Hi Deb et al,
I came through Last Chance on July 30th. This is prior to the monster rains you mention but the place had obviously received some moisture this summer. Sprouting from the bases of the charred Siberian Elms and Plains Cottonwoods is impressive, a few to several feet tall, and largely obscured the normal view of the "pond" from its northeastern shore. Other understory grasses, forbs, and woody shrubs are growing well, including a few small patches of snow-on-the-mountain (its blooms being highly attractive to many insects), what looked like crested wheatgrass (probably part of the mix that was planted), golden currant, etc. I took a lap around the place and didn't see a whole lot in the way of summer resident birds (seemed subdued from recent years past) but a couple Brown Thrashers indicate there is still "quality" thicket habitat on the south side of the pond in that draw that goes out to the highway.
I noticed some of the trees and shrubs planted this year and nurtured with a drip system did not make it, which is to be expected with any planting project in a largely hostile environment like the plains of CO. These individual drip stations could be replanted this fall if the labor, time, and plant material was available. But most of planted stock was surviving, some thriving. Hopefully the profusion of growth in the understory was able to moderate some of the erosion 6 inches of rain could inflict on just about any site. My expectation would be if the rains were accompanied by wind, some of the bigger black trunks could have blown down. What to do with those would be up the evaluation of the locals. If their falling isn't a hazard issue or involve the rest area fence, I'd be inclined to leave them as structure for lower plants to incorporate into habitat for a skulking Kentucky or Swainson's Warbler (well, at least Lincoln's Sparrows).
I would imagine the migrants will like Last Chance this fall, just like they always do. It's not just a water hole. It's wounded and not what it was. It's something in between, but hopefully getting better. Think U.S. economy.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
I came through Last Chance on July 30th. This is prior to the monster rains you mention but the place had obviously received some moisture this summer. Sprouting from the bases of the charred Siberian Elms and Plains Cottonwoods is impressive, a few to several feet tall, and largely obscured the normal view of the "pond" from its northeastern shore. Other understory grasses, forbs, and woody shrubs are growing well, including a few small patches of snow-on-the-mountain (its blooms being highly attractive to many insects), what looked like crested wheatgrass (probably part of the mix that was planted), golden currant, etc. I took a lap around the place and didn't see a whole lot in the way of summer resident birds (seemed subdued from recent years past) but a couple Brown Thrashers indicate there is still "quality" thicket habitat on the south side of the pond in that draw that goes out to the highway.
I noticed some of the trees and shrubs planted this year and nurtured with a drip system did not make it, which is to be expected with any planting project in a largely hostile environment like the plains of CO. These individual drip stations could be replanted this fall if the labor, time, and plant material was available. But most of planted stock was surviving, some thriving. Hopefully the profusion of growth in the understory was able to moderate some of the erosion 6 inches of rain could inflict on just about any site. My expectation would be if the rains were accompanied by wind, some of the bigger black trunks could have blown down. What to do with those would be up the evaluation of the locals. If their falling isn't a hazard issue or involve the rest area fence, I'd be inclined to leave them as structure for lower plants to incorporate into habitat for a skulking Kentucky or Swainson's Warbler (well, at least Lincoln's Sparrows).
I would imagine the migrants will like Last Chance this fall, just like they always do. It's not just a water hole. It's wounded and not what it was. It's something in between, but hopefully getting better. Think U.S. economy.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
> Subject: [cobirds] Rainfall - Last chance
> From: fiddlenurs@aol.com
> Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 23:41:12 -0600
> To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
>
> Channel 9 news reported that Last Chance received 6.6 inches of rain over the last couple of days. I'd be curious to know the effect on the birding area from that.
> Also, does anyone know how much rain Karval has received in the last couple of days? It looks like they've been getting a good amount, but I don't know if they actually have received much moisture.
> Deb Carstensen, Littleton Arapahoe County
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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> From: fiddlenurs@aol.com
> Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 23:41:12 -0600
> To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
>
> Channel 9 news reported that Last Chance received 6.6 inches of rain over the last couple of days. I'd be curious to know the effect on the birding area from that.
> Also, does anyone know how much rain Karval has received in the last couple of days? It looks like they've been getting a good amount, but I don't know if they actually have received much moisture.
> Deb Carstensen, Littleton Arapahoe County
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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