Rosy-Finch Extravaganza

The recent cold snap that has plunged Laramie back into winter may not be welcomed by most people, but for birders, it is giving us a rare chance to experience the wonders of rosy-finches. In Wyoming, we can see all 3 North American rosy-finch species, as well as another distinct subspecies.  The three species include the Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata), Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte australis), and the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis), as well as the 'Hepburn's' Rosy-Finch, a distinct subspecies of Gray-crowned. All of these can even be seen in a single flock, especially here in the Laramie area, the only area in the state where you can see our local breeder, the Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.

Black (left), Gray-crowned (center), and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (right)

Outside of North America, there are 4 additional species of Leucosticte, all inhabiting alpine or tundra habitats. In the past, our North American rosy-finches were lumped with the Asian Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte arctoa) (Macdougall-Shackleton et al. 2000, Johnson 2002), but have since been split on the basis of molecular data and studies of a hybrid zone between Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finch (Johnson 2002).

Rosy-finches are famous denizens of the high alpine regions of the Rocky Mountain region, nesting far above treeline in talus slopes and cliff faces, foraging for seeds and insects at the edges of snow fields. Due to the remoteness of their nesting habitat, relatively little is known of the breeding biology of the three rosy-finch species. Each species largely breeds in mountain ranges isolated from the other species, with Brown-capped Rosy-Finches nesting from far northern New Mexico, through much of the alpine of Colorado, and reaching its northern limit in the Snowy Range of Wyoming (Johnson et al. 2000). Black Rosy-Finches are the "middle" rosy-finch, nesting in the Uinta Range of Utah, through the Wind River Range of Wyoming north to the Bitterroots in Montana, and west to central Nevada (Johnson 2002). Finally, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are the most widespread species, nesting in Sierra Nevadas in California all the way north to Alaska and the Pribilof Islands. They get as far east as northern Montana, where they occasionally hybridize with Black Rosy-Finches in the Bitterroot Mountains (Macdougall-Shackleton et al. 2000, Johnson 2002).

Rosy-finch habitat - Mount Evans - Clear Creek Co., CO

Even in the winter, rosy-finches can spend a lot of time high in the mountains, sometimes only descending in bad weather to the valleys, foothills, plains, and high deserts of the West (Macdougall-Shackleton et al. 2000, Johnson 2002). Again, Gray-crowned Rosy-finch is the most widespread and frequently encountered species in most places, but in some areas of Utah and New Mexico, Black and Brown-capped Rosy-finches may outnumber them. In Colorado, southeast Wyoming, and northern New Mexico, large mixed flocks containing all 3 species can be found.

Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finch flock - Albany Co., WY

Here in southeast Wyoming, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch is by far the most abundant species, with flocks numbering in the hundreds not uncommon in some places, swirling through the air and raiding bird feeders. Within these Gray-crowned flocks, most represent the "interior" subspecies; up to 10-20% of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch flocks may be made up of the "coastal," Hepburn's subspecies, characterized by entirely gray cheeks and face as well as crown.

'Hepburn's' Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Laramie Co., WY

'Interior' Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Laramie Co., WY

'Interior' Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Albany Co., WY

In the foothills of the Snowy Range, small numbers of Brown-capped Rosy-Finches can also be encountered amidst the large Gray-crowned flocks. These are often difficult to pick out, as some Brown-capped Rosy-Finches can show fairly extensive gray in the head, best told by the extent and contrast of the gray with the brown on the face and head.

Brown-capped Rosy-Finches - Larimer Co., CO

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (with Gray-crowned) - Laramie Co., WY

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch - Albany Co., WY

Generally one of the harder species to find locally, Black Rosy-Finches are only occasionally encountered in flocks in southeast Wyoming. Farther west, they are much more common, sometimes being the dominant species along the foothills of the Wind River Range and in the Jackson Hole region. While adult male Black Rosy-Finches are very distinct and easy to identify, females and young birds can be surprisingly tricky. These birds are separated from both Brown-capped and Gray-crowned by the overall "cold" brown and charcoal gray plumage on the body.

Black Rosy-Finch - Albany Co., WY

As winter continues in Wyoming, you can still expect to find rosy-finches close to the mountains, with birds generally returning to their breeding grounds by April when still snow covered. March can be an especially good month to find big mixed flocks of rosy-finches outside of Laramie, as birds from farther south are beginning to return northward. Occasionally, large flocks of rosy-finches can be found coming to feeders around the foothills as late as May when large spring snow storms come through. So, get out there and go see these spectacular birds of the alpine tundra of the West. 

All photos in this post © Shawn Billerman and are not to be used without permission.

