Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-07-05
MANY VARIETIES OF
BIRDS in COLORADO

One OF the reasons for selecting Col
orado for the coming convention in
August OF the American Association
for the Advancement OF Science Is It's
reputation for affording excellent op
portunitles for the collection and study
OF birds. II II somewhat r.mnrkab BILE
that this state Is exceeded by but one
state in the Union, Nebraska, In the
number OF species OF birds. Nebraska
Is credited with nearly 100 species.
Colorado has ut the present time about
$40 species, OF which about $50 are
known TO breed. This number could
probably be Increased. should we in,
clude the unconiirmed discoveries
made by Individual observers. n mum.
Der OF which viii finally be added 10
our present list.
The reasons for this great variety or
birds Is due TO the varied physical con-
ditlons OF the state aud 10 Its geo.
graphical position. Clustered about
the dome OF the North American con.
tlnent, the Rocky mountains OF Colo.
rado. are number OF widely different
geological provinces. From the Allan.
tic ocean TO the commencement or
what was formerly known rs the great
American desert. there are practically
no barriers TO separate the aylfaunas
OF different regions. The decreased
rainfall and the growing altitude lin.
Its the westward dispersal OF many
species, while the necessity for adapt.
Ing themselves TO new conditions has
produced such a change In some well.
known eastern birds. such as the rob.
In and meadow lark. rs 10 cause our
Colorado birds to he regarded as new
varieties or even new species.
The base OF the foothills OF the
Rocky mountains prove an Insur
mountablc barrier to other species,
such as the eastern bluebIrd. In the
southern portion OF the state we have
birds belonging 10 the tropical or semi.
tropical regions OF Mexico ranging
northward until they strike the colder
climate OF the Rockies. The climate or
our higher mountains l. practically
that OF the Arctic regions. and hence
many birds that In the east OF the
United States do not cross the Cana.
dian boundary VIII h. found living nni
nesting ON the higher peaks OF th-
range. To our west We have the SOME
what peculiar nvifnunh Of the dry dee.
crt country OF Arizona and Utah. The
varied conditions OF arid PLAN and for.
csted mountains. numerous ponds aud
lakes. crcvlccd rocks and snow clad
peaks aEorI couEcnIal homes TO vn
ricty OF birds of radically different
hnbltats.
Colorado Is to large extent vir.
Gin field for archaeological research.
Perhaps the only portion Of the coun.
try where any considerable amount OF
observations have been taken il along
the eastern base OF the Colorado or
front range from Fort Collins nni
s.rNalEN Fn rEt.rN.tn Sn.fvaa t,,
country have worked +. l.. Everett or
Golden. I. NJ. Tripp OF Idaho Springs,
w. q. Smith aud Osborn mt Lovclani.
BTcnnlngcr aud W. ". Cooke at For,
Collins, i. II. DIllic Mt Greeley anu
also y. n. Snyder OF that same place.
Mcssrs. llcnshaw. Anthony. Dr. Berg.
told, \. NJ. Collctt. A. q. Fclgcr. W. q.
Fcrrill aud Horace q. Smith. Jr., ar.
among the ornithOlogists OF Denver.
To the south OF this area Beckhnm,
Nash. Low and Aiken have worked nt
Pueblo. The last gentleman took cX.
tended observations In and around
Canon City and Colorado Springs.
Several OF these men have been lib.
cral contributors TO the ornithoiogicai
Journals OF the country and have pub.
Hshed number OF wcll.writtcn. pop
uInr descriptions OF Colorado birds.
The first bird that has always at
tractcd the attention OF eastern visit.
ors from the time OF Lieutenant Pike
until the present time Is the black ana
white Rocky Mountain mngpie. This
bird. noted FOR Its gurrulous habits,
has always formed u conspicuous OBJ
ject In the landscapes OF our ndjoIn.
Ing foothills. COugTcgnting always IN
large numbers about slaughter houses
or wherever carcass OF n fallen steer
gives them an opportunity to sing the
Crows Sa, on n 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. 1t does not seem
% have generally adopted the notorious
thleving habits OF the European form.
Its enormous nest OF interviewer twigs
suspended In cuttonwoods 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.
plumaged jay. so abundant In the
mountain forests. and which occasion.
ally ranges far out on the plains. II
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 appreciabiy
diminishing the number of birds III
coming generations. This habit of eat.
Ing eggs sometimes renders the jay
an object OF attack by swarms OF other
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