Chico Basin Ranch is an 87,000-acre property located in both El Paso and Pueblo Counties with access near Hanover, CO. It is leased primarily for grazing. The vast prairie, dotted with a few ponds with rich cottonwood and willow bosques, makes this a magical place for birding. Chico is the largest birding hotspot in Colorado, where numerous bird species can be seen during spring and fall migrations. Birders may access the ranch for 5 weeks each during spring and fall migration, which coincides with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies‘ (BCR) bird banding operation.
In mid-2024 the Colorado State Land Board (SLB), which owns Chico Basin Ranch, took over management of birding activities. Thanks to their generosity, Aiken Audubon now holds a 5-year birding lease on the property, which allows continued access to birders. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies similarly has a 5- bird banding lease with the SLB, with both lease dates running simultaneously. Through a unique partnership, Aiken took on the registration, insurance, and porta john costs, and agreed to donate half of the registration revenue to BCR, to help fund bird-banding. The three organizations have since worked together seamlessly and feel that this is an optimal way to manage birding access. Chico is truly a remarkable property, and we invite you to visit it on your own or with one of Aiken’s birding trips.
The fee is $15/person. Proceeds are split between Aiken and BCR, to support access to the ranch and bird-banding operations.
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