February, 2003

Colfax County (NM) Birding Trip

     On Sat. Feb. 15 count the birds at Maxwell NWR and meet the new refuge manager, Rick Gooch. Coffee at 7:30 a.m. at refuge HQ before heading into the field. This trip will be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count. For more information about the trip, contact Dave Cleary at (505) 375-2971.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

   National Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology invite everyone to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 14-17. Count the birds in your yard, neighborhood or a natural area. Watch the birds for at least 15 minutes for each day you participate. Record the highest number of birds of each species that you see at any one time during the period.’

   Enter your count on-line. If you don’t have a computer, you can get help at your local library. You can get all the details by logging on the GBBC website at <http://www.birdsource.org>.

FEBRUARY BIRDING FIELD TRIPS

     In the middle of winter, AVAS and other birding groups are offering a number of field trips.

Saturday, Feb. 8  Eagle Day at Lake Pueblo State Park. Many activities from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. See more details on page 2.

Sunday, Feb. 16  Great Backyard Bird Count field trip in Pueblo City Park, led by Mark Yaeger. Beginners as well as more experienced birders are invited. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the duck pond near the Park headquarters building. This year’s bird census of the park should be completed by 11:00 a.m.  Contact Mark by calling 545-8407 (most days) or 543-2724 (evenings).

Varied Thrush in Pueblo City Park

Saturday, Feb. 22  Cañon City area. Meet field trip leader SeEtta Moss at 8:00 a.m. at the MacKenzie parking area of the Cañon City Riverwalk. Travelers on Highway 50 will find MacKenzie Ave. at the eastern edge of town at the bottom of the hill. Turn south on Mackenzie, continue across the river bridge and look for the parking area beside the river. (See the map to the right). SeEtta may be contacted for more information by emailing <seetta@msn.com> or calling 275-8874 in the evenings.

Saturday, March 1  Pueblo Reservoir. The Denver Field Ornithologists invite AVAS members and friends to participate in their field trip led by AVAS member Dave Silverman. Meet at the South Shore Marina at 9:00 a.m. A Parks pass is required for driving around the reservoir. Bring lunch if you plan to bird all day. Call Dave for more information at (719) 489-3565.