As a supplement to the recent post about a fall cankerworm episode in Loveland along the Big Thompson River trail east of Wilson (thanks again to Derek Hill for pointing this out), I wanted to mention another opportunity for Fort Collins folks to see this insect a little closer to home. Just southeast of Bellvue is a small but intense infestation on a few boxelders and associated chokecherries. It is on Bingham Hill Road. About a mile west of Overland Trail, Bingham Hill Road crests the hogback and then leads downhill into the beautiful valley before curving north toward a farmstead with a huge silo. On the west side of this north-south stretch of the road bordering a huge hayfield are the defoliated boxelders and heavily chewed chokecherries. To view the caterpillars and defoliation up close requires parking at the west base of the hogback where there is a gravelly wide spot at the curve and walking a few 100 yards north to the trees.
Birds are enjoying the event and yesterday I observed eastern kingbirds, a Say's phoebe, Bullock's orioles, blue grosbeaks and lesser goldfinches feasting on the inchworms. Yellow warblers, western meadowlarks and a house wren were heard nearby and they likely visit the site, also. Bobolinks sang in the hayfield west of the caterpillar trees and I wouldn't be surprised if they feed nestlings these morsels prior to the first cutting that historically has prevented nesting success.
Eastern Kingbird feeding on fall cankerworm caterpillars in chokecherry.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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