Chico Basin Ranch with Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO)
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 5:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Leader: Kip Miller
Trip Difficulty: Moderate

Habitats to bird: Grassland, Riparian, Scrub, Wetland

We’ve added a second fall opportunity to visit this popular El Paso County birding location. (The Sept 15 outing filled quickly….) This trip will explore the three sites at Chico Basin Ranch currently open to birders – The woodlands where Bird Conservancy of the Rockies will be banding birds, the Headquarters Pond and Rose’s Pond. This trip is ideal for those that have never visited the ranch, but all levels of birders are welcome. We will be in shade much of the time, but still plan for sun protection. Portable toilets will be nearby half of the time. Bring a sack lunch and drinks/water. We may walk up to three miles at a birder’s pace on mostly flat, but sometimes uneven terrain. Long pants are recommended.

Birders coming from the Denver region will meet at Castle Rock Lowe’s parking lot at 5:30 am, as indicated. Those coming from the El Paso County region and the leader will meet at Kirk Hanna Park (just north of the Chico Basin Ranch entrance) at 7 a.m. and then we will enter the ranch together. We are required to exit the ranch by 1:00 p.m., so the outing will conclude by that time at the latest. Closer to the trip, Kip will provide the link and password to participants to purchase their ticket to visit the ranch. The ranch access fee is $15 per person.

This trip is limited to 12 participants and registration is now open on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/UpcomingTrips.aspx. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create Account” and follow the prompts.