Audubon Master Birder Program
Requirements for Certification
There is a $100 course fee when you are accepted into the program. This fee supports the program, provides speaker honorariums and covers material costs.
Please note: These requirements are not mutually exclusive and many will overlap. For example, participating in a spring count could help you achieve #1, #3, #4, #7 and #16. If you serve as a count leader, it could also complete #5.
For all field trips mentioned in these requirements, candidates must keep species lists in their notebooks that include the number of individuals of each species seen on each field trip.
1) Identify and list at least 200 bird species in Colorado. The list must include species, date, location and habitat. This list can include birds identified prior to entering the AMB program.
2) Using your list of 200 generated in #1, list the birds that are characteristic of each of the categories below in the South Platte Watershed. (Species can be used in more than one category.)
- Winter (at least 20 species)
- Migrants (at least 40 species)
- Summer (at least 40 species)
- Year-round Residents (at least 40 species)
3) Using your list of 200 generated in #1, identify which species are on the Audubon / ABC Watch List.
4) During field tests administered by Mentors throughout the year:
- Identify 100 species by sight.
- Identify 40 species by sound.
5) Participate in at least 75% of the AMB classroom sessions and at least 75% of the organized field trips.
6) Participate in an average of two organized bird field trips per month. Field trips may be part of the AMB program or trips offered by ASGD, CFO, DFO, Tuesday Birders, other Audubon chapters, state or local parks, or other organized groups.
7) Lead at least one bird field trip for ASGD (could be Walk the Wetlands) or for another organization.
8) Organize and lead an AMB field trip. You may do this as a co-leader with another candidate and choose the location for this trip.
9) Participate in at least one of the annual bird counts - Spring Counts, Fall Counts or Christmas Bird Counts.
10) Keep a backyard bird list at least twice a month for a year. (If you do not have a backyard, you may monitor another area.)
11) Record the breeding of five species using an Breeding Bird Atlas form.
12) Complete a rare bird form. (The bird does not have to be listed on CFO’s rare bird list.)
13) List birds that are characteristic of each Colorado habitat. (May use same species for multiple habitats.)
| Grassland – 10 | Urban / Backyard Birds - 15 |
| Ponderosa pine – 15 | Lodgepole pine - 10 |
| Spruce / fir – 15 | Tundra - 3 |
| Lowland Riparian – 20 | Scrub oak / cliff - 15 |
| Pinyon / juniper – 10 | Aspen - 15 |
| Open water – 20 | Mountain shrub / willow carr- 15 |
| Wetland - 10 |
14) List the key plants characteristic of each Colorado habitat (refer to habitats listed in #13).
15) FIELD ACTIVITIES - Participate in at least five of the following events or projects during the AMB training:
- A CFO, ABA, Monte Vista Crane Festival, similar conference or festival.
- Colorado (or other state or local) Breeding Bird Atlas (as an observer, recorder or rider)
- Winter Raptor Count (as an observer, recorder or rider)
- Special bird survey (eg. a state, county or city park breeding bird survey or bird census)
- Volunteer four hours at a banding station
- Participate in monitoring a bluebird trail.
- Project FeederWatch
- Contribute data to EBird.com.
- The Big Sit!
- Bird-a-thon
- International Dawn Chorus
- Breeding Bird Survey Route (as an observer, recorder or rider)
- Volunteer at a bird rehabilitation center.
- Complete an advanced bird class such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Home Study Course.
- Colorado State Parks raptor survey.
- BioBiltz - All Species Count event.
- Participants may submit other field activities for approval.
16) Research and prepare a written (two to five pages) research paper on a bird-related topic with at least three authoritative citations. Make a five minute presentation to the class on your topic.
17) Bird ten of the following sites along the Front Range:
- Audubon Center at Chatfield
- Chatfield State Park
- Waterton Canyon
- Barr Lake State Park
- Roxborough State Park or Red Rocks Park
- Cherry Creek State Park
- Castlewood Canyon State Park
- Bear Creek Lake Park
- Wheat Ridge Green Belt
- Genesee Mountain Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, White Ranch Open Space
- Guanella Pass, Loveland Pass or Trail Ridge
- Pawnee National Grasslands
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- South Platte Park
- South Platte Bike Path in the winter
- Walden Ponds in Boulder
- Belmar Park
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR
- Shrine Ridge and Vail Pass
18) Volunteer at least 10 hours for ASGD during the training year. Hours spent in AMB training and on AMB field trips do not count toward this requirement. The intent is for AMB participants to become more involved in ASGD and experience a variety of the projects and programs that ASGD offers. Candidates are encouraged to serve on an ASGD committee, volunteer at an event, assist with office or Audubon Center projects, etc..
To maintain AMB certification, Master Birders must contribute a minimum of 48 hours of volunteer service to ASGD annually.
