SE Colorado Birding: Good birding next to SE Colo in San Luis Valley

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Good birding next to SE Colo in San Luis Valley

Although the focus of this blog is birding in SE Colorado, I think occasionally it is helpful to discuss birding opporunities in adjacent areas. I am currently in the San Luis Valley to do my Breeding Bird Atlas route, some other surveying and some recreational birding.

Two days ago I was delighted to find a flock of 80-90 Pinyon Jays. This is a species of concern and I don't often see such a good size flock. They were in a grove of cottonwood trees where I also saw an immature and a mature Great Horned Owl. The immature, actually a fledgling, appeared quite curious about me--a common behavior I find in fledgling owls.

SeEtta

Why bird southeast Colorado?

From our high montane areas to the riparian areas along the Arkansas River as it exits Colorado, southeast Colorado offers birding opportunities for beginners to those serious birders who seek out the less common species. We have great shortgrass and sandsage prairie birding including public areas on the Comanche National Grasslands. We have wetlands including playa lakes (playas are important shallow, depressional wetlands that provide essential habitat for waterfowl and many other bird species). We have small lakes (such as Lake Cheraw north of La Junta)and large lakes (such as John Martin Reservoir that encompasses 35 square miles) that host an impressive diversity of bird species. And we have large expanses of pinyon-juniper woodlands with their special birding opportunities.

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SE Colorado Birding

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Good birding next to SE Colo in San Luis Valley

Why bird southeast Colorado?

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