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Bird Watching In Colorado
Can Be Really Close to Home
If you're into bird watching in Colorado, you often don't need to go farther than your own backyard. Even if you're just visiting, spend a little time just watching out your window, and you're liable to see lots of different birds.
Put up bird feeders, and you'll attract even more birds to your yard. But do check whether your neighborhood has any restrictions before putting feeders up. Some areas do, because bird feeders attract wildlife besides birds. Sometimes BIG wildlife.
My father-in-law and mother-in-law lived in northern Minnesota on a lake, after retirement. They had several bird feeders up, including one mounted on a two inch metal post in the yard. One morning, they got up to find the bird feeder hanging sideways - the post was bent at a 90 degree angle! Big bird...uh bear...
Though we love bird watching in Colorado, we'll need to be careful of bird feeders in our yard for precisely that reason. Our 35-acre property is out of town a ways, in a very quiet canyon. We have bears (we've heard them), elk, deer, cougars, lynx, bobcats, coyotes... You name it, and it likely lives in our "yard" somewhere. I've seen deer eat out of a bird feeder before, so we know we'll have to choose wisely when we pick places to put out feeders.
But, if you like a bit of adventure in your bird watching in Colorado, there are some great places to see something more than backyard birds, too. Like the eastern side of Vallecito Lake.
We have a bird book that states firmly that osprey only migrate through southern Colorado, and definitely don't nest there. Problem is, they didn't tell the osprey that.My husband took our animal-crazy daughter for a drive to see eagles a few years back, and instead, they found osprey. Nesting near the lake.
If you want to try that drive, you need to head for Vallecito Lake on Florida Road (County Road 245). Or from Highway 160 east of Durango, go to Bayfield and head up Vallecito Lake Road (County Road 501). When you get to the lake, turn right next to the dam, drive across it and go on up the eastern road that follows the lake shore. Drive slowly, and watch for tall Ponderosa pines, often dead, or at least dead near the top. If you see something like this mess of sticks, it's likely a nest for ospreys.
Depending on the time of year, you may not see much. The adults return in April or so, mate and lay eggs, which hatch within about five weeks. Until the chicks grow much, you won't see them in the nest (unless you can fly). But come July, they're getting pretty large, and flapping their wings for exercise. Getting ready to fledge. Soon, they're off on their own.
My daughter and I have been privileged enough to see naturalists banding young osprey in the Twin Cities - that's where two of the pictures on the Wild Birds of Colorado page came from. Seeing a young osprey that close is really incredible! And while you're looking for osprey, keep your eyes peeled for other birds, large and small. We've seen hawks chasing each other, woodpeckers, ducks and songbirds when we stop to pay attention.
So whether you want to do armchair bird watching in Colorado, or get more adventurous, you're sure to find plenty of birds to admire - and add to your life list.Maybe we'll see you out there. Enjoy! Want to read more about birding in the area? Click any of the links below to go to our other bird pages:
Colorado Bird Houses
Wild Birds of Colorado
Colorado State Bird
Colorado Bird Watching Clubs
Colorado Bird Watching 2
Colorado Upland Bird
Birds of Colorado 2
Return to Colorado Birds main page from the Bird Watching in Colorado page.
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