[cobirds] Re: Grasshopper Outbreak in 2010
Actually, the map looks a lot worse for western Nebraska and Kansas, and all of South Dakota, compared with us...even eastern Colorado. Reminds me of the Mormon crops being saved, prompting the Beach Boys to write, Wish they all could be California gulls. (Apologies to Joe Roller, who will probably add to this). Also - what would be the effect of wet vs dry Spring/Summer on the grasshopper population? Karl Stecher Centennial The Nunn Guy writes: Sort of bird related (food source) ... Channel 9 News had story on upcoming grasshopper outbreak predicted worst in 30 years--good news for Swainson's Hawks and Loggerhead Shrikes (and others). USDA/APHIS 2010 Outbreak Map (with severities): http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/grasshopper/downloads/hazard.pdf Thanks Gary Lefko/Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.com/ -- Home of the Nunn Guy -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
[cobirds] VERMILION FLYCATCHER - BACA COUNTY
This report came in overnight: This morning there was a male Vermilion Flycatcher in Comanche National Grasslands, .2 miles west of the corner of RD 21 and RD J. The bird was hanging around the fence posts and low bushes near the house on the north side of the road. We saw the bird around 10:00am. I havent managed to subsscribe to the mailing list yet so figured I'd pass this on. Also, heres a photo: http://i.imgur.com/bCb1l.jpg I moved to Colorado relatively recently, so I'm not particularly sure how rare Vermilions are here, but I figured I would pass it on in case other birders were interested. best, Erik Enbody Colorado Springs, CO Sent from my iPhone -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] Sage Thrasher, Delta Co. 4/4
One of the first singing birds I heard after stepping outside this morning was a Sage Thrasher! This is yard species #165 for my yard on the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Poania. Sure sounded like spring out there this morning!! -- Jason Beason Special Monitoring Projects Coordinator Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Paonia - Delta County -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] My Easter Egg Hunt/Weld (Plovers)
Mountain Plover - 8 Hwy 14/WCR 51 - 6 (group that hung together whole time I was watching them) WCR 96/43 - 2 (individuals in a bare field on SE-half the one-mile section is bare) -- not a traditional location. No Burrowing Owls yet. Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn/CO http://ColoradoBirder.ning.com/ -- Home of the Nunn Guy -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] City Park (Denver) Cormorants and Owl.
I stopped by City Park yesterday (Saturday), looking at trees FULL of Cormorant nests. After looking and looking, finally found the owl nest (Great-horned) about half way up one of the trees covered with Double-crested Cormorant nests. LOTS. She was on the nest, seemed to be moving eggs around, wind blowing her rear-end feathers up towards her head made it difficult, at first. However, she started preening and that was good. As someone wrote - this is on the island at Duck Lake (?) behind the Zoo. Gail Weeding and his daughter were able to get good looks at it also. Why would she choose such a noisy, raucous neighbor hod? Maybe she was there before the wild ones came. Very nice. Mary Jane Black Denver -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] My Easter Egg Hunt II/Nunn (Plovers)
More Mountain Plovers--by far a banner day for me for total plover seen in single day -- 19 (8 from earlier post included)!! Mountain Plover WCR 100/37 NE - 2 (one mile from house) WCR 114/37 SE (Burn area) - 3 1.5M S of WCR 120/Hwy 85 on E - 1 (seen one here last three years) WCR 96 between WCR 37 and 35 on N - 3 (2 miles from house) WCR 33 S of WCR 96 on W - 1 (~2.5 miles from house) WCR 31 N of WCR 100 on W - 1 (2 miles from house) Almost all plovers seen in what looks to be fallow fields that have lots of dirt and rows of very short green grass (wild) or winter wheat remains. Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn/CO http://ColoradoBirder.ning.com/ -- Home of the Nunn Guy -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] Weld County Gulls - 4/4
This morning (4/4) Nick Komar and I tried to relocate some of the interesting gulls found yesterday in Weld County. Black Hollow Reservoir GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL - 1 first cycle bird (Nick thought it was a different bird than he saw yesterday) ICELAND GULL - 2 1st cycle birds, one of them flew towards the Weld County Landfill while we were there Thayer's Gull - 2 1st cycle birds Weld County Landfill ICELAND GULL - 2 1st cycle birds, one of which is probably the bird that flew this direction from Black Hollow GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 adult Thayer's Gull - 2 Windsor Lake GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 2nd cycle bird We had a total of 10 'white-winged' gulls: 1 Glaucous-winged Gull, 2 Glaucous Gulls, 3 Iceland Gulls, and 4 Thayer's Gulls. Cole Wild Loveland -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] Boreal Owl, Jackson and Larimer Counties, 4/3
I retraced Cole Wild's route last night. Jackson CR-21 two very distant owls. Moose visitor center, one close calling owl in the parking lot that then moved across the road. In Larimer I stopped at the first parking lot east of Cameron Pass and had one calling close to the bathroom. Todd Deininger Longmont, CO Only the muddy fox lives -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] April 2010 D.F.O. Fieldtrips -- Join Us!
