Denver Urban Christmas Count: Sand Creek/Commerce City/Montbello

PLEASE NOTE: You must register for this field trip and complete the liability form when you register. Walk-up or impromptu participants will not be allowed. Note that this field trip is accessible for those with mobility challenges. Other requirements are described below.

Audubon's 123rd Christmas Bird Count is a holiday tradition – everyone welcome: beginners, intermediate, and advanced. The more eyes we have, the more birds we see. In partnership with National Audubon, Denver Audubon supports the bird count within the Denver Urban circle on Sunday, January 1, 2023.

A New Year's Day Tradition! We will meet at Sapp Brothers, 7120 E. 49th Ave., Commerce City, at 8 a.m. to arrange parking and carpooling from there to the start at the Havana Street bridge over Sandcreek. To get to the start, we will drive east from Sapp Brothers on I-70 to Havana Street, south to the traffic light immediately south of the bridge over Sandreek at Florence Way, west one block on Florence Way to Hanover Street. We will park on Hanover Street.

From there we will saunter 3 flat lazy miles on paved surfaces along Sand Creek from the bridge on Havana to Sapp Brothers Truck Stop on Quebec. The afternoon leg begins at the Sand Creek Greenway Trailhead parking lot at Brighton Boulevard and returns to Sapp Brothers. We usually see a Bald Eagle or two, Red-tailed Hawks, and a nice assortment of wintering ducks. Prairie falcons and Merlin hunt the riparian zone. A late Say's Phoebe hawking insects is not unusual. Ordinary preparation for winter birding is all that this trip requires: watch the weather reports, light hiking boots, a backpack with water, extra layers, and snack should see you through. Bring a lunch; we'll eat at Sapp Brothers. The name of the trailhead parking lot is Sandcreek Regional Greenway, Vasquez Blvd. The address is 4900 Sandcreek Dr. S., Commerce City. Enter from Sandcreek Drive.

For more information, please call area count leader Michael Serruto at 720-581-2711. Note that Michael accepts text messages for field trip responses.