Restricted visitation began in 2024 and is a result of new terms imposed by the State Land Board of Colorado. With your patience and understanding, we made the best of the situation and have still been experiencing great birding on the ranch during the spring and fall banding seasons.
Chico Basin Ranch is an 80,000 acre property located along El Paso and Pueblo County lines near Hanover, CO. It is owned by the Colorado State Land Board (SLB) and leased primarily to ranchers. Aiken Audubon has also been granted access by the SLB. The vast prairies dotted with a few ponds with rich cottonwood and willow bosques make this a magical place for birding where MANY bird species are possible, especially in spring and fall migration. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies operates a bird banding station 5 weeks each spring and fall, during which birders are invited to enjoy the birding opportunities on the ranch.
Please note the following access rules at Chico Basin Ranch:
- Visitation in fall 2025 will be allowed ONLY August 29 through October 2. The ranch will be open to birders again in Spring 2026. Exact days will be announced later in the winter.
- Birders are required to register and pay in advance (click below).
- Registration for each day opens seven days in advance. For example, registration for August 29 opens on August 22 @ 7:00 am.
- Visitation is capped at 20 birders/day, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and access is limited to the banding station, Headquarters Pond (HQ pond area, not including area behind gate) and Rose Pond. Birders may arrive no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and must leave the property no later than 1:00 p.m.
- The fee is $15/person. All proceeds go towards maintaining access to Chico Basin Ranch for birding.
- Formal groups interested in making a reservation should reach out to chicoregistration@aikenaudubon.com. Formal groups are a minimum of 8 people, a maximum of 12 people, and may not be for profit.
- All sales are final unless birding is closed at Chico due to muddy road conditions (see below).
- In the event roads are impassable due to muddy conditions, we will notify registrants as early as possible that birding is closed for the day and refunds will be issued.
- Consider signing up for Aiken’s emails (monthly) to receive regular updates.
Registration for each day opens @ 7:00 am seven days in advance.
First day to register for fall birding is is August 22, 2025.
chicoregistration@aikenaudubon.com
CHICO FINIANCIAL REPORT
Your registration fees help Aiken Audubon Society cover the insurance and porta-potties necessary to allow birders on site, plus contributions to Bird Conservancy of the Rockies for their banding station. Miscellaneous expenditures may occur, like signs and volunteer milage reimbursement.
2024
2024 Thrifty Thrones: -$1110.00
2024 Insurance: -$1704.00
Sign On-Site: -$115.00
Spring Registration Fees: +$4260.08
Spring Chico Donations: + $167.00
Spring Contribution to BCR: -$2302.50
Fall Registration Fees: +$1560.77
Fall Chico Donations: +$72.00
Fall Contribution to BCR: -$818.72
Aiken Audubon Society net: +$9.63
2025
2025 Thrifty Thrones: -$1950.00
2025 Insurance: -$1014
Spring Registration Fees: +$5174.00
Spring Chico Donations: + $147.00
Spring Contribution to BCR: -$2588.00
Fall Registration Fees: $2602.75
Fall Chico Donations: $55.00
Fall Contribution to BCR: -$1301.37
Fall Volunteer Reimbursements: -$50.00
Aiken Audubon Society net: $1075.38