[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, April 3, 2011
Date: April 3, 2011 e-mail: r...@cfo-link.org phone: 303-659-8759 This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 5 am, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. If you are phoning in a message, you can skip the recording by pressing the star key (*) on your phone at any time. Please leave your name, phone number, detailed directions, including county and dates for each sighting. It would be helpful if you would spell your last name. Highlight species include: (* denotes that there is new information on the species in this report) TUNDRA SWAN (Boulder, Moffat) Barrow's Goldeneye (Douglas, Eagle, Moffat) Snowy Plover (Kiowa, Otero) MEW GULL (Arapahoe) Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Denver, Larimer) Glaucous Gull (Denver) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Bent/Kiowa) White-winged Dove (Otero) American Three-toed Woodpecker (*Larimer) Black Phoebe (*Otero) Eastern Phoebe (Otero) Carolina Wren (Fremont) Curve-billed Thrasher (*Jefferson) Bohemian Waxwing (Routt) Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Otero) White-throated Sparrow (*Jefferson) Harris's Sparrow (Jefferson) GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (*Boulder, *Jefferson) Arapahoe County: --At Cherry Creek State Park on the sandspit near the marina, Andrews reported 2 1st-cyc Thayer's Gulls and 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull on March 26. On March 27, Teuton relocated the Lesser Black-backed Gull. On March 28, Drummond reported a 1st-cyc Thayer's Gull at the sandspit. On April 1, Walbek reported 1 ad MEW GULL, 2 1st-cyc Thayer's Gulls, and 1 2nd-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cherry Creek State Park. Bent/Kiowa Counties: --An adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported by Duane Nelson at Adobe Creek Reservoir on April 1. Boulder County: --On February 27, Stiles reported a TUNDRA SWAN at Cottonwood Marsh and on March 29, Mlodinow reported that the TUNDRA SWAN continues at Cottonwood Marsh. --The GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW was reported by Mlodinow near the Teller Farm Parking Lot on April 2. Denver County: --Kibbe reported that Marston Reservoir is being drained so gulls can be more easily view from the intersection of old S. Wadsworth, S. Upham Ct, and S Webster Ct. He reported an imm Glacous Gull and ad Lesser Black-backed Gull on March 30. Douglas County: --A male Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Cici Lee at a gravel pit in Franktown (about 0.5 mile south of Hwy 86 on east side of Castlewood Canyon Road) on March 29. Eagle County: --50+ Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Filby at Spring Park Reservoir on March 31. Fremont County: --A Carolina Wren was heard by Moss on the Canon City Riverwalk on March 27. Jefferson County: --On March 30, Henwood reported Curve-billed Thrasher, White-throated Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and Harris's Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post. On April 1, Hatch reported Curved-billed Thrasher, White-throated Sparrow, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW at Red Rocks. Kiowa County: --13 Snowy Plovers were reported by Duane Nelson at Neenoshe Reservoir on March 31. Larimer County: --A pair of American-Three-toed Woodpeckers was reported by Bretting on the Gem Lake Trail about a mile from the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park on April 2. Moffat County: --2 TUNDRA SWANS were reported by Luke on a pond west of Ranney St. just north of the Yampa River in Craig on April 1. --2 pairs of Barrow's Goldeneyes were reported by Luke on the Yampa River south of Craig near the Hwy 13 bridge crossing on April 1. Otero County: --4 Snowy Plovers were reported by Percival at Lake Cheraw on April 1. --2 White-winged Doves were reported by Percival in Rocky Ford on April 1. --In the Higbee area on April 1, Percival reported Eastern Phoebe and 1 singing Rufous-crowned Sparrow. --A Black Phoebe and Rufous-crowned Sparrow were reported by Duane Nelson in the Higbee area on CR 806 east of Hwy 109 on April 2. Remember that land in this area is private so stick to public roadways unless granted permission from the property owner. Routt County: --On March 20, Williams reported 350 Bohemian Waxwings working a 1 mile stretch of the Yampa River south of Steamboat Springs city limits. They were taking an early insect hatch over the river. On March 28, Litteral reported that there a still a good number of Bohemian Waxwings working a mile mile stretch of the Yampa River about 1 mile south of the city limits on CO 131 near the parking area for Chuck Lewis SWA. Weld County: --At Black Hollow Reservoir on April 2, Mlodinow reported 1 1st-cyc Thayer's Gull and 2 2nd-cyc Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Black Hollow is private but can be scanned from CR 19. The DFO field trip for Saturday, April 9 will be to Star K Ranch led by Mary Ann Bonnell (303-739-2428). Meet at 0830 at Morrison Nataure Center at Star K Ranch off East Smith Road between Chamers and Airport Blvd. Please register in advance and get specific directions from Mary Ann.
