Bird Call: Popular Colorado Springs festival offers more than 60 …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For bird lovers, that is, when the arrival of spring brings waves of new, and sometimes unexpected, migrating birds to the Front Range. And here to celebrate every last house finch, Western tanager, white-tailed ptarmigan, burrowing owl and curve-billed thrasher is the eighth Pikes Peak Birding and Nature Festival with more than 60 field trips, workshops, seminars and more for new and experienced birdwatchers and birders.

The event isn’t until May 18-21, but early bird registration opens at 10 a.m. Saturday. And if you’re serious about your winged creatures, you’ll set an alarm for 9:59 a.m. to go online to pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org.

Some of the field trips will sell out within 20 to 30 minutes, says festival co-chairperson Jessica Miller, but others will likely be available until registration closes April 30. With a £35 early bird price tag for the entire festival, it’s a birding bargain, which was important to festival founders, who wanted to keep the event accessible.

Bird Call: A great horned owl love affair

“This is the cheapest birding festival I’ve ever seen,” said Miller, who’s also the Fountain Creek Nature Center supervisor. “We want to connect people to this important, rewarding natural resource. Birding doesn’t need to be an exclusive club.

And the Front Range and El Paso County is such a nice area for birding. It’d be a shame if we didn’t throw some sort of celebration in May to celebrate all the birds coming up this flyaway.” Our region is a gorgeous salad bar of possibilities for birds, with its wetlands at Fountain Creek Regional Park, the creek system, forests and plains.

Last year, folks at the festival were able to spot nine new species, including a black-necked stilt, red-bellied woodpecker, Eastern phoebe and black-throated green warbler. There was even a white ibis sighting, the first record of the species in El Paso County. “Last year’s festival, over all the field trips, we recorded 182 species,” Miller said. “That’s a really nice number over three or four days.”

Sign Up for free: Peak Interest

Your weekly local update on arts, entertainment, and life in Colorado Springs!

Delivered every Thursday to your inbox.

Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

Some of the festival’s most popular field trips take participants to private or restricted properties they can’t go on your own, such as Brett Gray, Horse Creek and Hanna ranches. Several trips are scheduled to Chico Basin Ranch, which is open to the public, but might be better to attend with a knowledgeable guide, Miller says.

1:19+8 Curious, observant, dancing queens: Meet the East African crowned cranes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Big Sits are a new addition.

They operate exactly how they sound — bring a lawn chair or folding chair, binoculars and prepare to sit and bird for a few hours at three locations: Big Johnson Reservoir and Bluestem Prairie Open Space, Chico Basin Ranch and Fountain Creek Nature Center. A lot of birds can fly by in that stretch of time. Another addition is a two-part program about mountain lions with David Niels, a mountain lion tracking expert.

He’ll give a presentation May 19 on all things lion, then lead a group of 10 hikers on a May 20 field trip at Aiken Canyon Preserve to look for evidence of the big cat.

Colorado parrot rescue, sanctuary home to more than 300 birds

Resist getting bummed out if you don’t get your top choice of field trips, Miller says. Birds are everywhere, and the weekend will still be a bird lover’s paradise. “We keep the cost low so if you’re maybe not into birding yet but want to be led around by experienced guides you’ll get a nice snapshot of what birding is over a weekend.”

Contact the writer: 636-0270

Tags:

allbeautycom listed on couponmatrix.ukelemis listed on couponmatrix.ukhotels-com listed on couponmatrix.ukhussle listed on couponmatrix.ukjojo-maman-bebe listed on couponmatrix.ukthe-scotch-malt-whisky-society listed on couponmatrix.uk
allbeautycom listed on couponmatrix.ukExplore the world of allbeauty, known for its tremendous range of beauty products specially made to provide your skin with exceptional care at the lowest prices. At the allbeauty online store you can enjoy a wide selection of the best cosmetics with a site that has pretty much everything you can think of; from pampering treats to beauty essentials, with over 15,600 lines across 450 top brands. The delight coming from the indulgent fragrances, fantastic skincare & haircare along with luxurious cosmetics is at your fingertips. With an allbeauty discount code, you can treat yourself with an exquisite upgrade to your daily skincare regime for less.
elemis listed on couponmatrix.ukELEMIS is your go-to for luxury skincare that delivers real results. Combining natural ingredients with scientific innovation, ELEMIS products grant age-defying results for a smooth, glowing complexion. Make the most of an ELEMIS discount code to save on a boost to your beauty kit—trust us, you skin will thank you for it!
hotels-com listed on couponmatrix.ukPart of the Expedia family, Hotels.com is one of the world’s leading short-stay accommodation websites. Offering hundreds of thousands of affordable rooms in hotels, resorts, boutiques and bed and breakfasts all over the world, Hotels.com is committed to finding you your perfect stay. Book a bargain with a Hotels.com discount code and sleep soundly, knowing you’ve secured the best price possible. Hotels.com provides a one-stop booking service, filtering availability, prices and amenities that are important to you.
hussle listed on couponmatrix.ukPump up your gym game with Hussle and enjoy a contract-free experience that lets you work out at your own pace. Formerly known as the mighty PayAsUGym, Hussle has revamped its name, but the excellent value remains! Grab a Hussle voucher code from us to enjoy unlimited access to your chosen gym and thousands of others at the same price or less. Choose the flexible way to get fit with Hussle covering your back.
jojo-maman-bebe listed on couponmatrix.ukFrom pregnancy to pre-school, Jojo Maman Bebe has all your clothing and accessories under wraps. With wonderful colours, playful designs and comfortable fits for both mother and baby, you can uncover a new world of maternity, baby and toddler clothing for less with a Jojo Maman Bebe discount code. In addition to fashions for you and your little one, you can also pick up nursery furniture, toys and accessories such to ensure all your new-parent needs are covered.
the-scotch-malt-whisky-society listed on couponmatrix.ukWelcome to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a membership-based organization dedicated to providing members with the finest single malt whiskies from Scotland. So whether you're a seasoned malt aficionado or just getting started, be sure to use our newest Scotch Malt Whisky Society discount code to experience their one-of-a-kind whiskey for less. You can’t put a price on the perfect drink, but when you buy with Groupon, you know you’re getting the best value on every bottle. At Groupon, we understand that finding the best deals on top-quality products can be a challenge. That's why we work hard to find Scotch Malt Whisky Society coupon codes for our users. Whatever kind of Scotch Malt Whisky Society offer you seek, we'll do our best to help you bag a bargain on your next bottle. So sit back, relax, and indulge in a glass from your favourite distillery for a fraction of the price. Our top-performing Scotch Malt Whisky Society product is the Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky. This delicious whisky has a light, floral aroma with a hint of smoke. It's perfect for sipping on its own or enjoying in a classic cocktail. And thanks to our Scotch Malt Whisky Society coupon code, you can enjoy this delicious whiskey without breaking the bank. So don't hesitate, stock up on this award-winning whisky today. Cheers!