Migratory bird populations that make their way through Colorado will likely not be impacted by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Birds that fly through or summer within the Rocky Mountains travel along the Pacific Flyway; migratory species that spend time in eastern Colorado are part of the Central Flyway. Neither flyway crosses the region affected by the spill.

Ultimately, there may be impacts to overall species population sizes, and there could be potential implications for migratory waterfowl hunting seasons, but it's still too early to tell, said Colorado Division of Wildlife spokesman Randy Hampton. In any case, the Division will take direction from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on such issues.