This morning I headed east to survey two breeding bird atlas blocks. Grass conditions were lush in the Fremont Butte-SE block in Washington County. Given the apparent influx of Dickcissels this year, I was wondering if they would turn up in this block. My question was answered shortly after I left my truck to walk CR41 between US 34 and CR T. By time I walked the distance to CR T, I had counted 11 Dickcissels singing. Elsewhere in the block I tallied 5 more before I stopped counting.
I found no Dickcissels in this block last year, and they were not reported for the block during Atlas I. Dickcissel's appear in the state irregularly with their appearance much determined by precipitation. During the first Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas field years, 36% of the records for this species occurred in one year, 1994. While it's uncertain how much precipitation we'll see during the remaining years of the current atlas, it's possible that this will be the best year for atlasers to record this species. Chuck Hundertmark 2546 Lake Meadow Drive Lafayette, CO 80026 Phone/fax: 303-604-0531 Cell: 720-771-8659 [email protected] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
