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). In 2019 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.
Email me 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
17207 Amherst Sedgwick & Phillips p 102
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.
17044 Bethune Kit Carson p 103
Start 6 miles north of Bethune; south 21 miles on CR 40; east one mile on CR D, then south on CR 41 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.
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.
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.
17376 Ludlow Las Animas p 93
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.
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.
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.
West
17209 Flat Tops Garfield P 35
Start 5 miles NW of New Castle; go northerly on Forest Roads 245 and 244 to end.
17308 Baxter Pass Garfield pp 42, 32
Starts 15 miles NW of Highline Lake; N on CR 201 over Baxter Pass to end
17045 Uncompahgre Mesa p 54
Start 20 miles SW of Whitewater at intersection of Forest Roads 402 and 403. South on FR 403 (Divide Road) to end.
Hugh Kingery
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