Bird Hop sees a bumper year for Rosy Finches!

A small group of 7 gathered in Centennial on Saturday morning, March 2, for the Laramie Audubon Society annual Bird Hop. The weather was unseasonably warm, with weak sunshine and a growing wind. The event, now a tradition, began several years ago as an opportunity for LAS members and friends to trek to Centennial to look for rosy finches. This year was the year to see the birds en masse around the streets and yards of the little town, and at the feeders in the backyard of the Bear Bottom Grill, where the group concluded their trip with lunch and conversation while keeping their eyes on the feeders at the windows. Birds observed this year, in addition to Grey-capped Rosy Finches, were Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Stellar's Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Clark's Nutcracker, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Magpie, Raven and Junco. Special thanks to Centennial resident Tony Hoch, who opened his home for observing rosy finches, and the Bear Bottom for keeping the feeders full and providing a relaxing atmosphere for bird watching over lunch.