BBS routes need observers

[Hugh Kingery]

    We still have eleven vacant Breeding Bird Survey ("BBS") routes of the 132 in Colorado. We invite - and urge - 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.

           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 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 ois organized geographically (sort of) with a short description of the route.

            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 know it’s old –fashioned, but I use the DeLorme (printed on paper) Atlas to locate routes.

           

Hugh Kingery

            East Central

 

17313 Flagler                          Washington, Kit Carson, & Lincoln   p 97

            Starts 15 miles SE of Anton at Wash CR 4; South on CR NN and KC Rds 7, 6, & 5 through Flagler 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

            San Luis Valley and Southwest

 

17055 Alamosa           Conejos, Alamosa       p 91-90

            Starts 12 miles E of Manassa on CO 142; North on CR 28to CR Z; west on CR Z to CR 24; N on CR 24 (Alamosa CR S-112 to end.

 

17422 Cortez              Montezuma                 pp 75, 85

            Start 6 miles N of Dolores on Colo. 526; south on 526 to Colo 104; South on 104 & CR 30 & 29 to US  160; skip 2 miles, then south on CR 27, west on CR H, south on CR 23 to end.

 

            Northwest mtns.

 

17202 Dunckley Pass  Rio Blanco                  p 26, 25          

Starts 5 miles SW of Oak Creek; Start at intersection of Routt CRds 132 & 25. Go W on CR 132 (becomes FR 16); continue on Rd 16 (becomes Rio Blanco CR 8) over Dunckley Pass and Ripple Creek Pass to end.