CFO Convention Highlights

[Nick Komar]

Just a quick update on birding activities from the southwest corner of the state, where the CFO convention is being held in Cortez. The convention is half done, and the birding has not disappointed. Over 150 birders have tallied well over 150 species, including all the expected southwest specialties, such as Grace's and Lucy's Warblers, Gray Vireo and Gray Flycatcher, Purple Martin and Summer Tanager. In addition, each day has yielded at least one mega-surprise. Friday, it was found by yours truly north of Mancos in Montezuma County. It flitted about high in ponderosa pines

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[Nick Komar]

And now for the rest of the story....

Just a quick update on birding activities from the southwest corner of the
state, where the CFO convention is being held in Cortez. The convention is
half done, and the birding has not disappointed. Over 150 birders have
tallied well over 150 species, including all the expected southwest
specialties, such as Grace's and Lucy's Warblers, Gray Vireo and Gray
Flycatcher, Purple Martin and Summer Tanager. In addition, each day has

yielded at least one mega-surprise. Friday, it was a PAINTED REDSTART found

by yours truly north of Mancos in Montezuma County. It flitted about high

in ponderosa pines for not more than a couple of minutes before it
disappeared. Only about a half dozen lucky birders on Ted Floyd's Montezuma
County Reservoirs field trip saw it, and herculean efforts by many others
could not relocate it. Saturday, the highlight bird was a YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO, identified by John Vasnderpoel and seen by many during Joe Roller's
field trip to Yellow Jacket Canyon in Montezuma County. This bird appeared
to be on a nesting territory so it may stick around for others to see.

Thanks to the CFO leadership for organizing another great convention.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins, CO (currently in Cortez)