Blog Posts Across Colorado Birder

Genesee Park Birding Trip

On Tues. we birded both sides of the park and saw the following birds and over 100 elk. There were many young Western bluebirds and Mountain bluebirds. List: Pygmy nuthatches, Broadtail hummers, Chipping sparrows, Hermit thrush, Brown creeper, N. flickers, Western tanagers, Mountain chickadees and some Blackcapped, American goldfinches, White-breasted nuthatches, American crows, Yellow-rumped warblers. One was feeding a cowbird. House wrens, Cassins finches, Pumbeous vireo, Dark-eyed junco, West… Continue

Posted by Tolline Gallagher on August 13, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

Fledglings

Hey Everybody, The activity in our yard has increased so much that we have re-hung some of the feeders we had taken down several weeks ago when it seemed all we had was Grackles, Brown Cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds. So far we have the following fledglings in our yard: Pine Siskins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Lesser and American Goldfinches, Gray Catbirds, Rufous, Broad-tailed and Calliope Hummingbirds, Yellow Warblers ( we actually saw a Yellow Warbler feeding and Brown Cowbird fledgling the… Continue

Posted by Polly Wren Neldner on August 2, 2008 at 10:45am — 2 Comments

Leucistic Eagle

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Leucistic Golden Eagle found down here in SoCo a couple weeks ago. Did you guys hear about it? I posted the story on my blog...with quotes, links and photos from the papers...as well as an update a day or so later. It's a beautiful, but very sick young bird which may make a compl… Continue

Posted by Beverly on July 27, 2008 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Books on Birds; What's Your Fav?

I am a reader; I like to research, I enjoy reference books…especially on topics close to my heart. I don’t believe one can have too many books on a subject…but then I am book rich and money poor. LOL Okay, so I’m on a limited budget…I have a couple books on birds and know I want to enlarge my library. I think another ‘general’ field guide to birds I’m apt to see might be a good idea. While I’m interested in all birds…I doubt I’m going to be heading to exotic countries where I might have trouble… Continue

Posted by Beverly on July 16, 2008 at 1:00pm — 5 Comments

Lathrop State Park, Huerfano County

My husband and I went out to Lathrop State Park this morning and aside from the Coots (lots of babies right now) Western Grebes, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Cinnamon, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals, and Great Blue Herons we saw a first for Paul in Colorado and the best look I have had of a Green Heron. The Green Heron was at the duck pond on the Wetlands Trail! Have fun out there, Polly Continue

Posted by Polly Wren Neldner on June 22, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

red crossbill wants to come inside

A female red crossbill has been trying to come in our house all day today. I thought maybe because she smelled bread baking in the bread machine. Or is the energy of the full moon and approaching solstice confusing her? When she is not at the window looking in she is on a branch right beside the door on the deck. Well right now she is at the feeder. When I go outside she flies right over my head. Well I guess I will go out on the deck and sing for her. Maybe that's what she wants. She is wonderi… Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on June 18, 2008 at 5:46pm — No Comments

ouzel feather

My daughter wants to get a tatoo of an ouzel feather. Does anyone know where she could find a picture of an ouzel feather? Love, Zoe Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on June 16, 2008 at 8:11pm — 6 Comments

AVAS Bird list for 6/14/08 in and around La Veta CO

Gary, Beverly and all: The following is the list of birds my husband Paul and I compiled. Beverly, please let me know of any corrections you may have, they are not in the order seen or separated by location: Pie-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Coot Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-dove Mourning Dove Broad-tailed Hummingbrd Lewis' Woodpecker (always a treat) Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Cordilleron Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Clark's Nutcra… Continue

Posted by Polly Wren Neldner on June 15, 2008 at 11:27am — 4 Comments

Red Crossbill

For anyone who was on the AVAS birdwalk today in and around La Veta. Paul and I just took a look at our photos of the day...and we have a photo of a male Red Crossbill at the beginning of the walk at Up Top. Don't know how many others saw the bird that had a lot of red on it and then the other yellowish (not bright yellow) that joined it, but those were definitely a pair of Red Crossbills...a new life bird for us! Continue

Posted by Polly Wren Neldner on June 14, 2008 at 5:45pm — 2 Comments

singing to the birds

This morning when I was singing my Sacred Animal Songs out on the deck by the bird feeders a female red crossbill landed on my head ( I was wearing a hat) and sat there for almost an entire song! Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on June 6, 2008 at 10:11pm — 3 Comments

Summer is here!

