[cobirds] Biking For Birds hits Colorado!!

Folks- posting this on behalf of Dorian Anderson.  Enjoy- Bill Schmoker, Longmont

Hello Colorado birders!

My name is Dorian Anderson, and I am currently involved in a HUGE birding adventure for 2014. In short, I am doing a nationwide big year using only my bicycle. I left Boston, MA on January 1st (it was FREEZING), and since that time I have (roughly) visited Miami, New Orleans, Houston, El Paso, Tucson, and now Colorado. To date, I have biked ~7,200 miles to find 469 species towards a goal of 600. I have also raised ~$13,500 that will be used for bird conservation. It has been an incredible journey on which I have made many friends that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. The least time I was in a car to do anything (birding or other) was Dec. 31, 2013. I am carrying all my gear - I do not have any support vehicle. 

I am keeping a very thorough blog of the adventure at:

http://bikingforbirds.blogspot.com

I have been in touch with some Colorado birders already, but the more folks that hear about this, the easier and more enjoyable my 3 weeks in the state will be. I am looking for any help people can provide; Bird finding advice, lodging, and general company are all welcome. I am not camping so anyone who could put me up, that would be fantastic. All my contact information is below.

Here is the list of birds I want to find in Colorado. If anyone has really reliable spots for these birds (especially nests for owls, woodpeckers). I have not included Boreal owl since I figure that will be impossible. I really need help with Flammulated owl. The same goes for Gunnison SG. Ptarmigan and Rosy find will require really hard rides, but at least I know where to go. Species without notes below are birds I hope/expect to find from the bike along the road at one point or another. I will be going to WY, ID, and OR after this, so if I miss some of these I can get them later. It would be preferable to knock any and all species out as fast as possible so as to avoid headaches later. If I missed anything, let me know. Species like Chukar that can be found in CO are omitted since there are better places to get them elsewhere (i.e. ID, OR).

Ring-necked pheasant

White-tailed ptarmigan - Guenella pass, RMNP, or Mt Evans

Dusky grouse

Gunnison sage-grouse

Ferruginous hawk

Golden eagle

Mountain plover - Pawnee area

Flammulated owl - Need a spot for this

Black swift - Ouray

Rufous hummingbird

Calliope hummingbird - I realize CO is not the best place for this bird

Williamson's sapsucker 

Red-naped sapsucker

Willow flycatcher - Need a good area of this

Gray flycatcher - Maybe around Durango?

Gray jay

Clark's nutcracker

Bank swallow - I missed this in TX, anyone got a colony?

Red-breasted nuthatch

American dipper

Mountain bluebird

Chestnut-collared longspur - Pawnee area

McCown's longspur - Pawnee area

MacGilivray's warbler

Brown-crowned rosy-finch - Guenella pass, RMNP, or Mt. Evans

Pine grosbeak

Cassin's finch

Red crossbill

Evening grosbeak

I am in Cortez tonight and will be going Durango > Silverton > Ouray > Montrose > Gunnison. After that I am not sure if I will cut head east and drop out of the mountains or if I will head more North east throughout the mountains. This will all be sorted out on the fly as I find birds and I see how my body feels.

OK, that's it for now. I want to hear from YOU if YOU want to be part of what has been an amazing adventure so far!

Thanks for the time, I really appreciate it.

Dorian Anderson

Biking for Birds

bikingforbirds@gmail.com

http://bikingforbirds.blogspot.com

646 593 0374

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Bill Schmoker              
bill.schmoker@gmail.com  
http://schmoker.org         
http://blog.aba.org/author/bill-schmoker 
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