March 8-9, 2012
Richard Stevens:
It was a long two days. Our estimated 5 mile hike (aided at times with snowshoes) turned out to be almost 8 miles one way. Cross-country skis make the trip faster and easier; snowshoes are more comfortable to carry over bare ground and rocks.
First, we stopped at the Colorado State Forest. A lone moose walked around the west side of the building. It was quite a massive animal! Forty Rosy Finches consisted of Brown-capped and Gray-crowned. We cannot remember a Black Rosy Finch here in our last three visits. The White-throated Sparrow also made an appearance.
Our goal was get to the top of Pennock Pass (Larimer County) and try for a new early date for Flammulated Owl sightings. I thought snowshoeing a short 2.3 miles up Guanella Pass last year was to be a piece of cake. Which it was anything but. This hike was a doozie (for lack of a better word that I want to put in print).
We each carried packs around 55 pounds. Every time I make such a trip I try on reduce the amount of weight. Most times the pack still ends up weighting 50-55 pounds. Why is that? Surprising or not, water is one of the heavier things carried. Our tent is one of the lightest made. Sleeping bags ditto.
Both of us also carried each a "listening station". A dual playing/recording box with prerecorded CD disk(s) of different owl species (depending upon the search area and habitat). The two hour disks can be set to play constantly, however, large blank areas mean the owls are not constantly bombarded by calling and noise. The second disk is recording forest sounds. Software allows the two disks to be compared (since the recording disk is picking up the playing disk) and any matching sounds are eliminated from the final analysis by the software. This greatly shortens the time required to examine the disks. We are working on histograms of the owl calls, which could then be matched to the recording (therefore, not requiring anyone to listen to the recordings at all).
After setting up camp at the top of Pennock Pass (now signed for the last year or two), we hiked several miles along the road either side of the Summit. We detected no owls. Perhaps something will show up when we have time to study the recordings.
We explored south into the forest along a fire road until an hour before sunrise and ended our search. We had given our quest perhaps a 10 percent change of success; it was not to be.
Our plan to stay at Wellington Wildlife Area until dusk and the Short-eared Owls come out was altered because of our exhaustion. Eastern Plains and Greater Prairie-Chicken hunt for Saturday!
Richard Stevens:
It was a long two days. Our estimated 5 mile hike (aided at times with snowshoes) turned out to be almost 8 miles one way. Cross-country skis make the trip faster and easier; snowshoes are more comfortable to carry over bare ground and rocks.
First, we stopped at the Colorado State Forest. A lone moose walked around the west side of the building. It was quite a massive animal! Forty Rosy Finches consisted of Brown-capped and Gray-crowned. We cannot remember a Black Rosy Finch here in our last three visits. The White-throated Sparrow also made an appearance.
Our goal was get to the top of Pennock Pass (Larimer County) and try for a new early date for Flammulated Owl sightings. I thought snowshoeing a short 2.3 miles up Guanella Pass last year was to be a piece of cake. Which it was anything but. This hike was a doozie (for lack of a better word that I want to put in print).
We each carried packs around 55 pounds. Every time I make such a trip I try on reduce the amount of weight. Most times the pack still ends up weighting 50-55 pounds. Why is that? Surprising or not, water is one of the heavier things carried. Our tent is one of the lightest made. Sleeping bags ditto.
Both of us also carried each a "listening station". A dual playing/recording box with prerecorded CD disk(s) of different owl species (depending upon the search area and habitat). The two hour disks can be set to play constantly, however, large blank areas mean the owls are not constantly bombarded by calling and noise. The second disk is recording forest sounds. Software allows the two disks to be compared (since the recording disk is picking up the playing disk) and any matching sounds are eliminated from the final analysis by the software. This greatly shortens the time required to examine the disks. We are working on histograms of the owl calls, which could then be matched to the recording (therefore, not requiring anyone to listen to the recordings at all).
After setting up camp at the top of Pennock Pass (now signed for the last year or two), we hiked several miles along the road either side of the Summit. We detected no owls. Perhaps something will show up when we have time to study the recordings.
We explored south into the forest along a fire road until an hour before sunrise and ended our search. We had given our quest perhaps a 10 percent change of success; it was not to be.
Our plan to stay at Wellington Wildlife Area until dusk and the Short-eared Owls come out was altered because of our exhaustion. Eastern Plains and Greater Prairie-Chicken hunt for Saturday!
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