Local Field Trips
To Register: 303-973-9530 or info@denveraudubon.org
Walk the Wetlands
Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 9am
Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 9am Note time change!
(Walk the Wetlands begins at 8am April through September, and at 9am October through March)
Walk along the South Platte River exploring ponds and habitats for winter residents. We always have a surprise! Dress in layers for the weather. Bring binoculars, field guides, water and a snack.
BBFGWS,** (a scope and field guide if you have them); some loaner equipment may be available.
Activity level: Some of the trails are narrow and moderately steep for a few feet. Elevation 5430 ft.
Leaders: Audubon Master Birders
Meeting Place: Parking lot at the Audubon Center at Chatfield. The Audubon Center is located on Waterton Road, 4.4 miles south of C-470 and Wadsworth.
Pre-registration is NOT required. Donations to ASGD appreciated.
Little Fledglings Preschool Nature Hour
For Children ages 3-6 (and parent/guardians, too!)
Wednesdays, March 7 & 21 from 10-11am
Explore a different theme each month with stories, songs, crafts, and activities exploring wildlife and nature. This program introduces science skills and encourages active outdoor play.
January: “Hibernation” Children discover why some animals stay around and eat and some animals stay around and sleep during the winter months!
February: “Seed Need” Children explore seeds as food for people and animals and learn how animals spread seeds.
Registration Required: Friends members: $5 per child and their adult; $2 each additional child
Non-members: $8 per child and their adult; $4 each additional child
Register at 303-973-9530 or info@denveraudubon.org
River Fowl
Saturday, March 3, 9am-12pm
What attracts the Barrow’s Goldeneye to this particular section of the S. Platte River? Or The Long-tailed Duck? Possibly the same combination of watery habitat that draws so many waterfowl in winter. Now we know why it is possible to spot raptors here. Join Master Birder candidates on this winter walk along the river. Dress for weather and level walking.BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Parking lot at 88th and the S. Platte River
Leaders: Cynthia Madsen, Cheryl Chessick, Sharon Pfeifer, Janet Shin
Registration required: $10 Friends member, $12 Non-member
PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
DENVER PARKS AND RECREATION
Bear Creek Park
Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9am-11am
We will walk along Bear Creek to see what birds are around and will end the walk west on Dartmouth at Harlan to view the beaver dam area. The walk should be along the creek on easy metro area paths. Please dress for the weather. BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Bear Creek Park. Go east on Dartmouth from Sheridan Blvd, south on S. Raleigh under 285 to the first parking lot by the river.
Leader: Local birding and Bear Creek expert, Mike Henwood
Registration required (see top of page). No fee. Donations to ASGD are appreciated.
Westerly Creek
Saturday, April 21, 2012, 9am-11am
We will explore this riparian area where Sand Creek meets Westerly Creek. This is near the Stapleton development. We should see wading birds and ducks, as well as hawks and songbirds. Be prepared for some possible off-trail hiking. BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Sand Creek Trailhead west on Smith Road off Havana to the dirt lot approximately at Dayton St.
Leaders: Audubon Master Birders Karen Bickett and Tom Bush.
Registration required (see top of page). No fee. Donations to ASGD appreciated.
Chatfield State Park
Saturday, March 31, 8am-12pm
Saturday, April 28, 7am-11am
Join volunteer naturalist & bird expert Joey Kellner in exploring various habitats inside Chatfield State Park in search of feathered treasure. All ability levels are welcome. Please bring sturdy shoes for hiking (1-3 miles) and dress for the weather on this 4 hour birdwalk. No pets. Sunscreen and insect repellant as needed. BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Platte River parking lot within Chatfield State Park, past the Kingfisher Bridge over the Platte, right turn.
Leader: Joey Kellner
Registration NOT required: No Fee, though state parks pass or entrance fee to park is required
Bear Creek Lake Park
Saturday, March 31, 8am-12pm
Join Mike Henwood, birding expert in this park and author of the Bear Creek Lake Park bird list. He’ll help us find and identify birds wintering in the park and early migrants. The varied park habitats will yield their treasures: waterbirds on the lake, sparrows in the grass, raptors along the creek, and perhaps a glimpse at nesting owls. Dress for weather and some walking on level park paths. BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Bear Creek Lake Park entrance. From C470 go east on Morrison Road one-quarter mile. Pay $5 per car Park fee. Drive to Skunk Hollow Picnic Area where organized trip begins.
Leader: Mike Henwood
Registration required: $10 Friends member, $12 Non-member
Nesting Raptors of the Front Range
Sunday, April 1, 9am-3pm
Saturday, April 7, 9am-3pm
Back by popular demand. Choose 1 date. Follow Master Birders Kris Koff and Tom Bush on a car caravan to view Bald Eagles, Great-horned Owls, and Red-tailed Hawks tending their nests. What’s in that nest? This is a car trip with stops along public roads with very little walking. Stops are brief and not suitable for extended photo studies. Bring your lunch or buy at the Safeway deli where we will eat lunch and discuss trip highlights. BBFGWS,**
Limit 12 participants each day.
