We have been very fortunate to live where we do this summer (so far). The South Platte River Basin, of which Boulder Creek is a part, was one of the few drainage basins in the West with an average to above average snowpack as we came out of winter. May was wet and moisture continues to be adequate.

The result of all the moisture has been a prolific season for wildflowers. Flowers seemed to start late but have more than made up for the tardiness with a brilliant display of color. The meadows and open hillsides were covered with yellows of golden banner, sulphur flower, leafy cinquefoil, and whiskbroom parsley, along with blues of penstemon virens, reds of paintbrush, pinks of wild roses, and lavenders of aspen daisy. Numerous butterflies are flitting around the flowers. Mushrooms have been popping up everywhere.

But not all has been good. If you thought the numbers of birds were low this year you were right. The landscape seemed quiet. The 40th year of the Indian Peaks Breeding Bird Count recorded its worst numbers ever. The 25 birds seen per count hour was 60% of the average. The mountain count areas (generally east of the Peak to Peak Highway) were not so bad - this was only the second worst breeding count as total numbers were 77% of average. The higher elevation areas were worse at 49% of average. Some other bird reports from Colorado are showing similar results. The Guanella Pass Breeding Bird Survey route observed just 33% of its average.

The declines pretty much hit all types of birds. Species that were under 50% of their average included Hairy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Clark’s Nutcracker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Pipit, Yellow Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Cassin’s Finch, and Pine Siskin.

Possible explanations for the low numbers of birds include the extended drought in much of the West that limited food resources, heavy smoke in 2020 that can impact an animal’s health, wildfires that can alter migration routes, and the mass die-off documented last Fall in parts of the West that was partially triggered by an early cold spell. Necropsies of the dead birds found that they had very low body weights and no fat reserves. They were suffering from malnutrition and starvation while undertaking migration, easy prey for a quick cold snap. They did not make it back to breed in 2021.

I want to thank the following people for participating in the Indian Peaks Bird Count: Linda Andes-Georges, Bev Baker, Maureen Blackford, Gary Brower, Alex Brown, Diane Brown, Gillian Brown, George Coffee, Patricia Cullen, Virginia Evans, Mike Figgs, Audrey Godell, Paula Hansley, Jim Holitza, Steve Jones, Gerard Kelly, Nan Lederer, Eric Maxfield, Holden Maxfield, Lisa McCoy, Carron Meaney, Loren Merrill, Merle Miller, Sally Miller, Timo Mitzen, Naseem Munshi, Carol Newman- Holitza, Chris Petrizzo, Mark Pscheid, Jeannie Reynolds, Matt Reynolds, Peter Ruprecht, Cara Stiles, Lucy Stroock, Mike Tupper, Claudia Van Wie, Susan Wagner, Marty Wolf, Jeff Yegian, and George Young.

Looking ahead, August is normally a continuation of summer. But the last half can bring harbingers of fall, including the first frost and the appearance of yellow on a few aspen leaves. Most of our wildflowers will be past their peak, though the colors may linger with adequate moisture and mild temperatures. The yellow showy golden-eyes are one of the last composites to have a major bloom. Porter aster and owl-clover are also lateseason bloomers. This can also be a good month for blooming gentians; look for the white arctic gentian on the tundra. Warm season grasses, such as mountain muhly, bloom this month. Berries ripen; start looking for huckleberries during the last half of the month.

Like the flowers on which they depend, butterflies are also past their prime. But many will linger while the weather permits. The dark-colored small wood-nymphs will dominate mountain meadows. The yellow and orange Meade’s sulphurs will be active on the tundra. Look for the large black-andwhite Weidemeyer’s admiral around aspen and willows.

Mammals will provide hints of fall. Elk will still be in their summer herds, but some bugling will occur towards the end of the month. Pine squirrels will start dropping cones from trees, building up their winter food reserves. Underground pocket gopher activity will increase, evidenced by more mounds of dirt in meadows. Black bear scat will begin to change in composition from grass to berries.

Birds are finishing getting their young out of the nest. They will start forming flocks with an eye toward migration. During the last two weeks of August and into September there is an upward migration of birds. Many sparrow species, bluebirds and raptors are seen on the tundra. The birds are feeding on crickets and grasshoppers, which become abundant at higher elevations.