Aiken Audubon Society

*FULL* Birds & Brews - Rock Ledge Ranch & Red Leg Brewing
2025-10-05 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Rock Ledge Ranch, 3199 Chambers Way, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904, United States
Rock Ledge Ranch (9am) & Red Leg Brewing (12pm)

We’ll peruse the orchard, meadows, woodlands, and rock formations in search of a variety of migrants and resident birds. If time permits, we’ll walk into Garden of the Gods for birds like White-throated Swifts, Prairie Falcons, and Canyon Wren.
– This will be an easy/moderate hike – We’ll be on relatively flat terrain and may go three miles at a birder’s pace. One short area of trail is somewhat steep.
– Bring binoculars, wear good hiking shoes, and dress for the Colorado Springs forecast. If you need to borrow a pair of binoculars, let Jessica know when you RSVP.
– Afterwards we’ll head over to Red Leg Brewing, about 4 minutes away.
While this trip is full, it’s worth joining the waitlist. Email jessicaisbirding@gmail.com to join the waitlist.

Lake Pueblo State Park with Denver Field Ornithologists
2025-10-25 06:00 - 16:00 | Lake Pueblo State Park (Visitor Center), 601-633 Pueblo Reservoir Rd, Pueblo, CO, 81005, United States
Lake Pueblo State Park with Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO)
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM
(NOTE: this is the time frame for Denver-area participants. COS-area, expect a later start/meeting time and an earlier arrival home.
Leaders: David Suddjian
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Let’s explore several birding spots around Lake Pueblo State Park – always a top fall and winter birding location. We might see loons, scoters, a jaeger, a variety of grebes, Sandhill Crane, and area specialties like Scaled Quail, Curve-billed Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird and Canyon Towhee. Plan for a full day of birding with lunch, snacks, and drinks, good walking shoes, and a scope if you have one. A rendezvous for birders from El Paso or Pueblo counties will be announced before the trip. Restrooms will be available at a handful of spots as we go along. We will carpool.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 10/4/2025. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22200. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.
Photo: Western Grebe / Mick Thompson/Audubon Photography Awards

Birds & Bikes (and optional beers after!) with TOSC & Aiken Audubon
2025-10-26 09:45 - 12:30 | John Ceresa Memorial Park, 1580 Leigh Ln, Fountain, CO, 80817, United States
Aiken Audubon Society is teaming up with Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) for a Bikes, Birds & Beers Ride! This is a casual-paced bike tour is appropriate for riders of a wide ability range that will focus on using our bikes to get to the birds 🙂 TOSC’s Allen Beauchamp will lead the biking, while Aiken Volunteer Nga Turner will help spot and ID the birds for us. This event is FREE!
Meetup date & time: Sunday, October 26th at 9:45am
Register: ticketstripe.com/events/7094107971346198
Ride duration: Depart at 10:00am and return around 12:30pm
Meeting Spot: The parking lot of John Ceresa Memorial Park in Fountain, CO. It is tucked into a neighborhood on the west side of US Hwy 85/87 (CanAm Hwy) Map link HERE
Distance: 10 miles for the full route but we’ll adapt as needed for time and bird watching.
Trail: The Crews Gulch Trail to Widefield Community Park to the #hiddeninplainsight gem of Carp Lake, and the Fountain Creek Regional Trail past the Fountain Creek Nature Center area.
The Ride: The group will meet in the parking area for John Ceresa Memorial Park where the Crews Gulch Trail meets the Fountain Creek Regional Trail. We’ll pedal up through the neighborhoods into and through Widefield Community Park. Heading back down the same way we came, we’ll head south on the Fountain Creek Regional Trail through the Fountain Creek Nature Center area and south for a bit, returning to the start location using the same trail.
The Birds: The group will stop as often as necessary to allow for good birding along the way. That being said, we may not get the full distance in, but that would be a good thing! This time of year, we should see lots of ducks on the ponds and creek, great blue herons, belted kingfishers, and fixed flocks of chickadees and their pals. Perhaps a rare warbler will be at “the spa”!
Difficulty: This is a very easy ride with no major grades, hills or technical trail terrain. It is a consistent light ascent up along the Crews Gulch Trail, but the pacing will be such that the group will stay together. The trails we will be on are, for the most part, hard-packed natural surfaces, so a bike with wider tires is most appropriate. Additionally, shoes that allow for walking when we stop to visit key spots are also recommended.
What to Bring: Bring a bike in good working order; one with wider tires is preferred. Helmets must be worn for the ride. Bring your birding gear that you can pedal safety with, like binoculars. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen along for an approximately 10 mile and 2.5 hour ride. Wear clothing appropriate for the Fountain, CO forecast.
Post ride social: After the ride, a group of us will be going down to Peaks n Pines Fountain for a little food and locally crafted goodness. Plan on joining us! Map link HERE
Please, no pets.

**FULL** Cemetery Birding on Halloween
2025-10-31 16:00 - 18:00 | Evergreen Cemetery, 1005 Hancock Expy, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903, United States
This trip is at capacity.
Trick or Treat? No tricks here, just the treat of enjoying an afternoon of birding with others!
Join us for a leisurely stroll through the evergreens on Halloween afternoon.
We’ll spend our time scanning the trees and grounds for the usual suspects and may possibly see a surprise Red Crossbill or Wild Turkey. We never know who might show up.
The majority of our time will be spent on level, paved walkways with the occasional dirt or grass path.
Dress accordingly for an October fall afternoon in Colorado.
This bird walk is open to birders of all levels, beginner to expert.
Please let us know if you need to borrow binoculars when you RSVP.
Space is limited.
Kindly RSVP to Tally at BirdingByBook@gmail.com.

Birding Sand Creek with Pat Paternostro
2025-11-01 08:00 - 10:30 | Sand Creek, 4870 Jedediah Smith Rd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80922, United States
Join Aiken Audubon and trip leader, Pat Paternostro, for a birding walk along Sand Creek (at Stetson Hills).
The trip will last roughly 2.5 hours and will start at 8:00 a.m. Starting location is Stetson Park, 4870 Jedediah Smith Rd.
We will walk along Sand Creek in search of local residents, winter arrivals, and several raptor species.
The walk is along an easily accessible path, with just a few slight inclines along the way.
Birders of all skill levels are welcome, but the focus will be birding/identification fundamentals. No need to RSVP, just come and enjoy the birds with us!

Extra binoculars and field guides will be available.

*FULL* Birds & Brews - Kettle Lakes & Lost Friend Brewing
2025-11-02 09:00 - 12:00 | Kettle Lakes, Airfield Dr, Colorado Springs, CO, 80920
Kettle Lakes (9am) followed by Lost Friend Brewing (12pm)
We’ll hike through the meadows and pines that outline the ponds and willows along the Kettle Lakes, a great birding spot between USAFA and I-25. We’ll hope for the usual year-round residents, late migrants, and arriving waterfowl. Afterwards we’ll head 10 minutes down the road to see what’s on tap at Lost Friend Brewing.
This will be an easy/moderate hike – We’ll be on relatively flat terrain and may go three miles at a birder’s pace. One short area of trail is somewhat steep. Bring binoculars, wear good hiking shoes, and dress for the Colorado Springs forecast. If you need to borrow a pair of binoculars, let Jessica know when you RSVP.

