When Steve Mlodinow put an "s" on "kittiwake" yesterday, I had to go to Windsor Lake (Weld) this morning. Thanks to Cole for finding the first one, and thanks to Steve for rewriting the biology books. Who knew kittiwakes reproduce by amoeboid simple cell division instead of eggs?
And, yes, the secret to this situation, like that of the Ross's Gull and Neotropic Cormorant at Cherry Creek Res, is gizzard shad. There were also at least 5 Bonaparte's Gulls on the lake, most of them in basic dress. That means there are at least 7 birds out there with blackish blotches behind the eye, most with black bills, two with yellowish bills. I have very little experience with kittiwakes. When flying, their long, narrow wings, rapid beat, and long-bodied profile with a squarish tails made them detectable, even at long distance. The other obvious thing was that the Bonaparte's, when sitting, were fitfully nitpicking midges from the water surface. For the most part the kittiwakes appeared to be resting when sitting, fishing for shad when flying. 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.
