Date: 6/22/26 8:39 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests
Over the past week I have had the good fortune to find two Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests.
The first one is in Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins. I noticed a female making repeated visits to a little cement vehicle bridge over the New Mercer Ditch near the entrance to the Cemetery Shop (which is 150 yards south of the rock Cemetery Office at the west terminus of Mountain Avenue). Barn Swallows nest under this bridge. Maybe the hummer was after feathers swallows use for nest liner, but it's more likely the attraction for the hummer was spider webs. Each of the 15 or so visits I witnessed involved a hover next to the bridge, then a dash into the dark underside of the bridge over the ditch water for 10-15 seconds, and then a quick exit out the opposite side from where it entered. The exit flight was always in the same direction. In the past almost all of the 30+ nests I have found at Grandview Cemetery have been on the lower branches of big Colorado blue spruce trees. I checked the nearest spruce along the vector the hummer went after bridge visits. Nothing. Then I went across a broad open area to more spruce trees on the same vector and found the nest. It was what I would call half-built on 6/18 (left photo below). The cup had enough definition for her to sit in it, spin around and shape, and it was somewhat decorated on the outside with spruce bark flakes and bits of lichens. The foundation of the nest appeared to be mostly what I think is bright white spider webbing (with a few American elm seeds embedded by the wind prior to the hummingbird's procurement). Also, a few dandelion seeds were recognizable.
On 6/21 the nest was basically complete, with much greater depth and exterior decorating (below right). You can tell by the web debris on her beak she is still "knitting" the interior of the cup into a final configuration she likes. I do not know if she had laid eggs on 6/21, but if not, that act is imminent. If this nest is like others, she will liven up her two weeks of what must be boring incubation with continued additions to the nest exterior of a tile here and a bit of color there. This has always seemed to me a futile attempt to improve on perfection. And once the eggs hatch, mamma's labors intensify considerably. She must feed the two nestlings, feed herself, defend/shield her progeny from heat, rain, sprinklers, incoming golf balls, fox squirrels, Blue Jays, etc. Egg hatch also marks the onset of nest deterioration. During their approximately two week-long nestling period, the young will grow, thrash around, completely fill the expandable nest to the exclusion of Mom (about half way thru the nestling period she will have to perch next to the nest to feed them). On fledging day, most nests are reduced to throw rugs with no chance for refurbishing and reuse next year.
[cid:<image001.jpg...>] [cid:<image002.jpg...>]
The second nest discovered lately is in lower Rist Canyon west of Fort Collins. It is in an area I have been visiting for over 50 years to collect insects for the Gillette Museum at Colorado State University. On 6/17 I walked past a 5-foot tall Douglas-fir that will be part of the next forest on a north-facing slope at present mostly devoid of big trees due to bark beetle outbreaks in both pine and Douglas-fir and the High Park Fire of 2012. Out of the little tree burst a female hummingbird. I knew what that probably meant and, sure enough, there was a nest with two eggs a mere 3 feet off the ground (left photo below). Today, the female was on the nest (below right). Note the plum-colored gorget feathers on this female, which the hummingbird books say is rare in female broadtails. The exterior of every hummingbird nest is unique and the Rist Canyon nest has a lot more lichens and gray bark bits than the Grandview Cemetery nest.
[cid:<image003.jpg...>] [cid:<image004.jpg...>]
Both genders of hummingbirds are awesome, but for different reasons. The males are gaudy, engage in exotic flight maneuvers, make a lot of noise and beg to have their pictures taken. But the females have always commanded my respect. After being impregnated, they do it all: build the nest, then all the other chores mentioned above, and even do post-fledging feeding/life training of the kids. Here's to female hummingbirds!
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435B31F969DA486F7BD339DC1EE2...>
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CAGj6Ror-J5Hae_noMFrTEPiuzfhtT43e3_T03898NbdEPArtqQ...>
Date: 6/20/26 8:51 am From: Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Possibly injured Kestrel Brighton Adams County
Help is already on the way! No need for more replies. Thanks! Susan Rosine Brighton
On Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 9:38 AM Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> wrote:
> A small business owner in downtown Brighton sent me a photo of a kestrel > looking through their window. She thinks it's injured. I don't really want > to try and handle a kestrel myself. > Thoughts on getting someone out here to take it where it needs to go? > > Susan Rosine > Brighton >
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CACPnx8XPD9O2DDtVrvigXWPtBhN0S4S2njpEmSnZRhSSCnXb6g...>
Date: 6/20/26 8:39 am From: Susan Rosine <u5b2mtdna...> Subject: [cobirds] Possibly injured Kestrel Brighton Adams County
A small business owner in downtown Brighton sent me a photo of a kestrel looking through their window. She thinks it's injured. I don't really want to try and handle a kestrel myself. Thoughts on getting someone out here to take it where it needs to go?
Susan Rosine Brighton
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CACPnx8WFBPjsDP5iKUL2RmcByfrjsKaG6mXFQK5JAtRq30sZXw...>
Things are becoming quite entertaining these days. The male breeding the female and the female trying to breed the male. Silly newlyweds! The nest is right in the center of the platform. There is still a lot of open spaces surrounding it. Lots of vocalizations and once where people walking down the road didn't bother them, now they are hyper vigilant when someone walks by.
They have added some interesting "decor" to the outside of the platform.[cid:f3303eb9-5b28-4a1b-8803-7bcafc4708d8]
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<PH7PR20MB49635DBEFBCF80B52361B124DFE32...>
Date: 6/18/26 12:32 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Crom Lake (Weld) on 6/18/26
FYI, the water level at Crom Lake west of Pierce in Weld County has risen in recent days and formerly exposed shore, especially along the north side, is gone. So is the Hudsonian Godwit, as far as I could tell this morning at 7:30AM. Two avocets, one Black-necked Stilts and about 10 Wilson's Phalaropes, all of which probably tried to breed at Crom, remain. Of course, still lots of Killdeer, most of them up on the dirt of CR31. The local breeder Spotted Sandpipers might have been lurking in the submerged vegetation around the edge.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB34359C20A3DD05A5E6BE8CE6C1E32...>
Date: 6/17/26 10:47 am From: 'Ted Cooper' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Food for thought
David, what an amazing, instructive post. All those photos of reptiles and insects made me very hungry for breakfast.
Ted Cooper
> On Jun 16, 2026, at 5:25 PM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> wrote:
>
> I made a trip from Fort Collins up to Larimer CR5 (just e of the Rawhide Power Plant), then headed east to check my shrike monitoring areas in the western portion of the Pawnee National Grasslands. I stopped at Crom Lake west of Pierce on the way home.
>
> Larimer CR5 from the Buckeye Road (CR82) north to CR92 was decidedly lackluster. No shrikes, no longspurs, very few grasshoppers, one Golden Eagle.
>
> The western Pawnee Grasslands rarely disappoints in terms of shrikes and their interesting habit of impaling prey. On this trip the fence barb display was comprised of:
> 31 Western Earless Lizards in various conditions from whole and alive to old shriveled pieces
>
> <image002.jpg>
> Prairie earless lizard male in bright breeding coloration, still alive and wondering what the hell just happened, why is King Kong taking my picture.
>
> 3 greater shorthorned lizards
> 1 prairie hognose snake (about 12 inches long, beheaded)
>
> <image005.jpg> <image006.jpg>
>
> Prairie (aka “Western”) Hognose Snake showing dorsal pattern at left, distinctive black underside at right. Total length was about 16 inches, indicating a young one. The shrike had a reason for killing it. I wonder how many other animals, including humans, kill them because of their rattlesnake-similar dorsal pattern?
>
> 0 many-lined skinks
> 3 unidentifiable pieces of birds one of which was possibly a Lark Bunting
> 1 bird gizzard
> 0 mammals
> 2 redshank grasshoppers (more about this later)
> 0 other grasshoppers
> 0 beetles (although one impaled pellet contained beetle exoskeleton fragments)
> 5 camel crickets (a few fresh, the rest fragments, the identifiable ones being Great Plains camel crickets (Daihinia brevipes))
> 1 black field cricket (Gryllus sp.)
> 1 white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar
>
> <image004.png><image015.png><image017.png><image019.png><image020.png> <image007.jpg> <image008.jpg>
> Shrike-impaled white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar at left. Upper red arrow points to spiracle (white oval with black rim). Lower red arrow points to caudal spine which gives most sphinx moth caterpillars their name of “hornworm”. For those who don’t believe the green blob in the left photo is really a white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar, the right photo shows an intact one for comparison. The dual white arrows at left point to spiracles, while the right one indicates the caudal spine.
>
> I shrike nest, that had 6 eggs on 5/26, had at least 5 nestlings on 6/15 (there might be a 6th youngster in there but I didn’t want to take more than 5 seconds to snap a pic) on 6/15. Note the difference in head size between the lower left bird and the upper bird.
>
> <image024.jpg>
>
> I saw or heard 0 raptors, 0 sage thrashers, 0 longspurs, 0 Common Nighthawks, 1 Burrowing Owl, only 2 Brewer’s Sparrows, 1 Cassin’s Sparrow, goodly number of Lark Buntings, Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks.
>
> My take is that although the prairie is starting to green up a bit, small mammals are down, grasshoppers are down. Few rodents means few hawks. Few grasshoppers and beetles (especially darkling, scarab and ground) means reptiles are essentially the only prey shrikes out there have this spring-early summer.
>
> I saw this Horned Lark making a run to its nest near the roadside. The two prey items it is beak are a male robber fly and an unidentified larva. Red arrow shows similarity between what the bird has and the abdomen tip of a live robber fly. Thus, one insectivore falls prey to another. As Kurt Vonnegut aptly put it, “And so it goes.”
>
> <image022.png> <image018.jpg> <image026.jpg>
>
> Lastly, at Crom Lake west of Piece I was surprised to see a male Hudsonian Godwit in breeding plumage. Too far away for decent photographs but I did put a few identifiable ones on my partial eBird checklist. In reading of their movements, he should have been in Alaska many weeks ago. I would love to know what shorebirds and ibis get out of Crom Lake’s mud and water but suspect the take includes midge larvae and gastropod snails in the genus Physa.
