Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

FESTIVAL CHECK-IN, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Full Registration Fee & banquet $85
Daily registration fee $15
(no reg. fee req’d for teens)
Banquet only fee  $55
Lectures included with each day’s registration,
otherwise $5 at door

Wildflower Walk at Hawkins Preserve
David Faulkner, Natural Resource Biologist, Retired

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm; $25
Walk Hawkins Preserve’s trails during peak wildflower bloom. Protected for decades, these 122 acres within Cortez’s city limits incorporate vegetation of native habitats: sagebrush, pothole-slickrock, pinyon-juniper, riparian, rim rock and more. Specific species are emphasized for value as dye plants, medicine, wildlife browse, horticulture and bird habitat. (9 bird species in 2023) Moderate, up to one-mile flat walking. Approximately 3 miles round trip.

Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #1
Tyler Lausten, Wildlife Photographer; Carolyn Gunn, Veterinarian, Retired

2:30 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. (24 species in 2023) Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.
A raptor seen during the Birding Festival
Photo courtesy of Diane Cherbak

Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #2
Vern Gersh, Naturalist Ranger, Bureau of Land Management, Retired; Terry McLaughlin, Naturalist, Mono Lake Committee, Retired

2:45 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. (24 species in 2023) Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.

Birds and Bites WELCOME RECEPTION
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
Join fellow bird enthusiasts during the UMMV Birding Festival’s Welcome Reception. Enjoy beer, wine, appetizers and the bird art exhibit.

LECTURE
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Topic and Presenter

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Ute Mountain Tribal Park
Don Marsh, Senior Systems Analyst, Retired and eBird Reviewer

5:45 am – 3:00 pm; $80
Combine birding with experiencing Mancos Canyon’s archaeological sites. Saltbush and sage bottomlands invite Sage Thrasher, Burrowing Owl, Scaled & Gambel’s quails and Lark, Sage & Black-throated sparrows. Willows and cottonwoods along the stream bed attract Yellow-breasted Chat, tanagers, warblers, Indigo & Lazuli buntings and Blue Grosbeaks. Glyph-inscribed cliffs provide habitat for raptors, swifts, wrens and owls. Bridges may harbor nesting Black Phoebes. Vireos and flycatchers also frequent the pinyon-juniper uplands. (43 species in 2023) Easy. Lunch while overlooking ancient cliff dwellings. Tour fee includes park entrance and a tip for the Ute Tribal guide. Approximately 50 miles round trip.

Mancos River in Mesa Verde National Park
Paul Morey, Chief of Natural Resources, Mesa Verde National Park

6:00 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Explore this secluded, pristine terrain along the Mancos River with Mesa Verde’s wildlife biologist. Besides learning the history of this part of MVNP, discuss future restoration and management of the area. Travel mostly off-trail on flat to uneven terrain through grass, big sage & juniper uplands and riparian areas dominated by willow and cottonwoods. Past species: Wild Turkey, raptors, flycatchers, swallows, Black-chinned & Broad-tailed hummingbirds, Plumbeous Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow, Yellow-rumped & Black-throated Gray warblers and Lazuli Bunting. (60 species, 2019) Moderate hike, up to three miles round trip. Lunch provided. Approximately 55 miles round trip.

RSL Ranch in Lost Canyon and the Lakes at Summit Ridge
John Bregar, Oil & Gas Geologist/Geophysicist, Retired

6:15 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Lost Canyon lies tucked between Haycamp Mesa and the flat lowlands north of Mesa Verde. This riparian corridor, which served early ranchers and loggers as the historic route for a narrow- gauge railroad and the Galloping Goose, attracts passerines and flycatchers. The beautiful stands of ponderosa forest are home to Grace’s Warbler, nuthatches, woodpeckers and accipiters. Summit Lake State Wildlife Area and Puett Reservoir attract waterfowl and shorebirds. The willows and trees surrounding the lakes harbor warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, bluebirds and more. (56 species in 2023) SWA pass included. Easy road and trail hiking. Lunch provided. Approximately 75 miles round trip.

