Down here in the "lowlands" (Golden) Black Rosy-Finches seem to be numerous
this year and Brown-capped Rosy-Finches scarce. On the other hand Park
County has plenty of Brown-caps and few Blacks. A quick rough check of
eBird Rosy-Finch records for 2021 shows the following:
55th Place in Golden (also labeled El Diente) 1/27 Gray-crowned 290,
Black 15, BCRF 1
Mesa Meadows Golden 1/26 GCRF 61, Black *70*, BCRF 3
But in Park County (Middle Park) Brown Caps are predominant.
Como 1/24 GCRF 8, Black 2, BCRF 32
Al Gulch Road (Jefferson) 1/9 GCRF 18, Black 5, BCRF *400!*
The Lambs (Fairplay) 1/8 GCRF 1, Black 1, BCRF 75
I love these birds and am intrigued by the fact that at least this winter,
the Brown Caps, almost Colorado endemics, are staying closer to their
summer homes above timberline in the Colorado Rockies, whereas those that
have come from Idaho and Montana (Blacks) and the Gray Crowns from British
Colombia as far as Alaska seem to prefer lower altitudes in the Front
Range. Blacks seem to be unusually numerous this year.
Is (has) anyone studied the distribution of these scarce birds? How about a
citizen science project to survey their numbers at certain feeder locations
once a week during the winter. (CFO?) Isn't Scott Rashid banding them in
Estes Park? Why do they come some years (like to Red Rocks and Ira Sanders'
place in Golden) and then show up at a different location the next year?
Where do they roost at night in the winter? Ira suggested that they need
rocky cliffs like North Table Mountain for night roosts.
Bob Shade
Lakewood
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