BBS routes available

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Hugh Kingery

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Mar 11, 2016, 7:11:14 PM3/11/16

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Colorado has 18 BBS routes that need route-runners.

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.

Key to route descriptions:

Number and name County Page in DeLorme Atlas

“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

ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS

Southwest

17366 Owl Creek Pass Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray p 67

Start at US 50 and Cimarron Rd; south on Cimarron Rd (P77) and CR 858 & FR 858 past Silver Jack Res. To Owl Creek Pass; down FR 858to CR 8 & 10 to end.

17373 Lizard Head Pass San Miguel & Dolores p 76

Start a half mile west of Telluride. Follow Colo. 145 over Lizard Head Pas to Barlow Creek; south on FR 578 to end.

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.

San Luis Valley

17018 Moffat Saguache p70

Starts on CR V, 13 miles south and about 7 miles east of the intersection of US 285 and Colo 17 (south of Villa Grove); west on V, U5, and U60 to CR 60; north on CR 60 and 61 to Rd 66, then west 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.

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.

17126 Cone Mtn. Las Animas p 100

Starts about 25 miles NE of Walsenburg, where CR 86 turns south into CR 91.9; S on CR 91.9 and CR 74.2 and 101.5; W on CR 64, N on CR93.9 to end.

17056 Trinchera Las Animas p. 102, 93

Start in Trinchera; westerly on CR 2.2 and 22.0 & 24.6 roads to end.

17326 Walsenburg Huerfano p 83 & 93

Starts at S edge of Walsenburg; S on CR 330; Easterly on CR 310 to Lester; SWly on CR 312 and 313 to end.

17028 Two Buttes Prowers & Baca p 103

Start at intersection of CR 26 & CR D; east on CR D 9 miles; S on Colo 89 to end.

17058 Campo Baca P 101

Start in Campo; W on CR J 11 miles; north on CR 13 4 miles; west on CR M to end.

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.

Central Mountains

17368 Westcliffe Custer, Fremont p. 71

Starts 2 miles west and a mile north of Westcliffe; east ½ mile on CR 170; north on CR 215 (Copper Gulch Road) to Fremont CR 29; east a quarter mile to CR 27A + CR 28 to CR 3 and end.

17375 Gardner Huerfano P 82

Start at intersection of FR 400 & 404 (20+ miles west of Beulah and 10 miles SW of Bishops Castle); south on FR 400 to Gardner, west on CR 550 to Malachite; S on CR 572 to end.

17361 Rollins Pass Boulder p 39

Start at Colo 119, 3 miles N of Blackhawk; NWly on FR to Apex; w on CR 4 miles; N of CR 4N to Tolland; W on CR 16, then N on FR 149 up Rollins Pass to end. 4-wheel drive advised.

Northwest

17002 Great Divide Moffat pp 14 & 15

Starts about 20 miles N of Craig; south on CR 3 about 15 miles, then NWly on CR 5 to end.

17032 Wilson Creek Rio Blanco, Moffat p 24

Start 10 miles north of Meeker at intersection of CR 7 & 9; Nly on CR 9 to CR 17; north on CR 17 to end.

Plains

17042 Adams County Adams p 96, 41

Start 12 miles NE of Strasburg at CR 46N & 80^th Avenue; go east on 80^th a mile, south a mile, west on 72^nd 2miles, south a mile, west 4 miles on 64^th; north 3 miles, then east on 88^th 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.