Dear folks: I've reached my limits in hiking long or challenging trails to survey birds, butterflies, plants (often weeds) as well as recreation use. My limits are physical and certainly not boredom or discouragement. I have loved surveying these trails several times in each avian breeding season: before (May), during (June) and after (July). I've taken notes on all the aspects mentioned above, learned much, and found many observations useful in giving input to the decision-makers who oversee the condition of the areas. (This data collection has really come in handy when management of our areas is up for discussion by various boards). I especially treasured the early morning hours when I had these popular trails to myself and the owls or poorwills, and often the turkeys and deer. If anyone out there would be interested in assuming these surveys, and making a season's-end report to the compiler, I guarantee satisfaction of many kinds. The 30+ Ecostewards that have accepted to do these surveys and report on them have been doing so for a couple of decades under the auspices of Boulder County Nature Association. Steve Jones has been our inspiration, mentor and compiler. The objective was simply to monitor all the aspects we felt capable of surveying, and turning in reports at season's end. Here are "my" trails/areas in question: PICTURE ROCK TRAIL from south Lyons to 4 or 5 miles further south. Long, slow rolling hike with superb views for the first hour or so, then ascending to wooded hillside savannas with a different habitat for both birds & plants. Many butterfly species; delightful botanical variety--gorgeous grasses. Few hikers; scattered long-distance runners; but mostly bikers unless you go early in the morning during the week. Often I saw almost no bikers! In order to get more data on users, I had to do a hike on popular weekends.... For the most part, cyclists were polite and in compliance with trail use regs. GREGORY CANYON from Boulder TH on Flagstaff to the "top" and then down to the shady trails on the west side. This has always been a great site for interesting accidentals (birds or animals you do NOT expect to find), including once a pair of bikers who were trying to get to the 5-Points area on a trail that is in no way a good (or legal) one for bike use. It is a steep and rocky hike of about 3 miles out and back, but interesting in so many ways--you'll have to call me to learn more. I've seen/heard Blue-headed Vireos, Saw-whet Owls, Scarlet Tanagers, Kentucky Warblers & others but the typical residents are multiple and vocal. It's a gem, this hike. Please contact me (PM/DM) off listserv to learn more. The assignment will enrich your life! Linda Andes-Georges central Boulder County in shortgrass prairie beside Table Mountain -- -- 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/16473365-FCEC-4190-90AB-EEC3BD81D9B0%40comcast.net.
Monday, 18 May 2026
Re: [cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 18, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
The weather may have not been pleasant today- It was a little brisk at times. It appeared that the storms up north helped drop some birds into the banding woods today. Twenty-four bird species captured and five new species for the year (American Redstart, Least, Hammond's, and Willow Flycatchers, Western Wood-pewee, and Warbling Vireo).
The Warbling Vireo has been split into Eastern and Western Warbling Vireo. Unless it sings for me, I have to band it as unknown Warbling Vireo. We are taking measurements and Tail feathers for DNA work to hopefully have someone work up the Warbling Vireo data to help us banders distinguish between the Eastern and Western Warbling Vireos. We can catch both here at the station. We do not catch many in a season but hope in the future more morphometrics will help determine between the two.
As you can tell from the banding data below, we had several flocks of American goldfinches flying through the banding area this morning. We are still catching Hermit Thrushes as well. Two Ovenbirds graced us with their presence in the nets and one continued to sing near the building off and on during the morning.
97 New Banded BirdsWilson's Warbler- 5Yellow Warbler- 12American Redstart- 1MacGillivray's Warbler- 5Ovenbird- 2Common Yellowthroat- 1Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler- 1Warbling Vireo- 1Western Flycatcher- 3Western Wood-Pewee- 3Least Flycatcher- 1Hammond's Flycatcher- 2Willow Flycatcher- 1American Goldfinch- 22Lincoln's Sparrow- 7Lazuli Bunting- 4House Finch- 1Yellow-breasted Chat- 1Western Tanager- 3Hermit Thrush -5Swainson's Thrush- 7Black-headed Grosbeak- 2Gray Catbird- 2Bullock's Oriole- 5
5 RecapturesBullock's Oriole- 3 - one of these lost weight but since they are breeding here they are expending energy fighting for mates, etc.American Goldfinch- 1Yellow Warbler- 1
1 ReturnYellow Warbler male banded last year as a Second-year male on May 17th. Returned to the same area to breed again!
The Banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday weather permitting from sunrise until @ 11AM. Remember if you want to bird the ranch to please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com.Also if you have never birded the ranch make sure you look at the map provided on the website OR come to the banding station to see the posted map in the building. We have had quite a few new birders to the ranch this past week and they have wandered into areas of private residences. We need to be cognizant of the map and where you can bird. We do not want to upset the ranchers and have our privileges revoked.Thank you.Also, gates around the banding building need to be closed after entry as cattle is now grazing outside the woods around banding station.Stop by the Banding station to share your sightings. We would love to hear them!
Have a good day,
Julie ShieldcastleBander, Chico Basin RanchBird Conservancy of the Rockies--
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[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 18, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
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[cobirds] A Big Day at CSR banding, El Paso Co, Mon
Hey COBirders, I was hopeful that the mixed forecasts we got might mean we’d get some birds at Clear Spring Ranch today. It did. While it was wet in COS at dawn, CSR was dusty dry. Low clouds all morning, and a helpful breeze kept birds arriving throughout the morning, new, and many returning birds as well. 55 birds netted today. I closed at 10:30 as forecasts showed rain was likely after that, and I didn’t want to take a chance getting caught with full nets up, and the possibility of wet birds. It worked out fins. Highlights today: FOS Dusky Flycatcher - 2 FOS Magnolia Warbler (SY M) FOW American Redstart (AD F) Yellow Warbler -10 (including a wave of 5 in one net at 9:00, and 2 returns) Com Yellowthroat - 8, (including 2 returns from previous years) MacGillivray’s Warbler - 3 Wilson’s Warbler - 2 Lincoln’s Sparrow - 8 Mountain White-crowned Sparrow - 3 Lazuli Bunting - 4 Gray Catbird - 5 (including 2 returns) and netted, but unbanded - Broad-tailed Hummingbird (AD M), and Black-chinned Hummingbird (AD F). BTW, this also the anniversary of my best/most fun/busiest day banding - May 18, 2008, at Chico Basin Ranch, on a day much like today, only mistier, and breezier, Brian Gibbons and I banded 240 birds, including 140 Swainson’s Thrush. We started at dawn, closed nets at 3:30, and finished banding the last birds about 5:00, with no breaks. It was busy! The haul also included 8 Blackpoll Warblers, a pretty high number for Colorado. Yeah, I really look forward to these May days! 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@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/6AAB1D1E-5600-480C-84C8-FA05939BA189%40gmail.com.
[cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-17-26
We ended our third week yesterday, with more of the regulars; lots of Yellow Warblers and Catbirds, no new species. It is great to be off today when it is raining so nicely!
Here are the 31 new and 5 returns from Sunday:
Western Wood-Pewee 2
Black-capped Chickadee 1 new, 2 returns, both banded last fall (our first ever fall banding at Chatfield)
Northern House Wren 1 new, 1 banded 2024, recaught 2025
Gray Catbird 12 new, 1 banded 2025
Yellow Warbler 8 new, 1 banded 2025
MacGillivray's Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow, Mountain 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. (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)
Meredith McBurney
Bander, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
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Sunday, 17 May 2026
[cobirds] New BIRD BOMBS video available, and register for the next one!
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[cobirds] recent posts to COBIRDS
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