[cobirds] White-throated Swifts, Pueblo County
Yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 3 Jan), from 3:20 to 3:45pm, I watched 20+ White-throated Swifts gather below the dam at Pueblo Reservoir. The saga continues! For folks who would like to try for these birds, I find that the most reliable time and place is about 3pm at the pool directly below the dam, on a warmish day. They seem to gather here in the afternoon as they return from feeding along the river and before they head to their roost in the cliff north of the dam. I usually see them over the north end of the concrete portion of the dam. This pool is reached by a gravel road off the small parking lot (known locally as the Free Lot) near the south entrance station below the dam, on the south side of the river. No guarantees, of course. I don't know how weather and temperature affect their flight patterns. The high temperature here yesterday was about 50 degrees, and we seem to see them most reliably on warmer days. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20160104.101720.14689.0%40webmail05.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Update on White-throated Swifts, Pueblo County
Hi all, White-throated swifts are still being seen on the Arkansas River below the dam. Brandon Percival and I have been trying to figure out where they are roosting at night, and how many of them there are. Yesterday afternoon (7 December) I saw 25-30 gathering at the dam in the late afternoon but was unable to tell where they went from there. Today, about 3:30pm, I went to Liberty Point (a Pueblo west park on top of the cliff that overlooks the north end of the dam) to get a broader view of the area. I finally spotted a group of maybe 30-40 swifts flying near a south-facing cliff NE of Liberty Point. They were flying into a recessed area with a fairly deep overhang. Due to the shape of the cliff, I was unable to see far enough into that space to see if they were roosting in old Cliff Swallow nests or a crevice or something else. I will be trying to find a better viewpoint. The swifts appear to leave the cliffs in the morning and fly downstream along the river during the day to feed, returning before sunset. They have been seen as far east as the Valco Ponds, but may be going farther east. The river is low now, and the water relatively warm. There are good hatches of insects on the water -- fishermen tell me they are midges and blue-winged olives (a small white-winged mayfly), and this information appears on the fishing reports for the river as well. A word of caution for birders coming to Lake Pueblo State Park. Much-needed road and trail construction has begun within the park. Crews are working on the road on the north side westward from the top of the dam. The parking lot at the north end of the dam is being used to stage equipment and crews, and some sections are now one-way, with short delays. I don't know what the situation will be on weekends. I checked the park's website but found no information yet. That's usually a good place to check on conditions in the park, so I'm expecting it will be updated soon. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20151208.212318.2850.0%40webmail08.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] very late White-throated Swifts, Pueblo County, Lake Pueblo State Park
Hi all, This afternoon, about 1:45pm, I found at least 4, maybe more, White-throated Swifts flying and actively feeding over the Arkansas River below the dam, west of Osprey Picnic area near an old bridge abutment on the banks of the river. I walked west along the river and continued to see these birds in this area of the river until I left at 2:30pm. They were quite low over the river and surrounding trees, clearly visible and easily identified. This is very late for these birds; Brandon Percival tells me there are no December (Winter) records for this area. No photos, sorry. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20151202.164722.10142.0%40webmail13.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Confusing dark dove, Pueblo West, Pueblo County
Hi all, Thanks for the response I received regarding the dark dove in my Pueblo West yard. Most all agreed that it looks to be a melanistic bird rather than an oiled to sooty one. And most thought it was likely a Eurasian Collared-Dove. There's one holdout for Eurasian Collared-Dove - Mourning Dove hybrid. Thanks everyone for having a look. This is what I love about birding -- there's always some new thing to wonder about. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- Original Message -- From: "mar1...