Upcoming Field Trips and Events

All field trips are free and open to the public. Anyone at any experience level is welcome. Bring snacks or lunch, water, binoculars, and/or spotting scopes. Changes to dates, meeting times, locations, and trip leaders are occa-sionally unavoidable. To register for any trip, please see posts at www.facebook.com/NoCoBirdAlliance, our Instagram page, or member emails sent out one to two weeks in advance of each trip. When announced, links will also be posted at lnk.bio/nocobirdalliance. Attendance may be limited. Bobcat Ridge surveys do not require registration. With comments or questions, contact Amy at fieldtrips@nocobirdalliance.org (new email address). Keep an eye on email and/or social media posts for updates or additional field trips.

April 2026

April 19 Saturday

LGBTQIA+ Community and Allies at River's Edge

Leader: Kit Gray, kit@kitgrayillustration.com. Join us for a relaxed and social bird outing in southeast Fort Collins. All levels are encouraged. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Additional details will be sent out with the sig-nup.

May 2026

May 10 Sunday

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting, dbretting@swloveland.com or 970-402-1292. The survey looks at bird populations and helps local scientists better understand bird dynamics. The little more than four-mile hike covers moderate to flat terrain with some steep sections. No registration required and there is no participation limit, but please email or text Denise that you plan to attend. Meet at 6:30 a.m. in the Bobcat Ridge parking lot. Signup not re-quired for Bobcat Ridge. The trip may be cancelled, rescheduled or relocated if trails are closed.

May 14 Thursday

May Presentation: Barn Swallows and Humans: The Rise and Fall of Coexistence in a Changing World

The Barn Swallow is one of those species whose expansion tracks with human settlement patterns and now is one of the most widespread species of bird on our planet encompassing breeding populations on both hemispheres and all but two continents. Artefacts from ancient human civilizations portray an enduring story between humans and Barn Swallows. This longstanding shared history of humans and Barn Swallows living side-by-side in our built environment is changing again dramatically..

To learn more about this informative talk, please visit the event page:

May 16 Saturday

Birding 101

Leaders: Lori Pivonka, 970-222-9029. Begins: 7.30am at the Etluck Picnic Area, Lory State Park. Ends: approximately 9am-ish; AND depending how far attendees would like to hike and how much time they have to stay longer the birding outing could last potentially until 11am. Bring: Binoculars AND your cell phone (AT HOME, please download the FREE app “Merlin Bird ID” from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) **Field trip limited to 15 participants.

Registration is done through the Lory SP visitor center, and begins May 1, 2026

To Register:
Call Visitor Center @ 970.493.1623 (8am-4pm, 7 days/week)
Email Visitor Center: dnr_lory.park@state.co.us

May 23 Saturday

Accessible Walk in Loveland

Leaders: Amy Roush, fieldtrips@nocobirdalliance.org, Frank Morgan, and Kellie Baer. Location TBD, current top options would be Centennial Park or Boyd Lake State Park. At either location, the path is a paved hike-and-bike trail, and we'd take a two-hour wander beginning at 9 a.m. at a slow walk. More details will be sent out with a signup link by early May.

May 26 Tuesday

Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

Leader: John Shenot, president@nocobirdalliance.org, 802-595-1669. This Fort Collins Natural Area is the most reliable location in Larimer County to find beautiful, bubbly Bobolinks. Reservoir Ridge also offers good habitat for grassland species such as Western Meadowlarks, Vesper and Grasshopper Sparrows, and Blue Grosbeaks. We'll start at 6 p.m. for an evening bird walk and cover about 2.2 miles on a flat, soft surface trail. Meet at the parking lot on Overland Trail. Signup for Reservoir Ridge will be released May 19.

June 2026

June 7 Sunday

Well Gulch Nature Trail Lory State Park

Leader: Sirena Brownlee, sirena.brownlee@hdrinc.com, 970-980-6184. Abundant wild plum thickets and other native shrubs provide habitat for a variety of migrant and resident foothills birds. This walk will focus on nesting birds. In previous years we have seen nesting Cedar Waxwings, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and Blue Grosbeak. Meet at the Eltuck Group Picnic Area at 7:30 a.m. for a one-mile moderate hike. State park passes are required. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen. The trail is rough, uneven, and slippery in some sections. Signup will be sent out around the end of May.

July 2026

June TBD

Possible alpine birding trip Lory State Park

We will lead walks in collaboration with Lory State Park throughout the summer. The walks are free to attend, but a valid state park pass is required. Registration is done through the Lory State Park visitor center: 970.493.1623 or dnr_lory.park@state.co.us. Registration for the first Lory State Park summer program begins May 1 and will be Birding 101 on May 16 at 7:30 a.m. with Lori Pivonka, 970.222.9029. If you are fairly new to birding, this is a good program for you. At home, please download the free app, “Merlin Bird ID,” from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Lori will cover birding gear, guides, visual and auditory identification tips, and online resources. The program ends at approximately 9 a.m., but could go longer. More Lory State Park programs later in the summer may include Birding by Ear, What Birds Eat, Mindful Birding, and others. Keep an eye out for additional announcements from the Birding Alliance or Lory State Park channels.

Past Events

The past three months of events are listed here. For information on earlier events, please consult that month's Ptarmingan.

April 2026

April 12 Sunday

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting, dbretting@swloveland.com or 970-402-1292. The survey looks at bird populations and helps local scientists better understand bird dynamics. The little more than four-mile hike covers moderate to flat terrain with some steep sections. No registration re-quired and there is no participation limit, but please email or text Denise that you plan to attend. Meet at 7 a.m. in the Bobcat Ridge parking lot. Signup not re-quired for Bobcat Ridge. The trip may be cancelled, re-scheduled or relocated if trails are closed.