Denver Field Ornithologists April 2010 Field Trips Saturday, April 10 Aurora’s Ponderosa Pine Preserve Leader: Mary Ann Bonnell, 303-739-2428. Must register with leader for meeting time and place. Area offers montane birding in a prairie setting. Mary Ann will know the latest bird happenings in the area! Sunday, April 11 South Mesa Trail Leader: Paula Hansley, 720-890-2628 (cell 303-263-1714). Meet at 0800 at RTD parking lot at southeast corner of intersection of State Highways 93 and 170 (Marshall) for carpooling. 1⁄2 day trip. Expect to see foothills species on an easy walk through shrubby, deciduous woodland. Saturday, April 17 Barr Lake State Park Leader: Bob Andrews, 303-249-5220. Parks Pass needed. Meet at 0730 at Nature Center. From Denver take East I-76 to Bromley Lane, exit 22. Go east to Piccadilly Road, turn south for about 2 miles to Park Entrance. Bob co-authored, with Bob Righter, Birds of Colorado. We‘re glad to have him in our leader lineup! Lunch optional. May bird into the afternoon. Sunday, April 18 Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch Leader: Tim Smart, 303-439-9627. Meet at 0800. Exit I-70 at Morrison. Go south to first parking lot on left after freeway entrance. Scopes would be helpful! Steep uphill walk to ridge. Length of trip will depend on weather and number of migrants moving. Tim has had over 20 years of hawk watch counting in many places across the country, so we‘ll be in good hands! Saturday, April 24 The Arsenal Leader: David Rhoades, 303-424-8633. Must register with leader for meeting time and place. Half-day trip limited to 9 people. David will give directions to Arsenal. He is up-to-date on the changing birding scene out here! Sunday, April 25 McCabe Meadows Park (formerly Parker Regional Park) Leader: Steve Kennedy, 303-815-9738. Meet at 0730 for 1⁄2 day trip. From Main Street intersection in Parker, take Highway 83 south for 1.2 miles. Turn right on Indian Pipe Lane to the parking lot on the right (the park is on the west side of the road). Wear your walking shoes – we'll go rain or shine. We may look into Triple C Ranch's marsh and pond. Surprises could be in store of us! Thursday, April 29 Chico Basin - $10 entrance fee per person Leader: Chuck Thornton-Kolbe 303-777-7588. Meet at 0530 (!!) at Park 'n Ride at Yale Avenue, just west of I-25 (right turn at Yale then immediate right again into parking lot; Go to end and look for binoculars attached to people). Carpooling for this long, all-day jaunt is a must. Bring provisions and dress for weather changes at this migrant trap on the plains that can be full of avian wonders. Other Bird Happenings: Castlewood Canyon State Park, south of Franktown, is again holding its Welcome Back Turkey Vultures! celebration. Call 303-688-5242 for information or check their web site, http://parks.state.co.us/Parks/ CastlewoodCanyon/Pages/CastlewoodCanyonHome.aspx The DFO board is requesting more volunteers to support the field trip scheduling task. Call Chuck Thornton-Kolbe at 303-777-7588 if you can help with the phone calling. Scheduled by Patty Echelmeyer 303-233-4947 and compiled by Cris Cook. Don't forget to renew your Colorado State Parks Pass and Habitat Stamp for 2010. The Habitat Stamp is no longer required for birders in Colorado. However, the money does go toward protecting wildlife habitat in the state, and having the Stamp includes coverage from the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund. http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/HabitatStamp Submitted byChris A. Blakeslee - DFO Board Member Centennial, Colorado corvidc...@aol.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] Barr Lake today
