[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 4 February 2016

[Joyce Takamine]

Compiler:   Joyce Takamine
e-mail: RBA AT cobirds.org
Date:  February 4, 2016
This is the Rare Bird Alert, Thursday, February 4 sponsored by Denver Field
Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species).

Trumpeter Swan (Adams, Mesa)
Tundra Swan (Boulder)
Long-tailed Duck (Arapahoe, Fremont)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Adams, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Eagle, Mesa)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Weld)
AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Larimer)
Thayer's Gull (Arapahoe,  Boulder)
ICELAND GULL (Arapahoe)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Arapahoe, Boulder, Pueblo)
Glaucous Gull (Arapahoe)
Great Black-backed Gull (Pueblo)
White-winged Dove (Boulder, Pueblo)
Greater Roadrunner (Bent, Pueblo)
Red-belllied Woodpecker (Yuma)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Boulder, Fremont)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Jefferson)
Eastern Phoebe (Weld)
Chihuahuan Raven (Baca)
House Wren (Pueblo)
Carolina Wren (Jefferson)
Varied Thrush (Grand, Larimer)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Weld)
Gray Catbird (Boulder)
Lapland Longspur (*Boulder, *Lincoln, Morgan, Weld)
McCown's Longspur (*Lincoln)
Yellow-throated Warbler (*Larimer)
Canyon Towhee (Baca, Fremont)
Lark Sparrow (Mesa)
Northern Cardinal (Yuma)
Rusty Blackbird (El Paso)
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Grand, *Jefferson, Mesa, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande)
Black Rosy-Finch (Grand, *Jefferson, Mesa, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Grand, *Jefferson, Mesa, Park, Pitkin, Rio, Grande)
PURPLE FINCH (*El Paso)
Common Redpoll (Garfield, Jefferson)

ADAMS COUNTY:
--2 Trumpeter Swans were reported by Aaron Shipe at Front Range Community
College on January 25.
--A m Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Bill Kaempfer at 88th and Platte
River on January 28.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY:
--On January 13, Jane Stulp reported Long-tailed Duck at South Platte
Reservoir.  On January 16, Nick Komar reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks at South
Platte Reservoir.  On January 17, Steve Smith, Bill Kaempfer, and  Brian
Johnson reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.  On January
18, Jesse and Renee Casias reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte
Reservoir.  On January 19, David Suddjian reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks (1m,
2f), 2 Barrow's Goldeneyes, 1 1st-cyc Thayer's Gull, and 1 1-st cyc Lesser
Black-backed Gull at South Platte Reservoir.  On January 19, Michael
Kiessig reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.  On January
20, Aaron Keller reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.
On January 21, Karen Drozda reported 1 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte
Reservoir.  On January 22, Nelson Ford reported 2 Long-tailed Ducks at
South Platte Reservoir.  On January 23, Gene Rutherford  and others
reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.  On January 24, 3
Long-tailed Ducks were reported by Chris GIlbert, Wendy Wibbens, and Tom
Behnfield at South Platte Reservoir.  On January 27, 3 Long-tailed Ducks
were reported by Doug Kibbe at South Platte Reservoir and 2 Long-tailed
Ducks were reported by Norm Lewis.  On January 28, Nic Korte reported 3
Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.  On January 30, Joey Kellner
and many others reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.  On
January 31, Dean Shoup reported 3 Long-tailed Ducks and 1 2nd-cyc Thayer's
Gull at South Platte Reservoir.  On February 1, David Suddjian reported 3
Long-tailed Ducks, 3 1-st-cyc Thayer's Gulls and 1 1-st cycle Glaucous Gull
at South Platte Reservoir.
--On January 23, Gene Rutherford reported ICELAND (kumlieni) GULL, 2
Thayer's Gulls, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at South Platte Reservoir.
On January 24, Tom Behnfield reported 2 Thayer's Gulls at South Platte
Reservoir.  On January 26, Gwen Moor and Sue Clasen reported Long-tailed
Ducks at South Platte Reservoir.

ARCHULETA COUNTY:
--A pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes was reported by Bennett Bailey on the San
Juan River Walk in Pagosa Springs on January 28.

BACA COUNTY:
--On January 29, Chris Gilbert reported Chichuahuan Raven and 5 Canyon
Towhees in Picture Canyon.