Bradfield Bridge #1
Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter, Colorado Birding Atlas II

6:30 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Situated on the Dolores River in a migratory corridor below McPhee Dam, the Bradfield Bridge area offers river habitats that entice a broad array of species including Black Phoebe, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swifts, Yellow-breasted Chat, Canyon Wren, Lazuli Bunting, Wild Turkey and Belted Kingfisher. Swallows, warblers, raptors, woodpeckers, waterfowl and shorebirds add to the mix. The scenic sandstone canyon may even offer a sighting of river otters. Tours within this region historically have brought some of the UMMV Birding Festival’s highest species tallies. (68 species in 2023) SWA pass included. Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 60 miles round trip.

Simon Draw and Totten Reservoir
Erik Hendrickson, Engineer, National Park Service, Retired

6:45 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Totten Reservoir is one of the best places to bird in Montezuma County (eBird Hotspot #1). Constructed in 1907, Totten holds some of the oldest bird records in the county. Look for ducks, grebes, herons, ibis and marsh birds such as Yellow-headed Blackbird and Sora. For the UMMV Birding Festival, the Bureau of Reclamation is allowing participants to visit the wetlands at Simon Draw, normally closed in spring for waterfowl nesting. At Simon Draw, find more ducks, possible migrating shorebirds, Virginia Rail, sparrows and Sage Thrasher in the scrub surrounding the constructed ponds. Bald Eagles and other raptors nest near both Totten and Simon Draw and often are seen hunting. SWA pass included. (33 species in 2023) Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 10 miles round trip.

Happy Valley Draw & Hawkins Preserve ½ Day
Eric Moore, Owner, The Lookout, Prescott, AZ

7:00 am – 11:30 am; $30
On the south edge of Cortez is public access via a gravel drive to an old wastewater treatment plant, a surprisingly pleasant and productive spot for birding. Orioles and finches can be found in the residential cottonwoods at the top of the drive; and there is PJ and rocky outcrops walking down the drive towards McElmo Creek where we might find wrens, gnatcatchers, or bushtits. The broad base of McElmo canyon at this location is a sagebrush and saltbush plain, with sparrows, finches, corvids, small to large raptors and vultures. The abandoned buildings and fences serve as perches for Say’s Phoebe and other flycatchers. There is a smattering of wetland, and the narrow riparian corridor along the creek might hold warblers, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, swallows, Yellow-breasted Chat and maybe other surprises. Moderate, up to two miles walking. Approximately 4 miles round trip.

LECTURE
“Four Corners’ Pollinators: Biodiversity and Floral Relationships”
Melissa Schreiner, Entomologist, Colorado State University, Tri-River Area

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Melissa will highlight the important role animal pollinators play in our southwestern Colorado ecosystems. The biodiverse pollinator species specific to the Four Corners area will be discussed, allowing listeners a glance into their marvelous world, their life cycles, and relationships with local and invasive flora. By showcasing various pollinators like ants, bats, birds, bees, beetles, and flies, Mel will share captivating stories of our natural world and many examples of various pollinator biology. Recommendations on ways that festival attendees can support pollinator conservation efforts in their own gardens and communities will be shared along with insect pollinator specimens from the Western Colorado Insect collection.

Friday, May 17, 2024

Mega Miramonte Meander
Don Marsh, Senior Systems Analyst, Retired and eBird Reviewer

5:30 am – 5:00 pm; $55
Miramonte Reservoir, a remote migrant trap in Dan Noble State Wildlife Area, is accessible through the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests. En route, stop at McPhee Park, an area set aside in 1925 to preserve old-growth ponderosa pine which harbors woodpeckers, flycatchers, Grace’s Warbler, Cassin’s Finch, nuthatches and more. Anticipate raptors along the way. Waterfowl frequent ponds scattered across the high plateau. Miramonte lures a mix of waterfowl and shorebirds. This trip encompasses three counties. (63 species in 2023) SWA pass included. Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 140 miles round trip.

Ismay’s Yellow Jacket Cyn and Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch
John Bregar, Oil & Gas Geologist/Geophysicist, Retired

5:45 am – 3:00 pm; $75
Yellow Jacket Canyon in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument cradles permanent riparian corridors with big cottonwoods and an understory unique to southwest Colorado — the only known location in Colorado for nesting Lucy’s Warbler. Canyon of the Ancients historic guest ranch sits in a Sedona-like setting with more than 5,000 documented archaeological sites. This popular tour has tallied Summer Tanager, Gray Flycatcher, Gray Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, hummingbirds, a variety of warblers and Cooper’s Hawk. (54 species in 2023) Easy with up to a mile hiking; warm temps likely (80s). Lunch provided by Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch. Approximately 80 miles round trip.

