Migrants? or future summer residents?

This is a shot from the third day in a row that I have observed these white faced ibis. During my 10 years of frequenting the Riverbend Ponds area, I've only seen them flying over, from southeast to northwest, only a couple of times. Yesterday, after hanging with them for 3+ hours, they just picked up and flew toward the east about two hours before sunset.

1 member likes this

View Full Size

Tags: Collins, Ft., Ponds, Riverbend, faced, More…flock, ibis, white

Comment by Penny Bauer on April 19, 2012 at 9:51am: Good shot!

Comment by Gary Lefko on April 19, 2012 at 10:12am: Checkout the Breeding Bird Atlas II link on homepage ... :-) ... let us know what you find ...

Comment by Penny Bauer on April 19, 2012 at 2:23pm: Gary: Where is Breeding Bird Atlas II?? What homepage? Lost. Thanks!

Comment by Theo Bauder on April 19, 2012 at 2:36pm: Just got done 'fishing' around for 10 minutes, back and forth between links, etc, on the BBA2 site trying to figure out how to get some data...result was same as my first try when it was first posted: I got nothing. Seems a waste of time. Sorry, but that's the facts. Maybe I need an Atlas 101 class.

Comment by Gary Lefko on April 19, 2012 at 2:52pm: Where to find Breeding Bird Atlas II: Colorado Birder homepage, upper left side icon

Easiest way to use is:

Click the dropdown named "Select a Species"

Click "White-faced Ibis" (if your species doesn't appear here then there are no breeding records of it in Colorado)

Click "Go" button

By clicking Go and "White-faced Ibis" a graphical map will appear showing breeding blocks where White-faced Ibis are known to breed at some level.

Hope this helps. Gary

Comment by Theo Bauder on April 19, 2012 at 3:11pm: I don't see a 'select a species' option anywhere. Do you have to register on the sight first before you can have access just to view data?

Comment by Theo Bauder on April 19, 2012 at 3:21pm: Oh, sorry...I got it, found white faced ibis, then got to view a colorcoded map that is confusing as to what they're documenting...'probable, possible, confirmed'? What kind of data is probable/possible? At any rate, whatever category they want to put it in, they can count the 40 in my pic. I'd say a pic is 'confirmed', but I guess if they don't want to believe me they can call it possible?

Comment by Gary Lefko on April 19, 2012 at 3:48pm: Sample definitions:

Definitions for clarifications:

OBSERVEDO - Migrants and species observed in block during breeding season that are unlikely to be breeding there.

POSSIBLE
# - SPECIES FOUND or calls heard in suitable nesting habitat

PROBABLE
M - MULTIPLE MALES – seven or more singing males heard on one day in suitable nesting habitat.
P - PAIR present in suitable nesting habitat during the species’ breeding season.
T - TERRITORIAL behavior indicating a breeding territory, which includes territory defense through song (two, or more,
males counter-singing) or chasing or by presence of a singing male in the same location on occasions at least a
week apart.
C - COURTSHIP behavior between a male and a female (includes display or food exchange); or COPULATION observed.
V - VISITING probable nest site, but no further evidence obtained.
A - AGITATED behavior or anxiety calls of adult(s) that indicate nearby nest site and/or young in the vicinity. If you flush a
ground-nesting bird into a bush where it repeatedly gives a distressed chip, or a pair of birds fly at you or circle
above you, use this code.
N - NEST building by Bald Eagles, Curve-billed Thrashers, or Marsh Wrens; excavation of cavities by woodpeckers; or
filling cavities with twigs, etc.,

CONFIRMED
NB - NEST BUILDING or adult carrying nest material.
DD - DISTRACTION
UN - USED NEST or egg shells found
ON - OCCUPIED
CF - CARRYING FOOD to nestlings or fledglings
FF - FEEDING FLEDGLING.
FS - Adult carrying FECAL SAC away from nest for disposal
NE - NEST with EGGS
NY - NEST with YOUNG seen or heard