The Delta independent., 1901-07-05


One Of the reasons for selecting Col
oradO for the coming convention In
August Of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science Is Its
reputation for affording excellent op
portunities for the collection and study
of birds. 1t is somewhat remarkable
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 400 species.
Colorado has at the present time about
315 species, of which about 23O are
known to breed. This number could
probably be increased, should we in,
clude the uncontirmed discoveries
made by individual observers, a num-
Der of which will finally be added to
our present list.
The reasons for this great variety of
birds is due to the varied physical con-
ditions of the state and to its geo.
graphical position. Clustered about
the dome of the North American con-
tinent, the Rocky mountains of Colo
RADIO, are number Of widely different
geological provinces. From the Allan
tic ocean to the commencement of
what was formerly known as the great
American desert, there are practically
no barriers to separate the avifaunas
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 change in some well.
known eastern birds, such as the rob-
in and meadow lark, as to cause our
Colorado birds to be regarded as new
varieties or even new species.
The base of the foothills of the
Rocky mountains prove an insur,
mountable barrier to other species,
such as the eastern bluebird. In the
southern portion of the state we have
birds belonging to the tropical or semi
tropical regions of Mexico ranging
northward until they strike the colder
climate of the Rockies. The climate or
Dur higher mountains is 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 will be found living and
nesting on the higher peaks of tn.
range. To our west we have the some
what peculiar avifauna of the dry des-
ert country of Arizona and Utah. The
varied conditions of arid PLAN and for
lakes, creviced rocks and snow clad
peaks afford congenial homes to a va
riety of birds of radically different
habitats.
Colorado is to large extent a vir.
gin field for pathological 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 +. Z. Everett of
Golden, 7. NJ. Tripp Of Idaho Springs,
w. q. Smith and Osborn at Loveland,
Brenninger and w. w. Cooke at Fort
Collins, F. NJ. Dillie at Greeley ana
also x. q. Snyder of that same place.
Messrs. Henshaw, Anthony, DIR. Berg.
told, A. M. Collett, A. G. Felger, w. @.
Ferrill and Horace G. Smith, Jr., arc
among the ornithOlogists of Denver.
10 the south of this area Beckham,
Nash. Low and Aiken have worked Mt
Pueblo. The last gentleman took ex-
tended observations in and around
Canon City and Colorado Springs.
Several Of these men have been lib
eral contributors to the archaeological
Journals of the country and have pub
lished a number Of well.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 ana
white Rocky Mountain magpie. This
bird, noted for its garrulous habits,
has always formed conspicuous OBJ
1ect In the landscapes of our adjoin>
ing foothills. Congregating always IN
large numbers about slaughter houses
or wherever a carcass of a fallen steer
gives them an opportunity to sing the
Grows Sat 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, it does not seem
20 have generally adopted the notorious
thieving habits of the European form.
Its enormous nest of interviewer twigs
suspended in cottonwoods 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. 1t
is the one species of bird which should
not perhaps receive the protection of
our bird law, because of It's notorious
habit Of destroying the eggs of other
kinds of birds and thereby appreciabIy
diminishing the number of birds In
coming generations. This habit Of eat
ing eggs sometimes renders the jay
an object Of attack by swarms of other
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