Colorado Birds the Colorado Field Ornithologists’ Quarterly

Vol. 49 No. 1 Winter 2015 Colorado Birds The Colorado Field Ornithologists’ Quarterly

John Cassin Flash Photography Snake-eating Birds Colorado Field Ornithologists PO Box 643, Boulder, Colorado 80306 cfobirds.org

Colorado Birds (USPS 0446-190) (ISSN 1094-0030) is published quarterly by the Colo- rado Field Ornithologists, P.O. Box 643, Boulder, CO 80306. Subscriptions are obtained through annual membership dues. Nonproﬁt postage paid at Louisville, CO. POST- MASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Birds, P.O. Box 643, Boulder, CO 80306.

Ofﬁcers and Directors of Colorado Field Ornithologists: Dates indicate end of current term. An asterisk indicates eligibility for re-election. Terms expire at the annual convention.

Ofﬁcers: President: Bill Kaempfer, Boulder, 2015; [email protected]; Vice Presi- dent: Christian Nunes, Longmont, 2015*; [email protected]; Secretary: Larry Modesitt, Greenwood Village, 2015; [email protected]; Treasurer: Tom Wilberd- ing, Boulder, 2015*; [email protected]

Directors: Christy Carello, Golden, 2016*; Lisa Edwards, Palmer Lake, 2017; Ted Floyd, Lafayette, 2017; Mike Henwood, Grand Junction, 2015*; Joe Roller, Denver, 2015; Da- vid Gillilan, Littleton, 2016*.

Colorado Bird Records Committee: Dates indicate end of current term. An asterisk indicates eligibility to serve another term. Terms expire 12/31.

Chair: Doug Faulkner, Arvada, 2016; [email protected]

Committee Members: John Drummond, Colorado Springs, 2016; Bill Schmoker, Long- mont, 2016; Glenn Walbek, Castle Rock, 2015; Mark Peterson, Colorado Springs, 2016*

Colorado Birds Quarterly:

Editor: Peter Burke, [email protected]

Staff: Christian Nunes, photo editor, Christy Carello, science editor

Contributors: Peter Gent, Dave Leatherman, Tony Leukering, Bill Schmoker

Annual Membership Dues (renewable quarterly): General $25; Youth (under 18) $12; Institution $30. Membership dues entitle members to a subscription to Colorado Birds, which is published quarterly. Back issues/extra copies may be ordered for $6.50. Send requests for extra copies/back issues, change of address and membership renewals to CFO, P.O. Box 643, Boulder, CO 80306; make checks out to Colorado Field Ornitholo- gists. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

2 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 The Colorado Field Ornithologists’ Quarterly Vol. 49 No. 1 Winter 2015

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ...... 4 Bill Kaempfer

ABOUT THE AUTHORS ...... 5

CFO BOARD MEETING MINUTES ...... 7 Larry Modesitt

CFO ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES ...... 10 Larry Modesitt

2014 CFO AWARDS ...... 12 Christy Carello and Joe Roller

CFO-WFO AGREEMENT...... 16 Christy Carello and Joe Roller

JOHN CASSIN ...... 17 Robert Righter

NEWS FROM THE FIELD: SUMMER 2015 ...... 20 Peter Gent

THE HUNGRY BIRD: SNAKES ...... 27 Dave Leatherman

FULLY EXPOSED: DON'T FEAR THE FLASH ...... 38 Bill Schmoker A Northern Bobwhite of CFO FIELD TRIP REPORT ...... 39 questionable provenance, Bill Kaempfer and Christian Nunes surrounded by invasive plants, IN THE SCOPE: East Boulder SOFT PARTS: FEMALE DABBLING DUCKS ...... 40 Rec Center, 13 June 2013. Tony Leukering Photo by Peter Burke 2014 CFO DONORS ...... 42 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Exit Sterling, on to Salida

Bill Kaempfer As I write this, we are just a few months out from the 52nd An- nual CFO Convention in Sterling. I hope you were among the 180 or so in attendance and enjoyed that weekend of great birding. One reality of having a fall convention followed by a spring convention in the next year is the planning burden—the entire CFO Board of Directors is hard at work planning for #53 in Salida! Sterling certainly held some surprises for us. For one, all those mud flats we were expecting were actually underwater—the extremely wet conditions of the twelve months prior to our August convention, especially along the South Platte River in northeastern Colorado, rendered nearly all of the prime shorebird spots along the Platte, well, sub-prime. On the plus side of the surprise ledger, however, the weather was Bill Kaempfer incredibly mild, for late-August on the plains, that is. While the water conditions weren’t as expected, convention participants were able to tick off plenty of shorebirds if they were in the right spots—Jumbo Reservoir, Red Lion State Wild- life Area and especially Riverside Reservoir had good variety. Key- note speaker Jon L. Dunn gave us lots of instruction and insights into shorebird identification, and I think there are now lots of Colorado birders prepared to go out in the field and not only identify Short- billed Dowitchers, but know why! Overall, we tallied a collective 200 species during the Sterling convention; a list that included Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Prairie Chicken, Long-tailed Jaeger and Piping Plover to name just a few, plus, of course, Sterling’s Mississippi Kites soaring over town park. Other convention highlights included an outstanding selection of papers presented on Saturday afternoon sessions, Jon Dunn’s extra talk on Friday afternoon and especially Christian Nunes’ delightful Jeop-birdy that had us all taxing our skills while roaring in laughter on Friday night. But let’s exit Sterling and move on to Salida for our next convention, June 4-8, 2015. Salida is just about smack-dab in the middle of Colorado, situated at the foot of the Collegiate Range and forming the entrance to Colorado’s Upper Arkansas Valley. This is not an area that we get to very often for conventions—the only mountain convention we’ve had in the last 30 years was 2003 in Frisco. Be

4 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 prepared for specialties of the southern mountains—Pinyon Jay, Ju- niper Titmouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Dusky Grouse, Band-tailed Pigeon, Gray Jay and perhaps even White-tailed Ptarmigan. Sterling hosts some great birding spots close to town and several high country spots within easy driving distance. Some old favorites like Antero and De Weese Reservoirs and Russell Lakes SWA are just an hour away. We always try to come up with a few private spots to visit at the convention and this year I can promise the spectacular Hutchinson Ranch. Homesteaded in the 1860s, the property has remained in the family continuously for seven generations. I took the CFO Board there on an outing before our October meeting in Salida, and it was all I could do pry them off the site. Of course the convention will feature all its regular activities including a welcome picnic on Thursday, a second go at Jeop-birdy on Friday night, Saturday afternoon’s paper session and our annual banquet on Saturday. More details are forthcoming, and don’t be tardy getting your registration in as space in Salida will be limited.

Bill Kaempfer, [email protected]

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Contributors

News From the Field Peter Gent has lived in Boulder and worked at the National Cen- ter for Atmospheric Research since 1976. At NCAR, some people think his real job is birding. He has twice been the President of CFO, twice served as the Chairman of the CFO Bird Records Committee and was a co-editor of Colorado Birds in the mid 1980s.

The Hungry Bird Dave Leatherman is a photographer, entomologist and expert on Colorado birds. He is a regular contributor to Colorado Birds as author of The Hungry Bird. His photographs of birds carrying food are of such high quality that many of the invertebrates can be identiﬁed to species. He obtained his B.S. from Marietta College and his M.S. from Duke University. When not birding, Dave has been known to occasionally enjoy a night on the town listening to live jazz.

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 5 In The Scope Tony Leukering is a freelance ornithologist currently based in Florida. His primary interest in birds is migration, and his work has included nearly 14 years at the Rocky Mountain Bird Ob- servatory. He is a recipient of CFO’s Ron Ryder Award and has authored virtually all of the In The Scope columns for Colorado Birds.

Fully Exposed Bill Schmoker is a middle school science teacher, is extremely active in the birding community and is a frequent photo contributor to Birding and other ABA publications in addition to a wide variety of books, magazines and other media. HE authored the Geared for Birding column in the American Birding Association›s Winging It newsletter and contributes to birding blogs for both ABA and Leica. He is involved with the ABA Young Birders program as a Camp Colorado and Camp Avocet instructor and photo module judge for the Young Birder of the Year contest. Bill is an eBird reviewer and member of the Colorado Bird Records Committee and is a past president of CFO.

Featured Authors

John Cassin Robert Righter is co-author of Colorado Birds, Birds of Western Colorado and author of Bird Songs of Rocky Mountain States. He has lived in Colorado for 47 years, 34 of them as a CFO member.

6 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 CFO BOARD MEETING MINUTES

18 October 2014 Gateway Inn, Salida, CO

Larry Modesitt President Bill Kaempfer called the October quarterly meeting to order at 11:00 A.M., requiring his strong leadership skills to evict board members from a pre-convention inspection tour of the Hutchinson Ranch. Having already discovered what for most were personal record numbers of Pinyon Jays, Clark’s Nutcrackers, North- ern Flickers and Townsend’s Solitaires, plus pairs of Red-naped and Williamson’s Sapsuckers, the group wondered what other delightful birds were lurking there. Other ofﬁcers present were Vice President Christian Nunes, Secretary Larry Modesitt, and Treasurer Tom Wil- berding. Directors Peter Burke, Christy Carello, Lisa Edwards, David Gillilan, Mike Henwood, Joe Roller and Ted Floyd were present. Di- rector Doug Faulkner sent his regrets from Ecuador.

We adjourned to tour the Steam Plant to make banquet arrangements, reconvening at 12:04 P.M.