Mesa Verde National Park
Steve Tarnowski, Montezuma County Birder

6:00 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Explore a variety of birding locales in this world-famous national park, well known for archaeological sites and varied pristine habitats. Possible sightings include accipiters, Peregrine Falcon, Downy Woodpecker, Virginia’s & Black-throated Gray warblers, Juniper Titmouse, Ash-throated & Dusky flycatchers, Western Tanager, Western Wood-Pewee, Lazuli Bunting, Green-tailed & Spotted towhees, Rock & Bewick’s wrens, Clark’s Nutcracker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, swifts and hummingbirds. (38 species in 2023) Easy to moderate. Lunch provided. Approximately 75 miles round trip.

Bradfield Bridge #2
Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter, Colorado Birding Atlas II

6:15 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Situated on the Dolores River in a migratory corridor below McPhee Dam, the Bradfield Bridge area offers river habitats that entice a broad array of species including Black Phoebe, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swifts, Yellow-breasted Chat, Canyon Wren, Lazuli Bunting, Wild Turkey and Belted Kingfisher. Swallows, warblers, raptors, woodpeckers, waterfowl and shorebirds add to the mix. The scenic sandstone canyon may even offer a sighting of river otters. Tours within this region historically have brought some of the UMMV Birding Festival’s highest species tallies. (68 species in 2023) SWA pass included. Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 60 miles round trip.

Mancos: An Old West Habitat
Diane Cherbak, Citizen Scientist and Chairman, UMMV Birding Festival

6:30 am – 3:00 pm; $55
A trip through the Mancos Valley is like a journey into the past. Many historic ranches that have existed for over 150 years continue to operate. Cattle drives still pass through the streets of Mancos. Mining, logging and a railroad also have left their marks to provide a variety of birding habitats. Waterfowl nest or feed in the numerous stock ponds and reservoirs. Red-winged & Yellow-headed blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbird, Sora, Virginia Rail and Common Yellowthroat can be expected in the associated cattail/bulrush marshes. The riparian woodland characterized by cottonwood, willow and buffalo berry could add Western Screech-Owl, Western Kingbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Great Blue Heron, Spotted Towhee and Magpie. The agricultural lands add habitat for Western & Mountain bluebirds, Mourning Dove and Horned Lark. The pastures and meadows are prime hunting grounds for American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Nighthawk and Northern Harrier. (64 species in 2023) Easy. Box lunch from Mancos Brewery provided. Approximately 40 miles round trip.

Birding 101 ½ Day
Erik Hendrickson, Engineer, National Park Service, Retired; Dave Ross, Wildlife Biologist, Retired

6:45 am – 11:15 am; $30
This tour is designed to emphasize “The Basics” of birding: getting out early in the morning, keeping staying close to home, having fun, and learning about birds and the habitats where they are found. Just the basics, in a fun, learning environment where everyone contributes to observations. Basically, duplicating birding trips that local Montezuma County birders do throughout the year — recognizing common bird species and migrants, pointing out key field marks, especially on distant birds and especially on birds not seen very often. The festival is timed to increase chances of seeing migrating waterfowl and songbirds, to see newly arrived raptors, flycatchers and swallows, and to see local year-round woodpeckers, sagebrush, PJ and Ponderosa inhabitants (woodpeckers, flickers, chickadees, titmice, etc.) at Simon Draw WA and Totten Reservoir SWA. SWA pass included. Easy. No registration fee required. Approximately 5 miles round trip.

Geer & Carpenter Natural Areas ½ Day
Eric Moore, Owner, The Lookout, Prescott, AZ

7:00 am – 11:30 am; $30
Located at the north edge of Cortez, Geer Park’s year-round pond attracts a multitude of waterfowl, wading birds and swallows. Scrub-Jay, Northern Flicker, sparrows, hummingbirds, warblers and finches favor an adjacent arroyo. The tour will be expanded to include Carpenter NA featuring a paved trail and a network of primitive trails along a creek with rocky mesas. Sagebrush fields with scattered junipers and other desert grasses and shrubs provide for an array of species possibilities. (41 species in 2023) Easy with up to a two-mile walk. Approximately 4 miles round trip.

