from:"'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds"

Re: [cobirds] Barr Lake

2023-09-21 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

 Wow. If I read correctly the report that Michael linked, this work at Barr 
Lake is being funded by you and me (state taxpayers) for $278,000. 
And who gets the water?  Says the report:"Barr Lake provides water to 
industrial water users such as Anadarko Petroleum Corp and Nobel Energy for 
their fracking operations. Additional storage at Barr Lake will increase the 
amount of water potentially available to meet the current and future demands 
associated with those industrial entities."

State tax dollars to help oil giants ala Anadarko and Nobel boost fracking and 
bulldoze one of the state's most studied bird habitats.
Your tax dollars at work.
Good birding.
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO


On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 11:20:34 AM MDT, M T 
 wrote:  
 
 Reality is sometimes very distasteful, especially in this situation for those 
of us who love wildlife and the places that this wildlife lives. However, in 
the grand scheme of things decisions are made in favor for the many rather than 
the few. As a wildlife rehabilitator, researcher and defender of wildlife I 
have dealt with many land use issues over the years. The battle over these 
issues have left me angry, frustrated and weary. Water is becoming more and 
more valuable in our region and the value of that commodity is going to weigh 
heavily in favor of how it benefits the "owners" of said water.
This plan was approved in 2021 by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Humans 
and their lifestyle is what this water is being managed for. Agriculture, oil 
and gas, industry and municipal use is what most of the impoundments in the 
region are in existence for. Those are the heavy hitters that drive our economy 
and our lives. Wildlife does benefit from this water, but takes a backseat when 
infrastructure needs repair, upgrades and expansion. The challenge for most of 
us in regards to these issues is that we usually don't find out until the 11th 
hour.
Wildlife that isn't consumed by humans is loved, but is it truly valued? How do 
we get everyone to value wildlife is the $64 question. 
Here is a link to the approved plan which explains the full scope of the 
project: 
https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/CWCB/0/edoc/215078/FarmersReservoirIrrigationCompany-BarrLakeMaximumNormalOperatingWaterLevelRaise_Application.pdf
Respectfully,Michael TincherLoveland, CO

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[cobirds] Woo hoo to this excellent Grand County birding story by Jack Bushong

2022-07-08 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Yay Jack Bushong. One of the young brothers who found that wowza purple 
sandpiper a few years ago at Dillon Reservoir in Summit County, he explains in 
this cool story how he became king of eBird in Grand County. Lots of wisdom and 
fun here -- wish birders did more stories like this for general audiences.
Why Grand County is a birder’s paradise  
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Why Grand County is a birder’s paradise
 
Not long ago, my brother Ryan and I decided to drive from Frisco to Kremmling 
on the ineffable intuition that it might be holding a yellow-bellied sapsucker. 
This despite the fact that there are only...
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Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver CO 

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Re: [cobirds] SE Colo 4/25 to 28

2021-04-28 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

 This is a great report, Dan. Thanks so much for posting.
Several Cobirds posts have noted the low level of reservoirs in the lower 
Arkansas River basin. Is SE CO in drought? Yes. 
But there is one other issue at play: Farmers violated the Arkansas River 
Compact for years by taking too much water for irrigation, and they have been 
forced to stop it.
In the case of Kansas v. Colorado, the US Supreme Court ordered Colorado to use 
a new hydrologic model to stop illegal water use. The court also ordered a $35 
million penalty against Colorado. 
Love to hear a water engineer or water lawyer weigh in on this, but I believe 
this means the Arkansas River farmers gained the benefit of water overuse for 
years, but statewide taxpayers picked up the bill for the penalty in the end.
The upshot for birders (and birds) is that we had many years with more water in 
SE Colorado than was legal. Today, however, we have the double-whammy of 
drought and legal enforcement that prevents Colorado from taking more than its 
share of Arkansas River basin water.
I know cobirds is about birding, but sometimes the outside world of government 
and politics matters to birds and birding.
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO





On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, 08:02:16 PM MDT, 'Dan Stringer' via Colorado 
Birds  wrote:  
 
