[cobirds] Some Good News – FCRP – Key Riparian Habitat, El Paso Cnty
COBirders, Today we received updates from Mr. Ross Williams (El Paso County Parks) re public comments on the 10-year DRAFT Master Plan for Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP). We appreciate his work re park use and planning. Tyler and I also summarized for you proposed FCRP development plans in a May 1 email, as well as our concerns, objections to key parts of the plan. If you submitted a letter, you also may have received the update from Mr. Williams at 5:06 PM today! By our count, it appears that Mr. Williams and El Paso County Parks received letters from about 98-99 citizen-birders. Excellent! Thank you very much for your prompt support – It made a HUGE difference. Letters from some of you also offered an excellent ecological or historical perspectives, such as going back to reasons for initially establishing FCRP. While there are still details that we need to follow, here’s a summary of today’s good news. ☺ First, the county has withdrawn the proposal for a dog park encompassing Area 2 (i.e., key riparian segment next to “mile marker 18” and “the spa.”). They appear to have gotten the message that this is a vital part of the riparian corridor for migrant and resident wildlife, particularly birds (it’s not just some cottonwoods with “brush”….). Second, their wording regarding riparian management appears more reserved, nuanced, and includes possible appropriate consultation with other professionals (e.g., “natural resource specialists” see below….not quite sure what that means, but it’s better than before!). We’re hoping that we can keep working with them to preserve some relatively undisturbed, distal riparian sections of the park. Lots of great brush there. If you didn’t get the update from El Paso County, below this email we copy for you 2 key paragraphs in the email from Mr. Williams this afternoon. As next steps, a few of us in Colorado Springs will follow closely to keep the birding community informed regarding proposed developments. For example, a possible re-routing of Fountain Creek right through valuable riparian habitat of Area 7 may be a next concern. (Argh) But for now, the revised FCRP Master Plan will be posted June 3 (that’s tomorrow!) at this site, and we need to review it: http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx Then, the revised June 3 plan will be presented to the El Paso County Park Advisory Board on June 8th at 1:30 PM in the Centennial Hall Hearing Room, 200 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Thank you very much for your interest and support for FCRP (and cottonwood riparian habitat in Colorado! ☺). Please let us know if you have questions. Best, Steve Getty Tyler Stuart FCRP Annual Bird Count Leaders Colorado Springs Key excerpts from email late today (Thurs, June 2) from Mr. Ross Williams regarding adjustments to FCRP Master Plan: The proposed dog park at Willow Springs Ponds generated the largest number of comments. Many of the emails were written with concerns about the location of the dog park in the Willow Springs Ponds area, near the active bird habitat areas known as “The Spa” and Mile Marker 18. As such, the dog park has been relocated to the Duckwood Active-Use Area, in a section of the property that is not considered as sensitive in terms of wildlife habitat, nor is in a riparian, wetland, or floodplain environment. We were able to relocate the dog park without the loss of other recommended improvements. Other concerns were centered around the forest management recommendation, and how they relate to the removal of cottonwood trees, undergrowth, and deadfall within known wildlife habitat areas. In response to these concerns, the recommendation has been modified to encourage the completion of ongoing forest stewardship efforts that maintain forest biodiversity, regeneration capacity, and vitality while addressing wildlife habitat and public safety concerns. In addition, the efforts will include utilizing generally accepted forest management principles and consulting with El Paso County natural resource specialists. -- 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/CY1PR0601MB1424EE2EDE5B3C9F710BFB36F8590%40CY1PR0601MB1424.namprd06.prod.outlook.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Bird Conservancy Banding Report - Chatfield Station, 6/2/16
