Chatfield Reservoir has two documented murrelet sightings (one each...see Brandon's post for the specific dates). The semi-local weather conditions in the days prior to each were the same. That being, multiple days of high westerly winds (Chinooks) followed by a "dead" calm day.
My guess/theory on this is: The Chinook winds are caused by a cold front coming through the mountains (okay that's not theory). This cold front likely causes some lakes to start to freeze or completely freeze over. Some birds, wanting to escape the potential freeze, flyout. Heavy Chinook winds blow them towards the east. Once out of the mountains the birds, being out of "normal looking" habitat (remember these guys nest in costal conifers) drop into large nearby reservoirs and wait-out the storm/winds. Then next day they spend time feeding. The calm (like a sheet of glass) waters are "unnatural" to them (they are used to cold, deep, wave action of the sea) and they leave. This is "evidenced" by no Colorado record of a murrelet staying more than one day on a lake. The calm weather is also VERY important from a birding perspective. On a lake that's like a "sheet of glass" it is MUCH easier to find a bird that is SMALLER than any North American duck or grebe. Waves or wavelets can easily conceal such a bird. On a calm lake every little ripple can be seen and traced to it cause. Now that being said, my theory on the winds may be total "bunk" (time will tell...maybe), but for sure get out on those ultra-calm days because that's about the only way to see one way out on a lake! Good luck on your search! Joey Kellner Littleton, CO -- 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
