nesting Black Swifts, Ouray CO
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
One of the highlights of a recent trip to NM & CO was seeing the Black Swifts that nest in the box canyon in Ouray. This year there are 10 nests in the canyon - best looks yet at the nests for us. We were fortunate to get a tour from Sue Hirshman, the volunteer naturalist who has monitored the swifts for 17 years. They are now able to attach geolocators to some of the swifts, too.
- Attachments
-
- nestling black swift - there are white vertical marks on either side of bill, which is tiny.
- nestlingBS2.jpg (112.59 KiB) Viewed 2737 times
-
- Adult black swift on nest, brooding small young
- bsonnest2.jpg (73.43 KiB) Viewed 2755 times
-
Trishy
- Posts: 451
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: Wisconsin/Shell Lake
- Martin Colony History: Colony started in 2009 with 2 pair.
Currently I have 3 gourd racks with 24 gourds. One gourd rack will be for sy arrivals only.
Bo Eleven gourds 20
Thanks for the pictures Louise. I have never seen a black swift.
Trish
Very nice Louise - we were just there on our annual wildflower hunt in July. Here's a picture of Ouray from Chief Ouray mine (from way up above for those unaware of the area). Box canyon would begin in the top center of the picture.
OK Louise, the most important question: did you sample anything from Mouse's Chocolate shop?
OK Louise, the most important question: did you sample anything from Mouse's Chocolate shop?
2010: two pair nested, 1 bird fledged.
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
I had good coffee there, and we had ice cream and cake there, but I did NOT have any chocolate! and I love chocolate....
We always stay at Ouray Chalet Inn, across from the Beaumont Hotel. Wildflowers were very good.
We always stay at Ouray Chalet Inn, across from the Beaumont Hotel. Wildflowers were very good.
Oh gosh, Chalet Inn is on the same side & block as I recall. We've never had anything bad at Mouse's, but I'd recommend "scrap cookies" on your next visit. Do you ever get up above the tree line to view the flowers? Very dry last winter, not as many flowers this year. Still beautiful up there with all the green though.
2010: two pair nested, 1 bird fledged.
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
2011: starlings/sparrows destroyed nests. I shut down the house early to save PM lives.
2012: new T-14 with SREH, & a Beeman R7. Four fledged this year.
2013: Destroyed many house sparrows, but fledged 21 PM's!
-
Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Yes, we always get UP into the mountains, there was snow a few places. Loads of flowers and some birds that were hard to get good looks at - think they were american pipits. Last two trips to CO we have driven Black Bear Pass (with one of the jeep companies) so I got plenty of opportunities to study the flowers that were on the side AWAY from the drop - if you get my drift ;-)