Not the busiest day today, bird-wise, at Barr, but some highlights: Fervent nest-building actvity by a great many Great Blue Herons and DC Cormorants Two gorgeous breeding-plumage Horned Grebes 8 Wood Ducks, incl 3 pairs and 2 bachelors Possible Lesser Black-backed Gull A very active pair of Kestrels 2 Ring-Necked Pheasants Several Killdeer Pied-billed Grebes 1 Green-Winged Teal Western Meadowlarks Am. Goldfinches And of course, the Bald Eagles on the nest. Dave Cameron Denver -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
[cobirds] Crossbill Update, Grandview Cemetery, thru Easter Sunday
Extreme southeast corner, Grandview Cemetery, west terminus of Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, Larimer County, CO: The White-winged Crossbills continue their visit (Day 134) and nesting attempt. On warm days, both parents are gone from the nest quite a bit. Leaving the nest unattended is not without consequences. Today, several folks viewing the nest observed the nest being robbed of significant amounts of nest material by both Pine Siskins and at least one female House Finch. Both species are nesting in spruce trees very near the crossbill nest tree. If I had to guess at the function of the material being looted both before and after the robbery, it appeared to be throw rugs and pillows, not drywall or 2x4's. The finches taking the material were getting it from both the bottom of the cup (as accessed from below the nest) and the rim of the cup (at times the siskins appear to be in the cup). When the intruders engage in pilferage, the baby crossbills (we're still not sure if there are two or three) mistake their intentions as benevolent, and start begging for food. Does this mean the young are still blind, not picky who they bum a meal from, or both? As has been noted, the male crossbill does not like siskins and male house finches and often chases them away from the nest. I have assumed this was some sort of grudge from food competition episodes, or just instinctive chasing of any related species near the nest. Perhaps, in truth, it has something to do with recognition of their potential for nest material thievery. Also of interest today, both crossbills were seen eating both American Hackberry flower buds and American Elm flowers. I stayed at the nest until just after activity terminated at 7pm. The female's final behaviors were: she came into the nest from somewhere to the north, appeared to eat a fecal sac (although maybe this was a seed bolus coming out of her mouth), settled onto the nest, rearranged liner material along the nest cup's upper rim, closed her eyes, appeared to bring up a few seeds from her crop, and then just got motionless. Fledging is anticipated for a little over a week from today. The closer this event gets, the tougher the process becomes: perhaps there will be more nest material theft by other finch species; the food needs of the young will increase daily; maintenance of the nest will require more effort (both sanitation and wear-and-tear); squirrel threats will likely increase as the young crossbills become more vocal; crowding will occur; and available moisture very near the nest tree, at least in the form of snow, will likely disappear completely. The golf course is starting to water greens and tees. Maybe puddles will be available from this. Sheldon Lake, about 0.3 miles to the southeast, could always be their fallback option for water. Birders both yesterday and today reported seeing a Peregrine Falcon in the cemetery. The Turkey Vulture roost on Mountain Avenue about a mile east of the cemetery nw of the intersection of Washington is back in full swing. Still no young visible at the Great Horned Owl nest in the center of the cemetery. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using remove me as the subject.