eBird data imports [was Re: [cobirds] Re: Snowy Plover correction]
Are there a lot of people or groups out there who have digital records that are not yet in eBird? A few years back, I wrote a program to format my records from AviSys to put into eBird based on an export of my data into a csv format. If anyone has AviSys and wants to import their old records into eBird (and they don't already own version 6.0 which has an eBird export tool), I can process their data using the program and spit out the appropriate file type for import into eBird. I may even be able to put my program up on the web so others could do the work themselves rather than me processing the data and passing it back to you. Depending on the response to this email, that may end up being the reality of it all. Also, if you have other non-Excel programs (Excel to eBird import tool: here) for databasing your birding checklists, if one individual could send me a txt or csv file, I could try to write a similar program for that software. Let me know if there is interest out there and I will start working on some programs in my spare time. Or maybe I am jumping the gun and others have already written programs like this to parse their personal data and we could all share these for use by the community. Are there others who have done this yet? Does your program already have an export to eBird method that you can take advantage of? Let's talk it out and see what comes of it all. Bryan Guarente Instructional Designer The COMET Program University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] More New Mountain Plover Habitat/Weld Fires
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20110402/NEWS/704029991/ I sent email to Nick at Trib to get get county road coordinates of Briggsdale fire-that one was huge--saw it from house in Nunn. BTW-this morning a Chukar appeared in our yard (yay!)--I'm pretty sure it's not Chuckles, gone now two years. Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn http://coloradobirder.ning.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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Co, Springs Red-breasted Mergansers (picture)
I saw a pair of Red-breasted mergansers at Big Johnson reservoir this morning and was able to get a reasonably good picture of the male. They were near the eastern end of the dam. http://avoapples.com/birds/IMG_1292_4x6.jpg Bill Kosar bill_ko...@msn.com Colorado Springs -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Test
Groupon.com Official Site 1 huge daily deal on the best stuff to do in your city. Try it today! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d98f605a00776295e2st01vuc -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] HSR: Dinosaur Ridge (03 Apr 2011) 3 Raptors
Dinosaur Ridge Colorado, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 03, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 8 15 Osprey 1 1 2 Bald Eagle 0 2 35 Northern Harrier 0 0 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 0 12 Cooper's Hawk0 1 14 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 55215 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 2 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 10 Golden Eagle 0 1 13 American Kestrel 0 11 43 Merlin 0 0 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Prairie Falcon 0 2 11 Mississippi Kite 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter0 3 3 Unknown Buteo1 3 17 Unknown Falcon 1 7 9 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 3 Total: 3 94409 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 11:15:00 Total observation time: 3.25 hours Official Counter:Paul Slingsby Observers:Francis Commercon, Joe Lupfer, Joyce Commercon, Karen Clark Visitors: A Colorado Mountain Club group of 8 visited. Weather: On arrival at 08:00 MST it was sunny at Dinosaur Ridge with very dark clouds over I-70 to the west and over Lookout Mountain to the north. The mild breeze from the west changed to a constant wind (code 3+)at 09:13. At 11:00 MST an icy snow/rain with ENE wind at code 4 began. We left at 11:15. Raptor Observations: Two of the 3 raptor migrants we saw were only silhouettes. We listed them as Unid. Non-raptor Observations: A few White-breasted Swifts passed occasionally. At 10:17 mst a flock of 30 or more swifts migrated over the ridge, intent on going north. New to the ridge are a flock of American Robins and a pair of Spotted Towhees. Report submitted by Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (jeff.bi...@rmbo.org) Dinosaur Ridge information may be found at: http://www.rmbo.org/ Site Description: Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome. The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory from about 9 AM to around 4 PM from the first week of March to the first week of May. Directions to site: From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge. -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] More Habitat Stamp
