Lois Webster Fund Projects

2023 Projects

Leveraging field data and remote sensing to monitor avian population trends across post-fire pinon/juniper ecosystems

This study used field surveys to determine avian population trends on pinon/juniper ecosystems in BLM, National Park, and Ute tribal lands, first using remotely sensed aerial data to supply information to characterize the PJ habitat, some which has experienced fire and some of which has not. Population trends were compared on burned and unburned areas.


Rachel Crafford, Western Colorado University


Photo Credit: “Pinyon Jay (14628632373)” by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Encouraging pollinator awareness and habitat at Jackson Lake State Park

Local 4-H members and staff at Jackson Lake State Park collaborated to build a Pollinator Hut educational display to educate park visitors about the role and importance of pollinator species.


Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jackson Lake

State Park

Population assessment of burrowing owls nesting in eastern Colorado

The overall objective was to conduct a population assessment of burrowing owls nesting on black-tailed prairie dog colonies in eastern Colorado, including how various prairie dog colony characteristics influence burrowing owl occupancy, abundance, density, and productivity.


Sarah Albright, Colorado State University

Tabor Lake bird study

LWF funds supported a study to document the status of bird habitat around Tabor Lake in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, document the status of trees and soil conditions in the Tabor Lake Rookery, determine bird population health and size of sustainable population, provide recommendations for habitat management during trail construction, and identify possible restoration methods for the Rookery and lake shoreline.


Susan Bennett, City of Wheat Ridge


Photo Credit: “Cormorant Rookery” by debandsid is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Mexican Spotted Owl monitoring, Bull Creek,
HD Mountains

Weminuche Audubon and volunteers placed non-invasive Autonomous Recording Units in the Bull Creek drainage of the HD Mountains to determine whethere the Mexican Spotted Owl, a federally-listed threatened species, was present in that drainage in the San Juan Mountains.


