[cobirds] Rocky Mountain National Park

Three days of birding in RMNP since September 5 is not a big sample but I noticed an apparent lack of birds both quantity and variety.  Everywhere we went, we commented how quiet it seemed.  I can only speculate that both the extreme cold front and persistent smoke is to blame. (And see other postings, for example, of the NY Times article on the bird die-off in New Mexico and Colorado.)

Thought I would also update a few things for those considering a visit to RMNP:

The advance reservation system currently in place is ending on October 12; after that, entry goes back to "normal."   The park has been noticeably less crowded with the reservation system in place.  And, you can still bypass the need for a permit if you enter before 6 a.m.

Speaking of early entry, construction on HWY 36 within the park continues and a section is closed every night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.  Sunday through Friday.  IF you enter at Beaver Meadows before 7 a.m. during the closure period, you can only go in as far as the Bear Lake road.  So if you are coming in early to visit other parts of the park such as going up Trail Ridge Road, you need to use the Fall River entrance.   Note this also means you may have trouble exiting in the evening (after viewing the elk rut, for example) unless you exit at Fall River.

Due to smoke and the encroachment of the Cameron Peak fire, much of the northwest corner of the park is closed including the Old Fall River Road.

Finally, trail construction is continuing at the Alluvial Fan area in Endovalley and BOTH the east and west alluvial fan parking areas were completely closed yesterday.

IF you are planning a visit, be sure to check the Park website for the latest updates.

Despite all this, we did manage to find three White-tailed Ptarmigan along Trail Ridge Rd, an American Three-toed Woodpecker in Hidden Valley, and a Northern Pygmy Owl at Upper Beaver Meadows.   Unless the several Wilson's Warblers we saw were non-locals, we found no migrant species.

Carl Bendorf

Longmont, CO

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