SELECTED RECORDS OF ROSY-FINCH SIGHTINGS
NUMBERS AND SPECIES MIX

 (COPIED FROM SIGHTINGS LOG AT SANDIA CREST HOUSE)

Full Sightings Log from winter of 2007-08 *
CLICK HERE FOR WORD  FORMAT
or, CLICK HERE FOR RICH TEXT (.rtf) FORMAT

Full Sightings Log from winter of 2006-07 *
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or, CLICK HERE FOR RICH TEXT (.rtf) FORMAT

Full Sightings Log from winter of 2005-06 *
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or, CLICK HERE FOR RICH TEXT (.rtf) FORMAT

Full Sightings Log from winter of 2004-05 *

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or, CLICK HERE FOR RICH TEXT (.rtf) FORMAT

*copied and maintained by Dave Weaver and Fran Lusso, USFS Volunteers-- Thank you!!

Earliest arrival, dates and size of last flocks of season seen in past winters have been as follows:

WINTER
FEEDERS
PUT UP
FIRST BIRD LAST FLOCKS FLOCK SIZE
REMARKS, STRAGGLERS
1999-2000
NONE DECEMBER 5
MARCH 13
20+
--
2000-2001
NONE NOVEMBER 21
MARCH  05
170
4 more seen on MARCH 30, one on MARCH 31
2001-2002
FEBRUARY 2 DECEMBER 3
MARCH  29
12
5 seen on APRIL 6
2002-2003
OCTOBER 30 NOVEMBER 19
APRIL 08
24
1 seen APRIL 14
2003-2004
OCTOBER 19 NOVEMBER 15
MARCH 16
40-50
1 seen MARCH 17
2004-2005
NOVEMBER  6 NOVEMBER 7
APRIL 13
20-25
"a few" reported  APRIL 18 (not entered in log)
2005-2006
OCTOBER 26 NOVEMBER 12
APRIL 13
8-9
1 Black Rosy-Finch seen on April 19 & 20
2006-2007
OCTOBER 30 NOVEMBER 2
MARCH 25
~30
1 seen in flight on March 31
2007-2008 OCTOBER 31 OCTOBER 31 APRIL 4 ~20 1-2 seen until April 8
(flocks departed Taos Ski Valley April 21)

Banding Results, 2004-2008

SELECTED RECORDS OF INTEREST FROM PRIOR WINTERS

Sandia Crest and Vicinity, Winters of 1999-2000 through 2003-2004


DATE of
Observation
1999-2004
TOTAL
Number of
Individual R-f
NUMBER
of Gray-
Crowned R-f
NUMBER
of Black R-f
NUMBER
of Brown-
capped R-f
NUMBER
of Unkn/Un-
determined
R-f species
Remarks (e.g., time, where seen, behavior, flock sizes, names of observers)
5 DEC 1999
11+
1
2
0
8+
Chris Rustay and Doug Emkalns; first report of 99-00 winter
7 DEC 1999
30+
5
5+
2
18+
First life sightings for K&MLS;  we began spreading seed on pavement of upper lot the next week
13 MAR 2000
20+
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Last sighting winter of 99-00;  K&MLS
21 NOV 2000
10
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
All three species; first reported in winter 00-01; K&MLS; we again spread seed on the parking lot.
22 JAN 2001
65
15+ ( 1 Hepburn race)
about 40
1 or 2

Hepburn's race noted by several observers this week; K&MLS
5 MAR 2001
170
10 ( 1 Hepburn race)
135
30
0
In upper parking lot; largest number documented to date; Troy Corman of Phoenix, AZ
31 MAR 2001
1
0
1
0
0
Four birds seen previous day by unknown observer; last of winter of 00-01;  K& MLS with Neil Money of UK;
3 DEC 2001
2
0
0
2
0
First report winter 01-02; on 12/17/01 all 3 spp present; K & MLS; we put out seed on the upper parking lot.
13 JAN 2002
100
15 (Incl 3-4 Hepburn race)
70
10
?
Highest count this winter; Jerry Oldenettel of New Mexico
4 FEB 02
22
Not specified
Not specified
Not Specified
Not specified
First feeder was erected, at south end of lower parking lot
19 MAR 02
13
Present (incl 4 Hepburn's race)
Present
Present
?
So far there has not been a day that the Rosy-Finches have not been reported, since feeder was put up.  K&MLS
29 MAR 02
12
Present
0
Present
?
This was first report this winter that Black R-f's were not seen at Crest.  They were reported on 23 and 28 MAR. K&MLS (We also saw about 6-7 flying over on  4 APR)
6 APR 2002
5
0
5
0
5
Upper parking lot; last documented sighting winter of 01-02; and latest ever departure; John Clark of UK; feeders taken down April 9, 2002
DATE of
Observation

