I have been following a pair of Barn Swallows that nested successfully under a window canopy near the front entrance to the Denny's Restaurant in Canon City this summer. I was delighted that the manager and staff, with the approval of the owner, not only tolerated these birds near on of their front doors but protected them by placing barriers to keep people away from nestlings that were on the ground, etc. My Audubon chapter, Arkansas Valley Audubon, gave them an award for their efforts and not only were there 9 employees present for the presentation photo, but 3 of them came in on their day off--they were really proud of their swallows. This pair nested fairly late and now is sitting again on the nest.
On Friday I saw two still flightless Wood Ducks in juvenal plumage and their mother in my Canon City Colo Breeding Bird Atlas blocks. *Birds of North America *online says that young birds are able to fly at 8-10 weeks of age. Since they are flightless, and not imported (they are on my friend's property), they clearly born near Canon City. The last *Colo Breeding Bird Atlas* showed fledged young from May 24 to July18, so these are very late. Western Tanagers and Yellow Warblers are still moving through the Canon City area though their numbers are slowing down. This morning I saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher on the eastern section of the Canon City Riverwalk near where I saw Black and Eastern Phoebes a few days ago (not there now). I also saw more than a dozen Wilson's Warblers this morning on the Canon City Riverwalk and a few other riparian areas. The first one I reported on Aug 5 was a male and all of these were females/immatures. They are so distinctive with their tails hitched up as they run across branches like they were yellow wrens. And I enjoyed watching a mixed flock led by vocalizing Black-capped Chickadees, with foraging Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, and a White-breasted Nuthatch. I will put some good photos of the flycatcher and Wilson's Warblers by tomorrow on my blog at http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com There is still one juvenile Black Phoebe in the area of the MacKenzie bridge over the Arkansas River. With the hot weather, it spends a lot of time either in the shade of overhanging branches or in the dense vegetation on the edge of the river making it difficult to find. Yesterday I heard it call once as I drove across the bridge but had the darndest time locating it (it was in the dense vegetation and I didn't find it until it called again). It is more shy than most Black Phoebes I have observed which adds to the challenge. I also saw at least one and likely two Eastern Phoebes at my friend's property yesterday. There have been several bears seen in the Canon City area in the past few weeks. I have seen fresh bear scat in several locations including the Canon City Riverwalk. I hope those who are in areas where bears are trying to fatten up for winter have taken down their birdfeeders. Just 1 lb of birdseed has over 1,000 calories and bears are looking for high calorie food sources. The Colo Div of Wildlife states: "Bird Feeders Kill Bears ------------------------------ Studies show that a big meal of tasty, nutritious seeds — a natural food for bears — is often the first reward a bear gets for exploring human places. Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches bears that it’s safe to come close to people and homes looking for food. And for bears that can be a deadly lesson." More info at http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Mammals/LivingWithBears.htm SeEtta Moss Canon City http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
