[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies - Barr Banding Report, 9/15/22

[Meredith McBurney]

A slow day for mid-season, with only 22 new birds caught (plus 13 birds 
recaught that were banded earlier this season).  Today's visitors - first 
an ornithology class from Front Range Community College and then super 
birders Hugh and Urling Kingery, Nina Routh and Norm Lewis - kept things 
interesting.  Thanks to all who come out to share the birds with us!

Here is the breakdown of today's new birds:

Mourning Dove 1
Downy Woodpecker 1 (plus we had 2 recaps at the same time)
Western Wood-pewee 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1 (FOS)
House Wren 1
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon's 2
Common Yellowthroat 1
Wilson's Warbler 7
Green-tailed Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 1

If you'd like to enjoy fall birds up close and personal, please come 
visit!  You do need a reservation - just click here 
!
 we 
are offering one-hour slots (up to 15 visitors at a time) from 7:30-8:30 
most weekdays (closed Mondays), and 8-9, 9-10, and 10-11 on weekends. 

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Barr Lake Station
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies


-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8c7a63a3-b233-4488-aa20-f1a453840f7bn%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Eagle vs heron - Douglas

['Hugh Kingery' via Colorado Birds]

 One of our neighbors posted a message today that she saw two Golden Eagles 
feeding on a carcass in a nearby pasture. Pictures of the victim show a Great 
Blue Heron! 
Probably the eagles caught it in flight somehow, but what a sight.
 
Hugh Kingery

-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/1875521894.2687710.1663371828317%40mail.yahoo.com.

[cobirds] Oil wells being planned near Barr Lake State Park

[Jo]

On Sept 28, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC) will 
hold a public hearing on permitting a multi-well complex on Piccadilly Rd, 
directly across from Barr Lake State Park.

The plan will lead to a significant amount of truck trips along the road to 
and from the drill site; the trucks will likely emit a lot of exhaust 
fumes, air pollution, dust, and noise, and cause a significant uptick in 
traffic.  It'll also pollute a lot of water that can never be used again, 
and disturb sensitive wildlife areas.

The oil and gas operator claims that there are no wildlife in the area to 
be disturbed, although the well pad will be less than a mile from the Bald 
Eagle winter roost and nesting area at Barr Lake. No thorough analysis of 
bird migration has been done for the area affected.

I sincerely hope that many of you will be willing and anxious to testify at 
the Sept 28 hearing to oppose this permit. We each had 2-3 minutes to give 
a presentation and we have to sign up in advance. The sign-ups are not yet 
open but will be soon. 

Please help keep thousands of truck trips, air pollution, light pollution, 
noise pollution, and destruction of water resources from being approved. 
Only concerned and affected citizens will be listened to. Please contact me 
directly if you're willing to sign up to testify. We can help you get 
signed up and even review your talking points. Contact me at 
jo...@jhackos.com  We really need to stop this.

-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2c42ce19-e81f-48ac-a874-51b77cef65ebn%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies- Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station-9/16/22

[Chicobander]

A slower day today with Wilson's Warblers still dominating. Sixteen species 
of birds captured with highlights of Black-headed Grosbeak and five sparrow 
species. the other highlight was 25 + home schoolers of various ages 
visited the station. They showed a lot of interest. It is great to see 
students enthused and interested in birds and the outdoors. You have to 
care to want to conserve wildlife and its habitats. Here is the bird list 
 we encountered today:

*58 New Birds*
Wilson's Warbler -27
Orange-crowned Warbler -6
Yellow Warbler -1
Hammond's Flycatcher - 1
Brewster's Sparrow-1
Clay-colored Sparrow-1
Chipping Sparrow -7
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow -1
Lincoln's Sparrow -1
House Wren -2
Western Tanager -2
Swainson's Thrush -1
Hermit Thrush -1
Black-headed Grosbeak -1
Gray Catbird -1
American Robin -4

*2 Recaptures*
Wilson's Warbler
House Wren

Banding station will be open tomorrow morning and closed on Sunday. Next 
week station will be open Monday - Saturday mornings. Have a good weekend.

Julie Shieldcastle, Bander
Chico Basin Ranch
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/47aa6571-cee2-44d9-ab27-633d94e0cdb5n%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Bird Migration Explorer

[Robert Righter]

Hi:

Apparently is a new tool for exploring where and when bird species migrate. 
This is what we have all been waiting for and has the potential for being a 
tremendous tool for evaluating bird migration on a whole bunch of different 
levels. 

I tried using it, but of course everything I clicked on nothing worked, but 
then again I shouldn’t be allowed to even touch a computer, given the pathetic 
levels of my computer skills. 

It will be interesting in what others think?

Bob Righter
Denver 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
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/24530152-BC2F-44E2-B124-3A3D6905405B%40earthlink.net.

