First up - a nice article about the Yellow Rail finding by Eric DeFonso just dropped today in the Colorado Sun. Check it out: https://tinyurl.com/2esuyxj8
Second - Colorado Field Ornithologists is running two trips to the San Luis Valley this week to check out out this rare visitor. You can sign up for these trips by visiting https://cobirds.org/events/ . Registration is free for CFO members and $10 for Non-Members.
MONITORING FOR YELLOW RAIL IN COLORADO WITH ERIC DEFONSO
Friday, July 22, 2022 5:00PM—7:00PM
Description: Earlier this week Eric DeFonso discovered a singing yellow rail only the second ever for Colorado (first was in 1906). Later a second one was found in the same marsh. CFO will offer this field trip to educate birders about this interesting bird.
We will journey to the Monte Vista NWR to listen carefully for the extremely rare Yellow Rail that has been detected since July 12th. The bird can be heard from the auto-tour route at the 2nd stop (about 2/3 mile from the main entrance), but we will also listen for a 2nd bird that has been reported between the 1st and 2nd stops. We will arrive in the late afternoon (after 5pm) and leave when Refuge closes to the public 1 hr after sunset (9:22pm, or 2122), or earlier if participants are ready to do so. The Yellow Rail is only detectable by its characteristic ticking sound – the bird has not yet been seen, nor is likely to be seen. Photography is unlikely, but please feel free to bring cameras and especially your means of recording bird sounds! Cell phones can make pretty good recordings these days, and that's what I used when recording the bird back on the 12th when I first encountered it.
Eric DeFonso has been involved in the birding and conservation community in Colorado for over 15 years, ranging from volunteer stints with a raptor rehabilitation program and being on the Board of Directors for the Fort Collins Audubon Society, to giving presentations to Audubon chapters across the state and guiding field trips for the Colorado Field Ornithologists. Eric has an extensive collection of bird sound recordings, and now writes a regular column on birding by ear for the journal Colorado Birds. Eric has also been a surveyor for the ongoing IMBCR Breeding Bird survey project run by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies since 2013, and has been the crew leader since 2021. He also now serves on the Colorado Bird Records Committee, and edits reports for the North American Birds journal by the American Birding Association (ABA).
SAN LUIS VALLEY BIRDING WITH JOHN RAWINSKI
Saturday, July 23, 2022 5:30AM—2:30PM
Description: John will not only give excellent bird viewing but also a background about the plants, geology, history and diversity of the San Luis Valley. Participants will do a car caravan to nearby locations and discovering the Valley's hidden treasures. After listening to the Yellow Rails, we will then be travelling the west side of the Valley (The field trip will start on the west side of the Valley and finish in Alamosa). SUV is best vehicle with full tank. Carpooling encouraged but only if driver allows, being still cognizant of COVID. Guests will need to sign the CFO liability waiver electronically with registration. Guests will need to bring a lunch. It has been very hot statewide so please stay hydrated.
John Rawinski is an author and retired soil scientist for the USDA after 31 year career. He has spent 14 Years as part-time naturalist for the Zapata Ranch, Nature Conservancy.
P.S. And don't forget to check out the eight CFO's Hummingbird Workshop Series field trips coming up! The first one starts this Thursday. For more details and to sign up for one, visit: https://cobirds.org/field-workshop-series/
Linda Lee
Louisville
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