Birding 201 ½ Day
Erik Hendrickson, Engineer, National Park Service, Retired; Dave Ross, Wildlife Biologist, Retired

12:30 pm – 5:00 pm; $30
An afternoon continuation of Birding 101. This tour is not more advanced, but ventures a little further from Cortez, making stops at Narraguinnep SWA, McPhee Recreation Area (San Juan NF), and Summit Reservoir SWA (Montezuma County’s “iconic reservoirs”). As birding is often slower in the afternoon, focus will be on identification of each bird encountered, asking questions and discussing markings observed to aid in identification. The tour will be paced according to bird activity, adjusting time at each location depending on the birds identified. The afternoon will be spent scanning for waterfowl and shorebirds at the reservoirs, using spotting scopes as necessary, and walking short trails looking for forest species and migrating songbirds. SWA pass included. Easy. No registration fee required. Approximately 60 miles round trip.

LECTURE
“Breeding Biology of Black-chinned Hummingbirds in SW Colorado and NW New Mexico”
Dr. Catherine P. Ortega, President, Durango Bird Club; Dr. Joseph C. Ortega, Professor, Fort Lewis College

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Black-chinned Hummingbirds (Archilochus alexandri) breed in a wide variety of habitats but in some studies prefer riparian areas. Their nest success will be compared among several habitats: (1) riparian areas, dominated by narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia), (2) Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) woodlands, both in southwest Colorado and (3) piñon-juniper (Pinus edulis-Juniperus osteosperma) habitat in northwest New Mexico. Apparent nest success at the southwest Colorado study site was 41.7%, whereas it was 82.1% at the New Mexico site. Factors contributing to nest survival and nest success in southwest Colorado will be presented, and reasons for the higher success at the New Mexico site will be discussed.

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Ismay’s Yellow Jacket Canyon
Melissa May, M.S., Mountain Studies Institute Executive Director

5:30 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Yellow Jacket Canyon in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument cradles permanent riparian corridors with big cottonwoods and an understory unique to southwest Colorado – the only known location in Colorado for nesting Lucy’s Warbler. Additionally, there will be a visit to a private property within McElmo Canyon’s red bluffs. Summer Tanager, Gray Flycatcher, Gray Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, hummingbirds, a variety of warblers and Cooper’s Hawk are possibilities. (54 species in 2023) Easy with up to a mile hiking; warm temps likely (80s). Lunch provided. Approximately 80 miles round trip.

Upper Dolores River and Twin Spruce Ponds State Wildlife Area
Ryan Votta, Asst. Manager, Durango Fish Hatchery, Colorado Parks & Wildlife

5:45 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Begin birding at the Dolores Ponds, one of the best places to bird in Montezuma County and an eBird hotspot. The diverse habitat offers riparian areas where the Dolores River meets McPhee Reservoir, pinyon-juniper, red-rock cliffs and a series of shallow ponds. Scan for waterfowl, listen for a singing Canyon Wren and hope to spot interesting migrants like American Pelican. Continue north on scenic Hwy 145 with several stops along the way. Lunch at Twin Spruce Ponds State Wildlife Area. Target species include Empidonax flycatchers, waterfowl and Spotted Sandpiper. Ruby-crowned & Golden-crowned kinglets, American Dipper, Black Phoebe, Belted Kingfisher and Canada Jay also are potential species. (62 species in 2023) SWA pass included. Moderate amount of walking, with about 7-8 stops throughout the day. Lunch provided. Approximately 100 miles round trip.

Among the Ancients
Brenda Wright and Coen Dexter, Colorado Birding Atlas II

6:00 am – 3:00 pm; $55
High desert and sage landscapes surrounding remnants of ancient dwellings offer bird-rich habitats. Open fields around Lowry pueblo are ideal for spotting buteos, eagles, falcons, Horned Lark and bluebirds. Intermittent pinyon-juniper and cottonwood stands, and rocky side-canyons entice Say’s Phoebe, Gray Vireo, woodpeckers, titmice, wrens, flycatchers, warblers, towhees, Black-throated, Vesper, Lincoln’s & White-crowned sparrows and perhaps a Loggerhead Shrike or Cassin’s Kingbird. Possible stop at a private ranch with riparian and pinyon-juniper habitats. (51 species in 2023) Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 75 miles round trip.

