[cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

Similar to your situation was the osprey nest here in the San Luis Valley where baling twine invariably ends up in the nest, creating a potential hazard. A trim is almost needed periodically. Our local utility companies have been very responsive. I would contact them and USFW service as well and see what they can come up with if it happens again. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO

On Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:40:10 PM UTC-6 Pauli Driver-Smith wrote:

There is another problem, though. They brought in some tangled bungee cords. It is hanging from the side of the platform. I think the hook on one end is attached to the top of the platform.

I had a lot of trees limbs come down in the storm, so I asked the tree trimmer if while he has his bucket crane here could he unhook it. He said that his license won't allow it because they are predatory birds. I thought that only mattered once they start nesting, not before they lay any eggs? I don't know if they are even going to nest this year. They haven't made a lot of progress on their nest yet, and it is getting rather late.

What do you all think? Do you know anyone in the Mead area with a cherry picker that can grab the bungee cord?

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County, CO.

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[cobirds] RE: And now there are two!

The nest building is progressing, and today, both were circling the lake looking for lunch. The female caught a fish. I didn't see the male catch anything. I hope she shared. Sorry if I am boring everyone, but I haven't been this excited in ages.

In case not everyone knows, the surface rights to the lake are now owned by Mead. It is open to the public, but no motorized vehicles past the park parking lot. Right now, because of the drought, the lake is at its natural level. Even though it is #7 in seniority, it doesn't look like we are going to get any more water this year, or if we do, the lake will not be filled. The lake itself is spring fed. It was enlarged in the late 1870s to accommodate more water for irrigation, but it always had some natural water in it. What is there can't be taken out for irrigation so the farmers are hurting, but the wildlife is happy. Right now, people can walk all the way around the lake including have access to the wooded, virgin land on the west shore, where the springs come up out of the ground.

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County.

[cobirds] Chatfield Banding Station, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies 5-12-26

A warm, summer-like day.  Most of the birds caught today fall into the breeding-at-Chatfield category, no new species.  Here's the breakdown of the 28 new and 4 returns:

Downy Woodpecker 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Northern House Wren 9
Gray Catbird 3 new, 3 banded 2025
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 3
MacGillivray's Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 2
Wilson's Warbler 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 2 new, 1 banded 2023 and recaught 2024 and 2025
Song Sparrow 1
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1

We are banding Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) through May 31, weather permitting.  There are opportunities for the public to visit on weekends and early mornings most weekdays.  Reservations are required and can be made through the Denver Audubon website.  (Many/most sessions are already sold out, so sign up now if you are interested!)

Meredith McBurney
Bander, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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[cobirds] BIRD BOMBS: Knock on Wood this Thursday May 14 at 7 pm

Register now for the next BIRD BOMBS: Knock on Wood this Thursday May 14 at 7 pm. Learn about identification of Colorado's  twelve regular species of woodpeckers, with a nod to rare visitors, too. 

David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

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[cobirds] Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 12, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

You cannot beat the nice Colorado Weather- It would be better for the birds if the wind blew from the south/southeast to assist them in their migration north.  

Fifteen birds species were banded today including a female American Redstart. A Traill's Flycatcher was banded- it is a category we banders have to give the flycatchers in the Alder/Willow class. Its measurements were in the overlap for both species so it is a Traill's Flycatcher (not very definitive). It id have a lot of green on it and a birder did have an Alder calling in the banding area but they did not say the bird was banded. We also caught a late for this site, Gray-headed Junco.

29 New Banded Birds

Wilson's Warbler- 1

American Redstart- 1

Yellow Warbler- 3

Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) Warbler- 2

Traill's Flycatcher- 1

Lesser Goldfinch- 1

American Goldfinch- 5

Gray-headed Junco- 1

Lazuli Bunting- 4

Lincoln's Sparrow- 1

Hermit Thrush- 3

Yellow-breasted Chat- 1

Western Tanager- 2

Black-headed Grosbeak- 2

Common Grackle- 1

No Recaptures today.

If wanting to bird the Ranch, Please register on the Aiken Audubon Website www.aikenaudubon.com Also if you have not been there before to download or take a photo of the birding map. The cell reception is spotty at best out there so won't be able to get maps to come up on your phone.

Stop by the banding station and share your sightings!

Enjoy the Day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Bander, Chico Basin Ranch

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

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Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

Great advice! I’m learning so much about ospreys. 

Get Outlook for iOS

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From: cobirds@googlegroups.com <cobirds@googlegroups.com> on behalf of M T <raptordefender@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 7:48:29 AM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

 

Hello,

Raptors are federally protected and once the birds are present at a nest, cleaning activities will have to wait until the birds disperse in late summer/early fall. Osprey are notorious collectors of various types of debris and are exceptionally fond of discarded bailing twine. Many of these materials are entanglement hazards and will accumulate over the season, so now would be a great time to come up with a maintenance plan for fall/winter in order to remove accumulated debris.