References:

Johnson, RE, P Hendricks, DL Pattie and KB Hunter. 2000. Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte australis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/536

Macdougall-Shackleton, SA, RE Johnson and TP Hahn. 2000. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/559

Johnson, RE. 2002. Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/678

Colorado and Wyoming eBird Blog

Attention eBirders of Wyoming! There is new blog out there, Colorado and Wyoming eBird, which was spearheaded by Tony Leukering, the lead eBirder reviewer for Colorado, and with contributions from eBird reviewers from across Wyoming and Colorado. The eBird review teams of the two states see this blog as a way to impart information about all aspects of the eBird review process to the region's eBirders, with its primary purpose to make the review system more transparent. Posts will include essays on how filters are created, how they work, what filters mean for entering checklists, as well as information on how to get the most out of eBird, from using all of the data output tools to exploring the birds of different regions. For those of you who don't use eBird, check it out here. Its a fantastic resource for finding out what can be seen in your area, planning out a birding trip in a new and exciting place, and keeping track of your own sightings. Please check the new Wyoming and Colorado eBird blog here, and let us know what you think!

Laramie CBC Results

The Laramie Christmas Bird Count, held on Sunday, December 14th, tallied 44 species and included one new species to the count: an adult male Great-tailed Grackle was found by Craig Benkman near Optimist Park. Since the count, additional Great-tailed Grackles have been found in the same area, totaling 18 individuals, by far the largest count of this species in Wyoming in winter. The count also tallied a total of 3,802 individuals. Twenty-seven people participated this year, birding in 11 teams, a new Other highlights included a male White-winged Crossbill on the University of Wyoming campus with a flock of Red Crossbills, 4 Lapland Longspurs, and a Northern Shrike along the Laramie River. Detailed results were included in our January newsletter.

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) © Shawn Billerman

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) © Shawn Billerman

Many thanks to everyone who participated and helped to make the Laramie Christmas Count a great success this year!

RESCHEDULED: Snowshoe Trip now MARCH 1

Tracks in snow © Julie Hart

PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR TRIP WAS SNOWED OUT ON SATURDAY, FEB. 21. WE WILL HAVE OUR TRIP ON SUNDAY, MARCH 1.

Join Laramie Audubon Society on a Snow Tracking Field Trip this Sunday. Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis and wear your layered winter clothing. Gary Beauvais, Director of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, will lead us on a trek through the snow at Chimney Park (USFS). Gary will show us various tracks in the snow and help us learn to identify who made the tracks. This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors on a winter morning.

Meet at 8am at Coal Creek Coffee (downtown Laramie) on Sunday, March 1, to caffeinate and carpool. We will drive out to Chimney Park Trailhead in the US Forest, 32 miles southwest of Laramie on Hwy 230. Bring snacks, maybe a lunch, and water. Be sure to dress for the weather. We usually return to Laramie around 1pm.

There is a $5 fee per vehicle at the trailhead unless you have an annual pass. Be sure to display your pass (if you have one) on your dashboard.

If you have any questions, you may call Vicki Henry at 307-760-9518.

Upcoming talk by Mike Lockhart

Green Violetear. Photo © Mike Lockhart.

We are excited to have Mike Lockhart speak to us this Wednesday,  25 February in the Berry Biodiversity Center. Mike's talk is entitled "Way cool and smokin' hot birds and other wildlife: Images from the Arctic and tropical America."

We will start the mingling and refreshments at 6:30 pm and at 7:00 pm Mike, a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, will share photos and video clips from his travels and work. He is the former Recovery Coordinator for the black-footed ferret project and has had a long career working with raptors and other wildlife, including many years assisting in polar bear capture and satellite telemetry studies in Alaska. His tropical travels include trips to Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador. Mike will present a series of photos and videos of spectacular vistas and species from extremes in environments and color. His photos are truly exceptional and his knowledge about wildlife is profound. You will not want
to miss this program!

Feb. 21 Field Trip - depends on weather -- Please read message below.

The weather may not cooperate with our field trip on Saturday morning.  If it is snowing on Saturday morning at 7:30am, or if the roads are icy between Laramie and Chimney Park, we will  postpone our snow tracking trip to Sunday, March 1, meeting at Coal Creek Coffee at 8am, then carpooling to Chimney Park.

You may call Vicki Henry at 760-9518 after 7am on Saturday, Feb., 21, or watch for an email announcing the postponement.

Snow Tracking Field Trip at Chimney Park on Saturday morning, February 21

Join us on a Snow Tracking Field Trip this Saturday, February 21.  Bring your cross-country skis or snowshoes and wear your layered winter clothing.  Gary Beauvais, Director of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, will lead us on a trek through the snow at Chimney Park (USFS).  Gary will show us various tracks in the snow and help us learn to identify who made the tracks.  This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors on a winter morning.

Snow tracking field trip. Photo by Julie Hart.

Meet at 8 am at Coal Creek Coffee to caffeinate and carpool.  We will drive out to Chimney Park Trailhead in the US Forest, 32 miles southwest of Laramie on Hwy 230.  Bring snacks, water and dress for the weather.  We usually return to Laramie around 1pm.

There is a $5 fee per vehicle at the trailhead unless you have an annual pass. If you have one, be sure to display your pass on your dashboard.

If you have any questions, you may call Vicki at 307-760-9518.

Upcoming talk by Shawn Billerman

Our next evening meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday January 28th at 6:30 pm in the Berry Biodiversity Center auditorium. After mingling and refreshments, Shawn Billerman will continue his Difficult Bird ID series at 7 pm with a session on sparrows, longspurs, and finches. We will learn how to identify these tricky species so we're ready for spring migration!