BENT COUNT:
--A Greater Roadrunner was reported by Jill White Smith at Lake Hasty on
January 28.

BOULDER COUNTY:
--On January 11, David Dowell reported 1 ad Thayer's Gull and 10 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls at the Valmont Complex.  On January 21, David Dowell
reported 1 Tundra Swan, 1 ad Thayer's Gull and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
(1 juv, 1 imm, 1 ad) at Valmont Complex.  On January 26, Todd Deininger
reported Tundra Swan at Valmont Complex.  On January 27, David Dowell
reported 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull at Valmont Complex.
--On January 13, Ted Floyd reported a Gray Catbird at Waneka Lake/Greenlee
Preserve in Lafayette.  On January 23, Randy Siebert reported Gray Catbird
at Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve.  On January 25, Ted Floyd reported Gray
Catbird at Greenlee Preserve.  On January 31, Ted Floyd reported Gray
Catbird at Waneka Lake/Greenlee Preserve.
--On January 23, Ted Floyd reported a White-winged Dove along Boulder Creek
upstream from 75th St 

[cobirds] Mixed Juncos

[Joanne C. Haller]

Cobirders  --

 

   I also get mixed subspecies of juncos in groups of 6 - 8
especially after snowstorms  --  Slate-colored, Oregon, and Gray-headed
today.

 

Joanne Haller

Westminster, CO

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RE: [cobirds] White-winged Junco

[Chip Clouse]

I spent  some time looking at juncos at Ira and Tammy's, Red Rocks Trading
Post and Morrison Park yesterday. Not a single WW could be found and I
looked hard, especially at the 100 or so at Red Rocks. I think this is the
1st winter visit there without at least one in the 4 years I've been living
in the Metro area. What gives?

Chip Clouse
Olde Town Arvada
On Feb 4, 2016 3:15 PM, "William H Kaempfer" 
wrote:

> For what it is worth, on eBird I came up with exactly 21 Dark-eyed Junco
> (white-winged) individuals reported so far in 2016 *anywhere in the
> world.  *All 21 were reported in Colorado and 14 were by Ted Floyd along
> the Mesa Trail in Boulder Mountain Parks on 1/26.
>
>
>
> It would be fairly easy to duplicate that analysis (at least for Januarys
> on a year by year basis) going backwards in eBird data.  It looks like
> there were 15 on eBird in January 2010, again all in Colorado.
>
>
>
> Bill Kaempfer
>
> Boulder
>
>
>
> *From:* cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] *On
> Behalf Of *Leon Bright
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 04, 2016 3:08 PM
> *To:* Cobirds
> *Subject:* [cobirds] White-winged Junco
>
>
>
> COBirders--  I’m not an expert, but I’ll chime in anyway.  For the past
> couple of decades at least, I believe White-winged Juncos have been quite
> scarce in the Arkansas River valley and probably elsewhere in southern
> Colorado.  I can think of several people who are experts, who could help us
> out with any occurrence patterns there might be in our state’s SE
> quadrant.  Maybe others will help with other parts of the state.
>
> Leon Bright, Pueblo
>
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Re: [cobirds] re hungry Say's Phoebes in winter-EARWIGS

['Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds]

Oh my gosh, in my post about the Say's phoebes eating ground bugs, I said that 
they were box elder bugs. That's not right! They were earwigs! I had terrible 
infestations of earwigs over the last few years and they're hard for me to 
manage so I was glad when they didn't seem to be a problem this year even 
though I saw the big hatching. 
So, do you think that if phoebes would go after the earwigs?
Thanks, Deb Carstensen, Littleton, Arapahoe county

