The flag has stopped waving, but this the beginning of a great NM birding season!

[Rosyfinch]

The flag has stopped waving

Every morning since the first day of last November we have raised the yellow flag. We watched it wave in the blustery winds of Sandia Crest, announcing to the world that the Rosy-Finches were present at the feeder at the Crest House. As is our sad duty, we ceremoniously lowered the flag on March 15, when the only small numbers of our favorite finches flew to the feeders. A few stragglers may be expected even into early April. If you see any, please let us know.

This is actually only the beginning of a marvelous year of birding in the Sandia Mountains and all around Central New Mexico. Keep watching these FORUM pages for updates of field trips and reports of unusual sightings. Of course, always check the New Mexico Rare Bird Alert and report your sightings to Matt Baumann of NMRBA, as well as entering them into the eBird database.

All of us extend heartfelt thanks to Fran Lusso and Dave Weaver, Co-Coordinators, who have been long-time keepers of the feeders. Particular thanks go out to Lee Hopwood, who has donated feeders and seed over the years. Without feeders and bird seed there would be no Rosy-Finch project at Sandia Crest House.

Nancy and Steve Cox of Rio Grande Bird Research head up a team of avid researchers whose fame has spread worldwide. Only this past year I was visiting Homer, Alaska and saw an announcement that Michael Hilchey was giving a presentation on their findings. (I missed him by a week!). Kudos for their openness and willingness to educate other birders as well as the visiting public about their banding and radio tracking programs almost every Sunday morning through the winter.  

Gene Romero and all the Crest House management and staff deserve our special and unending gratitude. The Rosy-Finches and their enthusiastic reception by birders from all over the world have ignited their own interest in the birds, and their hospitality has provided birders with a very warm and comfortable "hide" from which to view these marvelous winter visitors. It was only through the cooperative agreement between Southwest Silver, who own Sandia Crest House, the US Forest Service (and USFS volunteers such as Fran and Dave), and Central New Mexico Audubon Society that the feeding project ever got off the ground.

[Nancy Cox]

Hi Ken,

Thank you for your kind words.  They were much appreciated.  We are
definitely proud of our crew.

You definitely deserve major kudos also for the work you have done both to
get this whole Rosy-Finch event going and the behind the scenes work you do
to keep the public informed.  It is very much appreciated.

Thanks, Ken, from all of us.


Nancy

Rosyfinch [via Sandia Crest Birding FORUM] writes:

> The flag has stopped waving
>
> Every morning since the first day of last November we have raised the yellow
> flag. We watched it wave in the blustery winds of Sandia Crest, announcing
> to the world that the Rosy-Finches were present at the feeder at the Crest
> House. As is our sad duty, we ceremoniously lowered the flag on March 15,
> when the only small numbers of our favorite finches flew to the feeders. A
> few stragglers may be expected even into early April. If you see any, please
> let us know.  
>
> This is actually only the beginning of a marvelous year of birding in the
> Sandia Mountains and all around Central New Mexico. Keep watching these
> FORUM pages for updates of field trips and reports of unusual sightings. Of
> course, always check the New Mexico Rare Bird Alert and report your
> sightings to Matt Baumann of NMRBA, as well as entering them into the eBird
> database.
>
> All of us extend heartfelt thanks to Fran Lusso and Dave Weaver,
> Co-Coordinators, who have been long-time keepers of the feeders. Particular
> thanks go out to Lee Hopwood, who has donated feeders and seed over the
> years. Without feeders and bird seed there would be no Rosy-Finch project at
> Sandia Crest House.  
>
> Nancy and Steve Cox of Rio Grande Bird Research head up a team of avid
> researchers whose fame has spread worldwide. Only this past year I was
> visiting Homer, Alaska and saw an announcement that Michael Hilchey was
> giving a presentation on their findings. (I missed him by a week!). Kudos
> for their openness and willingness to educate other birders as well as the
> visiting public about their banding and radio tracking programs almost every
> Sunday morning through the winter.  
>
> Gene Romero and all the Crest House management and staff deserve our special
> and unending gratitude. The Rosy-Finches and their enthusiastic reception by
> birders from all over the world have ignited their own interest in the
> birds, and their hospitality has provided birders with a very warm and
> comfortable "hide" from which to view these marvelous winter visitors. It
> was only through the cooperative agreement between Southwest Silver, who own
> Sandia Crest House, the US Forest Service (and USFS volunteers such as Fran
> and Dave), and Central New Mexico Audubon Society that the feeding project
> ever got off the ground.  
>
> -----
> Ken Schneider
> Web site: http://www.rosyfinch.com
> Blog: http://blog.rosyfinch.com
> Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosyfinch/ 
>
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