Eighteen hardy souls endured balmy conditions with gentle breezes on Friday while conducting the 31st running of the Rawhide Power Station Christmas Bird Count in Larimer County. Despite "bluebird weather", no bluebirds were found. However, thanks to excellent coverage of the circle by a record number of observers, the teams amassed 74 species, just one shy of the record set 30 years previously. Two new species were recorded; a single Lincoln's Sparrow and 5 Tundra Swans. Mild conditions (a rarity on this count) may have contributed to new highs established for: Cackling geese (5000), Common Merganser (500), White Pelican (1, matches previous high), Bald Eagle (13), Red-tailed Hawk (29), Ferruginous Hawk (12), Northern Goshawk (1, ties high), Great Blue Heron (4, ties record), Herring Gull (22), Virginia Rail (1, matches high), Common Raven (77) and Western Meadowlark (23).
My thanks to all who participated !
Doug Kibbe, Compiler
Littleton, CO
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