Tweeters,
Withstood all that Colorado could give in the form of a serious blizzard
to see some wonderful and unique birds. The week-long trip from April
7-April 14 covered many miles from the north-east and south-east corners
of the state to the Gunnison area and finally the area sorrounding
Denver.
The birds of note and where they were seen were:
The (mo') GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN at the lek near Wray.
The (mo') LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN at the lek at Campo.
The (Gunnysack) SAGE GROUSE at the lek on the Wuanita Hot Springs road,
18 miles east of the town of Gunnison.
Katherine HEPBURN'S favorite literary birds all 3 species of (p)ROSY
FINCHES at Loveland Pass Ski Area due west from Denver.
A somewhat stiff, no doubt from the cold, EURASIAN (starch) COLLARED
DOVE in Rocky Ford.
Near Denver, at Chatfield Reservoir, a tired BLACK-LEGGED KITTI(una)WAKE
and a (very intelligent looking) SAGE SPARROW.
Finally, after crashing waist deep in the snow and undergoing
(ptarmageddon), 40 WHITE-TAILED PTARMIGAN at Guanella Pass.

The week in April was unproductive as far as seeing migrating birds.
That was about the only down side to going at that time aside from the
fact that the weather can be unpredictable. The first few days on the
prairie, the temperatures were in the 70's and then the next few days
the temperature in the mountains were in the 10's with over 18 inches of
snow. The heavy boots were more than worth their weight when it came
time to hike around the snow on Guanella Pass.
If anyone would like more information about the logisitcs of this trip
feel free to E-mail me.

Barry Levine
Seattle
levineb at bsd405.com