A beautiful day, but few birds for our final day of banding this spring. Banded just 12 birds: Swainson's Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 1 Yellow Warbler 3 Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Western Tanager 1 Spotted Towhee 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 American Goldfinch 1 We started the season with a Black-capped Chickadee and ended with a Yellow Warbler - pretty fitting for this station. We caught 713 individual birds - 654 new and 59 that were banded here in prior years - above our average. Many more Yellow-rumped Warblers than usual, but fewer Yellows; lots of Western Wood-pewees but very few Empids. More details when I get data recorded in a few weeks! Meredith McBurney Bander, Chatfield Station Bird Conservancy of the Rockies -- 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/0b3e6fda-f5b7-4ef5-be50-b270cd17735b%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Larimer rarities (Timnath Res)
Timnath Reservoir hosted a few rarities, but the Red Phalarope was not seen this evening. Subadult Horned Grebe continues, plus first-summer Bonaparte's Gull and adult Greater White-fronted Goose. Nick Komar Fort Collins CO Sent from my iPhone -- 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/1D8F0686-BD03-4304-9D25-176A435E0ECA%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Black throated Sparrows at John James
Today some friends from Oklahoma and I went up John James Canyon (Conejos County) to look for Black-throated Sparrows. We saw and photographed no less than 6 of them. Lower down the canyon we found Sagebrush Sparrows in the brushy arroyo that is adjacent to the road. Another highlight was 5 Burrowing Owls, and getting very close to a Common Nighthawk. Good day in the dry shrublands of the south San Luis Valley. John Rawinski Monte Vista, CO -- 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/945b4a1e-6127-4742-b9b9-edc9236032c7%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Re: Fighting Falcons in N. El Paso County
[image: A Thunderbirds fighter jet crashed south of Colorado Springs on Thursday afternoon just after the team had performed at the Air Force Academy's graduation. The pilot safely ejected.] Was this one of them? -- 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/6cdc9f47-b454-499f-bb87-cd138bcfdb10%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Fighting Falcons in N. El Paso County
At 12:37pm today, Jeanne and I witnessed six falcons streaking across the skies of northern El Paso county. The birds had white backs with blue underbellies resembling a Thunderbird of western US lore. The subspecies is know as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and comes equipped with an onboard pilot and smoke trailing from the tail. These are the loudest birds we have heard since we started birding. I needed no help from my hearing aids or Songfinder. They were visible to the naked eye for nearly 30 minutes and we came to the conclusion that we are glad they are on our side. As the USAF Thunderbirds honored the USAFA graduation class of 2016, we honor these aviators who display such skill for all of us. Let's Go Birding!!! Mel Goff Colorado Springs -- 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/1699206698.11109294.1464896782302.JavaMail.zimbra%40comcast.net. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Contact for Curtiss Williams?
If you know how I can get in touch with birder Curtiss Williams, please contact me directly. Thanks, Pam -- 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/CAF2zbds1Z50-s%2Bb4jeFwLCXszes6aSU7_ay55ip-vSnDneN%2BBQ%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, 2 June 2016
Compiler: Joyce Takamine e-mail:RBA AT cobirds.org Date: June 2, 2016 This is the Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, June 2, 2016, sponsored by Denver Field Ornithologists and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species). Note / warblers and other migrants on the move. Go out and find more!! Chuckar (Montezuma) Pacific Loon (*El Paso) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Montrose) American Bittern (Archuleta) Green Heron (Pueblo) Broad-winged Hawk (Larimer, Phillips) Snowy Plover (Bent, Otero, Sedgwick) Piping Plover (Sedgwick) Upland Sandpiper (Otero) Whimbrel (Arapahoe) White-rumped Sandpiper (Otero) Laughing Gull (Bent, Prowers) Caspian Tern (Weld) ARCTIC TERN (Park) Greater Roadrunner (Jefferson) LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose) Black-chinned Hummingbird (Gilpin) Red-headed Woodpecker (Adams, Bent, Denver, El Paso, *Logan, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma) Acorn Woodpecker (La Plata) Red-bellied Woodpecker (*Logan) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (El Paso) ALDER FLYCATCHER (El Paso, Kit Carson, Larimer, Sedgwick, Yuma) Least Flycatcher (*Boulder, Jefferson, Prowers, Weld) Gray Flycatcher (El Paso, *La Plata) Black Phoebe (Boulder, Delta) Eastern Phoebe (Rio Grande) Great Crested Flycatcher (*Logan, Yuma) Cassin's Kingbird (*Boulder, Broomfield, El Paso, *La Plata, *Larimer) White-eyed Vireo (Arapahoe, Clear Creek) Bell's Vireo (Larimer, *Logan, Weld) Yellow-throated Vireo (Bent, La Plata, Weld) Bewick's Wren (Logan, LaPlata, Montezuma, Otero) Gray-cheeked Thrush (*Logan, *Weld) Curve-billed Thrasher (El Paso, Pueblo) McCown's Longspur (Larimer, *Weld) Ovenbird (Jefferson, Washington) Northern Waterthrush (Denver, Pueblo, Washington, Yuma) Golden-winged Warbler (Kit Carson, Larimer) Black-and-white Warbler (Jefferson) Tennessee Warbler (*Weld) Lucy's Warbler (Montezuma) Nashville Warbler (Boulder, Jefferson) MOURNING WARBLER (Jefferson, Pueblo, Washington) Hooded Warbler (Weld) Northern Parula (Logan, Weld) Magnolia Warbler (Pueblo, Washington) Chestnut-sided Warbler (Bent, El Paso, *Weld) Blackpoll Warbler (Logan) Black-throated Blue Warbler (Boulder) Palm Warbler (Yuma) Field Sparrow (*Logan) Black-throated Sparrow (*La Plata, Montezuma) Sagebrush Sparrow (*La Plata) Fox Sparrow (Boulder) Scarlet Tanager (Delta) Northern Cardinal (*Logan) Painted Bunting (*Baca) Bobolink (Boulder, El Paso, *Jefferson, Puebo) Baltimore Oriole (Logan, Yuma) Phillips) *For locations you are not familiar with (e.g. "Lower Latham"), please refer to CFO's Colorado County Birding site for directions: www.coloradocountybirding.org ADAMS COUNTY: ---On May 25 a Red-headed Woodpecker was reported by Zach Schiff at Gateway Trail. ARAPAHOE COUNTY: ---On May 28 a Whimbrel was found by Gene Rutherford and reported by Glenn Walbek at swim beach at Cherry Creek SP. ---On May 18 a White-eyed Vireo was reported by Jared Del Rosso on the High Line Canal Trail in deKoevend Park. The Vireo was also seen by Jessi Oberbeck and Dean Shoup. On May 19, Jaredl Del Rosso, Bob Shade, Glenn Walbek, Rebecca Laroche, Time Ryan, Dough Kibbe, and Gwen Moore reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 20, Jared Del Rosso and Jeff Dawson reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 21 the White-eyed Vireo was reported by Tom Behnfield and many others at deKoevend Park. On May 22 Jared Del Rosso and Bob Spencer reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 24, Jared Del Rosso reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 25, the White-eyed Vireo was reported by Jared Del Rosso and Eric DeFonso at deKoevend Park. On May 26, the White-eyed Vireo was reported by Scott Somershoe at deKoevend Park. On May 27 Jared Del Rosso reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 28 Jared Del Rosso and Bob Andrews reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 29 Jared Del 0Rosso and Matt Rodger reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. On May 30 Michael and Diana King reported White-eyed Vireo at deKoevend Park. ARCHULETA COUNTY: ---On May 25 an American Bittern was reported by Ben Bailey at Sambrito SP. This is a county record for Archuleta. Interesting they had a Least Bittern but not American Bittern on the County List. BACA COUNTY: ---Painted Buntings were reported by Connie Kogler on May 30 at Picture Canyon. BENT COUNTY: ---On May 29 at John Martin Reservoir, Ira Sanders reported an ad Laughing Gull and 3 Snowy Plovers. ---On May 27 an ad m Chestnut-sided Warbler and singing Yellow-throated Vireo and 2-3 Red-headed Woodpeckers were reported by Dave Leatherman at Van's Grove BOULDER COUNTY: ---On June 1 a Least Flycatcher was reported by David Dowell at Skunk Canyon Trails. ---On June 1, Christian Nunes heard a Cassin's Kingbird at Eldorado Mountain Open Space in Boulder. ---On May 31 a Fox Sparrow was reported by Cole Wolf and Nathan Senner in the Ward area. ---On May 28 a Nashville Warbler was reported by Peter Burke on Old St Vrain Road in Lyons east of