Michael C. Tincher

Loveland, CO.

On Monday, May 11, 2026 at 11:37:24 AM UTC-6 Pauli Driver-Smith wrote:

I'm not getting anything done these days except watch the nest. I can't see it from my house, so I have to walk out across from my tree line to my field to see any action. The female was busy today.

---

From: Kirstin C. <kirst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 10:22 AM
To: Driver-Smith Pauli <hollyho...@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

That's so interesting! It sure seems like a hopeful, positive sign that they are placing sticks and "treasured trash" on your platform.  If they do nest there this year, you may not get anything done, because you'll have your binoculars trained on that nest all day long.  I know this from experience--I installed a kestrel nest box, equipped with a 24/7 nest camera, and I have a hard time doing anything besides watching tiny kestrel chicks being fed. 

Glad the bungees are gone!

Best,

Kirstin Chapman

Arvada

Sent from my iPad

On May 11, 2026, at 9:48 AM, Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com> wrote:



They seem to be very particular about their architecture of their new home. Only the best sticks and junk will do. Slow but steady progress. Maybe they are just playing at housekeeping this year in prep for next. 🙂

---

From: Kirstin C. <kirst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 9:30 AM
To: Driver-Smith Pauli <hollyho...@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

 

Whew!  Great news. 

Sent from my iPad

On May 10, 2026, at 12:47 PM, Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com> wrote:



I shouldn't have worried. A strong wind came up last night and detached and blew the cords away. One Osprey was on the perch and the other was circling around above and over the lake. I heard my first Osprey call this morning.

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County

---

From: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 4:55 PM
To: cobirds <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] And now there are two!

 

There is another problem, though. They brought in some tangled bungee cords. It is hanging from the side of the platform. I think the hook on one end is attached to the top of the platform.

I had a lot of trees limbs come down in the storm, so I asked the tree trimmer if while he has his bucket crane here could he unhook it. He said that his license won't allow it because they are predatory birds. I thought that only mattered once they start nesting, not before they lay any eggs? I don't know if they are even going to nest this year. They haven't made a lot of progress on their nest yet, and it is getting rather late.

What do you all think? Do you know anyone in the Mead area with a cherry picker that can grab the bungee cord?

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County, CO.

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Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

Hello,

Raptors are federally protected and once the birds are present at a nest, cleaning activities will have to wait until the birds disperse in late summer/early fall. Osprey are notorious collectors of various types of debris and are exceptionally fond of discarded bailing twine. Many of these materials are entanglement hazards and will accumulate over the season, so now would be a great time to come up with a maintenance plan for fall/winter in order to remove accumulated debris.

Michael C. Tincher

Loveland, CO.

On Monday, May 11, 2026 at 11:37:24 AM UTC-6 Pauli Driver-Smith wrote:

I'm not getting anything done these days except watch the nest. I can't see it from my house, so I have to walk out across from my tree line to my field to see any action. The female was busy today.

---

From: Kirstin C. <kirst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 10:22 AM
To: Driver-Smith Pauli <hollyho...@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

That's so interesting! It sure seems like a hopeful, positive sign that they are placing sticks and "treasured trash" on your platform.  If they do nest there this year, you may not get anything done, because you'll have your binoculars trained on that nest all day long.  I know this from experience--I installed a kestrel nest box, equipped with a 24/7 nest camera, and I have a hard time doing anything besides watching tiny kestrel chicks being fed. 

Glad the bungees are gone!

Best,

Kirstin Chapman

Arvada

Sent from my iPad

On May 11, 2026, at 9:48 AM, Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com> wrote:



They seem to be very particular about their architecture of their new home. Only the best sticks and junk will do. Slow but steady progress. Maybe they are just playing at housekeeping this year in prep for next. 🙂

---

From: Kirstin C. <kirst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2026 9:30 AM
To: Driver-Smith Pauli <hollyho...@msn.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: And now there are two!

 

Whew!  Great news. 

Sent from my iPad

On May 10, 2026, at 12:47 PM, Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com> wrote:



I shouldn't have worried. A strong wind came up last night and detached and blew the cords away. One Osprey was on the perch and the other was circling around above and over the lake. I heard my first Osprey call this morning.

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County

---

From: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Pauli Driver-Smith <hollyho...@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 4:55 PM
To: cobirds <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [cobirds] And now there are two!

 

There is another problem, though. They brought in some tangled bungee cords. It is hanging from the side of the platform. I think the hook on one end is attached to the top of the platform.

I had a lot of trees limbs come down in the storm, so I asked the tree trimmer if while he has his bucket crane here could he unhook it. He said that his license won't allow it because they are predatory birds. I thought that only mattered once they start nesting, not before they lay any eggs? I don't know if they are even going to nest this year. They haven't made a lot of progress on their nest yet, and it is getting rather late.

What do you all think? Do you know anyone in the Mead area with a cherry picker that can grab the bungee cord?

Pauli Smith

Highlandlake/Mead, Weld County, CO.

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