First of all, I'd like to invite anybody who can make it down to La Veta (~3 hrs south of Denver) on June 14th for our AVAS Bird Walk. You can read details here. The folks with AVAS are great...as are most birders, huh? I've never met a nicer bunch of people! A couple of us who feed birds will open up our yards to be included on the hike...yours truly included. It should be fun! I can say that, havi… Continue

Posted by Beverly on June 3, 2008 at 9:30am — No Comments

The sequence of discovery is simple in nature

Kevin J. Cook -- May 25, 2008 The Coloradoan (Fort Collins) To learn. To see. To hear. To smell. To experience. To know. This sequence brings life from the darkness of anonymity into the lightness of understanding. It is a sequence that draws you into the richness of life and living. Read full story here Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on May 30, 2008 at 1:29pm — No Comments

western wood pewees

The western wood pewees have finally returned. I have been waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. The first time I hear them every May is such a special moment. I hope they nest right outside my bedroom window so I can hear them every AM. Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on May 28, 2008 at 5:48pm — No Comments

A New Obsession

It all started with used guide book from the library book sale. We have just moved to a home with a good-sized backyard and some actual trees (Highlands Ranch is not exactly known for its treed yards) that were already visited by some birds. We had two feeders that I filled and put out by the windows, hoping that the kids and I could get to see a few birds in action. Well, next we needed binoculars...then a couple more feeders...a second field guide...notebooks...a hummingbird feeder...and a ne… Continue

Posted by Katherine on May 22, 2008 at 3:34pm — 3 Comments

Birds in the natural world

As I grow in my birding, and learn how to watch them...I am more and more interested in photographing them in the natural world and not at my feeders. Still, I have neither the equipment nor the knowledge really, in where to find them...to do much else. Yet. I discuss this and other issues in my blog. The folks who can catch an image in a bush or on a beach just astound me. Good birding!!! Continue

Posted by Beverly on May 18, 2008 at 6:05pm — 3 Comments

swainson's thrush

I heard a swainson's thrush outside our bedroom window last night a little before nine o'clock. It was such a surprise. Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on May 15, 2008 at 9:29am — 1 Comment

new visitors to our bird feeders today

We had 2 new visitors today.... Black-headed Grosbeak and Gray-breasted Jay! Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on May 10, 2008 at 10:22am — 7 Comments

What a day for a birdwalk

My new friends Stirling and Lyn picked me up just before our scheduled meeting at 6:30 a.m. and caught me filling up bird feeders. I hurried out the door; we got as far as the end of my block when we realized I’d forgotten my Sibley’s…they graciously insisted we turn around so I could retrieve the field guide and we were off on our adventure. Two of us had never been ‘birding’ before, so we were quite excited. We were to meet up with the AVAS group and their 4th Saturday Birdwalk at the Greenwa… Continue

Posted by Beverly on April 26, 2008 at 4:55pm — 4 Comments

Barr Lake 4/20 and 4/23/08

The Denver Field Ornithologists hosted a Barr Lake birding event on Sunday, April 20th. Gregg Goodrich was the leader, and it was open to the public. 15 or 20 people participated and it was a very friendly and knowledgeable group. Gregg had canvassed the area a few days earlier so he was able to lead us directly to a great horned owl nest and to clue us in on expected birds elsewhere. The eagle nest seen from the observatory was sadly vacant. The group concensus was that it was a failed year, as… Continue

Posted by Judith Sanborn on April 25, 2008 at 11:20am — 5 Comments

Blogging & a Very Old Osprey

Generally, I blog about birds here: ...but I wanted to share this little article I ran across today: Osprey lays record 50th egg amid tight security SCOTLAND'S oldest breeding osprey yesterday produced a record 50th egg. The egg is also the first to be produced by an osprey in Scotland this year. Staff at the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes reserve near Dunkeld, Perth-shire, were delighted when the resident female laid the eg… Continue

