Goal: To monitor or track all breeding birds in alpine tundra and document distribution, population trends, and abundance in a statistically acceptable manner.

Objective: All species with AI > 2 will be monitored with count-based methods.

Strategy: Monitoring will be accomplished through the combined efforts of agencies with primary responsibility for managing this habitat.

Strategy: Monitoring will continue to rely on BBS data, with data from CBO's Monitoring Colorado's Birds (MCB) monitoring program incorporated as it becomes available.

Status: MCB implemented alpine tundra habitat transects in 1999 and ran a total of 25 transects; trend data should be available for most species within 5-12 years.

Objective: Brown-capped Rosy-Finches will be monitored using flock counts at wintering areas or other special techniques.

Status: Techniques and protocols need to be developed.

Habitat Monitoring

Goal: To document the amount, condition, and ownership of alpine tundra habitat in Colorado.

Objective: Develop collaborative efforts to use GIS in mapping alpine tundra habitat, documenting amount, condition, and ownership.

Status: This effort has not been initiated to date. Potential collaborators include CDOW, CNHP, CBO, USGS, USFS, Rocky Mountain National Park, and TNC.

Habitat Core Areas

Goal: To conserve unique representatives or core areas of alpine tundra in Colorado.

Objective: Identify and preserve representative or core areas of alpine tundra in Colorado in collaboration with the USFS, NPS, and CDOW.

Status: The alpine tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park has been identified as one core area. Other representative areas need to be identified.

Site-based Conservation

Goal: To identify and preserve local sites that are important for the conservation of priority species breeding in alpine tundra.

Objective: Identify sites that are appropriate for designation as IBAs, nominate them, and promote involvement of key agencies and personnel for conserving these areas.

Status: In progress.

Objective: Identify sites within alpine tundra habitats used by wintering White-tailed Ptarmigan, and protect them from disturbance.

Status: Completed (CDOW Spec. Rep. No. 38).

Management Practices

Goal: To promote management practices that benefit birds using alpine tundra habitats.

Objective: Produce a Best Management Practices (BMPs) manual for alpine tundra and distribute it to appropriate agencies and other interested parties.

Status: To be developed.

Outreach and Education

Goal: To provide information about alpine tundra and birds breeding in this habitat to the public, natural resource managers, and other interested parties.

Objective: Develop and make available educational materials including pamphlets, videos, and other materials and make them available to local nature centers, schools, natural resource agency personnel, and teachers.

Status: To be developed.

Objective: Hold workshops, symposia, and field trips on alpine tundra and birds breeding in these habitats.

Status: To be developed.

Research Priorities

Goal: To fill the voids in scientific information needed to conserve birds using alpine habitats.

Objective: Identify the top ten research needs for conserving birds breeding in alpine tundra.

Status: The following research priorities have been identified:

1. Develop methods for inventory of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches.

2. Investigate population limiting factors for Brown-capped Rosy-Finches.

3. Investigate seasonal movements and habitat needs of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches.

4. Identify wintering grounds of American Pipits breeding in Colorado.

5. Investigate impacts of global warming on alpine ecosystems.