Description

Presented by Western Biology

Join Western Biology for an intensive, limited-capacity field workshop designed for professionals seeking experience with Yellow-billed Cuckoo (YBCU) ecology and conservation. This advanced training is tailored specifically for biologists, environmental consultants, and land managers looking to gain hands-on experience in survey design, protocol implementation, and the elusive behavior of this federally-threatened species while fulfilling supervised field hours required for a USFWS Section 10(a)1(A) recovery permit. Call to inquire about potential July or August dates.

Workshop Highlights

Expert Instruction: Led by Adam Petry, who has studied cuckoos for 15 years and has helped develop regional habitat suitability standards.
Field Experience: Two consecutive mornings (6:00 AM – 11:00 AM) during the summer breeding season, totaling 8+ hours of observation in confirmed breeding habitat.
Technical Training: Participants will practice current protocol implementation, conduct habitat assessments, and perform desktop-based survey design analysis, gaining valuable understanding of the Halterman et al. (2016) standards.
Professional Certification: Upon completion, attendees receive a formal letter of recommendation for inclusion in the recovery permit application.

Permit & Certification Details

This workshop is specifically structured to help participants meet USFWS Region 6 (CO, UT, MT, WY) permit eligibility:

8+ Supervised Field Hours: Provided during this two-morning workshop.
Total Eligibility: When combined with the 4-hour Protocol Workshop Field Session, participants will meet the 12-hour minimum supervised survey requirement for Region 6.
Transferrable Hours: Field hours obtained through Western Birding training are applicable toward supervised hour requirements in all other USFWS Regions.
Documentation: Upon completion, participants receive a signed letter of recommendation and formal documentation of hours from a permitted cuckoo biologist.

Logistics & Investment

Location/Dates: Hotchkiss, CO (North Fork of the Gunnison River).
Schedule: Two consecutive mornings, 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Capacity: Minimum 5 / Maximum 10 participants. Space is reserved for the first online registrants.
Cost: $695 per participant (excludes food, travel, and lodging).

Note on Permitting Timelines: Per the USFWS R6 Permit Coordinator, recovery permits require 60–90 days for processing. Field hours gained during this 2026 workshop should be viewed as qualifying credit for a permit valid starting in the 2027 season.

About the Instructor

Adam Petry brings unparalleled field expertise to this workshop. He is a member of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo Working Group Steering Committee and has led the Survey Protocol Training and Advanced Field Workshop for nearly a decade. In 2025, he located five concurrently active YBCU nests in one river valley, which exceeded the USFWS estimate for the entire state.

Additional information

Additional Information

1. Discounts

Early Bird Discount: Register by April 15th, 2026, to receive 10% off your total registration fee.

Group Rate: Organizations sending 3+ participants are eligible for a 15% discount (must be processed on a single invoice).

2. Payment & Cancellation Policy

Deposit: A $150 deposit is required to hold your spot.

Balance Due: The remaining balance must be paid in full 30 days prior to the workshop start date.

Refunds: Cancellations made 30+ days prior to the event will receive a full refund (minus the $150 deposit). Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable but may be transferred to another biologist within the same organization.

Minimum Capacity: Western Birding reserves the right to cancel the workshop if the minimum of 4 participants is not met 21 days prior to the event. In this case, all fees (including deposits) will be refunded in full.

3. Permitting & Documentation Disclaimer

2027 Season Eligibility: Per USFWS Region 6 guidelines, recovery permits require 60–90 days for processing. Participation in this Summer 2026 workshop provides the necessary supervised hours for a permit valid for the 2027 survey season.

Certification: Certificates of Completion and formal Letters of Recommendation will be issued within 14 business days of the workshop’s conclusion.

Agency Approval: While Western Birding provides the required supervised hours and documentation, the final issuance of a Section 10(a)1(A) permit is at the sole discretion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

4. Logistics & Liability

Field Conditions: Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the North Fork of the Gunnison River, CO. The workshop involves hiking in uneven terrain and potential exposure to heat, insects, and riparian vegetation.

Equipment: Participants must provide their own binoculars and field gear. Western Birding will provide all necessary survey forms, playback equipment (for demonstration), and technical handouts.

Insurance: By registering, participants acknowledge the inherent risks of field work and agree to sign a standard liability waiver prior to the start of the first session.

2 reviews for Advanced Yellow-billed Cuckoo Field Workshop

Rated 5 out of 5

Spencer Morrison – December 30, 2019

Adam is an incredible biologist and the “cuckoo camp” is a great way to further understand the survey protocol and become more comfortable with being able to ID the incredibly rare bird. Also, this camp is the best way to get the hours needed for the section 10 permit. Highly recommend and incredibly educational!
Rated 5 out of 5

Hailey – July 24, 2022

Cuckoo Camp may sound crazy, but it’s so much more than that. Adam and Murrelet provide expert insight and practical knowledge, especially as it pertains to YBCU DPS’s. Our field sessions included a wide variety of suitable habitat examples – many where YBCU have been detected. This is a very practical way to meet the requirements for the ESA permit, but also notably fun and engaging. Highly recommend!

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Advanced Yellow-billed Cuckoo Field Workshop