Field Trip Report

Saturday June 1, 2002
Dawn Chorus

In honor of the Poudre Riverfest this weekend, this field trip hoped to heard the myriad birdsongs associated with the riparian habitat of the Poudre River in Fort Collins. Thus, we met at 5 am (30 minutes before sunrise) at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area. During the next 3 and a half hours, we explored this and adjacent natural areas (Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area, parts of the CSU Environmental Learning Center, and Cattail Chorus Natural Area). The field trip included four participants (including two out of town visitors) and the field trip leader. We recorded 55 species (and we heard most of them vocalize). The highlight of the morning was an unexpected male Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) at the west edge of the Big Pond in Riverbend Ponds Natural Area. This very rare migrant in Larimer County was seen well by all, and was heard calling and singing! Here is the list of birds seen, along with approximate numbers:

Pied-billed Grebe-1
Western Grebe-3
American White Pelican-4
Double-crested Cormorant-4
Great Blue Heron-5
Snowy Egret-1
Black-crowned Night Heron-4
Canada Goose-15 (including goslings)
Wood Duck-14 (including ducklings)
Mallard-6
Blue-winged Teal-1
American Kestrel-1
Ring-necked Pheasant-1
Sora-1
Killdeer-6 (including a fledgling)
American Avocet-6
Spotted Sandpiper-4
Ring-billed Gull-4
Rock Dove-40
Mourning Dove-10
Chimney Swift-1
Belted Kingfisher-4
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker-2
Western Kingbird-1
Eastern Kingbird-5
Warbling Vireo-1
Blue Jay-2
American Crow-10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow-3
Bank Swallow-1
Barn Swallow-4
Black-capped Chickadee-4
House Wren-4
Marsh Wren-2 (+ nest)
American Robin-4
European Starling-5
Cedar Waxwing-10
Yellow Warbler-6
Prothonotary Warbler-1 (see description below)
Common Yellowthroat-7
Song Sparrow-8
Black-headed Grosbeak-1
Blue Grosbeak-1
Lazuli Bunting-1
Red-winged Blackbird-20
Western Meadowlark-8
Yellow-headed Blackbird-30 (+nest)
Common Grackle-10
Great-tailed Grackle-1
Brown-headed Cowbird-6
Bullock's Oriole-6
House Finch-3
American Goldfinch-6
House Sparrow-1

55 species

Description of Prothonotary Warbler: This bird was warbler sized although seemed slightly bigger than yellow warbler which was seen a few feet away. The wings were slate gray (no wingbars); back olive green; nape, breast lemon yellow, entire head golden yellow, with noticeable black eye and black bill that was slightly larger than most warbler bills. The lower belly, vent and undertail coverts were white. The tail had white flashes when it was spread, which it would do as the bird flitted from branch to branch. Voice: a loud chip note reminiscent of Northern Waterthrush. Song a short series of soft, yet sharp, metallic tweets (6 or 7) on the same pitch. We watched the bird through binoculars at a distance of 30-60 feet for about 5 minutes at about 6:30 am. Observers were: Nick Komar, Dixie Smith, Sheryl Davies, Catherine Ray (of Virginia), Gideon Wasserberg (of Israel).

Report prepared by Nick Komar, Field Trip leader.