[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAGj6RorxuV83dQGKKF_0D3es8y3fnymsLJj9Da9pappOmQLAtQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/a7af9aaa-4789-466b-96ec-a9ec6d3c3348n%40googlegroups.com.

[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/af70f2bb-40ba-430f-8dc9-1fc632757cacn%40googlegroups.com.

[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAL9cgtyCesZNCAq8y_16KUbkL4V6mfHD81m%3DJauTqN6xgSfi_w%40mail.gmail.com.

[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/c5681596-7bbc-4037-bf77-e1719e68bd4en%40googlegroups.com.

[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Report, May 30, 2026

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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/477cf78b-4332-42a8-a0e4-90d57d8ecbban%40googlegroups.com.

[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@googlegroups.com
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@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/fc501724-efe8-4af2-828c-9c0ae1e2ef2fn%40googlegroups.com.