Birds of Wyoming

In March 2005, we began work on Birds of Wyoming, updating the status, distribution, and conservation issues of Wyoming’s avifauna.  Such a comprehensive book has not been published since 1939 and will be the first to include habitat-based GIS maps.  The format will be similar to other recent state-based books. The text will begin with three introductory chapters: history of ornithology in Wyoming by Jane Dorn; vegetation and landscapes of Wyoming by Bob Dorn; and avian conservation in Wyoming by Bob Oakleaf. These chapters will be followed by one-page individual species accounts (status, taxonomy, distribution, and conservation issues) and will feature a professional grade photo taken in the state of all common species.  Wyoming Natural Diversity Database will produce distribution maps of all bird species regularly found in the state.  These maps may extend 1° latitude and longitude outside of the state so that a species’ (and possibly subspecies) distribution in Wyoming can be more easily put into context on a regional scale (Wyoming supports populations of many species at their eastern, western, northern, or southern limits).

Doug Faulkner is the main person conducting the research, compiling information, and writing the species accounts for Birds of Wyoming. Doug has spent much of his time since March 2005 compiling information on the distribution and occurrence of birds in Wyoming and has written over 250 species accounts. A few species are added each week and he expects to be complete with early drafts for all 400+ species by September 2007.

The final product will provide an up-to-date summary and compilation of the birds of Wyoming that we believe will be a tremendous resource to our state.  Our intent is to provide information that will be useful to a wide range of professional disciplines and amateur birders.  Governmental land managers and out-of-state birders alike will have easily accessible information (and literature references in most cases) for every species known to have occurred in the state. 

We are in need of photographs for several species.  If you are a photographer and would like to contribute to this endeavor, please contact Doug Faulkner. We are especially interested in photographs that show birds in natural habitats of Wyoming.

If you have questions or would like to contribute to this book, you can also contact me or David McDonald.

Last update 2 May 2007