Join us on the Colorado Birding Trail to experience a wildlife adventure of your own! Explore Colorado’s incredible diversity of wildlife and the habitats they depend on in unbelievably spectacular settings. From the dry grasslands of the short-grass prairie to the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado has nearly 1,000 species of wildlife for you to seek in an endless variety of fantastic habitats.
Explore Wild Colorado! From the sleek pronghorn antelope of the vast, high plains prairie to the camouflaged White-tailed Ptarmigan of the alpine tundra, an exciting outdoor adventure awaits you on the Colorado Birding Trail. The easily-navigated website and maps will assist you in planning your personalized wildlife viewing experience.
Are you planning a trip or vacation to Colorado to view our wide diversity of wildlife? Perhaps you’re a resident looking to explore more of your state. Prior to starting your adventure, please take a moment to:
The festival hosts wildlife experts, local naturalists, and biologists who present free educational workshops at the Monte Vista Middle School, while flocks of dancing sandhills assemble in the neighboring farm fields, just east of town. Bus tours to the nearby refuge and adjacent farmlands provide visitors with the opportunity to view this spectacle up close and personal, with a knowledgeable local guide. Special tours feature raptor identification, sunset trips to view cranes, a visit to a local potato warehouse (with free potatoes) and visits to closed areas of the refuge for Crane Fest participants.
Volunteers and researchers from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies help visitors search the sky above the Dakota Ridge Hogback (Dinosaur Ridge) for hawks, eagles, and vultures while sharing why birds have chosen this migratory path. Tour involves a short, but steep, hike up the ridge to a viewing vantage point.
Greater sandhill cranes in small and large flocks glide into Heart’s Basin of the Surface Creek Valley, and land at Fruitgrowers Reservoir east of Eckert. Most of the 20,000+ migrating birds come to the reservoir for an overnight stay to rest, feed, and regroup, relying on the reservoir’s water and wetlands for protection, and adjacent agricultural lands for food. The following morning they lift off in an organized mayhem of flight and sound that cannot be forgotten. Get schedules, maps, information about other wildlife seen at this time of year, lodging suggestions, and more information at the event website.
The bighorn sheep is Colorado’s official animal. Colorado has the largest population of bighorn in North America, so you have a good chance of spotting one.
Helping birds helps us all… and birds need your help! The loss of 3 billion breeding birds is a problem for humans as well—learn more about ways you can help birds thrive.
Helping birds helps us all… and birds need your help! The loss of 3 billion breeding birds is a problem for humans as well—learn more about ways you can help birds thrive.
The Colorado Birding Trail was made possible through a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado which provides Colorado Lottery funds to worthwhile projects. Additional support for the project was provided by many federal, state, and non-profit agencies.