Posted by Beverly on April 13, 2008 at 2:56pm — No Comments

Bird Banter by Barb Gorges (Sage-grouse geology: find grouse, find oil)

This edition of Bird Banter, "How to get energy and save our sage grouse," appeared Apr. 2, 2008 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section. Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com, for permission to reprint it in hard copy or virtual copy for commercial or nonprofit purposes. Thanks. Sage-grouse geology: find grouse, find oil. By Barb Gorges Is geology destiny? Geology is rocks. A particular weathered rock makes a particular kind of soil which, with water, grows particular vegetation… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on April 12, 2008 at 8:08am — No Comments

Along the Platte River on 4/9/08.

The Platte river is very, very low - there are places shallow enough to walk across just south of Platteville. The water fowl was not as varied and numerous as usual per the landowner, but it was magical to me. We were disappointed that the only wood ducks spotted were in the air. Two large dogs roaming along the river played a part in that, no doubt. The green-winged teal were everywhere and they didn't seem a bit jumpy. None of the photos or videos were successful because of the… Continue

Posted by Judith Sanborn on April 10, 2008 at 9:31pm — No Comments

1

As you may have noticed i am a new member here and trying to get around and see some of what Denver has to offer. I am relatively (2 years) new to Denver and the US, as a resident at least. Passed by on several migrations and decided to build a nest a last. Anyway i have visited, South Platte, Barr Lake and a couple of other smaller sites in the last few days and will be heading back for sure. Met with plenty of helpful rangers, volunteers and such too which is cool. I took a drive around the D… Continue

Posted by Jay on April 10, 2008 at 2:42pm — 1 Comment

This Season's for the Birds/Greeley Tribune

April 4, 2008 By Dan England, dengland@greeleytribune.com Gary Lefko doesn't rely on a radio station, books on tape or trying to find a license plate from all 50 states to keep him entertained during his morning commute. He just watches for birds. Read full story here The web article doesn't include the great color and phots as does the print article. I've asked Dan about getting PDF of the color story so I can post… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on April 6, 2008 at 10:00am — No Comments

Hunting for the elusive white winged scoter.

So far it's scouter: 3, me: 0. I made 1 attempt on 4/3 and 2 attempts on 4/4 to see the scoter which was spotted by Gary Lefko. The first day I missed it by minutes (Gary was there at the time so he knew the scoop). Who knows the other two times. Friday morning there must have been 30 people lined up by the Middle Prospect Pond, all looking in vain. I must say, I had an awful lot of fun not finding it. Birds I saw at Prospect Ponds on 4/3 and 4/4/08: lesser scaups, buffleheads, common goldeneye… Continue

Posted by Judith Sanborn on April 6, 2008 at 3:11am — No Comments

Chukar at 8100 feet !?

I have lived in my Magnolia Drive home for nearly 25 years, but today I had my most unusual bird sighting. When I got home from work a Chukar was standing of the railing of my front porch. It hopped onto the roof and ran over the top of the house. I went through the house and out the back door to see it running across the snow and into the woods. I have not seen a Chukar since a river trip in Utah in the late 80s and have a great picture to remember the sighting. I looked up a Chukar's range to… Continue

Posted by Jay Belsan on April 1, 2008 at 7:25pm — 1 Comment

THE VIRGINIA RAIL (BIRDS OF NANTUCKET)

by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw How many of you are thinking about a dance instead of a bird? Almost makes you wonder if the namers were being witty when they named it. Even more so when you find the name is not a good one. It turns out that Virginia is one of the more difficult spots to find this bird. What you are thinking of is the "Virginia Reel," one of the oldest dances in the New World, the details of which were first published in England in 1685 by Sir Roger De Coverly. Okay, that's sorted… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 29, 2008 at 7:04am — No Comments

