RE: [cobirds] CFO Convention Highlights

Keeping the thread going---

 

·         Establishing Logan County Road 93 as one of the premier birding runs in Colorado with Greater Prairie Chicken, Baird's Sparrow and Eastern Wood-Pewee all reported along the Grasshopper Sparrow Highway during the convention. 

 

·         Confirming Riverside Reservoir as this year's shorebird hotspot, but you've got to come to the convention to gain access to spots like this, Fox Ranch and Muir Springs.

 

·         Palpitating the heart through Close Encounters of the Plains Rattlesnake Kind—I was within an inch on one at Red Lion; Amber Carver did me an inch better by stepping on one at Lake McConaughy, NE.  (No wounds inflicted in either case!)

 

·         Oohing and aahing at Jackson Trappett's photos of the adult Long-tailed Jaeger the Nebraska trip participants all got to see at Lake Ogallala.

 

·         Seeing over 100 CFO convention attendees eating on either Friday or Sunday at Gallagher's River City Grill—my favorite spot in Sterling.

 

But, Ted, were there really Least Tern's galore at Tinmath?

 

Come join us at the 2015 CFO Convention in Salida (for the first time ever), June 4-7.

 

Bill Kaempfer

President, CFO

Boulder

 

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Todd Deininger
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2014 7:50 PM
To: co-birds
Subject: Re: [cobirds] CFO Convention Highlights

 

I'll raise Ted to 18 Mississippi Kites in Sterling on the Friday chase trip.

A Western Hognose Snake on the Tamarack SWA trip.

A nice irruption of out of state birders at the convention. (Nice job Tom W.)

Great intel on dowitcher id from Jon Dunn.

Todd Deininger
Longmont, CO

On Sep 1, 2014 7:40 PM, "Ted Floyd" <tedfloyd57@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hello, Birders.

What a splendid CFO convention!

Here are 25 highlights that quickly come to mind. I'm sure I could rattle off 100, but I'd rather hear from you. If you were at the convention, what were your highlights? I'll start us off; you do the rest. Here goes:

1. At least 12 Mississippi Kites circling right over our heads in a crystal-blue sky. Slacker trip, Columbine Park, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

2. Learning so much from Jon Dunn—for example, how to distinguish Colorado's next Long-toed Stint from just another Least Sandpiper. Keynote address, Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

3. More from Jon Dunn—for example, the difference between a bird's specific epithet and species name. Systematics and taxonomy workshop, Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29.

4. On an impossibly still and sunny morning, a field full of sandsage and sunflowers, Orchard Orioles and Baltimore Orioles. Fox Ranch field trip, Yuma County, Aug. 29.

5. Also at the Fox Ranch, 1 American Redstart, 2 Dickcissels, 3 Least Flycatchers, 4 Upland Sandpipers, 5 Clay-colored Sparrows, and 19 Red-headed Woodpeckers. Fox Ranch field trip, Yuma County, Aug. 29.

6. Ample food and superb company at the kickoff picnic, with stimulating comments from Bill Kaempfer, twittering Chimney Swifts, and trilling Cheddar Waxwings. Columbine Park, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 28.

7. In-your-face stares from a lovely Cassin's Vireo; also a Northern Waterthrush and the meanest, baddest, orneriest Western Wood-Pewee in the history of field ornithology. Migrant traps field trip, Last Chance, Washington County, Aug. 31.

8. An unbelievably humongous female giant inchneumon (Megarhyssa macrurus) on the front door of the hotel. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29.

9. Hundreds of Colorado soldier beetles (Chauliognathus basalis), an impressive showing, in the bindweed and other flowers. Migrant traps field trip, Akron golf course, Washington County, Aug. 31.

10. Along with the soldier beetles, a nifty Gray Flycatcher, a Baltimore Oriole and a Brown Thrasher, several Clay-colored Sparrows, and a great many Chipping Sparrows. Migrant traps field trip, Akron golf course, Washington County, Aug. 31.

11. "COBirds Quotables for $400"—Christian Nunes impersonated Alex Trebek, entertaining and educating all of us. Jeopbirdy, Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29.

12. The sight of Topiltzin Martínez wrangling a plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix); also, fearsome plains harvest-flies (Tibicen dorsatus) and plains lubbers (Brachystola magna) and a nice showing by festive tiger beetles (Cicindela scutellaris). Fox Ranch field trip, Yuma County, Aug. 29.

13. In another wrangling episode, the spectacle of Alicia Gamble and Topiltzin Martínez chasing down a plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi), while frugivorous robins, waxwings, starlings, and a Swainson's Thrush worked a berry-laden mulberry tree. Slacker trip, Columbine Park, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

14. With Christy Carello at a Mexican restaurant in town, an inspiring "student mixer" and a whole lot of chips and salsa. Mi Ranchito, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29.

15. Another Christy Carello initiative, the edifying Saturday afternoon paper sessions; Lauryn Benedict's presentation on duetting by Colorado songbirds was fascinating to me. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

16. House Sparrows—that's right, House Sparrows—duetting outside the hotel; we learned from Lauryn Benedict that House Sparrow pairs sing duets, so I went outside and confirmed this with audio recordings. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Sept. 1.

17. During the break between the paper sessions, chocolate-glazed donut holes with sprinkles; I think maybe they have crack in them?? Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

18. On the drive back west with David Gillilan and Jon Dunn, a chance encounter with David Leatherman and Bill Kaempfer's "departure trip"; Franklin's Gulls and Least Terns galore. Timnath Reservoir, Larimer County, Sept. 1.

19. Wonderful vendors; I confess, I found myself particularly attracted to Glenn Walbek's table, but all of the vendors had great items and information. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29–30.

20. Reflections at the banquet by Ron Ryder Award recipient Catherine Ortega on the various influences in her life, among them conventioneer and nonagenarian Bob Spencer. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

21. A couple of most curious Red-breasted Nuthatches; they came lower and lower in a big ole planted pine until they practically landed on the leader's head. Slacker trip, Cheairs Park, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

22. An evening hailstorm–double rainbow combo; stunning! Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 31.

23. Late-afternoon gatherings around the big ole checklist; so fun to catch up with folks, and to share bird sightings (and a bit of list envy). Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29–30.

24. Random chitchat, pretty much constantly—for example, discussion with Bill Schmoker and Mark Peterson about Colorado's recent Smew; how 'bout that?? Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 29.

25. CFO Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dick Schottler's admission that he is an unabashed lister—and that his most wondrous list is the list of all the fantastic friends he's made while birding. Sterling Ramada, Sterling, Logan County, Aug. 30.

How about you? If you were at the convention—and I know that quite a number of you were—what were your highlights?

Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado

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