>
> Dave Leatherman
> Fort Collins
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> <mailto:<cobirds...> > For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds <http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds> > * 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/membership/ <https://cobirds.org/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+<unsubscribe...> <mailto:cobirds+<unsubscribe...>.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435DC0FCFD11D7918E344E2C1E52...> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435DC0FCFD11D7918E344E2C1E52...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<5AA1D44F-9CE9-4488-ABAE-CB7F17C3083F...>
Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I push “Send” is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the person who does this to us………………
The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not “Prairie”) Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one, it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or Ault). Next time you’re in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny Town Hall. I paid for it.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435171531DF520DFA1787F1C1E42...>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<773709070.2582246.1781656747671...>
Date: 6/16/26 5:22 pm From: Charlie Chase <charlesachase3...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] food for thought corrections
One of my very first encounters with flashing lighted vehicles stopping me
was in Nunn on the way to Pawnee with Ron Ryder on our way to Pawnee in
1976. For those of you who have ridden with Ron, you will be likely as
stunned as I was that he was being pulled over for anything. The deputy
came up and said "Sorry to pull you over Dr. Ryder but my mom wanted me to
tell you about the shrike in her barn". Of course... APB on Ron Ryder!!
Charlie Chase
Denver
On Tue, Jun 16, 2026 at 6:02 PM DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...>
wrote:
> All,
>
> Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the
> right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I
> push “Send” is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the
> person who does this to us………………
>
>
>
> The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not “Prairie”)
> Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard
> and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with
> common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one,
> it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
>
>
>
> And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or
> Ault). Next time you’re in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny
> Town Hall. I paid for it.
>
>
>
> Dave Leatherman
>
> Fort Collins
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435171531DF520DFA1787F1C1E42...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435171531DF520DFA1787F1C1E42...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%<2BBAsdv1dOhnVtjGA63fF-DY2JfP-tfHF2v0Lbx7hapLqPb8ZQ...>
Date: 6/16/26 5:02 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] food for thought corrections
All,
Sorry about the formatting issue of my recent email that maybe cut off the right side of a couple photos on your screen. What things look like when I push "Send" is never what it looks like when received. If you meet the person who does this to us..................
The common name for our earless lizard in CO is Common (not "Prairie") Earless Lizard. This important creature also goes by Lesser Earless Lizard and Western Earless Lizard. The ornithological powers that be mess with common names, which is frustrating, but at least when they decide on one, it is the only accepted common name. That is, until their next meeting.
And the town east of Crom Lake is Pierce (NEVER speed in Pierce, Nunn or Ault). Next time you're in Nunn, take a look at their beautiful, shiny Town Hall. I paid for it.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435171531DF520DFA1787F1C1E42...>
Date: 6/16/26 4:26 pm From: DAVID A LEATHERMAN <daleatherman...> Subject: [cobirds] Food for thought
I made a trip from Fort Collins up to Larimer CR5 (just e of the Rawhide Power Plant), then headed east to check my shrike monitoring areas in the western portion of the Pawnee National Grasslands. I stopped at Crom Lake west of Pierce on the way home.
Larimer CR5 from the Buckeye Road (CR82) north to CR92 was decidedly lackluster. No shrikes, no longspurs, very few grasshoppers, one Golden Eagle.
The western Pawnee Grasslands rarely disappoints in terms of shrikes and their interesting habit of impaling prey. On this trip the fence barb display was comprised of:
31 Western Earless Lizards in various conditions from whole and alive to old shriveled pieces
[cid:<image002.jpg...>]
Prairie earless lizard male in bright breeding coloration, still alive and wondering what the hell just happened, why is King Kong taking my picture.
Prairie (aka "Western") Hognose Snake showing dorsal pattern at left, distinctive black underside at right. Total length was about 16 inches, indicating a young one. The shrike had a reason for killing it. I wonder how many other animals, including humans, kill them because of their rattlesnake-similar dorsal pattern?
0 many-lined skinks
3 unidentifiable pieces of birds one of which was possibly a Lark Bunting
1 bird gizzard
0 mammals
2 redshank grasshoppers (more about this later)
0 other grasshoppers
0 beetles (although one impaled pellet contained beetle exoskeleton fragments)
5 camel crickets (a few fresh, the rest fragments, the identifiable ones being Great Plains camel crickets (Daihinia brevipes))
1 black field cricket (Gryllus sp.)
1 white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar
[cid:<image004.png...>][cid:<image015.png...>][cid:<image017.png...>][cid:<image019.png...>][cid:<image020.png...>] [cid:<image007.jpg...>] [cid:<image008.jpg...>]
Shrike-impaled white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar at left. Upper red arrow points to spiracle (white oval with black rim). Lower red arrow points to caudal spine which gives most sphinx moth caterpillars their name of "hornworm". For those who don't believe the green blob in the left photo is really a white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar, the right photo shows an intact one for comparison. The dual white arrows at left point to spiracles, while the right one indicates the caudal spine.
I shrike nest, that had 6 eggs on 5/26, had at least 5 nestlings on 6/15 (there might be a 6th youngster in there but I didn't want to take more than 5 seconds to snap a pic) on 6/15. Note the difference in head size between the lower left bird and the upper bird.
[cid:<image024.jpg...>]
I saw or heard 0 raptors, 0 sage thrashers, 0 longspurs, 0 Common Nighthawks, 1 Burrowing Owl, only 2 Brewer's Sparrows, 1 Cassin's Sparrow, goodly number of Lark Buntings, Western Meadowlarks and Horned Larks.
My take is that although the prairie is starting to green up a bit, small mammals are down, grasshoppers are down. Few rodents means few hawks. Few grasshoppers and beetles (especially darkling, scarab and ground) means reptiles are essentially the only prey shrikes out there have this spring-early summer.
I saw this Horned Lark making a run to its nest near the roadside. The two prey items it is beak are a male robber fly and an unidentified larva. Red arrow shows similarity between what the bird has and the abdomen tip of a live robber fly. Thus, one insectivore falls prey to another. As Kurt Vonnegut aptly put it, "And so it goes."
Lastly, at Crom Lake west of Piece I was surprised to see a male Hudsonian Godwit in breeding plumage. Too far away for decent photographs but I did put a few identifiable ones on my partial eBird checklist. In reading of their movements, he should have been in Alaska many weeks ago. I would love to know what shorebirds and ibis get out of Crom Lake's mud and water but suspect the take includes midge larvae and gastropod snails in the genus Physa.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435DC0FCFD11D7918E344E2C1E52...>
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435F7F4C32E8261DE9B7CF3C1E62...>
Date: 6/15/26 1:04 pm From: Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyhockfarms...> Subject: [cobirds] Osprey Update and a question
The Osprey pair are settling in and continually adding to their nest. It is mid-June now, and guess who is starting to sit on eggs? They have been actively breeding for the past few days. I see the female sitting in the nest more often now instead of perching on the edge of the box. The male is now always close by. If he isn't on the perch or the edge of the box, he is in the trees nearby.
Isn't this awfully late for them trying to raise a family? Up to now, I've just been assuming that they are newly bonded and playing house. Looks like it is getting more serious. They are also more vocal, constantly calling to each other.
What should I make of all of this?
Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead, Weld county, 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...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<PH7PR20MB49638C60D1D2AEBEA57ADA45DFE62...>
Date: 6/15/26 11:12 am From: Doug Ward <dougward...> Subject: [cobirds] Cassin's Kingbirds - Rio Blanco Co.
They're Baaack! Yesterday morning (Sun, 14 Jun'26) while running our Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) east of Rangely (Rio Blanco Co., CO) we found at least two (2) CASSIN'S KINGBIRDs in the same spot where we first found them way back in 2021! What I find very interesting about this extralimital repeat is that we hadn't had them there the past two (2) years, only to find them in the same spot as they nested in 2023 (unfortunately they won't show up in the official BBS results as we found them outside the allotted time on our way back out). We figured they had given up their Mission after failing to attract more settlers, but the optimism of pioneers apparently carried on. If these are indeed the same individual birds, they would be at least six (6) years old as we found them as adults during our first year covering this route (Angora BBS) back in June 2021. While certainly plausible, it is also possible at least one is an offspring given the site fidelity - the armchair ornithologist in me wishes would have had them banded to know for sure. In any case, this is a fascinating occurrence for a rare species in northwestern Colorado. If you'd like specific details on the location, please let me know separately.
Good BBSing,
Doug
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/005401dcfcf2%24729fe940%2457dfbbc0%<24...>
Date: 6/14/26 3:29 pm From: Ted Floyd <tedfloyd73...> Subject: [cobirds] SparrowFest at The Arsenal + more on recording in the wind
Hey, all.
With Pete Christiansen, Jason Zolle, Jeff Percell, and Michael Ward, I
enjoyed a nice day yesterday, Sat., June 13, of eBirding and iNatting at
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Adams Co. The weather was
pleasant: temps a bit below the seasonal average, with some clouds rolling
in by mid-day, and winds kicking up after sunrise. More on the wind in a
bit.
The highlight was an excellent showing by several passerellid species. We
detected 37 *Cassin sparrows,* 80 *grasshopper sparrows,* and 87 *lark
buntings.* And those were, of course, just trailside and roadside
detections; Lord knows how many are out there altogether. An eclecticism of
other avian highlights included: a male *black-chinned hummingbird,*
seemingly on territory; a *Virginia rail,* singing the male-song in the
middle of the day; a *western cattle-egret* strutting along the shore of
Lower Derby Rez; two *Mississippi kites* swooping and sailing over
Lower/Little Havana; just one *burrowing owl* (I think they're mostly down
in the their holes right now, tending young and out of sight); a c*ordilleran
flycatcher* giving the "position note" in Upper Derby woods; one
audio-supported presumptive *eastern warbling-vireo* and four unsupported,
and unsupportable, warbling-vireos (more on this below); a *sage thrasher,*
in ideal breeding habitat (sandsage + saltbush) at Big Blue Stem; and three
*dickcissels*, one at Big Blue Stem, two singing along the wildlife drive.
In the one-that-got-away category: a brief apparition from a scolopacid
that likely was a white-rumped sandpiper. And as to non-avians, at least
four prairie racerunners, *Aspidoscelis* *sexlineatus viridis*, in a New
Mexico locust grove.
