[cobirds] Feb., 21, Ducks Along The Platte with, Davis
Sponsored by Boulder County Audubon Society *Saturday, February 21, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.* Ducks Along the Platte with 'Davis'! We’ll drive down to 88th and Colorado (where you can alternatively meet at 9:20). We will walk along the South Platte River Trail for 2-3 miles. If it’s good and cold (dress warmly), we may see 17 species of waterfowl, including Barrow’s Goldeneyes and the occasional Long-tailed Duck! Great for beginners, as most male ducks have obvious field marks and can be viewed quite closely. Meet at East Boulder Rec Center at 8:30 a.m., plan to be back to Boulder by 1:30 pm. Bring water and a snack. Contact Davis at 303-823-5332, although no need for reservations.. http://www.boulderaudubon.org/trips.htm#top -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAF2zbdv6_EPp7x7PKBsrBmt3Jey%3Dz-8K-%2Bmy7m49dENbf2-7SQ%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Counting Upland Game Birds in Colorado
Hello, birders, If you’re interested in ABA listing, read on; the rest of you are excused. :-) However, even if you are not a lister, the listing game does expose you to more serious field ornithology--namely status and distribution. So you non-listers are welcome to eavesdrop here. The recent cover of Colorado Field Ornithologists’ quarterly magazine *Colorado Birds* shows Peter Burke’s beautiful photo at the East Boulder Rec Center of a Northern Bobwhite, “of questionable provenance.” (Didn’t get the magazine? Join CFO: click here. http://cobirds.org/Default.aspx) If I had been lucky enough to see that bird, would I count it? ABA rule 3. says: “The bird must have been alive, wild, and unrestrained when encountered.” So was this Northern Bobwhite “wild?” More excerpted from the ABA: “Wild” means that the bird’s occurrence at the time and place of observation is not because it, or its recent ancestors, has ever been transported or otherwise assisted by man for reasons other than for rehabilitation purposes. A species observed far from its normal range may be counted if, in the observer’s best judgment and knowledge, it arrived there unassisted by man. A bird that is not wild and which later moves unassisted to a new location or undergoes a natural migration is still not wild. For the complete ABA recording rules, click here. http://listing.aba.org/aba-recording-rules/ Why would anyone question whether this Northern Bobwhite were wild? Well, many companies sell game birds, to shoot them like self-propelled skeet, or to train hunting dogs with them, or just to keep in your collection. From this company you can buy Northern Bobwhite birds, chicks and eggs, and many other upland game birds, not to mention swans and flamingos. Click here. http://www.gamebirdfarm.net/index.php Another online source click here. https://www.purelypoultry.com/other-fowl-c-257.html (A pair of Spruce Grouse for $749?) Colorado wildlife law “generally prohibits the importation, live possession, sale, barter, trade, or purchase of any species of wildlife native to Colorado, except that up to 25 live ring-necked pheasants, Gambel's quail, scaled quail, bobwhite quail, chukar, grey partridge or mallard ducks may be possessed for up to twenty-five (25) days without a license. Such wildlife shall be accompanied by a receipt showing that the wildlife have been lawfully acquired, to include the source and the purchase or acquisition date. These birds may only be hunted on the day of release and the number of birds taken cannot exceed the number of birds released. All released birds not taken by hunting on the day of release shall become property of the state. All hunting must occur on private property. No birds held under the authority of this section may be released and hunted during any season established for that species.” So what is the normal distribution of naturally occurring Northern Bobwhite in Colorado? Bob Bob (*Colorado Birds* © 1992) on page 96 mentions it is a year-round resident on the eastern plains, primarily west to Morgan and Pueblo counties. Habitat is primarily lowland riparian forests, but also occurs in smaller numbers in adjacent agricultural areas and sandsage grasslands. Their range map shows the eastern quarter of Boulder county shaded for Northern Bobwhite. This wonderful book is, as I type, available used at Amazon