Luis Lopez, NM Yardlist
At the start of the millennium, I bought a house on 1 acre near Luis Lopez, Socorro Co., NM, about 5 miles south of Socorro, with the idea that it would produce a very nice yardlist. It is located along the edge of the agricultural fields of the middle Rio Grande Valley and about 200 yards west of the Rio Grande River. There is little agricultural land on the east side of the river. The bosque in the area is not the most healthy or extensive, consisting of a 30 yard wide swath of cottonwoods with a salt cedar undergrowth on the west side of the river and a somewhat wider swath on the east side of the river. The irrigation channels (1 feed ditch, 1 drain, and the low-flow channel) for the area are all located on the west side between my house and the river. I moved in on the first of March, 2000. My yard has a number of trees, mostly Pecans with 2 long-leaf pines, a number of volunteer Chinese Elms, and scattered small to medium sized fruit trees (apricot, peach, apple). the back yard is a large open area and I have already installed a small pool with a waterfall and planted a number of berry trees and shrubs (Hawthorne, Com. Hackberry, Crabapple, Sand Cherry, Gooseberry (Golden Currant), Choke Cherry and Honeysuckle, and Pyracantha).
During 2001 and the first half of 2002 I dug the pond shown in the plan below and had it lined in the late spring of 2002. I filled the pond at the end of July and started stocking it with crayfish and various minnows. I added a few water plants and did further stocking with channel catfish, bluegill, and fathead minnows in early October. It took about a year (spring, '03) for the flora and fauna to develop to the point of attracting birds.
Upper left: looking east near to far: Luis Lopez (foreground, below hill), ag. fields (chillis, alfalfa, pasture), my house, Rio Grande bosque, creosote scrublands.
Upper right: looking east near to far: Interstate-25, creosote scrubland, Luis Lopez, Rio Grande Bosque, creosote scrublands.
Lower left: My back yard, looking south. I put a pond about where I'm standing in this picture. It is about 1/4 acre and wraps around the north and west sides of the house. I started digging this in the early spring of 2001.
Lower right: My front yard, looking northwest.
Upper left: The plan for my yard. I finished digging the pond, lined and filled it, and built the deck in the summer of 2002.
Upper right: Looking at the north end of the yard from the road.
Lower left: The hill and stream in the back yard.
Lower right: From the roof of the house, looking northwest.
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Luis Lopez Yardlist
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Notes:
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** - EXPECTED BUT RARE
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*** - UNEXPECTED
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**** - CASUAL
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C - ALSO SOCORRO COUNTYBIRD
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R - ON NEW MEXICO REVIEW LIST
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Number
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Species
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Date
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Notes
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1
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SANDHILL CRANE
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000104
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2
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AMERICAN CROW
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000104
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3
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SPOTTED TOWHEE
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000104
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4
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DARK-EYED JUNCO
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000104
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5
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SAY'S PHOEBE
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000303
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6
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COMMON RAVEN
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000303
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7
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WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
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000303
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8
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BEWICK'S WREN
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000303
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9
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COMMON STARLING (INT)
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000303
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10
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SAVANNAH SPARROW
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000303
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11
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WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
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000303
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12
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WESTERN MEADOWLARK
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000303
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13
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HOUSE FINCH
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000303
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14
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HOUSE SPARROW (INT)
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000303
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15
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MOURNING DOVE
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000304
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16
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CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN
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000306
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17
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RED-TAILED HAWK
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000307
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18
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LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER
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000307
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19
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YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
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000307
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20
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MALLARD
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000308
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21
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FERRUGINOUS HAWK
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000308
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22
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RING-BILLED GULL
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000308
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23
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COMMON FLICKER
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000308
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24
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AMERICAN ROBIN
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000308
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25
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SNOW GOOSE
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000309
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26
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ROSS' GOOSE
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000309
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27
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ROCK DOVE (INT)
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000309
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28
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AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
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000310
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29
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GREAT BLUE HERON
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000312
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30
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COOPER'S HAWK
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000312
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31
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GAMBLE'S QUAIL
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000312
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32
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GREATER ROADRUNNER
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000312
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33
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BREWER'S BLACKBIRD
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000312
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34
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BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
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000312
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35
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NORTHERN HARRIER
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000313
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36
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BLACK PHOEBE
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000314
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37
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FRANKLIN'S GULL
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000317
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38
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NEOTROPIC CORMORANT
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000318
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39
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RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
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000318
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40
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FOX SPARROW (P.i. zaboria )
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000318
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**
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41
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LINCOLN'S SPARROW
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000318
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42
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WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
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000318
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43
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DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
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000320
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44
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COMMON MERGANSER
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000321
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45
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COMMON GRACKLE
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000321
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46
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MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
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000323
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47
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WATER PIPIT
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000323
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48
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LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
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000323
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49
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CANADA GOOSE
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000324
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50
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AMERICAN WIGEON
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000324
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51
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AMERICAN KESTREL
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000324
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52
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GREAT HORNED OWL
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000324
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53
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WOOD DUCK
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000326
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54
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BARN SWALLOW
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000326
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55
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LUCY'S WARBLER
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000326
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56
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TURKEY VULTURE
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000327
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57
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WHITE-WINGED DOVE
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000327
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58
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SONG SPARROW
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000327
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59
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CHIPPING SPARROW
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000330
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60