The Cassin sparrow show at The Arsenal is impressive. Check out this eBird
output, indicating some combination of: (a) legitimate species biology; and
(b) the pernicious positive feedback loop of observers going to places
where birds have previously been reported. As Andrew Floyd casually
inquired, on seeing this result: "Did *you* contribute to this bias?" Lol,
guilty as charged: We ticked the species at 10 "daughter" hotspots at the
"mother" hotspot for The Arsenal. Anyhow:
[image: CaSp output.png]
Okay, recording birds in the wind. Nathan Pieplow recently recommended
recording from our wind-baffled trousers pockets. I remember an incident,
eons ago, on a windy winter morning in Boulder when Bob Zilly yanked off
one of my mittens, wrapped it around my recorder, and *voilà*, the peak
meter, indicating wind noise, dropped to near-zero. That's cool. But if you
want the ultimate wind baffle, try a *CAR. *🚘 Here's one of yesterday's
Cassin sparrows, out on the windswept wildlife drive at The Arsenal:
[image: C01 CaSp.png]
You can tell from the almost perfectly straight flatline on the waveform
function (bottom panel). Srsly, if recording from within a pocket or mitten
does the trick, doing it in a car, as above, takes things to a whole new
level of acoustic purity.
Here's a grasshopper sparrow, atop windy Rattlesnake Hill yesterday at The
Arsenal:
[image: C02 GrSp.png]
Something poignant for peeps, like me, with deleterious alleles for the
LOXHD1 and TRIOBP genes (tl; dr— you got age-related high-frequency hearing
loss), is the strong signal at the 0.77-sec. mark. First, a plea for
birders to examine not just the popular sound spectrogram output (top
panel), but also the richly informative waveform function, or oscillogram,
output (bottom panel). Look at all those millipascals reaching the
defective cochleae of my inner ear at around 0.77 sec.; given that the
powerful signal has a carrier frequency just under 6 kHz, I can still
totally hear that sound, and I've disciplined myself in recent summers to
be consciously attuned to it. Which means I typically get on a singing
grasshopper sparrow 300–500 ms before the kids do. Even if it's the *only*
part of the song I can hear on a grasshopper sparrow singing at any
distance. 😬
Next up. There are *Brewer* *sparrows* out there! Not nearly as many, this
summer, as there are Cassin and grasshopper sparrows. To find a Brewer
sparrow at The Arsenal, try the sandsage–saltbush admixtures, as, for
example, at Big Blue Stem. Here's one singing in the wind:
[image: C03 BrSp.png]
Although the recording is acoustically noisy, with "white noise" (actually,
*gray* noise in all such outputs) throughout, it's not all that bad, for
the perhaps counterintuitive reason that the bird was singing out in the
open. Open environments are, on the whole, acoustically simple, having the
useful effect of driving wind noise down into the lowest registers. That's
suboptimal if you're trying to hear (and record) owls, pigeons, and
subwoofers, but not so bad for sparrows, katydids, and dog whistles.
More challenging, and where the Pieplow–Zilly Theorem really comes into
play, is in acoustically complex environments like the decently dense grove
at Upper Derby. Here's a presumptive eastern warbling-vireo yesterday at
Upper Derby:
[image: C04 EaWV.png]
Lots of "white" (gray) noise in that one, even though, subjectively, it
didn't seem bad, as we were "out of the wind." So we were, in terms of
broadband activation of our epidermal mechanoreceptors. But the wind's
sound energy (those pesky millipascals) don't magically go away.
Hello?—First Law of Thermodynamics? The wind is still there, but it's
distributed everywhere in the environment, manifested as this sort of dull
reverb that we don't consciously pick up on but that nevertheless
diminishes our sensitivity to discrete sounds in the environment. (*Cf*.
the well-known problem of struggling to discern sibilant phonemes at
cocktail parties.)
Two other things:
1. Nathan issues a plea for longer(ish) cuts of birdsong, and that's
especially advisable, I would say, in the case of variable vireos. Ed
Pandolfino has a paper in *Western Birds*, a while ago, on the songs of
Cassin and plumbeous vireos, and he makes the point that it's actually
*impossible* to identify—or, at least, credibly attempt to identify,
haha—those two species from audio cuts less than about a minute in
duration. Sorry, this cut from The Arsenal is only 15 seconds, presented
here as COBirds-suitable imagery, rather than Pandolfino-compliant output.
Father Ed: Forgive me.
2. You've all been waiting for the other shoe to drop. 👠 Yeah, we all need
to provide such support for our species-level warbling-vireo IDs in
Colorado. Pete, Jason, Jeff, Michael, and I actually heard five (*n*=5)
candidate eastern warbling-vireos yesterday at The Arsenal, but we got
spectrogram-supported audio on just this one. Therefore, we eBirded one
eastern and four "spuhs" (eBird taxon "Eastern/Western Warbling Vireo") for
our visit yesterday at The Arsenal. There's no shame in that! Indeed, it
signals that you are a competent, science-based birder. Just do it. Or, I
suppose, don't do it.
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder Co.
P. s. Two more things on warbling-vireos. I cannot help myself.
First, for peeps keeping tabs on the presumptive easterns at Walden Ponds,
Boulder Co., catastrophe struck back on Wed., June 10! Check out this audio
and, especially, the comments appertaining thereunto:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/659462219
Second, while we're all excitedly adding presumptive eastern
warbling-vireos to our county lists, let's not overlook the coolness of
presumptive western warbling-vireos. They can get amped up ("a vireo on
speed") like easterns, they are super-variable, and they'll sometimes sneak
in a terminal "squirt!" note in the song. For the ultimate surround-sound
experience with presumptive western warbling-vireos, ride the gondola at
Telluride, San Miguel Co. For the poor man's experience, try Gregory Canyon
in Boulder Co., full of songsters like this one, singing up a storm back on
Mon., June 8:
macaulaylibrary.org/asset/659334751
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGk944cBJybd1rDrwYjOfjfoSBZ%2BVTd886%<2B5Fjg9MXnj0GC4Vg...>
Date: 6/13/26 3:59 pm From: william kossack <wskossack...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] How to record audio in windy conditions
I use a good shotgun microphone and a digital recorder. However, years
ago i birded with randy Little in new jersey. Randy did all the original
sound recordings for the Peterson field guides using a large parabolic dish
microphone
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 4:54 PM Mary Keithler <mkeithler...> wrote:
> Hi Nathan,
>
> Thanks for the timely recording tips and the heads up on the Merlin
> updates we can look forward to. Sounds very handy.
>
> Mary
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 13, 2026, at 4:11 PM, Nathan Pieplow <npieplow...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi everybody,
>
> In recent days I've seen several examples of a classic Colorado birding
> problem: people try to record audio of a bird, but there's simply too much
> wind, and the recording ends up being unusable, or nearly so.
>
> If you find yourself in this situation, I recommend that you start up
> Merlin and then *put your phone in your pocket.* The fabric then acts as
> a makeshift windscreen. It usually doesn't dramatically affect the levels
> from the bird sound, but it can greatly cut down on wind noise.
>
> In a few weeks, we will all have the ability to send recordings from
> Merlin directly to eBird on our phones. This will also come with the
> ability to trim recordings in Merlin. If you do the phone-in-the-pocket
> trick, it will be important to trim away the not-in-pocket parts of the
> recording to ensure the best levels on the resulting online audio.
>
> While I'm at it, I'll exhort everyone to please *keep your recorder
> running* longer than you might be tempted to. I've been asked to identify
> a bunch of ten-second and twenty-second recordings of Warbling Vireos
> recently, and it's not always possible. *The longer your recordings, the
> better,* especially for things like Warbling Vireos or any kind of
> rarity. Longer recordings are easier to ID and can be used in a wider
> variety of scientific research.
>
> Thanks, and good birding!
>
> Nathan Pieplow
> 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...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAFhaDVKawg2w0cHMSgzYDO%3DJ1sLo_%<2BiwstFmfsrQ9muyMPaeDg...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAFhaDVKawg2w0cHMSgzYDO%3DJ1sLo_%<2BiwstFmfsrQ9muyMPaeDg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<BA322FE2-F4A7-4FBD-9710-FC3EDF902DD9...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<BA322FE2-F4A7-4FBD-9710-FC3EDF902DD9...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAAYCWZp%3D6vimC4KJwLr_4HCcLkC%3D35PiGfWmC%<2BmPonaPhf-a-g...>
Date: 6/13/26 3:11 pm From: Nathan Pieplow <npieplow...> Subject: [cobirds] How to record audio in windy conditions
Hi everybody,
In recent days I've seen several examples of a classic Colorado birding problem: people try to record audio of a bird, but there's simply too much wind, and the recording ends up being unusable, or nearly so.
If you find yourself in this situation, I recommend that you start up Merlin and then *put your phone in your pocket.* The fabric then acts as a makeshift windscreen. It usually doesn't dramatically affect the levels from the bird sound, but it can greatly cut down on wind noise.
In a few weeks, we will all have the ability to send recordings from Merlin directly to eBird on our phones. This will also come with the ability to trim recordings in Merlin. If you do the phone-in-the-pocket trick, it will be important to trim away the not-in-pocket parts of the recording to ensure the best levels on the resulting online audio.
While I'm at it, I'll exhort everyone to please *keep your recorder running* longer than you might be tempted to. I've been asked to identify a bunch of ten-second and twenty-second recordings of Warbling Vireos recently, and it's not always possible. *The longer your recordings, the better,* especially for things like Warbling Vireos or any kind of rarity. Longer recordings are easier to ID and can be used in a wider variety of scientific research.
Thanks, and good birding!
Nathan Pieplow 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAFhaDVKawg2w0cHMSgzYDO%3DJ1sLo_%<2BiwstFmfsrQ9muyMPaeDg...>
On Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 11:04 AM Hondochica z <hondochica...> wrote:
> Thanks to Merlin I found a Hooded Warbler this morning in Teller County.
> Had a great look. Might go back for a photo. Male singing. Butterbutts
> chasing him around.
>
> Found in the riparian habitat at 304 Kingston rd; was closer to the
> driveway gate than the road junction; off Lower Twin Rocks road between
> Divide and Teller 1.
>
> Do Not Trespass: the property owner has cameras.
>
> Good luck!
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABTe1UJ%<3DYJ-nVVUcHTOULVdMi1mGgN1MhaSiJ-nxSjuL1cHoQA...>
Thanks to Merlin I found a Hooded Warbler this morning in Teller County. Had a great look. Might go back for a photo. Male singing. Butterbutts chasing him around.
Found in the riparian habitat at 304 Kingston rd; was closer to the driveway gate than the road junction; off Lower Twin Rocks road between Divide and Teller 1.
Do Not Trespass: the property owner has cameras.
Good luck!
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABTe1U%<2BgNJZc63bqDYySD6mwmSjwo4C-sjuOAeJUFVS5Gn987A...>
Date: 6/10/26 10:00 am From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Need identification help for bird seen on Manitou Lake near Deckers
Hi,
That is not a duck, but a shorebird - an American Avocet. Probably only
infrequently found at that location, so a nice find.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO
On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM Amanda Dodson <amandaksdodson...>
wrote:
> I saw a duck I'd never seen before on Manitou Lake yesterday. It was
> smaller, maybe crow sized. Black and white wings with an orangey-tan wash
> over the head. Its eye ring and the skin around its bill was nearly pale
> blue in hue. Its beak was dark and very long, like a snipe.
>
> I never observed it diving or feeding, though I did see it do quick bobs
> of its head often. There was only one.
>
> Any ideas? Merlin came up with no matches, and I haven't been able to find
> anything in the CO field guides. The snipe has a similar beak but the
> markings and coloring are quite different.
>
> Apologies for the bad cell phone photo.
>
> [image: 1000012459.jpg]
> [image: 1000012460.jpg]
>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<646ebc18-382e-406a-a798-9bffdd91cbd8n...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<646ebc18-382e-406a-a798-9bffdd91cbd8n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6Roqv49v%<3Dmg9jHy7G0px0xpvNCR_ZNFtDPUaCcUMZMrCUAA...>
Date: 6/10/26 9:58 am From: Amanda Dodson <amandaksdodson...> Subject: [cobirds] Need identification help for bird seen on Manitou Lake near Deckers
I saw a duck I'd never seen before on Manitou Lake yesterday. It was smaller, maybe crow sized. Black and white wings with an orangey-tan wash over the head. Its eye ring and the skin around its bill was nearly pale blue in hue. Its beak was dark and very long, like a snipe.
I never observed it diving or feeding, though I did see it do quick bobs of its head often. There was only one.
Any ideas? Merlin came up with no matches, and I haven't been able to find anything in the CO field guides. The snipe has a similar beak but the markings and coloring are quite different.
Apologies for the bad cell phone photo.
[image: 1000012459.jpg] [image: 1000012460.jpg]
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<646ebc18-382e-406a-a798-9bffdd91cbd8n...>
Date: 6/10/26 9:12 am From: John Rawinski <johnrawinski0...> Subject: [cobirds] Chama Basin Hotspot
I am proposing the Chama Basin Trailhead as a birding hotspot. It is in Archuleta County and It is a fantastic place for Swainsons Thrush, Fox Sparrow, Lincolns Sparrow, Dipper and Sora. It is on Rio GRande National Forest lands so camping permitted in dispersed campsites. Yesterday it even produced a rare to these parts White-eyed Vireo. San Luis Valley only has 6 observations of the white-eyed vireo so far as I know. Check it out sometime. My friend Jake and I ended the morning with 37 species. Fully exciting morning.
John Rawinski Monte Vista, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<adfddbc2-0266-4ad5-a204-f2c5f6e7c2dbn...>
Date: 6/9/26 3:25 pm From: Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyhockfarms...> Subject: [cobirds] Fw: Ospreys and cliff swallows
It is mid June now and the ospreys are still working on building their nest. At times, the female is actually in the nest like she is sitting on eggs, but I don't think she actually is.
Cliff swallows have taken over the underside of the pier at Highland Lake. I have no idea how many there are, but it looks to be well over 100 maybe more. This is the first time I've been able to see Cliff swallow Nests Up this close. Looks like our mosquito population is going to take a hit this year. I do have a few barn swallows in my outbuildings, But not in the numbers, I'm used to seeing.
Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<PH7PR20MB4963F3D80FC723A64458A10DDF1D2...>
Date: 6/7/26 3:51 pm From: Jim Esten <jcesten...> Subject: [cobirds] White-winged Dove
Just saw it in my backyard feeder in Denver at Arkansas and Steele. Jim Esten, Denver, CO [image: White-winged Dove_00126.jpg]
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<fafc70f0-5b70-4132-84fe-13426f25dbb1n...>
Date: 6/7/26 12:19 pm From: Paula Hansley <plhansley...> Subject: [cobirds] Pine Siskins, Red Crossbills…and Bill Kaempfer, Boulder County
Birders,
This is a great time of year to look at birds, flowers, and butterflies
along the Meyers Homestead Trail in Walker Ranch Open Space; however, my
best sighting early this morning was of Bill Kaempfer! Those of you who
are old timers, like me, will remember Bill— one of the best birders
Colorado has ever seen. Bill now resides in Florida.
Bill says “hello” to everyone. Unfortunately, we (Todd Deininger, John
Vanderpoel, and I) were unable to find a Hammond’s Flycatcher for Bill
along the trail. Perhaps, he found one elsewhere.
This area is as dry as I’ve ever seen it with very few flowers or
butterflies. I was happy to find a flock of Pine Siskins and a flock of
Red Crossbills ( not sure if type, but I will include a recording with my
checklist).
Paula Hansley
Louisville
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAHmCQtbBNekrK-MCfWbVdr8SPUs%2B2SFj%2BZ5cf_wg%<2BqW5ERjCHQ...>
Date: 6/7/26 9:33 am From: Luke Pheneger <phenegerluke...> Subject: [cobirds] The year of the Kentucky Warbler
Hi all,
Did you find yourself noticing Kentucky Warblers on Colorado rare bird
alerts more often this spring? Compared to most years, the species seems to
have had a remarkable showing statewide. This spring migration, there were
9(!) Kentucky Warblers found in 8 different counties, with 3 representing
first county records.
I made a list of the total number of observations for every warbler species
(and vireo) recorded in Colorado (see the bottom of this post). This is
just a quick list of total eBird observations which does not count for
inflated numbers and how easily chase-able certain records may have been.
However; its impreciseness still provides a useful way to group species
into broad rarity “tiers.” As you can see, Kentucky Warbler currently sits
near the bottom of the list and is one of the rarest eastern warblers
recorded in the state, numerically falling between Louisiana Waterthrush
and Prairie Warbler. This year however, there have been more individual
Kentucky Warblers in the state than Bay-Breasted, Blue-Winged, and
Worm-Eating Combined. In fact, Colorado did not have a single confirmed
Kentucky Warbler sighting in all of 2024 and 2025, and between 2020 and
2023 Colorado only had 9 total confirmed sightings.
This post is mainly to cast light on this event and is not meant to be
investigative, but I will point out that this was not a particularly
eventful spring migration for some other South Eastern United States
breeding warblers such as Hooded (Brandon Percival exemption), Worm Eating,
Prothonotary, and Prairie. This however, was an extraordinary year for
Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, and White Eyed Vireo, so I’d go out
on a limb to suspect there is some connection on that end. The number of
observations of Louisiana Waterthrush is particularly over inflated due to
two individuals being very easily chaseable within two heavily populated
areas, but three in one year in our state is still exceptional.
I didn’t conduct any formal statistical analysis to determine whether these
other warblers had a particularly good or bad migration this year. I’m
mostly going off my own field experience and nightly scans of the rare bird
alert, so I am excited to hear about the field experiences from other
birders. Personally, I was lucky enough to see three Kentucky Warblers this
spring, one of which was thanks to Dan Z and Leslie S in Boulder County. I
had seen 2 total in Colorado before that.
Whatever the reason for this year’s influx, it was certainly fun, and I’m
grateful to have gotten to bear witness to a fraction of it. Moments like
this are a reminder that no matter how long you’ve been birding, migration
is still full of surprises.
Number of ebird Observations in Colorado:
Warblers:
Yellow-rumped Warbler — 196,600
Yellow Warbler — 190,000
Wilson’s Warbler — 67,900
Common Yellowthroat: 56,300
Orange Crowned Warbler-48,500
Macgilivrays Warbler- 31,800
Virginia’s Warbler — 25,000
Townsends Warbler: 8341
Black-throated Gray Warbler — 8436
American Redstart — 6657
Northern Waterthrush — 5578
Ovenbird — 4807
Northern Parula — 3175
Grace’s Warbler — 2776
Nashville Warbler — 2511
Black-and-white Warbler — 2,085
Blackpoll Warbler — 1800
Chestnut-sided Warbler — 1613
Tennessee Warbler — 1451
Hooded Warbler — 1373
Palm Warbler: 1231
Black-throated Blue Warbler — 1163
Magnolia Warbler — 1004
Yellow-throated Warbler — 969
Pine Warbler- 885
Lucy’s Warbler- 693
Blue Winged Warbler- 486
Golden Winged Warbler- 476
Blackburnian Warbler — 428
Black-throated Green Warbler — 420
Cape May Warbler: 404
Bay-breasted Warbler — 403
Worm-eating Warbler — 334
Mourning Warbler — 318
Prairie Warbler: 301
Kentucky Warbler — 291
Louisiana Waterthrush — 267
Canada Warbler — 203
Hermit Warbler — 101
Golden-crowned Warbler — 92
Painted Redstart: 73
Swainson’s Warbler — 28
Connecticut Warbler: 26
Tropical Parula — 14
Cerulean Warbler — 7
Red-faced Warbler — 5
Vireos
Western Warbling Vireo — 65,500
Plumbeous Vireo — 32,200
Red Eyed Vireo: 4,678
Cassin’s Vireo — 3,239
Gray Vireo-3018
Eastern Warbling Vireo — 2,360
Bell’s Vireo- 1042
White-eyed Vireo — 889
Yellow-throated Vireo — 720
Philadelphia Vireo — 364
Blue-headed Vireo — 265
Yellow-green Vireo — 1
Photo by Brian Genge:
Kentucky Warbler in Lincoln County
Good birding,
Luke Pheneger
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CALhMPZeJFCOMs9-Vo133W%<3Dv5HrtxwKAj4-TwY7adfTx4PeYW3w...>
Date: 6/6/26 10:57 am From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 6, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Last Day of spring banding at Chico Basin Ranch! Sad day to be ending but the birds said we are pretty much done migrating and taking up our breeding responsibilities. We will return in late August to catch the birds on their southern trip to the wintering grounds.
*10 New Banded Birds* Swainson's Thrush- 1 House Finch- 2 Ladder-backed woodpecker-1 Orchard Oriole- 1 Blue Grosbeak- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 1 Northern Mockingbird- 2 American Robin- 1
*1 Recapture* Yellow Warbler
Hope t see you all in the fall. Thanks again to the many volunteers who helped with the project. Thanks to Flying Diamond for their hospitality and patience when birders got lost on the ranch... We hope to have better signage to lessen folks getting lost.
Have a good summer!
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<709671dc-55e5-423f-9352-19b5ab2db471n...>
Date: 6/6/26 5:37 am From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: [cobirds] Laughing Gull at Russell Lakes SWA, Saguache County on June 5
An alternate-plumaged adult Laughing Gull was at Johnson Lake in Russell Lakes SWA, Saguache County last evening. It was with a small party of Franklin's Gulls, flying around and resting on the lake. It is missing one or two inner primaries on the left wing. Johnson is the lake east of the parking lot located along Hwy 285. eBird has three prior records in the San Luis Valley: Sept 2012, May 2016, and Sept 2022 - all single day reports.
David Suddjian 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 <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6Roqu2Dy%<3DFoU_YFRcERYMqQJrVv6fU1zEEZYWeVZ3_w2TMQ...>
Date: 6/5/26 12:33 pm From: 'Dan Stringer' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Kite Behavior Otero County
On April 2nd Michael Kiessig I and were observing Black Terns at Holbrook
Reservoir, when he found a Mississippi Kite over the water, foraging in the
same manner as the terns. Cruising low and catching tiny insects, moving
fast, kind of erratic yet graceful…like a Black Tern (which I see feeding
on small insects much more often than small fish). It even appeared able to
skim the surface, once dipping a wingtip in the water as it turned sideways
and shot back up in the air.
This was the first time I’d seen a kite working so low. In my previous
observations of them feeding, they were soaring and gliding fairly high to
very high, where their food source was.
This day was light rain, misty all morning, a bit of fog. It made me wonder
if those weather conditions simply prevented the small bugs from being
higher in the air, instead almost at ground level / water level. Or if the
preferred hatch of the moment was an aquatic insect that emerges and never
goes up very far in the air.
This one-off, low-down sighting was a bit surprising to me, and very fun to
watch.
Dan Stringer
Larkspur, 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...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<a8332b5e-f068-4c90-867b-045280800216n...>
Date: 6/5/26 11:52 am From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 5, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
A straggler Swainson's Thrush appeared in the net this morning. The other birds we caught today were breeding birds. We did catch a couple returning Yellow Warblers and Northern House Wren. Might as well gather some info on the breeding birds if I am here. *7 New Banded Birds* Western Wood-Pewee- 1 Swainson's Thrush- 1 Lark Sparrow- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 3 American Robin- 1
*3 Returning birds banded another season* Northern House Wren- At least 4 years old- banded as an adult last spring Yellow Warbler- 2- male and female- banded last spring as second-year birds= each 3 years old
Thanks again to all the volunteers who made this season operate smoothly. Thanks also to the fellow birders who shared information about birds and their natural history. Tomorrow is the last day of spring banding. The Aiken Audubon Site says there is a waiting list for anyone to visit the ranch tomorrow. Guess someone thinks it is going to be a big bird day! Or just want to visit the last day before fall season. :)
Have a good day and all the best for a good summer!
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<9e2b6041-6866-483d-be4d-cc13e1c39a07n...>
Date: 6/5/26 11:31 am From: 'Joey Kellner' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Cactus Wren location is Private Property
Just a quick note to remind birders to stay on the county roads in Otero and Las Animas counties near the current location of the Cactus Wren. As soon as birders get off of Hwy 109 onto Otero County Road E there are signs about the area being private property. PLEASE stay on the roads when you are birding the area (driving, walking, etc.). We don't want issues with land owners, ranch managers and county sheriffs.
Thank you, considerate birders! :-)
Joey.
Joey Kellner Littleton, Colorado
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<ac50fac8-c850-4adb-88f6-fbc82e1a0200n...>
Date: 6/4/26 4:56 pm From: Chris H <chobbs.f1...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Chestnut Sided Warbler Costilla
Female, I presume?
Chris Hobbs
Lenexa KS
<chobbs.f1...>
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <cobirds...> <cobirds...> on behalf of Luke Pheneger <phenegerluke...>
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2026 5:42:46 PM
To: Colorado Birds <Cobirds...>
Subject: [cobirds] Chestnut Sided Warbler Costilla
Hi all,
Yesterday, Jeff, Jeina Livingston, and I had a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Rito Seco Park in Costilla County. The exact pin was here (37.2533571, -105.3312214). This is a first eBird record for the county. I looked for the bird a bit this morning but could not refind it. That said, I think the area is well worth additional coverage, both for the Chestnut-sided Warbler and other late migrants. The site could be somewhat of a “breeder trap”, with a dense willowy oasis bordering a diverse conifer forest.
Also present at the park was a calling Swainson’s Thrush, which represented just the fourth eBird record for the county. Costilla gets very little eBird coverage away from Smith Reservoir, so species that breed locally but aren’t common in the valley are often underrepresented there. For example, last year Sean Huntley, Archer Silverman, and I had Flammulated Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Long Eared Owl, and Northern Pygmy-Owl along a single road, all of which had less than 3 eBird records at the time. I bring this up not to brag, but to illustrate just how much of the county remains underbirded. If you’re looking to contribute eBird data to a region of the state that truly lacks coverage, consider exploring Costilla.
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR01MB535664F146F7E1960CC5DA04FC102...>
Yesterday, Jeff, Jeina Livingston, and I had a Chestnut-sided Warbler at
Rito Seco Park in Costilla County. The exact pin was here (37.2533571,
-105.3312214). This is a first eBird record for the county. I looked for
the bird a bit this morning but could not refind it. That said, I think the
area is well worth additional coverage, both for the Chestnut-sided Warbler
and other late migrants. The site could be somewhat of a “breeder trap”,
with a dense willowy oasis bordering a diverse conifer forest.
Also present at the park was a calling Swainson’s Thrush, which represented
just the fourth eBird record for the county. Costilla gets very little
eBird coverage away from Smith Reservoir, so species that breed locally but
aren’t common in the valley are often underrepresented there. For example,
last year Sean Huntley, Archer Silverman, and I had Flammulated Owl,
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Long Eared Owl, and Northern Pygmy-Owl along a
single road, all of which had less than 3 eBird records at the time. I
bring this up not to brag, but to illustrate just how much of the county
remains underbirded. If you’re looking to contribute eBird data to a region
of the state that truly lacks coverage, consider exploring Costilla.
Luke Pheneger
Longmont
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CALhMPZc05V7bbUoE8V1u95B8NfSw9cdidK0rH6S4HNpa%<2BxxSiQ...>
Date: 6/4/26 11:59 am From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 4, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
It appears that spring migration is pretty much over. There is a few stragglers still around. The Prothonotary Warbler was viewed at Headquarters Willows this morning but was observed flying north around 11 AM. So maybe it will hang out on the ranch or it has better things to do? It was a beautiful morning at the banding station even if there was few birds around. Not even a lot of breeding bird singing happening today. The female Common Yellowthroat was not hanging around. She was a fat bird. She was still in migration mode. *4 New Banded Birds * Common Yellowthroat- 1 American Goldfinch- 1 House Finch- 2 Hatching year birds
*No Recaptures*
The banding station will be open tomorrow and Saturday from sunrise until @ 11AM. Saturday is the last day for the season. MANY THANKS to the volunteers putting in time to assist with the spring season. Thank you very much! If interested in visiting the ranch these next couple days, Please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com
Have a good day!
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<22504694-10e6-4430-88e8-d7f71633ea67n...>
Date: 6/4/26 6:06 am From: Megan Jones Patterson <mtns4meg...> Subject: [cobirds] Contact Info for Mike Carter, CBO founder & early director
Hi. I'm trying to get in contact with Mike Carter, the founder of Colorado Bird Observatory (now Bird Conservancy of the Rockies) regarding collaboration between CBO and banders at the Lykins Gulch/Allegra Collister Nature Preserve banding station in the early 1990s.
If anyone has current contact information for Mike, I would appreciate it if you could pass my message along or let me know how to contact Mike. I was given an @pljv.org email but a message to that email bounced.
If you write me back, please *don't **reply all* to the whole group. I wouldn't want Mike's information shared with everybody on this list.
Thank you, Megan
--- Megan Jones Patterson Boulder County, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAEmXnKHj%2BDt8vyEu20Q78zb6Z2%2B7qThi5%<2B7G_7xWcotudi5rCA...>
Date: 6/3/26 12:12 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 3, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Since it is the tail end of bird migration, I am not expecting any numbers. There has been some migrants still coming through. Northern Parula was singing when putting the nets up today. A Magnolia and Prothonotary Warbler were observed and photographed by birders at Headquarters little pond this morning. The nets are still catching Swainson's Thrushes. What will tomorrow look like? Hopefully, we can reach double digits. *7 New Banded Birds* Western Kingbird- 1 Swainson's Thrush- 2 Orchard Oriole- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 1 Blue Grosbeak- 1 American Robin- 1
*4 Breeding Bird Recaptures* Bullock's Oriole- 3 Blue Grosbeak- 1
The banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from sunrise until @ 11AM. Remember if wanting to visit the ranch, please register on the Aiken Audubon website. www.aikenaudubon.com Have a good day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<87c70d89-c7bb-4dbf-babb-50f056d434e5n...>
Date: 6/2/26 12:05 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 2, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Well, you sure cannot depend on the weather forecast here. This morning was a bit cooler than predicted but we caught more birds than yesterday. A couple new species for the season include: White-eyed Vireo and Curve-billed Thrasher. Not sure what the thrasher was doing near the nets; however, a nice bird to see.
*3 Recaptures-breeding species* American Robin Yellow Warbler Bullock's Oriole
Birds are in full breeding and still a few migrants trickling through. Birder's have observed Ladder-backed Woodpecker, American Robin, House Finch families on the ranch. If wanting to visit the ranch this week, please register online at the Aiken Audubon website www.aikenaudubon.com
The banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from sunrise until @ 11AM. Please stop by to share our sightings.
Have a good day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<3e6a1c6a-c396-45f8-b558-756368b88d01n...>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6RoqNF%2BU024mGhV4fQttPu9nxE_2%3Dqshe%<2B7fCzfd60taJHw...>
Date: 6/2/26 8:10 am From: Evon Holladay <eholladay303...> Subject: [cobirds] Need identification help - from RMNP
We were in Estes Park/RMNP for the big snow storm the week of May 4. We spotted this little one foraging along the road.
