Re: [cobirds] Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Jeffco near Standley Lake)
I very unexpectedly had a visit from a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in my back yard this afternoon, foraging under my bird feeder. I was outside sitting not too close but with a clear view of this gorgeous bird (no camera on me, alas). It foraged for about ten minutes until the antics of my local squirrel adversary annoyed it enough to fly up to the nearest tree branch. Next time I looked it was gone. This is my first sighting in Colorado. Our house is in the old Sunstream filing, west of Wadsworth and right off Independence, south of Dry Creek and several blocks east of Standley Lake. Glorious visit! Really made my day. Jennifer Powell j...@well.com On 5/6/2023 3:10 PM, Gregg Goodrich wrote: Tucker Gulch in Golden had really good birds this morning. Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, singing Northern Parula, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock’s Oriole and tons of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Got photos of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Northern Parula. Also, a short recording of the Northern Parula all on my list. https://ebird.org/checklist/S136327956 Wonder what will show up next at this great spot. Gregg Goodrich Highlands Ranch -- -- 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 * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAG23TovuEf1vVK4bxkF%3DT8TAAo9_PwFr1q%2Bc4s09YAOMbPA%2BPw%40mail.gmail.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAG23TovuEf1vVK4bxkF%3DT8TAAo9_PwFr1q%2Bc4s09YAOMbPA%2BPw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email_source=footer>. -- -- 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 * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/c47b73e3-1a16-f149-af11-a9143ceb7027%40well.com.
Re: [cobirds] Pyrrhuloxia diet
We have some shrubby wild plums that grow around our yard and every spring I see birds, usually house finches, methodically going up and down the stems eating early flower buds one after another. Jennifer Powell Jeffco, near Standley Lake On 2/14/2022 9:27 AM, 'Carol Blackard' via Colorado Birds wrote: Lateral but still birdy shift here: I’ve been watching bushtits picking off and downing buds from our Flowering Quince bushes in March for years, sometimes chickadees. At first I thought they might be going for insect larvae, but I now think it’s the flower buds. Carol Blackard carolblackard.com Sent from my iPhone On Feb 14, 2022, at 9:16 AM, DAVID A LEATHERMAN wrote: At least four people have sent me pics or descriptions of house finches at or near the pyrrhuloxia yard eating tree parts and have said the pyrrhuloxia was associating with the finches for a lengthy period of time, maybe doing the same thing. The "tree parts" are buds. Trees have two primary types of buds: flower buds and leaf buds. At this time of year the flower buds, which are first to open for most types of trees, swell. As such they are nutritional sinks and a valuable source of bird food, especially for finches, cardinals and the like. The tree shown in the pics I've received looks like Siberian elm, a tree that has been flowering earlier and earlier in my experience. In recent years I have seen a few elm flowers in late February, with March being the peak. It would be cool if somebody could document the pyrrhuloxia eating Siberian elm flower buds. Birds actively consuming large numbers of buds, which is a messy operation, often show considerable "debris" on their beaks. Maybe one of you has a photo of the pyrrhuloxia with a messy beak and it could be determined if the mess is from sunflower seed or tree buds. A photo of the pyrrhuloxia actually putting its beak down to a twig with swollen dark brown buds would be better proof. We all know animals are opportunists. Studying fox squirrels over the years, I have long thought one could pretty accurately predict the order in which our urban trees flower and/or leaf out by noting the tree species when one sees squirrels chowing down on buds and dropping the worked over twigs. The squirrels favoring one kind of tree this week will most likely be in a different type of tree next week. Keep track of the sequence and I think it would be a good match to the flowering/leafing sequence for that same set of trees weeks hence. Somehow, probably related to smell in the case of squirrels, they know where to get the biggest bang for the bite. The pattern doesn't seem quite as clearcut for birds. My thought would be that birds are going by visual clues (i.e., watching for swelling which indicates a recent or on-going investment in the growing points by the plant), and that visual assessment might not be as precise as the aromatic acuity possessed by squirrels. Memberships in the CSFTEA (Colorado Society For The Easily Amused) are free. Join today. Dave Leatherman Fort Collins -- -- 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 * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR0601MB37631387DEB357B5429B74A7C1339%40CY4PR0601MB3763.namprd06.prod.outlook.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CY4PR0601MB37631387DEB357B5429B74A7C1339%40CY4PR0601MB3763.namprd06.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email_source=footer>. -- -- 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 * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/9D0E0EEC-5472-4895-
Re: [cobirds] eastward range extension of foothill/mt species