Birding Echo Basin
Steve and Emilee Tarnowski, Montezuma County Birders

6:15 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Bird scenic Echo Basin and up to higher altitudes. With a broad habitat diversity of gently rolling hills, meadows, ponderosa pine forest, spruce/fir forest, riparian areas and a significant pond, sightings might include waterfowl, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Red-naped Sapsucker, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Olive-sided Flycatcher, warblers, vireos, bluebirds, jays, nuthatches and swallows. Weather permitting, explore the Jersey Jim Fire Lookout and Transfer Park. (55 species in 2023) Easy to moderate with some hiking. Lunch provided. Approximately 50 miles round trip.

Chicken Creek & Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Aimee Way, Environmental Specialist, Colorado Department of Transportation

6:30 am – 3:00 pm; $55
The La Plata Mountains are a signature local skyline of the Four Corners area, and the southernmost reach of the Rocky Mountains. This tour will first take participants from the small town of Mancos into the foothills, to explore the Chicken Creek Area, 32 miles of groomed x- country trails in winter and footpaths in the spring. There are also inviting wetlands at the trailhead. Trails wind through aspen, scrub oak, and ponderosa habitats. Dusky Grouse, Purple Martin, Band-tailed Pigeon, Cassin’s Finch, Green-tailed Towhee, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Pygmy Nuthatch, Clark’s Nutcracker and Grace’s Warbler are some of the notable species that may be seen on this leg of the tour. On the return trip, participants will head to Mancos State Park to bird Jackson Gulch Reservoir and surrounding habitat. Various waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, vireos and warblers, Lewis’s and other woodpeckers and jays may be seen. State Park daily pass required for each vehicle. Moderate hike of three to four miles. Lunch provided. Approximately 40 miles round trip.

Hartman Draw & Fozzie’s Farm
Kristina Kline, Lead Biologist, SWCA Environmental Consultants

6:45 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Rare access to this secluded private property in beautiful Hartman Draw offers a rich birding experience with a diversity of habitats – grassland, marsh, riparian with mature cottonwoods, wetland, wet meadow, pinyon-juniper and sagebrush shrubland. The area attracts Bald & Golden eagles, hawks and other raptors. Explore uneven terrain on foot. Other likely sightings include Juniper Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Marsh Wren, Wilson’s Snipe, Chipping & Lark sparrows, Ash-throated & Dusky flycatchers, Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, Osprey and Wilson’s Warbler. Fozzie’s Farm, donated to the Montezuma Land Conservancy as a preservation and education area, enfolds irrigated pastureland, ponds and wetlands. Target birds include American Pipit, Golden Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Burrowing Owl and Northern Harrier. Also watch for Red-tailed, Ferruginous & Swainson’s hawks, Common Snipe, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-crowned Sparrow, magpies, meadowlarks and bluebirds. Gently sloping, uneven and possibly wet terrain. (43 species in 2023) Moderate hike of three to four miles. Lunch provided. Approximately 40 miles round trip.

Denny Lake & Totten Reservoir ½ Day
Eric Moore, Owner, The Lookout, Prescott, AZ

7:00 am – 11:30 am $30
Some of the best birding around Cortez is close to home. Denny Lake is within City boundaries, and Totten Reservoir is just outside. City parks have always been ideal places to look for birds. At an age when they couldn’t afford binoculars, Roger Tory Peterson and his friends famously climbed trees in New York City’s Central Park before dawn in order to be in position to see migrating songbirds. Ken Kauffman once described the ideal birding hotspot as having a mix of dry uplands, wetlands, a body of water, trees, shrubs, and fields with a wide walking path (all features which attract birds, except the path, which is just nice for birders), and Denny Lake Park has all of these. Totten Reservoir, which dates to 1907, has the record for most species of birds observed in Montezuma County in the eBird database, with 236 species. Denny Lake isn’t far behind, with 196 species. Both Denny and Totten attract birds all year round, but they are especially productive in spring. They are just nice places to go and close to town with lots of fun birds to see. SWA pass included. Easy. Approximately 4 miles round trip.

