DFO Conservation

The DFO Conservation Committee was created in 2019 in response to our members’ wishes for a more active conservation presence. The committee works to:

  • Help DFO members stay informed and engaged on conservation issues where we bird
  • Represent DFO at forums where decisions affecting birds and habitat are made
  • Recommend action as needed to the DFO Board of Directors
  • In concert with our allies, monitor, report on and react to threats to birds and habitat primarily in the metro Denver area, but occasionally in other parts of Colorado or nationally

The Conservation Committee meets at least quarterly and all DFO members are welcome to join. Contact the committee chair for more information on opportunities. For information on current and past Committee actions, refer to our club newsletter The Lark Bunting.

CHICO BASIN RANCH UPDATE 

On February 10, the State Land Board voted to maintain the ranch's 86,000 acres in one uninterrupted parcel when it releases the RFP to potential bidders for a lease cycle in 2025. The board also voted to reclassify birding as a scientific, rather than a recreational, activity. The board will manage public access directly, rather than leaving that to the leassee, and the board has made clear that birding will be a "nonrevenue" activity. How often and under what conditions birders will have access to the ranch is yet to be determined. This represents a major win for the birding community and an example of what can be accomplished with birding organizations collaborate around a shared goal. 

BIGGEST THREATS TO BIRDS 

The three greatest threats to birds are feral and free-roaming cats, window strikes and habitat loss. Learn more about each of these issues and what you can do to address the problem by clicking on the issue below.

Feral & Free-roaming Cats
  • THREAT
    Whether abandoned to fend for themselves or cuddly, beloved house-pets allowed outdoors, today’s domesticated cats are an invasive species that kills well over 1 billion birds every year. SOLUTIONS
    To help diminish the threat, visit the American Bird Conservancy’s “Happy Cats, Healthy Birds” solution.
Bird/Window Collisions
  • THREAT
    Millions of birds die annually via collisions with windows, wind turbines, and other structures, especially during migration. SOLUTIONS
    Make your home windows safer and participate in the Lights Out Denver project
Habitat Loss
  • THREAT
    Deforestation, sprawl and development, pesticides and non-native plants all contribute to shrinking habitat.
    SOLUTIONS
    Think about making your home’s landscape friendlier to birds and pollinators, and encouraging your local government to do the same on public lands.