Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, or RMBO, was first founded in 1988 to address bird conservation

Bird conservation

Bird conservation is a field in the science of conservation biology related to threatened birds. Humans have had a profound effect on many bird species...

 needs in the Western United States

Western United States

.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...

. RMBO's headquarters are located in Barr Lake State Park

Barr Lake State Park

Barr Lake State Park is a Colorado State Park established in 1977 in Adams County near Brighton, Colorado. The park has of trails, including an trail that circles Barr Lake. Fishing and boating are allowed in the northern half of the park. The southern half is a wildlife refuge, with several...

, just east of Brighton, Colorado

Brighton, Colorado

Brighton is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Adams County. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 31,380 in 2008.-Geography:...

. The RMBO office is approximately 15 miles northeast of Denver. Barr Lake State Park is a nationally important stopover point for birds migrating along North America's Central

Central Flyway

The Central Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Great Plains in the United States and Canada. The main endpoints of the flyway include central Canada and the region surrounding the Gulf of Mexico; the migration route tends to narrow considerably in the Platte River and...

 Flyway

Flyway

A flyway is a flight path used in bird migration. Flyways generally span over continents and often oceans.-Flyways of the Americas:*Atlantic Flyway*Central Flyway*Mississippi Flyway*Pacific Flyway*Allegheny Front...

and a popular spot for bird watching locally and throughout the region.

The observatory's programs are supported by grants from foundations, federal and state agencies, the Denver metro area's Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Adams County Cultural Council, Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, and contributions from RMBO members.