[Metro Area Hotspots] [Colorado Birding Links] [Other Bird-Related Sites] [Non-birding Sites]
METRO AREA HOTSPOTS
This section is intended to be a very basic guide to Denver metro area birding hotspots. It is by no means exhaustive. For more complete coverage, (including important things like directions!), see Birding the Front Range: a Guide to Seasonal Highlights by Robert Folzenlogen, and the new and improved A Birder's Guide to Colorado by Harold Holt.
Bel Mar Park, including Kountze Lake (Lakewood) There is always something good here - It's one of the best spots I've found for ducks in the winter: Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Goldeneye, (I've seen both Common and Barrow's), Wood Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Wigeon, Canada Geese, and Mallards are common, along with the ubiquitious circle of Northern Shovelers. In spring and summer American Coots and Pied-billed Grebes nest in the marshy areas, as Black-crowned Nightherons, Great Blue Herons, and the occasional Green Heron stalk their prey. Several species of swallows spend the warm months here, as well as many warbler species and millions of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles, (okay not really millions - it just sounds like it!) The Park is located at about Ohio Ave. and South Wadsworth in Lakewood.
Prospect Park (Wheat Ridge) Prospect Park is notable not only for birds but for the resident foxes, (whom some people foolishly feed...!). Warblers are common here throughout the spring and summer, especially during migration. Waterfowl I have seen here include: Greater and Lesser Scaup, Goldeneye, Canvasback, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Ducks.
Barr Lake (Brighton) Notable for the resident Bald Eagles, and Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorant Rookeries. From the Nature Center bridge: to the left is good for shorebirds and waterfowl, (and leads to the eagles and rookeries where a permanent spotting scope is set up); to the right is good for songbirds. This is a good spot any time of year.
Roxborough State Park (Littleton) This park is best on cool mornings. The afternoons are extremely hot, and even in the mornings water is a necessity. Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds are attracted to the feeders by the nature center, and a pair of Say's Phoebes has nested there for the past few years. Other likely birds are: Evening and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Scrub Jays, Vesper Sparrows, White-throated Swifts, and several warbler species. I always think I'm going to see raptors, but I never have.
Sombrero Marsh (Boulder) I like Sombrero Marsh because I saw a Garganey there. I've also seen a large variety of waterfowl, White-faced Ibis, and Wilson's Phalarope. This small pond is definitely worth a detour when visiting other spots in Boulder.
Sawhill/Walden Ponds (Boulder) Recently played host to a Tufted Duck. I actually got to see it which is quite unusual for me - usually when I twitch, so does the bird. This area usually produces good waterfowl including Canvasback, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Lesser, (and sometimes Greater) Scaup, and Ring-necked Ducks. Also, Sawhill/Walden can get a breeding attempt by the Least Bittern plus a spring visit of the Little Blue Heron (immature or adult). Remember when birding these or any other places to follow the ABA Code of Ethics.
Birders and U.S. and Federal LawsArticles for beginning birders (including children)Nivon Birding Group Goor the NetherlandsGull and seabird identificationThe Proceedings of the 1997 Owls of the Northern Hemisphere SymposiumBook on the Eskimo CurlewRick Blom's list of Birding ListservsNorth American Bird ChecklistNational Audubon Society's WatchList of Birds at RiskSources of Scientific Bird NamesInformation about California CondorsThe American Society of Crows and RavensDucks at a DistanceChecklists from Wildlife RefugesSpecies Accounts from USFWSDenis Lepage's Bird Links to the WorldBirding on the WebDavid Sarkozi's Birds of the Upper Texas Coast - Birding Links
OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
ANIMALS/ENVIRONMENTAL
Cavy Care Inc. Guinea Pig Rescue
Colorado Watchable Wildlife
Earth Day Everyday!
Zero Waste America
RecycleNet's Recycling Exchange
Ecocycle's Electronic Home
Colorado Recycles
What to do with all those extra AOL disks
The Cool Dog Site of the Day
Dog breed rescue groups
The Maxfund Animal Adoption Center The MAAC cares for injured strays with no known owners.
Missing Animals Network
Monarch Migration Watch
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory
SPORTS
Go Avs!!!!!
And Rapids!!!!!
And Rockies!!!!!
A woman's place is on a hockey team!
MISC
Home of The Blue Ribbon Campaign to Fight Internet Censorship
Peacefire's Blocked Sight of the Day
Time Zones, Zip Codes, Currency Exchange Rates, all kinds of useful stuff
Mister Potatohead!
Important Messages to Place on Your Car
The obligatory "Pictures of Kids Page" - and they're not even my kids!
The Chicago Field Museum
The Official X-Files Page
Send a virtual postcard
