Hobbies And Interests
Cardinals
Cardinalidae is the songbird family containing several dozen species commonly called cardinals. The males are normally bright red with a tuft of fur-like feathers on the tops of their heads, black markings on their faces and long tails. Females have similar markings but are drab in color, usually brown or gray with faint red markings. The northern cardinal is the most common species of cardinal residing in Boulder and feeds on fruit, plants and grains. These birds are territorial and shy around people. They play a vital role in plant pollination in Boulder by moving pollen grains around on their feet and tails when they eat plants.
Crows
The western crow is abundant in Boulder and can be identified by its blue-black body and long black beak. These birds are among the most intelligent species of birds and are even capable of learning to speak. Crows are scavengers that eat a wide range of foods including seeds, fish, insects and scraps of human food. They are common pests in gardens partially because typical pest deterrents do not typically thwart these birds.They quickly learn to adjust to scarecrows and loud noises and often invent ingenious ways to get around barriers. However, the crow's role as a scavenger prevents the buildup of organic waste and decaying food, thus it plays a vital role in maintaining Boulder's natural beauty.
Blue Jays
The blue jay is a large songbird with bright blue feathers and a white chest and belly. Blue jays tend to be loud and produce a variety of sounds. Highly intelligent, these birds are capable of imitating sounds they hear in their environment, including words. They feed primarily on nuts and seeds but also eat some insects, including grasshoppers and caterpillars. Like cardinals, they aid in plant reproduction by moving tiny pollen grains and defecating seeds.
Great Horned Owl
Great horned owls are named for the tufts of feathers on their heads, which resemble horns. They are a mottled black and white with yellow eyes and red or brown markings on their faces. Like most owls, they produce a low-pitched hooting sound and are birds of prey that eat a variety of small mammals and birds. This helps to prevent rodent overpopulation in addition to culling sick animals from breeding populations. They are threatened by habitat destruction in most areas of the United States and are less common in Colorado than they once were.
Canyon Wren
Though most wrens migrate, the canyon wren merely moves throughout its life to different altitudes in canyons and mountains. It is brownish red with faint spots and a white underside and has a long, yellowish-brown beak. Canyon wrens feed primarily on insects and spiders and build nests made of ground debris in rocks along the sides of mountains and canyons. In addition to aiding in plant pollination, they also contribute to the unique appearance of Colorado's rocks and canyons by scattering debris and building nests.