 I went to SE Colorado with Michael Kiessig and Chuck Aid Sunday the 25th 
through today. Here's some info on how spring is progressing, in case anyone 
will be going there soon. 
In Bent County, Hasty Campground area was active with Chipping, Vesper, and 
Lark Sparrows, American Goldfinches, only 2 Western Kingbirds, only 1 Mountain 
Bluebird on the road in. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly Myrtle, one early 
Yellow Warbler and one Wilson's. Melody Tempel Grove was very quiet, the 
irrigation ditch is dry. The south shore of Adobe Creek Reservoir had 10 
shorebird species, 51 Marbled Godwits being the highlight. 
In Kiowa County, Neegronda and Neenoshe reservoirs had few shorebirds, Upper 
Queens boat ramp area hosted 6 shorebird species, with an eye-opening 108 
American Avocets shoulder-to-shoulder. Lower Queens reservoir was dry.
In Otero County, I saw shoreline at Lake Cheraw for the first time in 4 years, 
there were 9 shorebird species including 2 Snowy Plovers, and a good number of 
Yellow-headed Blackbirds which seem to have shown up late this year. Holbrook 
Reservoir was bone dry, Rocky Ford SWA was very quiet.
In Prowers County, Thurston Reservoir had no shoreline, good numbers of birds 
on the water and 5 swallow species. Lamar CC Woods early a.m. hosted Brandon 
Percival therefore it was productive, 2 vocal Carolina Wrens, 1 carrying nest 
material, were the highlight of my 4 days. A Common Poorwill, a Black-chinned 
Hummingbird, a few Chimney Swifts, only 1 Mississippi Kite so far, numerous 
Northern Cardinals, warblers were many Yellow-rumped, mostly Audubon, several 
Orange-crowned, 1 Yellow, 3 Wilson's, 1 Virginia's, 1 Nashville, 1 Northern 
Parula on the north end and 1 on the south end.
In Baca County, on Road M 1 Common Nighthawk was heard, in Carrizo Canyon were 
2 pair of Eastern Phoebe nest-building and the usual area specialties. Two 
Buttes Reservoir was completely dry, the Black Hole area below in hot 
mid-afternoon was very quiet.
There were more dry areas than I've seen before, from small ditches / ponds / 
playas to large reservoirs, the years-long drought is continuing and the 
moisture on the front range etc. is repeatedly not making it down there. It's 
early for warblers, vireos, and many other birds but it's pretty fun to observe 
that the switch is being slowly flipped and there are daily changes in trees, 
plants, insects, and birds.
Dan StringerLarkspur, CO

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[cobirds] Flush twice for warblers (Douglas County)

2020-12-06 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

While chasing the pine warbler (yes) and northern parula (no) today at the 
beaver pond on the side channel below Chatfield Dam, I couldn't figure out why 
so much water was flowing down such a small and a seemingly dry wash in 
December. A few minutes on Google Maps tonight explained why.
The primo birding spot owes its life, or at least its water, to the upstream 
residents of Highlands Ranch and their Marcy Gulch Wastewater Treatment Plant, 
which is run by the Centennial Water and Sanitation District. The daily average 
inflow is 6 million gallons per day. 
Good (sanitary) birding.
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO


 

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[cobirds] Roam vs. Home

2020-05-15 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Dave Cameron's post got me thinking: "Granted, this is the first spring I've 
been home every day, and the yard has been good for birds all along, but this 
year is so crazy, I have to pinch myself."
I agree! This spring is the best I can remember along the populated Front Range 
for unusual songbirds, and I'm wondering: Is there something different about 
this year's migration, or do we just have more people with more quarantine time 
looking closer to home? 
In prior years, I loved driving to hotspots like Lamar Community College, Two 
Buttes, Tamarack Ranch, and Crow Valley, but now I'm thrilled to be within 
biking distance of Tucker Gulch in Golden, Harriman Lake in Littleton, and 
First Creek in Denver. 
Is there something different about this migration's weather that put more 
eastern species in our yards, or does covid mean we are giving the once-over 
twice to places we usually overlook? 
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO





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Re: [cobirds] Robert A. Spencer, March 31, 1924 - May 11, 2020

