Golden-crowned Sparrows seem to be a recent source of amazement: we are somewhat amazed they're here at all (most of us), amazed they aren't building up a population (Suzi), amazed they are absent (Bob), and amazed they aren't documented (Brandon).
My thoughts, at the distinct risk of oversimplifying things, would be they occur in small numbers in Colorado, probably every year, in migration (especially October). Sort of like Varied Thrush. A few probably find niches that allow them to overwinter. Because they are cryptic, particularly when associating with large numbers of White-crowns (gambelii, etc.), and because their habits are also not conspicuous, about the only time we "get onto them" is at feeders like the one at Red Rocks. I suspect if the birds at Red Rocks or Tunnel Drive were banded, we would find out it is the same individuals coming back year after year. When a particular "regular" dies, there is a void of years until another one, during a solo off-course migration or association with species that normally pass thru and/or winter in Colorado, finds a particular niche of dry brush with abundant food (we birders may or may not know of), and stays. They don't build up numbers probably because they don't breed here. And they aren't documented because documenting with the official Colorado Bird Records Committee, as opposed to posting on COBIRDS or in The Journal (Colorado Birds, "News From The Field"), is more time-consuming (no excuse, just a fact). Surely, Golden-crowned Sparrow has always been on the list of species for which the RC would like documentation. Probably birds like the ones at Red Rocks and Tunnel Drive are seen by many people other than the original finders, and there is an assumption the finder will write it up. I am among "the guilty majority" (sounds like a special interest group) who have not written up Golden-crowned Sparrows and many other rare birds, and personally plan to make a project out of getting somewhat caught up this winter. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- 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.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
