[cobirds] NoCo Bird Alliance May 14th Program - The Changing Story of the Barn Swallow

Join Northern Colorado Bird Alliance in person or remotely Thursday, May 14th for The Changing Story of the Barn Swallow with Dr. Rebecca Safran, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Colorado Boulder.

For thousands of years, Barn Swallows have lived alongside us, thriving as human communities grew. Today, that long partnership is changing, and their populations are sharply declining. Dr. Safran's global research explores why these familiar birds are disappearing and what their genomic and behavioral shifts tell us about the future. Dr. Safran also brings a creative lens to climate communication through her work with Inside the Greenhouse.

Free and open to all starting at 7pm with announcements. In person at Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr or via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86310595299

Come learn about the past, present, and future of our shared story with the Barn Swallow.

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[cobirds] NoCo Bird Alliance May 14th Program - The Changing Story of the Barn Swallow

Join Northern Colorado Bird Alliance in person or remotely Thursday, May 14th for The Changing Story of the Barn Swallow with Dr. Rebecca Safran, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Colorado Boulder.

For thousands of years, Barn Swallows have lived alongside us, thriving as human communities grew. Today, that long partnership is changing, and their populations are sharply declining. Dr. Safran's global research explores why these familiar birds are disappearing and what their genomic and behavioral shifts tell us about the future. Dr. Safran also brings a creative lens to climate communication through her work with Inside the Greenhouse.

Free and open to all starting at 7pm with announcements. In person at Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr or via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86310595299

Come learn about the past, present, and future of our shared story with the Barn Swallow.

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[cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-13-26

Continued to catch more of our breeding birds, with Yellow Warblers taking the lead (10 new, 2 returns).  One lovely first of season, a Western Tanager.  Now waiting for the other "big and beautifuls" (Orioles, Waxwings, Grosbeaks.......)  Very warm weather led to the early closing of some nets, but had a decent day with 32 new and 4 returns:

Black-capped Chickadee 1
Northern House Wren 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Swainson's Thrush 2
Gray Catbird 2 new, 1 banded 2025
Yellow Warbler 10 new, 2 banded 2025
MacGillivray's Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 2
Yellow-breasted Chat 5 new, 1 banded 2025
Western Tanager 1 FOS
Spotted Towhee 2

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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Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

Our poser company is United Power. Up until 2 years ago, they would install Osprey nesting platforms but have stopped for liability reasons. I do have a couple connections with them though that might get me through to arrange cleaning out the bad stuff once a year. If not them, I might have another connection or two with the right equiptment that could help.

Maybe even Weld County will help if I can sweet talk them enough. I'm pretty good at sweet talking. 🙂

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From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Rawinski <johnrawinski0@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 11:27 AM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

 

Similar to your situation was the osprey nest here in the San Luis Valley where baling twine invariably ends up in the nest, creating a potential hazard. A trim is almost needed periodically. Our local utility companies have been very responsive. I would contact them and USFW service as well and see what they can come up with if it happens again. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

On Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:40:10 PM UTC-6 Pauli Driver-Smith wrote:

There is another problem, though. They brought in some tangled bungee cords. It is hanging from the side of the platform. I think the hook on one end is attached to the top of the platform.

I had a lot of trees limbs come down in the storm, so I asked the tree trimmer if while he has his bucket crane here could he unhook it. He said that his license won't allow it because they are predatory birds. I thought that only mattered once they start nesting, not before they lay any eggs? I don't know if they are even going to nest this year. They haven't made a lot of progress on their nest yet, and it is getting rather late.

What do you all think? Do you know anyone in the Mead area with a cherry picker that can grab the bungee cord?

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County, CO.

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[cobirds] Arapahoe County Black Phoebe

Arapahoe Co-birders,

 . . . and maybe it goes beyond this.

I see reports of the Black Phoebe couple with descriptions that refer to the “east side of the bridge” or the “north side of the bridge” — those seem mutually exclusive. And I understand, given how the bridge crossed over the S. Platte.

I’m wondering if there’s another way to refer to that area (I only ask because I was there looking for the birds today, and may have been on the “wrong” side of the bridge . . . depending on how it was described)?  I certainly didn’t see any nest-building

What about “upstream” or “downstream” of the bridge, or something similar. And I’m unclear — does Arapahoe county stop at the bridge?  In which case, the description might the “Douglas County” side of the bridge, etc.  I know that the county lines in that area are confusing (e.g., the S. Platte Reservoir). 

Maybe I’m just having a pipe dream . . ..

Thanks!

Gary Brower

Unincorporated Araphoe County 

[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 13, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

Light to no wind overnight pushed the migrant banded birds out of the area and brought in a nice variety of species.  As always there were more birds around than what we caught. A Blackburnian and Tennessee Warbler were singing near and above the banding building but never came down low as far as we could tell. 

Eighteen bird species were banded including four new ones for the season (Ash-throated Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole (Adult male), Green-tailed Towhee, and Mourning Dove. Let me tell you the Ash-throated Flycatcher and the Orchard Oriole they were knockouts!! The Black-headed Grosbeaks were plenty and singing around the station woods.

26 New Banded Birds

Yellow-warbler- 1

MacGillivray's Warbler- 1

Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) Warbler- 1

American Goldfinch- 1

Northern House Wren- 1

Lincoln's Sparrow- 1

Lazuli Bunting- 2

Green-tailed Towhee- 1

White-crowned Sparrow (Mountain)- 1

Swainson's Thrush- 4

Orchard Oriole-1

Bullock's Oriole-2

Yellow-breasted Chat- 1

Black-headed Grosbeak- 3

Gray Catbird- 2

Blue Jay- 1

Mourning Dove- 1

No Recaptures

Tomorrow Starts the Pikes Peak Birding Festival. A festival field trip will be visiting the ranch as well as other birders. Please register for birding the ranch tomorrow on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com. At this time there were a few spaces left.

The banding station will be open tomorrow through Saturday from sunrise until @11AM. Please stop by and visit and share your sightings.

Enjoy the Day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Bander, Chico Basin Ranch

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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[cobirds] BCAS Program May 26 – Intro to Butterfly ID for Birdwatchers

Whether you’re a casual butterflyer, or a full-fledged lepidopterist, there is something for everyone at Boulder County Audubon Society’s May program. Think you can directly apply your birding skills to finding butterflies? Not so fast. They both may fly, lay eggs, and cause us to drive off the road now and then, but butterflies in Boulder County have their secrets, including where they hide and hang out in our varied local ecosystems.

 

Join guest speaker Wynne Whyman on Tuesday, May 26 in person or on Zoom for this fun and fascinating presentation illustrated by Wynne’s beautiful photographs. You’ll learn which butterflies to look for in the hills vs. flatlands, and other tips for finding elusive butterflies in Boulder County.

https://www.boulderaudubon.org/all-events/may-2026-program

 

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

In-person socializing: 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.

Program, in-person and on Zoom: 7:15 - 8:45 p.m.

Free, no registration required

 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder

5001 Pennsylvania Avenue

Boulder, CO, 80303

https://www.boulderaudubon.org/all-events/may-2026-program

 

Happy butterflying,

Kit

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Kit Seeborg

Communication and Outreach Volunteer

Boulder County Audubon Society

Boulder, Colorado

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