2020-05-12 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

So sad to hear this. A few years back, Robert brought his dad in a wheelchair
to see the tropical kingbird at South Platte Reservoir.
On the roll back from the bird stakeout site to the car, it was hard to say who
wore the bigger grin -- the son or the father, who, if I remember correctly,
had just seen Colorado bird No. 453.
That day, only joy was contagious.
RIP Bob Spencer.
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 12:02:19 PM MDT, Joe Roller
wrote:

Today is a somber day, as long-time Denver area birder and friend, Bob
Spencer, passed away yesterday. His son, Robert, asked me to post this brief
obituary. There cannot be amemorial service anytime soon due to Covid-19, but
we'll eventually find a wayto gather, share memories and mark his place in our
lives. Joe Roller, Denver
Dear members of the birding community:It is with sadness that I share with you
that my Father, Robert (Bob) Spencer died peacefully yesterday while in
recovery from a recent broken hip. He and his new bride, Shirley (died 2006)
moved to Golden Colorado from Buffalo/Rochester New York in 1952. They lived in
Golden ever since. My Father worked as a printer, but he lived to see birds and
share birding with the regional birding community, especially members of the
Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO) and Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO).
While serving as a past president of DFO (circa 1990) he helped invent the
Ptarmigan award, which the organization still gives out periodically. Some of
his proudest moments was receiving lifetime achievement awards from both
organizations. I am so grateful for all of the friendship and support that the
birding community has shared with my Father throughout his long life (he was 96
years old!).
Donations in his name may be sent to: Colorado Field Ornithologists
(cobirds.org) OR Denver Field Ornithologists (dfobirds.org).
Robert L. Spencer, Ph.D.Professor of Behavioral NeuroscienceDirector of
Neuroscience MajorDepartment of Psychology and NeuroscienceUCB345University of
Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO 80309office room: Muen D465Boffice phone:
303-492-0854robert.spen...@colorado.edu

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Re: Army medals [cobirds]

2019-09-20 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Hey Chris:
Thanks for coming to the talk.
I found your email on an old cobirds post.
Silver Star is the third-highest Army medal behind the Congressional Medal of
Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.
Sorry to have blanked on that, and I hope this helps.
Mark o.

On Fri, Mar 17, 2017 at 3:14 PM, 'chrisblakeslee' via Colorado
Birds wrote: COBIRDERS, We had a young sapsucker in
our backyard this afternoon. It quickly flew off north toward Orchard Road
just west of Quebec.
I think it is an approx. 10 month old female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Please
tell me if I am correct or if it is a Red-naped Sapsucker.
Thanks much! Chris
Chris A. BlakesleeCentennial, coloradocorvidc...@aol.com

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[cobirds] Painted bunting -- yes (Jeffco)

2019-07-29 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

After circling the Audubon Nature Center for 90 minutes, I saw the painted 
bunting at 4:30 pm and learned two lessons:
1. The bird showed up only after I threatened aloud to leave in five minutes. 
Pretty sure I could have saved a lot of time if I'd issued my threat earlier. 
What a glorious bird.
2. South suburban rush hour traffic is not glorious.
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Yes, you can count the Pink-footed Goose (etc.)

