Experts share their favorite winter birding destinations in Colorado

It s hard to believe Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat used to be a gravel pit Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat attracts plenty of wildlife including a large number of migrating birds in the winter Ben Siebrase Special to The Denver Post These days the -acre refuge at St Vrain Road in Boulder County attracts plenty of wildlife including a large number of migrating birds that come for five on-site ponds knit together with miles of flat scenic trail Even on a cold December morning it s worth bundling up to see what s fluttering through the reclaimed wetlands Not far from Longmont s municipal airport Pella Moving across a mile south of Hygiene on the east side of North th Street delivers a similar scene industrial strip mines transformed into a peaceful haven Feeling unseasonably hopeful I once took my young kids birding at Walden Ponds The hobby requires a certain level of patience and quiet not exactly our family s strong suits Despite near-constant reminders my offspring produce their own special calls a cacophonous blend of screeches giggles and bickering that clears a marsh faster than you can say white-tailed Ptarmigan Still after scattering every sparrow in sight we caught an unexpected break on the drive out Look my husband disclosed pulling over near Wally Toevs Pond There were two golden eagles perched on a utility pole primary feathers ruffling in the cold breeze I fumbled for my phone snapped a terrible zoomed-in photo and then decisively we all fell silent Car birding When I reported lifelong Colorado birder Peter Burke about this he wasn t remotely surprised Golden eagles he explains like to nest on cliffs in the mountains but they come down here for the winter and often perch on telephone poles while hunting prairie dogs Burke who founded the guide company Rocky Mountain Birding and at the moment edits the quarterly journal Colorado Birds approved of our drive-by-birding technique In fact car birding is one of his go-to strategies You re less likely to flush a bird this way Humans have the profile of a predator he notes But cars They re more like big slow cows not particularly threatening As a bonus you ll be warm in your car on a chilly day The main message I got when I called up a handful of Colorado s expert birders is that you truly don t have to trip far from Denver especially once the temperature drops For specific species we re south As Jacob Job from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies puts it Winter birding is often overlooked That s a shame because we get a whole new influx of species this time of year And it s worth noting that as milder winters caused by situation change reshape migration patterns specific birds are sticking it out mountain bluebirds for instance can now be spotted here all year long We have an image of migratory birds flying south for the winter but Colorado s Front Range is south for plenty of species including raptors cackling geese a close cousin to the Canada goose and rough-legged hawks which breed in tundra way above the Arctic Circle then vacation in sunny Colorado Other birds have an elevational migration within the Centennial State Northern pigmy owls for example propagate in the mountains before coming to the foothills This time of year Colorado birders are primarily searching for raptors waterfowl and sparrows Where you go will largely depend on what you re hoping to spot explains Burke Related Articles Colorado land board agrees to sell acres in San Luis Valley despite worries about federal strategy Sparring bucks break into Douglas County home near Roxborough Park Reintroduced wolf dies in southwest Colorado CPW says Moose attacks woman walking dog in Boulder County As feds new stance against Canadian-sourced wolves throws wrench in Colorado s plans what s next Burke s a fan of towhees They re big sparrow-like birds he tells me When I ask Spotted towhees he shoots back Are you a birder Busted I admit that I just Googled it Red Crossbills at Echo Lake on Mount Evans Peter Burke Special to The Denver Post I m not a confident birder I say Burke laughs Really it just comes down to curiosity and how much time you put into it he explained After a beat he chirps And good binoculars He recommends I spend at minimum for a nice pair When I ask Burke where I should take those fancy-pants binocs he tells me that while lots of people don t consider Red Rocks at W Alameda Parkway a birding destination it can be an excellent place for sparrows and towhees plus the cliffs are home to nesting prairie falcons Follow the prairie dogs Most of of us love big birds Raptors and their humungous nests are much easier to observe in winter-bare trees explains locality naturalist Dave Sutherland who leads free and absolutely fantastic society classes for birders of all ages and skill levels Visit davesutherland co for details and consider joining his upcoming Hawk Walk on Saturday Dec from to a m No cost but reservations are needed If you re keen to watch bald eagles in the wild try Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge at Gateway Road a former chemical weapons manufacturing facility that was cleaned up in the s before earning its protected status in soon after a roost of bald eagles was spotted on the premises The refuge hosts bison herds try the wildlife drive a black-footed ferret exhibit and plenty of prairie dogs Any place with a thriving prairie dog town will be a good place to see raptors announced Sutherland noting that people love to hate on prairie dogs but if you like birds of prey you need to make peace with them Ferruginous hawks for example are prairie dog specialists from Canada and North Dakota and their numbers are in decline because we ve wiped out prairie dog colonies on the Eastern Plains In addition to raptors eagles plus ferruginous rough-legged and Harlan s hawks Rocky Mountain Arsenal with its sprawling plains provides habitat for a variety of additional species including white-crowned sparrows and dark-eyed junco Explore reservoirs As long as they re not frozen over reservoirs pop-up habitat for waterfowl Burke mentioned are another place where bird enthusiasts can t go wrong Sutherland and Burke recommend Chatfield State Park at N Roxborough Park Road home to the Kingery Nature Center part of Denver Audubon s