Any ideas? It clearly has a black stripe around the neck.
-- EH
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CALKBwpN6hSMzub3cHe4d21c4BubSbU8Pj8RqKEEJjx39zz2jAA...>
Date: 6/1/26 5:28 pm From: David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> Subject: [cobirds] Inaccessible birding opportunity at Antero Reservoir in Park County
Antero is now closed to general access as it is being de-watered to move the water supply to a downstream reservoir with less evaporation. I viewed it with a scope today from at least two miles away at Buffalo Creek Reservoir. It is perhaps 50% de-watered now, and the South Fork of the South Platte is flooding its banks downstream of the reservoir with the discharge of water. Due to the distance and heat shimmer it was hard to be sure of any IDs except for Am. White Pelicans, apparent cormorants and generic flying gulls (no doubt most or nearly all California Gulls). There were thousands of birds there! Blurry blobs in the scope, and no doubt many little ones I could not discern at all. I estimated about 600-700 pelicans, and maybe 2000 gulls, and lots and lots of other birds, too. There are huge expanses of shallowing water and mud flats, and presumably many fish and other life available for the birds. It would be awesome to get in there to see what is there! I'm wondering if the Snowy Plovers that breed there are able to nest this year with these changes. I hope so. But scads of other birds are reaping the bounty for now.
The rookery at Eleven Mile Reservoir (California Gulls, Am. White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants) is going strong. Birds nesting there fly to Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Antero to forage.
David Suddjian 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 <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CAGj6RorxuV83dQGKKF_0D3es8y3fnymsLJj9Da9pappOmQLAtQ...>
Date: 6/1/26 11:59 am From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, June 1, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Happy June! Migration is winding down; but there are still some flycatchers, Lincoln's Sparrows, and Swainson's Thrushes that are trickling through. All recaptures were breeding birds and maintained or lost a little weight from banding time. Breeding birds will be burning the energy they eat during nesting season.
*12 New Banded Birds* Common Yellowthroat- 1 Western Wood-Pewee- 1 Willow Flycatcher-1 Alder Flycatcher- 1 Northern House Wren- 1 House Finch- 2 Lincoln's Sparrow- 1 Swainson's Thrush- 2 Northern Mockingbird- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 1
*5 Recaptures* Western Wood-pewee- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 4
The Banding Station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from Sunrise until @ 11AM. Please register on the Aiken Audubon website if interested in visiting the ranch. www.aikenaudubon.com
Enjoy the Day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<a7af9aaa-4789-466b-96ec-a9ec6d3c3348n...>
Date: 6/1/26 10:56 am From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-31-26
We had nice weather, an interesting mix of birds, and very enthusiastic visitors for our final day of the spring 2026 season.
Among our 17 species (including all birds caught - banded today, banded in some prior year, and banded earlier this season), we got two first of season and relatively rare for us species (Plumbeous Vireo and Black-headed Grosbeak).
We also caught another old Yellow Warbler (banded as an adult male in 2021 and caught every year since). That gives us 3 old Yellows for the season - 2 males that would have hatched in 2019 or before and a female that would have hatched in 2015 or before.
Here's the breakdown of the 17 banded today and the 5 new returns:
Downy Woodpecker 1, banded 2024 Western Wood-pewee 1 Western Flycatcher 1 Plumbeous Vireo 2 Swainson's Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 3 new, 1 banded 2023 Yellow Warbler 4 new, 1 banded 2021 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 new, 1 banded 2024 Song Sparrow 1 new, 1 banded 2025 (these were 2 males in breeding condition, caught at the same time in the same net, and almost chasing each other along the trammel) Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Done at Chatfield for spring 2026! Watch for info about banding at Chatfield this fall, as well as fall at Barr Lake (where we will be back at our regular site after two years in a temporary location due to dam repair).
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<af70f2bb-40ba-430f-8dc9-1fc632757cacn...>
Date: 6/1/26 9:43 am From: Jamie <ironekilz...> Subject: [cobirds] Nick Komar Book Signing and Reading
Front Range Birding & Optics is pleased to host birding rockstar Nick Komar for a reading and signing of his new book The Biggest Year in American Birding: A Quest to Find 900 Birds in the USA and its Territories at both of our stores today, June 1st.
Littleton: 11am to 1pm 10146 W. San Juan Way Unit 110 Call 303-979-2473 to register Boulder: 3pm to 5pm 2425 Canyon Blvd Suite B Call 303-979-2475 to register
-- --Jamie Simo Manager Front Range Birding & Optics
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAL9cgtyCesZNCAq8y_16KUbkL4V6mfHD81m%<3DJauTqN6xgSfi_w...>
Date: 5/30/26 5:41 pm From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-30-26
A warm, slow morning for our next to last day of the season. Here are our 12 new birds:
Western Flycatcher 1 Gray Catbird 1 Yellow Warbler 5 American Redstart 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Cedar Waxwing 2 (the stars of today's show!)
We will take the station down after banding tomorrow!
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<c5681596-7bbc-4037-bf77-e1719e68bd4en...>
All spring we have not caught much quantity but we have been fortunate that we have caught some quality birds. Today was no exception and of course the highlight bird decided to be caught the last net check. What a surprise when I saw there was a female Painted Bunting that came out of the net. I was not the person who extracted it so I only saw it when it came out of the transport bag to be banded. I could not believe it but nothing else looks that color green of a female Painted Bunting.
A couple Swainson's Thrushes, Wilson's Warbler, and three female Orchard Orioles were the most identified migrants of the day. The Northern Parula was still singing near the goats this morning as well as the Red-headed Woodpecker came and went a couple times near the banding station during the morning.
*13 New Banded Birds* Wilson's Warbler- 1 American Goldfinch- 1 Lazuli Bunting- 1 Painted Bunting- 1 House Finch- 1 Blue Grosbeak- 1 Orchard Oriole- 3 Ash-throated Flycatcher- 1 Canyon Towhee- 1 Swainson's Thrush- 2
*1 Recapture* Bullock's Oriole
*1 Return- banded as an adult in 2025* Blue Grosbeak- She is at least 4 Years old
The banding station will be closed tomorrow but will reopen Monday at sunrise until @11AM. If wanting to bird/visit the ranch tomorrow or next week, please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com
Have a good weekend and see you Monday!
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<477cf78b-4332-42a8-a0e4-90d57d8ecbban...>
Date: 5/29/26 4:59 pm From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-29-26
Another day when the birds were out and about early and then took a nap as it heated up. Probably our warmest day this season. Only banded 17 birds, but caught another 15 that we had already caught this season, so we had plenty of birds for our visitor groups.
Here are the 17 new:
Western Wood-pewee 3 Western Flycatcher 3 Least Flycatcher 1 Warbling Vireo, Western by measurements 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 1 Yellow Warbler 2 American Redstart 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Two more days!
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<fc501724-efe8-4af2-828c-9c0ae1e2ef2fn...>
Date: 5/29/26 12:24 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 29, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
With low cloud cover this morning, the birds seemed not to drop into the woods. I realize it should be more breeding birds than migrants. however, we had not caught many female MacGillivray's and today we still are catching new Bullock's Orioles. Not many birds were banded today but the highlight was a returning Bullock's Oriole male which was banded as an adult male in May 2023. This makes this bird at least 6 years old and still breeding! Bullock's Orioles winter in Mexico and northern Central America. further support for conservation efforts on the breeding grounds as most birds return to their original nesting/hatching area. *12 New Banded Birds* American Redstart- 1 Yellow Warbler- 1 Western Flycatcher- 1 Western Wood-Pewee- 2 Lesser Goldfinch- 1 Bullock's Oriole- 4 Canyon Towhee- 1 Lark Sparrow- 1
*2 Recaptures* Orchard Oriole- 2 males chasing each other and were caught in the net
*1 return* Bullock's Oriole- at least 6 years old.
The banding station will be open tomorrow at sunrise until @ 11 AM. If wanting to bird/visit the ranch, please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<b5f05ecd-a03d-43cb-81a5-fb415f3e1965n...>
Date: 5/29/26 9:37 am From: John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Myers Gulch Tour coming up Saturday
Maggie:
I still need confirmation on whether you and your friends are
coming on this outing. Please reply back. Thanks,
John T
On Fri, May 29, 2026 at 6:49 AM John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> wrote:
> My spelling is bad: it's Meyer's Gulch \ Walker Ranch Trail. (Thanks
> Paula). Note: this is filling up pretty fast. Will need responses to
> individual email, before 8 p.m. Friday.
>
> Happy birding,
> John T
>
> On Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 3:50:32 PM UTC-6 John Tumasonis wrote:
>
>> All:
>> Another free birding and nature tour coming up this *Saturday
>> May 30th, at Myers Gulch County Open Space, west of Boulder. *
>>
>> We will hike a portion of the Myers Gulch Trail to see foothills birds
>> and identify edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants and wildflowers.
>> Expect to see green tailed towhees, vesper sparrows, bluebirds, violet
>> green swallows, raptors, ravens, tanagers, and other mountain birds, as
>> well as butterflies and pollinators. This area is "mammal rich" with
>> coyotes, mule deer, fox, pocket gophers, and the occasional moose and black
>> bear.
>>
>> Limit to 12 people. Do NOT respond to this group email. Rather -
>> response to me directly if you want to be on this tour. I will respond
>> with times and meeting place, and what to expect.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> John T (Tumasonis)
>>
> --
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Colorado Birds" group.
> To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds > * 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/membership/ > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the
> Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/cobirds/EOMBeJEFMao/unsubscribe.
> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to
> cobirds+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<64990413-6b87-4f9e-931b-49908857221an...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<64990413-6b87-4f9e-931b-49908857221an...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAKeGch3f%2BsQVKGFNtRUY%2Brcx3j2mPQCVEbTnd%<2BPHjR0ApeyHJg...>
Date: 5/29/26 8:29 am From: Thomas Johnson <johnsthotrnstn...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Magnolia Warbler, CSR , El Paso Co, Thursday
I just want to agree with Diane that your posts and your banding have been
great to read about. Candice and Tim Johnson
On Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 2:13:04 PM UTC-6 Steven Brown wrote:
> Hey COBirders,
>
> I, too, tried banding in the drizzle Wednesday at Clear Spring Ranch -
> hoping for some sort of fallout, but it remained pretty quiet - and only 12
> birds were banded.