2019-02-04 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Awesome, Ted. This means the Baikal teal that Bill Brockner showed me in 1993
behind the Baskin Robbins in Evergreen is good for my list?
(Pause here to wait for heads to explode on Colorado Bird Records Commitee.)
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO
On Monday, February 4, 2019, 11:02:21 AM MST, Ted Floyd
wrote:
Hey, all.
I'm writing here in official ABA (American Birding Association) capacity.
Andy Bankert's interpretation is correct. I have confirmed this with the chair
of the ABA Recording Standards & Ethics Committee. As long as the bird is on
the ABA Checklist, you may count it for your ABA list. Thus, the Weld County
Pink-footed and Barnacle geese may be counted for your ABA list. Note that you
are not compelled to do so. The decision is based on your own personal
assessment of the birds' statuses. Which can lead to some interesting dilemmas,
two of which I briefly describe below.
1. Two birders discovered a White-cheeked Pintail in Florida and,
interestingly, it was a prospective milestone for both. (Definitely #800 for
one birder, #750 as I recall for the other.) At the time the species was on
both the ABA and the Florida lists. So it was countable. However, one of the
birders wasn't satisfactorily persuaded that the bird was a natural vagrant; so
he didn't count it. This is okay! It was the exact same bird; the
identification was not in question; and the bird counted for one birder's list
but not the other's. The two birders are still friends. Life goes on.
2. A glorious Smew near St. Louis delighted birders in the winter of 1999-2000.
Some of us saw that very bird. Including Yours Truly. But here's the rather
interesting thing. The bird was seen on both sides (Missouri and Illinois) of
the Mississippi River, with one state's committee accepting the record and
other rejecting it. We are talking about the same bird! Accepted by one
committee, rejected by the other. Missouri and Illinois birders are still
friends. Life goes on.
Back to the Weld County geese. You are 100% allowed to count them for your ABA
list--right now, without waiting for the records committee. You are also 100%
allowed to exclude one or both species from your list. If the Colorado Bird
Records Committee accepts, say, the Pink-footed Goose, you are *still* 100%
allowed to exclude the species from your list--for example, if you feel that
the bird was not satisfactorily demonstrated to be a natural vagrant.
Okay, that's the end of my official response. The rest is my own personal
opinion.
The moral of this story, if you ask me is this: There are two kinds of people
in this world, those who can accept ambiguity and uncertainty in life, and
those whose heads explode. I, personally, delight in the diverse, and sometimes
incompatible, approaches we bring to birding. Some folks don't count
heard-only, exotic, and Hawaiian birds for the personal lists; that truly
doesn't bother me. One listing authority (the ABA) excludes the Mexican Duck
from its list, but another (eBird) not; that doesn't bother me, either. And
some folks have cheerfully ticked the Weld County Pink-footed Goose off their
bird lists, whilst others are taking a wait-and-see attitude; and that, too, is
perfectly fine with me.
My take, which doesn't have to be yours, is that birds are cool and that I'm
inclined to err on the side of inclusivity when it comes to counting birds for
my personal list. Even feral peafowl. (By the way, the Indian Peafowl was
recently added to the ABA Checklist. I'm just saying.) And as with the Florida
pintail and Missouri/Illinois Smew: We're still friends; life goes on.
Ted FloydLafayette, Boulder County

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Re: [cobirds] Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Boulder Co

2018-10-23 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Upon our arrival this morning at Carbonate Lane, Peter Gent had the best
birding line ever.
"Have you seen the bird? Where is the bird?" I asked.
"In the scope," he replied.
And it was.
Good birding (though it doesn't get any easier than that),
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO
On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 10:43:44 AM MDT, Peter Gent
wrote:

All,

Following Michael King's post from yesterday, at 7:40 I parked immediately
south of 982 Carbonate Lane, which is a little way northeast of Prince Lake #2.
The F-t Flycatcher was in the Russian Olive about 50 yards due west of where I
parked, and nicely visible. This seems a good location for the bird in the
early morning before there are any insects flying around. It is also well away
from any construction going on. Later in the day, the bird may be back just
north of the lake where it has been the last two days. Then Thomas Heinrich's
suggestion of looking north from the south side of Prince Lake is probably a
good idea, if one is stopped from going round the lake into the road
construction area.
Cheers, Peter Gent.
Boulder.

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Re: [cobirds] Coors Ponds security (Jefferson) No RNGR or LTDU

2018-01-10 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

 Pretty amazing that a company doesn't want to show off actual wild creatures 
living on its property after the same company twice killed almost all fish 
(tens of thousands) on seven miles of Clear Creek with its industrial spills; 
pleaded guilty to two criminal violations of state environmental law; and paid 
more than $1 million of federal fines for leaking toxic solvents into 
groundwater.
Business News: The Denver Post


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Business News: The Denver Post


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Good birding.