Secretary’s Report: Larry Mode- such as birding by ear. They appre- sitt. Directors approved the minutes ciate detailed field trip descriptions of the 19 July board meeting and 30 that include not just target species August 2014 annual meeting. and departure times, but also subjec- tive information such as terrain de- Treasurer’s Report: Tom Wil- scriptions, expected pace and areas berding’s previously emailed financial where walking may be difficult. It is statements were approved. imperative that people realize that trip departure times are when wheels Sterling 2014 Convention Feed- roll. Despite the unusual high water back: Bill Kaempfer reviewed David in all reservoirs that reduced shore- Gillilan’s summary of the participant bird habitat, Jon Dunn’s shorebird survey. Registration, which for the workshop was outstanding, as was his first time was conducted solely on- keynote address featuring shorebird line, was successful. Attendees stated identification. Christy Carello in- unequivocally that birding trips and creased both the quantity and quality related arrangements are of higher of paper sessions, with a record num- priority than lodging, food and ame- ber of students attending. Christian nities. Participants want field trips Nunes’ creative Jeop-birdy game was to private properties, general birding the highest rated activity. In summa- workshops and technical programs ry, participants decreed the fall Ster- focused on improving birding skills ling convention to be a great success.

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 7 2014 Salida Convention Planning numbers, leaders are asked to register for June 4-8, 201—Bill Kaempfer and pay in full prior to the conven- 1. Facilities. Convention head- tion. Refund checks will be mailed quarters will be the Gateway Inn and after the convention. Suites in Salida. Our banquet will be UÊ ÀV ÕÀiÊ «ÀÌ}Ê ì>ìÃÊ at the “Steam Plant,” a historic build- were determined. ing on the banks of the Arkansas Riv- er that has been converted to an art Colorado Bird Records Commit- and event center. tee (CBRC): Doug Faulkner submit- 2. Field Trips will include many dif- ted his report by email. Doug had ini- ferent mountain and desert habitats. tially stated he would resign as CBRC Owling is expected to be excellent. Chairman at the end of the December Ted Floyd wagered Joe Roller that 31, 2014 term, but his request to re- a White-eyed vireo will be reported main Chair through the 2015 Con- sometime during the convention. vention was approved. 3. Sherrie York will contribute the artwork for the T-shirts. CFO Website: David Gillilan re- 4. Food preparation at Sterling’s ported that Ann Johnson is requiring Ramada Inn was below expectations. some additional information from a We plan to see major improvements few people prior to completion of the in Salida. new CFO website, with a target date 5. We discussed many potential of November 1 for public use. Con- keynote speakers agreeing that the vention registration will be added lat- level of participation Jon Dunn con- er. CFO, CBRC and County Birding tributed in all aspects of the conven- all will have the same design. Joe Roll- tion was exemplary, and something we er reported that after review, experts would like to see from future speakers. consider our coloradocountybirding. 6. The student mixer was success- org website to be superior to the eBird ful and will be continued. portal, so no further action is needed. 7. Field trip leader compensation at the Salida convention will be as Proposed CFO-Western Field follows: Ornithologists (WFO) Partnership: ÊUÊi>ìÀÃÊvÊÞÊiÊwi`ÊÌÀ«Ê The CFO Board met with Jon Dunn will receive a complimentary T-shirt. during the Sterling convention to Ê UÊ i>ìÀÃÊvÊÌÜÊÀÊÀiÊwi`Ê discuss a partnership with WFO. He trips will receive a complimentary T- announced that WFO passed a reso- shirt and be eligible for a registration lution in its October 9, 2014 board fee refund (paying only the banquet meeting in favor of a partnership with rate) CFO. While the organizations are dif- Ê UÊ Õ«iÃÊ Ì >ÌÊ Vi>`Ê ÌÀ«ÃÊ ferent in many ways, each can learn will each receive a complimentary T- from the other, thereby strengthening shirt, but only one registration refund. both. CFO passed a resolution similar UÊ ÊÀìÀÊÌÊ>>}iÊÀi}ÃÌÀ>ÌÊ to WFO’s, opening the door to explore

8 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 a partnership. Ideas discussed included Colorado Birds, providing a fresh look. cross-promoting news, meetings and Peter continues to solicit ideas for fu- ﬁeld trips on our websites; collaborat- ture articles, particularly showcasing ing on each other’s journal by shar- the entire state of Colorado. ing peer reviewers, making ﬁeld trips Publicity: Ted Floyd will give a available to each other’s members, at- winter talk at the Denver Public Li- tending one another’s conferences and brary on his book, Birds of Colorado, exploring joint funding for applicable and will promote CFO membership. projects. Larry Modesitt will be CFO’s Membership: Lisa Edwards an- liaison with Jon Dunn of WFO. Each nounced 39 new memberships be- board will approve actions before they tween April and July, 30 of which are taken. were totally new members. We continue to exceed 500 members. Social Media Communications: CFO Field Trips: Bill Kaempfer Christian Nunes reported 817 Face- noted upcoming quarterly CFO Field book followers, up 300 from last meet- Trips led by himself, Ted Floyd, Chris- ing. tian Nunes and Mike Henwood. Project Fund and Scholarships: Additional Committee Reports Christy Carello received approval for Nominating & Awards: Joe Roller extending the grant deadline from reported that there were no vacan- 12/1 to 12/15. The scholarship dead- cies now, but people who volunteer line remains 3/31. for CFO committee and other du- ties are being considered when future New Business: The role of conser- needs arise. Persons wishing to suggest vation in the mission of CFO will be a recipient for the Ron Ryder Award discussed in the January meeting. should submit a detailed description for review at our January meeting. The next meeting will be at 11 A.M. Colorado Birds: Peter Burke stated on January 24, 2015 in the Center for that our winter issue 49-1 has an edi- Innovation and Creativity (CINC) in torial deadline of November 16. Peter Boulder. Gent will compile News from the Field in the upcoming issue. Bill Schmoker President Kaempfer adjourned the will provide an avian photography col- meeting at 3:58 P.M. to review the lo- umn and Bob Righter will provide ar- cation to be used for our picnic. ticles on historical ornithologists with ties to Colorado. In addition to new Respectfully submitted, content, Peter is preparing to redesign Larry Modesitt, Secretary

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 9 CFO ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

30 August 2014 Ramada Inn, Sterling, CO

Larry Modesitt, CFO Secretary President Bill Kaempfer welcomed 175 attendees, the third highest total on record, to CFO’s Annual Convention in Sterling, Colorado. The first business transacted was to determine the right- ful owner of car keys to a Lexus found in the parking lot—out of twenty claimants. Sterling hosted the convention again after eight years. This was the first fall occurrence since Denver 1992, and just the third fall convention ever of 52 total conventions. Bill thanked Treasurer Tom Wilberding for obtaining national publicity, resulting in 25 attendees from outside Colorado. Bill remembered three former CFO directors who passed away during the year: Warren Finch, Bob Coen and John Yeager. He thanked directors whose board service ended during the year including past President Jim Beatty, Colorado Birds Editor Nathan Pieplow and Webmaster Brenda Linfield—all of whom raised the bar in their respective positions. He then welcomed two new members: Colorado Birds Editor Peter Burke and Webmaster David Gillilan.

Bill thanked Todd and Peggy Sherlund for opening their 2,000- acre ranch on North Sterling Reservoir for the ﬁrst-ever bird ﬁeld trip, Skip Dines for obtaining access to Riverside Reservoir and to Bruce Bosley for obtaining access to Muir Springs, which had been closed to birding for 25 years.

Bill announced CFO highlights of the past year. First, the completion of two redesigned websites: coloradobirdrecords.org and coloradocountybirding.org, with cfobirds.org expected by year’s end. Second, CFO’s sponsorship of the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II. In addition, Jon Dunn graciously donated his speaker’s fee to the At- las. Third, continued funding for CFO Projects and Scholarships, including funding for research described in papers presented earlier in the day by Amber Carver, Colin Wooley and Matt Warning. Board Member Christy Carello, in charge of Projects and Scholarships, passed the hat to fund future recipients, collecting $958.

Nominating Committee Chair Joe Roller presented the slate of ofﬁcers as: Bill Kaempfer, President; Christian Nunes, Vice President; Larry Modesitt, Secretary and Tom Wilberding, Treasurer. Member- ship approved the slate. Joe announced that a Homeowner’s Award

10 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 had been presented to the Sean Walters family for hosting more than 150 people to see a Varied Thrush. Joe also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Schottler, an unabashed lister, who identiﬁed his favorite list as all the friends he’s made birding.

Bill Kaempfer announced that Salida, for the ﬁrst time, will be the destination for next year’s convention the ﬁrst weekend in June.

Christy Carello reviewed the criteria for the Ron Ryder Award: distinguished service to CFO and its goals, scholarly contributions to Colorado ﬁeld ornithology and sharing knowledge of Colorado ﬁeld ornithology with others. The Ron Ryder Award is the highest honor CFO can bestow and is not awarded every year. Christy introduced the latest recipient, Dr. Catherine P. Ortega, formerly of Fort Lewis College. Dr. Ortega thanked CFO Lifetime Achievement winner Bob Spencer, “Bob and Bob” author Bob Andrews, and Ron Ryder Award winner Alexander Cruz for inspiring her to study ornithology.

Keynote speaker Jon Dunn presented an informative and enjoy- able shorebird identiﬁcation class that provided many helpful hints for distinguishing often confusing plumages within a challenging family of birds. In time, tertials and coverts gave way to less technical topics, including a few new names for birds. Jon suggested that Kent- ish Plover, at best a casual visitor to Kent County, England, might better be named Kentless Plover. He continued that a bird unable to pass a sobriety test likely is a Wilson’s Phalarope. Finally, Jon suggested birders in Colorado stay on the lookout for long-overdue Little Stint, Spotted Redshank and Purple Sandpiper that could bring the Colorado State list to 500 species. His advice for ﬁnding rare birds is to become expert in identifying Colorado’s common birds.

More ﬁeld trips Sunday, featuring Jon Dunn’s shorebird identiﬁca- tion, and Monday concluded the convention.

