[cobirds] BBS routes available

The Bluebirds have arrived. Now we invite qualified observers to participate in the Breeding Bird Survey. Participants must have the skills to identify the likely species on their routes by sight and by sound.

            Since 1966 (1968 in Colorado and the West) the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, originally US Fish & Wildlife Service, and now the Biological Research Division of the US Geological Survey, has sponsored the Breeding Bird Survey program to monitor birds across the US (and Canada, with the Canadian Wildlife Service). In 2002, volunteers ran almost 3000 routes in the US & Canada. They call the project the "Breeding Bird Survey" – hence "BBS." Scientists use results from the BBS to derive population trends for the species that the system samples well.

            Colorado has 132 designated BBS routes, and we consistently run more routes than all other states in the U.S. except Texas and California. In 2007 we ran about 100 of the 132 routes. Right now we have six routes without assigned observers for 2008.

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

            We seek a commitment of three years, because the BBS doesn't use route data unless the same person runs it for at least 3 years. The observer should have the ability to identify, by sound and sight, most of the species likely to occur along that route.

            Let me know if you would like one or more. The following list is organized geographically (sort of).

           

Key to route descriptions:

Number and name                   County                        Page in DeLorme Atlas

            Roads that the route follows.

Hugh Kingery
Franktown, CO

            Central plains

17019 Rush                 El Paso & Lincoln p 98

Start at Rush; go east on Colo 94 three miles, then South on CRs2, 3, & 4 to end

 

17020 Boyero              Lincoln                        p 99

Start 25 miles S of Boyero, 1.5 miles east of CR 44 on CR J; west 1.5 miles then N onCR 44 to end, near Boyero.

 

17220 Haswell             Bent & Kiowa  p 99

Start 3 miles N of Las Animas; N on CR10; jog around edge of Adobe Crek Res. (Blue Lake); N on CR 17 2 miles, east 1.5 miles; N 5 miles to end.

 

17019 Doyle Bridge 2 Pueblo             p 73 & 98

Start about 20 milesSE of Publo; S on CR 321 one mile to Rd 702; NEly on 702about 10 miles to CR 702; easterly on 702, 704, & 710 to end.

 

17376 Ludlow             Las Animas     

Start at Ludlow; go westerly on CR 44.0; turn left on CR 51.1; right on CR 47.7; south on 47.7, 51.0 & 57.7 to end, north of Cokedale.

 

            Southwest

17225 Mosca   Alamosa         

Start 3 miles W of Colo. 17; east 6 mile on Rd D; south 4 miles on Rd N-112; east 3 miles on Rd 4N LN; south 3 miles on N114; east 2 miles on  Rd O; south 4 miles on S-116; east on Rd 45 to end.

 

17122 Cortez               Montezuma      p 85

Start on Rd 31, 4 miles N of Dolores; S through Dolores on Colo 184 and CRds 30 & 29 to US 160; west 2 miles, south on CR 27, W on CR H to end.

 

17423 Animas             La Plata            p 86

Starts 2 miles south of  Durango; South on CR 319 to Bondad; east across Animas River (skipping about 4 miles) to CR 219, thence north and east; north on CR 309A to end.

 

17124 Blackhead Peak            Archuleta         p 88

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

 

            West 

17301 Dinosaur                    Moffat     p 22       

Starts on CR 16 at US 40; goes north and west to entrance road to Dinosaur Natl Monument, then south on the entrance road to the end.

 

17358 Piceance Basin  Rio Blanco       p 33

Starts on CR 5 25 miles NW of Rifle; NWly along Piceance Creek to CR24, then westerly along CR 24 to CR 80. Then SWly on CR 80 to end.

 

17316 Powderhorn      Gunnison, Hinsdale     p. 67-68          

Starts at US50, 2 miles east of Sapinero; south on Rd 3014 to Colo. 149;east to 3035; continue SEly on 3035 through Powdershorn to end somewhere near Cebolla Creek Wildlife Area and Cathedral.

 

17010 Aspen               Pitkin   P 46

Start 10 miles east of Woody Creek near Lenado; go westerly on FR 103/CR 18 past Woody Creek to Snowmass; south on CR 11 (Snowmass Creek Road) to end.

 

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