[cobirds] DFO Monthly Program September 26 at 7 PM via Zoom

[Sharon]

Join Denver Field Ornithologists and Ted Floyd for a free webinar, *Letting 
Go: Birding and Nature Study in the Age of Zoomers and Alphas* on Monday, 
September 26 at 7 PM. Register here: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zm7ma0CIRXW_B6bu-vGNBw

Lafayette based Ted Floyd, longtime editor of birding magazine will address 
"the proverbial peaceful transfer of power to the next generation" in his 
presentation. Floyd is the author of five books, most recently, *How to 
Know the Birds.* His talk will focus on the birding culture of our youngest 
cohorts: Zoomers, meaning Generation Z, and their younger siblings, known 
as Alphas. Expect a spirited and respectful session about passing the torch 
without burning anyone. 

Register today and you will receive a link to the Zoom webinar and a 
reminder once we get closer. As always, DFO programs are free and open to 
all.


-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/7f279582-2d0c-4e01-8f28-3d927f155d63n%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] New bird migration website

[Willem van Vliet]

 www.birdmigrationexplorer.org


Some background:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/bird-migration-1.6584215

--
Willem van Vliet--
Boulder

-- 
-- 
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
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird 
species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
--- 
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 view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAPySxGZEEuU%2BSgkzS0ytPeyRcDRP4MdHOFO4sTw5w9zz1iUrxA%40mail.gmail.com.

Re: [cobirds] Merlin magic with vireos

[Charles Hundertmark]

Thanks, Pat. This provides good insight on how incredible tools like Merlin 
Sound ID are built on the work of birders in the field. Cornell Lab also 
provides good instruction on how to record and edit bird song for posting in 
your eBird reports 
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-record-bird-sounds-with-your-smartphone-our-tips/
 

Posting recordings can add support for observations of unexpected species and 
add to the database for improving Sound ID.

Chuck Hundertmark
Lafayette, CO

> On Sep 16, 2022, at 6:04 AM, Patricia Cullen  
> wrote:
> 
> Here is the info Nathan Pieplow posted  on Merlin Sound ID compared to Merlin 
> Photo ID.
> Merlin Photo ID has information provided by photos to ID 8000 plus species.
> Merlin Sound ID as of today, has information to ID 685 species by recording. 
> This website breaks down the sound ID info by region of the world.  
> 
> https://merlinvision.macaulaylibrary.org/en 
> 
> 
> So the more recordings we post to eBird, the better Merlin Sound ID will 
> become. 
> Compare the number of photos posted to eBird to  the number of recordings 
> posted and
> it becomes clear why a machine learning tool cannot correctly sound  ID 
> without more
> sound data. 
> 
> Add in the fact that most of us do not use directional recording hardware  to 
> obtain higher quality recordings, but
> we use $600-$10,000 lens and cameras  or a combination of a sophisticated 
> phone cameras 
> plus a magnifying scope to digi-scope our bird images. 
> 
> Patricia Cullen
> Longmont, CO 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 1:47:37 PM UTC-6 Charles Hundertmark wrote:
> Time of year comes into play here. Two things happen at the end of the 
> breeding season that can complicate the challenge of identifying song. First, 
> young males of many passerine species begin practicing song. Their songs tend 
> to be imperfect imitations of the mature song. Second, males that have 
> finished breeding are beginning to loose their song. They sometimes continue 
> singing, but the “purity” of the song can diminish. I suspect that these 
> complications can increase the difficulty of recognizing the song for Merlin 
> as well as for the human ear. I ran into this a few weeks ago at Fishers Peak 
> State Park with Plumbeous Vireos. I would sometimes notice discrepancies in 
> the song, and sure enough, Merlin occasionally suggested Cassin’s Vireo among 
> its more accurate suggestions of Plumbeous Vireo. 
> 
> This is one reason why “Merlin ID” is not a sufficient supporting detail for 
> a rare or unexpected species, though it may point in the right direction. 
> 
> Excellent that David brought this issue up.
> 
> Chuck Hundertmark
> Lafayette, CO
> 
> 
>> On Sep 15, 2022, at 12:59 PM, David Suddjian > > wrote:
>> 
> 
>> Now maybe I will gripe. I was back at the same spot along Deer Creek this 
>> morning. After a little while a vireo began to sing again that sounded like 
>> a Plumbeous. And another began right away to sing back at it. Eventually I 
>> confirmed both as Plumbeous. I had Merlin Sound ID on again, and the first 
>> thing it registered for the vireo song was a Semipalmated Plover! Then came 
>> the Plumbeous ID, followed by Cassin's ID as the same nearby bird sang. A 
>> screen shot shows these. A little later, on a different recording it ID'd 
>> the same singing Plumbeous variously as Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, 
>> and Plumbeous. Sigh...
>> 
>> David Suddjian
>> Ken Caryl Valley
> 
>> Littleton, CO  
>> 
> 
>> 
> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Sep 13, 2022 at 2:58 PM David Suddjian > > wrote:
>> This is not a Merlin gripe, but just a funny experience from this morning at 
>> Deer Creek.
>> 
>> Were I to follow the magician's lead, I had an unprecedented collection of 
>> vireos in one spot today near Deer Creek in JeffCo. It's fun anytime you 
>> have singing vireos in the fall, as some species do, making it easier to 
>> detect them,... if not to view them, But to have five different species 
>> singing in one tree in September is virtually unprecedented. Sadly, virtual 
>> was all it was.
>> 
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S118667599 
>> 
>> 
>> There WERE two Plumbeous Vireos singing near to each other, as you can hear 
>> on the recording on the checklist. One was much closer to me, and is louder. 
>> And there WAS a Cassin's Vireo nearby, but it was silent for Merlin during 
>> my encounter. So that is two species. And while Merlin identified my 
>> prominent singing PLVI correctly sometimes, but also variously as a 
>> Cassin's, a Yellow-throated, a Red-eyed and a Black-whiskered Vireo. Hey, 
>> there's one new state bird in there!! All those were its proposed IDs for 
>> the one singing PLVI. Let the user beware for all rare bird reports via dear 
>> Merlin. This we know. Personally I can relate, 

