2024

Route #	Route Name	County
17003	Yampa	Routt
17006	Pinneo	Morgan, Logan
17015	Delta	Delta, Montrose
17017	Parlin	Gunnison
17019	Rush	El Paso, Lincoln
17020	Boyero	Lincoln
17028	Two Buttes	Baca, Prowers
17037	Waverly	Yuma
17039	Willow Peak	Eagle
17041	Tarryall	Park
17042	Adams Co.	Adams
17044	Bethune	Kit Carson
17056	Trinchera	Las Animas
17058	Campo	Baca, Prowers
17116	Colona 2	San Miguel, Montrose
17124	Blackhead Pk	Archuleta
17203	Buffalo Park	Grand
17205	Grover	Weld
17206	Stoneham	Weld
17209	Flattops	Rio Blanco
17210	Thomasville	Pitkin, Eagle
17303	Steamboat L.	Routt
17307	Julesburg	Sedgwick, Logan
17308	Baxter Pass	Garfield
17309	Ragged Mtn.	Delta, Mesa
17312	Bennett	Adams, Arapahoe
17320	Karval	Lincoln
17321	Sheridan Lak	Kiowa, Prowers
17327	Timpas	Otero, Las Animas
17359	Rifle Falls	Garfield
17361	Rollins Pass	Gilpin
17376	Ludlow	Las Animas
17412	Prospect Valley 2	Adams
17419	Doyle Bridge 2	Pueblo
17423	Animas 2	La Plata