Sac Audubon program focuses on red-tailed hawk nesting
For its monthly program, Sacajawea Audubon Society will host a virtual event featuring a presentation by outdoorswoman Barbara Tylka. “Project Nest, a Yellowstone Citizen Science Project: Red-tailed Hawks, Swans & Loons” will be held Monday, March 8th at 6:30pm.
2020 was the first year for Project Nest as a Yellowstone National Park Citizen Science Project. The work mainly concentrates on collecting data on red-tailed hawk nesting areas for data comparison from 2011-2015. Red-tailed hawks were selected as an index species because of their ubiquity in the northern range of Yellowstone. Observations will be used to evaluate population trends and to use them as indicators of habitat change in the park.
Nest monitoring of swans and loons have vastly expanded from previous years. These birds are easily disturbed and even a short time off the nest can result in egg failure. A major focus of this project is on-site visitor education at Swan, Wolf, and Grebe Lakes. By educating visitors, the Project hopes to increase nesting success.
Advance registration for this virtual event is required through www.sacajaweaaudubon.org.
After 30 years as a general surgeon, Tylka retired from practice and moved to Bozeman. She’s since indulged her love of Yellowstone by working retail at Yellowstone Lake and by volunteering in the YNP Citizen Science Program. Since moving here in 2017, Tylka has volunteered 3 years on the Yellowstone Phenology Project, designed to monitor environmental change over time across a 5,000 ft. elevation gradient within the park. When Project Nest came to fruition, she joined that as well. This year, Tylka is taking on a much bigger role as lead for this initiative and welcomes you to learn more about the project.
Sacajawea Audubon Society programs are free and open to the public. The events feature a special guest speaker the second Monday of each month, September through May. The organization’s mission is to build on an interest in birds to promote the conservation of our natural environment through enjoyment, education and action. •