Mark ObmascikDenver, CO 
On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 8:12:16 PM MST, Ira Sanders 
 wrote:  
 
 Birders,Here is a little more on the subject:
Photography may be prohibited or restricted by a property owner on their 
property. However, a property owner generally cannot restrict the photographing 
of the property by individuals who are not within the bounds of the 
property.Photographing private property from within the public domain is not 
illegal, with the exception of an area that is generally regarded as private, 
such as a bedroom, bathroom, or hotel room.
 Krages II, Bert P. http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf  Retrieved 
2009-06-17

Ira SandersGolden, CO

On Wed, Jan 10, 2018 at 6:59 PM, 'Migrant' via Colorado Birds 
 wrote:

Several years ago (before I realized that it was controlled by a hunting club) 
I was headed up the dam at Riverside Reservoir (out near Jackson, in the middle 
of nowhere, for those who might not be familiar) when a guy roared up in a beat 
up pickup and asked what I was doing. I attempted to give the usual 
“birdwatching” while attempting to look as harmless as possible. He informed me 
that I could not go on the dam. When I inquired what might be the harm in a 
quick look at the reservoir, he told me that they were on “High Terror Alert” 
(the capitals are my interpretation of the way I was informed of this).So now 
we know- if ISIS or Al Tapeworm attacks, be sure you are nowhere near Coors 
Ponds or Riverside Reservoir. You might pick a safe place, like, oh say, the 
U.S. Mint or some such.
Norm LewisLakewood

Sent from my iPad
On Jan 10, 2018, at 5:03 PM, W. Robert Shade III  wrote:


I too was questioned by Coors Company security. I was standing outside the 
fence (of course!) on the west side scoping the lake for Red-necked Grebe and 
Long-tailed Duck and found neither. Two drake Red-breasted Mergansers and four 
Ruddy Ducks. I had only been there fifteen minutes or less when the security 
truck stopped. She was nice enough but I was informed that this is private 
property and that Coors does not want people taking photographs. I assured her 
that all I had were binoculars and scope (thinking "Don't you know the 
difference?"). All birds were way too far away for the camera and lens in my 
car anyway. 
So two points:1. If you go there best not to have a camera in view.2. Is it 
legal to prevent photography of private land that is visible from public 
property? Does Coors Security really have jurisdiction over people on public 
property or are they just trying to intimidate us? What are they worried about? 
That some ISIS ninjas will blow up the pond? 
Bob ShadeLakewood

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thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives."

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Re: [cobirds] Tønnessen's next?

2017-12-28 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

If a Baikal teal shows up behind a Baskin Robbins in Evergreen, would it be a 
first Colorado record? (Picking scab off festering wound.) 
Mark Obmascik Denver CO 

 
 
  On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 3:52 PM, Ted Floyd wrote:   
Okay, so he found Colorado's first Tropical Kingbird in September, then 
Colorado's first Red-breasted Sapsucker earlier this month. At this pace, he's 
due 3 or 4 more state firsts in 2018. Any guesses?
Ted FloydLafayette, Boulder County

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[cobirds] State Bird Records Committee

2016-04-29 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

In an age of Ebird, CObirds, and even Facebook bird ID groups, why do Colorado
and other states still have state bird record committees?
After John Ealy found the hooded oriole in his Douglas County backyard, many
excellent birders asked to have documentation submitted to the Colorado Bird
Records Committee, which decides whether rare-bird reports are legitimate. I
submitted, but the process is a hassle. The website crashed, and instructions
weren't always clear.
I know this an all-volunteer effort, and money is short, and I'm always in
favor of something that increases interest in and knowledge about birds, but
what does the committee do that isn't already being done elsewhere in a more
convenient way? In my experience, Ebird reviewers do an excellent job of
screening entries. (They've found a bunch of my mistakes.) Ebird and CObirds
make it easy to add photos. And with its international reach, Facebook allows
fast access to ID experts whose yardbirds are our vagrants.
It's also tough for me to forget how the committee decided that Bill Brockner's
Baikal teal, seen by me and hundreds others behind the Baskin Robbins in
Evergreen a few years back, was not actually a real Baikal teal.
If there's a good reason to keep submitting to bird records committees, I'd
like to hear it.
Good birding.
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Re: Larimer Woodcock

2015-01-20 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

In most of its home range, the American woodcock is considered a game species 
and is legally hunted. The Larimer County bird may be lucky to be visiting 
Colorado.
Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO

