Birders,
I've had to give up weekends off to keep track of the record numbers of
Piping Plovers at John Martin Reservoir this spring, and make sure that
they are protected wherever they capriciously decide to set up
territories. Today, I found a seventh nest at John Martin, and counted a
record 22 Piping Plovers. I dealt with constructing new closures, trying
to tie together law enforcement efforts from three agencies, and dealing
with multiple parties on the edge of disturbing nesting birds.
I think the karma gods smiled on me, because I flushed an adult female
(Western form) Common Ground-Dove from the road 1.5 miles west of the
dam on the south side of the reservoir just before noon. I got to see
the tiny size, short, square tail, rufous primaries, and scaly pattern
on the back of the head and sides of the neck (eliminating female Ruddy
Ground-Dove). I have learned that in situations like this, identify the
bird first, and try to photograph later, and, as I tried to photograph
the bird, it flushed from the ground, and I never relocated it. I spent
much of the afternoon trying to relocate it, with the help of two local
birders. This won't be an easy bird to relocate.
If you look for this bird, go to the south side of the dam, and pass the
kiosks by the entrance to the south side of the reservoir. Turn left
immediately after entering the wildlife area, and drive 1.5 miles west.
I placed orange flagging on sunflower stalks on both sides of the road
in the open area where I found it.
On a more positive note, I saw an immature Laughing Gull while working
this morning. It was inside the first endangered species closure west of
the dam on the south side of the reservoir. Yesterday, I had it inside
another closure on the north side of the reservoir. I am pretty sure
this bird will hang around a while. Please remember that you're dealing
with endangered species here, and don't cross fences (huge federal and
state penalties), and don't tarry long outside closures.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas
Bent County, CO
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