Interesting Birds

[Linda B]

This is an open invitation to all who read the Interesting Birds thread, those who have contributed and those who will, to join us in watching birds feeding in the little hummingbird meadow by our cabin in Peaceful Valley.  The air is dancing with hummers at flowers and feeders.  There are lots of our local Broad-tailed, along with migrant Rufous, and maybe a Calliope or two.

When:  Saturday August 3, anytime from 7:30 am through the day.

Where:  The address is 50154 State Highway 72 in Peaceful Valley about 8 miles west of Jamestown and about 3.5 miles from the Bar-K entrance. 
Go right or north at the Peak-to-Peak where Overland Road ends.  As you descend into the valley go slowly through the end curve.  Do not turn on the old Peaceful Valley road, but cross the highway bridge over the river to find 3 mailboxes on the right.  Be very careful of traffic here.  Please park well off the highway and walk down the driveway to the end cabin.  Seniors with mobility issues may park in the driveway without blocking it.


What to bring:  Suggestions include water, any snacks you want to eat, binoculars, camera, hat, rain jacket, good footwear, insect repellent, questions and a penchant for patient quiet.  There should be plenty of seating but bring a favorite camp chair if you like.

What not to bring:  Dogs or other domestic animals of any kind including rowdy children.  Good kids are always welcome.  

We look forward to meeting and sharing with our good mountain neighbors!


Steve & Deb
970-250-6161


Steve and Deb,

Thank you for hosting this delightful event and sharing your love and knowledge of these amazing little creatures.  We had a wonderful time and learned a lot.

Chet and Linda

[Steven B in PV]

After the very busy summer and as the fall preps for winter begin to wind down, I'd like to catch up on some of the interesting birds of late summer.  Despite the warm and dry weather, hummingbird visits wound down very quickly with our last bird seen on September 16.  This compares with 2023 when our last hummer was seen on Sept. 23.  The migration happens regardless of the abundant food resources, with many fresh feeders and a yard full of blooming flowers available.

Since mid summer we've had several visits by a Dusky Grouse hen and two nearly full grown chicks.  They have fed on scattered seed and cracked corn only a few yards from the porch.  For much of the time, the hen stands guard as the chicks feed.

An exciting first for our yard was a flock of 13 turkeys feeding through the meadow.  We occasionally see turkeys in and around Peaceful Valley, but never on our property.  The flock was captured on some of our wildlife video cams.

From late July into mid September, we enjoyed daily visits by a juvenile Green-tailed Towhee.  Like some other sparrows, towhees hop and scratch the ground with both feet to find seeds and insects.  We've seldom seen Green-tailed Towhees here by the river, but they have long nested among the shrubs on the south facing hillside only three hundreds yards from the cabin.

Another recent visitor to the water fountains and the scattered seed has been a Hermit Thrush.  The secretive thrush is a close cousin to the American Robins and Townsend's Solitaire that also frequent the yard.  Hermit Thrushes nest annually in the dense spruce-fir forest around the cabin.  Similar to the Swainson's Thrush which has also nested in our yard, the Hermit is distinguished by it's rust red rump and tail.  They are a late fall migrant with some remaining in late October to early November.  To my ear, it's melodious song is one of the most beautiful bird songs in North America.  

Hermit Thrush songs


   

   

   

   

   

[burtonwc1]

You know it’s fall in the canyon when the White-crowned Sparrows appear, back from their higher-altitude summer haunts. Three sighted on Ward St. today. I’ve been gone for 2 weeks so may have come down earlier.

Bill Burton

[burtonwc1]

You know it’s fall in the canyon when the White-crowned Sparrows appear, back from their higher-altitude summer haunts. Three sighted on Ward St. today. I’ve been gone for 2 weeks so may have come down earlier.

Bill Burton

[Steven B in PV]

Some of our winter visitors include 3 Clark's Nutcrackers, and the first male Red-winged Blackbirds of the year showed up on March 1st.  There are now about 40 Pine Siskins and Pine Grosbeaks coming daily.


   


Recently, a female Pine Grosbeak bumped a north window and sat stunned on the cold concrete.  I moved behind and picked up the bird using the banders grip.  I warmed it in my cupped hand with hot breath, and when she perked up she moved onto my index finger to perch.  I slowly walked some 50 feet to where my camera was on the ground and moved her around to let the sun warm her back.  Temp was 25F, so the sun was relief.

This beautiful girl remained on my hand for a half hour.  Two other female Pine Grosbeaks landed briefly on my head to check on the situation.  This lady was alert, watching and listening to other birds, Pine Siskins, various nuthatches, Steller's Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers.

Pine Grosbeaks are high altitude spruce-fir forest birds that infrequently encounter people, thus they are relatively tame and curious.  They are the largest North American finch, and their range is circumpolar  We can sometimes walk by within two or three feet, and they keep feeding on sunflower.  With patience, we might hand feed them.  They are one of my favorite birds because of their tame nature and their cheerful "Chur-Leep" call!  Currently, we see about 30 Pine Grosbeaks feeding around the cabin every day.

The bird was fully alert, watching and listening to all that was happening.  She was comfortable knowing that my hand was safe and that she was free to go.  It was so much fun, but my arm was tiring and I told her that I had to leave to go bowling.  With that, she flew off into an Engelmann Spruce and began calling, Chur-Leep! Chur-Leep!


Tomorrow evening, I'll give a talk on Hummingbirds of the Western U.S. for the
Montclair Bird Club, NJ.  Come join us if you will.
Zoom Meeting Wednesday, March 12, 7:30 – 9:30pm Eastern Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8447...MeHmVF8MA3OlrHrG6y.1

[tulkula]

How wonderfully magical. Thanks for being her healing perch and for sharing her with us Steve!

[John Hardman]

Hey Steve ~

What a beauty!  Thanks for being an awesome "caregiver".  I used to have lots of various Grosbeaks in my yard. 
Not so many the last several years.  Michelle informed me that numbers of Flickers have declined. Used to see them often, now none. 

I miss all those guys.  Normal? to have species vacate habitats? Or is it competition and predators? 
I do see an abundance of Crows, Stellar Jays and Magpies.  They seem to be the "ruling gang". 
They even go after Rudiger's rabbits!  

Looking forward to hearing Our Bird's happy songs in the forest!

~ j