We typically publish newsletters three to four times a year, aiming for February, August, and October, with occasional April editions. Newsletters are sent to all members as part of their annual membership. Non-members may receive the newsletter for $5 by sending money and your address to: LAS Newsletter, PO Box 878, Laramie, WY 82073.
Newsletter archive:
February 2022
October 2021
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November 2019
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November 2002
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April 2002
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February 2002
January 2002
September 1999
Download all newsletters from 2002 - 2017 by clicking here: (we are working to restore this link - apologies for the inconvenience).
Reports
In some prior years, LAS organized annual breeding surveys for rosy-finches in the Snowy Range and nightjar surveys in the Laramie region. We have also helped support the Wyoming Birding Bonanza. Summaries of the results are provided below.
Nightjar surveys
We conducted nightjar surveys as part of the Nightjar Survey Network. Nightjars, or goatsuckers, are the most enigmatic group of birds in North America. Very little is known about the basic aspects of their biology, habitat use, and population status due to their cryptically nocturnal lifestyle. In recent years, conservationists andthe general public have come to share a general sense that populations of Nightjars are dramatically declining. However, there were no standardized data available to help describe these changes or to help with reversing population losses. This survey program was created to gain a better understanding on population status by implementing a standardized approach across the nation that will help determine the magnitude and scale of population changes so a course for conservation may be plotted. The Nightjar Survey Network relies entirely on volunteer participation. NS means that a site was not surveyed in that year.
Common Nighthawk:
Common Poorwill:
Rosy-finch Surveys
Brown-capped Rosy-finch:
*A single Black Rosy-finch was also observed on trails 1 & 2 in 2010.
Wyoming Birding Bonanza
The second Wyoming Birding Bonanza was held in May 2013. This year's event was a great success! Some summary stats are listed below. A big thank you to our sponsors who make the t-shirts and prizes possible: UW Museum of Vertebrates, UW Biodiversity Institute, Cheyenne High Plains Audubon Society, Laramie Audubon Society, Murie Audubon Society, and eBird.
May 2020
January 2020
November 2019
August 2019
May 2019
January 2019
November 2018
August 2018
May 2018
January 2018
November 2017
August 2017
May 2017
February 2017
December 2016
August 2016
December 2015
August 2015
April 2015
January 2015
December 2014
September 2014
June 2014
April 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
September 2013
July 2013
January 2013
November 2012
August 2012
April 2012
February 2012
October 2011
January 2010
November 2009
September 2009
May 2009
March 2009
January 2009
October 2008
May 2008
March 2008
January 2008
March 2007
November 2005
May 2005
March 2005
January 2005
November 2004
April 2004
January 2004
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
March 2003
February 2003
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
September 1999
Download all newsletters from 2002 - 2017 by clicking here: (we are working to restore this link - apologies for the inconvenience).
Reports
In some prior years, LAS organized annual breeding surveys for rosy-finches in the Snowy Range and nightjar surveys in the Laramie region. We have also helped support the Wyoming Birding Bonanza. Summaries of the results are provided below.
Nightjar surveys
We conducted nightjar surveys as part of the Nightjar Survey Network. Nightjars, or goatsuckers, are the most enigmatic group of birds in North America. Very little is known about the basic aspects of their biology, habitat use, and population status due to their cryptically nocturnal lifestyle. In recent years, conservationists andthe general public have come to share a general sense that populations of Nightjars are dramatically declining. However, there were no standardized data available to help describe these changes or to help with reversing population losses. This survey program was created to gain a better understanding on population status by implementing a standardized approach across the nation that will help determine the magnitude and scale of population changes so a course for conservation may be plotted. The Nightjar Survey Network relies entirely on volunteer participation. NS means that a site was not surveyed in that year.
Common Nighthawk:
| Route Name | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Buford | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Fox Park | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Harmony | 1 | 14 | 0 | NS | 16 | 12 |
| Rock River | 16 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 |
| Sybille Canyon | 1 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 18 | 38 | 29 | 16 | 36 | 28 |
Common Poorwill:
| Route Name | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Buford | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Fox Park | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Harmony | 0 | 3 | 0 | NS | 0 | 0 |
| Rock River | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Sybille Canyon | 8 | 10 | 18 | 20 | 7 | 22 |
| Total | 19 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 32 |
Rosy-finch Surveys
In 2003, Audubon Wyoming (now Audubon Rockies) designated a site within the Snowy
Range as an Important Bird Area because the alpine habitat
supports Wyoming’s only breeding population of the Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. This
rosy-finch is a species of concern because it has a very limited global range,
breeding only in the Snowies and on mountain peaks in Colorado and northern New
Mexico. If the current global warming trend continues, its mountain habitat islands
are likely to shrink and to be invaded by other avian species that are
currently excluded by the harsh conditions. These changes would threaten the
future of the Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, especially in places at the edge of its
range like the Snowies. Documenting how many Brown-capped
Rosy-Finches are in the area and where they are feeding and nesting can help us
monitor their populations and determine how the birds are faring. Audubon Rockies and the Laramie Audubon Society have been long-time contributors to
this effort. To learn more about the Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, read the species account from the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database.
Brown-capped Rosy-finch:
| Route Name | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| Trails 1&2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Trail 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Trail 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*A single Black Rosy-finch was also observed on trails 1 & 2 in 2010.
Wyoming Birding Bonanza
The second Wyoming Birding Bonanza was held in May 2013. This year's event was a great success! Some summary stats are listed below. A big thank you to our sponsors who make the t-shirts and prizes possible: UW Museum of Vertebrates, UW Biodiversity Institute, Cheyenne High Plains Audubon Society, Laramie Audubon Society, Murie Audubon Society, and eBird.
- 131 birders submitted 1369 checklists during May! That's more checklists than last April, May, and June combined!
- There were 267 species seen. The most species seen were in Laramie County (193), followed by Fremont (176), Teton (174), Albany (169), then Natrona (147).
- The most checklists were also submitted from Laramie County (446), followed by Albany (186), Fremont (176), Teton (145), then Park (131).
- The fewest checklists were submitted from Niobrara (0), followed by Sheridan (2), Weston (2), Converse (4), Hot Springs (4), and Washakie (4).
- 33 birders submitted at least the minimum 15 checklist requirement for a t-shirt.