for 49¢ plus shipping: click here. http://smile.amazon.com/Colorado-Birds-Reference-Distribution-Habitat/dp/0916278689/ref=sr_1_4?s=booksie=UTF8qid=1424045687sr=1-4keywords=colorado+birds *The Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas I*, 1998, shows on page 155 Northern Bobwhite in similar range as Bob Bob, except no sightings in Boulder County. It also mentions that this species is the least mobile of all upland game birds, usually not moving more than a mile from where it hatched. To download all 657 pages of *The **Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas* http://www.cobreedingbirdatlasii.org/New%20Home%20page/Colorado%20Breeding%20Bird%20Atlas%20I.pdf* I*: click here. http://www.cobreedingbirdatlasii.org/ at link bottom center of page.(Atlas II will be available soon.) eBird shows a few scattered sightings of Northern Bobwhite in Boulder County in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2013: click here. http://ebird.org/ebird/map/norbob?neg=trueenv.minX=env.minY=env.maxX=env.maxY=zh=falsegp=falseev=Zmr=1-12bmo=1emo=12yr=allbyr=1900eyr=2015 (And in location box type in “Boulder, CO” then zoom out a little.) Thus, it seems East Boulder Rec Center could be on the edge of Northern Bobwhite’s natural territory. Also, there seems to be no doubt that some commercially raised Northern Bobwhite that escaped or were released are out there, and should not be counted. The problem is that they are impossible to distinguish from wild birds. So you use range. Back to Peter’s Northern Bobwhite: to count or not to count. It’s a tough call but I think I would count it.
[cobirds] pinyon jays northern pygmy owl - above Lyons
Birders: Have heard a pygmy owl calling in the evenings twice in the last 5 days. We have About 3 inches of snow, which may quiet the bird down as the realization of the Lack of spring sets in. Have not seen it yet. Pinyon jays (12-18) have been around the feeders the last 5 days, but unreliable, of Course.Plus the usual suspects, pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches, both Chickadees, pine siskins and American Goldfinches, Steller's Jays, BB Magpies, Hairy woodpecker, house and Cassin's finches, and usually 4-5 kinds of juncos. Depressed to hear that tree swallows and bluebirds are being seen already, as I haven't cleaned out my 35 bird boxes yet!! If anyone wants to come by, especially for the pinyon jays which are probably 70 miles from good pinyon/juniper habitat and have been local for at least 24 Years, give me a call.Birders always welcome. Davis - at 6,000 ft. NW of Lyons 303-823-5332 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/002201d04a09%24808d2840%2481a778c0%24%40net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Saturday Boulder area
Hi Cobirders, My son Bob took me up to Boulder Walden Ponds-Cottonwood Marsh had a lot of waterfowl including Ring-necked Ducks, Widgeon , Redhead, Green-winged Teal,Mallard, Gadwall and two Northern Pintail. Best of all a Cinnamon Teal (fos). Several groups of Canada Geese and 70 Ring-billed Gulls. The diving pair of Widgeon with wings unfolded held next to their body showing the large white patch of upper wing. They dove in shallow water quickly. What they were eating I did not see. Lots of birders there too. On to Legion Park Valmont reservoir overlook. Not much today. Large flock of Coot with 4 male Red-breasted Mergansers nearby. A Common Raven flew over calling. There was one Western Grebe and one Double-crested Cormorant. We went to Sombrero Marsh pond and it had a good variety of birds. Many Ring-necked Ducks and at least 10 male Canvasbacks,Bufflehead, C.Goldeneye, and Hooded Merganser. Four hours of birding on Valentine Day added a lot to my year list. Bob Spencer N.E. of Golden -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/3F186B7D-C1E2-4D05-A749-FBD09A93038C%40indra.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Long-tailed Duck, Weld County 2/16/15
I found an adult male Long-tailed Duck at Windsor Lake amongst 180 Common Goldeneyes. East side of the lake. Also present were 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 3 Red-brebreasted Mergansers. Nick Komar in company. Austin Hess Fort Collins, Colorado -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/9121bf2c-855b-459c-882e-e8afb7809622%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Possible Aleutian Goose, Denver City Park, Denver Co
