[cobirds] Bldr Cnty: grosbeaks & stewardship areas

I just want to encourage everybody to double-check their knee-jerk reactions
when they hear a "familiar" species singing. I've been hearing folks talk
about a fairly high number of Rose-breasted grosbeak sightings in my area
this spring, and in my eco-steward & other birdcounts I finally started to
pay closer attention when hearing a "black-headed grosbeak" song. What do
you know-- those fellows who were singing unusually well--rapidly, fluidly,
gracefully--some of them are RBGRs! At least one of the ones I checked out
more carefully on Picture Rock trail seemed to be a hybrid: pale rosy chest
bib. Its female looked just like a BHGR female. I heard at least one other
on that stretch that I strongly suspect was the RB, not the BH. What fun to
have one's expectations upset.

Picture Rock is a lovely trail with many habitat areas, but be ready to
hike: my BBS transect takes me 4.5 miles up from the start in SW Lyons (off
Old St Vrain & Rd 84E, I forget its street name; trailhead is a half mile
from Old St Vrain). The beginning of the trail is boring as heck. Go at
least a mile before it gets interesting. Nice scenery & all-- but nothing
but lazulis, chats, sp towhees & such for a long while. Listen for turkeys.
Watch out for bikers: nice folks but often not super-aware and ready to slow
or stop.

By the way, I'm still hoping somebody will take my Gregory Canyon
eco-stewardship from me; I'm over-committed, much as I love the place. See
the BCNA website for explanation of the concept. I have to say, I'm finally
getting interested in plants, weeds, butterflies & other fauna thanks to
this idea of Steve Jones.

Happy summer, happy hunting.

Linda Andes-Georges
Central Boulder County


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