BBS routes still available

[Hugh Kingery]

We still have ten (10) BBS routes available. If anyone would like a (late) assignment, the route descriptions follow:

“I especially enjoyed the first few pre-dawn stops along the wetlands area of Poncha Creek—the dawn chorus there was often a tad overwhelming.  An experience I will never forget.” – Tina Mitchell

 

ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS

 

            Southwest

 

17373 Lizard Head Pass         San Miguel & Dolores            p 76

Start a half mile west of Telluride. Follow Colo. 145 over Lizard Head Pas to Barlow Creek; south on FR 578 to end.

 

17124 Blackhead Peak           Archuleta        p 88

Starts about 20 miles east of Pagosa Springs: on FR 665, go westerly to US 84; S on 84, but no stops on 84, to CR 326; Left (east) and resume route on CRR326, to end. Beautiful scenery, demanding drive.

 

            San Luis Valley

17425 Mesita              Costilla            91

Start 10 miles West and South of San Luis; West on CR H 7 miles; S on Road 7 amile, E on Road G 4 miles; north on unnumbered road 4 miles; East on CR M to end.            

 

            Southeast

 

17328 Pritchett           Baca    101

Start 12 miles S of Pritchett on CR 12; go E one mile, then N on Roads 13 and 12 to end.

 

17220 Haswell            Bent, Kiowa    99

Start 6 miles N of Las Animas; N 7 miles on CR 10; swing around SE edge of Adobe Cr Res. SWA, then N 4 miles on Road 17; E on Road E 2 miles; N 5 miles on Road 19, E 1 mile on Road K, then N on Road 20 to end.

 

17027 Gilpin               Bent    101

Starts 7 miles south of Las Animas. East on Rd BB3 miles; S on CR16 9 miles; W on CR T 3 miles; S on Colo 101 2 miles, W 1 mile on CR P, S on CR 11 to end, just north of Setchfield WMA.

 

17056 Trinchera          Las Animas     p. 102, 93

Start in Trinchera; westerly on CR 2.2 and 22.0 & 24.6 roads to end.

 

17226 Cokedale          Las Animas     p 93                

            Starts 20 miles west of Trinidad, a mile south of Trinidad Lake; Go westerly on CF 53.1 and 18.3; northwesterly on CR 53.5 through Spanish Peaks WA and 41.1; then northeasterly on CF 41.7 & 42; then NWly on CR 46 to end.

 

            Central Mountains

 

17375 Gardner            Huerfano         P 82

Start at intersection of FR 400 & 404 (20+ miles west of Beulah and 10 miles SW of Bishops Castle); south on FR 400 to Gardner, west on CR 550 to Malachite; S on CR 572 to end.

 

 

17351 Angora             Rio Blanco      p 22-23

Start 8 miles NE of Rangely; Start on CR 61 or 65 at Holandrus Res.; south on 61/65 to Colo 64 east on Colo 64 two miles; south and east on CR 122 to end

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO

            Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and the West) the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, originally US Fish & Wildlife Service, now the Biological Research Division of the US Geological Survey, has sponsored the Breeding Bird Survey program to monitor birds across the US (and Canada, with the Canadian Wildlife Service). In 2012, volunteers ran almost 3000 routes in the US & Canada. Scientists use BBS results to derive population trends for the species that the system samples well.

            Colorado has 132 designated BBS routes, and we consistently run more routes than all other states in the U.S. except Texas and California.

            A BBS route covers 24.5 miles. Observers record all the birds they hear and see during a 3-minute stop, then drive a half-mile to the next stop. You run the route, once only, during the peak of the songbird singing season, from May 25 on the plains to July 15 in the high country. The ability to identify species by sound is crucial--I estimate that I record 75-85% of the birds on my routes by sound, not sight.

            The observer should have the ability to identify, by sound and sight, most of the species likely to occur along that route. On my routes, I identify over 75% of the birds by sound, without ever seeing them. We seek a commitment of three years, because the BBS prefers route data run by the same person for at least 3 years.

            Let me know if you would like one or more. The above list is organized geographically (sort of). I hope that we can fill most of them with qualified observers who have good ears.