Weminuche Audubon Society


Photo Credit: “Mexican spotted owl fledglings” by Gila National Forest Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Year Project Name Description Organization Researcher LWF Funding
2023 Leveraging Field Data and Remote Sensing to Monitor Avian Population Trends Across Post-fire Pinon/Juniper Ecosystems This study used field surveys to determine avian population trends on pinon/juniper ecosystems in BLM, National Park, and Ute tribal lands, first using remotely sensed aerial data to supply information to characterize the PJ habitat, some of which has experienced fire and some of which has not. Population trends were compared on burned and unburned areas. Western Colorado University Rachel Crafford $2,500
Encouraging Pollinator Awareness and Habitat at Jackson Lake State Park Local 4-H members and staff at Jackson Lake STate Park collaborated to build a Pollinator Hut educational display to educate Park visitors about the role and importance of pollinator species Jackson Lake State Park Colorado Parks and Wildlife $1,100
Population Assessment of Burrowing Owls Nesting in Eastern Colorado The overall objective was to conduct a population assessment of burrowing owls nesting on black-tailed prairie dog colonies in eastern Colorado, including how various prairie dog colony characteristics influence burrowing owl occupancy, abundance, density, and productivity Colorado State University Sarah Albright $2,720
Tabor Lake Bird Study LWF funds supported a study to document the status of bird habitat around Tabor Lake in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, document the status of trees and soil conditions in the Tabor Lake Rookery, determine bird population health and size of sustainable population, provide recommendations for habitat management during trail construction, and identify possible restoration methods for the Rookery and lake shoreline City of Wheat Ridge Susan Bennett $2,200
Mexican Spotted Owl Monitoring, Bull Creek, HD Mountains Weminuche Audubon and volunteers placed non-invasive Autonomous Recording Units in the Bull Creek drainage of the HD Mountains to determine whether the Mexican Spotted Owl, a federally-listed threatened species, was present in that drainage in the San Juan mountains Weminuche Audubon Society Weminuche Audubon Society $3,000
2022 Trophic Interactions on Mountain Plover Broods 2nd year: Understanding the effects of trophic interactions on Mountain Plover brood habitat selection and survival in Pueblo and El Paso counties. Colorado State University Casey Weissburg $2,000
Making Denver a Bird-Friendly City Supporting the Lights Out Denver program intern in recruiting volunteers and coordinating surveys of downtown Denver sidewalks to collect data on bird injuries and fatalities during the spring and fall migration season. City and County of Denver Department of Parks and Recreation Vicki Vargas-Madrid $6,000
The Northern Redbelly Dace Recovery and Restoration Project Aiming to rear fish in a classroom setting, release them into the habitat, monitor and enhance their surroundings, test the application of eDNA, and tag and track fish located in St. Vrain Creek to evaluate the efficacy of recent fish passage installations. Ocean First Insitute Mikki Macomb-Kobza $3,825
2021 Documenting Avian Response to Wildfire Investigation of this issue by comparing pre- and post-fire audio recordings (bioacoustics) of areas of Rocky Mountain National Park impacted by the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. Colorado State University Jacob Job $4,964
Colorado Native Plains Topminnow and Non-native Mosquitofish Competition Investigating whether and how the CO native plains topminnow may co-exist with the invasive mosquitofish by experimentally testing inter-specific competition under different flow and temperature conditions in a laboratory setting. Colorado State University Yoichiro Kanno $3,000
Trophic Interactions on Mountain Plover Broods Understanding the effects of trophic interactions on Mountain Plover brood habitat selection and survival in Pueblo and El Paso counties. Colorado State University Casey Weissburg $2,000
Response of Bats and Associated Nocturnal Food Webs to Bark Beetle Kill A bottom-up approach to quantify the effects of changes in vegetative structure on bat diversity and a top-down approach to quantify the effects of bat predation on insect populations. University of Northern Colorado Amanda Bevan $1,638
2020 Black Swift Movement Ecology 3rd year: Continuing research based on prior year’s principles and results.
 Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Rob Sparks $2,600
Bald Eagles in Colorado's Northern Front Range To better understand of current demographics and space use of bald eagles along Northern Front Range considering impact of human disturbance and changing land use. Colorado Parks and Wildlife James T. Gammonley, Phd. $4,000
Wild Bee Communities Status Researching the recovery of wild bees with life history traits (nest construction, diet choices, sociality) following catastrophic storms. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and University of Colorado Museum of Natural History Jessica L. Mullins $4,853
2019 Black Swift Movement Ecology 2nd year: Continuing research based on prior year’s principles and results. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Rob Sparks $5,023