ARE BIRDERS GULLIBLE? (BIRDS OF NANTUCKET)

by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw Well, they should be, at least if they find themselves near any large body of water. You can't be outside on Nantucket more than a moment or two during daylight hours without having a gull in your life. Beginning bird watchers learn to look at every one, just to be sure it's 'just' a gull. When birders come to the island for the first time their eyes are forever aloft. If you see a soaring bird on the mainland it is most likely a hawk and something special to be obse… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 29, 2008 at 7:02am — No Comments

ROBIN, THRUSH, OR BLACKBIRD (BIRDS OF NANTUCKET)

by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw As I write this I'm hearing a whinnying at the window. Stepping outside I realize the sound is coming from all around me. These are avian whinnies rather than equine ones. Our American Robins are now sparring for territory. Read full story here Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 29, 2008 at 7:01am — No Comments

AN LGJ? (BIRDS OF NANTUCKET)

by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw Birders are continually flummoxed by "LBJ's" - Little Brown Jobs. These include a lot of the sparrows and the ubiquitous Yellowrumped Warbler, whose winter plumage is so nondescript. But this week's bird doesn't hide in the grass or bushes around our island. No, it inhabits our winter beaches. Finding one is a real prize during Nantucket's cold seasons. Most of our winter sandpipers are Sanderlings and this bird shares several interesting characteristics with them.… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 29, 2008 at 7:00am — No Comments

ARE YOU PINING FOR A SISKIN? (BIRDS OF NANTUCKET)

by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw This is one of those subtle, somewhat nondescript birds toward the back of your bird book. New birders are usually looking for the colorful or the dramatic. So a Pine Siskin is not the first bird they look for. When you first see one your thought might be, "What is wrong with that goldfinch that won't tolerate anyone else near it on the bird feeder?" Read full story here Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 29, 2008 at 6:58am — No Comments

The Whistler (Townsend's Solitaire)

By Kevin Cook The winter morning begins whistle cold and clear. So clear the sky looks more like an artist’s conception. So cold it takes two tries to fetch the morning paper. And somewhere out there somebody’s whistling. It’s a single-note whistle clear as the winter morning itself. Over and over again the whistle rings like the purest note ever blown on a flute. Loud, bold, and monotonous, the note brings cheer to a deep-frozen morning.… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 28, 2008 at 9:25am — No Comments

DOW volunteers say bald eagle roost in East Longmont may be largest in Northern Colorado

By Rachel Carter Longmont Times-Call LONGMONT — Lou Hegedus scanned the sky, waiting for them to arrive. He spotted a bald eagle on the eastern horizon and followed the massive bird with his binoculars. “Watch this,” he said. “Watch him come in — and turn — and flare.” And land in a tree on the banks of the St. Vrain River, where several other bald eagles already had settled for the night. The spray of cottonwoods in east Longmont is one of the largest — if not the largest — known bald e… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 26, 2008 at 10:20pm — No Comments

Spring ushers in the beauty of wildflowers

Kevin J. Cook Treasure waits where three melon-sized rocks form a little arena opening to the south and where snow wets the arena soil and sunshine warms it. The treasure has a bright yellow disk surrounded by a frill too white to be lavender but too lavender to be white. No bigger than a quarter, it hugs the ground below reach of the wind and beyond sight of most trail walkers. It is a daisy, called "Easter daisy" by some because it blooms in spring. A serious treasure hunter can almost alwa… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 26, 2008 at 10:05pm — No Comments

Dixon Reservoir Revisited

I set off with my scope, camera, binoculars and book pack with the intent of power walking around Dixon Reservoir twice as a training strategy to get in shape for City of Rocks. Mistake. I don't have the willpower to pass by a chance to check out the birds and once I started I was a goner. I did get around the Reservoir once, but it took almost 2 hours. Once again the videos helped me identify birds. It wasn't until I studied them that I nailed the green-winged teal. A new life bird for me. I w… Continue

Posted by Judith Sanborn on March 26, 2008 at 9:30pm — 2 Comments

Premier Colorado Birding Calendar (March)

