Tuesday 18 April 2023

[cobirds] Wildfire near Van's Grove, John Martin SWA, Bent County CO

Birders, 

In recent years, every April seems to have a devastating wildfire somewhere on Federal Property at John Martin Reservoir. There is, right this minute, a devastating fire in the marshes and bottomland of the west end of the reservoir, near Van's Grove. There were countless road blocks, emergency responders, and even two aircraft attempting to suppress the flames. As I drove through thick smoke on US 50, I saw that Van's Grove appears to be spared for now, but that fire looks to have burned the Gageby Creek marshes just east of Van's Grove. I would expect County Road JJ to be closed for a while. 

On a brighter note, I found a male Northern Parula this afternoon in the tall juniper tree just north of the playground at Lake Hasty Campground. 

Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO

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