@juno.com" To: cobirds@googlegroups.com Subject: [cobirds] Confusing dark dove, Pueblo West, Pueblo County Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2015 01:15:13 GMT Hi all, I'm interested in comments about a strange-looking dark dove seen with Eurasian Collared-Doves in my Pueblo West yard on March 26 and 27. I've loaded photos on my Flickr page starting at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59865934@N00/16495006503/ Click right in the photo stream for two more photos. They are pretty bad, taken through a low-powered scope with a point-and-shoot camera behind a double-paned window in my kitchen. But perhaps some of you can see enough to make an educated guess. At first I thought it was a Mourning Dove but the closer shot taken the second day showed a distinct collar. That and the eye color ruled out Mourning Dove. The shape of the tail feathers is interesting, as is the very dark color. I posted it on the CFO Facebook page and got a few comments. Some thought it was oiled or sooty, some thought it was a collared-dove of one sort or other, some thought it was a hybrid, but none had ever seen anything like it. I'm still at a loss and would love to hear some insight from those of you who are good at sorting out puzzles. You may reply to the group or privately to mar1joy AT juno DOT com. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20150411.191513.14376.0%40webmail12.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20150418.091041.15424.1%40webmail02.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Confusing dark dove, Pueblo West, Pueblo County
Hi all, I'm interested in comments about a strange-looking dark dove seen with Eurasian Collared-Doves in my Pueblo West yard on March 26 and 27. I've loaded photos on my Flickr page starting at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59865934@N00/16495006503/ Click right in the photo stream for two more photos. They are pretty bad, taken through a low-powered scope with a point-and-shoot camera behind a double-paned window in my kitchen. But perhaps some of you can see enough to make an educated guess. At first I thought it was a Mourning Dove but the closer shot taken the second day showed a distinct collar. That and the eye color ruled out Mourning Dove. The shape of the tail feathers is interesting, as is the very dark color. I posted it on the CFO Facebook page and got a few comments. Some thought it was oiled or sooty, some thought it was a collared-dove of one sort or other, some thought it was a hybrid, but none had ever seen anything like it. I'm still at a loss and would love to hear some insight from those of you who are good at sorting out puzzles. You may reply to the group or privately to mar1joy AT juno DOT com. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20150411.191513.14376.0%40webmail12.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[cobirds] Sagebrush Sparrow, Pueblo County
Hi all, A friend and I ventured out to the south side of Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area today. Near the end of the dirt hunting/fishing access road, we saw what we determined to be a Sagebrush Sparrow. There seem to be no fall records of this bird in Pueblo County. Lifer for both of us, so we observed it closely and studied our field guide at length. It was a dusty brown sparrow, gray-headed with white eye ring and white stripes on the throat, a bit smaller and more slender than a nearby White-crowned Sparrow, and fairly long-tailed. We watched it run down the road in front of the car for some distance with its tail held almost straight up, ducking in and out of roadside rabbitbrush. It also flicked its tail at times. Enchanting bird!! No photos, sorry. The southside SWA is west of Pueblo, off Hwy 96 appx. 7 miles west of its intersection with Pueblo Blvd. (aka Hwy 45). Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO Odd Trick Fights Diabetes "Unique" Proven Method To Control Blood Sugar In 3 Weeks. Watch Video. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/542e176f555bf176f4562st04vuc -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20141002.212502.2058.0%40webmail09.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Re: Black-throated Sparrows, Pueblo West 7/8
Black-throated Sparrows continue in Pueblo West (Pueblo County) below Liberty Point. This morning (9:45am Monday, 14 July) I saw one sparrow and heard a second one near it in the area described by Chris Knight and Dr. Lilly. I walked in from the end of South Greenbrier Drive, which is near the Greenway access Dr. Lilly used. It's roughly a 1-mile walk from either of these two locations, but much easier than the Liberty Point trail. South Greenbrier Drive is reached by driving south on Purcell from Hwy 50 for about 2.5 miles to East Linden Avenue (marked by a small development called Quail Ridge), turning west on Linden, and then south on Greenbrier, (first left). Best parking seems to be along the mowed roadside on East Saddlebrook Drive. Duck under the silver gate and walk along the unused road through the "pass" to the area described by Chris and Dr. Lilly. This arroyo is lined with large rock slabs on the uphill side. If you get to the trail which goes uphill toward Liberty Point, marked by a square concrete well in the small arroyo there, you have gone a bit too far. Other bird species from this morning's walk, in no particular order: Scaled Quail Bullock's Oriole Common Nighthawk Canyon Towhee Northern Mockingbird Rock Wren Say's Phoebe Lark Sparrow Western Kingbird And a couple of interesting insects: Tarantula Hawk Velvet Ant Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/20140714.115639.2853.0%40webmail11.vgs.untd.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [cobirds] Great-horned Owls Nesting