Recurring events: ------------------------------- High Plains Environmental Center and Fort Collins Audubon Monthly Walk (Every 4th Thursday) 8-9AM Monthly bird walk led by Fort Collins Audubon at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland. Call Sarah 970-622-9676 or visit http://www.suburbitat.org/ for info. Cooley Lake Nature Walks (South Surburban Parks and Recreation) Adults, children 5 and over. (5-14 must be accompanied by an adult). Explore Cooley Lake wildlife area with a naturali… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 26, 2008 at 8:27pm — No Comments

First Blog Post Ever

Yesterday I took digiscope pictures using my Nikkon Coolpix P5100 camera and my PF 80ED Pentax scope with the SMC zoom eyepiece (8-24mm). The camera was hand held, and the process is awkward but for the first time this camera yielded some decent video and one good, one fair picture (out of maybe 30!). Now that I have confidence this camera/scope combination may work, I finally ordered an adapter. Jason at Eagle Optics recommends using auto focus once everything is set but I have my doubts. So fa… Continue

Posted by Judith Sanborn on March 25, 2008 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Hooded Merganser's

Even my 11 year old niece was impressed by the male and female Hooded Merganser's that have been hanging out at Baseline Res. :) We went to Walden Pond's Monday and Sunday and she was impressed to see that all ducks aren't Mallard's. Spreading the love...one kid at a time. Continue

Posted by Julia on March 13, 2008 at 8:56pm — No Comments

Taking a field trip to the creek (Del Rio News Herald, TX)

Taking a field trip to the creek By Karen Gleason (Del Rio News-Herald) Published March 2, 2008 Early Saturday afternoon, I took advantage of the balmy spring-like weather to take a walk along the creek. I started off at the city property at the end of Magnolia Street. A pair of Great Kiskadees chased each other through the cane thickets along the creek there, but otherwise things were relatively quiet. Read full story h… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 9, 2008 at 10:50am — No Comments

Who knew?

I had no idea one could blog here...I've already started one...here :) Continue

Posted by Beverly on March 8, 2008 at 7:11pm — No Comments

Bird Banter (On tail of secretive goshawk) by Barb Gorges

This edition of Bird Banter, "On tail of secretive goshawk," appeared Mar. 5, 2008 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section (Cheyenne, WY). Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com, for permission to reprint it in hard copy or virtual copy for commercial or nonprofit purposes. Thanks. WTE headline: On tail of secretive goshawk - By Barb Gorges Original headline: Statistics help find secretive northern goshawk The northern goshawk is not a bird on my life list despite my having li… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on March 5, 2008 at 6:04pm — 1 Comment

my second video

Here's my new video on You Tube. http://youtube.com/watch?v=jUHxI08Pefo Obviously I'm not going to put it here on the birders group. LOL But hopefully, I will have a new bird song video soon. That is my daughter's cat Grimsby, a devon rex. It was his first visit to our house and he loved watching the birds at the bird feeder. My cats are old now and they don't bother the birds at all. That's why we finally felt safe in putting bird feeders on the deck. Love, Zoe Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on March 5, 2008 at 8:17am — No Comments

Mountain Bluebirds

They are back! We put the bluebird boxes up in our yard yesterday just in time. Continue

Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on February 28, 2008 at 3:40pm — 2 Comments

Birding South of Denver 2/24/08

On Sunday 2/24/08 I went to Cherry Creek Res, there were not so many birds. I started at the Marina and photographed a lone White Pelican and a flock of Redheads sleeping in the water not to far from the pelican. The other birds there were Canada Geese, Starling, Ring-necked Ducks, Coot, Gulls (not good at identifying), Mallard and Hooded Mergansers. Oh and one determined Coyote trying to catch Gulls. Later in the day I headed over to Aurora Res and was thrilled to hear and see Horned Larks chas… Continue

Posted by Caroline Hancock on February 25, 2008 at 8:05am — No Comments

Bird Banter by Barb Gorges (Doves continue territory expansion, including here)