Meeting Place: I-25 to Exit #225 at 136th Ave. Meet at Walmart parking lot on west side of I-25.
Leaders: Kris Koff and Tom Bush
Registration required: $10 Friends member, $12 Non-member
Water Bird Courting & Nesting Behavior
Saturday, April 28, 1pm – Dusk
View water birds, herons & raptors at Jim Baker Reservoir. Species sighted in previous years: Clark’s & Western Grebes, Red-breasted Merganser, American White Pelican, Black-crowned Night Heron, nesting Great Blue Heron, Franklin’s Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey & Bald Eagle. We observed the Grebe courting ritual here in April 2009, April 2010 and April 2011 after noon and in the hours just before sunset. We hope to repeat the experience this year! The Grebe and Heron viewing location is an easy walk 3/4mi walk from the parking lot. BBFGWS,**. Call Marilyn Rhodes, 303-674-9895, with questions. Leaders can be reached before and during the field trip on their cell phones: Bob, 720-641-3899; Marilyn, 720-333-2551.
Meeting Place: Access Jim Baker Reservoir on the east side of Tennyson and 60th. Parking is limited at Jim Baker, so we’ve made arrangements with Mark VII Equipment to park in their empty lot. Their address is 5981 Tennyson, just west of the Jim Baker lot.
Leaders: Audubon Master Birders Marilyn Rhodes & Bob Santangelo
Registration required: $10 ASGD Friends
and/or Evergreen Audubon member, $12 nonmember
Dinosaur Ridge Hawk Watch
Sunday, April 29, 9am-noon
Join Audubon Master Birders and RMBO Hawk Watchers on a steep traversing path surmounting Dinosaur Ridge to be up among the river of migrating raptors. You are eye level with or above the birds! With a magnificent Denver backdrop, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory biologist Jeff Birek will explain RMBO’s HawkWatch project collecting data on the hawks and eagles migrating on this arial highway over the hogback. Dress for ascending a slope in weather. The walk while a bit steep is doable at your own pace. BBFGWS,**
Meeting Place: Stegosaurus Lot, SE quadrant of Morrison Exit off I-70
Leaders: Dave Hill and Cynthia Madsen
Registration required: $10 Friends member, $12 non-member
SUMMER FIELD TRIPS IN
HIGHLANDS RANCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BACKCOUNTRY WILDERNESS AREA
The Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD) announces a new partnership with the Highlands Ranch Community Association Backcountry Wilderness Area. ASGD will be conducting four field trips in the Highlands Ranch Community Association Backcountry Wilderness Area. The four trips begin in May, the 3rd Saturday of each month through August:
May 19th: the Grigs Road Wilderness Area.
The Grigs Road area has trails descending off a plateau through prairie grasslands surrounded by Cliff and Pine areas. These backcountry wilderness areas contain a large variety of plains, cliff and mountain pine birds and wildlife. The birds include jays, buntings, orioles, grassland sparrows, Lewis woodpeckers, shrikes, as well as a variety of raptors such as Golden Eagles, Long-eared Owls, Northern Saw Whet Owls, and Prairie Falcons
June 16: the Wildcat Mountain Trail.
Wildcat Mountain has a circular trail that winds down through prairie grasslands, along a stream with Cotton and Willow trees; bye a pond with ducks and swallows in the summer; and finally up to the top of a ridge line with Pine trees and high Cliffs where Eagles and Hawks nest. It is approximately a 3 hour hike. Along the trails you may see a variety of reptiles including but not limited to leopard frogs, chorus frogs, toads, rattle snakes, bull snakes, western gardner snakes,
July 21: the Sanctuary Wilderness Area.
The Sanctuary Wilderness Area is closed to the public with vast acreage providing a sanctuary to wildlife. It adjoins Daniels Park, a Denver Mountain Park, and the Cherokee Ranch Conservation Area. There are no trails in the Sanctuary. We will tour the area with a hay wagon stopping at various locations to view birds and wildlife that flourish in this wilderness area including Turkey flocks, Eagles, Hawks, elk and deer herds, bear, bobcats, mountain lion, and other species.
August 18: the Wildcat Mountain Trail.
We finish our summer bird and wildlife walks at Wildcat Mountain.
We will be announcing these trips in our newsletter under day field trips. Each trip will be limited to 25 people. Registration will be done by the Highlands Ranch Community Center, and open to participants from the Highlands Ranch Community and Audubon. The trips will be led by Audubon Master Birders and Naturalists. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Valentine, Audubon coordinator, 303-589-4431, or Hope Marasco, Highlands Ranch Wilderness Area Coordinator, 303-471-8876.