TOTAL Number of Individual R-f
NUMBER of Gray-
crowned R-f
NUMBER of Black R-f

NUMBER of Brown-
capped R-f
NUMBER of Unkn/Un-
determined R-f species
Remarks (e.g., time, where seen, behavior, flock sizes, names of observers)
30 OCT 2002
0
0
0
0
0
Installed two additional feeders for total of three
19 NOV 2002
50
6 (incl 1 Hepburn race)
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
All 3 spp seen at parking lot & 10K Trail head; earliest since 1999; Joyce Silagy of Leesport, PA; possible NOV 13 sighting by visiting birder was not documented.
30 NOV 2002
40
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified
All 3 spp present at feeders.   Cathy Pasterczyk of Albuquerque documented first use of hanging feeder (go to photo link, above).
7 DEC 2002
Not specified
Present
(Incl Hepburn race)
Present
Present
Not specified
Between 11 AM and 3 PM; also saw Northern Pygmy-owl on wire opposite ski area; Robert Kyse of Rio Rancho, NM
13 DEC 2002
70+
25 (Incl 1 Hepburn race)
About 35
4
About 10
10:30 AM; largest number of Rosy-Finches this season to date; also Cassin's Finches and R-b Nuthatch;  K&MLS
9 JAN 2003
58 & 30
2 of 30
13 of 30
5 of 30
10 in flock of 30
2  Hepburn's were seen on DEC 29 in Christmas Bird Count; 18 Cassin's Finch; N. Pygmy-owl appeared off deck at 3:30 PM on January 5; KS
25 JAN 2003
100

6 (incl 1 Hepburn's race)
30
About 55
?9
First winter birds appear easier to identify as to species.   Many still have mottled appearance but species' colors show better; John Eriksson (1/29), Thursday Birders
15 FEB 2003
(New High for Season)
125

Present (Incl 3 Hepburn's race)
Present
Present
?
Dave DeReamus and group, of Easton, PA. Flocks visited more frequently during next few days, perhaps due to better snow cover.
6 MAR 2003

50
2 adult males (incl one Hepburn's)
15
20
12?
Several observers, including Dr. George West and KS
10 MAR 2003
100
2 (incl 1 Hepburn's)
40-45
55-60
?
Gordon Ewing, Las Cruces, NM.  Also 1 possible female Purple Finch.
31 MAR
2003
35
2 (both Interior)
10
20+
0
No Hepburn's race present today but one was reported yesterday.  White-throated Swifts overhead.  Ken and Mary Lou  
8 APR
2003 (Last flock report)
24
2 (Both Interior race)
10
12

Ken and Mary Lou; Tom Duncan.
14 APR
2003 (Last sighting of season)
1
1 (Interior race)
0
0
0
Don Peterson, Virginia.  Don also saw 2 Gray-crowned (Interior) on April 12).  Feeders were taken down on April 16, 2003.
DATE of
Observation 1999-2004
TOTAL Number of
Individual R-f
NUMBER
of Gray-
Crowned R-f
NUMBER
of Black R-f
NUMBER
of Brown-
capped R-f
NUMBER
of Unkn/Un-
determined
R-f species
Remarks (e.g., time, where seen, behavior, flock sizes, names of observers)
DATE of Observation 1999-2004 TOTAL Number of
Individual  R-f
NUMBER
of Gray-
Crowned R-f
NUMBER
of Black R-f
NUMBER
of Brown-
capped R-f
NUMBER
of Unkn/Un-
determined
R-f species
Remarks (e.g., time, where seen, behavior, flock sizes, names of observers)
9 OCT 2003
0
0
0
0
0
Feeders were put up and filled on October 19, 2003
15 NOV
2003 (First sighting)
3
0
3
0

Gary Parker of Albuquerque noted this sighting in the book at Crest House Visitors Center.
16 NOV
2003
6
0
3
3