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 3, 2016, at 10:43 AM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN  wrote:
> 
> Recently Bob Righter posed some interesting questions on COBIRDS about what 
> an individual Say's Phoebe he observed recently in the Denver area might be 
> getting to eat under eaves.  Once I got past my amazement that Bob is related 
> by marriage to someone 103 years old, my private response to Bob guessed the 
> answer might include European Paper Wasps (Polistes dominula), an introduced 
> black-and-yellow wasp closely resembling a typical "yellowjacket" that 
> reached CO in the early 2000s.  They form small combs under eaves and have 
> become quite common.  By contrast, most yellowjacket wasps species nest in 
> the ground, with two nesting in aerial "hives" in trees with the combs being 
> surrounded by an elaborate, round, gray paper mache covering.  Unhatched 
> immature European Paper Wasps, dead or alive, in white-capped cells of these 
> combs would seem the most likely source of nutrition for a curious 
> insectivore investigating eaves.  Flycatchers are known to favor bees and 
> wasps, in some situations as much or more than flies.  My reply to Bob 
> included photos of the wasp and a related situation of a pewee with a 
> yellowjacket in it bill.  Bob suggested I post this to COBIRDS.  Thinking the 
> photos were a significant part of the response, and since photo sharing on 
> COBIRDS is difficult (why is that?), I didn't take him up on his suggestion.  
> Then he wondered further if perhaps what seems like more wintering Say's 
> Phoebes this year than normal could be directly tied to the increasing 
> presence of European Paper Wasps on our scene.  I told him without direct 
> evidence, it was a stretch, but a question worth continuing to investigate.  
> 
> So, I am asking, has anyone out there seen a Say's Phoebe visiting a little 
> wasp comb under an eave?  Have you seen any other bird species tearing apart 
> a wasp comb under an eave (flicker, barn swallow, etc.)?  Inquiring minds 
> want to know.  Assuming, hoping, some meaty anecdotes are out there, this 
> might be the subject of a future "The Hungry Bird" column in "Colorado 
> Birds".  Thanks. 
> 
> Dave Leatherman
> Fort Collins
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Re: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo

['Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds]

Same here. I have literally dozens of juncos, but nary a white-winged. I 
usually have one or two over the course of the winter, but not this year. Maybe 
there is something cyclical about their breeding/migration? Perhaps one of our 
experts could weigh in?


Norm Lewis
Lakewood, CO




-Original Message-
From: Karl Stecher Jr. 
To: urraca2 ; Cobirds 
Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2016 2:19 pm
Subject: re: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo



Same today in my back yard feeders in Centennial.  Haven't had a white-winged 
all winter.  Lots more variety here today than at any time in the past month.
 
Karl Stecher
Centennial/Arapahoe
 
 
 

From: "Leon Bright" 
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2016 2:16 PM
To: "Cobirds" 
Subject: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo
 

COBirders--  It’s always interesting to me that flocks of Juncos in southern 
(at least) Colorado regularly contain more than one subspecies.  Just now in my 
back yard a flock of seven contained four subspecies: gray-headed, Oregon, 
slate-colored (Rocky Mtn.), and pink-sided.
Leon Bright, Pueblo

 
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RE: [cobirds] White-winged Junco

[William H Kaempfer]

For what it is worth, on eBird I came up with exactly 21 Dark-eyed Junco 
(white-winged) individuals reported so far in 2016 anywhere in the world.  All 
21 were reported in Colorado and 14 were by Ted Floyd along the Mesa Trail in 
Boulder Mountain Parks on 1/26.

It would be fairly easy to duplicate that analysis (at least for Januarys on a 
year by year basis) going backwards in eBird data.  It looks like there were 15 
on eBird in January 2010, again all in Colorado.

Bill Kaempfer
Boulder

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Leon Bright
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2016 3:08 PM
To: Cobirds
Subject: [cobirds] White-winged Junco

COBirders--  I’m not an expert, but I’ll chime in anyway.  For the past couple 
of decades at least, I believe White-winged Juncos have been quite scarce in 
the Arkansas River valley and probably elsewhere in southern Colorado.  I can 
think of several people who are experts, who could help us out with any 
occurrence patterns there might be in our state’s SE quadrant.  Maybe others 
will help with other parts of the state.
Leon Bright, Pueblo
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[cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo

[Leon Bright]

COBirders--  It's always interesting to me that flocks of Juncos in southern
(at least) Colorado regularly contain more than one subspecies.  Just now in
my back yard a flock of seven contained four subspecies: gray-headed,
Oregon, slate-colored (Rocky Mtn.), and pink-sided.

Leon Bright, Pueblo

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Re: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo

[Jennifer Hallam]

Oh wow! I have White-winged Juncos at my feeders daily here in Ken Caryl, CO 
(Jefferson County) this winter and the past 2 winters. My next home eBird 
session I do, I'll specify. I have at least 4 at once that I've seen. I didn't 
think they were that rare in this area...or maybe they aren't?

