A whole season of guided birdwatching takes flight this spring, brought to you by Roaring Fork Audubon (RFA). On May 20, RFA kicked off a dense schedule of free birding field trips through July, with more to be announced as the summer progresses.
RFA, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, is a volunteer-operated organization that’s passionate about naturalism and protecting native species of all kinds. All birding trips are led by experienced members of RFA who are excited to share their understanding and love for our ecosystem – including the parts we might typically breeze right past on our mountain bikes.
Those who register for a field trip can expect to hike along familiar paths in a small group, capped around eight participants so as to minimize disturbance to the wildlife. After meeting in a designated area — typically at 7am — participants begin a meandering day hike through lunch time, keeping an eye out for various species as the leader shares their expertise and passion. Better yet, the binoculars are complimentary.
In addition to field trips, RFA also hosts surveys in which participants can gather vital data about their local ecosystems to assist with conservation and research.
Ranging from mellow hikes along ranch meadows to steep climbs up Yule Creek, a few of the scheduled field trips are more strenuous than others. However, although some trails may be more challenging, the slow and steady nature of birding means that birders are given plenty of time to catch their breath. In either case, all participants should bring snacks and plenty of water to sustain themselves, and trekking poles can come in handy on steeper trails.
The full schedule can be found online at www.roaringforkaudubon.org/field-trips, and registrations are made by emailing individual trip leaders. However, the birding season is off to a healthy start, as the first several events of the year have already been booked full. Spaces open up in the first weeks of June, so booking in advance is recommended, and inquiries about availability can be emailed to info@roaringforkaudubon.org
Additionally, not all field trips are listed on the website. In order to stay up to date with every event coming up on RFA’s schedule, RFA chair Mary Harris recommends subscribing to the RFA newsletter. Subscribers will receive first notice on any new field trips that are announced in addition to other naturalism news.
Harris added, for those who are very interested in going birding but don’t have the availability to register for any listed field trips, one can contact RFA directly and the team of dedicated volunteers will try their best to arrange a trip. All age groups and experience levels are invited to register.
As ecosystems across the globe change and sightings of various species continue to decrease every year, Harris notes the flux we can see in our own environment. While southern, warmer-weather species have been appearing more frequently in the Roaring Fork Valley, general sightings are decreasing. “We are losing our birds,” Harris says. “We’ve already lost a third of them in the last 60 years.”
She stresses the importance of increasing our personal understanding of our ecosystem with a quote from Senegalese forester Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.”
Birdsong Project
In addition to RFA’s birding field trips, fans of our feathered friends can also mark their calendars for an avian-inspired musical event in Aspen on Saturday, July 27 from noon to 2pm. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is partnering with the National Audubon Society and “For the Birds: The Birdsong Project” to show Aspen how the beauty of birds connects people from across the world, and how artistic expression can drive conservation.
Guests are invited to a picnic lunch at the ACES Catto Center, where they will hear an opening talk by Audubon Chief Scientist Chad Wilsey as well as a performance by Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) students. There will be a “morning bird outing” in collaboration with RFA the very next day.
For additional information, visit www.audubon.org/events/aspen-summer-birds-2024