The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-08-15
BIRDS OF COLORADO.
4 Theme For the scientists WIZ
Meet In Denver.

Theme For the scientists VIE
Meet In Denver.
Especial Correspondence
DENVER Aug. 8. The members Of
the American Association For the Ad-
vancement Of Science, who meet here
this month, will have an excellent op-
portunity for the study Of ornithology,
and that was perhaps one Of the rea-
sons for selecting Colorado for the COM
Ing convention. Colorado, which has
greater number of species OF birds than
almost any other state in the Union, is
to very large extent a virgin field
for pathological research, and the
study and collection of its varied and
abundant avifauna will be an interest
Ing occupation for the visiting scien-
lists.
The reason for the great variety Of
birds in this state is due to its varied
physical conditions and peculiar geo.
graphical position Clustering about
the dome of the North American CONT
nent, the Rocky mountains of Colora-
do. are number of widely differing
geological provinces, with widely diff
fering species Of bird life. The varied
conditions of arid plain and forested
mountains. numerous ponds and lakes,
creviced rocks and snowclad peaks, af-
ford congenial homes to variety of
birds of radically different habitats.
What was formerly known as the
Great American desert limits and in
many Instances entirely bars the west
ward dispersal of various species of
avffauna found in the east, while the
necessity for adapting themselves to
new conditions has produced such
change in some well known eastern
birds, such as the robin and the mead
OW lark, as to cause the Colorado birds
to be regarded as new varieties or even
new species.
The first bird that has always at
tracted the attention of eastern visitors
from the time of Lieutenant Pike until
the present time is the black and white
Rocky mountain maybe. This bird,
noted for its garrulous habits, has al
ways formed conspicuous object in
the landscapes of the adjoining foot
hills. Its enormous nest of interviewer
tWlgs suspended in a cottonwood or
box elder tree is always an object of
interest to strangers.
One Of the most beautiful of the
Rocky mountain birds is the deep blue
plumaged jay that is so abundant in
the mountain forests and that occa-
sionally ranges out on the plains as far
as Denver. 1t is notorious for it's habit
of destroying the eggs of other birds
and has got bad reputation for de-
stroying the buds on fruit and orna-
mental shrubs. In sharp contrast Nth
this robber bird is the whisky jack or
camp bird, most familiar resident of
the mining camps, whose friendly man
ners render him a great friend of the
miner
A very conspicuous bird in the south
western portion of the state is the
American raven. His sepulchral ap-
pearance and harsh voice are not cal
culated to render him popular favor
lite. The American crow is only COM
mon in northwestern Colorado. The
distant relatives of the crows grouped
together under the head of blackbirds,
the redwings. the yellow headed black
bird and the cowbird are exceedingly
common in the swamps
The western meadow lark is the most
noticeable song bird of Colorado Al
though so closely resembling the mead