Event Type : Field Trip

Please join us for a relaxing morning as we explore birds at the south end of South Platte Park. This part of the park has multiple opportunities to view birds that are drawn to lakes and rivers. In mid-September, we can expect to see some of the birds that live here year-round, like the Mallards, Wood Ducks, and Herons. There should also be a number of waterfowl arriving to spend the winter in the area or who are just migrating through, like the Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, and Hooded Merganser. We will also be looking for Swainson’s Hawks and Osprey who have bred in the area and will soon depart for their wintering grounds.

The plan is to walk 3 miles on mostly level trails that are hard packed dirt and gravel. There is an area of about ½ mile, where we will walk on uneven ground and through grass and weeds to get closer to the river. It is possible to bypass this area and remain on the hard path.

Birdwatchers of all levels are invited with beginner birders encouraged to join, and this field trip is accessible for those with mobility challenges.

Meeting location: South Platte Park C-470 Trailhead, 5198 W. South Platte Reservoir Access Road. We will meet in the large parking lot near the vault toilets.
The only restroom is at the beginning of the outing. It is a vault toilet with an accessible stall.

It will be the middle of September on the cusp of fall, so be ready for varying weather conditions.

Trip Leaders: Julia Gwinn and Cindy Breidenbach. We will email all participants with final trip details a few days prior. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at jgwinn53@aol.com or thebreidenbachs1@comcast.net.

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

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the program, please contact the Denver Audubon Office at (303) 973-9530 as soon as possible.

Photo credit: Julia Gwinn

Join Audubon Master Birder Jordan Gerue on a free birding field trip through Bear Creek Greenbelt's stream, woodland, and grassland habitats. After birding, all participants are invited to an optional social hour at a nearby coffee shop (location TBD but drive time will be about 5 minutes from the park).

**Note that Bear Creek Greenbelt is a free park and is *not* the same as the paid Bear Creek Lake Park.

Bird List: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1773406/bird-list?m=9

Who Should Come: All effort will be made to ensure this is an inclusive outing. All types of people and all levels of experience are welcome. Jordan loves birding with folks who are new to the hobby!

Accessibility Info:
-Distance: 2 miles
-Trail: gravel or packed dirt; can be muddy weather depending
-Slope: steep in two or three spots, otherwise mostly flat
-Bathrooms: permanent restroom building and two portable toilets
-Resting spots: two benches early in the route
-Turnarounds: one spot to return early for those who can’t go the whole time
-Wheelchair rating: okay; leader can adjust route to avoid sloped areas, but dirt paths can impede wheelchair access if muddy

Trip Leader: Jordan Gerue, jgbirds@pm.me

If you have a question or concern not addressed here, please reach out to Jordan by email and he'll be happy to help.

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the outing, please contact the Denver Audubon Office at 303-973-9530 as soon as possible. There may be a waiting list for those wanting to join.

Photo credit: Jordan Gerue.

Walk the Wetlands begins at the Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center. The group ventures along the South Platte River through open fields and deciduous woodland, and by ponds and marshes. The walk itself is about 3 miles and takes ~3.5 hours, the time varying mostly due to weather conditions and the appearance of the birds. With the official beginning of spring some regular migrant ducks and songbirds have begun to trickle through the park, adding to our resident species despite our recent locally wintery weather. Green-tailed Towhee, Bushtits, and a Marsh Wren have all been seen near the Nature Center recently this year, along with a wide assortment of ducks and other waterfowl. 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 and waterfowl.

Each group on the walk is led by two Audubon Master Birders. Audubon Center & Trails is listed as a Hotspot on eBird under ‘Explore Hotspots’:

https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=2017&eyr=2021&bmo=1&emo=11&r=L798588 

Meeting Time and Location: 8:00am at the Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center 11280 Waterton Rd., Littleton, CO 80125. The co-leaders will meet you at the entrance to the gardens in front of the building. 

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 at 303-973-9530 or the trip Leader, Bill Schreitz at 410-533-172 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

We will be looking for Colorado birds that live in beautiful Roxborough State Park all year, as well as remaining migrants. Most summer migrants have already left (White-throated Swifts, swallows, etc.), but there may be laggards. We may see other birds that are more common in the winter (American Tree Sparrow, Townsend's Solitaire), while listening for possible year-round residents. Of course, raptors are often observed in the air over Roxborough and on the cliffs, so we will be watching for them too. Many eyes help! We will walk for about 2.4 miles on a moderate trail. State Parks Pass, or day pass (fee) required.

This trip is not accessible for those with mobility challenges.

Trip Leader: Bea Weaver. If you have any questions about this field trip, please call Bea at (305) 498-5935.