Re: [cobirds] Merlin magic with vireos

[Patricia Cullen]

Here is the info Nathan Pieplow posted  on Merlin Sound ID compared to 
Merlin Photo ID.
Merlin Photo ID has information provided by photos to ID 8000 plus species.
Merlin Sound ID as of today, has information to ID 685 species by 
recording. 
This website breaks down the sound ID info by region of the world.  

https://merlinvision.macaulaylibrary.org/en

So the more recordings we post to eBird, the better Merlin Sound ID will 
become. 
Compare the number of photos posted to eBird to  the number of recordings 
posted and
it becomes clear why a machine learning tool cannot correctly sound  ID 
without more
sound data. 

Add in the fact that most of us do not use directional recording hardware  
to obtain higher quality recordings, but
we use $600-$10,000 lens and cameras  or a combination of a sophisticated 
phone cameras 
plus a magnifying scope to digi-scope our bird images. 

Patricia Cullen
Longmont, CO 



On Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 1:47:37 PM UTC-6 Charles Hundertmark 
wrote:

> Time of year comes into play here. Two things happen at the end of the 
> breeding season that can complicate the challenge of identifying song. 
> First, young males of many passerine species begin practicing song. Their 
> songs tend to be imperfect imitations of the mature song. Second, males 
> that have finished breeding are beginning to loose their song. They 
> sometimes continue singing, but the “purity” of the song can diminish. I 
> suspect that these complications can increase the difficulty of recognizing 
> the song for Merlin as well as for the human ear. I ran into this a few 
> weeks ago at Fishers Peak State Park with Plumbeous Vireos. I would 
> sometimes notice discrepancies in the song, and sure enough, Merlin 
> occasionally suggested Cassin’s Vireo among its more accurate suggestions 
> of Plumbeous Vireo. 
>
> This is one reason why “Merlin ID” is not a sufficient supporting detail 
> for a rare or unexpected species, though it may point in the right 
> direction. 
>
> Excellent that David brought this issue up.
>
> Chuck Hundertmark
> Lafayette, CO
>
> On Sep 15, 2022, at 12:59 PM, David Suddjian  wrote:
>
> Now maybe I will gripe. I was back at the same spot along Deer Creek this 
> morning. After a little while a vireo began to sing again that sounded like 
> a Plumbeous. And another began right away to sing back at it. Eventually I 
> confirmed both as Plumbeous. I had Merlin Sound ID on again, and the first 
> thing it registered for the vireo song was a Semipalmated Plover! Then came 
> the Plumbeous ID, followed by Cassin's ID as the same nearby bird sang. A 
> screen shot shows these. A little later, on a different recording it ID'd 
> the same singing Plumbeous variously as Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, 
> and Plumbeous. Sigh...
>
> David Suddjian
> Ken Caryl Valley
>
> Littleton, CO  
>
> 
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 13, 2022 at 2:58 PM David Suddjian  wrote:
>
>> This is not a Merlin gripe, but just a funny experience from this morning 
>> at Deer Creek.
>>
>> Were I to follow the magician's lead, I had an unprecedented collection 
>> of vireos in one spot today near Deer Creek in JeffCo. It's fun anytime you 
>> have singing vireos in the fall, as some species do, making it easier to 
>> detect them,... if not to view them, But to have *five* different 
>> species singing in one tree in September is virtually unprecedented. Sadly, 
>> virtual was all it was.
>>
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S118667599
>>
>> There *WERE* two Plumbeous Vireos singing near to each other, as you can 
>> hear on the recording on the checklist. One was much closer to me, and is 
>> louder. And there *WAS* a Cassin's Vireo nearby, but it was silent for 
>> Merlin during my encounter. So that is two species. And while Merlin 
>> identified my prominent singing PLVI correctly sometimes, but also 
>> variously as a Cassin's, a Yellow-throated, a Red-eyed and a 
>> Black-whiskered Vireo. Hey, there's one new state bird in there!! All those 
>> were its proposed IDs for the one singing PLVI. Let the user beware for all 
>> rare bird reports via dear Merlin. This we know. Personally I can relate, 
>> as I have a hard time telling the song of the PLVI from that of the CAVI. 
>>
>> At the same location last week Merlin reported a Water Rail. A Water 
>> Rail?! 
>>
>> David Suddjian
>> Ken Caryl Valley
>> Littleton CO
>>
>
> -- 
> -- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
> * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include 
> bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate
> * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
> --- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To