Local birders are issuing a warning call in solidarity with national groups like the National Audubon Society. In March, Cornell University issued its annual “State of the Birds” report. The study adds yearly field data to decades of trend tracking within ecosystems across the United States. Some local species on the radar are recognizable even to non-birders due to their popularity and distinctive appearances.
Pinyon jays are a smaller member of the corvid family. The medium-size birds are a striking dusty blue with bright matching heads and medium-length, dagger-like beaks. They favor scrub oak, chaparral and pinyon-juniper woodland habitats, so are typically seen in drier, mid-elevation areas of the valley. Pinyon jay populations have been dropping for decades, but ecologists are hopeful that attention and careful management may stabilize the population in the coming years.
Rufous hummingbirds are another species known in the Roaring Fork Valley, of which adult males are known for their copper-red coloring and perceived feistiness as particularly territorial and semi-aggressive hummingbirds. The small pollinators are one of 37 species (and three regional species) on the “Orange Alert Tipping Point” list. This classification means that the population has been declining for decades and that decreases have been accelerating in recent years.
Brown-capped rosy finches with their short yellow beaks, soft-pink bellies and dark-brown tails have long been sighted at local bird feeders, particularly around Snowmass Village. The species is a cliff dwelling alpine finch adapted to cool climates and snow. It is on the “Red Alert Tipping Point” list because of its historically low numbers and continued steep decline.
Species considered to be at the “Yellow Alert Tipping Point,” like Pinyon jays and the green and pink Lewis’ woodpecker (sometimes seen at Glassier Open Space), have seen 50% drops in population size in the last 50 years. Species on the orange and red lists have seen even more concerning decreases in the last half a century.
Local conservation groups, birdwatchers and land managers are working to raise awareness about declining species. “As a birder myself,” began Rebecca Weiss, a birding guide with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), “over time I’ve been able to feel these declines. It’s real everywhere and it’s real here in the Valley.” The all-volunteer Roaring Fork Audubon Society has tracked shifting numbers of local populations for years.
The 2025 “State of the Birds” points to some potential mitigation options. Its figures demonstrate that over 50% of western forest species are declining due to habitat degradation — from things like timber operations and even fire suppression practices. This suggests that adjusting land management practices could slow or halt population decreases. Striking a balance may be the silver lining amid evidence that a third of American bird species have seen concerning declines over the last several decades.
The report credits citizen scientists and recreational birders for contributions toward the field data. These observations provide a more conclusive scope for analyses conducted by career scientists, which later inform conservation strategies.
In the Roaring Fork Valley, there are many opportunities for birdwatching, even if you have never done so before. Both ACES and Roaring Fork Audubon lead multiple birding programs each summer. ACES programming includes arts and music sessions in addition to frequent guided birdwatching outings.
Likewise, non-birders can also help protect at-risk species. Mitigating nighttime lighting helps decrease migration disruptions. Window collisions are a major hazard for avian species, which cannot see glass the same way humans can. Special glass with human-invisible ultraviolet patterns or decorative frosted patterning can help prevent collisions.
Another way to protect bird species is to discourage domestic cats from hunting them. Small cats are responsible for billions of bird deaths each year. While around two-thirds of those are attributed to stray or feral cats, over 30% are attributed to domestic indoor/outdoor cats. Domestic cats hunt by instinct even when well fed, but their predatory drive negatively affects bird populations in addition to exposing themselves to wild predators and passing vehicles.
The full “State of the Birds” report is available for exploration at www.stateofthebirds.org/2025 Pitkin County Open Space and Trails published locally relevant details from the report and additional resources online at www.tinyurl.com/PitkinBirds