For what it's worth, I have been up at Larimer CR5 between Roads 82 and 92 at the Baird's Sparrows stretch from 6:15 to 10am both yesterday and today. Among yesterday's group of 6, and today's of 5, none of us saw or heard Baird's Sparrows, except maybe one person whose name I didn't catch. There was a proclamation on COBIRDS by Randy Siebert about the birds still being there. Maybe he is the person I didn't know, and maybe the Baird's Sparrows are truly still present. Not sure how communications occur, or don't occur, in such situations when people are all spread out. One thing I do know is that most of us up there the last few days have considerable experience surveying prairie birds, including in the wind, and that we still have the better part of the hearing faculties we were given. I also know there's a reason why many experienced birders in CO need Baird's for their list and/or state lists - they are cryptic, don't occur here all that often, and their song isn't the most distinctive or far-reaching in the Class Aves.
Kudos to Nick and others for finding, documenting, and effectively communicating about these great birds. Kudos to the prairie once again for demonstrating its remarkable ability to respond to rain, if and when it gets it. I think I have tallied about 25 species or so during my three trips up there of late, including Blue Grosbeaks, Common Raven, multiple Burrowing Owls, both Cc and McCown's Longspurs, nesting Loggerhead Shrikes (if one wonders why they are called "Loggerhead", take a good look at a blockheaded fledgling LOSH), zillions of Grasshopper Sparrows of all ages, Brewer's Sparrows, all shades and ages of Lark Buntings, ratty-looking Vesper Sparrows, Sage Thrashers of all ages, young and old Swainson's Hawks, nighthawks in the sky and on posts, Say's Phoebes, both common kingbirds, dispersing Chipping Sparrows, and, of course, boatloads of Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks of all ages. And I heard others encountered an Upland Sandpiper.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
Kudos to Nick and others for finding, documenting, and effectively communicating about these great birds. Kudos to the prairie once again for demonstrating its remarkable ability to respond to rain, if and when it gets it. I think I have tallied about 25 species or so during my three trips up there of late, including Blue Grosbeaks, Common Raven, multiple Burrowing Owls, both Cc and McCown's Longspurs, nesting Loggerhead Shrikes (if one wonders why they are called "Loggerhead", take a good look at a blockheaded fledgling LOSH), zillions of Grasshopper Sparrows of all ages, Brewer's Sparrows, all shades and ages of Lark Buntings, ratty-looking Vesper Sparrows, Sage Thrashers of all ages, young and old Swainson's Hawks, nighthawks in the sky and on posts, Say's Phoebes, both common kingbirds, dispersing Chipping Sparrows, and, of course, boatloads of Horned Larks and Western Meadowlarks of all ages. And I heard others encountered an Upland Sandpiper.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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