Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year

Ok, so I started this a month ago with some ideas. I have barely had time to chase birds, feed the kids, be dad/husband, work, and sleep, so the blog is behind. I'm scribbling a lot of notes so I can flesh this whole year out more sometime down the road. I guess I better type those scribbles because they are hardly legible now!  Anyway, here is my strategy in bullet fashion. It's all I have right now :)  I may need to let some birds go. I have already sort of given up on a couple birds that were just too much time/physical commitment or at a busy time of the year and I simply can't do it all. I can't just get in the car and drive 30 min for a bird. I have to consider time commitment, whether it's a work day or weekend (when I need to be dad), and other factors when jumping on a big chase or ride. I'm considering riding into the foothills again for a bird or two bird, but that'll be a major time commitment. I could be sore and tired for a week. Last time I ro...

2 September 2021 A couple Mississippi Kites have been reported off and on in north Denver since late July. There have been a couple clusters of locations where the bird(s) have been seen with a report every 2 or 3 days, or less frequent. I contemplated chasing them because a kite would be a huge pick up for the year. This was one of those trips that I waffled on. It could be a huge time sink, I don't know where birds are really hanging around, plus the fun prospect of a lot of wandering and getting lost in urban Denver, etc. However, I see a report late on the 1st and decide to pull the trigger and go for it the next day.  I let Mark Obmascik know about my hair brained idea since he lives in town and likes to bird by bike as well. Plus he knows the city very well. Mark said he'd be happy to join me and it was set. However, Mark had work commitments in the morning. I got to his street pretty early. I waffled on whether to just go for the kites (he said just go!) or wait for him ...

30 August 2021 There have been a few more regular and expected birds that I have been getting concerned about missing. The window has been closing for getting birds like Willow Flycatcher (I got one), Northern Waterthrush, and a couple others. That's the way it goes with a big year, especially when you work full time, have little kids, a wife, and ride your bike everywhere! You get some birds and you have some tough misses. You just can't get all the birds, in spite of effort trying for them. I held out hope for this group of species and I have been putting time into trying to find them.  On 29 August, Julie Price posted a gorgeous photo of one of these missing birds: Northern Waterthrush, and at Chatfield State Park! We messaged and I got intel on the specific location of the bird. The habitat at this spot was perfect, but it was a little spot birders don't often hit because access isn't real easy. Further, Julie found the bird while kayaking!  I headed out early on th...