We invite
qualified observers to participate in the Breeding Bird Survey “BBS.”
Participants must have the skills to identify the likely species on their
routes by sight and by sound.
Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and the
West) the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, originally US Fish & Wildlife
Service, now the Biological Research Division of the US Geological Survey, has
sponsored the Breeding Bird Survey program to monitor birds across the US (and
Canada, with the Canadian Wildlife Service). In 2012, volunteers ran almost
3000 routes in the US & Canada. Scientists use BBS results to derive
population trends for the species that the system samples well.
Colorado
has 132 designated BBS routes, and we consistently run more routes than all
other states in the U.S. except Texas and California.
A BBS route
covers 24.5 miles. Observers record all the birds they hear and see during a
3-minute stop, then drive a half-mile to the next stop. You run the route, once
only, during the peak of the songbird singing season, from May 25 on the plains
to July 15 in the high country. The ability to identify species by sound is
crucial--I estimate that I record 75-85% of the birds on my routes by sound,
not sight.
The
observer should have the ability to identify, by sound and sight, most of the species likely to occur along that
route. On my routes, I identify over 75% of the birds by sound, without ever
seeing them. We seek a commitment of
three years, because the BBS prefers route data run by the same person for
at least 3 years.
Let me know
if you would like one or more. The following list is organized geographically
(sort of). I hope that we can fill most of them with qualified observers who
have good ears.
The
following lists the available routes; I can send more detailed descriptions to
you if you’d like to consider one but want more information.
“I especially
enjoyed the first few pre-dawn stops along the wetlands area of Poncha
Creek—the dawn chorus there was often a tad overwhelming. An experience I
will never forget.” – Tina Mitchell
Key to route
descriptions:
Number and name County Page in DeLorme Atlas
ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS
Southwest
17124 Blackhead Peak Archuleta p 88
Starts about 20 miles east of Pagosa
Springs: on FR 665, go westerly to US 84; S on 84, but no stops on 84, to CR
326; Left (east) and resume route on CRR326, to end. Beautiful scenery,
demanding drive.
17224 Fox Creek Conejos p.
91-90
Starts 10 miles west of Antonito at Fox
Creek; NWly on Colo. 17; right on FR 250 to end near Platoro.
San Luis Valley
17374 Moon Pass Saguache
Start 1 mile west of La Garita; go
NWlyon Rd 41G; left on FR 675 to end
17125 San Luis Costilla 91-81
Start at 11 miles S of Blanca; From Rd.
@.5, go north on CR 12 7 miles; just N of Smith Res., go W on Rd CC w miles,
then N on CR 104 miles, W on US 160 a mile, N on CO 150 to end.
17425 Mesita Costilla 91
Start 10 miles West and South of San
Luis; West on CR H 7 miles; S on Road 7 amile, E on Road G 4 miles; north on
unnumbered road 4 miles; East on CR M to end.
Northwest
17351 Angora Rio Blanco p
22-23
Start 8 miles NE of Rangely; Start on CR
61 or 65 at Holandrus Res.; south on 61/65 to Colo 64 east on Colo 64 two
miles; south and east on CR 122 to end.
17033 Walden Jackson p17
Starts about 15 miles NW of Walden;
south on CR7 past Lake John turnoff, on CR 5 past Delaney Buttes SWA; east on
CR 24 to end.
Plains
17042 Adams County Adams p 96, 41
Start 12 miles NE of Strasburg at CR 46N
& 80th Avenue; go east on 80th a mile, south a mile,
west on 72nd 2miles, south a mile, west 4 miles on 64th;
north 3 miles, then east on 88th to end.
17043 Gordon Creek Washington 97
Start 4 miles E and 8 miles S of Anton; north
9 miles on CR HH; E 2 miles on CR 12; N 14 miles on CR KK to end.
Southeast
17220 Haswell Bent, Kiowa 99
Start 6 miles N of Las Animas; N 7 miles
on CR 10; swing around SE edge of Adobe Cr Res. SWA, then N 4 miles on Road 17;
E on Road E 2 miles; N 5 miles on Road 19, E 1 mile on Road K, then N on Road 20
to end.
17027 Gilpin Bent 101
Starts 7 miles south of Las Animas. East
on Rd BB3 miles; S on CR16 9 miles; W on CR T 3 miles; S on Colo 101 2 miles, W
1 mile on CR P, S on CR 11 to end, just north of Setchfield WMA.
17328 Pritchett Baca 101
Start 12 miles S of Pritchett on CR 12;
go E one mile, then N on Roads 13 and 12 to end.