Hello all,
Based upon many years of birding on the Colorado eastern plains, including
around Barr Lake, my conclusion on Western Meadowlarks in winter is that they
are definitely a normal part of the winter avifauna, but may seem less common,
are definitely less conspicuous, are more localized and with a tendency to
occur in loose flocks or groups.
They often seem less common in winter, which may be due to a lower population
and/or because they less often sing or sit on conspicuous perches and are
therefore less noticeable in winter. I think they are much more localized; I
have most often seen them around patches of dense, tall grass and weeds where
there is presumably more food and shelter. I have also frequently seen
individuals and small groups around horse or cattle corrals where there is
probably spilled grain or feed on the ground.
There is a tendency for meadowlarks to be seen in loose groups in winter. I
have often seen groups of 10-20 birds, especially around the localized sites
mentioned above, and sometimes 30 or even up to 50.
In looking through my field notes, along the back roads from Barr Lake
northeast to Morgan Co. in December and January (in various years from 1975 to
2012), I have typically counted 30-50 Western Meadowlarks, with a high count of
113 on January 26, 1975. At Barr Lake proper, walking along the east side, I
have seen between 0 and 22 on various dates. The variability in numbers may be
due to population fluctuations from year to year and/or the patchy distribution
of the birds.
The eBird maps show a southward shift in winter. Probably some or many or most
of Colorado’s summer birds move south, and breeders from farther north move
south into Colorado, augmenting the local resident population.
Western Meadowlarks are definitely present in good numbers in winter but have
different habits in winter than what we see in spring and summer.
Bob Andrews
Yekepa, Liberia, West Africa
On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 03:39:13 PM MST, Dave Cameron
<[email protected]> wrote:
Two different people now have asked me whether Western Meadowlark migrates, or
if it stays all winter and is simply quieter.
I personally never see them in winter, so I looked it up, and found this:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/maps-range#, which
basically says that they do, and also that they do not, migrate. It references
birds that migrate off breeding grounds, as well as some who don't; birds at
higher elevations that move downhill in winter, etc. Although this info is not
Colorado-specific. They do show purple on the range map, implying year-round
presence, if not necessarily of all of the same birds. So, yes! Any insight
as to our locals would be enlightening.
Thanks,
Dave
On Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 11:04:12 AM UTC-7 Dave Cameron wrote:
Slightly late report... On Sunday the 6th, at Barr Lake SP:
A good flock (20 or so) American Tree Sparrows5,000 or so Common
MerganserPossibly double that many geese, including Canada, Cackling and TWO
Ross' Geese150-200 Am. White Pelicans. The previously mentioned swan that was
associating with them was not seen.10-15 Bald EaglesQuite a few Pintails and
Mallards, scattered throughout2 very late Western Meadowlarks2 Kestrels2
Pheasant
Dave CameronDenver
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