Respectfully submitted, Larry Modesitt, Secretary

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 11 2014 CFO AWARDS

Recipient of the Ron Ryder Award: Dr. Catherine P. Ortega

Christy Carello The Ronald A. Ryder Award was established in 1995 in honor of its namesake. Awards are given to those that meet all three of the following criteria: Distinguished service to CFO and it its goals, scholarly contributions to CFO and Colorado field ornithology and the sharing of knowledge of Colorado field ornithology with the people of the state of Colorado. Dr. Catherine P. Ortega, a former student of Dr. Alex Cruz (a 2010 Ron Ryder recipient), was selected for the 2014 Ron Ryder award by the CFO board of directors. Dr. Ortega has studied birds for more than 30 years, mostly in the state of Colo- rado. She is well known for her work on cowbird parasitism, though her contributions extend far beyond that subject, mostly in the area of avian conservation. She began her studies as an undergradu- ate at the University of Colorado Boulder where she completed an honors thesis on egg acceptance of Shiny Cowbird eggs by Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds and other passerines in Puerto Rico. During this same time period she also designed a Col- orado-based study of Brown-headed Cow- bird parasitism on Red-winged Blackbirds Dr. Catherine P. Ortega and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. This study eventually became part of her Ph.D. thesis and established her as a respected ornithologist. After earning a doctorate degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Ortega served as a Professor of Biology at Fort Lewis Col- lege in Durango from 1991-2009 where she mentored and inspired countless students. In addition to teaching courses in Ornithology, Bird Identification and Wildlife Management, she also supervised student research projects and encouraged students to participate in her own research on cowbird parasitism and the effects of human disturbance on birds. As a professor, she also served as director of the San Juan Institute of Natural and Cultural Resources. Today Dr. Ortega continues her work as a private consultant,

12 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 mainly conducting studies on avian conservation and advising private and government organizations on actions that impact natural resources. Currently she works with Colorado Parks and Wildlife on a wetland focus group helping landowners achieve the goals of the North American Waterfowl Plan, the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan and the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. She is coor- dinator of the San Juan Watershed and Woody-Invasive Initiative, a partnership with four states (AZ, CO, NM, UT) and four Native American Tribes (Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, Southern Ute Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) that implements citizen science programs and habitat restoration projects. Dr. Ortega has served on the board of directors for CFO and has authored more than 50 published articles, including six in Colorado Birds, most of them focused on birds found in Colorado. A prodigious speaker, she has given some 40 presentations at regional, national and international conferences including two CFO conventions (1991 and 2002). She has been awarded over $1,000,000 in grant money to study birds and their habitats. Dr. Ortega is an inspiration to young men and women pursuing careers in Ornithology. Although we have known each other for more than two decades, I only just met Dr. Ortega in person at the 2014 CFO convention in Sterling. She motivated me as a graduate student and was the only female Ornithology professor I knew of who had earned a Ph.D. at CU-Boulder. In fact, my own research on cowbirds was inspired by Dr. Ortega’s work. She always made the time to cor- respond with me and I continue to reach out to her to discuss ideas for research and experimental design. Dr. Ortega is a true ﬁeld ornithologist, and it was an honor for me to personally present the Ron Ryder award to her at the 2014 CFO convention in Sterling, Colorado.

Christy Carello, [email protected] CFO Thanks Sean Walters Family

Joe Roller On 5 December 2013 Sean Walters was delighted to spot an adult male Varied Thrush eating millet below a feeder in his Loveland, Colorado backyard. He posted the sighting on CFO’s COBirds listserv and quickly found himself host to scores of birders during the busy holiday season. For several weeks the Walters welcomed birders to their home.

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 13 His parents, Mi- chelle and Tom, and his sister Meghan were gracious hosts, allowing guests to observe the bird from their yard and even from inside their home. Nearly all of the 119 eager visitors were able to see this hand- some thrush, a rare winter visitor to Colorado from the Pacific North- west, as it lingered until The Walters Family L to R: Tom, Meghan, Sean and Christmas Day. On one Michelle occasion, Meghan took a break from studying in the basement and was surprised to find 10 strangers standing in the living room! Her mother was nonplused with the daily traffic of birders, instead finding herself far more concerned that someone might miss seeing the thrush. Birders came from all over Colorado, but also from Wyoming and Texas. According to Sean, “If the bird had stayed just a few more days, we would have had the opportunity of meeting a vacationing Welsh birder!” CFO thanked the Walters Family with a special presentation of a Homeowner’s Appreciation Award at the picnic prior to the 2014 convention in Sterling. When a rare bird visits a private home, we could only hope the occupants prove to be as accommodating as the Walters!

Joe Roller, [email protected]

Dick Schottler Honored with CFO Lifetime Achievement Award

Joe Roller The CFO Lifetime Achievement Award honors, “A person of ﬁne character who has earned the esteem of birders by long service to the birding community.” Previous recipients include Joe Himmel, Bob Spencer, Warren Finch, Suzi Plooster and Lynn Wilcockson. In 2014

14 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 this honor was bestowed upon Dick Schottler at the annual convention hosted in Sterling, CO. Born in New York in 1934, Dick fondly recalls his years in the Boy Scouts, when he earned the Bird Study and Reptile Study merit badges. Birding was put on the back burner during Dick’s college years studying geological and mining engineering. While serving in the US Navy on a minesweeper, he met Marie Ward, a nurse. They were married in 1960, raised a son and daughter and now have three grandchildren. Dick’s career was spent with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, lastly as Chief of the Branch of Mineral Land Assessment. The birding bug bit hard in June 1978 when Dick noticed a flock of Western Tanagers in his backyard, and with them - a male Scarlet Tanager! He reported the rarity to the Denver Field Ornithologists, was invited to join the group and the rest is history. Soon he was leading the first of countless DFO field trips, helping beginners and inspiring all. He served as DFO vice president and managed its annual Audubon Christmas Count for 24 years in addition to leading scores of spring and fall counts at Barr Lake. Dick was honored with the prestigious Ptarmigan Award for, “Outstanding, loyal and meritorious service to the DFO and the advancement of bird study in Colorado.” Dick “worked his patch,” the Wheat Ridge Green Belt, for decades. In May 1993 he heard an unfamiliar song and tracked down the singer - Colorado’s first Red-faced Warbler! He called the Rare Bird Alert compiler and buddies who lived nearby, and soon birders arrived in a sweat to see this gem. Although it was a one-day wonder, more than 50 birders were able to see it. This warbler earned a special place among the 341 species seen over the decades on Dick’s Jefferson County list. Dick also served on the Colorado Bird Record Committee for six years. For years he tirelessly prepared and recorded the daily Rare Bird Report, kicking off each message with his signature greeting, “Howdy, Birders!” Friends describe Dick as fun to be with in the field, a curious naturalist and an all-round good guy. He and Warren Finch, a boon com- panion, ventured to Cali- Dick Schottler

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 15 fornia in 1986 in search of California Condors, then on the brink of extinction. Dick referred to the trip as “three days of the condor.” They found Golden Eagles feeding on carrion, and when two Con- dors swooped in, the ﬂustered eagles vamoosed and seemed tiny by comparison. Accepting the award, Dick noted that it should have been given to his wife, Marie, instead! “She deserved the award for putting up with my obsession for over thirty years - intrusive phone calls, missed meals, pre-dawn departures and the surest way to earn ‘doghouse days,’ spring counts on Mothers Day!” Congratulations from the CFO to Dick Schottler (and Marie) for your achievements of a lifetime!

Joe Roller, [email protected]

CFO and WFO Announce New Partnership

CFO has entered into a relationship with Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) in order to benefit members of both organizations. Currently, officers and board members of both organizations are communicating how each organization functions, how best to partner and how to mutually benefit. Goals we will pursue include sharing of technical reviewers for each other’s journal (Western Birds and Colorado Birds), field trips led by members of both organizations, invi- tations to attend each other’s conference at member rates, publicity with links to each other’s websites to share information and reduced rates for members of each organization to join the other. Liaison between the two organizations will be Larry Modesitt from CFO and Jon Dunn from WFO. CFO President Bill Kaempfer said, “Western Field Ornithologists is a great organization of amateur and professional field ornithologists that promotes the study of birds throughout western North America including Hawaii, the northeastern Pacific Ocean and western Mexico. I’m excited to invite WFO members to participate in our programs and to learn more about their programs and ini- tiatives with the goal of making both organizations stronger.” WFO president Dave Quady said, “I’m very pleased that we and Colorado Field Ornithologists, an organization whose purposes so closely parallel WFO’s, have developed this partnership, and we look forward to identifying ways that the members of both organizations can benefit from it in the years ahead.”

Larry Modesitt, [email protected]

16 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Who was John Cassin and why were so many birds named after him?

Robert Righter

From a back room of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Phila- delphia one of the foremost ornithologists of the nineteenth century, John Cassin conducted his business, deciding which specimens were new to science and which were duplicates or variations of a previously known species. Cassin was a highly skilled “closet” ornithologist, more interested in describing bird specimens from inside the Acad- emy than venturing outside in pursuit of new ones. During this era very little was known about the lands west of the Mississippi River. The United States government had a great interest in mapping western topo- graphic features for military purposes, and later for determining feasible routes for a new Pacific Railroad. As a consequence many government expeditions, small and large, were launched for scientific purposes. If you loved adventure and relished finding new birds, one way to go was to be assigned to a scientific expedition. Alternately, many naturalists in the 1830s-1850s, inspired by Lewis and Clark and John James Audubon, simply went out on their own with a back- pack and rifle. Both of these methods pro- duced a steady flow of new specimens to be John Cassin by Unknown - The described, and most of these would find their Osprey Volume 1 1902 way either to Spencer Baird at the Smithso- nian Institution in Washington, D.C., or to John Cassin at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. A strong connection developed between Cassin and several of these field naturalists, forged with the language of natural history. It was common for these “field trips” to last years, and loneliness was a very real obstacle. The connection with Cassin offered motivation. A Naturalist may have wondered how Cassin would appreciate his new specimens, or imagined what was going on back at the Academy in Philadelphia. Cassin himself spent time wondering about the naturalists. What was being collected? Were they OK? When might they return to Philadelphia with new specimens for him to sort through?

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 17 Remarkably, ornithologists at that time from different museums were very cooperative with each other, sharing both specimens and information. In particular Cassin and Baird were quite close, a friendship that even included naming species after one another. Before a potential new species could acquire its vernacular and scientific names, an ornithologist would typically take exten- sive measurements and compare the new specimen to those in his collection. If it was determined that what he was looking at was Cassin’s Auklet, Santa Barbara Channel, in fact different enough to war- California, 1 March 2009. Photo by David rant species status, it was then Waltman his prerogative to assign the new species its common and scientific name. Sometimes the original collector would ask the describing ornithologist to name the new species after someone he wanted to acknowledge. It is of interest that none of the birds carrying Cassin’s name were described by him. William Gambel, (1823-1849), inspired by Thomas Nuttall, probably the most knowledgeable naturalist of the day, was one of those who grabbed his rifle, shouldered his pack and headed west to California. While on the west coast, Gambel bagged a football- shaped, dark alcid that he named after his friend Cassin. At the time he didn’t know that the Russian scientist, Peter Pallas (1741-1811), had previously described the bird. In keeping with ornithological priority, the scientific name, Ptychoramphus aleuticus, remains as first described by Pallas but the common name, Cassin’s Auklet, stuck. Cassin’s Kingbird was first collected in Mexico in the 1820s by the father-and-son team of William Bullock, Sr. and William Bullock, Jr., and was described by William Swainson, in England in 1826. How- ever, in 1850 George Lawrence (1806-1895), living in New York, described what he thought was a new flycatcher collected in Texas, which he named Cassin’s Kingbird. Later, similar to the Cassin’s Auklet situation, the scientific name assigned by Swainson remained, but Cassin’s name remained with the new kingbird. Errors like this were relatively common during that era as ornithologists often didn’t

18 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 know what was in the collections of other museums. While zoologi- cal collections were increasing in this country, the largest collections were still in Europe, and there were also many private collections in Europe, USA and elsewhere. Com- pounding the problem was the fact that collections were often bought and sold, making it virtually impossible to know what was where at any given time. Cassin’s Sparrow, Cheyenne County, CO, Cassin’s Sparrow was collected July 2005. Photo by Bill Schmoker near San Antonio, Texas, in 1851 by Dr. Samuel Woodhouse. The naturalist suffered a wound to the leg by a Yavapai arrow and was bitten on the hand by a rattlesnake, but he continued collecting, even bagging a sparrow that he named for his friend John Cassin. During the winter of 1853-54, two naturalists attached to a Pa- cific Railroad Survey, Dr. Caleb Kennerly and H. B. Mollhausen collected a finch New Mexico. The specimen was sent to the Smith- sonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it was described by Spencer Baird. Since Baird and Cassin were great friends, Baird classified and named the new finch Carpodacus cassinii, commonly known as Cassin’s Finch. In 1861, at the age of forty-seven, Cassin felt obliged to volunteer during the Civil War on the side of the Union Army. Shortly after he joined he was captured by the Confederates and marched south where he was in- carcerated in the no- torious Libby Prison in Richmond Virginia. Like nearly every other prisoner at Libby, Cas- sin’s health failed. He never fully recovered, dying four years after his release, yet his legacy lives on in the many Cassin’s Finch, Boulder County, 7 May birds that were named 2014. Photo by David Waltman after him.

Robert Righter, [email protected]

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 19 NEWS FROM THE FIELD

Summer 2014 (June–July)

Peter Gent Overview of the Season “News from the Field” contains reports of rare birds sighted in Colorado. These reports are compiled from the COBirds listserv ([email protected]), eBird (ebird.org), and the West Slope Birding Network ([email protected]). Very rare species that were reported nesting in unusual places in Colorado this summer were Red-necked Grebe, Acorn Woodpecker, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Paciﬁc Wren and Painted Bunting. The monthly average temperature in Denver was normal in June and was very slightly above normal in July, even though July seemed cooler than most recent Julys to me. Precipitation in Denver was 1.82 in. in June, which is 0.16 in. below normal, however the 3.85 in. received in July was 1.69 in. above normal, making it a fairly rainy month. The reports contained herein are largely unchecked, and the editors do not necessarily vouch for their authenticity. Species in capitals are those for which the Colorado Bird Records Committee (CBRC) requests documentation. Please submit your sightings of these “review” species through the CFO website at cobirds.org. Abbreviations: CFO-Colorado Field Ornithologists; CG- camp- ground; CR- County Road; m.ob. - many observers, Res. - Reservoir.

Red-necked Grebe: Chuck Hun- hundreds of miles south of the regular dertmark and Paul Slingsby report breeding area for this species, which on birds seen at Lake John in North is northwest Montana and eastern Park, Jackson. A pair were first seen North and South Dakota. This was building a nest on 30 May, and on truly a very unexpected breeding re- 10 July photographs were taken that cord for Colorado. appear to show three eggs. A total LEAST BITTERN: A pair was of three adults were seen on 19 July. seen at Denny Lake in Cortez, Mon- When they left the nest area, no eggs tezuma, 5- 10 June (NM, SM), and or eggshells were observed in the nest another was at the Holcim Wetlands, or young birds seen on the lake. On Fremont, also on 10 June (RM). 31 July a single adult and no young Great Egret: Young birds were were observed. So, the nesting at- seen near nests at Walden Res., Jack- tempt was assumed to be unsuccess- son, on 17 July and 1 Aug (CH, PS). ful. However, this is the first report of This is probably the first nesting re- a nesting attempt by this species in cord for the county. Colorado, and the location is many TRICOLORED HERON: One

20 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Barrow’s Goldeney, Echo Lake, Clear Red-necked Grebe, Lake John, Jack- Creek County, 12 July 2014. Photo by son County, 17 June 2014. Photo by David Leatherman Charles Hundertmark

White-tailed Ptarmigan, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek County, 27 July 2014. Photo by Janeal W. Thompson

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 21 Ferruginous Hawk, Road V north of Eads, Kiowa County, 11 July 2014. Photo by David Leatherman Mountain Plover, Pawnee National Grasslands, Weld County, 7 July 2014. Photo by Mark Chavez

Red Phalarope, Wahatoya Lake, Huer- fano County, 31 July 2014. Photo by Polly Wren Nelder Least Tern, Sutphen’s Gravel Ponds, Lamar, Prowers County, 8 June 2014. Photo by David Leatherman

22 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Fremont Coun- ty, 20 July 2014. Photo by Mark Chavez

Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Greenhorn Park, Colorado City, Pueblo County, 16 July 2014. Photo by Janeal W. Thompson Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Walsh, Baca County 7 July 2014. Photo by Janeal W. Thompson

Acorn Woodpecker, Stoney Pass Road, Paciﬁc Wren, near Telluride, San Jefferson County, 16 June 2014. Photo Miguel County, 17 July 2014. Photo by Mark Chavez by Paul Tickner

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 23 Grace’s Warbler, Eldorado Mountain Open Space, Boulder County, 2 June 2014. Photo by Peter Burke

Loggerhead Shrike, CR 5 north of Buck- eye Rd., Lamar County, 23 June 2014. Photo by David Leatherman

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Summit Lake, Summit County, 13 July 2014. Photo by Mark Chavez

Red Crossbill, Sullivan’s feeder west of Blue-winged Warbler, Welchester Tree Stove Prairie, Larimer County, 18 June Park, Jefferson County, 15 June 2014. 2014. Photo by David Leatherman Photo by Mark Chavez

24 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Black Phoebe, Boulder Creek and 75th McCown’s Longspur, Pawnee National Street, Boulder County, 24 June 2014. Grasslands, Weld County, 30 June Photo by Jane Baryames 2014. Photo by David Leatherman was seen at Cherry Creek State Park, at Wahatoya Lake, Huerfano, on 31 Arapahoe, on 12 June (PP), and an- July (P&PN). other was at the Holcim Wetlands, LAUGHING GULL: An adult Fremont, on 15 June (SEM). was seen at Ball Res. in the north- Cattle Egret: Adults and young east corner of Elbert county on 1 June were seen out of the nest at Walden (SM), and one was seen at John Mar- Res., Jackson, on 17 July (CH, PS). tin Res., Bent, on 7 June (DN). This is also probably the first nesting COMMON GROUND-DOVE: record for the county. A female bird was seen at John Martin YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT- Res., Bent, also on 7 June (DN), and HERON: An adult was seen on the another bird was seen at Navajo State island at Glenmere Park in Greeley, Park, Archuleta, on 19 June (ED). Weld, on 8 June (GL), one was seen There are five previously accepted re- at the intersection of CR 17 and CR cords for Colorado, the last of which 196, Prowers, on 10 June (JS, JT), was seen at the rest stop in Julesburg and a one-year old bird was at Stalker for much of November 2011. Lake, Yuma, on 17 July (SM, SW). LESSER NIGHTHAWK: The Mississippi Kite: One was seen several birds seen at the Nucla sew- and photographed in Fort Collins, age ponds, Montrose, in the spring Larimer, on 21 June (GD, DW). This continued to be seen at that location species is slowly spreading north and between 1 and 19 June (BW, CD). west towards the northern Front RUBY-THROATED HUMMING- Range of Colorado. BIRD: A female was seen in Cheraw, Sandhill Crane: A pair with a Otero, on 29 July (SM). good-sized juvenile was seen near Car- ACORN WOODPECKER: One bondale, Garfield, on 18 July (TM), was seen on Stoney Pass Road, which which is possibly the first nesting re- is northwest of Cheeseman Lake, Jef- cord of this species in the county. ferson, between 7 and 20 June (JL, Red Phalarope: A female was seen m.ob.) and several Red-headed Wood-