DINNER, SILENT AUCTION, KEYNOTE SPEAKER — Cortez Elks Lodge

5:30 pm – Social Hour and Silent Auction Opens
6:15 pm – Dinner
7:15 pm – Silent Auction Closes
7:30 pm – Keynote Speaker: Tiffany Kersten, “Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders”

Tiffany Kersten didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the country, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species, and to raise awareness of women’s safety in the outdoors. She ended up surpassing her goal and setting a new record, with 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure.

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Boggy Draw
Amanda White, Vice-President Durango Bird Club

6:00 am – 3:00 pm; $55
The mixture of habitats in Boggy Draw incorporates mature and young ponderosa pine forest, mixed scrub oak/mountain shrub understory, wetlands and mountain meadows. Anticipated bird species include Red Crossbill, Western Tanager, Pygmy Nuthatch, Virginia’s Warbler, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Bluebird, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Lewis & Hairy woodpeckers, Mountain Chickadee, Dusky Grouse, Sharp-shinned Hawk and who knows what else? (44 species in 2023) Easy road and trail hiking. Lunch provided. Approximately 50 miles round trip.

Trail Canyon
Mike Thompson, Professional Geologist and eBird Reviewer for Southwest Colorado

6:15 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Trail Canyon, an isolated oasis, features historic homesteader ranches now in conservancy. Located north of McElmo Creek, the dramatic geography includes sheer canyon walls and a beautiful waterfall. The riparian, juniper, cottonwood and sage prairie habitats lie within a migratory path and provide opportunities to see a variety of flycatchers, vireos, Yellow, Wilson’s, Orange-crowned & maybe MacGillivray’s warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, American Kestrel and the occasional Golden Eagle. (54 species in 2023) Moderate with a hike of up to three miles round trip. Lunch provided. Approximately 30 miles round trip.

At the Foot of the Mesa
Don Marsh, Senior Systems Analyst, Retired and eBird Reviewer

6:30 am – 3:00 pm; $55
The iconic RSL Ranch, registered as a Centennial Farm since the 1980s, has a rich heritage. Having homesteaded just north of this property in 1874, the Lee family represents a long lineage of local farmers and ranchers in Montezuma County. Backdropped by Mesa Verde National Park, the ranch holds 1060 acres of scenic sagebrush rangeland. Flycatchers, Pinyon Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Chipping, Brewer’s, Lark & Black-throated sparrows, raptors, waterfowl and swallows are possible. (30 species in 2023) Easy. Lunch provided. Approximately 20 miles round trip.

Nature Center at Butler Corner and Beyond
Vern Gersh, Naturalist Ranger, Bureau of Land Management, Retired; Terry McLaughlin, Naturalist, Mono Lake Committee, Retired

6:45 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Butler Corner sits adjacent to national forest above Dolores. Observe Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Barn Swallow before embarking upon easy trails that cover approximately two miles. With more than 50 nest boxes along the trails, expect to see Mountain & Western bluebirds as well as Tree Swallow and House Wren. The expanded tour includes the House Creek area. Habitats of pinyon-juniper, mature Ponderosa Pine, an open understory of Gambel Oak and mountain shrubs attract chickadees, Northern Flicker, Black-chinned Hummingbird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Violet-green Swallow, and Spotted Towhee. (27 species in 2023) Easy to moderate. Lunch provided. Approximately 40 miles round trip.

Middle McElmo Creek Corridor
Diane Cherbak, Citizen Scientist and Chairman, UMMV Birding Festival

7:00 am – 3:00 pm; $55
Perennial McElmo Creek courses often overlooked prime birding areas near the heart of Cortez. A meandering stream, oxbow ponds, wetlands, clay bank gullies, arroyos and a narrow floodplain offer diverse habitats for raptors, owls, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Bullock’s Oriole, Wilson’s Snipe, Black Phoebe, Lazuli Bunting, bluebirds, jays, swallows, wrens, warblers and sparrows. (41 species in 2023) Easy with some hiking. Lunch provided. Approximately 30 miles round trip.

Date: May 15-19, 2024

Location: Cortez Cultural Center - 25 North Market Street Cortez, CO 81321

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