Bill Kaempfer emailed me that Prewitt and Jumbo are exceptions. I emailed the Department of Wildlife and here is what she said: Anyone who does not possess a hunting or fishing license and are accessing the Jumbo or Prewitt reservoirs need to purchase an annual SWA permit at $36.00. --Jovita Burchard This represents a big fee increase for Jumbo and Prewitt over the Habitat Stamp at $10 last year. Sorry for the confusion. If any one gets clearer news on this please let us COBirders know. Tom Wilberding Boulder, CO -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Douglas County American Three-toed Woodpecker
After interviewing two local birders about the Beetle Kill area on Hwy 67 in Douglas Count and the likelihood of seeing an American Three-toed Woodpecker, my son Oliver and I struck out to try our luck. As it turns out, we were successful in seeing one American Three-toed Woodpecker on the same tree with a Hairy Woodpecker momentarily. The Hairy Woodpecker quickly departed. The American Three-toed Woodpecker stuck around for us to get a really good look. Thanks go out to Kirk Huffstater and Tom Bunker for guiding me to the spot. It's less than one mile east of Rampart Range Road on Highway 67. There is a grove of dead coniferous trees -- many with numerous woodpecker holes in them just to the north of Hwy 67. Walk around a bit and listen for the striking call of woodpeckers and follow the sound. Good Luck. -- Andy Spellman Parker, CO -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
[cobirds] Re: Douglas County American Three-toed Woodpecker
Cobirders, I thought that I would add that the beetle kill area as it was referred to by Andy is most likely attributable to Western Spruce Budworm. The large stand of dead defoliated trees is comprised of Douglas-fir while the Ponderosa Pines in the immediate vicinity remain in healthy condition. I visited this location on Saturday morning but had no luck with the American Three-toed so it is nice to know that they are indeed still in the area. There are also Williamson's Sapsuckers drumming in the stand across the road to the south. Good Birding, Steve Stachowiak Highlands Ranch, CO -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
Re: [cobirds] Re: Douglas County American Three-toed Woodpecker
Steve, Andy, et al, I think you guys are both right. I haven't been in that area in several years, but it (Jarre Canyon and the whole Hayman Fire area) over the last 20+ years has had lots of budworm, Douglas-fir Tussock Moth, Douglas-fir Beetle, Douglas-fir Pole Beetle and other bark beetles (called engravers) in the genus Scolytus. Usually what happens is one or both of the defoliators (the moths) chew the trees' needles for a few years, the affected trees become weakened (as indicated by top-kill), and one or more of the beetles finish them off. Usually the Douglas-fir Beetle (Douglas-fir equivalent of the Mountain Pine Beetle) hits the bigger diameter stems and the pole beetle and engravers are in the stems smaller than 10 inch in diameter. My bet would be a complex of insects is involved in the entire decline and death of the stand but the presence of the woodpeckers indicates bark beetles and/or wood boring beetles in the dead trees. If the needles on these trees that weren't moth-chewed (i.e., missing) are red, that would indicate the death is recent enough to indicate the woodpeckers are probably after bark beetles. If the tree crowns are pretty much needleless and gray, indicating the trees died two or more years ago, I would guess the woodpeckers are after the larvae of larger, secondary beetles like wood borers. I often refer to the borers that show up in the second wave of succession (riding the coat-tails of whatever it was that killed the tree) as lawyers - they are at the accident but didn't do it. If anybody goes back to this area, I'd be interested in what you think the woodpeckers are after (bark beetles would be right under the bark and their predation would be indicated by several shallow patches of pecking, extraction of borers would usually require deeper excavation of the outer rings of wood and be indicated by fairly widely-spaced gouges). Dave Leatherman Fort Collins From: Steve Stachowiak Melody Egge Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2011 9:57 PM To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Subject: [cobirds] Re: Douglas County American Three-toed Woodpecker Cobirders, I thought that I would add that the beetle kill area as it was referred to by Andy is most likely attributable to Western Spruce Budworm. The large stand of dead defoliated trees is comprised of Douglas-fir while the Ponderosa Pines in the immediate vicinity remain in healthy condition. I visited this location on Saturday morning but had no luck with the American Three-toed so it is nice to know that they are indeed still in the area. There are also Williamson's Sapsuckers drumming in the stand across the road to the south. Good Birding, Steve Stachowiak Highlands Ranch, CO -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
