In the third week of September I visited the Banding Station at Barr Lake operated by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. This is one of two sites where the BCOR bands and monitors birds migrating through the area in spring and fall. I checked in and took a seat on a shaded deck along…
While I was up on Mount Blue Sky this summer, one of my favorite pastimes was marmot watching. And this summer I got a lot of marmot watching in. No thats not a weird euphemism! I really watched marmots this summer. But before we dig in on some fun behavior… You Might be Wondering… What…
An adult and baby black-tailed prairie dog chase each other around their burrows. – Copyright 2021 Heather Valey Remember my summer post regarding the bulldozing of the black-tailed prairie dog colony in Centennial, Colorado? Well, here’s the latest update on the neighboring colony that managed to survive. Prairie Dog Activist Persists Centennial Prairie Dogs activist,…
During the 3rd week of September an email appeared in a nature email group I follow. It sounded the alarm for birders and nature lovers in the Colorado Front Range. Important bird habitat was being destroyed to expand water capacity for Barr Lake State Park. Worry mounted that the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR), who has had a bird banding station there for 35 years, would lose their post and the habitat for the migratory song birds they study.
Colorado alpine flower species; American Bistort & Queens Crown glow in the afternoon light at Summit Lake, Colorado. Photo by Heather Valey copyright 2023, all rights reserved NOTE: As of September 15th, effective immediately. Mount Evans’ name has been formally changed to Mount Blue Sky! Summer on Mount Evans The summer went by quickly, quicker…
It was a cloudy morning on July 14th as Karen Carter drove to her work office in Centennial Colorado. While waiting to turn on a road near her job, she turned to look at a prairie colony in the adjacent field like she always did. She enjoyed watching their antics as they ran from burrow…
Second Creek swells with spring runoff in the Colorado River watershed – photo by Heather Valey – copyright 2023 Where Does Your Water Come From? Where does your water come from? Many of folks might just say “the tap”. I turn the faucet on and there is water. But where does the water that flows…
Back in January, a friend of mine invited me to join her at the Biggest Week in American Birding Festival. I of course agreed with gusto before I noticed that it was in Ohio. Ohio? Really? Are there even birds in Ohio? Just kidding of course, but every time I think of Ohio I think…
Introduction I wrote a post a couple weeks ago about prairie dogs being trapped on Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS). Unsurprisingly, it produced a great deal of drama and feedback. One person close to me chastised me, saying “Of all the effed up stuff going on right now, you’re focusing on 150 prairie…
First, Let’s Set the Scene Boulder County Open Space in Colorado has a reputation for world-class parks and trails. The Picture Rock trail at Hiel Ranch near Lyons in Boulder County is a great example of this. With its stunning views, diverse habitats, and multiple recreational opportunities, Hiel Valley Ranch is a wonderful piece of…
