Great Basin Bird Observatory has launched a number of monitoring projects, including two new MAPS bird banding stations and monitoring projects in the Lahontan Valley, the Upper Muddy River Valley, and at Pyramid Lake. In addition, GBBO is actively working on several projects to increase public awareness of bird and habitat conservation, such as the annual Spring Wings Bird Festival in Fallon.

Bird Mist-Netting and Banding
GBBO is currently involved in six bird banding stations in northern Nevada. Two banding stations are located along the lower Truckee River, three along the lower Carson River, and one along a montane stream in the Carson Range. The banding stations are operated primarily to make a contribution to the nationwide Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program, although several have also been operated during fall migration. MAPS is a bird banding protocol that calls for one 6-hour banding session every 10 days between May and August to assess breeding bird activity, condition, and output of young. After years of operation and with changing habitats, a MAPS station may document a change in the number of young produced, the rate at which birds come back to the site to breed year after year, and in overall bird numbers. MAPS stations are often placed in areas that are set aside for specific conservation or restoration actions, so that long-term operation of the banding station may show the effects of management changes on birds. To find out more about our bird banding program, see our volunteer opportunities or .

Shorebird Surveys in Lahontan Valley
GBBO participates in the annual shorebird counts conducted by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge in Lahontan Valley. The goal of these surveys is to continue a 20+ year effort of keeping track of how many and which shorebirds are utilizing wetlands of Lahontan Valley, which has been designated as an Important Bird Area. Another reason we participate is that they are great fun. The surveys take place in spring, and opportunities to participate in them will posted some time prior to next spring on this website.

Pyramid Lake Waterbird Survey
Waterbird surveys, much like the shorebird surveys in Lahontan Valley, have the purpose of keeping track of how many and which birds are using Pyramid Lake as a migration stop-over site. These surveys are conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and take place in the fall. Please continue to check our website for posted opportunities to participate. These particular surveys involve fun boat rides and awesome views of the greatest desert lake one can imagine.

Spring Wings Bird Festival
GBBO participates in the Spring Wings Bird Festival, which takes place each year in April. It is a family-oriented outdoors festival with lots of birding opportunities, usually a banding demonstration or two, vendors, music, a banquet dinner, and other fun stuff.