Thursday, July 29, 2010

Wandering Around Douglas County

July 24, 2010

Richard Stevens:

Four of us went to an afternoon barbecue at a friend's ranch in Douglas County.

We started out early in the morning at Castlewood Canyon State Park (Douglas). Not many birds moved around the State Park. We did find 2 male Bobolinks east of Castlewood Canyon Road at 0.2 miles south of the Winkler Ranch's entrance.

The rest of the morning, we decided to stop at various ranches with photos of Sharp-tailed Grouse. In the "far" past, they roamed Douglas County. In recent years of tremendous growth in Douglas County, they have vanished. We thought to ask the ranchers if they ever see Sharp-tailed Grouse anymore.

We must have stopped at 14 ranches. No one can remember seeing any Sharp-tailed Grouse. Wild Turkeys still do roam the county on at least 2 of the ranches.

On the way back to Denver (after dark), we played Northern Saw-whet Owl recordings in Castlewood Canyon State Park. No owls responded.

No comments: