[cobirds] Ft. Collins Hoary

If you have Hoary Redpoll fever and plan to visit Ft. Collins' museum feeders, here is a summary of some of the helpful tips I've read on COBirds, as well as my experience yesterday. (I managed to get a photo of a pale Redpoll, but neglected to get a key angle--more below.)

Ft. Collins Museum of Discovery (new building)
408 Mason Court
Ft. Collins, CO
http://www.fcmod.org/

Admission fee: $9.50 adult, $7.00 seniors.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Parking lot open all the time, as far as I can tell. Parking is free at the museum, and overflow parking is available along Cherry Street.
The museum is located on Mason Court, at the intersection of Cherry and Mason Streets, west of N. College Avenue/ Highway 14. Just east of Lee Martinez Park.
Do you need to go into the museum and pay the admission fee? No, park in the museum lot and walk down the concrete sidewalk on the west side of the building. You will see the feeders above you. This is the best view, looking up at the feeders. Why? To identify a Hoary you need to see/photograph its undertail coverts.  It also helps a lot to see/photograph it's upper tail area. That's where I went wrong. I was trying for a nice eye-level field guide photo, but you need more. If I accidentally take a photo of a bird's butt I delete it. Not with the Hoary!

Birds on the tube feeder don't give you a good view of their butts, so pay special attention to any pale redpoll perched on the chain fence or metal pole--try to see its butt, above and below, among other things. It ain't easy! Bring a scope and/or camera if you have it.
A group of Redpolls fly in and out every hour or so. They stay for about 15 minutes. Dress warmly--winter boots and two pair of socks and winter gloves help on the cold concrete.
To thank the museum for all the bird seed they put out, simply go inside and make a contribution at the front desk or pay for an admission ticket, and thank them. This is a great new museum with many interesting displays, especially the hands-on stuff for kids.

Here are a few great photos on the web from COBirders showing a Hoary at the museum:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36088296@N08/8356354766/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36088296@N08/8355293187/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36088296@N08/8355293319/in/photostream/
http://www.pbase.com/gwalbek/image/148237402

Here is Sibley's checklist to score a pale Redpoll: http://www.sibleyguides.com/2008/01/a-character-index-for-redpoll-identification/

Thanks to Bill Schmoker, Steve Mlodinow, Cathy Sheeter, Glenn Walbek, Tony Leukering, and many others for their helpful posts. Don't be like me, do some homework before you set out. Watch that butt, and good luck! If you dip on Hoary you will still probably see lots of Common Redpoll, another great, rare Colorado bird.

Tom Wilberding
Boulder, CO

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