This outing is full at 25 birders. Join the waitlist by emailing trip leader Jessica at jessicaisbirding@gmail.com

Park County with Denver Field Ornithologists: Lake George & Eleven Mile Canyon
2025-11-03 06:30 - 14:00 | Lake George, Hwy 24, 80827
Park County with DFO: Lake George & Eleven Mile Canyon
Monday, November 3, 2025, 6:30 AM – 2:00 PM
(NOTE: this is the time frame for Denver-area participants. COS-area, expect a later start/meeting time and an earlier arrival home.
Leaders: Joseph Tuttle & David Suddjian
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
This trip will visit Lake George to see what birds are on the water and in the Ponderosa pines there. Then we will head up Eleven Mile Canyon to see the sights and see what birds we can find there. Lake George is likely to have some nice waterfowl for us. The trip in the Canyon is going to offer gorgeous views, and we have a chance of seeing some more waterfowl on the river, American Dippers, Eagles, and birds of Douglas-fir/Ponderosa pine forest. We will mostly be pulling off and seeing what we can see at various stopping points. Be prepared for cold weather, and there may be snow/icy surfaces. Weather leading up to the trip may change what we do, as the road in the Canyon is not well maintained for winter weather. We will play it by ear. Trip marked as moderate, but we won’t be hiking too hard, just walking around a bit here and there. We will carpool hopefully in 3-4 cars. For folks from the Aiken Audubon Society, rendezvous info will be provided as we get closer to the trip. Bring lunch, snack and drinks, hat, cloves and good walking shoes. A few scopes will be handy and the leaders will bring theirs to share.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 10/13/2025. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22197. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.
Photo: American Dipper / Evan Barrientos / Audubon

Park County Reservoirs with Denver Field Ornithologists
2025-11-14 06:30 - 15:30 | Eleven Mile Reservoir, 4344 Co Rd 92 #4186, Lake George, CO, 80827, United States
Park County Reservoirs with Denver Field Ornithologists (DFO)
Friday, November 14, 2025, 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM
(NOTE: this is the time frame for Denver-area participants. COS-area, expect a later start/meeting time and an earlier arrival home.
Leaders: David Suddjian
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
We’ll visit some of the large bodies of water in South Park beginning with Eleven Mile Res, followed Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Antero Reservoir if the weather/ice is kind to us. Plan to see migrant waterbirds and a chance for scoters, loons, Long-tailed Duck, also raptors, and grassland birds like Horned Lark, with the possibility of finding a Lapland Longspur. We will carpool and car caravan between sites with limited walking. Walking will be on the lighter side except for a possible jaunt over uneven terrain at Spinney, plus cold mountain temperatures and some long drives. Bring lunch, water, scopes, and dress in layers. Be ready for cold and maybe breezy conditions. Joe Tuttle will meet with folks in Jefferson and then we will head down to 11 mile from there. Trip may not go all the way to 3 PM, but want to leave the option open if we feel up to it. For folks from the Aiken Audubon Society, a meetup point and time will be communicated as we get closer to the trip. Eleven Mile State Park requires a State Parks pass for each vehicle.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 10/4/2025. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22196. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.
Photo: Long-tailed Duck / Kate Persons / Audubon Photography Awards

*WAITLIST ONLY* El Paso County with Denver Field Ornithologists
2025-11-29 07:30 - 15:30 | El Paso County, United States
El Paso County with DFO: Various locations for an almost-big-day.
Saturday, November 29, 2025, 7:15 AM – 3:00 PM
(NOTE: this is the time frame for Denver-area participants. COS-area, expect a later start/meeting time and an earlier arrival home.)
Leaders: David Suddjian and Jessica Miller
Trip Difficulty: Moderate

This trip will visit a handful of locations in the Colorado Springs and Fountain area to seek known rarities and maybe to find our own. We should find a nice cross-section of wintering and resident birds and perhaps some tardy migrants. Plan for up to three miles of walking among our different locations. Bring lunch, snacks and drink, and dress in layers. Scopes will be helpful at some spots, and the leader will have one to share. Denver-area birders will carpool from the Castle Rock meeting spot, and a rendezvous in the Springs area will be announced for those living to the south.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 11/8/2025. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22238. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.

