Chico Basin Ranch Banding Station Report- May 19, 2026-Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

[Chicobander]

If it is raining in your neck of the woods, it most likely will not be raining at Chico Basin Ranch at least the El Paso County side. I probably just jinxed that fact. HA!

Anyhow, despite rain and snow flurries everywhere else or so it seemed from what the volunteers and birders told me, it was not raining or snowing at sunrise nor did it during the morning at all. Tomorrow may be another story but right now, it doesn't look like any rain at sunrise.

Twenty-three bird species were captured including five species of warbler including: Wilson's, Yellow, MacGillivray's, Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warblers and two Northern Waterthrush. An Ovenbird sang off an on all morning near the banding building.

We also caught a Warbling Vireo, took its measurements to help distinguish between Western and Eastern Warbling Vireos. The measurements did not help us to differentiate. However, when getting photos of the bird, it sang a little ad when it was released it flew to a nearby branch and sang a Western song (Had a little twang it its song- just kidding). So a Western Vireo it was! Thank you Bird for singing for us.

81 Birds Banded

Wilson's Warbler- 6

Yellow Warbler- 6

MacGillivray's Warbler- 3

Northern Waterthrush- 2

Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler- 4

Northern House Wren- 1

Willow Flycatcher- 1

Western Wood-pewee- 1

Western Warbling Vireo- 1

Lesser Goldfinch- 1

American Goldfinch- 15

House Finch- 2

Lincoln's Sparrow- 5

Lazuli Bunting- 2

Mountain White-crowned Sparrow- 2

Veery- 2

Swainson's Thrush- 15

Hermit Thrush- 2

Yellow-breasted Chat- 3

Black-headed Grosbeak- 3

Bullock's Oriole- 3

Common Grackle- 1

3 Recaptures

American Redstart- gained almost a grams since yesterday!

Hermit Thrush

Bullock's Oriole

The Banding station will be open tomorrow weather dependent at sunrise until @ 11 AM.

Please stop by the banding station and share your sightings with us. We would love to hear about them. 

Please sign up on the Aiken Audubon website if wanting to bird the ranch. www.aikenaudubon.com. Also remember cell service is very poor out there so download the map or stop by the banding station and look at the laminated map we have to get your bearings while driving around the ranch. 

Enjoy the Day,

Julie Shieldcastle

Bander, Chico Basin Ranch

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies