[cobirds] Golden-crowned Sparrow - Red Rocks - Jeffco

Good Morning All,

The Golden-crowned Sparrow appeared under the platform feeder at 7:38
A.M. this morning. Not near as many birds at the feeders as during
the winter, but still the same species. I was surprised to see a lone
Pine Siskin come in to the feeder area.

At Ship Rock things were busy. Saw both Peregrines flying as well as
perched on ledges on Ship Rock. At one point I saw what I believe is
the female PEFA land on a ledge (leading to a previous eyrie), face
inward, sort of stamp her feet and look inward. What I believe is the
male exploded out of the eyrie and started low before gaining altitude
and flying around showing off his flying skills. Shortly thereafter
the female landed on top of high perch on Ship Rock, called, and then
the male came in and landed behind her and they copulated
vigorously(10 seconds?). The male then took off flying high and the
female remained perched on top of the rock.

As far as the Ravens were concerned, in the half hour I was there, the
male came in twice, called to the female, she then left the nest for a
short time and joined the male. Once he flew to the base of the
cliff, where the female joined him and they exchanged food???, before
the female flew to the west calling as she flew and landed in a
juniper on the hillside. She stayed briefly before flying back to the
nest. The male then took off and flew to the SE. The other time the
male called from up on the hillside, and the female left the nest and
joined him for a few minutes. She then flew back to the nest calling
as she flew and the male left again.

There were also a number of American Kestrels in the Ship Rock
vicinity as well as the pair at the first fork in the road when you
come in Entrance #3.

Mike Henwood
Morrison
Jefferson County

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