Date: 1/10/25 7:34 pm From: Douglas Kibbe <dpkibbe...> Subject: [cobirds] Flagler CBC sets new high
Fourteen hardy souls in five teams braved dense fog and chilling temperatures which barely broke 20 degrees on Saturday, Jan 4. Because the region had a 40 inch snowfall several weeks earlier, half-hardy species were scarce and the fact that visibility in the fog was often only 200 yards made raptors nearly impossible to see. Although only 36 species were recorded on count day, the teams' efforts were rewarded with new high counts of Horned larks (>20,000) and Lapland longspurs (>25,500). The latter tally will almost certainly be the national high for the species. This will be the third time in the past four years that Flagler has led the nation in Lapland longspurs. By the end of the day everyone on the count had logged more than a thousand. Ironically, the one no show individual considered Lapland longspurs his nemesis bird. I guess they still are.
Other notable species for this frozen piece of prairie included our first ever ruddy duck and Eastern screech owl. Other relative rarities included pine siskin, black-billed magpie, and white-winged dove. Other firsts included the first time a local resident participated on the count, the first bird feeder found in the count area, and the first time pre-count scouting was attempted (adding 5 count week birds). Special thanks to Josh Bruening for his precount scouting efforts, and to all the front range birders who braved less than ideal travel conditions to make the long haul out early in the morning! Special thanks to three teenage birders who endured a three mile hike with me and brought the average age of participants down about 10 years.
Doug Kibbe Compiler
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