Aiken Canyon Preserve with Bruce Dunbar
2025-12-06 07:30 - 23:30 | Aiken Canyon, 3350 Turkey Canon Ranch Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80926
Join Bruce Dunbar for a walk around Aiken Canyon Preserve, a quiet retreat down Hwy 115. We’ll hike about 4 miles through oak meadows and evergreen woodlands that wind through the rocky outcrops. This is a moderately difficult hike, but we’ll be going at a slow birder’s pace. Along the way we should see and hear a number of winter residents, and hopefully discover some special mountain species that have come down in elevation for the winter.

*WAITLIST ONLY* Birds & Brews: Fox Run Regional Park & Goat Patch Brewing - Northgate
2025-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Fox Run Regional Park, 2110 Stella Dr, Colorado Springs, CO, 80921, United States
This intrepid bird outing will have us searching the Palmer Divide for winter birds in the Black Forest. Fox Run Regional Park has only 5 species reported on eBird during December – will this be the worst Birds & Brews? Enjoy the scenery and camaraderie while contributing to winter bird records for the park!
– This hike will be moderate, going up to 3 miles in 2 hours over uneven terrain with some incline.
– Bring binoculars and dress for the Monument, CO forecast.
– Space is limited. Join the waitlist by emailing trip leader Jessica Miller at jessicaisbirding@gmail.com

Pueblo Area with Denver Field Ornithologists
2026-01-01 06:00 - 17:00 | Pueblo Area
Pueblo Area with DFO: Various locations for an almost-big-day to start your New Year off with a birding bang!
Thursday, January 1, 2026, 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(NOTE: this is the time frame for Denver-area participants. COS-area, expect a later start/meeting time and an earlier arrival home.)
Leader: David Suddjian
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Let’s kick start our year lists and even see new birds! Start 2026 with a visit to one of Colorado’s best winter birding areas! Lake Pueblo and the Arkansas corridor downstream can be counted on for a great variety of water birds and land birds, like loons, ducks, grebes, warblers and sparrows, and a good chance for rare wintering species. We will look for regional specialties like Scaled Quail, Curve-billed Thrasher, Canyon Towhee, Bewick’s Wren, and White-winged Dove. This will be a full day with several stops, including viewing around Lake Pueblo SP, along the Arkansas River, and at Pueblo City Park. Bring a scope if you have one (we can share), sturdy footwear, and bring plenty of clothing ranging from cold to pleasant. Plan for up to 1.5 miles of walking, mostly on flat terrain. Bring snacks, lunch and drinks. We will carpool from the Castle Rock meeting spot, and we will have a southern rendezvous point for those living south of Denver area.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 12/11/2025. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22255. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.

*FULL* Birds & Brews - Fountain Creek Regional Park & Peaks N Pines Brewing
2026-01-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, 80817
The woodlands, meadows, wetlands, creek, and ponds of Fountain Creek Regional Park make this one of the best places to observe a wide variety of birds in the region. Many species are possible on this guided walk, but we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for Great-horned Owls, Marsh Wren, Virginia Rail, and any rarities hanging out at “the spa”. Afterwards we’ll cheers our birds at Fountain’s Peaks N Pines Brewing!
– Restrooms will be available at the Nature Center
– Difficulty: easy/moderate. This will be a 2.5 mile walk along mostly flat trails at a slow, birder’s pace.
– Bring your binoculars; if you need to borrow some, just request with your RSVP.
– This trip is at capacity. Join the waitlist by emailing Jessica at jessicaisbirding@gmail.com.

