[cobirds] Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space - Jeffco

Hello All,

Completed the annual Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space yesterday and today with help from Michael Kiessig and Chuck Aid. The total was 33 singing Ovenbirds, the same number as last year.

Some historical background: When I first moved to the Willow Springs area and started hiking in the Open Space Area, I noticed there were many singing Ovenbirds. When I told people I thought there were 20 -30 Ovenbirds in the area, they were surprised at the high numbers and thought that very unusual for Jefferson County (not so for El Paso County and the Air Force Academy areas). So in 2008 I laid out point-transects over two days, and have conducted the Ovenbird Count in Willow Springs Open Space annually during the last few days of May or the first few days in June. Willow Springs is located just south of Highway 285 along the foothills. The Open Space Area (which is open only to residents) is located in the foothills, and adjoins Mount Lindo (Denver Mountain Parks) on the north, Jefferson County Open Space on the west, and Ken Caryl Open Space (private also) on the south.

The Ovenbirds are found in small canyons/ravines in forests with thick undergrowth. The ravines usually have some running water in the spring (not year round), the south facing slopes are Ponderosa Pine with Gambel's oak understory, while the north facing slopes are Douglas fir with a thick understory of various shrubs. Most areas have small aspen groves or stringers of aspen, but not all. The areas preferred by the Ovenbirds are a mosaic, and the key component seems to be forest with thick undergrowth along a hillside, not any specific habitat dominated by a specific tree or plant. Forest areas nearby that have less of an understory and show some bare ground do not have any ovenbirds.

From 2008 - 2011, the survey produced about 20 singing Ovenbirds each year - the low was 19 and the high was 21.
in 2012, we had 24 singing Ovenbirds.
In 2013 and 2014, we had 33 singing Ovenbirds.

The birds seem to be spreading into new areas rather than just increasing in density in the original areas where they first noted.

Mike Henwood
now living in Grand Junction, Mesa County
formerly a resident of Willow Springs, Morrison, Jefferson County.

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