 From: 'Deborah Carstensen' via Colorado Birds cobirds@googlegroups.com
 To: colorado.bir...@gmail.com colorado.bir...@gmail.com 
Cc: cobirds@googlegroups.com cobirds@googlegroups.com 
 Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:46 AM
 Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Larimer Woodcock

Educating is helpful knowing that many people will make the right choice when 
they understand the repercussions of their actions. Unfortunately, this isn't 
always true.      When I reported a saw-whet owl in Littleton, I only gave the 
location info to a few people after getting permission from the owner.  They 
were to call the owner if they wanted to come over.      Ultimately, certain 
experienced birders came back repeatedly for pictures without asking the owner 
and the bird left after having been there for months.     I, too, felt 
responsible and wondered what I should have done...Deb Carstensen, Littleton , 
Arapahoe county

Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 20, 2015, at 10:07 AM, The Nunn Guy colorado.bir...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi all

I must say I am always surprised at the ugly discourse that follows when 
informal rules are violated.  Mirroring the likes of our Congressional 
leaders--by name calling, etc--is not the way to correct any problem.  I 
think setting our emotions aside and using a sense of civility and 
thoughtfulness in how we might want to resolve these type problems might get us 
closer to the birding nirvana we all desire.  

How might we better educate and reinforce good birder behavior on what birding 
ethics are and the importance of them?

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

On Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 3:40:46 PM UTC-7, Dave Leatherman wrote:
Birders and photographers and others with binoculars and cameras,
In case it needs to be said, and apparently it does, IT IS NOT OK TO WALK DOWN 
THE CREEK EDGE TRYING TO FIND AND FLUSH THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK!!  
This constitutes clueless, and/or rude, unethical behavior and is the kind of 
thing that gives us birders and photographers bad names with neighbors, 
enforcement rangers, and other birders.  Come on, people.  A tick mark isn't 
worth being idiots, to use a moderate label.

Sometimes it takes a little skill and patience to see a bird, even one that is 
pinned down to an area of 50 yards.  This bird evolved its special camouflage 
over eons and is remarkable in this respect.  If one doesn't see this bird or 
any bird, as often happens with ethical birding, you hope to see the next one.  
This isn't like going to the zoo where you have a map, the cage has a name on 
it, and it is fairly reasonable to expect seeing the animal for which the cage 
is named.

Outdoors people usually don't give up the location of their favorite fishing 
hole, a morel patch, or an owl cavity.  Screwing up viewing for everybody who 
might follow you by stomping around for a woodcock is what leads to decreased 
sharing on public media about other kinds of situations like this one.  It 
happened with the Fountain Creek bird last year.   One guy with a lot of saliva 
thwarted untold others from seeing that bird, some of whom drove hundreds of 
miles.   I knew when this bird was beautifully discovered by Fawn Simonds that 
it was special enough to perhaps warrant special protocols (limited viewing 
times, guided group visits, or something along those lines), particularly since 
the parking lot at Bobcat was closed due to mud.  But the word was innocently 
put out on COBIRDS.  The first couple days went OK.  Things tend to come 
unraveled on Day 3 of a Happening and apparently that's what is going on.  
The unraveling can cease with simple considerate behavior on the part of 
visitors from here on.  Please. 

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

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[cobirds] Sage-grouse protections blocked in Congress

2014-12-10 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

A sneaky, last-minute rider added to the federal government's 1,603-page
spending bill blocks federal endangered species protections to the Gunnison
sage-grouse and the greater sage-grouse. I know COBIRDS isn't for politics, but
it's not for putting our heads in the sand, either.
Colorado is the last best place on Earth for the Gunnison sage-grouse. Eight
years ago, our state had 6,220 Gunnison sage-grouse in eight separate areas.
Last year, biologists counted 4,773 birds in seven areas. Numbers go up and
down year-to-year. Colorado has had two decades to protect the bird, but the
species remains in deep trouble. Several colonies of Gunnison sage-grouse have
gone extinct in the years that Colorado state officials have promised to
protect the species. Now that the feds are stepping in, pols in Washington
slipped in an unpublicized paragraph this week to head off federal protections
of the birds.
It would be awful to have a home-state species go extinct on our watch.
There are real conflicts between the greater sage-grouse and oil-and-gas
development across the West. However, the Gunnison sage-grouse does not face a
similar conflict. The Gunnison sage-grouse once lived in Four Corners areas
that now have much petroleum development, but those bird colonies are now
extinct.
Here is a link to one of many of tonight's news stories on the last-minute
congressional rider: Bye bye birdie

