Alta Nest Box Project
The Alta Nest Box Project is a collaboration between Tracy Aviary, the Alta Environmental Center, and Friends of Alta. Tracy Aviary works with volunteers to study the behavior of birds that nest in holes and hollows in the aspens and evergreen trees of the Alta Ski area. Volunteers will join a Tracy Aviary staff member or next box leader to do nest box monitoring surveys at our 40+ boxes at Alta. The goal is to study when and where these unique birds high-elevation birds nest. We snowshoe or walk to nest box locations as a group, conduct a 5-minute behavioral observation, then check the contents of each box with a camera mounted on a pole. We can lend out snowshoes and binoculars on a first-come, first-served basis.
To join us, fill out a Tracy Aviary volunteer form (indicate “conservation” as your top choice), and sign up via our online form. We can lend out snowshoes and binoculars on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alta isn’t just for skiers – studying birds of the Wasatch
Tracy Aviary studies the behaviors of birds that nest in holes and hollows in the aspens and conifers of Alta Ski Area.
- What is the study about? We visit 40 nest boxes to study when and where these unique high-elevation birds nest. This information can help guide bird-friendly management at Alta.
- How does it work? We snowshoe or hike up to each nest box and use a GoPro camera on a pole take a picture of the contents. Photos are taken according to a protocol that limits stress to the nesting birds.
- Coming up: Volunteering. We are now recruiting volunteers to help us check the Alta nest boxes. Fill out a Tracy Aviary volunteer form, and indicate “conservation” as your top choice, then sign up for a survey via our online form.
Project Partners
Project partners include the Alta Environmental Center and Friends of Alta.