Jennifer Hallam
C470 and Kipling
Jefferson County 

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[cobirds] White-winged Junco

[Leon Bright]

COBirders--  I'm not an expert, but I'll chime in anyway.  For the past
couple of decades at least, I believe White-winged Juncos have been quite
scarce in the Arkansas River valley and probably elsewhere in southern
Colorado.  I can think of several people who are experts, who could help us
out with any occurrence patterns there might be in our state's SE quadrant.
Maybe others will help with other parts of the state.

Leon Bright, Pueblo

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re: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo

[Karl Stecher Jr.]

Same today in my back yard feeders in Centennial.  Haven't had a white-winged 
all winter.  Lots more variety here today than at any time in the past month.
  
 Karl Stecher
 Centennial/Arapahoe
  
  
  


 From: "Leon Bright" 
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2016 2:16 PM
To: "Cobirds" 
Subject: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo   

COBirders--  It's always interesting to me that flocks of Juncos in southern 
(at least) Colorado regularly contain more than one subspecies.  Just now in my 
back yard a flock of seven contained four subspecies: gray-headed, Oregon, 
slate-colored (Rocky Mtn.), and pink-sided.  

Leon Bright, Pueblo 

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Re: [cobirds] Juncos - Pueblo

[David Suddjian]

My yard in Ken Caryl Valley regularly attracts (in approximate descending
order of abundance): Oregon, Pink-sided, Slate-colored, Gray-headed and
Cassiar. I have only once had a White-winged in my yard in 2.5 winters here
so far, and have never seen others in the immediate area. They seem fairly
rare in JeffCo to me. Gray-headed is more numerous in nearby natural
habitats than in my suburban styled neighborhood.

Intergrades among some of the above forms are another part of the story...

David Suddjian
Littleton, CO




On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 3:52 PM, Jennifer Hallam  wrote:

> Oh wow! I have White-winged Juncos at my feeders daily here in Ken Caryl,
> CO (Jefferson County) this winter and the past 2 winters. My next home
> eBird session I do, I'll specify. I have at least 4 at once that I've seen.
> I didn't think they were that rare in this area...or maybe they aren't?
>
> Jennifer Hallam
> C470 and Kipling
> Jefferson County
>
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> .
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[cobirds] Varied Thrush near Cherry Creek, Arapahoe County

[Joyce Takamine]

There was a Varied Thrush reported on the Denver Urban CBC near
Cherry Creek.

Joyce Takamine
Boulder
RBA compiler

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[cobirds] Gulls at John Martin Reservoir

[Duane Nelson]

Birders,

The recent storms brought an influx of gulls to John Martin Reservoir. 
Best today were: a first winter Glaucous Gull, an adult and a first 
winter Great Black-backed Gull, and an adult and a first winter Lesser 
Black-backed Gull. One had to sort through a lot of more common gulls to 
get through to the rarities. Today, action was centered on "Clayton 
Point", directly south of the hay bales at Clayton Ranch, the only farm 
east of Bent County Road 20 on Road JJ. Access is via the west entry 
road to the John Martin State Wildlife area just east of Road 20, 
heading south and east to the point. We got 4-6 inches of wet snow here, 
and two-tracks are passable with 4WD. I would urge extreme caution in 
driving these roads if the temperatures get above freezing and they turn 
to mud.


All of the American White Pelicans that appeared at John Martin in late 
December are gone, as are all of the loons and many ducks. I believe 
these birds that arrived late were extremely late fall migrants, and 
eventually continued south. Of interest, despite the cold and snow, 
vanguard spring migrant ducks are returning, notably Lesser Scaup, 
Northern Pintail, Redhead and Canvasback. It's kind of hard to keep 
track of what season it is around here right now.


Respectfully,

Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO

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[cobirds] Rosy-Finches - Yes - Golden update

[Ira Sanders]

Birders,
At present, there are about 45 Rosy's here.  I haven't seen the Redpoll for
2 days and I did see the Harris's yesterday in the tray on the front porch.
There is quite a bit of snow on the street, so please be considerate when
parking. You can park in front of my drive way but you may have to move if
one of us has to come or go.

