Alta Nest Box Project
For this project, volunteers join a Tracy Aviary staff member or volunteer nest box leader to do nest box monitoring surveys at our 40+ boxes at Alta from March to July. We snowshoe or hike out to nest box locations as a group, conduct a 5-minute behavioral observation, then check the contents of each box with a camera mounted on a painter pole. To join us, fill out a Tracy Aviary volunteer form, and indicate “conservation” as your top choice. Then, sign up for a slot here! We can lend out snowshoes and binoculars on a first-come, first-served basis.
Project Overview
Alta isn’t just for skiers.
Studying birds of the Wasatch
Tracy Aviary studies the behaviors of birds that nest in holes and hollows in the aspens and conifers of Alta Ski Area.
What is the study about?
We visit 40 nest boxes to study when and where these unique high-elevation birds nest. This information can help guide bird-friendly management at Alta.
How does it work?
We snowshoe or hike up to each nest box and use a GoPro camera on a pole take a picture of the contents. Photos are taken according to a protocol that limits stress to the nesting birds.
Volunteering
Fill out a Tracy Aviary volunteer form, and indicate “conservation” as your top choice to get on our recruitment list.
Project Partners
Project partners include the Alta Environmental Center and Friends of Alta.