Survey of Native Plains Fish Project aims to characterize fish assemblages in Arikaree River, CO, on the Fox Ranch (The Nature Conservancy), after a recent discovery of an invasive, non-native species, western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Colorado State University Yoichiro Kanno $2,500
2018 Black Swift Movement Ecology Using previously tagged birds to determine: foraging range and habitats; if avoiding pesticide treated areas; more precisely locate wintering grounds and if "aerial roosting" is performed. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Rob Sparks $4,877
Probiotic Solutions to the Batrachochytrium Dendrobatitis Associated Declines in Boreal Toads Identify species of bacteria in Boreal Toads’ skin inhibiting growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatitis (Bd) aiming to prevent deaths due to Bd. University of Colorado Wildlife Conservation Research Fund: McKenzie Lab Tim Korpita $1,597
The Role of Urban Conservation in Enhancing Wildlife Habitat and Engaging Citizens Evaluate a Ft. Collins habitat program to restore and enhance bird and butterfly biodiversity and assess the relative social and ecological benefits of citizen science in urban green spaces data collection . Colorado State University, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Miguel Jimenez $2,000
2017 Conserving Northern Leopard Frogs on Colorado's Front Range Determined presence/absence of Northern Leopard Frogs and other herptiles at ponds on Boulder City properties; recommended management actions to improve habitat. Boulder Parks & Recreation Joy Masters $3,000
Grassland Bird and Mammal Response to Bison Reintroduction in Northern Colorado Determined effect of bison reintroduction on vegetation, bird and mammal use of habitat; also, compared bison-grazed, cattle-grazed, and reference sites. Colorado State University Kate Wilkins $1,308
Native Fish Care and Appreciation in the Elementary Classroom Provided an aquarium to enable 4th graders to learn about native fish, their habitats & threats from non-native species and climate change. Weld RE-9 School District, Highland Elementary, Pierce, CO Mark Kucza $1,302
2016 Backyard Bee Watchers Citizen Science Launch An upper Gunnison Valley citizen science project to increase the number of native bee boxes. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory Dr. Amy Ellwein $1,375
Brown's Canyon National Monument Bioblitz A Bioblitz in Brown’s Canyon National Monument for planning recreational uses. US Forest Service Stephanie Shively $1,500
Shortgrass Breeding Bird Research Discovering how birds respond to shifting vegetative cover of different grazing regimes with a focus on the McCown’s Longspur. University of Colorado (Denver) Amber Carver $2,840
2015 Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network Expand monitoring of populations of Colorado butterflies. The Butterfly Pavilion/ Sara Garret $2,800
Mountain Plover Habitat Use During Nest Incubation Researchers studying movement of adult plovers during nest incubation using GPS tags. University of Colorado (Denver) Colin Woolley $2,062
The Bees' Needs: Increasing the Impact of Citizen Science Web and database redesign to improve public understanding of native bee ecology. University of Colorado (Boulder) Alexandra Rose $1,600
2014 Avian Response to Habitat Manipulation and Fire in NW Colorado Oil and Gas Fields Responses of bird populations to habitat disturbance of oil and gas impacts. Colorado State University Travis Gallo $750
Effect of Heavy Metal Stream Contamination on Bats in the Eastern Rockies Impact on bats of heavy metal contaminants in streams along the Front Range. University of Northern Colorado Laura Heiker $4,100
Habitat Use by Mountain Plover During Nest Incubation Study of foraging movements of adult mountain plovers when they are incubating eggs. University of Colorado (Denver) Colin Woolley $1,395
2013 Black Swift Diet in Colorado Compilation of data on of the type, size and numbers of prey items taken by Black Swifts in Colorado. US Forest Service, White River National Forest Kim Potter $1,500
Habitat Manipulation Effects on Songbird and Small Mammal Communities Impacts on populations and behaviors of songbird and small mammal communities in energy development dominated landscape. Colorado State University Sarah Bombaci $1,200
Grassland Bird Conservation and Habitat Use in Northeastern Colorado Measure changes in habitat management for Mountain Plover, McCown's Longspur and Burrowing Owl on agricultural lands. Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Angela Dwyer Loaner Scope
Front Range Pika Project Data collection that will determine whether Pika distribution is declining throughout the Rocky Mountains' Front Range. Denver Zoo Amy Masching $3,000
Rock Wren Nesting Behaviors Understanding Rock Wren (a species in decline) nesting behaviors in Northern Colorado foothills to discern specific threats. University of Northern Colorado                                               Nat Waring   $579
2012 Bedrock Bioblitz Document the composition of a riparian habitat before and after a restoration project on the Dolores River, Colorado. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Martin Moses $1,500
Life Stage Male Bias Arising in Mountain Plover Determine whether a male-biased sex ratio arises at the egg or chick stage of development in Mountain Plover. University of Montana Maggie Riordan $2,000