Lynn and all, I hope your owls do well in spite of the weather. They should be used to this kind of thing, I would think. As to owls taking over the nests of other species, I understand it's quite common, and I've had some evidence of that while monitoring raptor nests for the state parks. I've been observing a Great Horned Owl that has changed her nest location three times in the past three years. For several years, the nest was in a tall snag in the middle of a picnic ground. The adult owl and owlets were much enjoyed and photographed by visitors to the park. All the attention apparently got to be too much, and in 2011 she moved, and produced three young in a somewhat flimsy nest high in a nearby tree. I don't know if this was an existing nest or constructed by the owls. In 2012, after winter storms blew that nest away, she appropriated a large nest used in 2011 by Red-tailed Hawks, also near the same busy area, and produced two young. The Red-tails went elsewhere. This year she did not return to the 2012 nest, and, after much searching, I located her (I think it's the same one) about a half mile away in another large nest used by Red-tails for at least the past two years. It's in a more isolated location and difficult to see, away from the picnic areas but still near trails. I will be interested to see if she stays in this nest next year, and if the 2012 nest will be reclaimed by Red-tails. I've seen them in the area but so far have not seen them at this nest. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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 post to this group, send email to cobirds@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[cobirds] Rusty Blackbirds, Pueblo County
This morning (Sunday) I birded the area west of Valco Ponds parking lot and found 6 Rusty Blackbirds on a gravel bar in the Arkansas River midway between the parking lot and the hatchery ponds. They were quite georgeous in the sun, showing a lot of rust color, pale eyebrows, yellow eyes, and velvety gray rumps. Another birder had seen a Greater Yellowlegs earlier, and I spotted it a bit west of the Rusty location. I continued on to the fish hatchery ponds and found a nice assortment of ducks, including many Bufflehead and a few Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, and Green-wing Teal along with the usual Mallards and Gadwalls. The Rusties were gone when I checked on my way back to the parking lot. I missed on the Harris's and Swamp Sparrows reported yesterday but did not go east of the parking lot. I also made my third attempt to see the Worm-eating Warbler at the Canon City Riverwalk late in the afternoon but did not find it, even with help from SeEtta Moss and Eric from Michigan. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
[cobirds] LONG-TAILED JAEGER, Pueblo County
The Long-tailed Jaeger was seen at Pueblo Reservoir between 3 and 5:30 this afternoon from West Fisherman's Point in Lake Pueblo State Park and the boat ramp in the northside SWA. I had consistent good looks at the bird along with two birders from the Denver area, one from Canon City, and one from Pueblo. Busy boat traffic kept it moving around the entire time we observed it. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
Re: [cobirds] White-throated Sparrow, Pueblo County
Oops -- reposting in proper form, no additional information: I am currently seeing a White-throated Sparrow, a tan-striped adult, in my yard in Pueblo West. I'm getting very good looks at it from 12-15 feet away through a window, and was able for a short time to compare it to an immature White-crowned Sparrow. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
[cobirds] White-throated Sparrow, Pueblo County
I am currently seeing a White-throated Sparrow, a tan-striped adult, in my yard in Pueblo West. I'm getting very good looks at it from 12-15 feet away through a window, and was able for a short time to compare it to an immature White-crowned Sparrow. Cheers, Margie Joy -- 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.
[cobirds] RFI -- Burrowing Owl response to nest site disturbance
I'm curious about how minor disturbances and alterations to areas near nest sites affect site fidelity for Burrowing Owls. Can anyone refer me to studies or relay personal experience? Please reply in private if you'd like. Margie Joy Pueblo west, CO -- 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.
