The Holly chieftain., 1901-07-05
MANY VARIETIES OF
BIRDS IN COLORADO

August Of the American Association
for the Advancement Of Science Is its
reputation for atfOrding excellent op
pOrtUnirl"s for the collection and study
of birds 1t Is somewhat remarkable
that this state IS exceeded by but one
state IN tn" Union. Nebraska. in the
number Of species Of birds. N"bra ska
II credited with nearly 100 species.
Colorado has at the present TIM" about
80 species. of which about g3O arc
known TO breed. This number could
probably be increased, should we in.
Cludc the uncontirm"d discoveries
made by individual observers. a mum
Der of Which Will finally be added to
our present list.
The reasons for rhi, great variety OF
birds is due to the varied physical con
dItiouS OF the state and to its geo
graphical position. Clustered about
the dome OF III" North American con
tin"nt, the Rocky mountains OF Colo.
IaiO, are "A number OF widely different
geological provinces, From the Allan
TIC ocean to the commencement OF
what was formerly known a. The grea,
American desert. there are practically
no barriers to separate the ayifaunas
Of different regions The decrease
rainfall and the growing altitude lin
Its the westward dispersal Of man,
species, while the necessity for adapt
ing themselves to new conditions has
produced such a change in some we'll
known eastern birds. such aS the rob
IN and meadow lark, ~ to cause Out
Colorado birds to be regarded rs new
varieties or even new species
The base of the foothills of the
Rocky mountains prove an iusur
Mountahl" barrier to other species
such a. the eastern blu"bird. In the
southern portion of the state we have
birds belonging 10 tho tropical or semi
tropical regions Of Mexico ranging
nurthward until they strike the colder
climate Of the Rockies. The climate OF
our higher mountains &, practically
that OF the Arctic regions ana henc"
many birds that in the east of the
| nitrd States do not cross the Cana
dian boundary VIII be found living and
nesting on the higher peaks of the
range. To our west We have the some
what peculiar avifuuna OF the dry des-
art country Of Arizona and Utah. The
varied conditions of arid PLAN and for
"stcd mountains, numerous ponds and
lakes. CrcylCcd rocks and snow clad
peaks AFFORD CUngeuial homes to a Va
iIety Of birds of radically different
habitaIs
Colorado is to "A large extent a vIr
gin field for ornithnlogIcal research
Perhaps the only portion of the coun-
try where any considerable amount OF
observations have been taken is along
The eastern base of the Colorado or
front range from Fort Collins and
Greeley to Colorado Springs. In this
country have worked +. T. Everett OF
Golden, T. NJ. Trip OF Idaho Springs.
w. G. Smith and Osborn at loveland
ErcnninEcr and W. W. Cooke at Fort
Collins, L. NJ. Dillic at Greeley ana
also y. Il. Snyder of tha, same place.
M"ssrS. ti"nshaw. anthony. Or. Berg.
told. a, NJ. Collctt. \. G. Felgcr. w. G.
Icrrll and Horace g. Smith. Jr., arc
among the oruithulOgistS of Denver.
To the south of this area BeckhanI.
Nash, Low and Aiken have worked ut
Pueblo. The last gentleman took ex-
tended observations in and around
Canon City and Colorado Springs.
Several Of these men have been lib
cral contributors TO the orulthological
Journals OF the country and have pub
llshcd number of we'll written, pop
ular descriptions of Colorado birds.
The first bird that has always at
traCted the attention of eastern visit.
orS from the time of Lieutenant Pike
until the present time Is the black and
white Rocky Mountain magpie. This
bird, noted for its garrulOuS habits.
has always formed "A conspicuous OBJ.
jcct in the landscapes OF our adjoin,
ing foothills. Congrcgating always IN
large numbers about slaughter houses
or wherever a carcass of fallen steer
gives them an opportunity to sing the
Crows Sal on a Tree" While this
classic ballad, There Were Two
bird does not differ very much in form
color or conversational powers from
the magpie Of Europe. II does not seem
10 have generally adopted the notorious
thieving habits of the European form
Its enormous nest of interviewer twigs
suspended IN cottunwoOds or box elder
trees, is always an object of interest
TO strangers.
One OF the most beautiful of the
Rocky mountain birds is the deep blue
plumagcd jay, So abundant in the
mountain forests and which occasion
ally ranges far oNt on the plains. |,
Is the one species of bird which should
not perhaps receive the protection OF
our bird law. because of its notorious
habit of destroying the eggs of other
kinds of birds and thereby appreciably
diminishing the number of birds lr
coming generations. This habit of eat
ing eggs sometimes renders the ia,
an object of attack by swarms Of other
s<.<.<.<.<.<.<:
Underground Wireless Telcgraphy