Re: [cobirds] Re: Baird's Sparrows, Larimer

Dave's photos prove three things, in my humble opinion:

1) Sparrows can be really difficult to identify,

2) a picture can say a thousand words, 

And 3) two fresh-plumaged juvenile Baird's Sparrows were out there this morning. 

I think these photos, in concert with other observations and evidence, demonstrate the first know successful breeding of Baird's Sparrow in Colorado. Congrats, Dave. 

Nick Komar

Fort Collins CO

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 10, 2015, at 4:34 PM, David Wade <davespeedbump@gmail.com> wrote:

Greetings,
I've posted some of the photos from this morning on my Flickr site. There are 12 pics in all so instead of  listing each individually, I connected with my home page. To view them, click on any photo, then use the arrow keys or mouse click the margins to move through them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122221383@N05/with/20279478978/

David Wade
Ft Collins, CO

On Monday, August 10, 2015 at 10:50:20 AM UTC-6, Nick Komar wrote:

This morning I joined David Wade and Georgia Doyle to investigate whether the Baird's sparrows can still be detected on CR 5 in northeast Larimer County. In general, the entire 5-mile stretch of road north of Buckeye Road was still very birdy. Beginning at sunrise, we spent two hours along the 0.3-mile stretch of road beginning at 1.6 miles north of Buckeye Road which is where at least two singing birds had been heard beginning July 25. Bird songs were much reduced this morning. At least a dozen Grasshopper Sparrows were present (adults and juvs) but none sang. Nonetheless, Georgia and I heard one of the adult Baird's Sparrows sing 3 times, far to our west shortly after sunrise (at 1.7 mi.)

About 20 minutes later, at 6:50 AM, a bird landed on the road in front of the car at 1.8 miles and Georgia exclaimed "that looks like Baird's". We were able to get brief binocular views of this bird on the road and perched on fence line as it moved up to 1.9 miles with a mixed flock of Lark Buntings, Horned Larks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Brewer's Sparrows and Vesper Sparrows. It was aggressive, frequently chasing other birds. I got off one poor photo. Dave Wade got others and will post to his Flickr site later today. I believe this was a juvenile Baird's in fresh plumage, possibly the same bird photographed more than a week ago by Dan Durda.

Certainly not an easy chase, but good news is that they are still around and may still be breeding.

Sorry for the long post, but one more comment. In the last two weeks, many birders from all over Colorado and even from other states have visited this location in search of the Baird's sparrows. I am not aware of any inappropriate behavior displayed toward the birds, other birders, or towards property owners. Colorado should be proud of its birding community.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO

Sent from my iPhone

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