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 25 peckers were also regularly seen at this first summer record of this species in location. A nesting pair with young the state with nesting behavior ob- was seen at the Pueblo Mountain Park, served, and the first report of this spe- Pueblo, between 12 June and 8 July cies from the West Slope of Colorado. (JD, SEM, BKP, KMD, BK). Wood Thrush: Very unusual in EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE: A summer was one seen in Colorado City, singing bird was seen along the Poudre Pueblo, between 2 and 4 June (DS, VR). River bike trail in Fort Collins, Larimer, Blue-winged Warbler: The male between 26 and 30 June (JM, m.ob.). that was at Welchester Tree Park, Jef- Black Phoebe: One was regularly ferson, during the last week of May was seen at the 75th Street bridge over regularly seen in the same location be- Boulder Creek, Boulder, throughout the tween 1 and 26 June (m.ob.). This bird whole summer period (PG, m.ob.). stayed for over a month before finally Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: A pair giving up on finding a female. was regularly seen near Wetmore, Fre- Golden-winged Warbler: One was mont, between 8 and 31 July (RM, SEM, seen at the Lamar Community College, m.ob.). Nest building was observed, but Prowers, on 6 June (PH). it was not determined whether eggs LUCY’S WARBLER: Seven birds were laid, and no young were observed were seen in Yellowjacket Canyon, in the nest. This species only breeds Montezuma, on 5 June (SM), which is regularly in the very southeast corner probably the largest number ever seen of Colorado. in this location. PACIFIC WREN: One was heard Painted Bunting: A pair was seen singing along the Bear Creek Trail in feeding young in Picture Canyon, Baca, Telluride, Ouray, between 13 and 18 on 9 June (DL), for a rare confirmed July (J&DL, CD), with nest-building breeding record of this species in Colo- behavior seen on 18 July. This is the rado.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many thanks to the volunteer regional compilers: Jim Beatty (southwest), Coen Dexter (west central), John Drummond (southeast), Forrest Luke (northwest), and Brandon Percival (Pueblo area). Special thanks to Tony Leukering for extracting all the data from eBird, and preparing a table of all the reports from Colorado.

CONTRIBUTING OBSERVERS ED: Eric DeFonso; CD: Coen Dexter; GD: Georgia Doyle; JD: John Drummond; KMD: Kathy Mihm Dunning; PG: Peter Gent; CH: Charles Hundertmark; PH: Paul Hurtado; BK: Bill Kaempfer; JL: Jean Langel; DL: Dave Leatherman; GL: Gary Lefko: J&DL: Jean- nette &Derek Lovitch; JM: Joe Mammoser; TM: Tom McConnell; RM: Rich Miller; SM: Steve Mlodinow; NM: Nick Moore; SEM: SeEtta Moss; P&PN: Polly Wren & Paul Nelder; DN: Duane Nelson; BKP: Brandon Percival; PP: Philip Pratt; VR: Van Remsen; DS: Dave Silverman; PS: Paul Slingsby; JS: Jane Stulp; JT: Janeal Thompson; DW: Da- vid Wade; SW: Sean Walters; BW: Brenda Wright.

Peter Gent, [email protected]

26 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 THE HUNGRY BIRD

Snakes

Dave Leatherman Introduction Big birds flying overhead, crossing one’s windshield, making a big moving shadow beside the trail – all tend to catch one’s eye. At least once, I’d wager, everyone reading this article has focused on a big bird, and found it to be a hawk carrying a snake. Snakes are one of those natural objects that tend to attract human attention. Like spiders, our reaction to snakes, often fear, seems inborn. Oh, some of us counterintuitive souls can learn to appreciate, even marvel at ser- pents. Of course, many of us feel the same about birds. Appreciating both once landed me in Fort Collins Municipal Court, an incident that also, unfairly, could be blamed on Nathan Pieplow and a pair of magpies. It was one of those days when winter was calling it a season and spring flipped the storefront sign to “OPEN.” In Fort Collins’ Piner- idge Natural Area, along a ridge east of Dixon Reservoir, flew two Black-billed Magpies heading southeast in single file. In the bill of the front bird, and obviously desired by the rear one, was a fairly large snake. The predator, prey and pursuer quickly flew over the hill and out of sight. My thoughts were, “First snake of the year. Didn’t know magpies killed live snakes. Wonder what kind it was?” And without hesitation, up the slope I went. At its crest, the feather and scale pair- ing I sought was long gone. Fifteen minutes later a Trail Ranger with one article of clothing in a bind, unceremoniously grilled me about why I was off-trail in an un-posted “No Access” area. I quickly developed an attitude, which, however justified, probably hurt my chances for leniency. Instead of doing what I was doing - trying to see what kind of snake a magpie was carrying - it was hinted I was probably really hunting Native American artifacts or endangered plants. My attitude intensified, which is when Mr. Pieplow entered the story. I mut- tered something to Deputy so-and-so about this being, “as ridiculous as the warning I had been given by a different ranger earlier that year for going off-trail to help Nathan record a ‘stub-tailed’ wren we thought might be a Pacific Wren.” Busted! Suddenly my current transgression was elevated to a second offense, which in the black-and-white world of ticket books triggered a mandatory court appearance. The conclusion of this story includes the District At- torney laughing at my explanation for what placed me in this pre- dicament, something about my wearing an orange “research” vest

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 27 if I wanted to be curious like this again, one year’s probation and directions for paying court costs. But I digress. Yes, snakes as bird food. “The Hungry Bird.”

Colorado Snakes Colorado is home to 25 species of snakes, with records of unknown veracity for an additional four. Mere mortals have a reasonable shot at seeing 250-350 bird species in Colorado in a year. But even if, while in the ﬁeld looking for birds, we are paying attention to snakes, a year list for them above 10 species is pretty special. There are several attributes that increase snakes’ vulnerability to bird predation, among them: 1) relative abundance, 2) diurnal behavior (active during daylight hours), 3) conspicuous appearance (in pattern or movements), 4) lack of exceptional defenses, 5) association with other bird food items (e.g. rodents) or feeding areas (e.g. roadsides) and 6) knack for becoming road kill or other scenarios conducive to being scavenged. Our most common diurnal species include Gopher Snake (a.k.a. “bullsnake” Pituophis catenifer), a few garter snakes (Western Terres- trial (Thamnophis elegans), Common (T. sirtalis) and Plains (T. ra- dix)), Racer (Coluber constrictor), Coachwhip (Masticophis ﬂagellum), Western Hognose (Heterodon nasicus) and Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). With no proof or literature citation, I will come out of a hole and say these eight species account for the bulk of snakes in Colorado bird diets.

Snake-eating Birds The great majority of birds that eat snakes on a regular basis come from just a few families: Bitterns, Herons and allies (Ardei- dae); Hawks, Kites, Eagles and allies (Accipitridae); Typical Owls (Stringidae); Caracaras and Falcons (Falconidae) and Jays and Crows (Corvidae). Other families containing species known to at least occasionally eat snakes are: Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys and Old World Quail (Phasianidae); Storks (Ciconiidae); Darters (An- hingidae); Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae); New World Vultures (Cathartidae); Ospreys (Pandionidae); Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae); Cranes (Gallidae); Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis (Cuculidae); Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae); Thrushes (Turdidae); Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) and Blackbirds (Icteridae) (Beal 1916). Based on personal experiences and those of other Colorado birders

28 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 I have talked to, species that eat the most snakes in our state are probably American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vul- ture, Mississippi Kite, Swain- son’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Greater Roadrunner, Eastern Screech-Owl, Burrowing Owl, American Kestrel, American Crow, Great-tailed Grackle and Common Grackle. Per- haps topping the list is Red- tailed Hawk (Fig. 1) with more than 50 percent of its dietary Fig. 1. Red-tailed Hawk eating a Coachwhip (ju- biomass in at least one United venile?), Fairmount Cemetery, Lamar, Prowers States location and season be- County, CO. Photo by Janeal Thompson ing snakes (Knight 1976). Great Blue Heron is probably a strong challenger at times. The complete roster of birds on the Colorado check- list mentioned as eating snakes: Wood Stork (Coulter 1999), Anhinga (Bent 1922, Imhof 1962), American Bit- tern (Ingram 1941), Least Bittern (Palmer 2009), Great Blue Heron (Baynard 1912), Great Egret (Baynard 1912), Snowy Egret (Kushlan 1978), Cattle Egret (Mcdonald 1971), Fig. 2. Red-shouldered Hawk with Rough Green Green Heron (Kushlan 1978), Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) in Louisiana. Pho- Black-crowned Night-Heron to by Bill Schmoker (Bent 1926), Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Hopkins 1975), White Ibis (Baynard 1912), Glossy Ibis (Baynard 1913), Turkey Vulture (Rapp 1943), Osprey (Poole 2002), Swallow-tailed Kite (Meyer 1990), Mississippi Kite (Parker 1999), Common Black Hawk (Cottam 1939), Harris’s Hawk (Bed- narz 1988), Red-shouldered Hawk (Bednarz 1985, Dykstra 2003) (Fig. 2), Broad-winged Hawk (Goodrich 2014, Matray 1974, Slud 1964), Swainson’s Hawk (Bent 1937, Fitzner 1978, Bednarz 1988), Red-tailed Hawk (Preston 2009), Golden Eagle (Bent 1937), Vir- ginia Rail (Conway 1995), Purple Gallinule (Helm 1982), Sandhill

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 29 Crane (Bennett 1978, Mullins 1978), Whoop- ing Crane (Hunt 1987), Greater Roadrunner (Hughes 2011, Meinzer 1993), Eastern Screech- Owl (Gehlbach 1984), Burrowing Owl (Pou- lin 2011), Crested Caracara (Morrison 2012), American Kestrel (Smallwood 2002), Great Kis- kadee (Brush 2002), Pinyon Jay (Bendire 1895), Western Scrub-Jay (Brown 1963), American Crow (Kilham 1989), Eastern Bluebird (Flani- gan 1971), American Robin (Davis 1969, Rich- mond 1975, Erickson 1978), Brown Thrasher (Bent 1916, Flanigan 1971) and Great-tailed Grackle (Davis 1972). While not speciﬁcally mentioned in the Birds of North America ac- counts for shrikes, Bill Maynard and I have observed snakes impaled by Loggerhead Shrikes (Laniidae) in Florida and Colorado, respectively (Fig. 3). Common Grackles also eat snakes. See below for details. No doubt many other Colora- do birds rarely, maybe even regularly, eat snakes. Bird species occurring in North America but not in Colorado that eat snakes include various introduced francolins (Telfer 1986), Common Peafowl (Kannan 1998), Short-tailed Hawk (Ogden 1974), White-tailed Hawk (Stevenson 1946), Gray Hawk (Bibles 2002), Elf Owl (Li- Fig. 3. Western Terrestrial gon 1968), Whiskered Screech-Owl (Gehlbach Garter Snake impaled on 2000), Aplomado Falcon (Keddy-Hector 2000), fence by Loggerhead Shrike Island and Florida Scrub-Jay (Atwood 1978, near San Luis, Costilla Woolfenden 1976), Mexican Jay (Brown 1963), County, 25 May 2009. Pho- Northwestern Crow (Verbeek 1998, Verbeek to by David Leatherman 1999) and LeConte’s Thrasher (Sheppard 1996).

