President's Day Raptoring

Yesterday, I woke up and took the dogs on a normal "weekend" walk and as I turned north I spotted something soaring in the sky.  I actually, very intentionally this time, had my binoculars and quickly identified the flyer as an RT.  I scanned the trees farther to the north and did something else flying low, from the left, the direction of the nest site, that landed in a nearby tree.  It was impossible to get much in the sun's glare but I headed in that direction.  As I turned east and approached the tree, sighting the bird with my naked eye, I focused in and sure enough it appeared to be another RT. Right then, the other one (I can only assume it was the the same one I had seen soaring above) flew in and landed a few branches over.  I am pretty sure this is the same pair as last year and that they have re-claimed their nest, which appears well-fortified and groomed.  Hopefully they will be on it in a week and a half when I take the kids out there.

Anyway, I figured that was a good omen and when I got home I loaded the scope and the dogs into the car and headed out for an impromptu scouting trip. I started on my usual route by heading north behind Arapahoe Ridge where I saw the first of at least two dozen RTs, down Erie Parkway to County Line-there was a RT on the nest at the cross of Evans-to Kenosha and then west to Lookout Rd.  I saw a Baldie on one of the far off posts, but otherwise the usually very reliable run up Lookout was quiet.  I headed north through Niwot and then over to Lagerman, sighting a Roughie in the field just before the big bend, a few more RTs, then a couple of probable eagles soaring high above the reservoir. I went to Nelson and 75th and checked out the two two nests behind the office park but no activity on either. I then headed in the direction of the Hygiene eagles, seeing numerous RT pairs flying, plus other solos as well as a few Kestrel pairs.  As I neared the eagle nest I could see at least one white head from the distance.  I cruised by the line of scopes to see if anything was west and in the few minutes before I had returned, both eagles had flown away.  The spot at 59th and Hygiene was also unusually quiet but there were many more RTs as I wound around and back toward Longmont.  There are quite a few Osprey platforms out there and I can't wait to see them all filled later on this spring.  I then headed across I-25 all the way to Colorado before heading south.  Finally, I was able to find a few more Roughies east of I-25, plus a Juvie BE soaring and a bunch more RTs. Later, on the way in and out of Boulder I saw yet another four RTs.

To top it off, while I was grilling I heard some hooting so I hooted back and it sounded closer, then there was a return call, and it sounded real close.  I hooted back and the answer came from right out front.  I ran inside and through the house sparking off my dogs, and out the front door and sure enough, one was sitting on top of my front eave, while its partner was three doors down.

All in all a pretty good day with probably close to 40 raptors, with five species, although no new ones for the year.

Raptorology with kids!

For the last few Tuesdays I have run a "Birds of Prey" class/club after school and fourteen 2nd through 5th grade students, plus my friend and colleague Paul, have been having a blast learning about and sharing what we know about the different birds, as well as exploring adjacent Rothman Open Space here in Lafayette. The kiddos have been really excited to learn about specific (mostly locally found) birds ranging from the Red-tailed hawk, American Kestrel, both eagles, to Snowy and Barn owls, to the Harris Hawk and even two boys studying the Northern Goshawk, my personal nemesis bird-I have tasked them with learning everything about the species for my quest.

Depending on weather, we try to go outside each session.  The first two times we only had time for a short trip to the back of the playground for a view of the open space, but without any raptor sightings. Shortly after each one, while walking my dogs I saw a Red-tail and a Rough-legged.  The third session was during the sub-zero spell.  Finally, the fourth class, we went on a longer loop and were treated to both a Kestrel and a Red-tail flying around us for great views.  The girl studying the Kestrel ID'd it immediately and was flying herself.  This type of discovery is the most gratifying aspect of teaching.

The students keep asking when we are going to go further and see more, so we will be taking a longer hour long loop in the Open Space and are planning a Saturday drive through the county to cap off the class.

Roughie note:  Only one winter in the past ten have I seen a Rough-legged hawk in my backyard of Rothman, but this year I have seen three.  This not really irruption, but their prevalence this year anyway has really helped me identify them not just by markings, but also their different style of flying, although it is hard to specifically describe, just not like a Red-tail, nor Ferruginous or Harrier.  I have come to really appreciate them.