Clear Spring Ranch banding Saturday

[Steven Brown]

Hey COBirders,

I opened my banding station at Clear Spring Ranch this week. While it is greener that typical for this date, and obviously drier, the birding is about as slow as you would expect.  So far not much seen or banded besides the normal Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, sparrows, and towhees, many of which probably overwintered on site.

N House Wrens are arriving, and setting up territories. I’ve caught the same pair about three times already.  White-crowned Sparrows are still here (I band them in October and they stay until about now before heading back to the Arctic), but not in great numbers compared to other springs. Lincoln’s Sparrows arrivals are increasing by the day. 

The best arrivals today were a gorgeous breeding adult male Orange-crowned Warbler (orestera ssp), and a gorgeous breeding plumage White-throated Sparrow, although just a second-year bird. I’ve only caught 3 in15 springs here (but 20+ in the fall).

I’ll post more as I get greater numbers, and unusual arrivals.

Happy Migration,

Steve Brown

Colo Spgs