Fifteen observers found 107 bird species on the 23 edition of the John Martin Reservoir CBC. Weather was calm, though cool, and water was mostly open on the reservoir, and partly frozen on Lake Hasty Most of the snow had melted from the 1 to 2 feet of snow that fell in early November.
I'm only going to list uncommon species requiring documentation, or count high counts (HC), although many other uncommon species were also found.
Long-tailed Duck (1)
Pacific Loon (1)
Killdeer (21) HC
Dunlin (2) HC
Least Sandpiper (2)
Hermit Thrush (1)
Brown Thrasher (2) HC
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Chipping Sparrow (1) New to the Count, documented by photos.
Canyon Towhee (30) HC, found in many habitats including tall sunflower patches.
Green-tailed Towhee (1) New to the count, documented.
There were NO mountain birds this year, except for one Townsend's Solitaire.
Most of the lowland riparian woodlands on the west side of the reservoir have burned in recent years, drastically impacting birds in this habitat. A few pairs of Northern Cardinals remain.
The deep snow in November drove many sparrows and grassland species out of the region, including the Le Conte's Sparrow and it's habitat in marshes.
Finally, and sadly, the most conspicuous species on the reservoir, besides living Snow Geese, is dead and dying Snow geese, subjects of Avian Influenza. In calm water, they float on the surface. They are imbedded in forming ice, and washed up on shore. The number on the reservoir is currently in the hundreds, perhaps more.
Thanks again to the dedicated birders that make this a very special count.
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
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