Walk the Wetlands

The Walk the Wetlands event on the first Sunday of the month begins at the Denver Audubon Nature Center at 8:00 a.m. The group ventures along the South Platte River on level ground through open fields, deciduous woodland, and along nearby ponds and marshes. The walk itself is about 3 miles on mostly dirt paths and takes about 3.5 hours, the time varying mostly due to weather conditions. The groups return to the Audubon Nature Center by noon.

During the fall season, many regular migrant songbirds that breed here in the park have already left. However, many migrant songbirds from the north, particularly sparrows, are passing through the park, lingering for a few days a time to fatten up for the further journey south. Moreover, waterfowl such as ducks, gulls and terns, and shorebirds such as sandpipers and plovers are flocking to Chatfield Lake and the nearby ponds along the trails and river. Many songbirds, like Mountain Bluebirds and Townsend Solitaires, are coming down from their breeding spots in the mountains to spend a more hospitable winter.

Check out the link to eBird to see the chart detailing specific birds seen along the trails here over the past four years in any particular month of the year:

Chatfield State Park is one of the largest staging areas for migrating and breeding songbirds in Colorado. Spring, fall, and much of the summer offer great looks at both migrating and breeding songbirds & waterfowl.

The walk is led by Audubon Master Birders.

Meeting Location: Denver Audubon's Kingery Nature Center 11280 Waterton Rd., Littleton, CO 80125

Trip Leader: Bill Schreitz

Contact #: (410) 533-1720

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the walk, please contact the Denver Audubon Office (Rhonda Shank 303-973-9530) or the trip Leader (Bill Schreitz 410-533-1720) as soon as possible. There is a waiting list for those wanting to join the walk. 

• Advance registration, including signing of the liability waiver, is required. Walk-up or impromptu participants will not be allowed.

• You are responsible for bringing your own binoculars, water, snacks and sunscreen for optimum experience 

• Cameras are permitted 

• This trip is not accessible for those with mobility issues.

COVID Guidelines: We will follow the current guidelines for the county where the program takes place.

Photo credit: Bill Schreitz