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). Last year 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 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 know it’s old
–fashioned, but I use the DeLorme (printed on paper) Atlas to locate routes.3
Hugh Kingery
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
East Central & North
17036 Wildhorse Lake Logan p
95
Starts
at intersection of CRds 25 & 58, 25 miles NW of Sterling; West 2 mi, S 10
mi on CR 21; West 1.5 mi, south on CR 15 and 17 to end.
17007 Fleming Phillips p 95
Starts 8 miles SW of Fleming; easterly
on a series of county roads through Haxtun to end, 5 ½ miles east of
Haxtun.
17214 Kirk Kit
Carson p 97
Starts
5 miles S of Kirk; westerly on CR MM to end.
Southeast
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.
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.
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.
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
San Luis Valley and 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.
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.
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
Northwest
17009 Buford Rio Blanco pp
35, 24, 34
Start 2 miles SW of Buford on CR 8; SWly
and NWly on CR 8 to CR 4; west on CR 4 & 36 to CR 13; south on CR 13 to
end.
17201 Browns Park Moffat p 12
Start 20 miles SE of Browns Park NWR;
north on CR 10 to Colo 318; NWly on Colo 318 to CR 83; south on CR 83 to end in
Browns Park NWR.
17308 Baxter Pass Garfield pp 42,
32
Starts 15 miles NW of Highline Lake; N
on CR 201 over Baxter Pass to end