Mike Patterson
@mikepatterson.bsky.social
Birder, sports-lover, photographer, data guy
December 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Coming up for air while on week 2 of the camino. We're on the meseta now and loving it. 315km walked. 84 bird species seen. So many wonderful people met.
September 4, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Coming up for air while on week 2 of the camino. We're on the meseta now and loving it. 315km walked. 84 bird species seen. So many wonderful people met.
Honestly, just happy to have gotten this one on camera and in focus. Rufous-breasted Antthrush hopping up onto the limb to check us out. 🪶
July 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Honestly, just happy to have gotten this one on camera and in focus. Rufous-breasted Antthrush hopping up onto the limb to check us out. 🪶
Like, section 107 is just such a letdown:
July 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Like, section 107 is just such a letdown:
Say hi to this lovely little Toucan Barbet! 🪶
July 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Say hi to this lovely little Toucan Barbet! 🪶
Here's one very damp Golden-naped Tanager. Mindo, Ecuador. 🪶
July 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Here's one very damp Golden-naped Tanager. Mindo, Ecuador. 🪶
Another fun hummingbird from Mindo. The White-booted Racket-tail! 🪶
July 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Another fun hummingbird from Mindo. The White-booted Racket-tail! 🪶
Finally got around to processing some photos from a trip to Mindo, Ecuador. Enjoy this Violet-tailed Sylph! 🪶
July 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Finally got around to processing some photos from a trip to Mindo, Ecuador. Enjoy this Violet-tailed Sylph! 🪶
Its been an absolute blast today at the Gray Matter Classic. We've raised nearly $2000 so far for CERN and @braintumor.org!!! Still more donations coming in so stay tuned!
May 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Its been an absolute blast today at the Gray Matter Classic. We've raised nearly $2000 so far for CERN and @braintumor.org!!! Still more donations coming in so stay tuned!
Let's hear it for the girl! We banded thus lovely after 2nd year female blue grossbeak. And let me be clear, that beak is strong (and she knows how to use it!).
Seeing these birds up close to learn exactly how plumage changes between the sexes and over aging is one of the great joys of banding.
🪶
Seeing these birds up close to learn exactly how plumage changes between the sexes and over aging is one of the great joys of banding.
🪶
May 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Let's hear it for the girl! We banded thus lovely after 2nd year female blue grossbeak. And let me be clear, that beak is strong (and she knows how to use it!).
Seeing these birds up close to learn exactly how plumage changes between the sexes and over aging is one of the great joys of banding.
🪶
Seeing these birds up close to learn exactly how plumage changes between the sexes and over aging is one of the great joys of banding.
🪶
We had this beautiful Indigo Bunting come by our banding station last week. The start of migration in the Colorado foothills was slow for the first few weeks. However, in the past two days of banding we had a 400-600% increase in birds!
Migration is here!!!
#birds
🪶
Migration is here!!!
#birds
🪶
May 22, 2025 at 12:27 AM
We had this beautiful Indigo Bunting come by our banding station last week. The start of migration in the Colorado foothills was slow for the first few weeks. However, in the past two days of banding we had a 400-600% increase in birds!
Migration is here!!!
#birds
🪶
Migration is here!!!
#birds
🪶
It's banding season here in Colorado! We had a first RWBB this millennium. This beautiful male was bopping around the marshy reeds along the riparian area we set our nets up in. A wonderful surprise to kick off the season!
🪶
🪶
May 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It's banding season here in Colorado! We had a first RWBB this millennium. This beautiful male was bopping around the marshy reeds along the riparian area we set our nets up in. A wonderful surprise to kick off the season!
🪶
🪶
Such a fun surprise. I was in Phoenix for a work conference and had a great opportunity to see these cactus wrens at work building their nests. #birds
March 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Such a fun surprise. I was in Phoenix for a work conference and had a great opportunity to see these cactus wrens at work building their nests. #birds
Say hi to Crouton!
February 20, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Say hi to Crouton!
@rosemarymosco.com just in case you haven't been told yet. The rock pigeon is the merlin bird of the day. Thanks for all your advocacy and education about this great bird!!
January 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
@rosemarymosco.com just in case you haven't been told yet. The rock pigeon is the merlin bird of the day. Thanks for all your advocacy and education about this great bird!!
I'm fortunate enough that we do general, migration season banding, so I get to work with many different birds. But I have one true favorite: House Wrens. House wrens are, bar none, my favorite bird of all time. Just the the most precocious little brown ball of sass. 🪶
December 9, 2024 at 4:36 PM
I'm fortunate enough that we do general, migration season banding, so I get to work with many different birds. But I have one true favorite: House Wrens. House wrens are, bar none, my favorite bird of all time. Just the the most precocious little brown ball of sass. 🪶
The scale with the tubes are used to help us weigh their mass. The tubes act as little straight jackets to keep them safe and secure. It's also something that never fails to make me giggle every time I see it. 4/X
October 21, 2024 at 3:40 PM
The scale with the tubes are used to help us weigh their mass. The tubes act as little straight jackets to keep them safe and secure. It's also something that never fails to make me giggle every time I see it. 4/X
So banding season is over, but it's never too late for education! This is our banding station set up. Red handled pliers are for putting bands on (various sizes). The black pliers are for opening the bands. Bands are stored on strings by size in the clear plastic boxes. The towels are for... 1/X
October 21, 2024 at 3:32 PM
So banding season is over, but it's never too late for education! This is our banding station set up. Red handled pliers are for putting bands on (various sizes). The black pliers are for opening the bands. Bands are stored on strings by size in the clear plastic boxes. The towels are for... 1/X
Today was our final day of banding. Nearly 500 new individuals banded, dozens of returns, and tons of memories. We'll start our data entry and help push the science and conservation forward to ensure these beauties will be able to come back for generations. Fly safe little ones and see you in May! 🪶
October 18, 2024 at 10:41 PM
Today was our final day of banding. Nearly 500 new individuals banded, dozens of returns, and tons of memories. We'll start our data entry and help push the science and conservation forward to ensure these beauties will be able to come back for generations. Fly safe little ones and see you in May! 🪶
Sometimes identifying age and sex of birds is difficult! Here we were lucky enough to have two male Spotted Towhees on the same net run. The eye color was a real give-away for the age (red is older), along with the white mark on the younger bird (r) alula. #birds
October 16, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Sometimes identifying age and sex of birds is difficult! Here we were lucky enough to have two male Spotted Towhees on the same net run. The eye color was a real give-away for the age (red is older), along with the white mark on the younger bird (r) alula. #birds
Incredibly busy day at the station. We had two runs where we caught over 10 birds in a single net at one time. It's wild seeing waves of birds migrate through on their way south. This time is was Audubon's Warblers and bushtits making a mixed flock. #birds
October 11, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Incredibly busy day at the station. We had two runs where we caught over 10 birds in a single net at one time. It's wild seeing waves of birds migrate through on their way south. This time is was Audubon's Warblers and bushtits making a mixed flock. #birds
Snug as a bug! This female red shafted northern flicker is getting her mass taken. In order to ensure that birds stay calm and don't move, we use various sizes of PVC pipe to help them stay on the scale. Taking mass measurements can help track overall health and sometimes identify subspecies! #birds
October 9, 2024 at 6:27 PM
Snug as a bug! This female red shafted northern flicker is getting her mass taken. In order to ensure that birds stay calm and don't move, we use various sizes of PVC pipe to help them stay on the scale. Taking mass measurements can help track overall health and sometimes identify subspecies! #birds
Getting towards the tail end of our banding season this fall, so we're getting some very cool visitors. Meet Mr. Townsend's warbler. A little off track of his normal flyway, but I get wanting to swing around the Rockies!
#birds
#birds
October 5, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Getting towards the tail end of our banding season this fall, so we're getting some very cool visitors. Meet Mr. Townsend's warbler. A little off track of his normal flyway, but I get wanting to swing around the Rockies!
#birds
#birds
Sometimes just surviving is thriving. I finished my 7th, and last, marathon today. Had to do it on my own time after the clocks turned off. But 90+ degrees and sunny at 5280ft is absolute murder. Just proud to say i went out there and got it done.
September 29, 2024 at 9:40 PM
Sometimes just surviving is thriving. I finished my 7th, and last, marathon today. Had to do it on my own time after the clocks turned off. But 90+ degrees and sunny at 5280ft is absolute murder. Just proud to say i went out there and got it done.