My First Formal Entry

I have been blogging in other areas but it has been disjointed and not very productive. Today I am going to start a blog about my favorite passion, Birding. I have been birding for 14 years and have a life list of 465 birds. I had hoped to hit 500 this year, but it looks like it will have to wait until 2009.

Let's start with the basics... According to ABA (American Birding Associations) rules (as I understand them) you must see a bird that is wild, has been reared from a wild and self sustaining population, and is documented in a free and natural state. There is some discussion about counting birds during bird banding... that is, if you observe a bird in the hand during a banding session you can not count the bird... UNLESS you are actively involved in the banding process. Since I volunteer with a local bird bander, and I actually take the birds out of the nets, I am allowed to count these birds. I am pleased to say that I have gotten a few "lifers" that way.

Ok, now to the postings...

January 29, 2004
Rawhide Power Plant, Larimer County, CO

(1) Bufflehead

(2) American Wigeon

(3) Bald Eagle

(4) Ring-Billed Gull

(5) Killdeer

April 19, 1994
Timnath Reserviour, Larimer County CO

(6) Western Grebe

(7) Red-Tailed Hawk

(8) Ferruginous Hawk

(9) White Pelican

(10) Common Merganser

(11) Cinnamon Teal

(12) Green-Winged Teal

(13) Great Blue Heron

May 5, 1994
Environmental Learning Center, Fort Collins, CO

(14) House Wren

(15) Double Crested Cormorant

(16) Brown Headed Cowbird

June 11, 1994

Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

(17) Barn Swallow

(18) Raven

(19) American Crow

(20) Mountain Blue Bird

(21) Clark's Nutcracker

(22) Black-Billed Magpie

I will work on other entries later.