GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — The results of the annual Christmas Bird Count have been compiled, showing a remarkable diversity of species for winter and an unexpected abundance of some species.
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GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE — The results of the annual Christmas Bird Count have been compiled, showing a remarkable diversity of species for winter and an unexpected abundance of some species.
Warmer-than-average winter conditions, combined with the wettest year in park records, may have provided the food and habitat conditions favorable for these birds.
Volunteers explored multiple ecosystems in the park and preserve, from wetlands west of the dunes to subalpine forests above the dunes.
They reported 44 total species, with 1,471 individual birds.
Those are somewhat high numbers for winter, although the park and preserve has over 250 bird species in total, many of which are seasonal.
Here’s a list of the species documented in this winter’s count:
Golden Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk (American)
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Williamson's Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Loggerhead Shrike
Pinyon Jay
Steller's Jay (Interior)
Western Scrub-Jay
Black-billed Magpie
Clark's Nutcracker
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)
Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed)
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Cassin's Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak