November 2026 Field Trips

Oct 24*

Sun

Sandstone Ranch, Longmont

Joint Trip

Learn More

Oct 23,24*

Fri,Sat

Grandview Cemetary

Leader: Nolan Bunting

Learn More

First Sat

Sat

Recurring Bird Banding

Leaders: Rashid or Webber

Learn More

Nov 8

Sun

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting

Learn More

Nov 13

Fri

Accessible Walk at Sheldon Lake

Leader: Webber & Roush

Learn More

Nov 15

Sun

Gateway Natural Area

Leader: Ryan Twendt

Learn More

Nov 22

Sun

Fossil Creek Reservoir

Leader: Sirena Brownlee

Learn More

Nov 22

Sun

Walk in Pawnee Grassland

Leader: Nolan Bunting

Learn More

1st Sat

Sat

HPEC Recurring Banding

Leader: Ryan Twendt

Learn More

* Tentative date

New Name, Same Mission

In February, 2025, we changed our name from Fort Collins Audubon Society (FCAS) to Northern Colorado Bird Alliance. Click here to learn more.

Our Mission remains the same.

Please be patient with us as we transition to the new name. You may see materials (e.g., publications) or communications that use the FCAS name for some limited time to come.

President's Corner

Recruiting Candidates

by John Shenot

Last month, we appointed three members to a Nominations Committee that will be responsible for recruiting candidates to serve on our Board of Directors in 2027. The committee members are Lori Pivonka, Barb Patterson, and me. We have already identified many willing and qualified candidates to serve as officers, directors, and standing committee chairs, but we are still looking to fill at least four vacancies: one Director-at-Large, and chairpersons for our Publications, Finance, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committees.

All these positions are important to the success of our chapter, but I think our highest priority is to find a new DEI committee chair. The best way for our chapter to grow and have a greater positive impact in our community is to diversify our membership and leadership, and actively promote inclusion and equity in all Bird Alliance activities. This committee is focused on just that. If that kind of work excites you, or you know someone who might be interested, please speak up.

Directors-at-Large serve on the Board of Directors and contribute to all decisions made by the board, but have no specified duties. Our Finance Committee Chair is responsible for managing our investments (currently, this consists entirely of certificates of deposit) and compiling our annual budget. The primary responsibility of the Publications Committee Chair is to ensure that our monthly newsletter is published. This involves coordinating the effort of multiple authors of articles, our editor, and proofing. We have limped through past years with either or both of those committee chairs vacant, but it would be great to find enthusiastic new volunteers.

Send an email to contact@nocobirdalliance.org or contact any member of the Nominations Committee to learn more about volunteering for the Board of Directors generally, or to learn about any of the specific vacancies mentioned above. You won’t be pressured to volunteer, but if you do, experienced board members will do what we can to help you be successful.

The New, The Noteworthy & Upcoming Events

  • Event November 2026

    Nov Event:
    The Bird Genoscape Project and our work on Rosy-Finches

    Thursday, November 12th, 2026

    Join us for Erica Robertson's presentation on her work with Rosy-Finches at the Bird Genome Project.Learn more here.

  • photo gallery

    Photo Gallery

    The photo gallery needs your bird pictures! Please submit your favorite photos for inclusion. Find out more here.

  • logo'd apparel

    NCBA Apparel

    Don't venture out on another fieldtrip without one of our shirts, caps or other items with our beautiful ptarmigans logo on them. Find out more here.

Education Grant

The Alex Cringan Memorial Grant, sponsored by NCBA, provides funds to raise environmental awareness for future generations. Dr. Alex Cringan was a Colorado State University Professor of wildlife biology, a founding member and past president of the chapter when it was known as the Fort Collins Audubon Society, a frequent field-trip leader, and a friend and a role model for many NCBA members. Shortly after his passing in October 2012, FCAS created the Alex Cringan grant to provide money for educational purposes. The purpose of the grant is to provide financial assistance to teachers and students involved in a project teaching or researching natural resources so they can enhance their skills and share their knowledge with others.

Teachers, and students! The Northern Colorado Bird Alliance has an exciting opportunity for you to learn more about conservation. You can apply for a $300.00 Alex Cringan Memorial Grant and use the funding to do a project, take a workshop, sign up for an online class or research a topic of interest to you! Now would be a great time to learn more about birds and connect with nature!

Click here for an application.

Scholarship Fund

The Alex Cringan Memorial Scholarship Fund, sponsored by NCBA, is a scholarship created to raise environmental awareness in future generations. Dr. Alex Cringan was a Colorado State University Professor of wildlife biology, a founding member and past president of the NCBA (known as Fort Collins Audubon Society at the time), a frequent field-trip leader, and a friend and a role model for many chapter members. Shortly after his passing in October 2012, NCBA created the Alex Cringan Fund to provide small grants for educational purposes. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance for teachers and students involved in a project teaching or researching natural resources so they can enhance their skills and share their knowledge with others. The scholarship kicked-off in August 2019. Click here for more information.

Find Northern Colorado Bird Alliance on Facebook for Field Trip Information

Northern Colorado Bird Alliance has a Facebook page where we post announcements about upcoming field trips, last minute changes to scheduled trips, and highlights of most of our outings. Make sure to Like our page! Our announcements should then appear on your wall. You can also click on "Northern Colorado Bird Alliance" to be taken directly to the Facebook page. Note: All field trips are also announced in the Ptarmigan and on our website.


Find Northern Colorado Bird Alliance on YouTube for Previous Zoom Presentations

YouTube logo

Did you miss the monthly live chapter Zoom presentation? The chapter has a YouTube channel to provide an easily accessible archive of our monthly chapter Zoom meetings. Be sure to Like and Subscribe!

NCBA Welcomes New and Renewing Members

Thank you for your membership! Memberships provide a major part of the funding that supports our conservation and education work. You can help support our work by informing friends, family, and fellow birders about us. Your support makes our programs and conservation efforts possible and helps us achieve our mission of connecting people to the natural world.

NCBA welcomes new National Audubon Society members by sending one complimentary copy of our newsletter. Join us at our monthly programs on the second Thursday of the month. National dues do not cover the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter, so if you'd like to keep receiving the Ptarmigan, please support your local chapter and subscribe.

  • Derek Atkinson
  • Nikki Berlin
  • Ann Donoghue
  • Sarah Engebrecht
  • Patricia Ewert
  • Janet Holley
  • Connie Ohlson
  • Dillan Prince
  • Susan Roscoe
  • Ann Seymour
  • Linda Squires
  • Mary Stanley Weston

NCBA Mission Statement

To promote the appreciation, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, through education, participation, stewardship, and advocacy.