Colorado Birding

Morgan County
Author(s):  Nicholas Komar, Steven Mlodinow, Bill Schmoker, Randall Siebert
County Seat: Fort Morgan
Size: 1,278 square miles
Low Elevation: 4,081 ft. - South Platte River on the Washington border
High Elevation: 4,935 ft. - Judson Hills
Best Birds: Mottled Duck (2013), Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (2013), Curlew Sandpiper (2012. 2013), American Black Duck (2012), Kelp Gull (2003), Garganey (1990), Henslow's Sparrow (1985)
Checklist: Morgan County Checklist
Introduction: Morgan County is one of the most frequently birded counties of Colorado's Eastern Plains. The habitats are typical of the High Plains ecosystem, with short-grass prairie, riparian habitat along the South Platte River and associated irrigation reservoirs, irrigated agriculture (mostly hay fields), sandhills scrub, and managed landscapes of homesteads and several small towns and cities. Most visiting birders will associate Morgan County with Jackson Lake State Park. The Colorado Division of Wildlife operates numerous State Wildlife Areas (SWA), primarily for hunting. Access to these may be limited at various times of the year. Most of these SWA are within or close to the South Platte River riparian corridor, which is characterized by a wide swath of large cottonwood trees and small willow shrubs. Just about any wooded area along the river might harbor rare Eastern migrants. The riparian corridor provides a western extension of breeding habitat for several eastern species such as Great Crested Flycatcher.

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