We invite qualified observers to participate in the Breeding Bird Survey "BBS." Participants must have the skills to identify the likely species on their routes by sight and by sound.
Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and the West) the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, originally US Fish & Wildlife Service, now the Biological Research Division of the US Geological Survey, has sponsored the Breeding Bird Survey program to monitor birds across the US (and Canada, with the Canadian Wildlife Service). Last year volunteers ran almost 3000 routes in the US & Canada.
Scientists use BBS results to derive population trends for the species that the system samples well.
Colorado has 132 designated BBS routes, and we consistently run more routes than all other states in the U.S. except Texas and California.
A BBS route covers 24.5 miles. Observers record all the birds they hear and see during a 3-minute stop, then drive a half-mile to the next stop. You run the route, once only, during the peak of the songbird singing season, from May 25 on the plains to July 15 in the high country. The ability to identify species by sound is crucial--I record 75-85% of the birds on my routes by sound, not sight.
The observer should have the ability to identify, by sound and sight, most of the species likely to occur along that route. On my routes, I identify over 75% of the birds by sound, without ever seeing them. We seek a commitment of three years, because the BBS prefers route data run by the same person for at least 3 years.
Let me know if you would like one or more. The following list is organized geographically (sort of). I hope that we can fill most of them with qualified observers who have good ears.
The following lists the available routes; I can send more detailed descriptions to you if you'd like to consider one but want more information. I know it's old –fashioned, but I use the DeLorme (printed on paper) Atlas to locate routes.
Key to route descriptions:
Number and name County Page in DeLorme Atlas
I especially enjoyed the first few pre-dawn stops along the wetlands area of Poncha Creek; the dawn Chorus there was often a tad overwhelming. An experience I will never forget." – Tina Mitchell
ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS
East Central & North
17214 Kirk Kit Carson p 97
Starts 5 miles S of Kirk; westerly on CR MM to end.
Starts 2 miles south of north state line and 1 mile west of east state line, 12 miles east of Julesburg, at intersection of CRs 39 & 61. South on CR 61 to end.
Southeast
17028 Two Buttes Prowers & Baca p 103
Start at intersection of CR 26 & CR D; east on CR D 9 miles; S on Colo 89 to end.
17050 Crowley Crowley p 96
Starts in Olney Springs; NE on Canal Road to CR 8, then north 5 miles; jog west to CR 7, then north 10 miles, jog east, then north on CR 8 to end
17220 Haswell Bent, Kiowa p 99
Start 6 miles N of Las Animas; N 7 miles on CR 10; swing around SE edge of Adobe Cr Res. SWA, then N 4 miles on Road 17; E on Road E 2 miles; N 5 miles on Road 19, E 1 mile on Road K, then N on Road 20 to end.
17321 Sheridan Lake Prowers, Kiowa p 103
Start on Prowers Co. Rd 30 at Rd VV; north on VV to Kiowa CR W; then east on W to end.
Starts at Ludlow; west on CR 447 miles; right CR 51.1 1.5 miles; south on CR 47.7, 51, and 51.7 to end near Cokedale.
17320 Karval Lincoln p 98-99
Starts 25 miles SE of Punkin Center at intersection of CRds 39 and U. West on CR U 7 miles; south on CR 32 one mile; then west on CR T to end.
San Luis Valley and Southwest
17423 Animas La Plata p 86
Starts 2 miles south of Durango; South on CR 319 to Bondad; east across Animas River (skipping about 4 miles) to CR 219, thence north and east; north on CR 309A to end.
17223 Piedra Archuleta p 88, 87, 77
Start at Highway 160, 10 miles west of Pagosa Springs; North on Rd 146 and fR 629 7 miles; Left (NW) on Piedra Road to Road 631 and FR 640 past Williams Creek Res. to end
Northwest
17032 Wilson Creek Rio Blanco, Moffat p 24
Start 10 miles north of Meeker at intersection of CR 7 & 9; Nly on CR 9 to CR 17; north on CR 17 to end.
17201 Browns Park Moffat p 12
Start 20 miles SE of Browns Park NWR; north on CR 10 to Colo 318; NWly on Colo 318 to CR 83; south on CR 83 to end in Browns Park NWR.
17308 Baxter Pass Garfield pp 42, 32
Starts 15 miles NW of Highline Lake; N on CR 201 over Baxter Pass to end
17351 Angora Rio Blanco p 22-23
Start 8 miles NE of Rangely; Start on CR 61 or 65 at Holandrus Res.; south on 61/65 to Colo 64 east on Colo 64 two miles; south and east on CR 122 to end.
17352 Yellowjacket Pass Rio Blanco, Moffat p 24
Start 2 miles east of Meeker; east and north on CR 15/CR 45 to end.
17008 Douglas Pass Garfield, Rio Blanco pp 42, 32
Starts on Douglas Pass road about a mile north of Garfield/Mesa county line. Continues north on Douglas Pass Road to end, about a mile north of Garfield/Rio Blanco county line.
Hugh Kingery
BBS Coordinator, Colorado
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