Important Birding Areas in Mesa County, Colorado
The Important Bird Area Program is "a voluntary, non-regulatory method of protecting habitat that is vital to bird migration, breeding, and wintering. Once a location is designated, Audubon Colorado works with other stakeholders to identify and coordinate restoration activities on the site. While the program places a special emphasis on birds, the designation also benefits many other species that share their habitat."
As I explored the maps on Audubon Rockies webpage www.rockies.audubon.org I found this interesting note: "Many thanks to Ron Lambeth with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for creating our Important Bird Area maps." Ron is now retired AND he's one of our very own! We are blessed in this community to have some really talented birders who continue to contribute in remarkable ways to our avian knowledge.
-GVAS Past President Karen Levad, February 2015
As I explored the maps on Audubon Rockies webpage www.rockies.audubon.org I found this interesting note: "Many thanks to Ron Lambeth with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for creating our Important Bird Area maps." Ron is now retired AND he's one of our very own! We are blessed in this community to have some really talented birders who continue to contribute in remarkable ways to our avian knowledge.
-GVAS Past President Karen Levad, February 2015
Colorado National Monument “This site provides a protected environment of intact pinyon-juniper habitat, and offers a setting that is conducive to bird research. Also identified as a Colorado Watchable Wildlife site."
Common species include: Black-throated Gray Warbler, Gray Flycatcher, Juniper Titmouse, Peregrine Falcon, Virginia's Warbler.
Grand Valley Riparian Corridor (includes Audubon Nature Preserve) “Lowland riparian habitat comprises less than 2% of the land area but provides nesting, wintering and/or breeding habitat for approximately 75% of the state birds."
Common species include: Bald Eagle, Bank Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, Black-billed Magpie, Black-headed Grosbeak, Wood Duck
Highline Lake State Park "Observers have recorded more than 200 species of birds at the park including waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical songbirds, and raptors. Seven species of ducks and six species of shorebirds are common. As a "migrant trap," the park also has many winter residents."
Common species include: American White Pelican, Long-billed Curlew, Osprey, Sandhill Crane, White-faced Ibis
Rabbit Valley "High desert terrain, with vegetation consisting of pinyon-juniper and sagebrush scattered among sandstone formations and overhang. Soils at the site are the extremes of very sandy and stoney clays. A small area of the site (approximately 3%) consists of lowland riparian habitat. Best area in the state for finding Gray Vireos and Scott's Orioles."
Common species include: Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black-throated Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Cassin's Kingbird, Chukar
Unaweep Seep Natural Area "A 1983-84 survey on the BLM in west-central Colorado found this site to be the richest landbird site in the 24 vegetation types sampled across 1.3 million acres of public land. The survey showed a density of 838 birds or territories per 100 hectares."
Common species include: American Dipper, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat
Common species include: Black-throated Gray Warbler, Gray Flycatcher, Juniper Titmouse, Peregrine Falcon, Virginia's Warbler.
Grand Valley Riparian Corridor (includes Audubon Nature Preserve) “Lowland riparian habitat comprises less than 2% of the land area but provides nesting, wintering and/or breeding habitat for approximately 75% of the state birds."
Common species include: Bald Eagle, Bank Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, Black-billed Magpie, Black-headed Grosbeak, Wood Duck
Highline Lake State Park "Observers have recorded more than 200 species of birds at the park including waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical songbirds, and raptors. Seven species of ducks and six species of shorebirds are common. As a "migrant trap," the park also has many winter residents."
Common species include: American White Pelican, Long-billed Curlew, Osprey, Sandhill Crane, White-faced Ibis
Rabbit Valley "High desert terrain, with vegetation consisting of pinyon-juniper and sagebrush scattered among sandstone formations and overhang. Soils at the site are the extremes of very sandy and stoney clays. A small area of the site (approximately 3%) consists of lowland riparian habitat. Best area in the state for finding Gray Vireos and Scott's Orioles."
Common species include: Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black-throated Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Cassin's Kingbird, Chukar
Unaweep Seep Natural Area "A 1983-84 survey on the BLM in west-central Colorado found this site to be the richest landbird site in the 24 vegetation types sampled across 1.3 million acres of public land. The survey showed a density of 838 birds or territories per 100 hectares."
Common species include: American Dipper, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat