[cobirds] no sightings - Chico Basin Ranch county boundaries

COBirders,

 

Looking at eBird reports from Chico ($15 admission per person - $10 per with a group of 5 or more, or optional annual pass good April 1 to March 31) it is apparent that not everyone knows the 87,000 acre cattle ranch is in two counties, El Paso and Pueblo.  The banding station and continuing south to the 2^nd cattle guard crossing on the main road (continuation of Peyton Hwy), where a spur dirt road goes east a short way to a “T” intersection, are all El Paso County.  The fence line at the 2^nd cattle guard crossing is the county boundary. Therefore, all the Chico ponds, except the ephemeral Vega Pond, (few new birders know it), are in Pueblo County as are headquarters sign in area and the adjacent ponds and riparian willows and plains cottonwoods, Rose Pond, Upper and Lower Twin ponds, May Camp and May Camp Pond, Bar JH area etc.  Grab a map at sign in along with a bird checklist and a dragonfly list if interested.

 

FYI, currently, if you report Ash-throated Flycatcher (breeder), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (resident), and Curve-billed Thrasher (resident) from the El Paso portion of Chico you will have to justify their existence on your eBird checklist but these three species in the Pueblo portion of Chico will be not be questioned unless your numbers are redic.  Also, after about a 1” rain, the road to HQ will have standing water in low spots and impassable south of the headquarters willows for about a day, but walking to Rose Pond from the willows would still be an option. The spur roads to May Camp and continuing to the Twin Ponds are basically impassible for 2-3 days after one of the few big rains as are driving east into short grass prairie sand hills areas with few birds but lots of interesting insects. The main road south of the May Camp turnoff can also be an issue after a heavy rain and will continue to be so for a few days after but with few birdy areas there. There are no road signs on the ranch except a paper sign pointing to the banding station spur, but the main Chico road is a continuation of Peyton Highway south.

 

Hope this helps eBirders,

 

Bill Maynard

Colorado Springs