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NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER
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000331
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**
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61
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SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
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000402
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62
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KILLDEER
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000402
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63
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ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW
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000402
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64
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VESPER SPARROW
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000402
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65
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LESSER GOLDFINCH
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000402
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66
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SWAINSON'S HAWK
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000403
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67
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LONG-BILLED CURLEW
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000403
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68
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RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
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000403
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69
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GADWALL
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000404
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70
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BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
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000404
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71
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TREE SWALLOW
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000404
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72
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MERLIN
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000406
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73
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BONAPARTE'S GULL
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000406
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74
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GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE
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000406
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75
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RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
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000406
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76
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YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
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000406
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77
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WHITE-FACED IBIS
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000408
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78
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CATTLE EGRET
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000409
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79
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PINE SISKIN
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000413
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80
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LARK SPARROW
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000415
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81
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LARK BUNTING
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000415
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82
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SNOWY EGRET
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000416
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83
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VAUX'S SWIFT
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000416
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****CR
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84
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VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
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000416
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85
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CLIFF SWALLOW
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000416
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86
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BREWER'S SPARROW
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000417
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87
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YELLOW WARBLER
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000418
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88
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VIRGINIA'S WARBLER
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000419
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89
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BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
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000419
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90
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WESTERN KINGBIRD
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000420
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91
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AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
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000421
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92
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WILSON'S WARBLER
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000421
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93
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GREEN HERON
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000422
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94
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ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
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000422
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95
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CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
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000425
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**
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96
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GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
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000425
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97
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BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
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000426
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98
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BLUE JAY
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000426
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***C
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99
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BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK
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000426
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100
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LESSER NIGHTHAWK
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000427
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101
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WESTERN TANAGER
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000427
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102
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ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
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000428
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103
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PHAINOPEPLA
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000428
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104
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YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
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000428
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105
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LAZULI BUNTING
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000429
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106
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INDIGO BUNTING
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000501
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107
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SUMMER TANAGER
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000502
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108
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BARN OWL
|
000507
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109
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WESTERN WOOD PEWEE
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000508
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110
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NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
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000508
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111
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PALM WARBLER
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000508
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**CR
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112
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COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
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000508
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113
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PLUMBEOUS VIREO
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000510
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114
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BLUE GROSBEAK
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000510
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115
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RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
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000511
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116
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BANK SWALLOW
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000513
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117
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ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
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000513
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**C
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118
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BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD
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000515
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119
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CEDAR WAXWING
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000515
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120
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BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
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000607
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***
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121
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CASSIN'S KINGBIRD
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000625
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122
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DOWNY WOODPECKER
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000626
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123
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GREAT EGRET
|
000628
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124
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COMMON NIGHTHAWK
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000709
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125
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CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD
|
000714
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126
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YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
|
000802
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127
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HAIRY WOODPECKER
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000804
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128
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WILLOW FLYCATCHER
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000804
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129
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BENDIRE'S THRASHER
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000804
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****C
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130
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BELTED KINGFISHER
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000814
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131
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DUSKY FLYCATCHER
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000815
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132
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PYGMY NUTHATCH
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000815
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***