[cobirds] Bobolink -- Huerfano County
Earlier today, while working on my La Veta Atlas block, I spotted a male Bobolink in an irrigated hayfield south of the La Veta Cemetery, on the southeast corner of the town. It was perched at the top of a small patch of oaks growing in the hayfield. I don't know for sure if it was singing as it was quite a ways off, the big Rain Bird sprinklers in the cemetery were very noisy, and I was mostly looking at its back. I saw only the one male, and did not see any females. The hayfield has not been cut. Speaking of Rain Birds, er, Rain Crows, I have not seen or heard the Yellow-billed Cuckoo that has been reported near Oak and Ryus Streets in La Veta, but will keep trying. There's still a bit more work to do in this delightful block. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
Re: [cobirds] Burrowing owls - Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Adams Co
Mindy and all, Burrowing Owls, the first one one on Monday, 28 March, and then two the following day, are being seen at Pueblo Reservoir (Pueblo County) near the north entrance station where they have nested in past years. I'm not sure what the arrival date for last year was, but this does seem early. Also seen at Pueblo Reservoir today: my FOS Snowy Egrets (2) and several Turkey Vultures. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
[cobirds] Osprey and pelican, Pueblo County
Yesterday (21 March, first day of calendar Spring) I found a pair of Osprey setting up housekeeping on a nest platform in the SWA on the south side of Pueblo Reservoir. I also had a brief distant look at an American White Pelican, later seen by another birder. Both are my FOS. The Osprey were there again today but I did not refind the pelican. It was hard to see much in the howling wind. The reservoir is very full; water is nearly to the edge of the road on North Picnic Road. We are hoping for some nice shorebirds in the flooded grassy areas in the northside SWA again this year. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
Re: [cobirds] Differentiating Chihuahuan from Common Ravens
While looking at ravens on a recent southeastern Colorado CBC, a very experienced birder commented to me that these were likely Chihuahuan as they were in a flock (12-15 birds), and that Common Ravens were generally more solitary in nature. Birds of North America Online touches on this briefly, calling Chihuahuan an "extremely social bird" and that Common Ravens tend to be found "solitary or in pairs." I've been thinking about this lately as I look at ravens in my part of the state where both species occur, and now this recent Cobirds thread prompts me to ask: Is this something we can reliably consider in addition to the other characteristics we use in trying to separate the two species? And this leads me to a broader question: How much weight can we give behavior in identifying birds generally? Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- 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.
Re: [cobirds] Solitaires, red-wings -- state-wide
Hugh and all, I've noticed fewer Townsend's Solitaires this late fall and winter in the juniper habitat around Pueblo Reservoir, despite the bumper juniper berry crop. There are tons of Mountain Bluebirds and American Robins taking advantage of the bounty, but solitaires seem few and far between. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@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.
Re: [cobirds] A critically important announcement -- well, not critica l, but...
Tony and all, I'm heartily in agreement with those who support the quiz. Thank you to Tony for taking the time to present challenging photos and in-depth answers, and to CFO for providing the venue for the quiz. It's changed the way I approach bird ID, in a big way. After "lurking" for some time, I started actually submitting answers a little over a year ago, challenging myself to do 10 quizzes and keep my success rate above 50 percent. If I managed that, I'd continue, if not, well... I think I've only missed two quizzes in that time, because I was traveling. I've always been, and probably always be, a pretty casual birder, staying fairly close to home, so I didn't have great expectations. It's amazing at how differently a person looks at these photos, and at the process of bird ID, when confronted with a commitment to write up an answer for someone with Tony's qualifications -- and then actually hit "send." I hope more folks will take the challenge, and that the quiz can continue. Thanks again, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO Hey all: Yup, it's that time of week, again, time for the posting of the solution to last week's Mr. Bill Mystery Quiz. You can find it by clicking on the link at the CFO home page (www.cfo-link.org). And, don't forget to check out this week's quiz and submit your answer before next Sunday midnight. The response rate has dropped considerably and we're trying to figure out whether and in what form the quiz continues. Tony Leukering Villas, NJ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@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.
Re: [cobirds] Cassin's question/Mymm Ackley
Mymm and all, On 5 June and again on 6 July of this year, I had singing Cassin's Sparrow(s) in cholla/shortgrass in one of my Pueblo County Atlas II blocks, a mile or so north of Boone on the IL Ranch Road. Last year I had one singing and skylarking on 25 June in a different Pueblo County block, north of the Pueblo airport. I don't have much prior experience with Cassin's Sparrow, so I can't say if the timing is usual -- perhaps someone else can. Wonderful song, hope you (and I) hear it again. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@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.
[cobirds] House Sparrow nestlings in dryer vent
Perhaps someone can give me some ideas -- I was having a problem with my clothes dryer and went out to see if air was coming out of the vent. It was full of "stuff" and in that "stuff" there were three nestling birds, mostly feathered but still very young. I'm presuming House Sparrows as I have been seeing adults carrying nesting materials and insects near there (I thought they were nesting under the deck) and the messy non-structure of the nest. I couldn't leave them where they were of course, so I put them along with some of their "stuff" into an old flower pot tucked sideways into a shrub nearby. Anyone have any better ideas? I know what some folks think of HOSPs -- positive suggestions only, please! I don't even step on ants. TIA. Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to cobi...@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.
