Over the past few months, several have mentioned Banner Lakes State Wildlife Area in southern Weld County -- near Keenesburg and Hudson -- and I've always wanted to go! I had my chance.
This is an active hunting area much of the year. There are 11 ponds in total. Ponds 1-4 are south of Colorado State Highway 52 and Ponds 5-11 are north of Colorado State Highway 52. Access is by foot only. Ponds 1-4 (southern ponds) are available for birding between February 15 and sometime in mid-September. February 15 is the end of the hunting season -- and mid-September marks the beginning of the fall hunting season (check the Colorado DOW website for exact dates) Ponds 5-11 (northern ponds) are a little more complicated. Ponds 5-11 are safely available for birding between February 15 and March 31. February 15 marks the end of hunting season and March 31 marks the closure to public access to promote waterfowl breeding. The northern ponds re-open to public access (by foot only) on July 15 -- and then, like the southern ponds, the hunting season starts sometime in mid-September (check the Colorado DOW website for exact dates). Having said that (phew!), I wanted to visit all of the ponds (which I did) and I knew that the northern half closes to public access on April 1 to promote waterfowl breeding. Birding here is a bit of challenge -- because there is hunting here - but at this time of year, it's quiet. So - I was able to go on Wednesday, March 31 - while both northern and southern ponds were open to public access (southern ponds are still open). I saw: Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, American Coot, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, American Robin, Western Meadowlark, Killdeer, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Great Horned Owl, American Crow, American Wigeon, Ruddy Duck and Gadwall. At least -- this is what I saw with identification confidence. It was a great day and there were a lot of people visiting on this last open day for the northern ponds. The High Plains prairie is very patiently waiting for spring - and the day was unsettled with a classic "upslope". Banner Lakes reminded of the novels by Willa Cather. I enjoy the northern ponds of Banner Lakes more than the southern ponds -- but it might also have been the time of day and the relentless wind! Thanks to everyone who suggested this place - I'll be back in July! Pics link below: Owl and Harrier: http://picasaweb.google.com/timshel40/BannerLakesSWAMarch312010# Waterfowl: http://picasaweb.google.com/timshel40/BannerLakesSWAMarch31201002# Happy Easter! Ben Kemena Denver, Colorado _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe, reply using "remove me" as the subject.
