Hey all, Erin Youngberg and I spent time working for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory searching for late nesting birds on a large piece of short grass prairie on private property near the border of Wyoming this week and last. Today we were able to watch an adult female Dickcissel feed a juvenile that clambered up a twig to meet her. The juvenile still had down and no tail feathers and did not try to fly away as we approached. Males sang from at least 3 different locations throughout our extensive efforts to find the nest.
Other birds seen exhibiting breeding behaviors in this same property were Grasshopper Sparrows (juveniles and feeding adults seen), Mourning Dove, Lark Bunting, and Common Nighthawks. Also found were at least 6 pre-migration Mountain Plovers gathering in a Prairie Dog colony awaiting the signals to move south. I'm unable to give exact locations of these birds because they were on private property, but I have seen and heard Dickcissels along North Taft Hill road where it intersects with Owl Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 70). The birds were seen along the east side of the road at the tops of some short pine trees. Also hear here were many Cassin's Sparrows. Great birding! Matt Webb Fort Collins, Colorado -- 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.