The Ecology and Physiology of Snake-eating by Birds Birds commonly find snakes by hovering, watching the advancing front of significant terrestrial events like floods or fires (Hunt 1987, Keddy-Hector 2000), carefully observing wetlands and riparian strips and cruising roads and roadsides. Roadways are particularly produc- tive since: 1) the road surface itself provides a background against which snakes are conspicuous, 2) the heat-conserving road surface is attractive to cold-blooded creatures like snakes (especially in late afternoon and for several hours after sunset), 3) crossing them necessarily places distance between the snake and escape cover, 4) road-

30 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 side edges often are vegetated with plants attractive to rodents that serve as food for both birds and snakes and 5) vehicles often convert snakes from living things into carrion (Stevenson 1946, Rapp 1943). Once found, how a bird eats a snake seems to de- pend on both the size of the bird and the snake. Smaller snakes captured by larger birds are gulped down whole. Fig. 4. Common Grackle eating captured Plains Larger snakes are usually Garter Snake, Fort Collins, Larimer County, skinned and the meat pulled Grandview Cemetery, 8 June 2013. Photo by in chunks from the skeleton David Leatherman (Goodrich 2014). It should be noted that birds observed interacting with snakes are often de- fending themselves or their nests, not necessarily attempting to eat them. In fact a tables-turned article detailing snake consumption of birds, including their eggs, would be much longer than this one. And there are variations on the above themes. Sometimes only certain parts of the snake are eaten, as with the American Crow that caught a Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), cut it open, and only ate the liver (Aleksiuk 1977). Some birds, including American Crow, cache snakes (Kilham 1989). Snakes, obviously small ones, can be fed to nestlings. Would you believe Purple Gal- linules and robins do this (Helm 1982, Richmond 1975)? Probably only owls regularly ﬁnd nocturnally-active snakes, but when they do, the snakes are fair game. Examples include Elf Owls eating Blind Snakes (Leptotyphlops sp. or spp.) (Henry 1999) and Eastern Screech- Owls eating Blind, Earth (Virginia spp.) and Ground (Sonora semi- annulata) Snakes (Gehlbach 1995). No doubt birds in the habit of hunting roads in early morning take advantage of road-killed noctur- nal snakes not already taken by nighttime scavengers. As often occurs with birds and caterpillars, the minutes immedi- ately before and after snake capture by a bird can involve consider- able animation and violence. Red-tailed Hawks sometimes engage in erratic hopping (me too!) when confronting a snake (Bent 1937). A snake’s ability to bite, whether involving a venomous species or not, needs to be deactivated. This usually includes a bite right behind the head, grasping the snake at mid-body and whipping the head

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 31 forcefully against a hard object like the ground or a rock (Preston 2009, Hughes 2011) or beheading altogether. I once witnessed an American Bittern at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas that, from a distance, looked like a cowboy practicing fancy rope work. The prey was a long (in excess of 5 feet), mostly-black snake. For lack of a proper ID, let’s call it a “Lariat Snake.” Snake consumption alone can meet a bird’s water requirements (Hughes 2011). Particularly in northern latitudes, for reasons of availability, snake inclusion in bird diets is higher in the warm months (Hughes 2011). Both statements directly reference roadrunners, but probably apply to some degree to most snake-consuming bird species. A venomous snake can be killed and eaten with no ill effects to its avian foe. Roadrunners, Red-tailed Hawks and White-tailed Hawks are examples (Hughes 2011, Fitch 1978, Farquhar 1986). However, one study of Red-tailed Hawks found that although they kill and eat rattlesnakes (Sistrurus spp. and Crotalus spp.) they do so with less fre- quency than would be expected for their relative abundance to non- venomous species (Fitch 1946). The capture of big snakes, including rattlesnakes, by Roadrunners can involve teamwork among cohorts (Meinzer 1993). Other birds, such as Common Black Hawk, seem to avoid venomous species (Schnell 1988). Captive Great Kiskadees, known to eat certain small snakes, avoided models painted like the small, poisonous Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius tener) in one experi- ment (Smith 1976). One has to wonder if the Milk Snake (Lampro- peltis triangulum), a widely-distributed-in-Colorado, diurnally-active, non-poisonous Batesian mimic of the Coral Snake, beneﬁts from its coloration in the form of reduced avian predation? In other words, do birds know key points of the ditty “red touch yellow, kills a fellow, red touch black, friend of Jack”?

Noteworthy Anecdotes While the literature contains reference to Great-tailed Grackles eating snakes (Davis 1972), this habit is not specifically mentioned for Common Grackle. Based on the following observation, the high proportion of meat in the typical diet of this bird, and its affinity for riparian habitats where garter snakes abundantly occur, I suspect grackle predation on snakes is not particularly unusual. On 8 June 2013 at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, I observed a grackle that flew under a lilac bush near the irrigation ditch carrying a large object. This proved to be a Plains Garter Snake (Fig. 4). While I was not able to watch the whole process, the portion that was observed involved the bird peeling back the skin an inch or so, tearing off

32 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 pieces of muscle, additional peeling, and so forth (picture somebody older than eight eating a Hershey bar). A passing car flushed the bird before it finished its meal, resulting in a 14-inch piece of snake’s body and tail lying on the grass (Fig. 5). Fig. 5. Uneaten portion of Plains Garter Snake A detailing of the diet of killed by a Common Grackle, Grandview Ceme- Loggerhead Shrikes will prob- tery, Fort Collins, Larimer County, 8 June 2013. ably be fodder for a future The Photo by David Leatherman Hungry Bird, but their predation on snakes warrants cov- erage here. As stated earlier, “reptiles” are mentioned in a general sense in the literature pertaining to shrike diets (Yosef 1993) but I could not locate anything document- ing specific use of snakes. Bill Maynard told me he once saw a headless Florida Kingsnake impaled by a Loggerhead Fig. 6. Swainson’s Hawk with large, gravid West- Shrike on a citrus tree thorn ern Terrestrial Garter Snake, Long Pond, Fort Col- in Big Cypress National Pre- lins, 5 August 2014. Photo by Rachel Hopper serve, Florida. My not-as- exotic observation was of a fence-impaled Western Ter- restrial Garter Snake on 22 May 2009 near San Luis in Costilla County (Fig. 3). As the grand finale to this discussion, there is Rachel Hopper’s interesting story. It occurred during the August 2014 Annual Long Pond As- sociation Beach Party near the prestigious Fort Collins Fig. 7. Two of seven unborn Western Terrestri- Country Club. A Swainson’s al Garter Snakes removed from the abdomen of Hawk brought a large West- the mother snake and discarded by a Swainson’s ern Terrestrial Garter Snake Hawk, Long Pond, Fort Collins, 5 August 2014. to a pole above the proceed- Photo by Rachel Hopper

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 33 ings and began to dine (Fig. 6). Hey, it’s a picnic, right? Interestingly, and distinctly anything but “elegant” (as the snake’s Latin speciﬁc epithet implies), the buteo opened the snake’s abdomen and into the party below coldly bombed large pieces of carcass. Upon inspection, these proved to be seven unborn baby snakes (Fig. 7). Apparently this classless hawk did not have a pallet for snake “veal.” Neighbor- hood Association membership declined. And remember, if you should glance off-trail one day and happen to see a bird in possession of a snake, don’t let curiosity get the best of you. Unless, that is, the $25 bucks for court costs is burning a hole in your pocket.

LITERATURE CITED Aleksiuk, M. 1977. Sources of mortality in concentrated garter snake populations. Can. Field-Nat. 91:70-72. Atwood, J. L. 1978. Breeding biology of the Santa Cruz Island Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens insularis. Master’s Thesis. California State Univ. Long Beach. Baynard, O. E. 1912. Food of herons and ibises. Wilson Bull. 24:167-169. Baynard, E. O. 1913. Home life of the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis autumnolis Linn.). Wilson Bull. 20:103-117. Beal, F. E. L., W. L. McAtee, and E. R. Kalmbach. 1916. Common birds of southeastern United States in relation to agriculture. U.S. Dep. Agric. Farmer’s Bull. 755. Bednarz, J. C. 1988. A comparative study of the breeding ecology of Harris’ and Swain- son’s hawks in southeastern New Mexico. Condor 90:311-323. Bednarz, J. C. and J. J. Dinsmore. 1985. Flexible dietary-response and feeding ecology of the Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo-lineatus, in Iowa. Canadian Field-Naturalist 99(2):262-264. Bennett, A. J. 1978. Ecology and status of the Greater Sandhill Cranes in the Okefeno- kee Swamp, Georgia. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Bendire, C.E. 1895. Life histories of North American birds. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 3 Bent, A. C. 1922. Life histories of North American petrels and pelicans and their allies. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 121. Bent, A. C. 1926. Life histories of North American marsh birds. Smithsonian Institu- tion, U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. No. 135, Washington, D.C. Bent, A. C. 1937. Life histories of North American birds of prey, pt. 1. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 167. Bibles, Brent D., Richard L. Glinski and R. Roy Johnson. 2002. Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds. cornell.edu/bna/species/652 Brown, J. L. 1963. Social organization and behavior of the Mexican Jay. Condor 65:126-153. Brush, Timothy and John W. Fitzpatrick. 2002. Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Orni- thology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell. edu/bna/species/622 Contreras, B. A. J. and S. C. H. Trevino. 1987. Notas sobre predacion de aves en reptiles. Southwest Nat. 32:505-506.