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133
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GRAY CATBIRD
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000816
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134
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WARBLING VIREO
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000823
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135
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MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER
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000824
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136
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OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
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000830
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137
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SCRUB JAY
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000904
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138
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DICKCISSEL
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000904
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139
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CANYON TOWHEE
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000904
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140
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NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH
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000905
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**
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141
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NORTHERN SHOVELER
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000906
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142
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PINYON JAY
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000906
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143
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RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
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000906
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144
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TOWNSEND'S WARBLER
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000906
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145
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HOUSE WREN
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000908
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146
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PEREGRINE FALCON
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000908
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**
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147
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GRAY FLYCATCHER
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000908
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148
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HERMIT THRUSH
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000911
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149
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LESSER YELLOWLEGS
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000914
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150
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PAINTED BUNTING
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000915
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**C
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151
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INCA DOVE
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000925
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**
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152
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CINNAMON TEAL
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000927
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153
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MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
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000927
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154
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GREEN-WINGED TEAL
|
001004
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155
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GREATER YELLOWLEGS
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001004
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156
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LEAST SANDPIPER
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001004
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157
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CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR
|
001004
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**C
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158
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JUNIPER TITMOUSE
|
001004
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***
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159
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CASSIN'S FINCH
|
001015
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**
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160
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EASTERN PHOEBE
|
001016
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**
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161
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NORTHERN PINTAIL
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001016
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162
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VERDIN
|
001016
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**
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163
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CAROLINA WREN
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001027
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***R
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164
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WESTERN BLUEBIRD
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001103
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165
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EASTERN BLUEBIRD
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001104
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166
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PYRRHULOXIA
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001104
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**
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167
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PRAIRIE FALCON
|
001106
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168
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GOLDEN EAGLE
|
001106
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169
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EVENING GROSBEAK
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001111
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**
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170
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HORNED LARK
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001118
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171
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BROWN CREEPER
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001128
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**
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172
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TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
|
001207
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**
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173
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YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
|
001214
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174
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BALD EAGLE
|
001218
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175
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NORTHERN GOSHAWK
|
001218
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***
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176
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WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
|
010114
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**
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177
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EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
|
010227
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178
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CALIFORNIA GULL
|
010328
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179
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RING-N.(WHITE-W.) PHEASANT
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010423
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180
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ORCHARD ORIOLE
|
010503
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**
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181
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HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER
|
010829
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|
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182
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LEAST FLYCATCHER
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010830
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**C
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183
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WESTERN SCREECH OWL
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010830
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**
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184
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OSPREY
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010917
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185
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HARRIS' SPARROW
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011114
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**C
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186
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HERRING GULL
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020104
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187
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THAYER'S GULL
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020108
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**C
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188
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CURVE-BILLED THRASHER
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020124
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189
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BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
|
020405
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**C
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190
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LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER
|
020413
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191
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BLACK-THTD. GRAY WARBLER
|
020422
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192
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COMMON POORWILL
|
020424
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**
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193
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YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
|
020429
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***CR
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194
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CASSIN'S VIREO
|
020430
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|
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195
|
WILSON'S PHALAROPE
|
020503
|
|
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196
|
HEPATIC TANAGER
|
020510
|
**
|
|
197
|
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
|
020722
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|
|
198
|
SPOTTED SANDPIPER
|
020826
|
|
|
199
|
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
|
020902
|
**
|
|
200
|
LEWIS' WOODPECKER
|
020909
|
**
|
|
201
|
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
|
020909
|
|
|
202
|
COMMON SNIPE
|
020909
|
|
|
203
|
STELLAR'S JAY
|
020923
|
|
|
204
|
HOODED MERGANSER
|
021106
|
|
|
205
|
RUDDY GROUND DOVE
|
021120
|
****R
|
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40A
|
FOX SPARROW (P.i.schistacea)
|
021215
|
***
|
|
206
|
RED CROSSBILL
|
030506
|
**
|
|
207
|
NASHVILLE WARBLER
|
030507
|
**
|
|
208
|
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
|
030514
|
|
|
209
|
BRONZED COWBIRD
|
030527
|
**
|
|
210
|
UPLAND SANDPIPER
|
030813
|
**
|
|
211
|
AMERICAN COOT
|
030917
|
|
|
212
|
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
|
030927
|
****CR
|
|
213
|
SWAMP SPARROW
|
031206
|
**
|
|
214
|
RING-NECKED DUCK
|
040301
|
|
|
215
|
HARRIS' HAWK
|
040314
|
**
|
|
216
|
PIED-BILLED GREBE
|
040404
|
|
|
217
|
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
|
040913
|
****R
|
|
218
|
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
|
040927
|
**R
|
|
219
|
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
|
041101
|
**
|
|
220
|
AMERICAN BITTERN
|
041215
|
**
|
|
221
|
COMMON BUSHTIT
|
050306
|
|
|
222
|
NORTHERN CARDINAL
|
050421
|
****C
|
|
223
|
CASSIN'S SPARROW
|
050718
|
**
|
|
224
|
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
|
051223
|
**C
|
|
225
|
SCOTT’S ORIOLE
|
060511
|
|
|
226
|
SCARLET TANAGER
|
060522
|
**CR
|
|
227
|
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
|
060530
|
****CR
|
|
228
|
CANVASBACK
|
070126
|
|
|
229
|
HOODED ORIOLE
|
070515
|
**C
|
|
230
|
PURPLE MARTIN
|
070813
|
**
|
|
231
|
LOLG-EARED OWL
|
070919
|
**
|
|
232
|
RING-NECKED DUCK
|
080106
|
|
|
233
|
BROWN THRASHER
|
080522
|
**
|
|
234
|
BALTIMORE ORIOLE
|
080522
|
**CR
|
|
235
|
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD
|
080625
|
***C
|
|
236
|
WILD TURKEY
|
090420
|
|
| 237 | HOODED WARBLER
| 090505 | ** |
| 238 | BAND-TAILED PIGEON
| 090527 | ** |
Last Updated on 05/27/09
By Jerry R. Oldenettel
