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:
We strongly encourage anyone visiting the back roads of Colorado to be prepared. Make sure you have a good road atlas, food, water, proper clothing and some sunscreen. We also suggest bringing a pair of binoculars and bird book or wildlife viewing guide.
High Plains Snow Goose Festival
The lesser snow geese you will see at the High Plains Snow Goose Festival are part of the Western Central Flyway population that are on their way back to the Canadian Arctic where they nest. This flock winters in southeastern Colorado, New Mexico, the Texas panhandle and northern Mexico. The festival offers tours, educational programs, presentations, arts and crafts, and a banquet!
Monte Vista Crane Festival
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.
Karval Mountain Plover Festival
The shortgrass prairies near Kaval, CO are prime foraging sites for mountain plovers. These small birds use Colorado grasslands during the breeding season, where sparse vegetation gives them plenty of room to build nests on the ground. When foraging, mountain plovers scurry over the flat ground in short bursts, searching for insects at each stop. Festival registration includes habitat tours, food, and entertainment.