John Martin Reservoir, Colo., – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff at the reservoir will host their annual midwinter eagle survey, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
The event is free and open to the public. Volunteers are asked to email JohnMartin@usace.army.mil if they are interested in attending. Participants should plan to meet in the conference room at the USACE office at the reservoir between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. to allow time to get their assigned routes and zones, and to get ready for an 8:00 a.m. start time. The eagle count will end around 10:00 a.m.
The office is located at 29955 County Rd 25.75 Hasty, Colo., 81044. To access the conference room, please use the glass door on the west side of the office building.
“Last year we reported 44 eagle sightings during the survey thanks to the efforts of our volunteers,” said Hunter Tracy, USACE park ranger at John Martin Reservoir.
A 4WD vehicle is recommended for those wanting to follow vehicle survey routes. Those who choose to count from the top of the dam should be prepared for very cold temperatures.
All volunteers are asked to dress warmly and consider current weather conditions. Spotting scopes, binoculars, and/or long-range cameras are also recommended to aid in spotting eagles, and volunteers are asked to bring their equipment. There will be some equipment available for those who don’t have any.
“Rangers will be happy to assist anyone who is new to participating in the survey,” said Tracy. “Last year we were very happy to provide an opportunity for volunteers to see their first eagles in the wild!”
The purpose of the eagle count survey is to gather individuals to help count eagles along standard, non-overlapping survey routes as part of a nationwide midwinter bald eagle survey. It is also a great opportunity to encourage shared environmental stewardship efforts with the public to promote wildlife conservation. The basic objectives of the survey are to index the total wintering bald eagle populations in the lower 48 states, determine eagle distribution during a standardized survey period, and identify previously unrecognized areas of important winter habitat.
The annual midwinter survey represents a unique source of long-term, baseline data. Unlike nesting surveys, this provides information on both breeding and non-breeding segments of the population at a potentially limiting time of the year. The count has become a national tradition since 1984. In addition to providing information on eagle trends, distribution, and habitat, the count has helped to create public interest in bald eagles and their conservation.
Follow John Martin Reservoir on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JohnMartinReservoirUSACE/
Information at recreation at John Martin Reservoir is on our website: https://www.spa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/John-Martin-Reservoir/
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