>
> Today the site was sloppy wet, but there were more birds, both migrants
> and local nesters.
>
> Highlight was a SY M *Magnolia Warbler* - my second this season. Very
> petite, very cute.
>
> Also larger birds were banded today - for a total of 26 today - my best
> day this week. 750 for the season.
>
> Including:
> Blue Grosbeak, 4 (2 Ad M, 1 SY M, 1 Ad F) - BLGR’s just arrived this week.
> W Tanager, Ad F
> Bullock’s Oriole - Ad M
> Swainson’s Thrush, Ad
> Black-headed Grosbeak, Ad F
> Brown Thrasher - SY (second year)
> Lazuli Bunting, Ad F
>
> Western Wood Pewee, 2 Ad, along with two yesterday - they just arrived
> Tuesday!
> MacGillivray’s Warbler 2, SY F’s
> and 3 Yellow Warblers, 1 Ad M, 2 SY F’s.
>
> Friday is my last day at CSR banding…. really. It is getting to be too
> much for my aged knees, so I am letting it go.
> Many thanks to those who shared supportive messages over the last 15
> seasons. It has been way too much fun.
> Last I looked I had banded about 33,000 birds at Clear Spring Ranch since
> 2012. Lotsa Chipping Sparrows!!!
>
> Thanks, and Happy Migration!
>
> Steve Brown
> Colo Spgs
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<62ee1ecc-b60c-4980-9b86-1546411ed2efn...>
Date: 5/29/26 5:49 am From: John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: Myers Gulch Tour coming up Saturday
My spelling is bad: it's Meyer's Gulch \ Walker Ranch Trail. (Thanks
Paula). Note: this is filling up pretty fast. Will need responses to
individual email, before 8 p.m. Friday.
Happy birding,
John T
On Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 3:50:32 PM UTC-6 John Tumasonis wrote:
> All:
> Another free birding and nature tour coming up this *Saturday May
> 30th, at Myers Gulch County Open Space, west of Boulder. *
>
> We will hike a portion of the Myers Gulch Trail to see foothills birds and
> identify edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants and wildflowers. Expect
> to see green tailed towhees, vesper sparrows, bluebirds, violet green
> swallows, raptors, ravens, tanagers, and other mountain birds, as well as
> butterflies and pollinators. This area is "mammal rich" with coyotes, mule
> deer, fox, pocket gophers, and the occasional moose and black bear.
>
> Limit to 12 people. Do NOT respond to this group email. Rather -
> response to me directly if you want to be on this tour. I will respond
> with times and meeting place, and what to expect.
>
> Thanks,
> John T (Tumasonis)
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<64990413-6b87-4f9e-931b-49908857221an...>
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<64cae2a2-1f05-4537-be37-73d0d871f5a3n...>
Date: 5/28/26 2:50 pm From: John Tumasonis <snakemonev...> Subject: [cobirds] Myers Gulch Tour coming up Saturday
All: Another free birding and nature tour coming up this *Saturday May 30th, at Myers Gulch County Open Space, west of Boulder. *
We will hike a portion of the Myers Gulch Trail to see foothills birds and identify edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants and wildflowers. Expect to see green tailed towhees, vesper sparrows, bluebirds, violet green swallows, raptors, ravens, tanagers, and other mountain birds, as well as butterflies and pollinators. This area is "mammal rich" with coyotes, mule deer, fox, pocket gophers, and the occasional moose and black bear.
Limit to 12 people. Do NOT respond to this group email. Rather - response to me directly if you want to be on this tour. I will respond with times and meeting place, and what to expect.
Thanks, John T (Tumasonis)
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<dd8b6d04-411b-4eef-888b-0e7aac33e95cn...>
Date: 5/28/26 2:11 pm From: Jared Del Rosso <jared.delrosso...> Subject: [cobirds] Prosaic sightings (Broad-tailed Hummer & Common Nighthawk) - Arapahoe
In my west Centennial yard, male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds have been trilling about, particularly in the early evening, dusky light, around several blooming penstemons (Penstemon eatonii & P. clutei) and just-now-starting-to-bloom Salvia greggii and Scrophularia macrantha ("Red Birds in a Tree"). The lateness of their visits, which extend well past sunset, has surprised me a little. It's fun to watch them around plants, which they seem to much prefer to the feeders in my backyard.
On Tuesday (5/26), I had my first Common Nighthawk sighting. Right on schedule, but it was the nature of the sighting that surprised me: a silent and low bird, barely over the tree line, flew over my home near the end of dusk. Given its low flight, it seemed to emerge out of the neighborhood. More typical at this time of year are the higher migratory flights, with calls, usually a little earlier in the evening.
- Jared Del Rosso Centennial, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<58abfd22-5ba8-40ce-aba6-ecccab02b1cfn...>
Date: 5/28/26 1:13 pm From: Steven Brown <sbrown37...> Subject: [cobirds] Magnolia Warbler, CSR , El Paso Co, Thursday
Hey COBirders,
I, too, tried banding in the drizzle Wednesday at Clear Spring Ranch - hoping for some sort of fallout, but it remained pretty quiet - and only 12 birds were banded.
Today the site was sloppy wet, but there were more birds, both migrants and local nesters.
Highlight was a SY M Magnolia Warbler - my second this season. Very petite, very cute.
Also larger birds were banded today - for a total of 26 today - my best day this week. 750 for the season.
Including:
Blue Grosbeak, 4 (2 Ad M, 1 SY M, 1 Ad F) - BLGR’s just arrived this week.
W Tanager, Ad F
Bullock’s Oriole - Ad M
Swainson’s Thrush, Ad
Black-headed Grosbeak, Ad F
Brown Thrasher - SY (second year)
Lazuli Bunting, Ad F
Western Wood Pewee, 2 Ad, along with two yesterday - they just arrived Tuesday!
MacGillivray’s Warbler 2, SY F’s
and 3 Yellow Warblers, 1 Ad M, 2 SY F’s.
Friday is my last day at CSR banding…. really. It is getting to be too much for my aged knees, so I am letting it go.
Many thanks to those who shared supportive messages over the last 15 seasons. It has been way too much fun.
Last I looked I had banded about 33,000 birds at Clear Spring Ranch since 2012. Lotsa Chipping Sparrows!!!
Thanks, and Happy Migration!
Steve Brown
Colo Spgs
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<8CD590E0-E4A8-4E96-B577-215779160B0B...>
Date: 5/28/26 12:37 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 28, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Yesterday was a drizzly, rainy day for Chico Basin Ranch. Rain was needed and appreciated for the grass and plants to grow. Plants are a necessary part of the ecosystem. Birds need plants. Habitat is so important for everything to exist.
With the low heavy clouds this morning not many birds were dropping into the woods. Once the sun peaked out just before 11AM; birds were chasing each other like crazy. Bullock's Orioles in particular with males chasing males and males chasing females. We did capture a first for the season: a male Ladderback Woodpecker. They occasionally fly low enough to get caught in our nets. Swainson's Thrushes were scarce and one MacGillivray's Warbler was singing around the nets. An adult American Redstart was spotted in the area of the nets. *19 New Banded Birds* MacGillivray's Warbler- 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler (MyrtleXAudubon)- 1 Western Flycatcher- 1 Western Wood-Pewee- 4 Willow Flycatcher- 1 American Goldfinch- 1 Lesser Goldfinch- 2 Lincoln's Sparrow- 2 Swainson's Thrush- 1 Bullock's Oriole-1 Common Grackle- 1 Ladderback Woodpecker- 1
*8 Recaptures* Lazuli Bunting MacGillivray's Warbler Bullock's Oriole- 6 (These birds have lost weight/fat from their original banding because they are expending energy chasing each other and preparing for nesting).
The Banding Station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from Sunrise until @ 11AM. Please register on the Aiken Audubon website if you are interested in birding/visiting the ranch. www.aikenaudubon.com
Enjoy the Day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<c46035ce-a34e-4f0f-beb6-221f521d04f9n...>
Date: 5/28/26 6:32 am From: Chris Selvig <mrselvig...> Subject: [cobirds] Hooded Warbler, Colorado Springs
I’ve had an adult male Hooded Warbler in Shooks Run Park the last two mornings. He’s been in the riparian growth along the creek to the north of the intersection of Willamette and El Paso, singing actively.
Chris Selvig
Colorado Springs
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<0BCA8928-3E6D-493E-9F12-AFC2AB142DF0...>
Date: 5/27/26 6:20 pm From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-27-26
We had a busy first hour as the birds dashed about before the drizzle started. We were able to open again a couple of hours later but the birds weren't nearly as active. So, a modest but nice day.
Most exciting bird was a Yellow Warbler, historically our most often caught species. Those of you who have visited the station know we pretty carefully track the return of these beautiful birds. Today we caught a female that we had banded as an adult in 2017, so she hatched in 2015 or before. She just joined our longevity hall of fame!
Here's the breakdown of today's 20 new and 3 returns:
Western Wood-pewee 7 Black-capped Chickadee 1, banded 2025 Northern House Wren 1, banded 2023 Swainson's Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 3 Yellow Warbler 6 new, 1 return (see above) Wilson's Warbler 1 Western Tanager 1 Song Sparrow 1
We are banding Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) through May 31, weather permitting. There are opportunities for the public to visit on weekends and early mornings most weekdays. Reservations are required and can be made through the Denver Audubon website <https://www.denveraudubon.org/calendar>. (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<c2681bb4-a6bb-4039-8a90-dcb00ac6d35an...>
Date: 5/27/26 3:01 pm From: Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyhockfarms...> Subject: [cobirds] Clark's Grebe Weld County
There is a lone Clarks Grebe near the south shore of Highland Lake, across from my house this afternoon. I haven't seen one in years. We always see the Western Grebes, and both used to breed and nest here, but not in the past few years. A few Western Grebes went through a few weeks ago but didn't stay.
Pauli Smith
Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County, 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...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<PH7PR20MB4963C4E7F0BA84C33358CE41DF082...>
Date: 5/27/26 11:18 am From: 'Buzz Schaumberg' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] recent posts to COBIRDS
Dave-
i love getting all of your email's about birds and their food. I'd rather get duplicates than miss any.
