Last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (9-11June) I did the three Breeding Bird Survey routes assigned to me. Doing them on consecutive days probably comes perilously close to turning one's passion into work, but due to the CFO Convention and obligations this week, plus the weather forecast, there wasn't much choice but to do it this way. As anyone who has done these routes can attest, finishing one always feels like you cheated the Devil and lived to tell about it. Here's what I have to tell.
The Lamar Route runs from Prowers MM/13 junction north to near Chivington Res in Kiowa County. Highlights of the 6/9 run with Janeal's help included Mountain Plovers on 2 stops, relearning the song of Burrowing Owls (which had me fooled into thinking they might be Scaled Quail for a time), Northern Bobwhite (one stop), Virginia Rail, 2 for-sure Chihuahuan Raven nests, and lots of Dickcissels and Lark Buntings. Total of 35 species. The Villegreen Route starts west of Kim in ne Las Animas County and runs basically due north thru the all-but-ghost-town of Villegreen all the way to Officer Hill then east and north for the last few stops. Highlights of the 6/10 run were many including amazing numbers of Lark Buntings (20-30 on several stops), lots of Dickcissels, Long-billed Curlews (at least 5 stops), both ravens (which I get the impression are a major predator on curlew eggs and/or young), a heard-only roadrunner, Juniper Titmouse (5 at 2 stops), lots of Black-headed Grosbeaks sounding like Hepatic Tanagers (which this route has had), a Mountain Bluebird, and best of all a singing male SCOTT'S ORIOLE (my first one in CO east of the Divide). Total of 42 species. After running my Ninaview Route the next day, I went back to Officer Hill. The Scott's Oriole was still there (but silent) plus four species I did not record on the day of the official census: White-throated Swift, Canyon Wren, Canyon Towhee, and Common Poorwill (singing in the middle of the day). Best non-bird encounter was a major hatch of a tiny green cicada, Cicadetta kansa, which was abundant in the grass (a series of 21 are going to the Gillette Collection at CSU). The Ninaview Route starts at a very difficult to find point (at least in the dark) 20 miles or so east of Highway 109, runs west to the highway, then north along the highway to a point not very many miles south of the turnoff to Higbee Canyon. This route has had Scott's Oriole and Gray Vireo in the past but not this year on 6/11. Highlights did include Long-billed Curlew at several stops, a male Black-chinned Hummingbird, Dickcissel (1 stop), Curve-billed Thrasher (1 stop), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1 stop) and Chipping Sparrow (2 stops along Highway 109). Total of 38 species. Big rains and hail occurred all over eastern CO on 6/12 and I am sure none of these three routes would have been doable on 6/13. Like I said, not oversleeping, not hitting a deer or cow, finding the starting point, having the road be entirely negotiable, avoiding excessive wind which negates hearing birds, not encountering a close-minded landowner, not having car trouble, etc. - if all the stars align and the route can be completed, well, it feels really good. The US Fish & Wildlife Service gets a ton of data from BBS volunteers I sure hope they appreciate and put to something other than bureaucratic use. And I gotta say, the CO Coordinator of BBS, Hugh Kingery, deserves a commendation from somebody in Washington. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/SNT148-W780F5D896A60374AE3DE49C1B80%40phx.gbl. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.