Tuesday 22 April 2025: Grouse Lek Extravaganza with She Flew Birding Excursions.
Day 4: Colorado Nationwide Monument, Coal Canyon, to Craig
Since leaving Denver we’ve pushed by some superb surroundings on our option to Gunnison, Colorado on Sunday night time and Grand Junction on Monday. We crossed Monarch Cross, had been awed by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and have handed by mountains, basins and valleys. Right now we’ll spend a part of our time in pinyon-juniper woodlands, nicknamed “PJ.”
Pinyon-juniper woodland dominates the slopes above the sagebrush and under the ponderosa pines in southern and western Colorado (quote from Colorado Birding Path). To these of us from Pennsylvania this PJ woodland scene at Dominiguez-Escalante suggests an previous subject reverting to forest. Nope.
In accordance with the Colorado State Forest Service, the commonest PJ tree species are the Colorado piñon pine, the Utah juniper and the New Mexico or one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) that thrive in drought-prone, chilly areas the place annual precipitation is 10-15 inches. The bushes deal with these challenges by rising extensively spaced and barely exceeding 10 ft tall.
Colorado piñon pine (Pinus edulis) [or pinyon pine]
Pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) have such a symbiotic relationship with pinyon pines that these woodlands are actually the one place to seek out them. Sadly the jay is declining dangerously and its disappearance may trigger the pine to say no as effectively. In 2023 USFWS started a examine to resolve whether or not to record the pinyon jay as Endangered, described within the video under. As of this writing the jay’s standing has not modified.
Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma)
Although juniper titmice (Baeolophus ridgwayi) have “juniper” of their title they don’t have the shut relationship with junipers that the pinyon jay has with pines. This hen was the plain titmouse (he’s positively plain!) however was named for his most popular habitat when he was break up from the oak titmouse within the Nineteen Nineties. His “oak” cousin is effectively studied however he isn’t.
Along with a “pinyon” and “juniper” species, the Colorado Birding Path: Pinyon-Juniper Woodland lists the birds that make the world dwelling for a minimum of a part of the yr:
Chicken species that breed nearly completely in or close to pinyon-juniper in Colorado embrace Black-chinned Hummingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, Grey Flycatcher, Grey Vireo, Pinyon Jay, Bewick’s Wren, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Black-throated Sparrow, and the uncommon however spectacular Scott’s Oriole. As well as, this habitat could host Widespread Poorwill, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay. In winter it may be crawling with mixed-species flocks of thrushes, together with American Robin, bluebirds, and Townsend’s Solitaire.
However we’d have to remain all year long to see all of them.
