COBIRDERS,
I am "going out on a limb" with a public prediction.
The Hayman Burn occurred in 2002 with terrible results to private
property, the wildlife, the watershed, and the forest.
In July 2007, on the north edge of the burn area near Cheesman
Reservoir, I stumbled onto 2 Lewis's Woodpeckers foraging, and a pair of
Red-headed
Woodpeckers feeding nestlings. Over the last four years I have confirmed
breeding in both species three out of the four years, and both are already
back on their breeding grounds for the 2011 season.
The use of this burned forest habitat is completely logical AND
predictable for the Lewis's, but unusual (this far west and this high) for the
Red-headed Woodpeckers.
THUS, I PREDICT THAT WITHIN 2 TO 3 YEARS Lewis's Woodpeckers will move
into the 6,000 acre Fourmile Burn area in the Foothills west of Boulder.
2011 is the first breeding season post fire, so I am saying that by the
summer of 2012 or 2013 these woodpeckers will colonize and begin breeding in
the
Fourmile Burn area. Lewis's were common in these areas 100 years ago
according to the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas.
Colonization and breeding by Lewis's Woodpeckers might also occur in
the 4,500 acre Crystal Burn area west of Ft. Collins, but I'm not as certain
of this so I am only mentioning it as a possibility.
It is my sincere hope that Boulder birders and others will pay
attention to the woodpecker populations in the Fourmile Burn (and maybe the
Crystal
Burn) and prove me right OR prove me wrong in my prediction. Please let me
know, I will be happy either way.
Good Birding, Chris
Mr. Chris A. Blakeslee
Centennial, Colorado
[email protected]
--
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.
