February 2026 Field Trips

Feb 8

Sun

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting

Learn More

Feb 15

Sun

Raptor Alley

Leader: Nolan Bunting

Learn More

Feb 21

Sat

Riverbend Ponds

Leader: Sheila Webber

Learn More

Feb 28

Sat

Sandhill Cranes

Leader: Lori Pivonka

Learn More

Mar 14

Sat

LGBTQIA+ Community and Allies at Arapaho Bend

Leader: Kit Gray

Learn More

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

Chapter Updates

by John Shenot

One year ago, members voted to change the name of our organization. Throughout 2025, the Board of Directors then took countless little actions to implement the name change. That work is nearly done, but two big tasks remain.

First, sometime in the next three months, we plan to launch a completely revamped website that will be fully managed by the volunteers that serve on the Board. We will no longer be dependent on an outside webmaster. This will give us the ability to make changes faster and will reduce our administrative costs.

Second, there is still work to do with introducing and reintroducing our renamed organization to people across Northern Colorado. This is a crucial task for achieving our mission, and it is a task for which we can always use more help from members, especially (but not only) those who live outside of the Fort Collins and Loveland communities. If you know of events or venues where you think we should be present, let us know. If there is a destination where you think we should host a field trip, let us know. If there is a hot issue that you think the chapter should speak up on, let us know. And most of all, if you want to help with any of these things as a volunteer, please let us know! You can always reach me at president@nocobirdalliance.org.

The New, The Noteworthy & Upcoming Events

  • Event February 2026

    February Event:
    Rodenticides and Colorado

    Thursday, February 12th, 2026

    This talk examines how rodenticide poisoning reaches far beyond its intended targets and why Colorado is now considering legislation to prohibit the most dangerous poisons.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.

FCAS 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.

  • Dorothy Adel
  • Amy Adler
  • Stephen Armstead
  • Hetty Bixby
  • Gene J. Blatt
  • Denise Bretting
  • Craig Busack
  • Grant Campbell
  • Robert Mann & Judith Christy
  • Morris Clark
  • Wayne Crayton
  • Kathleen Cromar
  • Karen Cruise
  • James DeMartini
  • Joyce Dempsey
  • Mary Beth Dillon
  • Kim Dunlap
  • Elizabeth Edwards
  • Randy Fischer
  • Julie Fowler
  • Anna Fuller
  • Suzanne Gauch
  • William Gerk
  • Susan Glenn
  • Mike Knowles & Michelle Haefele
  • Nancy Hill
  • Janet Holley
  • Carole Hossan
  • Gina C. Janett
  • Sean Jaster
  • Barbara Jones
  • Kristin J. Joy
  • Kathryn Kay
  • Sue Kenny
  • Josephine Kerrigan
  • Dean & Loretta Klingenberg
  • Elizabeth Knees
  • Nick Komar
  • Janet Larson
  • Christie Lee
  • Jane M. Low
  • Sandra Pitcaithley & Thomas Lynch
  • Karen Manci
  • Connie Marvel
  • Margo Matthews
  • Linda McNamara
  • Barb Messineo
  • Frank Morgan
  • Larry Moskowitz
  • Jim Nachel
  • Jerry Partin
  • Eric Powers
  • Elizabeth Pruessner
  • Kathrine Reed
  • Margaret Reek
  • Lesley Roper
  • Kathy Rushing
  • Christine Schmuhl
  • John Shenot
  • Luke Simmer
  • David Sitzman
  • Sally Sprouse
  • Donna Stump
  • Hank Thode
  • Ester L. Thorson
  • Danette Vassilopoulos
  • John Vassilopoulos
  • Kimberly Vercimak
  • Sharon Visk
  • Sheila Webber
  • William West
  • Karen Wheeler
  • Roger Wieck

FCAS Mission Statement

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

More Links

Pocket Guide

Links

Conservancy & Advocacy

National Audubon Society Policy & Issues

Board Meetings

Local Birding

Bird Counts

Education

Volunteering

Facebook Page

Youtube Channel

Photo Gallery

Contact

Have questions or comments? Drop us a note.