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Field Notes & Trips by Fran and Paul Didier |
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“Questions about the origin of the name “Tumacanbac” for the annual Grand Valley Audubon Society raptor field trip continue to pop up. Some believe it to be a Ute Indian word meaning “winter hawk.” Others suggest that it refers to a dance once held by these same people, the dance being characterized by alternate movements to the west and back to the east. Still others insist that it is the name of an annual migration by strange four-eyed creatures for some mystical purpose that has been lost to memory” (Chukar Chatter, Feb/Mar. 1998) Participants in the 24th annual Tumacanbac Raptor Field Trip will have the chance to view the wintering hawks, eagles and falcons of the Grand Valley including Northern Harrier, Bald and Golden Eagles, Red-tailed hawks of a variety of plumages and American Kestrels. Other regular finds on this trip include Ferruginous Hawks, Merlins, Prairie Falcons, Cooper’s Hawks, and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Occasionally, the trip has turned up Northern Goshawks, Rough-legged Hawks, and Peregrine Falcons. Four separate trips are available, Saturday and Sunday on two week-ends. Reservations must be made with trip leaders directly at the phone numbers listed in the table below. Participants should plan to meet at the BLM office located at southwest corner of H Road and Horizon Dr. at 9:00 a.m. From there the trip will meander westward to the hamlet of Mack and then head back to the starting point sometime around 3:00 p.m. Pack a lunch, water and snacks. Carpooling is encouraged! Please note that two of the leaders have changed from the original announcement in the bulletin.
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