Ute Valley Park with Pat Paternostro
2026-01-17 08:00 - 11:00 | CO
Join Pat Paternostro and Aiken Audubon for a birding trip at Ute Valley Park, Colorado Springs. We will look for Nuthatch and Woodpecker species and hopefully find some wintering species such as Crossbills, Kinglets, and Finches. The walk has some uneven terrain along with slight hills and may be snowy or muddy.
We will meet at 1645 Vindicator Dr, Colorado Springs, the primary Ute Valley parking lot.
You can RSVP to Pat @ broncos30@hotmail.com

Exploring USAFA - Members-only Outing *FULL*
2026-02-02 10:00 - 17:00 | CO
Join Aiken Audubon for a special day on the United States Air Force Academy Base! We’ll join USFWS Biologist Johnny Ochs for birding at his recommended locations around the base. In the afternoon we’ll head into the Planetarium for a show indoors. Finally, we’ll be given a tour of the falconry mews.
This outing is limited to 20 Aiken Members and is FULL. If you have donated any amount to Aiken Audubon on the past calendar year, you’re a member! To join the waitlist, just send an email to aikenaudubon@gmail.com. We’ll let you know you’re on the list and will be in communication as we near our trip.
Plan to dress for the Colorado Springs weather forecast. Bring binoculars, or request to borrow a set when you sign up. Bring a packed lunch for an a la fresca break!
Tentative Schedule:
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Birding on base (picnic lunch)
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Planetarium
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. USAFA Falconry Mews Tour

Red Rock Canyon Open Space with Pat Paternostro
2026-02-14 08:00 - 11:00 | Red Rock Canyon Open Space, 3550 W High St, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904, United States
Join Pat Paternostro and Aiken Audubon for a birding walk at Red Rock Canyon Open Space! We will hopefully find several species of raptors along with many of our wintering species such as Sparrows, Towhees, Nuthatch, Woodpeckers and Finches. The walk will include some inclines and uneven terrain and may be snowy or muddy.
We will meet at the open space parking lot which is located at 3550 W High St, Colorado Springs (off of Hwy 24).
You can RSVP to Pat @ broncos30@hotmail.com

Rosy-finch Ramble with DFO - Park & Jefferson Counties
2026-02-20 07:00 - 15:30 | CO
Rosy-finch Ramble with DFO: Park & Jefferson Counties
Friday, February 20, 2026, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Leader: David Suddjian
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Let’s go on an adventure to the mountains to find Rosy-Finches and other mountain birds. We may find the three species of Rosy-Finch, and other “mountain finches” that are around, including Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Cassin’s Finch and others. We might also see Canada Jay and Clark’s Nutcracker, Rough-legged Hawk and other winter montane species. The trip will focus on locations in Jefferson and Park counties. We will carpool from the meeting spot. For those coming from El Paso County, we will begin birding in Jefferson Co, so plan to gather at the advertised meeting place in Aspen Park. Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks. We will cover a fair amount of ground by car, but there will be minimal walking. But expect snowy and icy conditions, cold temperatures and maybe windy conditions when we are out of the cars. We will plan to enter two residences along the way.
This trip is limited and registration will open at noon on 1/30/2026. on this webpage: https://dfobirds.org/FieldTrips/Register.aspx?TripID=22298. If you do not already have an account with DFO, visit https://dfobirds.org/, click “LOGIN” then click “Create an account” and follow the prompts.
Photo: Brown-capped Rosy-Finch / Gene Putney / Audubon Photography Awards

*FULL* Birds & Brews - Ute Valley Park & 105 West Brewing
2026-02-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Ute Valley Park, 5465 7 Oaks Dr,, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 , CO, 80919, United States
We’ll enjoy cool rock formations and great views as we search the woodlands and meadows of Ute Valley Park for birds like Cassin’s Finches, Bluebirds, Townsend’s Solitaires, and Nuthatches. Afterwards we’ll head over to NEW 105 West Brewing, the new occupants of what used to be Trinity Brewing, about 7 minutes away.
– This will be a moderate hike – we may walk three or so miles over uneven, hilly terrain at a birder’s pace. Depending on weather conditions the week before, the trails could be snowy or muddy.
– Bring binoculars, wear good hiking shoes, and dress for the Colorado Springs forecast. If you need to borrow a pair of binoculars, let mention it when you RSVP.
– This trip is full, but you may join the waitlist by emailing Jessica at jessicaisbirding@gmail.com.
