I drove out there today, and my worst fears were realized. It was not a heart-breaking sight, but more like a punch to the gut. It was like turning the corner expecting to run into a vivacious friend, but seeing a skeleton instead. When a corpse is found, someone covers it with a sheet or blanket. But there was no one to cover Last Chance from my view.
What was burned, what was not: The short-grass prairie is black in every direction. The bridge on Hway 36 a mile west of Last Chance was passable, and road crews were repairing some minor damage.Trees burned partly and I suspect that the owls that breed there will be able to return next year. Northeast quadrant of Hways 71 and 36. Motel, Dairy King and the houses and juniper stand north of that appeared untouched. Southeast quadrant: Skeletal remains of the old railroad cars are smoldering. All else burned down. Northwest quadrant: The church and other buildings there appeared untouched. The riparian area and prairie north of the bridge over Hway 36 are totally burned up. Southwest quadrant. Although the greenery,trees around the rest area and porta potties were fine, I am sorry to report that all is black west of the chain link fence behind the potties - burned up burned down. The larger elm trunks were partly charred, with some green leaves at their tops. May survive, may not. I am not an expert assessor. But that was a mere token of unburned vegetation, as EVERYTHING except the green scum on the tiny water hole was gone, burned to the ground. The land forms of our favorite swales and draws were laid bare. The tiny drainage (valley) that comes in from the east, crossing under 71, is OK. My biggest gut ache is that with the least rainfall, tons of black ash and soil will FILL UP the water hole. I just can't imagine what this will be like, unless there are funds to dig it out with bulldozers ( and put it where?). Yes, the grass and shrubs will return, but without a drop of surface water, I know not what the birds will do. It was pathetic seeing all of the thirsty resident birds coming to the water's edge. The pair of Brown Thrashers would come in for a sip, then fly a few yards up along the valley to the south, as if they were going to hide, like usual. But there was nothing to hide in. Western Kingbirds, Robins, all came in for furtive drinks. I am feeling too low to write anything about how it will be interesting to see how things improve from here, etc. Joe Roller, in Denver and in the dumps -- 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. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
