Our June chapter meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, June 25, at 5:00 P.M.  We are grateful to have Jordan McMahon give us the presentation that was originally scheduled for March, when our lives changed in a big way.

After completing his Master of Science degree in biology at Mississippi State University in 2018, McMahon began work as a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Canon City, where he is currently employed. At the BLM, he has focused on implementing a comprehensive monitoring program for bats across the front range in anticipation of white-nose syndrome, as well as various monitoring projects with other species of concern such as lynx, Mexican spotted owls, and other raptor species. White-nose syndrome has decimated many colony-forming bat populations since its arrival on the east coast in the late 2000’s. Unfortunately, many scientists think that it will spread to Colorado and across the rest of the US, although it has yet to be detected in our state. Because of this threat, the BLM’s Royal Gorge Field Office in Canon City, CO, has decided to implement a monitoring project to obtain baseline population estimates for bat species in our state, which will be used to assess future changes in populations and better manage habitats and populations of concern. Included in McMahon’s talk will be details of a study to characterize
habitat variables of the Mexican spotted owl, a species listed as threatened by the USFWS since 1993.

Use the following link to join the meeting via Zoom.  The application must be added to your device prior to joining.