Colorado Birds, vol. 47, no. 4

[Ted Floyd]

Hello, Birders.

I recently received in the mail the latest issue (vol. 47, no. 4) of Colorado Birds. This is a noteworthy issue in several regards, foremost among which is that it is the first under the kindly and skilled editorship of PETER BURKE.

More on that in a moment, but, first--and I'm sure Peter would second me on this--I'd like to say a word about the end of an era. The long, distinguished, and unfailingly excellent editorship of NATHAN PIEPLOW has come to an end. Don't worry!--there's nothing wrong with Nathan! It's just that Nathan's now in the full-on throes of a major, major book project, one that will redefine birding in Colorado and elsewhere, and he wanted to give that book (and other things in his life) more attention. As Editor of Colorado Birds, Nathan made a huge and lasting difference for birding and field ornithology in Colorado.

Back to Peter...

Peter's inaugural issue is delightful, from start to finish. And it's long!--there's a great abundance of content in there. I can't do justice to it all, but here's a superficial sampling:

* Tony Leukering has a typically insightful ID article, this one on the problem of orangey female Mountain Bluebirds that can get misID'd as Westerns or Easterns. I'll definitely be pondering this matter if I'm lucky enough to find a bluebird on a Colorado CBC next month.

* Duane Nelson provides a thorough summary of "The Status of Piping Plovers as a Colorado Nesting Species, 1990-2013."

* Dave Leatherman has an article that starts out like this: "What do Houdini, the cartoon Roadrunner, James Bond, and American dagger moth caterpillar have in common?" What can I say?--read the article, and find out for yourself.

* Bruce Bosley, Colorado State Extension Agent, provides us with an important primer on bird populations and water issues: "Water It and They Will Come: Lower South Platte Bird Diversity, History, and Outlook."

* Continuing along the Lower South Platte, CFO President Bill Kaempfer recaps a multi-day CFO excursion to Morgan, Logan, Washington, and Sedgwick counties. Bill and his crew found many, many shorebirds.

* More from Kaempfer. He's still keeping his 2013 New Year's resolutions. Huh? Seriously, it's a good and informative and inspiring read.

* Christy Carello tells us where to eat in Breckenridge. Amazingly, you have (a few) inexpensive options in town. (Christy also provides a nice overview of birding opportunities right in town.)

* Plus, we have all the usual content: an excellent and thorough report from the Colorado Bird Records Committee (three species were added to the state checklist!); a detailed report of rare birds reported during the exciting spring migration of 2013; minutes from the most recent meeting of the CFO Board of Directors; and an interview by Yours Truly with Peter Burke.

All members of CFO receive Colorado Birds four times a year. In the off chance that you're not already a CFO member, JOIN TODAY. Go online, fill out the simple form, and you're in:

http://cfobirds.org/business/contribute.php

Good birding to all of you!

All the best,

Ted Floyd (member, Board of Directors, CFO)