This edition of Bird Banter, "Doves continue territory expansion," appeared Feb. 6, 2008 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section. Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com, for permission to reprint it in hard copy or virtual copy for commercial or nonprofit purposes. Thanks. Published headline: "Doves continue territory expansion, including here" My headline: "Avian gang continues take-over of world" By Barb Gorges I don't know about your neighborhood, but mine has a gang of doves… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on February 18, 2008 at 10:14pm — No Comments

Bird Banter by Barb Gorges (Birds stay warm despite cold)

This edition of Bird Banter, "Birds stay warm despite cold," appeared Jan. 2, 2008 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section. Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com, to reprint it in hard copy or virtual copy for commercial or nonprofit purposes. Thanks. P.S. Sorry to post this after the date of the Cheyenne Christmas Bird Count mentioned. The results will be posted by mid-January at http://org.lonestree.com/audubon. Also, Fred Lebsack pointed out that people feeding geese is only pa… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on February 18, 2008 at 10:12pm — No Comments

pygmy nuthatch

I love my new bird feeder so much! The other day I decided to see if the chickadees would like to eat out of my hand so I stood out there for a few minutes with some seeds in my hand and sure enough 3 chickadees landed on my hand and ate some seeds. And yesterday a pygmy nuthatch landed on my hand. I plan to spend a few minutes each day doing this. It is so neat.

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Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on January 30, 2008 at 7:21am — 1 Comment

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

I am amazed at how close this guy will let me get to him without him flying away. Although my feeders do not need filled as often, as they do when this guy is not around, I can't help but to keep taking pictures of him. He just sits there while I talk to him and take pictures. The raccoons that were here, late this Autumn did the exact thing, just look and listen to me.

I take it as a very high complement from some of God's gifts.

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Posted by Debi Sallee on January 10, 2008 at 2:55pm — 1 Comment

Owls

1-9-08

I don't hear Owls very often here in Limon, so it didn't take long for to be out the door this am about 6:oo, when I heard 2 of them chatting back and forth to each other. I don't have anything to look at them at night with, but I was closer to them, being outside, than I was inside. Sometimes that's good enough for me!!!!!

I watch a Great horned Owl roost all day in the tree's behind my house a couple of years ago. I will scout the tree's with my binoculars, when it gets…

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Posted by Debi Sallee on January 9, 2008 at 6:48am — 2 Comments

chickadee song

We had red crossbills at our new birdfeeder all day today. And I had a wonderful idea. I borrowed my grandson's video camera and tomorrow morning I am going to videotape me singing my Chickadee Song at the birdfeeder and while I am singing chickadees will be feeding and flying back and forth. That's my plan. There's a lot more to my plan but this is the start! If all goes well I have will have the video up on youtube in a day or so.

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Posted by zoe ann nishimuta on January 8, 2008 at 9:45pm — 7 Comments

Ask the Bird Folks

Avocets

Yellow-breasted Chat

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Posted by Gary Lefko on January 6, 2008 at 6:08pm — No Comments

Bird Banter by Barb Gorges

This edition of Bird Banter, "Birds stay warm despite cold," appeared Jan. 2, 2008 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section. Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com… Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on January 6, 2008 at 2:58pm — No Comments

Kansas City Birding

Have hoped for some birding opportunities while in KC to see my in-laws. So far I have heard woodpeckers and froze my tail off. I am contemplating the purchase of some Bushnell digitalcamera/binoculars at Cabelas. They are $50. They are no doubt low quality, but even a low quality pic is better than my scatter-brained description used in getting identification help.

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Posted by Travis McMillan on December 26, 2007 at 8:22am — 1 Comment

Rare bird sighted (PA)

This bird could use TomTom.

But if the bird native to Siberia had used this Global Positioning System, Pennsylvania wouldn’t have scored one for the birding record books this weekend.

The long-billed murrelet, a seabird from eastern Russia that should be wintering somewhere near Japan right now, was spotted on Lake Nockamixon on Friday, sending a buzz through the local, and not-so-local, birding community.

…

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 10:14pm — No Comments

Bird Banter by Barb Gorges

This edition of Bird Banter appeared Oct. 31, 2007 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. Please contact the author at bgorges4@msn.com for permission to reprint it in hard or…

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 5:18pm — No Comments

Little bird draws big crowd

Loveland resident Connie Kogler is happy to feed the birds that visit her backyard, but when it comes to the hundreds of people who've traipsed through her home in the past week, it's a different story.

"They can fend for themselves," she jokingly said of her two-legged visitors.

Since the appearance of just one little yellow bird, Kogler's home has become a hot spot for bird enthusiasts, some traveling from as far as New York, Iowa and Washington.

The bird, a…

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 5:06pm — No Comments

Birders aflutter over first sighting in Colorado

A Mexican bird that has never been recorded in Colorado has been spotted in a Loveland bird enthusiast's backyard.

About 150 bird watchers have shown up at Connie Kogler's house to view a Streak-backed Oriole that has made regular morning appearances in her bird sanctuary since Saturday, Kogler said.

Read full story here

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 5:04pm — No Comments

Rare bird drops in

Bird enthusiasts from across the state are aflutter over a rare bird that has made its way to Loveland.

A streak-backed oriole, a bird native to Mexico, was spotted by Connie Kogler in her front yard Dec. 8. This is the first time the bird has been documented in Colorado.

Read full story here

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 5:02pm — No Comments

Wildlife enthusiasts seek to protect Poudre birds

Local birding enthusiasts hope to bring a mark of distinction to the Poudre River.

Members of the Fort Collins Audubon Society have nominated the stretch of the river from Bellvue to Interstate 25 for recognition as an "important bird area," or IBA, by the organization's state chapter.

Read full story here

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 19, 2007 at 5:00pm — No Comments

How to find birds in strange places. By Barb Gorges

This edition of Bird Banter, "How to find birds in strange places," appeared Dec. 5, 2007 in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's Outdoors section. Please contact the author, bgorges4@msn.com, to reprint it in hard copy or virtual copy for commercial or nonprofit purposes. Thanks.

…

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Posted by Gary Lefko on December 7, 2007 at 6:30pm — No Comments

A Busy Lunch Hour

My yard was buzzing with birds two days ago when the weather reached into the 70's. Identified my first brown creepers making their way up one of the elms. The dead elm in the side yard was busy as well. A northern flicker and either a downy or hairy woodpecker were hanging out. White-breasted nuthatches have been prominent this winter in Las Animas. Juncos abound as they did the winter last. Duane said he has been seeing chickadees at his feeder and suspects there may a lack of cones up in t…

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Posted by Travis McMillan on December 6, 2007 at 7:43pm — 1 Comment

Rosy Finch Fans--Here they come!

Posted this morning at Colorado Birding Society ...

"Hello all,

We made a quick trip up to Allenspark this morning. All three species of Rosy Finches about 60 birds and Evening Grosbeaks came by very early. That's at the Fawnbrook Inn feeders. Had no time to stop anywhere else.

Good birding!

Terry Michaels
Littleton, CO" Continue

Posted by Gary Lefko on November 29, 2007 at 10:47am — No Comments

Looking for a spotting scope? Try Eagle Optics!!!

Hello everyone. I've been using the Eagle Optics "Vortex" binoculars for about a year now, and love them. So I just got the Eagle Optics "Denali" spotting scope a few weeks ago, and it is awesome as well!!! Lifetime waranty (binoculars have that too!), soft case and sling, tripod. All for $200!!! Great optics from this company! One of my buddies uses a nikon for hunting and scouting, and he said he prefers my Denali over his $600 Nikon!!!

Just thought I'd let ya know about this little…

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Posted by Paul on November 29, 2007 at 7:32am — 1 Comment

One quarter of U.S. birds need our help to keep them from slipping toward extinction

The 2007 Audubon WatchList

A Call to Action

Audubon and the America Bird Conservancy have joined forces to rally conservationists around America's most imperiled birds. WatchList 2007, a new analysis from these leading bird conservation organizations, uses the latest available research from the bird conservation community along with citizen science data from the Christmas Bird Coun…

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Posted by Gary Lefko on November 28, 2007 at 10:02pm — No Comments