CSUFO & DFO Boreal Owl Trip

[Andrew Bankert]

Today the Colorado State University Field Ornithologists led a trip with the Denver Field Ornithologists in search of Boreal Owls up Cameron Pass (Jackson County).  Luckily, meeting on the CSU Campus around 2 PM put us in a perfect place to make a short (less than a mile) detour to see the beautiful Prothonotary Warbler.  We began to question whether anyone has ever seen a Prothonotary Warbler and a Boreal Owl in the same day.  A quick stop at the Moose Visitor Center on the way up gave us great looks at Cassin's Finches along with the other regulars.

A few hours before sundown our group of 22 began hiking at Cameron Pass to get to our owl spot.  Upon arrival we located a few potential nesting holes and split up to watch each one as the sun went down.  The wind and the snow made listening difficult, but we eventually heard one (not at any of the holes we located) and after some effort the whole group was able to get excellent looks.  Overall it was an awesome day with almost everyone getting a life bird, and we did have some students who were new to birding who got a great introduction to this amazing hobby.

Good Birding!

Andy Bankert

Fort Collins