Jody

Activity 1:  First habitat is my backyard in Greenwood Village, CO (suburban).  I have feeders with sunflower seed, three water features, one pinon tree, cotoneaster bushes and lawn.  Since April I have been blessed with Broad-tail hummingbirds, black-capped chickadees, spotted towhees, house finch, goldfinch, blue jays, mourning doves, white-breasted nuthatch, magpies, grackles, song sparrows, house wrens, northern flickers, red-wing blackbirds, american robin Second habitat is in the mountains of Silverthorne, CO (on a golf course).  Pine and aspen trees and some native plants like sage, rabbit brush, sedges in a small meadow.  I have seen steller jays, broad-tail hummers, american crows, juncos, mountain bluebird (my favorite), house finch, american robin, pine siskin, white-crowned sparrow, tree swallows.

Activity 1:  For Big Global Day, I spent 30 minutes in my backyard this evening (May 9.)  The very first bird I encountered was a male Ruby -throated hummingbird - or so I assumed since his throat was a brilliant fuchsia color!  Next I saw his female counterpart in colorful green.  Both spent several minutes, individually feeding at my feeder.  But guess what?!  To confirm the ID, I looked up  ruby-throated hummingbirds in American Museum of Natural History "Birds of North American Wester Region" bird guide and this hummingbird was not listed.  I then consulted the Merlin app and learned the RTHB does not hang out in COLORADO, but the Broad-tailed Hummingbird does!  Score for guidebooks and apps. My other positive IDs included: Red-tail hawk mama sitting on nest, spotted towhee, black-capped chickadee, house finch,  black-billed magpie, eurasian collared dove, and I learned that house wrens have taken up residence in a vacant bird house! Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

In Greenwood Village, CO the male goldfinch is so brilliant yellow!  Seems a bit early for that display.