Neglected to mention in my earlier post re the Denver Field Ornithologists field trip to Denver City Park yesterday; among the myriad Cackling and Canada Geese was one goose with a very broad white neck ring. This is characteristic of the Aleutian subspecies of Cackling Goose, but according to Sibley, may also rarely occur among other white-cheeked goose subspecies. Also, one of our trip members has said she mis-remembered about Double-crested Cormorants. She did see one on Ferril Lake February 9, but none on Duck Lake or in the nesting area. -- Chuck Hundertmark 2546 Lake Meadow Drive Lafayette, CO 80026 303-604-0531 Cell: 720-771-8659 chundertma...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CACZCCxfdm049K3%2Bbt3d0cvNrjWmQwGJ-SSebCOzeDqvFFWaDaA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Counting Upland Game Birds in Colorado
Tom, thanks for such a thought-provoking, informative and resourceful post. You draw attention to an interesting situation with respect to the reports of bobwhite in Boulder County submitted to eBird. Are those legitimate reports, or should they have been caught and removed by the filtering system? Sometimes inappropriate or erroneous reports get published in eBird. Perhaps the eBird reviewer for Boulder County could comment. Thanks. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO Sent from my iPhone On Feb 16, 2015, at 9:51 AM, Tom Wilberding twilberd...@comcast.net wrote: Hello, birders, If you’re interested in ABA listing, read on; the rest of you are excused. :-) However, even if you are not a lister, the listing game does expose you to more serious field ornithology--namely status and distribution. So you non-listers are welcome to eavesdrop here. The recent cover of Colorado Field Ornithologists’ quarterly magazine Colorado Birds shows Peter Burke’s beautiful photo at the East Boulder Rec Center of a Northern Bobwhite, “of questionable provenance.” (Didn’t get the magazine? Join CFO: click here.) If I had been lucky enough to see that bird, would I count it? ABA rule 3. says: “The bird must have been alive, wild, and unrestrained when encountered.” So was this Northern Bobwhite “wild?” More excerpted from the ABA: “Wild” means that the bird’s occurrence at the time and place of observation is not because it, or its recent ancestors, has ever been transported or otherwise assisted by man for reasons other than for rehabilitation purposes. A species observed far from its normal range may be counted if, in the observer’s best judgment and knowledge, it arrived there unassisted by man. A bird that is not wild and which later moves unassisted to a new location or undergoes a natural migration is still not wild. For the complete ABA recording rules, click here. Why would anyone question whether this Northern Bobwhite were wild? Well, many companies sell game birds, to shoot them like self-propelled skeet, or to train hunting dogs with them, or just to keep in your collection. From this company you can buy Northern Bobwhite birds, chicks and eggs, and many other upland game birds, not to mention swans and flamingos. Click here. Another online source click here. (A pair of Spruce Grouse for $749?) Colorado wildlife law “generally prohibits the importation, live possession, sale, barter, trade, or purchase of any species of wildlife native to Colorado, except that up to 25 live ring-necked pheasants, Gambel's quail, scaled quail, bobwhite quail, chukar, grey partridge or mallard ducks may be possessed for up to twenty-five (25) days without a license. Such wildlife shall be accompanied by a receipt showing that the wildlife have been lawfully acquired, to include the source and the purchase or acquisition date. These birds may only be hunted on the day of release and the number of birds taken cannot exceed the number of birds released. All released birds not taken by hunting on the day of release shall become property of the state. All hunting must occur on private property. No birds held under the authority of this section may be released and hunted during any season established for that species.” So what is the normal distribution of naturally occurring Northern Bobwhite in Colorado? Bob Bob (Colorado Birds © 1992) on page 96 mentions it is a year-round resident on the eastern plains, primarily west to Morgan and