-- 
Ira Sanders
Golden, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Digest for cobirds@googlegroups.com - 10 updates in 8 topics

[Nancy Stocker]

Hi Dave,

I just thought I'd mention that I've gotten combs and what I had thought 
were yellow jackets inside my covered barbecue many times. Say's 
Phoebe's probably don't visit BBQs often, but mine seems to be a 
favorite location for what I now  suspect is the European Paper Wasp.


Nancy Stocker
Denver


On 2/4/16 1:38 AM, cobirds@googlegroups.com wrote:
cobirds@googlegroups.com 
<%0A%20%20https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest_medium=email#%21forum/cobirds/topics%0A> 
	Google Groups 
 
	


Topic digest
View all topics 
<%0A%20%20https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest_medium=email#%21forum/cobirds/topics%0A> 



  * re hungry Say's Phoebes in winter <#group_thread_0> - 3 Updates
  * Sagebrush Sparrow Field Trip - April - Mesa County
<#group_thread_1> - 1 Update
  * White-throated Sparrow, Carbondale <#group_thread_2> - 1 Update
  * Purple Finch - Fountain Creek Regional Park - El Paso County
<#group_thread_3> - 1 Update
  * CFO Convention: General information available online
<#group_thread_4> - 1 Update
  * Harris's Sparrow - Golden - Jeffco <#group_thread_5> - 1 Update
  * Rosy-Finches - Yes - Golden - Jeffco <#group_thread_6> - 1 Update
  * Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 3 February 2016 <#group_thread_7> - 1
Update

re hungry Say's Phoebes in winter 
 


DAVID A LEATHERMAN : Feb 03 10:43AM -0700

Recently Bob Righter posed some interesting questions on COBIRDS about 
what an individual Say's Phoebe he observed recently in the Denver 
area might be getting to eat under eaves. Once I got past my amazement 
that Bob is related by marriage to someone 103 years old, my private 
response to Bob guessed the answer might include European Paper Wasps 
(Polistes dominula), an introduced black-and-yellow wasp closely 
resembling a typical "yellowjacket" that reached CO in the early 
2000s. They form small combs under eaves and have become quite common. 
By contrast, most yellowjacket wasps species nest in the ground, with 
two nesting in aerial "hives" in trees with the combs being surrounded 
by an elaborate, round, gray paper mache covering. Unhatched immature 
European Paper Wasps, dead or alive, in white-capped cells of these 
combs would seem the most likely source of nutrition for a curious 
insectivore investigating eaves. Flycatchers are known to favor bees 
and wasps, in some situations as much or more than flies. My reply to 
Bob included photos of the wasp and a related situation of a pewee 
with a yellowjacket in it bill. Bob suggested I post this to COBIRDS. 
Thinking the photos were a significant part of the response, and since 
photo sharing on COBIRDS is difficult (why is that?), I didn't take 
him up on his suggestion. Then he wondered further if perhaps what 
seems like more wintering Say's Phoebes this year than normal could be 
directly tied to the increasing presence of European Paper Wasps on 
our scene. I told him without direct evidence, it was a stretch, but a 
question worth continuing to investigate.


So, I am asking, has anyone out there seen a Say's Phoebe visiting a 
little wasp comb under an eave? Have you seen any other bird species 
tearing apart a wasp comb under an eave (flicker, barn swallow, etc.)? 
Inquiring minds want to know. Assuming, hoping, some meaty anecdotes 
are out there, this might be the subject of a future "The Hungry Bird" 
column in "Colorado Birds". Thanks.


Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Carol Kampert : Feb 03 11:19AM -0700

Hi Dave,

I don't have information about birds feasting on wasps under eves (I will
now keep my eyes open for them), but I do have a question about "yellow
jackets" that make the big ball-shaped nests in trees. I've always thought
that the common name for these wasps was "bald-faced hornet". Are they
actually a type of "yellow jacket?" I know common names are misleading and
would be interested in the scientific names, too. (I'm fascinated by paper
wasps and their ability to make such beautiful paper, which I have used in
fiber wall hangings in the past.)

Carol Kampert, Boulder



On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 10:43 AM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN 
wrote:

Deborah Carstensen : Feb 03 08:16PM -0700

Speaking of Says' phoebes, I have a question about whether or not they 
would eat box elder bugs. I have had a terrible infestation of Box 
Elder bugs for the last couple of years and, last spring, I saw 
hundreds of baby Box Elder bugs running around my garden.
I had Say's phoebes nesting just above my living room picture window 
this summer and I noticed that I had almost no Box Elder bugs as the 
summer wore on. I never saw them on the ground eating bugs so I wasn't 
sure that they 

[cobirds] CFO Convention Lodging

[Amber Carver]

Greetings, Colorado birders!

