Hello, Birders. The other day, I posted a sorta cut-and-dried summary (http://tiny.cc/W0s2q) of the contents of the current issue (vol. 43, no. 4) of Colorado Birds, a quarterly journal published by Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO). Now, to editorialize somewhat, I'd like to say that Colorado Birds is fantastic! If you want to be knowledgeable about Colorado's birdlife, you absolutely have to subscribe to this journal--by joining CFO. Yes, Colorado Birds is a superb way to learn more about Colorado's birdlife. But there's something else, and I think it's even more important: Colorado Birds is downright fun! A one-year membership in CFO is only $25, and I would say that Colorado Birds alone is more than worth the price of admission. Anyhow, here are some thoughts of mine on the current issue. 1. The quarterly bird summaries are superb. First off, check out Bill Maynard's "News from the Field" column. You'll get details on all the rarities, but you'll also get valuable synthesis and analysis of population trends and those ever-fascinating "phenomena." Not to mention Bill's surreal sense of humor. (The various allusions to 20th-century pop culture are lost on me, but I'm sure they're clever and witty.) Second, check out Larry Semo's report of the Colorado Bird Records Committee, now appearing in *every* issue of Colorado Birds. That's amazing. In the current report, Larry and his hard-working committee report on and evaluate records through mid-2009; compared to other state records committees, that level of timeliness is simply without precedent. 2. Go to the back of each issue, and consult the "In the Scope" column, usually penned by bird ID expert Tony Leukering. Issue after issue, this feature in Colorado Birds contains valuable perspective and synthesis regarding bird identification problems in Colorado and beyond. Tony presents the material in a way that is sure to be of interest to beginners and experts alike. Case in point: Tony's discussion in the current issue of Horned and Eared Grebes. If you're just starting out, Tony's article is a fine introduction to the general problem of separating these two species. And if you're a pro, you'll still learn new stuff, like how the timing of the prealternate (spring) molt can help with grebe ID; you'll also come to appreciate some of the nuances involved in separating formative Horned vs. basic Eared Grebes. 3. Major articles on bird distribution in Colorado. There are always at least a few of these in each issue of Colorado Birds. In the current issue, Mike Henwood's article on Ovenbirds in Jefferson County is extraordinary. If you're like me, you consider it a treat to see just one or two Ovenbirds during the course of a day's birding in Colorado. Yet Mike shows that in certain Front Range drainages, Ovenbirds are downright common as breeders; at his study site, only 5 other bird species were as numerous. The current issue also contains an article by Yours Truly on the apparent regular passage of Upland Sandpipers over Boulder County in late summer. Who knew? 4. Human interest. Hey, we're a diverse group of folks with a shared interest in learning about birds. Who among us doesn't want to learn more about the real, live human beings who represent CFO? In this regard, you'll want to check out the current issue for such articles as the profile of CFO board member Maggie Boswell, the tribute to Colorado birding legend (and CFO Lifetime Achievement Award recipient) Warren Finch, and the account by CFO youth scholarship recipient Marcel Such of his adventure with Camp Cascades. 5. Cibarious interest. Face it: We all need to find food when we're out birding. "The Hungry Birder" column in Colorado Birds is equal parts quirky and essential. In the current installment, learn all about the "bold, bald, beared barker" of Estes Park. Seriously; and learn where to find food (and where to avoid it) in connection with your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. 6. Book reviews. If there's a new book on birding or ornithology in Colorado, it will be reviewed in Colorado Birds. In the current issue, Jason Beason reviews John Rawinski's recent (2009) book, Birding Hotspots of South-Central Colorado. 7. News of the association. Finally, Colorado Birds keeps us up to date on all the exciting stuff that's going on with CFO. In the current issue, CFO board president Jim Beatty discusses near-term objectives for the organization; CFO secretary Larry Modesitt supplies the minutes of the August 2009 board meeting; and Jim Beatty and board member Bill Kaempfer relive the highlights of recent CFO birding excursions to private ranches in eastern Colorado. The good work of CFO is diverse and ambitious indeed, and you can start to get a feel for all that with these regular communications from the CFO board on the pages of Colorado Birds. And that's just one issue of Colorado Birds. You get it four times a year--plus the annual CFO convention, great field trips to private lands that would be inaccessible to birders were it not for CFO, and, oh, yes, COBirds. That's right, there wouldn't be any COBirds without CFO. 25 dollars a year for a CFO membership, divided by 365 days in a year, equals a little less than 7 cents per day to keep COBirds running. If you're not already a CFO member, isn't that reason enough to join? It's just a click away... http://www.cfo-link.org/members/join.php -------------------------------
Ted Floyd Editor, Birding Check out Birding magazine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BirdingMagazine ------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=xbox+games&scope=cashback&form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_Shopping_Giftsforthem_cashback_1x1 -- 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