Randy Floyd of Oregon; Bob Schutsky of Peach Bottom, PA, at 1:00 PM.  Other visitors and Crest House staff also saw the birds.
23 NOV
2003
15+
0
15
1
0
Bob Schutsky had flocks visit several times between 7:30 and 10:00 AM. Aziza Cooper of Albuquerque, at 10:50 AM.
24 NOV
2003 (Negative report)
0
0
0
0
0
M&M Walsh of Vermont observed from 9:15 AM to 4:15 PM and saw no rosy-finches.  This was the first of 5 "Negative Report Days" this winter, when birders actively looked for but failed to see any rosy-finches.  The other days were January 6,13 and 18, 2003, and February 10, 2004.
25 NOV
2003
24
?
4+
?
?
Ken S. and Dan Benton at 9:30 AM.  Flock did not land to permit better ID
07 DEC
2003
(First Gray- crowned)
11
1 (Hepburn's)
10
0
0
Jonathan and Linda Batkin of Santa Fe and Tim Beeke of Michigan; CHUKAR AND 10 PINE GROSBEAKS ALSO PRESENT
13 DEC
2003
30
0
30
0
0
3:30 PM K&ML. This flock plus 1 G-c and 2 B-c reported by other observers past 3 days.  Good snow cover.
23 DEC
2003
40+
"few"
"mostly"
0
?
Carl Lundblad, NM
30 DEC
2003
30+
1
(Hepburn's)
30
0
0
11:05 AM John Parmeter, Bill Wittman, K&MLS
4 JAN
2004
50+
1-2
50
0
0
Rio Grande Bird Research banders
9 JAN
2004
~50
1
(Hepburn's)
~50
0
0
11:18 AM by Paul Gardner of Columbus, OH
15 JAN
2004
35, 15, 21
1, 0, 1

34, 15, 20
0
0
Three flocks appeared between 9:53 AM and 10:40 PM.  Chukar still present. Clark's Nutcracker reported previous day not seen.
16 JAN
2004
40-60
3
40-50
0
0
Several observers, including Tyler Bell and Jane Kostenko of California, MD, who also saw N. Pygmy-owl at 3.6 mi mark on NM-14 at dusk.
20 JAN
2004
20-40
3 (incl. one Hepburn's)
20-40
0
0
Several flocks between 9:30 and 10:30 AM.  K & ML.
30 JAN-
02 FEB 2004
50+ or -
0 to 1 or 2
(1 Hepburn's)
40-50
(Possibly) 1on 01 FEB
0
Multiple observers, daily.  Rio Grande Bird Research banded 17 Black and 1 Gray-crowned (Hepburn's) on 01 FEB.  George & Marty Kamp of Tulsa OK also saw 4 Pine Grosbeak along Crest Road on 30 JAN
03 FEB
2004
50-60
2
(1 Hepburn's)
50-60
0
0
K & ML.  Birds appeared at deck feeder 4x between 10:00 and 11:00 AM.  Chukar present.
08 FEB
2004
40+
1+
30+
?
?
Group from OKC and Tulsa, OK saw this flock "hit and run" between 10:15 to 10:45 AM.  T Duncan reported a flock of 35-45 between 2 and 4 PM. Chukae present.
11 FEB
2004 (Largest flock)
~80
? (present)
~50
0
?
Tami Bulow of Lakewood, Co and Dave Weaver of Sandia Park, NM recorded several flocks between 9:45 Am and 3:45 PM
13-15 FEB
2004
25, 50+
?
25
0
?
"Mixed flock reported by Margie Hlava, and 25 Blacks by Susan Grubelich (Both birders from Albuquerque)
17 FEB
2004
40+
2 (incl one Hepburn's)
40+
0
0
At 11:20 AM by Ken and Mary Lou Schneider.  Hepburn's did not have a band.
21 FEB
2004
40-50
15+ (including 1-2 Hepburn's
40+
1 Probable
?
At 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM by Matt Rockmore of PA
23 FEB
2004
50, 50-75
0, "mostly" (?)
~50, ?
0,0
?
Two flocks, 12 Noon and 1:10 PM, with separate species mix. Birder from Kinglsey, Iowa, who was uncertain as to G-c ID.
1 MAR
2004
30-40
1
30+
0
?
Flock visited 9:15 - 10:45 AM.  Art Braun of Bloomington, MN.  Hepburn's subspecies seen next day by a local birder.
9 MAR
2004
30-35
1 (Interior)
15-20
0
10-20
Watched from 9:30 AM and only had one flock visit, at 11:05.  K&MLS.
16 MAR
2004
40-50
1 (Interior)
20-30
0
?
Many indeterminate Blk vs. Gr-cr immature birds. Same problem MAR 17 with the one bird that appeared. Mult. obs.
17 MAR
2004
(Last sighting )
1
0
1
0
0
Several observers saw a lone presumed Black Rosy-Finch.  No subsequent sightings were reported.  Feeders were taken down on March 30th.

Sandia Crest House Rosy-Finch

Banding Results Summary, 2004 - 2008

Link to Spreadsheet with detailed banding records by session

(Requires Excel Program or Free Viewer)

Numbers (and %) of Newly Banded Rosy-Finches

Species

Winter 2004

Winter 2004 - 2005

Winter 2005 - 2006

Winter 2006 - 2007

  Winter
2007-2008
Totals,
all
seasons