I always attend the Colorado Field Ornithologists convention, but I leave
most details until the last minute.  This sometimes works but other times
results in missing out on things like good lodging and a t-shirt.  This
year, I've decided to be proactive.  While I wait with baited breath for
registration to open (I want that t-shirt!), I have already reserved a room
at The Cow Palace.  I am going by myself, but I asked for a room with two
beds so that I can share the room if someone else needs lodging and wants
to save money.  If you are traveling down there alone and want to share a
room, let me know.  I don't snore.

Thanks,
Amber Carver
Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] 194 Barrow's Goldeneyes, Carbondale, Garfield Cty

[Dick Filby]

Hi all

 

Stopped alongside Hwy82 to view the Coryell Ranch ponds last evening at
5:45pm. Was really pleased to see that the Barrow's Goldeneyes (194) are
again using the site. They may have been scared off using it this winter due
to unintentional disturbance by the folks in the subdivision next to the
pond, but viewing from the side of hwy82 you are far enough away to avoid
disturbing them. There were also 2 Common Mergansers on the pond.

 

 

Best wishes

 

Dick Filby

 

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[cobirds] Colorado Shortgrass Bird Research 2016

[Amber Carver]

*Volunteers are needed* for Colorado Shortgrass Bird Research this summer.
This will be the third year of a long-term project comparing the effects of
different grazing regimes on ground-nesting birds.  Project collaborators
include the University of Colorado Denver, the USDA Agricultural Research
Service, and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.


The project involves minimally invasive rope-dragging, nest monitoring, and
trapping.  It takes place at the Central Plains Experimental Range in Weld
County, about 10 minutes north of Nunn off Highway 85.  Volunteer
responsibilities primarily involve rope-dragging, recording data, and
assisting in the trapping effort.  Volunteers will not handle eggs or
birds, but they will witness science in action as the project technicians
complete these tasks.


Guaranteed species include Lark Bunting, Horned Lark, and McCown’s
Longspur.  Other likely possibilities include Common Nighthawk, Grasshopper
Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, and Cassin’s Sparrow.  If you volunteer often
enough, you will likely see Burrowing Owls (including chicks), Ferruginous
and Swainson’s Hawks, and Golden Eagles.  We have great spring wildflowers,
and there’s a chance to see swift foxes.


There are a few hazards, including infrequent but regular prairie
rattlesnakes, cryptic and potentially ankle-twisting animal burrows, and
copious cacti.  I have been involved with this project for two years, and
so far injuries have been limited to those involving cactus spines in knees
and hands.  But it's worth noting that these hazards exist in case you are
not comfortable working in that kind of environment.


We are looking for both short- and long-term volunteers and welcome any
help we can get.  If you are interested in spending some time on the
shortgrass steppe and aiding a long-term research project, send your full
name, location, and availability to the email address below.  Also indicate
your physical fitness.  Rope-dragging requires walking 5-8 miles per day
over uneven hilly terrain, but half-day rope-draggers will be accepted.
There’s also the option of taking an auxiliary role, walking behind the
rope-dragging team and watching for birds.  Trapping involves walking no
more than a mile, carrying light-weight gear, and observing bird behavior
through binoculars.


*To sign up* or request more information, contact Amber Carver at
amber.car...@ucdenver.edu.  A small per diem, travel reimbursement, and
on-site lodging may be available pending funding.


*Visit the project Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cperbirds/
 to see pictures from past years*.


Thanks!

Amber Carver

Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] Varied Thrush (Was?) at Cherry Creek Reservoir

[The "Nunn Guy"]

Hi all
Just noticed a photo posting of Varied Thrush 1/31 at Cherry Creek.

   - 
   
http://coloradobirder.ning.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=1zmswtq6vw53f

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
http://coloradobirder.ning.com/
mobile:  http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m

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[cobirds] Redpoll - Yes - Golden

[Ira Sanders]

Birders,
Tammy tells me she just saw the Redpoll at the thistle feeders in front.

-- 
Ira Sanders
Golden, CO

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