Congratulations to 'katisonahikd' for winning the February 2018 Broomfield Naturalists Observation of the Month! Her observation of a Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) was the most popular observation on Broomfield Naturalists for February, 2018.

Although widely distributed in woodlands from the Front Range foothills westward, the Northern Goshawk is one of the least frequently seen birds in Colorado. They glide quickly and silently, striking unwary quarry feet first. If detected, these reckless hunters fly at high speeds in pursuit of fleeing prey, maneuvering through the forest using their long tail as a rudder, crashing through brush and even chasing a potential meal into the water if necessary. Northern Goshawks also occasionally stalk prey on foot. They can capture mammals such as snowshoe hares more than twice their weight. Around the nest, goshawks are famously aggressive; get too close and you'll be driven away!

Great find, 'katisonahikd'!

Visit Broomfield Naturalists to vote for the winner this month by clicking ‘fav’ on your favorite observation. Make sure to get outdoors and record the biodiversity around you, then submit your discoveries and you too could be a winner!

Happy First Day of Spring! And with spring comes the annual migration of waterfowl, hummingbirds, raptors, and songbirds back to Colorado. Colorado has over 500 species of birds, and ranks among the top ten states with the biggest bird lists. Lots of land and varied habitats are what allows Colorado to make the cut!

Did you know that nearly half of all Colorado bird species can be found in Broomfield? Broomfield Open Space and Trails goes through great lengths to protect nesting birds and bird habitat. Some of Broomfield's best birding sites include Metzger Farm Open Space, Plaster Reservoir, Broomfield County Commons Open Space, Lac Amora Open Space, and Siena Reservoir. Use the Colorado County Birding Checklist or FREE Audubon Guide App to see how many Broomfield birds you can find.

The naturalists who find and post the most species of birds to Broomfield Naturalists between March 20th and June 21st will be declared this season's winners!

Photo of a Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) by 'gewb' at Metzger Farm Open Space on May 24, 2015.