About this Collection

Survey protocol information and resources for the Utah Ecological Services Field Office.

For more surveyor or training information, please contact dannette_weiss@fws.gov

2024 Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Survey Training

This year's Western yellow-billed cuckoo surveyor training will be hosted in Hotchkiss, CO June 24 and 25. The training is comprised of an in-person classroom session June 24 and a field session June 25. This year's workshop leader will be Dr. Murrelet Halterman, avian researcher and lead author of the current survey protocol.  

  • For registration and additional information, please go to Western Biology's website: https://www.westernbiology.com/ybcuworkshop (URL)
  • Please register based on your affiliation (private, agency, non-profit). 
  • The workshop will be limited to the first 25 registrants. 

Completion of the survey training course is a requirement for obtaining an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) endangered species permit, which is necessary to conduct Western yellow-billed cuckoo surveys. You need 12 hours of field training to obtain a section 10(a)(1)(A) permit for USFWS Region 6 surveys (CO, UT, WY, and MT). Please be aware that we have a new ePermits site for permit applications and that adding a person to an existing permit is considered a permit amendment. Permit applications are available online here (URL). Permit processing procedures necessitate applying 90-days in advance of planned surveys to ensure timely issuance of the permit.  We strongly recommend applying for survey permits at least 3 month prior to the survey season to ensure the permit processing is completed.

Annual reports are necessary to maintain valid survey permits.  These reports provide us with valuable information regarding distribution of Western yellow-billed cuckoo.  Negative results are just as important to submit as positive results; in addition, annual reports should be submitted even if you did not survey for the species that year.

Please submit all survey forms in excel format electronically to dannette_weiss@fws.gov in addition to required submission locations based on your permit.