| |
| | | | | | | |
| Bye bye birdieBefore lawmakers could agree to a $1.1 trillion, last-minute
deal to avoid shutting down the U.S. government, they first had to deal with a
couple of birds. The res... |
| |
| View on www.politico.com | Preview by Yahoo |
| |
| |

Good birding,
Mark ObmascikDenver, CO

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Re: [cobirds] Re: 499 500 [or 503] ?

2014-07-28 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Several colonies of monk parakeets have lived on the South Side of Chicago for
more than 30 years. I think Ira Sanders would back me up in agreeing that
Chicago winters are far more harsh than anything in Denver. There may be other
reasons to not count monk parakeets in Denver, but hardiness is not one.

Mark Obmascik
Denver, CO

On Sunday, July 27, 2014 5:38 PM, drchartier drchart...@msn.com wrote:

A pair of monk parakeets built a nest in a Colorado Springs neighborhood in the
mid 90s. Escapees, I'm sure. I believe they were captured and incarcerated at
the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Sent with the Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate™, an ATT 4G LTE smartphone.
Chuck lowr...@mindspring.com wrote:

A pair of Monk Parakeets inhabited our Potter Highlands neighborhood and
frequented our feeders for at least two years in the late eighties until a
neighbor, tired of their calling, shot them with her BB gun. Gail had called
the Rare Bird Alert when we first noted them and was told that they were not
reportable because they were escapees unable to survive and breed in our
climate.
- Chuck Lowrie, Denver

On Sunday, July 27, 2014 3:30:10 PM UTC-6, ouzels wrote:
None of the speculators about Colorado’s 500th bird(s) addressed
one possibility: It already happened.
Over the years the CFO Records Committee has looked at 1000s of
records with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness.To crack the
barrier the Records Committee only has to re-visit some rejected records.
CAROLINA PAROQUET: 1805.
When the Pike expedition (was it Pike?) saw these birds along the Arkansas
River, had they crossed that magic line?
PILEATED WOODPECKER: 1940s or 1950s.
Reported near the Maroon Bells by Justice William O. Douglas. Can you doubt
the word of a Supreme Court justice? But – he didn’t submit a Rare Bird Form.
MONK PARAKEET: 1983-1985.
When we lived in Denver, a Monk Parakeet spent a whole winter in the Congress
Park neighborhood. This wary bird even built a nest along the alley at 11th
Clayton. It showed up at our feeder on a 20-below-zero winter morning.
1970’s: Two seen along Platte River bikeway for a couple of months.
RED-BACKED HAWK: 1987-1994.
For eight years a Red-backed Hawk/Buzzard summered on a ranch north of
Gunnison. It mated with a Swainson’s Hawk and produced at least one young.
Observed by dozens (hundreds probably) of people including former President
wife, Jimmy Rosalind Carter.
BLACK-HOODED CONURE: 1995.
No RBF, probably. Attended feeders in a subdivision south of Chatfield for 2
months in 1995. Observed on a Fall Count.

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO

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[cobirds] The business of sage grouse (Moffat County)

2014-05-14 Thread 'Mark Obmascik' via Colorado Birds

Front page Wall Street Journal story today on the rise of sage grouse tours in 
the West. The story starts on a lek in Craig.

Bird-watchers flock to observe the sage grouse's odd mating dance, a drama of 
conflict, comedy and sex

 
   Bird-watchers flock to observe the sage grouse's odd mat...
Every spring, bird lovers gather in the American West to watch the Greater sage 
grouse puff his chest in a unique, comical mating dance that ornitholo...  
View on online.wsj.com Preview by Yahoo  
Good birding,

Mark Obmascik
Denver, CO 

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