Mourning Doves (initially one of the most regular species in my yard), Collared Doves, and Coopers Hawks have been in an epic battle in my yard for the better part of a decade now. The Collared Doves originally arrived sometime around 2012, 2014ish and aggressively drove the Mourning Doves away. There was a while when Collared Doves perched on every street light along Independence and would gather in groups up to a dozen at a time. The hawks noticed soon enough and for a couple of years I'd see a Coopers Hawk several times a week, often eating a dove right in the middle of my yard. The Collared Doves have thinned out now and Coopers are uncommon again around here. This year I even had a regular pair of Mourning Doves in the yard daily. I suspect the struggle will continue since the Collared Doves are still around and still aggressive. This has to have influenced other bird populations too. Jennifer Powell Jeffco, east of Standley Lake On 7/30/2021 9:58 AM, MARK CHAVEZ wrote: Do you think there is a correlation with the increase of smaller mountain species nesting along the front range (especially the western areas), and the explosion of Cooper's Hawks in the same areas? It was an uncommon occurrence to have Cooper's appear in my yard until the expansion of Eurasian Collared Doves. The increase in food supply has these hawks nesting everywhere! The once very common summer species in my neighborhood like Blue Jays, Grackles, Orioles, Flickers, Robins and even Mourning Doves have disappeared. Now that the predators (Cooper's prey) like Blue Jays, Grackles, and Scrub Jays have decreased, the smaller birds like hummingbirds (Black-chinned was rare 10 years ago), nuthatches, bushtits, goldfinches, and chickadees are increasing. The Cooper's don't seem that interested in the smaller prey. The last two years, I have had Cordilleran Flycatchers successfully nesting under the eaves of the house. When the uncommon Blue Jay shows in the yard, the flycatchers get upset with these nest predators. I am seeing a huge decrease in Eurasian Collared Doves in my neighborhood. Will the balance eventually return?? I must admit, I'm excited when the Cooper's finish nesting in mid-August and leave our neighborhood. By this time, the flycatchers and others have finished nesting and the mentioned species return. Just my thoughts... Mark Chavez Lakewood-Green Mtn http://jaeger29.smugmug.com/ On 07/27/2021 9:50 AM Ira Sanders wrote: In reply to Dave's posting about Cordilleran Flycatcher, there have been at least 2 birds in my neighborhood since spring calling and I presume nesting. I have put them on eBird lists several times. On a side note, hummers arrived in some numbers this morning including BCHU along with the usual BTHU and RUHU that have been here for a week or so. I haven't seen Calliope yet. Ira Sanders Golden On Fri, Jul 23, 2021 at 12:53 PM DAVID A LEATHERMAN < daleather...@msn.com <mailto:daleather...@msn.com>> wrote: Over the past 45 years or so of visiting Fort Collins' Grandview Cemetery and also spending a lot of time on the eastern plains at places like the Pawnee Grasslands and Lamar, the occasional and seemingly increasing presence of foothills/lower mountain species at low elevation has intrigued me. I have mostly attributed this to maturation of the "urban forest", especially Colorado Blue Spruce but certainly other conifers and many deciduous trees, as well. Species with the bulk of their breeding habitat in the foothills and lower mountains that sometimes breed in Grandview Cemetery include: red-breasted nuthatch (of late, every year), broad-tailed hummingbird (of late, every year), western wood-pewee (of late, 2 out of every 3 years), chipping sparrow (of late, every other year), ruby-crowned kinglet (of late, every third year), red crossbill (ever(?), once), western tanager (ever(?), once). Now I am beginning to wonder about cordilleran flycatcher. In the last couple weeks there have been reports of this species at the prairie-foothills interface from several locations along the Front Range on COBIRDS. Last weekend I can add another from the River's Edge Natural Area in Loveland (Big Thompson River near the softball complex at the old fairgrounds). The Loveland bird was a male giving the characteristic territorial "squeek-itt!" call. Other recent reports have mentioned detection via this same vocalization. I have questions. BBAII accounts indicate one nesting cycle and attribute late nests to renesting after early nest failures. The "Birds of the World" account for this species mentions the likelihood of two nesting cycles in Oaxaca, MX. Do the recent reports represent second-try nesting at lower elevation? Do they represent second nestings at lower elevation aft
[cobirds] Re: Jefferson, CO
I am in Jeffco as well, though a different part, in the neighborhoods just east of Standley Lake. We've been in this house over 20 years and I've been feeding the birds in my yard all that time. This is the first year that house finches are almost entirely absent. Normally I'd have up to a dozen, all day every day, and they were part of a small flock that moved around the neighborhood. Normally I'd have two or three black-capped chickadees as well, and then lots of random birds that pass through on their way to nesting habitats by the lake or into the mountains. But chickadees have also been nearly entirely absent this year, and I've seen very few randoms - no goldfinches, no towhees, no nuthatches, no downies. And the usual gang of summer blue jays is absent, although that has happened other years as well. The finches are not totally gone. I do see an occasional finch or chickadee at my feeders. They don't look ill and I am not finding sick birds or bodies of birds. They simply aren't around. I am still seeing doves in small numbers, and occasional hawks and crows overhead in fairly usual numbers but the regular small birds aren't here. The only other observation I can report is that this year my yard is nearly empty of bees and other insects. Which surprised me because last year was a huge year for bees, with three species of bumblebees, some miner bee types (black and white), and literally hundreds of honeybees daily. This year, maybe two honeybees the entire season and not much else than a few small grasshoppers. Jennifer Powell Jeffco east of Standley Lake On Friday, July 23, 2021 at 1:06:32 PM UTC-6 samat...@gmail.com wrote: > Hello, > > I wanted to share a conversation I had with a super nice lady who lives at > the house south of Highway 285 in Jefferson, Co. Many of you know the > “feeder” house for Rosy-Finches. She was telling me she use to get > “thousands” of Rosy-Finches at her feeders. While we didn’t talk about > current numbers, from my experience, substantially lower. > She, also, commented on many fewer hummingbirds these last 2 years. > > Side note: The cafe in Jefferson has tasty food made on the grill and made > to order burritos. Super friendly ladies working there. > > Good birding y’all! > > Diane Roberts > Highlands Ranch, CO > -- > Diane Roberts > -- -- 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 * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/e77455d6-2452-49cc-8ab9-25ffbb2057e1n%40googlegroups.com.
