Alberta Raptor Nest Card Program

A volunteer raptor nest card program was initiated in 1988 by the Alberta government, for raptor banders and researchers to collect information on nest locations of birds of prey.

The program was not maintained after the mid-90's, however some raptor banders continued to fill out nest cards. All the data is stored in binders with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Bird Studies Canada. These long-term datasets need to be compiled and entered into databases for analysis of habitat use, productivity and phenology (timing of nesting) by various raptor species.

This projects goal is to develop a nest card that is compatible with the Prairie Nest Record Scheme and Project NestWatch, so that data can be shared.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Enter all backlogged data that has been collected since the mid-1990's
2. Establish a full time volunteer-based raptor nest card program, where members of the public can report raptor nests, and participate in banding
3. Produce an information pamphlet on raptor nests and the monitoring program and how the public can get involved
4. Conduct educational presentations on birds of prey and their importance in the environment
5. Analyze data and write reports on distribution of breeding raptors, habitat requirements for nesting, and phenology of nesting.
6. Develop a new raptor nest card that volunteers can fill out, and make it available to the public. The new nest card is available for download here.