[cobirds] Burrowing Owls, Pueblo County
Hi everyone, Saw an interesting thing this morning -- for a couple of months I've been keeping an eye on a couple of families of Burrowing Owls in Lake Pueblo State Park. They hang out quite near the road and are not spooked by cars, so are easy -- and fun -- to watch. Went by this morning to check on them and noticed one of the youngsters pulling at something as if eating it. A closer look showed that it had a medium-sized snake -- a very dead one, as it wasn't moving at all -- and was pulling bits from the end that used to be the head while two of its siblings watched. Looked like hard work to get a few bites. After about ten minutes, the young owl picked the snake up in one foot, hopped one-legged with it to a prairie dog burrow about 3 feet away, and carried it down into the hole. I don't know what kind of snake it was -- it was not strongly patterned, fairly dark grayish-olive on the top and paler on the bottom, and maybe three feet long (what was left of it). Checking in a couple of books after I got home showed Burrowing Owl diet consist of insects, rodents and lizards, but no mention of snakes. Anyone know how much of their diet might be snakes? This was my third snake encounter of the morning, not counting the large recently-shed snakeskin (likely a bullsnake) in the back yard. Other things seen near the reservoir -- several Lark Sparrows singing their wonderful songs, and an Osprey fishing at West Fishermen's Point who finally caught a small fish and flew away with it. Cheers, Margie Joy, who likes snakes just fine Pueblo West, CO Marjorie Joy Words & Images Back-of-the-Book Indexing Fine Art & Illustration http://www.flickr.com/photos/59865...@n00/ --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ 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.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[cobirds] Re: swallows vs sparrows
John and all, Last year, Cliff Swallows built 22 nests on the side of our house and raised young. We left the nests up over the winter and some of them fell down -- we have kinda crumbly gritty soil. During the winter, one of the nests was used as a roost by a male House Sparrow, and in the early spring before the swallows returned, the sparrow took a mate and they began to raise a family. When the swallows returned, they moved right into their old nests, and the two sparrows were not happy about it. But they did not seem to be harassing the swallows -- actually it was the other way around. As the sparrow young grew larger and heavier and the nest weathered, it fell apart, dumping two half-grown sparrows onto the ground where they did not survive a cold rainy night. Another young sparrow, probably the oldest one, did survive and hangs around the yard being fed by the adults, who come to look for it in the old swallow nest first, and then search the yard for it. So here, at least, swallows rule. I found it interesting that the swallows did not try to repair the broken nests when they returned, so there are now only 14. A few repairs were made to mostly-intact nests but the half-gone ones were left as is. More swallows are attempting to make new nests on neighboring houses where they immediately get washed off by folks who are tidier than we are, I guess. Margie Joy Pueblo West --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ 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.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[cobirds] Cooper's Hawk in Denver County, possibly nestbuilding
Hello, Today while in Denver, I spotted an adult Cooper's Hawk gathering sticks below a small group of tall spruce trees in the Park Hill neighborhood a few blocks east of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. She then flew up into one of the trees, hopping upward from limb to limb until she reached a dense place along an upper branch, which looked to me to be a nest site. I watched for about 15 minutes as she fussed around this area, presumably arranging nesting material. I say she because, looking around in the other trees, I spotted a much smaller Cooper's perched about 10 feet away -- presumably a male. It was interesting to see the difference in size between the two. I read in the first Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas book that Cooper's females are up to 1/3 larger than males (a greater difference than other hawk species), and this fit with what I observed. The difference was much greater than in the pair of Kestrels that nest near my house and the Bald Eagles I used to watch at Barr Lake. Until now, I've not seen this fact mentioned -- my field guides don't touch on it. The Atlas II manual gives a safe date of April 1, so I guess these birds are right on time. I showed the hawks to the homeowner, who was really pleased to have hawks nesting in his front yard. I've seen Cooper's in that neighborhood several times in the past two years but didn't realize they nested in residential areas. Cheers, Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php 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.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[cobirds] Re: Monk Parakeets
In the late 1980s or perhaps a bit later there were parakeets (Monk, I think) that nested for several years in a large tree on the Overland Golf Course in south Denver, north of Evans and east of the Platte River. I don't know what happened to them. Anyone else remember? Margie Joy Pueblo West, CO --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php 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.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