Mammalian Habitat Use Along a Development Gradient in Northern Colorado How exurban development density influences mammalian species' habitat use. Colorado State University Erica H. Goad $1,500
2011 Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II Fieldwork surveying for the second edition of Colorado Bird Breeding Atlas. Fort Lewis College Lynn Wickersham $1,400
Comparison of Abundant and Declining Bumble Bee Species Use of molecular genetics techniques for investigation into the conservation status of an entire guild of bumblebees. University of Colorado (Boulder) Carol Ann Kearns $1,500
Responses of  Burrowing Owls to Black-tailed Prairie Dog Alarm Calls The way in which Burrowing Owls react to alarm calls by prairie dogs. University of Colorado (Denver) Rebecca Bryan $1,400
Urban Students and Urban Snakes Radio telemetry to study the ecology and population genetics of sympatric garter snakes in Lowry Wetlands in Denver. Metropolitan State College of Denver and Public School 1 Eric Gangloff $1,500
2010 Avian Communities' Changes in a Riparian Habitat Analysis of 50 plus years of bird banding data to determine how avian community has changed in a protected riparian area since cattle were excluded. University of Colorado (Boulder) Mysti Martin $1,500
Ecological Role of Free-ranging Domestic Cats Merging of biological and social science data to understand the ecological role and risk to wildlife caused by free-ranging domestic cats. Colorado State University Ashley Gramza $2,500
Hybridization Threats on Two Colorado Native Catostomids Genetic analysis of hybridization of two native and one non-native sucker species in western Colorado for management and conservation. University of Colorado Se Jin Song $1,000
2009 Pawnee Montane Skipper Project Measuring the distribution and abundance of immature stages of the Pawnee Montane Skipper, a federally Threatened species, in areas adjacent to the South Platte River.   Colorado College Dr. Boyce Drummond $500
Townsend's Big-eared Bat Study of roost sites and habitat associations of Townsend's Big-eared bats in southeastern Colorado.  Colorado State University Robert Schorr $1,800
2008 Bats of Mesa Verde Identify insect prey samples from bat species using burned and unburned areas of Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado State University E. Apple Snider $1,000
Mountain Plover Data from the Pawnee National Grassland Compilation and summary on Mountain Plover populations data from 1986 to 2007 on the Pawnee National Grasslands by Dr. Fritz Knopf. US Forest Service Elizabeth Humphreys $2,200
Pika and Climate Change A resurvey of historically documented Pika populations in the Southern Rockies, addressing the causes of extirpations and distribution shifts. University of Colorado Liesl Peterson $1,000
2007 Burrowing Owl Burrowing owls population dynamics on the Pawnee National Grassland with reference to plague and recreational shooting. Colorado State University Dr. Mike Antolin $2,897
Wildlife Bridge Feasibility Testing roadway permeability and monitoring wildlife presence at Shrine Pass Road on Vail Pass. Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project Paige Bonaker $2,500
2006 Aurora’s Big Year Create a bird list for City of Aurora to increase awareness and appreciation. City of Aurora, Parks and Open Space Dept. Mary Ann Bonnell $500
Bats of Mesa Verde Identify insect prey samples from bat species using burned and unburned areas of Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado State University E. Apple Snider $1,000
Bats Population and Species Diversity Monitor bat populations at water holes in Boulder to determine populations and drinking patterns. University of Colorado (Boulder) Rick Adams $1,100
Possible Decline of Pika Populations A resurvey of historically documented pika populations in the Southern Rockies, to test hypotheses addressing the causes of extirpations and distribution shifts in this critical pika stronghold. University of Northern Colorado Dianna DiPolito $1,000
2005 Mountain Plover Surveys in the San Luis Valley Mountain Plover numbers and distribution in the San Luis Valley, in Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Terri Hicks-Anderson $4,700
2004 Conservation of Colorado's Bats Trapping bats for a thorough survey of bat species in upper-montane, mixed conifer forests in the Pikes Peak Region. Catamount Institute Samantha Carpenter, Joseph Merritt, Et Al. $400
Grasslands Bioblitz A biodiversity snapshot of a 6,000 public land acre block in Jefferson and Boulder counties which raised public awareness of the biological communities. Colorado Native Plant Society Karen Hollweg, Mark Richert $2,200
Impacts of Habitat Fragmentation on the Breeding Ecology of the Flammulated Owl Observing development of young owls in nest cavities; for a study of the impacts of major fires on owl demographics. Colorado College, Biology Dept. Brian Linkhart $1,800
2003 Mountain Plover/Agricultural Lands in Eastern Colorado Tracking of nesting Mt. Plovers and monitoring survival of chicks on agricultural lands. Colorado Division of Wildlife Vicky Dreitz $3,814
2002 Mountain Plover/Agricultural Lands in Eastern Colorado Tracking of nesting Mt. Plovers and monitoring survival of chicks on agricultural lands. Colorado Division of Wildlife Vicky Dreitz $4,000