Pueblo counties. Habitat is primarily lowland riparian forests, but also occurs in smaller numbers in adjacent agricultural areas and sandsage grasslands. Their range map shows the eastern quarter of Boulder county shaded for Northern Bobwhite. This wonderful book is, as I type, available used at Amazon for 49¢ plus shipping: click here. The Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas I, 1998, shows on page 155 Northern Bobwhite in similar range as Bob Bob, except no sightings in Boulder County. It also mentions that this species is the least mobile of all upland game birds, usually not moving more than a mile from where it hatched. To download all 657 pages of The Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas I: click here. at link bottom center of page.(Atlas II will be available soon.) eBird shows a few scattered sightings of Northern Bobwhite in Boulder County in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2013: click here. (And in location box type in “Boulder, CO” then zoom out a little.) Thus, it seems East Boulder Rec Center could be on the edge of Northern Bobwhite’s natural territory. Also, there seems to be no doubt that some commercially raised Northern Bobwhite that escaped or were released are out there, and should not be counted. The problem is that they are impossible to distinguish from wild birds. So you use range. Back to Peter’s Northern Bobwhite: to count or not to count. It’s a tough call but I
[cobirds] Long live the Boulder cardinal!
Hello, Birders. This President's Day morning, Feb. 16, Andrew Floyd and I were trudging through the deep and drifted snow in the North Boulder foothills, when what should appear at the tippy top of a tall tree but a gloriously crimson adult male *Northern Cardinal.* It was in fact the first bird we saw. It was practically the only bird we saw. This bird is surely the individual that has been present in and around Hawthorne Gulch for more than two years now. We phoned Thomas Heinrich, Keeper of the Cardinal, and he joined us to gawk at the bird. It just stayed there the whole time, on its high perch, like the star atop a Christmas tree. Ted Floyd Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/095304bd-ad57-4596-b050-c8b864b641ac%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Rosy-finches in Silverton, San Juan County
Today, Monday 2/16, we encountered a flock of 400-500 or more Rosy Finches in Silverton who gathered in tall cottonwoods near the corner of Blair St. and 9th intermittently. The great preponderance are Brown-caps but we were able to pull out a few Gray-crowns and at least one splendid male Black Rosy-finch among the mob that gradually descended to street level. They're really spooky, so it's recommended one simply park the vehicle and wait to view from within. In the 20 winters we've visited Silverton this is by far the largest assemblage of rosy-critters yet! Peter Ellen Derven -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/6DB329E1-7F6C-411B-994B-5CA8432EAD85%40mydurango.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Rosy-Finches - Golden - Jeffco
Birders, there are lots of rosy finches here today. There is also lots of snow. Ira Sanders -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Colorado Birds group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABF3siEZOGQr_rRApRtdNXyBj%3DMzyotQ_JcyCLfafW8VyOrB6Q%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 16 February 2015
Compiler: Joyce Takamine Date: February 15, 2015 This is the Rare Bird Alert Sunday, February 15 sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species). Tundra Swan (*Fremont, Mesa, Pueblo) Trumpeter Swan (Pueblo) AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (Weld) White-winged Scoter (Pueblo) Long-tailed Duck (Pueblo) Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams ,Delta, Dolores, Larimer, Larimer, Moffat, Pueblo, Routt, Weld) Red-throated Loon (Pueblo) Red-necked Grebe (*Pueblo) Thayer's Gull (Adams, Pueblo) ICELAND GULL (Adams, Pueblo) Lesser Black-backed Gull (Adams, El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo, Weld) GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Adams) Glaucous Gull (Pueblo, *Washington) Great Black-backed Gull (*Pueblo) Greater Roadrunner (Pueblo) ACORN WOODPECKER (*El Paso) Red-bellied Woodpecker (Prowers) Williamson's Sapsucker (Fremont) American