We invitequalified observers to participate in the Breeding Bird
Survey. Participantsmust have the skills to identify the likely species on
their routes by sightand by sound.
Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and theWest) the Patuxent Wildlife
Research Center, originally US Fish & WildlifeService, and now the Biological
Research Division of the US Geological Survey,has sponsored the Breeding Bird
Survey program to monitor birds across the US(and Canada, with the Canadian
Wildlife Service). In 2002, volunteers ranalmost 3000 routes in the US&
Canada.They call the project the "Breeding Bird Survey" – hence"BBS."
Scientists use results from the BBS to derive populationtrends for the species
that the system samples well.
Colorado has 132designated BBS routes, and we consistently run more
routes than all otherstates in the U.S.except Texasand California.In 2009 we
ran one or two more than 100 of the 132 routes. (A handful ofobservers still
haven’t posted the data.) Right now we have twelve routeswithout assigned
observers for 2010.
A BBS routecovers 24.5 miles. Observers record all the birds they
hear and see during a3-minute stop, then drive a half-mile to the next stop.
You run the route, onceonly, during the peak of the songbird singing season,
from May 25 on the plainsto July 15 in the high country. The ability to
identify species by soundis crucial--I estimate that I record 75-85% of the
birds on my routes by sound,not sight.
We seek acommitment of three years, because the BBS doesn't use
route data unless thesame person runs it for at least 3 years. The observer
should have the abilityto identify, by sound and sight, most of the species
likely to occur along thatroute.
Let me knowif you would like one or more. The following list is
organized geographically(sort of).
Key to routedescriptions:
Number and name County Page in DeLorme Atlas
Roads thatthe route follows.
Southeast
17126Cone Mtn. Las Animas p 100
Startsabout 25 miles NE of Walsenburg, where CR 86 turns south into CR 91.9; S
on CR91.9 and CR 74.2 and 101.5; W on CR 64, N on CR93.9 to end.
17326Walsenburg Huerfano p 83 & 93
Startsat S edge of Walsenburg; S on CR 330; Easterly on CR 310 to Lester; SWly
on CR312 and 313 to end.
CentralMountains
17311Como Park
Startsat summit of Boreas Pass; south through Como and continuing on Elkhorn
Road toend.
Southwest
17423Animas La Plata p 86
Starts2 miles south of Durango; South on CR319 to Bondad; east across Animas
River (skipping about 4 miles) to CR 219,thence north and east; north on CR
309A to end.
17124Blackhead Peak Archuleta p 88
Startsabout 20 miles east of Pagosa Springs: on FR 665, go westerly to US 84; S
on84, but no stops on 84, to CR 326; Left (east) and resume route on CRR326, to
end.
Northwest
17008Douglas Pass Garfield, RioBlanco pp 42, 32
Startson Douglas Pass road about a mile north of Garfield/Mesa county line.
Continuesnorth on Douglas Pass Road to end, about a mile north of Garfield/Rio
Blancocounty line.
17358Piceance Basin Rio Blanco p 33
Startson CR 5 25 miles NW of Rifle; NWly along Piceance Creek to CR24, then
westerlyalong CR 24 to CR 80. Then SWly on CR 80 to end.
Plains
17007Fleming Phillips p95
Starts8 miles SW of Fleming; easterly on a series of county roads through
Haxtun toend, 5 ½ miles east of Haxtun.
17214Kirk KitCarson p 97
Starts5 miles S of Kirk; westerly on CR MM to end.
17314Burlington Kit Carson p 102
Starts8 miles east and 14 miles north of Burlington; south on CR 57 and 56,
crossingUS 24 a mile east of Peconic, and south10 miles to end.
Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO
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