holdings A Bohemian Waxwing in Boulder Peter Burke Special to The Denver Post In Brighton meanwhile there s Barr Lake State Park Picadilly Road another premium spot where dozens of bald eagles overwinter Bonus Barr Lake puts on a variety of bird-themed walks talks and events throughout the year for details visit cpw state co us events and filter by park You ll need a state-parks pass to enter Barr Lake and Chatfield in a car and Colorado Parks Wildlife constituents information officer Bridget O Rourke wants Coloradans to know that free passes are available through all Colorado constituents libraries They re tucked inside CPW s Adventure Backpacks which are available to rent anytime and super fun for kids At Aurora Reservoir S Powhaton Road look for five to seven species of gulls including a scarce rare ones Burke explained noting that these long-winged aquatic beauties spend the entire winter in the area sleeping on ice then flying to the landfill to pick at garbage heaps before returning to the water to bathe Be aware Aurora Reservoir is not a Colorado State Park and you ll need a day pass to enter that s the off-season rate Eight minutes north of Niwot there s Lagerman Reservoir inside Lagerman Agricultural Preserve Pike Road It s the ugliest little reservoir you ever saw and for particular reason birds love it Sutherland gushes The -mile Lagerman Trail is closed through Dec for construction and will reopen to birders in the new year Reservoirs are popular hang-outs for other waterfowl too including the common goldeneye and Barrow s goldeneye a really neat diving duck Burke revealed that you ll spot mixed in with mallards northern shovelers and teals Gulls can t dive so they like to swim with goldeneyes and try to steal their lunch It s a match played out on Colorado reservoirs all winter long reported Burke At Waterton Canyon you're likely to spot American dippers a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater Ben Siebrase Special to The Denver Post Hole up on streams If you want to see a variety of ducks Sutherland will direct you to Prospect Park in Wheat Ridge at W th Ave and Robb streets where birders can sit tight along Clear Creek Waterton Canyon just south of the intersection of Waterton Road and Glenn L Martin Boulevard is another excellent option Beyond the famed bighorn sheep you re liable to spy American dippers a songbird about the size of a robin that spends its entire life in rivers and mostly hunts underwater Anything along Boulder Creek you can get dippers Job added also recommending Eldorado Canyon State Park at Kneale Road and Lair o the Bear Park at State Highway the latter a kid-friendly gem in Idledale Try state wildlife areas If you aren t sure where to go check out one of CPW s -plus State Wildlife Areas the hidden gems of citizens lands as O Rourke put it You ll need a special SWA recreational pass to enter these protected swaths which are open to hunters and wildlife viewers alike But don t let the hunting deter you SWAs attract winter owls including long-eared pygmy and screech varietals stated Job If you try an SWA do wear very bright colors during open season Fluorescent orange and pink will do the trick To uncover SWAs in your area check out CPW s online map at cpw state co us swa-finder And don t miss the state agency s nature viewing page which is packed with useful information for local birders Speaking of owls the last couple of years there have been snowy owls at Denver International Airport If you have winter excursion plans that include a flight this might be a good reason to arrive at the airport extra early Be a homebody Front Range residents won t have to leave home for good birding I love dark-eyed juncos commented Job Denver gets four to five subspecies in the wintertime Job added They ll come to the house to hang out by feeders Putting out bird feeders can be a lifeline for migrating birds and a thoughtful setup keeps feeders truly bird-friendly Burke recommends placing feeders near bushes or trees so visitors have quick cover from predators like hawks It s easy to protect birds from window collisions by adding visual cues like hanging cords or UV decals to large windows All the experts agree that it s essential to keep feeders clean Wash them with soap and water every limited weeks or when refilling to prevent diseases gloves are recommended A pro tip If you have problems with squirrels in your feeders try mixing seed with cayenne pepper Birds don t react to the spicy chemical compound but squirrels hate it If this sounds like a lot of work you can dependably throw seed on the ground Juncos and towhees happily eat ground seed A birding shelter at Fossil Creek Reservoir offers interpretive signs Jamie Siebrase Special to The Denver Post Involve the kids Longtime Colorado birder Carmela Coyle bestselling author of the Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots series for kids has a new picture book coming out in January just in time for winter birding Read Anyone Else Awake A Dawn Chorus Muddy Boots publishing with the kids in your life then explore Coyle s favorite hotspots both close enough to count as backyard birding for Denverites In Littleton there s Ketring Park at S Gallup St where the quarter-mile dirt trail around Wetland Loop is perfect for very young explorers Coyle also recommends the Stone House Trail at Bear Creek Greenbelt Park S Estes St Park in the lot off of South Estes Street Coyle disclosed and proceed west to the narrower dirt trails to the south through trees and brush Field wisdom You re bundling up and heading out because you want to see several plumage no These pro tips help ensure a prosperous outing If a bird changes its behavior because of you you re too close Use binoculars instead of your feet to get a better look and remember Winter birds are here to rest and refuel not perform While apps like Merlin are great tools overusing playback can stress out our migratory birds sending them searching for threats that aren t there Let the landscape speak first and use calls sparingly Don t forget to stay on designated trails and obey private property signs Birders should perpetually strive to be great stewards of the land The birds are waiting Grab your binoculars and let s see what winter on the Front Range has to offer Subscribe to our weekly newsletter In The Know to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox