[Birdtalk] Brow-capped Rosy-Finch musings

[Tim Avery]

The sighting of multiple Brown-capped Rosy-Finches in Moab this month got me
thinking more about the actual occurrence of this species in Utah.  Despite
the fact that this will be the 1st accepted sighting of this species in
state, it has been pondered by I am sure many, whether or not this species
may actually breed in southeast Utah and to what extent is their winter
range into lower elevations in this part of the state?  Coverage of this
enormous southeast area as always seems to be the biggest problem.  There
aren't nearly enough birders to adequately cover such a large area, and
there isn't as much draw to bring birders from northern Utah down to this
area, as there is to southwest Utah.  Lu Giddings over the past several
years has done an enormous service to birding in San Juan County by making
his outings and conducting the first Bluff CBC, etc.  And Chuck LaRue over
the years has contributed quite a bit in his studies of birds in the
region.  But outside of this, the average birder doesn't make it to this
area often, and the unique placement in the state means that there are
probably a number of species going un-noticed in this area.

Scaled Quail, Canyon Towhee, Hepatic Tanager, Olive Warbler, Sprague's
Pipit, Mountain Plover, Longspur's, etc.  There are a number of species
which very likely may inhabit or migrate through this area that simply go
unnoticed.  The Rosy-Finches are a great example, and lead me to the point
of this email.  In the past few years in Wyoming there have been "surveys"
to locate nesting Brow-capped in the Snowy range in southeastern Wyoming.
Nests have been successfully found in the area, and this makes me think this
could be an interesting outing in Utah.  Why not plan a late June or early
July outing to the La Sal Mountains for a weekend to search out nests for
this species?  With peaks over 12,000' feet isolated  and surrounded by
desert, the rocky crags above treeline provide what would seem like adequate
habitat for this species to nest.  This would be the perfect opportunity for
northern Utah birders and birding groups, along with DWR, and the local Moab
Audubon Society to get together and not only do something for citizen
science, but to also connect this isolated area with the rest of the state.
Besides searching for this species, general bird distribution in the La Sals
seems to be a bit of a mystery.  Paul Lehman actually asked this question
last year at the ABA conference, curious about the distribution of
high-elevation conifer residents such as crossbills, Evening Grosbeak,
American Three-toed Woodpecker, etc., because in most field guides it is
sort of a "black hole".

With this said is there any interest from Utah birders to do such a
"research trip"?  I am more than willing to try and put something together,
with the help of anyone interested, as I believe this would not only be a
fun trip, but also could contribute quite a bit to science for this area of
the state!

Not to mention, I wouldn't mind getting Brown-capped Rosy-Finch in Utah ;)

So, any thoughts or interest?

Good Birding

Tim
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