Three-toed Woodpecker (Larimer) Black Phoebe (*Fremont, Mesa) Canyon Wren (Dolores/Montezuma) Lapland Longspur (Elbert) Pine Warbler (Jefferson) Fox Sparrow (Dolores/Montezuma) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Boulder, Jefferson) Northern Cardinal (Prowers) Rusty Blackbird (*Fremont) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Boulder, *Jefferson) Black Rosy-Finch Boulder) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Boulder) ADAMS COUNTY: --On January 20, a m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Deardorff on the S Platte S of 88th near the water tower on the east side of the river. On January 25, Knight reported a m Barrow's Goldeneye on the S Platte between 78th and 88th across from water tower. On January 31, Partin reported a m Barrow's Goldeneye on the South Platte south of 88th. On February 3, Wilberding reported 4 Barrow's Goldeneyes (2m, 2f) along the South Platte from 88th. --On February 4, Dowell reported 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Iceland Gull, and 1 Thayer's Gull at Barr Lake. On February 5, Dowell reported 1 GLACOUS-WINGED GULL, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 4 Thayer's Gulls at Barr Lake. On February 6, Dunning reported a Thayer's Gull from the RMBO side of Barr Lake and a Lesser Black-backed Gull from regular side of Barr Lake. On February 8 at Barr Lake, Mark Peterson reported 1 ad Thayer's Gull and 1 2nd-cyc GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. On February 9 at Barr Lake, Mlodinow reported Thayer's Gull. On February 12, Dowell reported Lesser Black-backed Gull at Barr Lake. BOULDER COUNTY: --On February 1, Adam Vesely reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. On February 6, Al Clark reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Teller Farm. --On February 14 at Ward, Kaempfer reported all three Rosy-Finches. DELTA COUNTY: --Garrison reported several Barrow's Goldeneyes along the river at Confluence Park near the boat launch on February 4. On February 6, Henwood reported 9 Barrow's Goldeneyes in the river below the boat launch at Confluence Park. DOLORES COUNTY: --A m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Riley Morris at impoundment ponds on the west end of McPhee Reservoir by the Dolores town Cemetery on February 7. DOLORES/MONTEZUMA COUNTIES: --A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow and Canyon Wrens were reported by Riley Morris at Lone Dome SWA on February 7. ELBERT COUNTY: --On February 3, Suddjian reported 2 Lapland Longspurs at CR 94 east of CR 33. On February 3, Suddjian reported 1 Lapland Longspur on CR 29 at CR 150. EL PASO COUNTY: --On January 30, Chris Brobin reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle Neighborhood of Colorado Springs. Please respect the privacy of homeowners. On February 1, Brook Nelson reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle Neighborhood of Colorado Springs. On February 3, Erthal reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle neighborhood of Colorado Springs. On February 6, Erthal and Kilpatrick reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle neighborhood of Colorado Springs. On February 14, Kellner reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle neighborhood of Colorado Springs. On February 15, Hopping reported ACORN WOODPECKER in the Willow Circle neighborhood of Colorado Springs. FREMONT COUNTY: --A m Williamson's Sapsucker was reported by Erthal on the W side of Centennial Park in Canon City on February 6. --A Black Phoebe was reported by Erthal at Florence Riverside Park on February 6. On February 15, Moss reported Black Phoebe at Florence River Park. --On February 15, Mark Peterson reported 2 Tundra Swans flying low and to the east from West of Florence RIver Park. --On February 15, Mark Peterson reported 6 Rusty Blackbirds (2m, 4 f) on CR 119. JEFFERSON COUNTY: --On February 2, Deferme reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post. On February 10, Suddjian reported Golden-crowned Sparrow at Red Rocks Trading Post. --Ira Sanders reported Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches coming to his front yard at 314 DeFrance Ct in Golden on December 29. Birders are welcome to watch from the street. On February 5, Sanders reported that Rosy-Finches returned to his yard and warned about a detour due to
