[cobirds] Denver Christmas Bird Count - Initial results (not all areas reporting yet)

The Denver CBC was held yesterday, December 16th.  Conditions on Count Day and the weeks leading up to it were, well, TOO nice.  Most water was open and the many areas reported that birding was “flat” with few land and water birds.  Some feel we need a good COLD front to move more birds further south (to Colorado).   Still, we did tally some nice birds.

 

95 species on Count Day (so far)

6 species seen in the three days leading up to Count Day (so, Count Week)

 

This count has been performed every year since 1954 (minus 2020, COVID), and yet a new species was added to the count!  Short-billed Gull (previously only recorded as a Count Week bird).  This makes the cumulative species total for the Denver CBC a nice 205 species!

 

Some highlights:

 

White-winged Scoter (only recorded on 7 prior Denver CBCs)

Horned Grebe

Short-billed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Red-throated Loon (only recorded on 6 prior Denver CBCs)

Common Loon

SEVEN(!) Northern Saw-whet Owls!!!  One intrepid birder started VERY early and counted 6 individuals!

Winter Wren

 

Many organizations depend upon volunteers.  Without volunteers, organizations and efforts (such as the Christmas Bird Counts) would not happen.  The Denver Field Ornithologists and I (the Compiler of the Denver CBC) would like to thank ALL 24 Area Leaders and everyone that volunteered to help with this year’s Count who drove, trod, hiked, sloshed, ice “climbed” and by other means, covered miles and miles of their “territories” in the Count Circle to achieve the these results this year.  Your efforts are MUCH appreciated!  Thank you!

 

IF you have not participated in a Christmas Bird Count, don’t be intimidated!  ALL counts need help.  Counts around Colorado will continue to happen up through January 5^th.  You might not know the identity of all the birds, but you can certainly help point out birds that others are not seeing or hearing.  You will also learn a lot about bird identification AND where and how to look for birds.  It’s a great experience and once you do a CBC, you’ll want to do more…every year!

 

Happy Holidays to one and all.

 

Joey.

 

Joey Kellner

Compiler - Denver CBC

 

     _

    ( '<

    // )

   / ""