April 19 Saturday

LGBTQIA+ Community and Allies at River's Edge

Leader: Kit Gray, kit@kitgrayillustration.com. JJoin us for a relaxed and social bird outing in southeast Fort Collins. All levels are encouraged. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Additional details will be sent out with the sig-nup.

March 2026

March 8 Sunday

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting, dbretting@swloveland.com or 970-402-1292. The survey looks at bird populations and helps local scientists better understand bird dynamics. The little more than 4-mile hike covers moderate to flat terrain with some steep sections. No registration required and there is no participation limit, but please email or text Denise that you plan to attend. Meet at 7:30a.m. in Bobcat Ridge parking lot. Signup not required. The trip may be cancelled, re-scheduled or relocated if trails are closed.

March 14 Saturday

LGBTQIA+ Community and Allies at Arapaho Bend.

Leader: Kit Gray, kit@kitgrayillustration.com. Join us at 9 a.m. for a relaxed and social bird outing in southeast Fort Collins. We will keep our eyes and ears open for different types of waterfowl such as Common Goldeneyes, American Wigeons, and Buffleheads. We'll also look for Belted Kingfishers, raptors, Song Sparrows, chickadees, and more. All levels are encouraged. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot located off of Harmony Road (at Harmony Transfer Center). We will meet in the NW section of the parking lot near the intersection of paved and dirt trails. This outing will be a slow-paced, 2-hour walk on a relatively flat trail. Sign up for LGBTQIA+ and Allies walk at Arapaho Bend was sent out in mid-February and may be full by the time of this newsletter: https://www.signupgenius.com/

March 19 Thursday

March Presentation: Revealing the Depths of Our Sagebrush Seas

Many describe the sagebrush steppe as “drive-through country,” a “barren wasteland,” or the “sagebrush sea.” These labels belie the complexity and fascinating ecology of our North American sagebrush habitats. This talk will challenge such misconceptions and guide us on an immersive journey through the sagebrush sea, while showcasing some of the behaviors and natural history of lesser known and appreciated species of birds and a charismatic “mini mammal.” The presentation also will highlight the impacts of ongoing human-induced habitat changes in the sagebrush steppe and describe a case study demonstrating how rigorous and longer term scientific investigation can illuminate practical strategies for addressing species' declines amidst modern land use pressures.

To learn more about this informative talk, please visit the event page:

March 22 Sunday

East Valley Trail Lory State Park.

Leader: Nolan Bunting, Nolanbuntingdvm@gmail.com or 907-299-4625, and Frank Morgan. Meet up at 8:45 a.m. at the first parking lot to the left as you enter the park from the north. This is a flat and easy hike along the coves and banks of Horsetooth Reservoir. The grass should still be short, but it is a great view of the rocks and trees. The trail is not paved, flat with little elevation change, and the gravel is occasion-

February 2026

February 8

Bobcat Ridge Survey

Leader: Denise Bretting, dbretting@swloveland.com or 970-402-1292. The survey looks at bird populations and helps local scientists better understand bird dynamics. The little more than 4-mile hike covers moderate to flat terrain with some steep sections. No registration required and there is no participation limit, but pleaseemail or text Denise that you plan to attend. Meet at 7:30a.m. in Bobcat Ridge parking lot. Signup not required. The trip may be cancelled, re-scheduled or relocated if trails are closed.

February 12

February Presentation: Rodenticides and Colorado

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.

Rodenticides bio-accumulate in carnivores that consume poisoned rodents, affecting more than 25 wildlife species including hawks, owls, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions. These poisons can cause internal bleeding, immune suppression, increased vulnerability to diseases like mange, and widespread mortality in non-target wildlife.

To learn more about this informative talk, please visit the event page:

February 15

Raptor Alley

Leader: Nolan Bunting, nolanbunting@hotmail.com or 907-299-4625. A trip out to one of the most amazing ecosystems on planet earth. The Pawnee National Grasslands during the winter is home to a large variety of birds, including Lapland Longspurs, Rough-legged Hawks, and Northern Shrikes. The group will meet in Nunn at 8 a.m. to carpool; the trip will likely run until 2 to 3 p.m. Please pack a lunch and be prepared for some driving and birding. Signup for Raptor Alley will be released on Sunday, February 1.

February 21

Riverbend Ponds

Leader: Sheila Webber, 13sheilaw@gmail.com. Meet at 8 a.m. in the southern parking lot along Prospect for a walk of about two hours along the smooth, but unpaved path around the ponds. There are many ponds and a wide variety of wildlife. Possible sightings include ducks, geese, raptors, sparrows, and Townsend’s Solitaire.

February 28

Sandhill Cranes.

(possible addition of Sunday, March 1), Sandhill Cranes. Leader: Lori Pivonka, lori.pivonka@gmail.com. Attendees will gather at 7:15 at the Jax Farm & Ranch in northern Fort Collins (https://maps.app.goo.gl/44L1wZz2Pe3cEJnd9) to carpool north, where they will try to find migrating Sandhill Cranes. The trip will involve driving along agricultural fields to spot the cranes and will run from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Bring binoculars, a camera, and/or a scope if you have one. Lori will also have a scope. Expect to learn about cranes and their behavior, and possibly get to watch their mating dance displays! If you attended this trip in 2025, please consider attending in alternating years to give others the chance at this experience. Signup for the Sandhill Crane trip will be sent out on February 14. If the trip on Saturday fills, we may announce an additional signup for a Sunday trip.