Monitoring

WEST has participated, developed, administered, and implemented many different types of monitoring plans for birds, amphibians, invertebrates, soils, and vegetation.  Below are some of the monitoring efforts we have participated in and been contracted to provide:

1. We are certified through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct surveys for the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and have developed a database through ArcGIS to promote data collection.  

2. We conduct secretive marshbird surveys and colonial nester flight line counts which comply with the national protocol standards.

3. We participate in the San Luis Valley Mid-winter eagle count as well as the aerial mid-winter waterfowl counts.  

4. We have conducted various methods for nest searches in all kinds of wetland habitats.

5. We have helped administer and conduct duck and goose banding projects and have experience with various trapping and catching methods.

6. We have conducted large scale vegetation mapping surveys on Colorado Division of Wildlife State Wildlife Areas in the San Luis Valley and the Bureau of Land Management's Blanca Wetland Management Area utilizing ArcGIS software and modeling created by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's HAPET Region 2 office.

7. We are proficient in many vegetation survey methods such as Modified Robels, Daubenmire squares, and belt transects to name a few.

8.  We annually map changes in weed populations and update existing databases.


Specific monitoring needs may be met through development of a unique database which may utilize ArcGIS software. 

Please contact us to help you develop monitoring plans and surveys that will provide you with the insights you need to make the right future management decisions.