34 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Conway, Courtney J. 1995. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/173 Cottam, C. and P. Knappen. 1939. Food of some uncommon North American birds. Auk 56:138-169. Coulter, M. C., J. A. Rodgers, J. C. Ogden and F. C. Depkin. 1999. Wood Stork (Mycte- ria americana), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna. birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/409 Davis, W.F. 1969. Robin kills snake. Wilson Bull. 81:470-471. Davis II, W. R. and K. A. Arnold. 1972. Food habits of the Great-tailed Grackle in Bra- zos County, Texas. Condor 74:439-446. Dykstra, C. R., J. L. Hays, M. M. Simon, and F. B. Daniel. 2003. Behavior and prey of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks in southwestern Ohio. Journal of Raptor Research 37(3):177-187. Erickson, D.B. 1978. Robin feeding on snake. Murrelet 59:26. Farquhar, C. C. 1986. Ecology and breeding behavior of the White-tailed Hawk on the northern coastal prairies of Texas. PhD. diss. Texas A & M Univ. College Sta- tion. Fitch, H. S., F. Swenson, and D. F. Tillotson. 1946. Behavior and food habits of the Red- tailed Hawk. Condor 48:205-257. Fitch, H. S. and R. O. Bare. 1978. A ﬁeld study of the Red-tailed Hawk in eastern Kan- sas. Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci. 81:1-13. Fitzner, R. E. 1980. Behavioral ecology of the Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) in Washington. Pac. NW Lab. PLN-2754. Flanigan, A. B. 1971. Predation on snakes by eastern bluebird and brown thrasher. Wil- son Bull. 83:441. Gehlbach, Frederick R. 1995. Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Re- trieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/165 Gehlbach, Frederick R. and Nancy Y. Gehlbach. 2000. Whiskered Screech-Owl (Mega- scops trichopsis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cor- nell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http:// bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/507 Goodrich, L. J., S. T. Crocoll and S. E. Senner. 2014. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platyp- terus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds. cornell.edu/bna/species/218 Helm, R. N. 1982. Chronological nesting study of Common and Purple gallinules in the marshlands and rice ﬁelds of southwestern Louisiana. Master’s Thesis. Louisiana State Univ. Baton Rouge, La. Henry, Susanna G. and Frederick R. Gehlbach. 1999. Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Orni- thology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell. edu/bna/species/413 Hopkins, Jr., M. N. 1975. The birdlife of Ben Hill County, Georgia and adjacent areas. Occas. Publ. Georgia Ornithol. Soc. no. 5.

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 35 Hughes, Janice M. 2011. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Re- trieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/244 Hunt, H. E. 1987. The effects of burning and grazing on habitat use by Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Phd Thesis. Texas A&M Univ. College Station. Imhof, T. A. 1962. Alabama birds. Univ. of Alabama Press, Montgomery. Ingram, W. M. 1941. American Bittern eats garter snake. Auk 58:253. Kannan, Ragupathy and Douglas A. James. 1998. Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/377 Keddy-Hector, Dean P. 2000. Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/549 Kilham, L. 1989. The American Crow and the Common Raven. Texas A&M Univ. Press, College Station. Knight, R. L. and A. W. Erickson. 1976. High incidence of snakes in the diet of nesting Red-tailed Hawks. Raptor Res. 10:108-111. Kushlan, J. A. 1978. Feeding ecology of wading birds. Pages 249-297 in Wading birds. (Sprunt IV, A., J. C. Ogden, and S. Winkler, Eds.) Nat. Aud. Soc. Res. Rep. No. 7, New York. Ligon, J. D. 1968. The biology of the Elf Owl, Micrathene whitneyi. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool. Misc. Publ. 136. Matray, P. F. 1974. Broad-winged Hawk nesting and ecology. Auk 91:307-324. Mcdonald, C. A. 1971. Some ecological aspects of a nesting colony of herons. Phd The- sis. Auburn Univ. Auburn, AL. Meinzer, W. 1993. The Roadrunner. Texas Tech Univ. Press, Lubbock. Meyer, K. D. and M. W. Collopy. 1990. Status, distribution, and habitat requirements of the American Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forﬁcatus forﬁcatus) in Florida. Final report. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm. Tallahassee, FL. Morrison, Joan L. and James F. Dwyer. 2012. Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/249 Mullins, W. H. and E. G. Bizeau. 1978. Summer foods of Sandhill Cranes in Idaho. Auk 95:175-178. Netting, M.G. 1969. Does the robin eat DeKay’s snake? Wilson Bull. 81:471. Ogden, J. C. 1974. The Short-tailed Hawk in Florida. I. Migration, habitat, hunting techniques, and food habits. Auk 91:95-110. Palmer, R. S. 1962. Handbook of North American birds. Vol. 1. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT. Parker, James W. 1999. Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/402

36 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 Poole, Alan F., Rob O. Bierregaard and Mark S. Martell. 2002. Osprey (Pandion hali- aetus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds. cornell.edu/bna/species/683 Poulin, Ray, L. Danielle Todd, E. A. Haug, B. A. Millsap and M. S. Martell. 2011. Bur- rowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/061 Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane. 2009. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Re- trieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/052 Rapp, Jr., W. F. 1943. Turkey vulture feeding habits. Auk 60:95. Richmond, M.L. 1975. American Robin feeds garter snake to its nestlings. Wilson Bull. 87:552. Ross, D. A. 1989. Amphibians and reptiles in the diets of North American raptors. Wis- consin Endangered Species Report, no. 59. Schnell, J. H., R. L. Glinski, and H. Snyder. 1988. Common Black-Hawk. Pages 65-70 in Southwest Raptor Management Symposium and Workshop. (Glinski, R. L. and et al., Eds.) Natl. Wildl. Fed. Washington, D.C. Sheppard, Jay M. 1996. Le Conte’s Thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/230 Slud, P. 1964. Birds of Costa Rica: distribution and ecology. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. vol. 128. Smallwood, John A. and David M. Bird. 2002. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/602 Smith, S. M. 1978. Predatory behaviour of young Great Kiskadees (Pitangus sulphuratus). Anim. Behav. 26:988-995. Stevenson, J. O. and L. H. Meitzen. 1946. Behavior and food habits of Sennett’s White- tailed Hawk in Texas. Wilson Bull. 58:198-205. Telfer, T. C. 1986. Final Report: ecological study of the Erckel’s Francolin on Kauai. Pittman-Robertson Proj. no. W-17-R, Study no. R-V-A, 1980-1985. Hawaii DLNR, Div. For. and Wildl. Verbeek, N. A. M. 1998. Food fed to nestling Northwestern Crows. Wilson Bull. 110:483-488. Verbeek, N. A. and R. W. Butler. 1999. Northwestern Crow (Corvus caurinus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/ species/407 Woolfenden, Glen E. and John W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna. birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/228

Dave Leatherman, [email protected]

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 37 FULLY EXPOSED

Don’t Fear the Flash

Bill Schmoker One of my favorite bird photographs in my catalog almost didn’t happen. I was heading over Cameron Pass on my way to North Park one Friday evening in early October 2003. By the time I reached the upper stretches on the final approach to the pass, I thought it was dark enough to try a little owling. To prove that everybody gets lucky sometimes, I had a Boreal Owl respond to a recording on the second stop. Being fall, the bird didn’t sing but rather gave a very clipped, dry “rrhheeeet” that sounded fairly close to the parking lot. On a whim I shouldered my camera (back then a Nikon D100 coupled with an 80-400 f/5.6 zoom) and grabbed the mag light from my truck’s cab to investigate. Within maybe 30 meters I emerged from dense woods to a small clearing about the size of my classroom. Pausing to get my bearings, I heard the call again close to one side, followed by another out in front of me. Swinging up my flashlight, I was gobsmacked to see one and then a second Boreal Owl looking at me with their characteristic angrily interested expression. The problem was that I didn’t yet have an external flash in my kit, and quite honestly didn’t know what to do with one at the time anyway. But on the proverbial hope & prayer, I popped up the camera’s built-in flash, propped my flashlight on a downed log to illuminate the nearest bird, autofocused on it, and pushed the trigger. I did have the presence of mind to crank up my ISO to 1600 and switch to Program mode, letting my camera “talk” to my lens and decide the best exposure to use. After getting some shots I retreated back to my truck, leaving the birds to their dark, dank subalpine forest. While a little dim, it turned out there was plenty of exposure to work with in the images. The only significant editing I used was noise reduction (via NoiseWare plugin) and levels adjustment to deliver a pleasing photo for publication. Later analysis of the pics show that my subjects were young-of-the-year birds, perhaps explaining their naiveté (although I’ve also had adult owls just look at me calmly so who knows?) While I’ve seen and photographed Boreal Owls a few more times in the intervening years, nothing has come close to those few surreal minutes spent with those two birds. Last May I had another encounter in which a really neat bird was doing really neat things really nearby in the dark. But lo, I again had no external flash. I was attending the Biggest Week in American Birding, staying in a cottage at Maumee State Park, Ohio. It turns out that American Woodcocks love to display on the mown lawns there,

38 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 and their peenting and timberdoodling could be heard from any open window of our cottage as darkness fell. One evening a family from a neighboring cottage was watching one perform, with a young girl de- lightedly given the responsibility of holding the flashlight. On regular intervals the bird would first peent for a while from its preferred square meter of grass before whirling around in its flight display, only to land seemingly within centimeters of its take-off position. During one such flight I sat down on the paved driveway perhaps 10 meters from the bird’s lek, and when it again landed right on the mark I was able to autofocus with the help of the girl’s flashlight-wielding expertise. My Nikon D7100’s built-in flash (now with an upgraded 80-400mm AF-S f/5.6 lens) pulled off the shot, this time using shut- ter priority at 1/160 and ISO 800. The bird didn’t seem to mind at all, carrying on with its routine. I used the next flight sequence as an opportunity to retreat and the bird descended once again to its mark, repeating the cycle into the evening. For serious night work, an external flash, flash extender and expertise in using both is ideal, but that’s another subject for another time. For those interested in pursuing this technique, I’d suggest the excellent Using Flash to Photograph Birds (parts 1 & 2) by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle. PDF versions of each are included in the articles section of The Warbler Guide website: http://www. thewarblerguide.com/articles. In the meantime don’t be afraid to try your built-in flash if you’re in a dark pinch!