Sent from AOL Desktop Buzz Schaumbergcell: 303.478.4641In a message dated 5/17/2026 3:28:05 PM Mountain Daylight Time, <daleatherman...> writes:
I spent about 4 hours composing a post to COBIRDS this morning and then received a message from GoogleGroups that it couldn’t be sent because it was too big. After a bleep-punctuated period of frustration that my apartment neighbors probably overheard, I sat down and composed a smaller one. Now I see that BOTH posts went out. Sorry for the duplication but it’s not my fault.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<DM6PR12MB3435496BD9130EA90AFE242BC1022...>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<494069724.5871448.1779905877784...>
Date: 5/27/26 5:03 am From: Sue Plankis <splankis...> Subject: [cobirds] Re: David Suddjian eBird top audio World
Well done David!
On Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 3:18:40 PM UTC-6 linda purcell wrote:
> Red Crossbill! well done, David!
>
> [image: top audio world red crossbill Suddjian 25 may 2026.jpg]
>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<838347ba-535a-41e9-892d-e4d94c5c257fn...>
Date: 5/26/26 4:55 pm From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-26-26
A pleasantly cool and cloudy day, it was wonderful to be out! We kept busy with new birds (26), returning birds (4) and birds that we had already caught this season that breed at Chat (18).
Best bird of the day was a FOS Cedar Waxwing, that we had banded in 2024; I don't think we've ever had a repeat CEDW before.
The goldfinch appear to have paired up; we caught a pair of Lessers side by side in a net, and a bit later a pair of Americans.
Here's the breakdown of our new and returns today:
Western Wood Pewee 1 Western Flycatcher 1 Northern House Wren 1 banded 2023, female sitting on eggs Swainson's Thrush 2 Gray Catbird 4 new, 1 banded 2025 Cedar Waxwing 1 banded 2024 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 11 new, 1 banded 2023 Spotted Towhee 1, female on eggs Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Lesser Goldfinch 2 American Goldfinch 2
We are banding Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) through May 31, weather permitting. There are opportunities for the public to visit on weekends and early mornings most weekdays. Reservations are required and can be made through the Denver Audubon website <https://www.denveraudubon.org/calendar>. (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<c90c6c78-aa71-4190-ba5e-4bbae191e84cn...>
Date: 5/26/26 2:18 pm From: linda purcell <linpurcellzz...> Subject: [cobirds] David Suddjian eBird top audio World
Red Crossbill! well done, David!
[image: top audio world red crossbill Suddjian 25 may 2026.jpg]
-- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<2e36c0c3-42f5-437b-82ec-28b08bc80225n...>
Date: 5/26/26 12:45 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 26, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
A quiet day in the banding woods today. I believe the winds carried the migrating birds overtop and not many dropped into the woods for the day. The highlight for the day was a couple returning birds and a female Hooded Warbler. We are still catching male MacGillivray's Warblers so migration is not over yet. Just when you think there is not anything different around, a different species shows up.
*34 New Banded Birds* Yellow Warbler- 1 Hooded Warbler- 1 Common Yellowthroat- 1 MacGillivray's Warbler- 4 Western Wood-Pewee- 1 Lesser Goldfinch- 1 American Goldfinch- 1 Lincoln's Sparrow- 3 Lazuli Bunting- 1 House Finch- 1 Swainson's Thrush- 16 Orchard Oriole- 1 Gray Catbird- 1 Common Grackle- 1
*2 Recaptures (banded this season)* Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole (Both are breeding species in the banding area)
*2 Returns- banded a different season* Orchard Oriole male- banded in spring 2024 as an adult- It is at least 5 years old. Blue Grosbeak female- banded last spring as an adult- it is at least 4 years old. Just shows that bird come back to the area they have been breeding. We may not catch them every year. However, humans should recognize when habitat is altered or destroyed the animals that rely on that habitat may not survive or have to search for suitable habitat elsewhere.
The Banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from sunrise until @ 11AM. Remember to register online at the Aiken Audubon website to bird/visit the ranch. www.aikenaudubon.com Stop by the banding station to share your sightings with us!
Have a good day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<a924e5b3-99eb-401b-ab3d-c7cc74e4ef8bn...>
Date: 5/26/26 8:46 am From: Brandon <flammowl17...> Subject: [cobirds] Custer County rarities 5/26
Photographed both a Blue-winged Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo below the dam at
Lake DeWeese, near Westcliffe in Custer County this morning. Both are
birds I hadn’t seen in Custer County before. Seems like a lot of
interesting eastern migrants in odd locations this spring.
Brandon K. Percival
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CA%<2BXeEuXX_rGxKF0Esve7qMyb2qGwxMxxj2dUmWd3zYvoBiLOSg...>
Date: 5/25/26 1:07 pm From: Chicobander <jshieldcastle...> Subject: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 25, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Although it may be a solemn day for some since it is Memorial Day, I am truly grateful for all the sacrifices past and current veterans, and active personnel who have made America free. WE do not realize what freedoms we have until we lose them. Let's Not lose them. I get the opportunity to be here in CO to conduct bird research with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. I am certain that if I was in many other countries I would not have this privilege.
Today was a nice day to be outside. We did have a couple new birds for the season including Indigo Bunting female and a Northern Mockingbird. A nice diversity of bird species of 22 species rounded out the morning for our catch of the day. A third Ovenbird and a second American Redstart was banded at the station this season. A light north wind still had us catching Hermit Thrushes; However, they were last year's hatch so most Hermit Thrushes should be completing migration soon.
*61 New Banded Birds* Yellow Warbler- 1 American Redstart- 1 Ovenbird- 1 MacGillivray's Warbler- 5 Willow Flycatcher- 1 Traill's Flycatcher- 1 (Measurements were in the overlap area for Alder and Willow) Western Wood-pewee- 3 Swainson's Thrush- 24 Hermit Thrush- 2 American Goldfinch- 2 Lincoln's Sparrow- 4 Lazuli Bunting- 1 Indigo Bunting- 1 Blue Grosbeak- 2 Lark Sparrow- 1 Mountain White-crowned Sparrow- 1 Bullock's Oriole-7 Gray Catbird- 1 Northern Mockingbird- 1 Blue Jay- 1 Common Grackle- 1
*1 Return* Northern House Wren- banded last fall as a hatching year bird (returned to the same breeding area it was hatched)
The Banding Station will be open tomorrow through Saturday at Sunrise until @11 AM. Register at Aiken Audubon website if interested in birding/visiting the ranch. www.aikenaudubon.com Thanks again to all the veterans both past and present.
Have a good day,
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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<50e4cb0b-1850-4b28-934b-bd36fb188302n...>
Date: 5/25/26 7:03 am From: Kit Seeborg <kit...> Subject: [cobirds] Program reminder: May 26 Butterfly ID with Wynne Whyman
Tomorrow evening! Boulder County Audubon Society welcomes Wynne Whyman on
Tuesday, May 26 to help you discover the joy of observing local butterflies
all season long. Begin learning about the fascinating world of butterflies
in Boulder County (and the Front Range) with basics for identifying
different species, when and where to find them, their interconnected
relationships with plants, and photography tips.
Kit
--
*Kit Seeborg*
Communication and Outreach Volunteer
Boulder County Audubon Society <http://www.boulderaudubon.org> Boulder, Colorado
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<CAEo3QhFk90m-yJjwzRC5PiOn_P6Q-9OBVRNr3j6Wu6yhFmvjCQ...>
Date: 5/24/26 5:16 pm From: 'Meredith McBurney' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Subject: [cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-24-26
A somewhat abbreviated day - there was wind that prevented a few nets from being opened at all, and it was cloudless, sunny, and hot, which led us to close nets 30 to 60 minutes early. It was also a pretty slow day overall, with only 15 new birds caught/banded:
Willow Flycatcher 3 (FOS) Warbling Vireo, measured as Western 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Northern House Wren 2 Gray Catbird 1 Yellow Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow-breasted Chat 1
We are banding Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) through May 31, weather permitting. There are opportunities for the public to visit on weekends and early mornings most weekdays. Reservations are required and can be made through the Denver Audubon website <https://www.denveraudubon.org/calendar>. (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)
Meredith McBurney Bander, 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...> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<40ee3b6f-d2ae-45ce-96d3-de448dca03dcn...>
Date: 5/24/26 6:47 am From: George Mayfield <georgemayfield...> Subject: [cobirds] Share Your Bird Reminder: Photos for Colorado Birds! — Winter 2025–2026 (December 1 – February 28)
Hello CO Birders, Another quarter, another chance to share your best work!
Colorado Birds, the quarterly journal of the Colorado Field Ornithologists,
is now accepting photo submissions for our "News From The Field" feature.
We're on the lookout for compelling images of rare, vagrant, or otherwise
unusual birds documented in Colorado between December 1, 2025, and February
28, 2026 (see submission guidelines below).
To be considered in the upcoming issue, please send your highest-quality
photos to <geo......> <https://groups.google.com/> no later than
Thursday, May 28, 2026 — and be sure to follow the file-naming guidelines
below when you do.
We'd particularly love to feature photos of these noteworthy species
observed during this period:
Thanks for your contributions to *Colorado Birds*. Your dedication and
generosity help maintain our journal's excellence, making it one of the
country's finest. Thanks for sharing your photography with us!
George Mayfield
Photo Editor, Colorado Birds
Wheat Ridge, CO
------------------------------
*Photo Submission Guidelines:*
Photos from *Winter 2025–2026 (December 1 – February 28)*
Photos must be your own, and by submitting them, you give Colorado Birds
permission to reproduce in any issue and on the CFO website. We always
credit images with the photographer's name.
*Please use the following format for the photo file names:*
*species-date-location-county-photographer*. For example, a photo of an
American Robin taken Oct. 4, 2024 at Chatfield State Park by John James
Audubon would be named as follows:
*American Robin (or AMRO)-20241004-Chatfield-Adams-JJAudubon.*
Minimum quality for interior publication use is 750 x 900 pixels. To be
considered for the journal cover, photos must be at least 2625 pixels
(vertically) x 1725 pixels (horizontally). Please send original files in
the largest resolution possible (300 dpi is preferable). We will crop and
resize as needed. Email your submissions to <geo......>
<https://groups.google.com/>
--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to <cobirds...>
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds * 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/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+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/<7dd56e8e-f302-4a18-98fa-72e7bb13284bn...>
