Despite the severe, extended drought, the local bird population is exploding around here. Well, maybe not exploding—but increasing manyfold. It happens every year about this time, of course, because fledglings.

Lately I’ve seen finch fledglings, magpie fledglings, chickadee fledglings, vireo fledglings, robin fledglings—bunting fledglings, too, I think. Swallows taking flight for the first time. Also, back in the neighborhood, little baby quails. It’s one of Nature’s many miracles.

Never mind that it’ll be 100°-plus the next few days. Earth’s critters were built to survive.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 6:55 a.m. (7:55 MDT), I hiked a few hundred feet up a mountain.

1. Black-capped Chickadee
2. Rock Pigeon
3. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay (v)
4. American Robin*
5. Black-chinned Hummingbird
6. Mourning Dove
7. Lazuli Bunting
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Pine Siskin (v)
10. Spotted Towhee
11. House Finch*
12. Black-headed Grosbeak (v)
13. Cliff Swallow
14. Black-billed Magpie*
15. Warbling Vireo (v)
16. Song Sparrow** (v)

Elsewhere

17. House Sparrow (v)
18. Turkey Vulture
19. Barn Swallow
20. California Quail
21. European Starling

Mammals

Rock Squirrel

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere