[cobirds] Re: Fort Collins City Park (Larimer) of late

I've been seeing a lot of Cassin's Finches at my place in the Big Thompson canyon. Usually they are a rare occurrence. Today I saw about 20, with only 2 red males. We have lots of ash seeds up here and I have several feeders.

On Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 10:38:15 AM UTC-7 Dave Leatherman wrote:

Two major things stand out after the last several visits to the Fort Collins City Park area, which includes Grandview Cemetery, of late:

1) There is an on-going major invasion of Cassin's Finches to the lowlands fueled by the bumper crop of seed produced by female green ash trees this past summer.  The great, great majority of Cassin's Finches I've seen are female/immature types but there are a few pink males mixed in.  In almost every case, the bird flock feeding on ash seeds includes House Finches and sometimes American Goldfinches and Black-capped Chickadees.  This food resource was covered in "The Hungry Bird" column in Volume 51(1) January 2017 issue of "Colorado Birds" if you want to read more.  Of course, in addition to their green ash staple, many of the finches are also visiting feeding stations.  But I firmly believe the ash seed bonanza is the default food allowing a winter-long visit to 5000 feet ASL and below.

As an aside, Wood Ducks have been present at Sheldon Lake for the last several months up until just recently.  Late this autumn they, too, fed heavily on green ash seed on the grass, along the shore and even muzzled them from the upper ice.

   

  

2) Avian influenza is worsening.  Yesterday on Sheldon Lake in City Park I counted 19 white-cheeked geese dead on the ice and two ducks (presumably Mallards).  At least a few Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks frequent the lake, although I have never been present when they are actually scavenging carcasses.  I have seen a few plucked carcasses and presume it is at least the eagles.

Regarding avian influenza, does anyone know of any information on whether dogs can become infected?  I am assuming if humans can very rarely fall victim, other mammals might also.  The reason I say this is because I have been asked by the armada of dog-walkers, many of whom I at least know well enough to greet.  I see a few letting their dogs run loose, sniff carcasses and one lady even said that because her dog likes to eat goose droppings she is concerned.  Yikes.  Seems like an easy solution to that - don't let your dog eat droppings under any circumstances.  Thanks for info any of you might have.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins  

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