Prairie Birds Kiowa County

[Dan Stringer]

Yesterday 6/16 I did a breeding bird survey from N of Las Animas on CR 10 up past the E side of Adobe Creek Reservoir and N / E up to Hwy 96 W of Haswell. The shortgrass prairie is green and tall. Going N along Kiowa CR17 near the N/E end of the res there were many Burrowing Owls, a few Grasshopper Sparrows, and Cassin's Sparrows skylarking. When 17 leaves Adobe Creek Res, I saw three Dickcissels not far S of Rd C. Then N of there I continued to see and hear all of these species for a long stretch. East on Rd E many Lark Buntings were also skylarking. I continued N on Rd 20, E on Rd K, and kept seeing all of the above as well as several Blue Grosbeaks. I ended up seeing Dickcissels at 11 of my 50 stops which was surprising, it's either a Dickcissel year or this is just a good place to find them in mid-June. One of the best aspects of this route was that I started at 5 a.m. and the first automobile I saw was at 9:40.

Dan Stringer

Larkspur, CO