BBS routes available

[Hugh Kingery]

            Spring sprouted this week, winter next. Time to consider taking on a Breeding Bird Survey route.

            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

 

ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS

 

Key to route descriptions:

Number and name                   County                        Page in DeLorme Atlas
                                                                                        (Do people still use it?)

 

            Southwest

 

17366 Owl Creek Pass            Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray    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.

 

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.

 

17223 Piedra                           Archuleta        p 88, 87, 77

Start at Highway 160, 10 miles west of Pagosa Springs; North on Rd 146 and fR 629 7 miles;  Left (NW) on Piedra Road to Road 631 and FR 640 past Williams Creek Res. to end

 

            Southeast

 

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.

 

17328 Pritchett           Baca                            p 101

Start 12 miles S of Pritchett on CR 12; go E one mile, then N on Roads 13 and 12 to end.

 

17027 Gilpin               Bent                p 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.

 

17327 Timpas              Otero               p 100

Starts 15 miles west of LaJunta. From Colo. 10, go south on GR 14 for 9 miles, east on GR 11 5.5 miles to Timpas, south 2 miles, east one mile, then south on GR 18 to end.

 

17050 Crowley           Crowley          p 96

Starts in Olney Springs; NE on Canal Road to CR 8, then north 5 miles; jog west to CR 7, then north 10 miles, jog east, then north on CR 8 to end.

 

17220 Haswell            Bent, Kiowa    p 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.

 

17321 Sheridan Lake     Prowers, Kiowa       p 103

Start on Prowers Co. Rd 30 at Rd VV; north on VV to Kiowa CR W; then east on W to end.

 

            South Central

 

17056 Trinchera          Las Animas     p. 102, 93

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

 

17226 Cokedale          Las Animas     p 93                

            Starts 20 miles west of Trinidad, a mile south of Trinidad Lake; Go westerly on CF 53.1 and 18.3; northwesterly on CR 53.5 through Spanish Peaks WA and 41.1; then northeasterly on CF 41.7 & 42; then NWly on CR 46 to 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.

 

            East Central

 

17019 Rush                 El Paso & Lincoln       p 98

Start at Rush; go east on Colo 94 three miles, then South on CRs2, 3, & 4 to end

 

17020 Boyero             Lincoln                        p 99

Start 25 miles S of Boyero, 1.5 miles east of CR 44 on CR J; west 1.5 miles then N on CR 44 to end, near Boyero.

 

17013 Last Chance     Washington, Arapahoe                       p 96

Start north 9 miles and west 3 miles from Last Chance, at intersection of CR20 & CR D/ West on CR 20 (88^th Ave.), 67N, & 96^th; North on CR 69, west on 136^th Ave. to end.

           

            Central Mountains

 

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

 

17361 Rollins Pass      Boulder           p 39

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

 

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO