Cobirders:
I've been doing my normal great horned owl tours and
surveys. This is my 21st year doing this amateur project, and I think this
year has been one of the best. Of the 17 owl nest sites monitored, the
average clutch size appears to be three (but if you want to get technical,
then 2.7). Of course while canvassing for owl nests, I bump into lots of
other things.
Of note for *Saturday April 20th:*
For *Boulder County*:
Great horned owl: 51 individuals at nest sites
Bald eagle: 16 - average clutch size 2, chicks of different sizes being fed
Osprey: 14 - virtually every "hack platform" has a pair now. The
interesting one is at Nelson and 75th, where the developers or the county
knocked down the hack box, and put up a tornado siren tower. Guess what
happened? Poetic justice I say. The sidewalk is covered with sticks
falling from 150 up on top of the tower where they built their nest. The
ospreys got the last laugh.
Coopers hawk - 8 - actively building nests. Its interesting to watch how
they select the most pliable braches to weave the nest
Red tailed hawk - dozens, all on nests now
Prairie falcon - 1 - Louisville
Myrtle warbler - 4 - Sawhills \ Walden
Audubon's warbler - 6 - Sawhills \ Walden
Wren species: WINTER or PACIFIC - I'm not good at differentiating the two
(east from west) unless I hear the song. Along the Lobo trail, from Twin
Lakes Gunbarrel, just west of 63rd near the owl nest site in a brush pile
by the ditch. Foraging actively on the ground, but staying in the shadows.
Marsh wren - 3 - at Cottonwood Marsh, and at Jim Hamm Park. The two at Jim
Hamm were actively chasing and singing.
Vesper sparrow - 1 - at McCall Lake
White crowned sparrow - 12 - Sawhills \ Walden, Louisville Open Space, and
Boulder County Open Space
American white pelican - two at McCall Lake
White throated swift - 6 - Meadow Park, Lyons
Broad tailed hummingbird - 1 - Meadow Park, Lyons
Yellow headed blackbird - 7 - Jim Hamm Park
Mountain bluebird - 12 - in various locations; already at higher
elevations like Myers Gulch in Boulder Mt Park
Bushtits - 30+ - throughout Louisville and Boulder Mt Park - numbers
increasing yearly. And they are staying in neighborhoods all year long.
Bull snake - 1st one this year - Sawhills \ Walden - note: bull snakes
prey on baby birds and birds eggs.
(for Boulder County records: coyote, cottontail, mule deer, fox squirrel,
black-tailed prairie dog, Abert's squirrel)
*Weld County*:
Great horned owl - 8 individuals at nest sites
Bald eagle - 8 individuals at nest sites
American avocet - 4 - Union Reservoir
Brown headed cowbird - 6 - S. Platte River bridge, Platteville
Barn swallow - dozens - S. Platte River bridge, Platteville
Cliff swallow - hundreds - S. Platte River bridge, Platteville
Wild turkey - 1 - male displaying - St Vrain River flood plain overlook -
Road 17 and Hwy 66
Western grebe - 12 - Union Reservoir
Flower note: blooming: cranesbill, dandelion, and pasque flower: Signal
the nesting of prairie and peregrine falcons, and black bears coming out of
hibernation
John T (Tumasonis) Louisville CO
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