MAY 4,  2022 – WORK DAY

WORK DAY AT THE PRESERVE - MAY 4 AT 3:30 PM

​The pump at the Preserve isn't working, and needs some parts,
which aren't in stock - can't get them for about 3 weeks. The new trees 
that the Friends & Members of the Grand Valley Audubon planted 
recently need to be watered by hand until the pump is fixed!

JOIN THE WORK DAY - May 4, Wed. at 3:30 pm (about 2 hrs)
Where: The Preserve
Needed: 8-12 volunteers to water the new trees!
If you have a drywall bucket, please bring it, we will make a water brigade to carry water from the pond.

Please call Chuck Hunt at 970-433-0216 if you can help out!

MAY 16 PROGRAM - IN PERSON!

WE ARE BACK TO MEETING IN PERSON!

MONDAY, MAY 16 - FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
3940 27 1/2 Rd., Grand Junction
​
6:30-7:00  Social
7:00 Program
8:00 Refreshments
(Masks suggested but not required.)

Solving the mystery of Colorado’s Alpine Brewer’s Sparrows
PRESENTED BY:  Brett L. Walker, Aaron A. Yappert,
Courtney L. Brennan, and Andrew W. Jones

   Documenting previously unknown breeding populations of declining migratory songbirds is important for understanding their conservation status. At the May Grand Valley Audubon Society meeting, Dr. Brett Walker, avian researcher with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will be talking about a recent CPW-led research project to resolve a long-standing mystery in Colorado ornithology. The “sagebrush” Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri breweri) is a declining sagebrush obligate of conservation concern that breeds in sagebrush shrublands of the western U.S. and southern Canada. A less well-known subspecies, the Timberline Sparrow (S. b. taverneri), breeds in willow, dwarf birch, and conifer krummholz at treeline in the Canadian Rockies from Alaska to northwestern Montana.
   However, Brewer’s Sparrows have also been reported in June-August in high-elevation alpine shrubs near treeline in other western states, including Colorado, for over 100 years. Yet the taxonomic affiliation, breeding status, distribution, and ecology of these alpine Brewer’s Sparrows is poorly understood. Previous authors have suggested they might be southern populations of the Timberline Sparrow, sagebrush birds breeding in atypical habitat, or sagebrush birds that first nest in low elevation sagebrush, then move upslope to nest again later in the season in alpine willows. They could also be hybrids between the two subspecies, a third subspecies altogether, or maybe non-breeding birds.
   To answer these questions, Dr. Walker and colleagues reviewed historical records of Brewer’s Sparrows from alpine areas across Colorado, visited alpine and sagebrush sites across the state in summer 2021 to record males and document evidence of breeding, and captured males at a subset of alpine and sagebrush sites for comparison. Dr. Walker will talk about what he and his colleagues have discovered so far, where to find Brewer’s Sparrows in alpine areas in western Colorado, and opportunities to help CPW document their statewide breeding distribution in summer 2022.

MAY 2022 BIRD WALKS

BIRDWALK - MAY 21 AT 6:OO - 9:00 PM

Join Grand Valley Audubon on another bird walk! Whit Blair and Logan Wagner will be leading an outing at the Devil's Kitchen area of the Colorado National Monument. 
Meet us at 6:00 pm at the Devils Kitchen Picnic Area, or 5:40pm at Chow Down Pet Supplies to carpool over.
This walk includes 2 miles of walking on improved dirt trails.
Around sunset, we will shift from looking for desert warblers and vireos to poorwills!

EARTH DAY / CLEANUP AT THE PRESERVE

SEE ARTICLE IN THE RESOURCES LINK - NOTABLE NEWS PAGE!

MAY 14, 2022 – SPRING BIRD COUNT

SAVE THE DATE!

The Grand Valley Audubon Spring Bird Count will commence on Saturday, May 14. 
This count is for the entire Mesa County, divided into 12 areas, with a trip leader for each area.  It is a huge undertaking for participating birders, and trip leaders always appreciate several enthusiastic helpers to go with them on their count. 
Registration:   you will be directed to 12 links, reflecting the 12 count areas.  Read the short summaries for trip leader names and descriptions of the areas to help you decide where to volunteer. The link will provide a signup form for you.
   We are predicting that this year all areas will be accessible to participants, barring any huge dump of the white stuff in higher elevation areas. Shannon Young is coordinating the count, and can be reached at mtngirl1111@gmail.com, or at
970-260-1118. Harriet Stephens will be sending out the necessary forms and compile the count data.

REGISTER FOR AN AREA TO HELP OUT WITH THE SPRING BIRD COUNT:

1.  Mack Area: Utah State line to 13 Rd, north to County line, Rabbit Valley, Brewster Ridge, Highline St Park.   
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3072& (Area 1)           
 
2.  Fruita-Loma: Fruita from 13 Rd to 23 Rd, Big Salt Wash, Fruita St Park, Skipper’s Island, N. Fruita Desert to County line.            https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=24&  (Area 2)
 
3.  Grand Junction: E. of 23 Rd/Redlands Pkwy to 30 Rd, Grand Junction & Walter Walker State Wildlife Areas and Connected Lakes St Park https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3077&   (Area 3)
 
4.  Clifton: 30 Rd to 42 Rd, Corn Lake St Park; West Lake Wildlife Area, Clifton Sewage Ponds, Clifton Marsh, Palisade            https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3082& (Area 4)
 
5.  DeBeque Area: Plateau Creek from I-70 to DeBeque Cutoff, Greater DeBeque triangle and town
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3087&  (Area 5)
 
6.  Upper Plateau Valley: From junction Hwy 65 & 330 to Collbran, Jerry Ck Reservoirs, Molina, area S. of Hwy 330 And East Mesa County: Above Collbran including Vega State Park to County Line. 
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3092&  (Area 6)
 
7.  Grand Mesa: Town of Mesa east to 52.5 Rd (Doug), Powderhorn, top of Grand Mesa to Delta County Line (Cecilia)             https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3097&  (Area 7)
 
8.  South of Colorado River: Horsethief & Leatha Jean Stassen SWA's, Colorado NM. E to Redlands Pkwy, Tiara Rado. 
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3102&  (Area 8)
 
9.  Glade Park Area: Glade Park, Mud Springs, Fruita Reservoirs and Pinion Mesa to Utah State line
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3132&  (Area 9)

10.  Uncompahgre: ­Divide Rd to Delta County Line, Whitewater to East Creek https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3112&  (Area 10)
 
11.  Gateway: Unaweep Divide down West Creek to Gateway, Dolores River Canyon & John Brown Canyon            
https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3117&  (Area 11)
 
12.  Kannah Ck-Lands End Road, Reeder Mesa, Cheney & Juniata Reservoirs, Dominguez Canyon, Hunting Grounds.           https://audubongv.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=3122&  (Area 12)

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Yellow headed blackbird. Photo by Ryan Reinke.