Westcliffe Annual Christmas Bird Count  --  Jane Pedersen, author & Compiler

On Saturday, December 22, a group of 11 hearty folks braved frigid temperatures and a layer of new snow to conduct the 2007-2008 Christmas Bird Count for the Westcliffe area.  In spite of the tough conditions, the group was rewarded with bright, sunny skies, and some of the most spectacular winter scenery in all of Colorado .  A total of 47 different species were found, a few short of the record high count of 54 species found in 1998, and certainly much better than the record low of 31 species recorded last year during a heavy snowstorm.  However, the overall total of individuals-1162- is significantly lower than the 10 year average of 1879 birds. 

Four teams of birders divided up the count circle, which is a 7 1/2 mile radius with the town of Westcliffe being the center.  One group hiked through deep snow and minus twelve degree temperatures up Grape Creek below DeWeese Dam in order to find the American Dipper,  as this is the most reliable place in the count circle to see this bird who loves to dip in and out of the icy creek.  The group found not one but three Dippers, along with 2 Belted Kingfishers,  a Townsend Solitaire, a Song Sparrow, several Western Scrub Jays, a group of Mallards, and 3 Great Blue Herons.  This also turned out to be a good location to see many raptors, including a Bald Eagle, a Northern Harrier and a number of Red-tailed Hawks.

But surely the highlight of the day was the flock of 22 Bohemian Waxwings found by one team at the Kettle Ranch on Kettle Lane .  This sighting is actually very rare for the Wet Mountain Valley .  While a similar species, the Cedar Waxwing, is more common and actually nests in the valley, the Bohemian Waxwing is always a tough bird to find almost anywhere in the lower 48.  However, in some years, the Bohemian Waxwing may be fairly common and widespread, perhaps related to the abundance of both native and non-native berries, their primary food source.   This year seems to be one of those occasions, as Bohemian Waxwings have been reported in many areas of Colorado this winter, although generally in the northern part of the state. However, on the Christmas Bird Count conducted in Salida recently, a flock of 3000 were reported.  Surely a few of these spectacular birds can continue to make their way to the Wet Mountain Valley ! 

The Bohemian Waxwing is considerably larger than it’s cousin, the Cedar Waxwing, but only if these 2 different species are observed in a mixed flock is one generally able to discern the size difference. The Bohemian Waxwing is bulkier, however, and other characteristics that distinguish it from the Cedar Waxwing is it’s dark undertail coverts, white wing markings and a more grayish than brownish chest and belly.

Another bird of interest on count day was the Western Bluebird found just outside the count circle in the Brush Creek area.  Although this species is not able to be officially listed on this count, it is noteworthy because the Western Bluebird has never been recorded on the Westcliffe count, and only 12 counts of the almost 80 held in Colorado reported this species last year.

This winter season represents the 108th year for this tradition, which is organized on a national level by the National Audubon Society.  About 1500 counts are organized at local levels from Central America to northern Canada during the 17 day count period.  The data is compiled and published, and is analyzed for many purposes, such as to determine how well or how badly resident bird populations are doing, or to help in determining which birds are declining, and should be put on a watch list.  The website for all official Christmas bird counts is found at www.Audubon.org/bird/cbc/

Participants in the count were:  Leon and Treva Bright , of Verdemont Rd. and Pueblo ; Dave Silverman of Rye , Steve and Margaret Linderer of Westcliffe; Margie Joy and R. Lindsay Lilly, Jr. of Pueblo : Karolyn Snow of Denver ; Gabriella Meredith of Farmington , N.M. , and Jane Pedersen and Steve Somora of Hillside and Durango .

Following is a list of the birds and their numbers seen on 12/22.

Great Blue Heron, 3

Mallard, 19

Bald Eagle, 3

Northern Harrier, 1

Red-tailed Hawk, 4

Ferruginous Hawk, 2

Rough-legged Hawk, 2

Golden Eagle, 2

Wilson’s Snipe, 2

Rock Pigeon, 25

Mourning Dove, 2

Eurasian Collared Dove, 12

Great Horned Owl, 1

Belted Kingfisher, 2

Downy Woodpecker, 1

Hairy Woodpecker, 3

Northern Flicker, 9

Northern Shrike, 1

Steller’s Jay, 29

Western Scrub Jay, 7

Pinyon Jay, 38

Black-billed Magpie, 56

American Crow, 33

Common Raven, 77

Horned Lark, 143

Black-capped Chickadee, 4

Mountain Chickadee, 52

Bushtit, 8

White-breasted Nuthatch, 12

Pygmy Nuthatch, 42

Brown Creeper, 3

American Dipper, 4

Townsend Solitaire, 1

European Starling, 65

Tree Sparrow, 13

Song Sparrow, 2

Dark-eyed Junco, 282

Red-winged Blackbird, 9

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, 28

Black Rosy Finch, 4

Brown-capped Rosy Finch, 41

Rosy Finch, undetermined, 30

House Finch, 1

Red Crossbill, 6

House Sparrow,

House Sparrow, 70