Bill Schmoker, [email protected]

CFO FIELD TRIP REPORT

CFO Late Fall Trip to Eastern Colorado

If I were to say that the best bird on CFO’s late fall trip to eastern Colorado was Red-winged Blackbird what would you think? Probably, “glad I missed that one.” That is, in fact, precisely what transpired. Fifteen birders joined CFO Presi- dent, Bill Kaempfer, and Vice President, Christian Nunes, for a late fall CFO ﬁeld trip to eastern Colorado on Saturday, November 8. Frankly, things were slow. Perhaps birds that had been enjoying our belated balmy fall weather departed, following an innate avian anticipation of an upcoming cold slam. At the now desiccated Bonny and Flagler Reservoirs along the Republican River,

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 39 a few scattered residents, like a Red-bellied Woodpecker, could be found. A few glum hunters were having about as much luck with their quarry as we were with ours at Flagler SWA. There were a few goodies here and there, albeit not seen by all: a Say’s Phoe- be on the road around Limon, a White-throated Sparrow at Flagler SWA; a Rough-legged Hawk between Flagler and Seibert. At Seibert we all got terrific looks at a really dark, adult female taiga sub-species Merlin. It stared us down, sallied forth to pick off a grasshopper mid-wing and gave icy, contemptuous looks to a couple of House Finches. The real excitement occurred as we started for home after unsuccessfully searching for Sprague’s Pipits. Cresting a hill on Yuma County Road CC just south of YCR 3, we saw a Prairie Falcon zooming around. Over the next hill we found out why—Red-winged Blackbirds in a massive flock. It was a stupendous murmuration alternately settling on the ground then returning nervously into the air in an elastic cloud of synchronous wings. The Prairie Falcon watched as attentively as we, and at one point we saw it slice through the flock. Failing to cull any blackbird from the flock, it returned to its perch on a nearby tele- phone pole to watch as the waves of blackbirds deftly pulsated to and fro in a mesmerizing display. As we departed, our hearts were exalted by the spectacle displayed by one of the more common of species performing an uncommon dance of survival.

Bill Kaempfer, [email protected], and Christian Nunes, [email protected]

IN THE SCOPE

Soft Parts: Female Dabbling Ducks

Tony Leukering What catches your eye when you flip through your field-guide? What do you study? Plumage color and pattern? Bill shape and other structural features? Range maps? I’d bet that most birders focus on plumage color and pattern, which is perfectly understandable as this is the primary clue to identification. More than any other feature, feathers evoke a sense of wonder and envy – at least among humans. Plumage is also the aspect of a bird’s overall appearance that is stressed most in field guides, so much so, that other aspects are often given short shrift. These “secondary” identification clues, overall shape and structure, wing length to tail

40 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 length ratio, eye-bill distance, primary projection, etc. are important to field identification as we often don’t get a “text book view” of our quarry. In fact, the ability to use such identification cues, particularly overall shape and structure, is probably the single ability differentiat- ing the skilled birders from the rest of us. This essay is intended to encourage birders to increase their awareness of the whole bird, and in particular to notice features that may not be considered identification-critical in most situations. Doing so is an important step toward mastering field identification. “Soft parts” is the term given to the parts of a bird not covered by feathers, although some of these parts are not actually “soft.” For most species the list is limited to the bill, eyes and legs, but a sizable minority have additional features such as orbital rings, bare facial skin or even largely un-feathered heads. Many of us already use these features, at least half-heartedly, in bird identification. Bird A has a longer bill than Bird B, while Bird C has shorter legs. There are even species named for soft parts, such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-eyed Vireo, and Greater Yellowlegs. We are thus aware of the importance of the colors of these particular soft parts on these particular species. However, many birders seem to ignore soft-parts coloration on most individual birds that they encounter. For example, what is the leg color of an adult Bufflehead? (Don’t bother looking it up in Sibley (2000), as you will not find the answer there.) Buffleheads are so distinctive in plumage that we usually don’t need to know what color legs they have in order to identify them, right? Yet consider the following hypothetical situation. You observe a black-and-white duck flying directly away from you showing some white on otherwise black wings and a white belly that contrasts with the darker rump and vent regions... Is it a Bufflehead? A goldeneye? A merganser? Well, if you noted the bubblegum-pink legs, you would instantly know the bird to be an adult male Bufflehead.

Female Dabbling Ducks January in Colorado is typified by a bewildering assortment of brown ducks massed on ice shelves, lakeshores or riverbanks, often with their necks scrunched or their heads tucked away. Not the pretty profile your field guide presented! For many birders, the uniformity is overwhelming. However, unless those massed birds are all facing directly away, they can usually be identified and, not surprisingly con- sidering the essay title, soft parts can play a significant role in identification, or can help to greatly narrow the field of options. The first step may seem counterintuitive: Ignore the plumage col- or and pattern, at least temporarily. Impossible you say? Well, humor

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 41 me. Birders are human, you see, and human minds can get stuck in a rut. Yet once we get past the brown-ness, our minds open to the subtle nuances of size, shape, and soft-parts coloration. To illustrate this point, I’ve taken the liberty of including a homework assignment on the back cover of this issue. The photographs on the back cover present a hodge-podge of beaks and legs from a variety of female dabbling ducks that regularly occur in Colorado. Your ﬁrst assignment is to correctly match each beak with each pair of legs, and then determine the species to which they belong. When attempting this, pay close attention to bill shape, as well as coloration and pattern. The solutions will be provided in the spring 2015 issue of Colorado Birds. Good luck!

LITERATURE CITED Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Tony Leukering, [email protected]

CFO's Generous 2014 Donors

CFO gratefully acknowledges 2014 contributions from the following donors, as well as the anonymous cash donations made at the Sterling convention’s pass-the-hat appeal.

Julie Barraza Janet Justice-Waddington Donald L. Beaver William H. Kaempfer Alan Bell Nyla J. Kladder Wilford W. Burt Elena Klaver Christy Carello David A. Leatherman Kevin E. Corwin Brenda Linﬁeld Susan H. Craig Brad & Noma Macurda Dr. Alexander Cruz Steven Mlodinow Jeffrey L. Dawson Larry Modesitt David C. Dowell Susan E. & David Pellegrini David Driscoll & Mary Loving-Driscoll Pamela Piombino Lee & Linda Farrell Robert Righter Mary F. Geder Bill Schmoker John B. Hayes Robert L. Spencer & Sondra Bland Alison Hazel Peggy Wait & Lowell Baumunk Mike Henwood Shirley Wendell David Hill Eleanor Whitehurst Sue Ellen Hirshman Thomas Wilberding William F. & Patricia J. Hoadley Robyn & Jeremy Winick Ann Johnson

42 Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 The Colorado Field Ornithologists’ Quarterly

Instructions for Contributors to Colorado Birds

Colorado Birds is devoted to the ﬁeld study of birds in Colorado. Articles and short notes of general or scientiﬁc interest are welcomed; potential authors are encouraged to submit any materials that contribute to the enjoyment and understanding of birds in Colorado. The preferred submission format is electronic, via email attachment or on CD. However, typed or hand-written manuscripts are also accepted.

Photos or art: submit black & white or color material. Photos & graphics printed inside the journal will typically be printed in black & white; cover art is printed in color. Graphics can be submitted as prints, slides, or electronically. Electronic submissions can be sent in JPEG (*.jpg), PDF (*.pdf), PSD (*.psd) or TIFF (*.tif) format. Photos must be submitted in JPEG, PSD or TIFF; maps, tables and other non-photographic material may be submitted as PDF. Photos should be sent in their original format without editing, cropping or color correction. Cover art must be of the highest quality. Cover photos should be a minimum 5.75” wide by 8.75” tall at 300 dpi (1725 × 2625 pixels). Minimum size for interior photos is 3” by 2.5” (900 × 750 pixels or 750 × 900 pixels). For best reproduction, photos can be larger and higher resolution, but they cannot be smaller. Submit electronically via email or on CD. Include information about artist or photographer, subject, date, location and medium used.

Art and photos will be returned at your request; however, manuscripts and CDs will not, unless speciﬁcally requested. While your materials will receive the utmost care, the Colorado Field Ornithologists (CFO) or any representative thereof cannot be respon- sible for materials lost in the mail or due to other circumstances beyond our control.

Manuscripts reporting formal scientiﬁc research are sent out for peer review.

Contributors who are not members of CFO will, upon request, receive a complimentary copy of the issue of Colorado Birds in which their articles appear.

Send journal contributions to:

Peter Burke 935 11th Street Boulder, CO 80302 [email protected]

Submissions of photos or graphics not accompanied by articles are welcomed. Send these to Christian Nunes, [email protected].

Colorado Birds Winter 2015 Vol. 49 No. 1 43 In the Scope: Soft Parts: Female Dabbling Ducks . . . 40