Though I agree generally with what Charles Hundertmark has said, I would disagree that " it's possible that this will be the best year for atlasers to record this species." Indeed there are very good numbers reported in the more northern parts of eastern Colo there are few, and some places none, in the southern front range . There were excellent numbers of Dickcissels in Canon City and Pueblo in 2006 but none this year that I'm aware of (and few in past 2 years).
Though we have been experiencing increased rain, it didn't seem to start as soon as it did in northern parts of Colorado which may have resulted in Dickcissels avoiding this area when they were migrating to nesting locations? (ironically, most of the Dickcissels I have seen in the Canon City and Pueblo areas have been in irrigated alfalfa-mix fields & irrigation is not dependent on rain???--not sure how to interpret this) Hopefully this area will provide better nesting habitat for Dickcissels before the Breeding Bird Atlas II is over so they can be included. SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com On Wed, Jul 8, 2009 at 9:49 PM, Charles Hundertmark <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