McCown's Longspur, Albany Co. WY. Photo © Shawn Billerman.

Whose feather is it?

 Have you ever found a bird feather and wondered what species it came from? The Forensics Lab of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can help with their Feather Atlas. You can compare your feather to similar feathers by choosing 1) a pattern and 2) the most striking color from an array of choices. Then browse through high quality pictures to determine which feather matches yours! You can also browse through their library of images by common name or taxonomy.

Brambling in Carbon County

On the morning of November 21st, Francis and Janice Bergquist discovered a strange bird coming to their feeder. After sending a photo to Matt Fraker, word quickly went out that they were hosting a Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) at their feeders, a finch native to much of Europe and Asia. While regularly encountered during migration on Alaskan islands in the Bering Sea, with double-digit flocks sometimes being recorded, Brambling are very rare anywhere in the lower 48 states.

Brambling - Carbon Co., WY, © Libby Megna

Like other "winter" finches of North America, such as crossbills and redpolls, some years are definitely better for Brambling in the lower 48 than others. This year seems to be just such a year, with at least two found in Washington, one in northern California, one in Montana, and one as far east as Ontario. Hawaii even got their first record of Brambling when a flock of 15 was discovered. So, when I got a phone call that a Brambling was found in Wyoming, I wasn't too surprised.

Pending acceptance by the Wyoming Bird Records Committee, this represents the third time Brambling has been found in the state, with both of the other records coming in November of 1985, another "irruption" year for the species.

Brambling - Carbon Co., WY, © Shawn Billerman

Over the weekend, a bunch of graduate students at the University of Wyoming here in Laramie made the trek to Saratoga. We were treated to wonderful views of this beautiful little finch. Over the course of the hour we were watching the bird, it hung out in the large spruce next to the house, in mixed company with House Sparrows and House Finches, and would feed on the ground. In between foraging bouts, the Brambling would hide in the dense cover of the spruce, trying to avoid being noticed by the Sharp-shinned Hawk that was constantly patrolling the feeders. Many thanks to the Bergquists for graciously allowing birders to come see this beautiful bird.

Red Knot Listed as Federally Threatened

Big news came out of the US Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, December 9 when they announced that the rufa subspecies of the Red Knot (Calidris canutus) would be listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The US Fish and Wildlife Service sites extensive coastal development along the East Coast of the United States and climate change as two important factors contributing to the drastic, rapid decline of this incredible species.

Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - Tompkins Co., NY (photo © Jay McGowan)

The rufa Red Knot is one of the most incredible long-distance migrants on the planet, with some individuals regularly migrating 18,000 miles in a single year from their breeding grounds in the high Canadian Arctic to their wintering grounds in Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina ("Moonbird" is part of this subspecies) . In the spring, huge flocks of Red Knots migrate north, stopping at traditional stopover sites along the East Coast of North America to fuel up not only for the rest of their journey to the arctic, but also to gain important resources for the breeding season (US Fish and Wildlife Service 2013). One of the most famous stopover sites for the Red Knot is coastal Delaware Bay in Delaware and New Jersey, where Red Knots gorge themselves on horseshoe crab eggs. Regular surveys at sites along Delaware Bay, as well as wintering sites in Chile and Argentina documented drastic declines in the early 2000s, with populations declining 75%. Many of these declines in the early 2000s were attributed to excessive horseshoe crab harvesting, reducing their food source at key stopover sites. While populations have stabilized recently, future coastal development and habitat changes due to future change may be detrimental to the Red Knot (US Fish and Wildlife Service 2014).

To read more about the listing of the Red Knot and other fun facts about Red Knots, visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service's website here.

Volunteers needed for 115th Christmas Bird Count

Common Redpoll. Photo © Shawn Billerman.

The Laramie Audubon Society will again take part in a 100-year-old Christmas tradition, the annual Christmas Bird Count. Volunteers are welcome to join in the count with the LAS chapter as it conducts the Albany County Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, December 14.  This will be the 37th count of the Albany County circle. Volunteers are needed to help count every bird present in the 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie on the day of the count. Novices are welcome, and will be paired with more experienced bird watchers.

Volunteers can call ahead (307-286-1972) or meet at Coal Creek Coffee at 7:30 am on the day of the count to get data forms and team assignments. Some teams walk, while others drive through their territory. Volunteers will reconvene at The Grounds Internet and Coffee Lounge at 12:00 pm to drop off morning reports and regroup for those continuing in the afternoon.

Volunteers should wear warm, layered clothing and boots, and bring water, snacks and binoculars if you have them. Feeder watchers are also welcome.  Volunteers are invited to a chili supper where results will be compiled beginning at 4 pm the home of Shay Howlin. Potluck items welcome, but not required.  Please contact Shay Howlin if you would like to be assigned a route early, would like forms for feeder watching, or have any questions (307-286-1972; wolfhowlin@gmail.com).

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch. Photo © Shawn Billerman.