Meeting Place: We will meet at the Visitor Center in the park. The address is 4751 E. Roxborough Dr., Littleton, CO 80125.

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the outing, please contact the Denver Audubon Office at 303-973-9530 as soon as possible. There may be a waiting list for those wanting to join.

Photo credit: Bea Weaver.

Species:
We will see fall waterfowl species such as the Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, and Green-winged Teal.

Estimated Distance
0.2 – 5 miles. This lovely birding hotspot includes 2 large ponds (one with an island), multiple accessible trails and a stretch of Clear Creek riparian habitat. Note that this field trip is accessible for those with mobility challenges.

Parking:
There is a handicapped parking place, which has room for a ramp
· There is a handicapped parking place, which does not have room for a ramp
· Curb cuts are present to move from parking lot to trail or sidewalk
·There is an elevated walkway through excellent wetlands as well as around the lakes.

Ramps:
· Ramp slopes are not 1:12, but they are fairly manageable
· Trail slopes are manageable, they fit the 1:20 ratio
·The bathroom facilities, situated near the parking, is fully ADA compliant.

Bathrooms:
· All door frames are at least 32″ across, and they provide ample room for a chair to pass through
· The stall size is at minimum 60″ x 60″; there is enough room for a chair to maneuver inside it
· The toilet height is approximately 18-20″
· The sink is at an appropriate height that makes it easy for a seated person to reach and use the faucets and soap
· Hand dryers or towels are within reach.

Trail surface:
· Hard-packed dirt
· Asphalt
· Well-packed crushed stone
·One can stay on 1:20 pathways or elect to traverse steeper slopes.

Benches:
·Benches occur roughly every eighth of a mile.

Meeting location: Prospect Park, 44th. and Robb St., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (parking lot near the restrooms).

Trip Leader: Brian Tavernia.

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

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the program, please contact the Denver Audubon Office at (303) 973-9530 as soon as possible.

Photo credit: Michelle Robbins.

Please join us for a relaxing morning as we explore birds at the south end of South Platte Park. This part of the park has multiple opportunities to view birds that are drawn to lakes and rivers. In mid-October, we can expect to see lots of ducks! We may see Green-winged Teal, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, and Buffleheads. We will also be looking for some of the birds that stay here year-round like the American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, and Downy Woodpecker.

Note that this trip is accessible for those with mobility challenges. The plan is to walk 2 to 3 miles on mostly level trails that are hard packed dirt and gravel. There is an area of about ½ mile where we will walk on uneven ground and through grass and weeds to get closer to the river. It is possible to bypass this area and remain on the hard path. At the end of the trip there is the option to walk up a rather steep hill to South Platte Reservoir to see diving ducks.

Birdwatchers of all levels are invited with beginner birders encouraged to join.

Meeting location: South Platte Park C-470 Trailhead, 5198 W. South Platte Reservoir Access Road. We will meet in the large parking lot near the vault toilets.
The only restroom is at the beginning of the outing. It is a vault toilet with an accessible stall.

It will be the middle of October, so be ready for varying weather conditions.

Trip Leaders: Julia Gwinn and Cindy Breidenbach. We will email all participants with final trip details a few days prior. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at jgwinn53@aol.com or thebreidenbachs1@comcast.net.

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

Please Note: If you have registered and no longer can attend the program, please contact the Denver Audubon Office at (303) 973-9530 as soon as possible.

Photo credit: Julia Gwinn.

Walk the Wetlands begins at the Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center. The group ventures along the South Platte River through open fields and deciduous woodland, and by ponds and marshes. The walk itself is about 3 miles and takes ~3.5 hours, the time varying mostly due to weather conditions and the appearance of the birds. 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 & terns, and shorebirds such as sandpipers & plovers are flocking to Chatfield Lake and the nearby ponds along the trails and river. Many songbirds like, Mountain Bluebirds & Townsend Solitaires are coming down from their breeding spots in the mountains to spend a more hospitable winter. Spring, fall, and much of the summer offer great looks at both migrating and breeding songbirds & waterfowl.

Each group on the walk is led by two Audubon Master Birders. Audubon Center & Trails is listed as a Hotspot on eBird under ‘Explore Hotspots’:
https://ebird.org/barchart?byr=2017&eyr=2021&bmo=1&emo=11&r=L798588

Meeting Time and Location: 8:00am at the Denver Audubon Kingery Nature Center 11280 Waterton Rd., Littleton, CO 80125. The co-leaders will meet you at the entrance to the gardens in front of the building.

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 at 303-973-9530 or the trip Leader, Bill Schreitz at 410-533-172 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