In piņon-juniper habitat we established and conducted 21, 15-point transects throughout the Monument using the protocol established in RMBO's Monitoring Colorado's Birds program. Transects consisted of 15 five-minute point counts spaced at 250-m intervals along a line. At the individual points, observers recorded all birds seen and/or heard and the radial distance to each bird detected.

In low-elevation riparian habitat, we established and conducted 63 one-mile line transects by raft on the Yampa and Green rivers, and 15 kilometers of line transects by foot in riparian habitat that could not be adequately sampled from the river. For river transects, observers recorded all birds seen and/or heard and the perpendicular distance to each bird from the center of the river. For riparian transects conducted by foot, field workers visited areas with large patches of riparian habitat (Deerlodge Park, Gates of Ladore, Echo Park, Pool Creek, Cub Creek, Green River Campground, Rainbow Park, Jones Creek, Harding Hole, and Laddie Park), and conducted line transects ranging from 300 m to 5000 m in length in those areas. Workers recorded all birds seen and/or heard and the perpendicular distance to each bird from the transect line.

In the two habitat types, 3988 individual birds of 86 species were recorded on the transects. In piņon-juniper, observers recorded 2050 individual birds of 70 species. Species with large sample sizes included Black-throated Gray Warbler (n = 377), Gray Flycatcher (n = 204), Spotted Towhee (n = 179), Chipping Sparrow (n = 153), Mourning Dove (n = 96), and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (n = 89). In low-elevation riparian, observers recorded 1938 individual birds of 59 species. Species with large sample sizes included Violet-green Swallow (n = 417), Yellow Warbler (n = 238), Lazuli Bunting (n = 215), White-throated Swift (n = 155), Spotted Towhee (n = 102), and Spotted Sandpiper (n = 77). Notable species that were observed in the Monument, but not detected on transects included American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Dove, Western Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl, Common Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Steller's Jay, Blackpoll Warbler, and American Goldfinch.

In order to get a more-balanced view of the bird species visiting the Monument during non-breeding seasons, we will conduct informal birding surveys during fall, winter, and spring. Thus work for the 2002 season began with informal winter birding. Work during the late spring and summer will complete the breeding bird surveys in the other three major habitats in the Monument (sage, semidesert/grassland, and mixed conifer). We will conduct point transects or line transects through each of those habitats. During the fall, we will conduct informal birding surveys in order to obtain data not covered by the transect methodologies aimed at breeding species. We will also visit rare habitats (Ponderosa Pine, Aspen) and conduct informal surveys of the bird species present. Our initial season at Dinosaur went very well, and we are excited to begin work again this spring. A final report on our findings will be submitted to the National Park Service December 2002.