Lake Pueblo State Park with Denver Field Ornithologists
2025-10-25 06:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | 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

NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING | THE BIRDING DICTIONARY
2025-11-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office, 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, 80907
Join Rosemary Mosco, author of the new book The Birding Dictionary, for an entertaining and enlightening look into birding terminology.
Rosemary is an author, illustrator, and speaker whose work connects people with the natural world.
She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, Rewiring America, the PBS Kids show Elinor Wonders Why, Ranger Rick, and more, and makes a regular comic strip in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Living Bird magazine. She creates science books for kids and adults and the nature comic Bird and Moon, which won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic and was the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. Her climate change comics were exhibited at AAAS headquarters and the Peabody Essex Museum. She gives engaging talks and workshops to groups of all ages.
Rosemary is a graduate of the Field Naturalist Program. She judged a bird tattoo contest (twice!) and co-founded an event celebrating invertebrate butts.
You can learn more about her in this Audubon profile.
This is an in-person meeting held at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Office; 4255 Sinton Road 80907. Our entrance to the building is located on the EAST side (back side) of the building; not the main entrance. Parking is encouraged in the south and west parking lots.
Snacks & Bird Talk (meet & mingle) 6:30pm
Meeting announcements 7:00pm
Program Presentation 7:15pm
Zoom Link: Join Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 577 018 0765
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz.

*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

2025 Colorado Springs Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-20 | CO
Please join us for this year’s Colorado Springs Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Everyone is welcome to participate. Plan to spend at least the entire morning finding birds, though times will vary. Come prepared for cold temperatures and possibly snow and ice. Feeder watchers are also encouraged to sign up and participate.
We will gather for a potluck dinner, species compilation, and sharing of the day’s adventures at Bear Creek Nature Center from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on count night.
For more information or to sign up for the count, please contact Tyler Stuart at colospringscbc@gmail.com.

Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon. Volunteers survey birds for the Boulder Christmas Bird Count at Teller Farm in Boulder, Colorado, on December 18, 2022. The Christmas Bird Count is a long-running, annual community science project.

Birding By Book | "We Should All Be Birds"
2025-12-29 17:30 - 19:00 | CO
Aiken Audubon’s Birding by Book is a book club for those who love birds AND books! The club meets to discuss selected book titles and create community among birders in the Pikes Peak area.
Read “We Should All Be Birds” by Brian Buckbee with Carol Ann Fitzgerald at your leisure, then join us on Monday, December 29th for book club discussion.

On a spring evening in Montana, Brian Buckbee encounters an injured baby pigeon. Heartbroken after the loss of the love of his life and increasingly isolated by a mysterious illness that overtook him while trekking through Asia, Brian is unaware that this bird—who he names Two-Step—will change his life. Brian takes in Two-Step, and more injured birds, eventually transforming his home into a madcap bird rehabilitation and rescue center. As Brian and Two-Step grow closer, an unexpected kinship forms. But their paths won’t converge forever: as Two-Step heals and finds love, Brian’s condition worsens, and with his friend’s release back into the world looming closer, Brian must decide where this story leaves him.
We Should All Be Birds follows Brian, unable to read or write due to a never-ending headache, as he dictates the end of his old life—as an adventurer, an iconoclastic university instructor, and endurance athlete—through his relationship with a pigeon that comes to define his present. Limited to dictation, Brian teams up with Carol Ann Fitzgerald, an editor who channels the details of his personal history to the pages. Raw and perceptive, delirious and devastating, We Should All Be Birds is an unflinching exploration of chronic illness, grief, connection, and the spectacular beauty of the natural world—and the humble pigeon. The surprising, heartwarming relationship between man and bird provides insight into what it means to love, to suffer, and to “never forget, even for a second, how big it all is.”

Seating is LIMITED, and a reservation is required.
RSVP by emailing BirdingByBook@gmail.com.
Roadrunner Bookshop is offering new copies of We Should All Be Birds at a 15% discount to book club members. Please email your request to place an order along with your RSVP.
photo credit: tinhouse.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.

Owl Prowl with Fountain Creek Nature Center
2026-01-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, 80817
This event is not affiliated with Aiken Audubon, but you may be interested in this local bird activity!
Friday, January 2, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Fountain Creek Nature Center (Link to Registration & Info)
Winter is an ideal time to observe owls and owl behavior. Learn more about these elusive creatures of the night. We will share stories and folklore, view an owl video, examine owl diets by dissecting an owl pellet, and go for a short night hike in search of owls. Please be on time and dress for the weather. Ages 8+. Prepaid registration online with the Nature Center required. $6 per person/$5 per Nature Centers member.

Winter Bird Count at Fountain Creek Regional Park
2026-01-10 08:30 - 11:00 | Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, 80817
This event is not affiliated with Aiken Audubon, but you may be interested in this local bird activity!

Saturday, January 10, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

All levels of birders are invited to help us observe and record the bird species in Fountain Creek Regional Park. Space is limited; please call Fountain Creek Nature Center at 719-520-6754 to sign up. A $5 donation per person recommended.

*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

JANUARY MONTHLY MEETING:THE EFFECTS OF WILDFIRE SMOKE ON MIGRATING BIRDS
2026-01-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office, 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, 80907
Join Aiken Audubon with Megan Miller presenting her research on The Effects of Wildfire Smoke on Migrating Birds.
Wildfire smoke is an emerging threat to birds at both the individual and population level. Limited studies associate smoke exposure with slower weight gain in House Wren nestlings, reduced banding capture rates and poorer body condition among those captured birds, and large-scale avoidance behavior from migrating birds. Megan investigated whether exposure to poor air quality could affect the oxidative balance system in passerines migrating through Southern Colorado during spring and fall migration.
Megan Miller has been a part of Colorado’s birding community since her first Christmas Bird Count in 2006. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology in 2017 at Colorado State University and then spent some time doing field work across the country. She has worked on projects studying birds in apple orchards, seabirds, black-throated blue warbler ecology, and migration banding stations. In January 2025 she completed her masters degree at Colorado State University Pueblo on the impact of wildfire smoke on migrating birds. Megan received a grant from Aiken Audubon to help fund this research.

This is an in-person meeting held at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Office; 4255 Sinton Road 80907. Our entrance to the building is located on the EAST side (back side) of the building; not the main entrance. Parking is encouraged in the south and west parking lots.
Snacks & Bird Talk (meet & mingle) 6:30pm
Meeting announcements 7:00pm
Program Presentation 7:15pm
Join us via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5770180765?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 577 018 0765

Passcode: [REDACTED]

Photo Credit: Megan Miller

Live Birds of Prey at Fountain Creek Nature Center
2026-01-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Fountain Creek Nature Center, 320 Pepper Grass Lane, Fountain, 80817
This event is not affiliated with Aiken Audubon, but you may be interested in this local bird activity!
Saturday, January 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Link to Registration & Info)

Learn about hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, and vultures through a live birds of prey program with Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center! The presentation includes two or three different birds of prey and a discussion of adaptations, predator/prey relationships, natural history, and personal stories of the birds presented. You’ll also hear about the work the Center does to rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey. Best for ages 8+. Prepaid registration online is required. $5 per person/$4 per member.

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

Raptors of Colorado with Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
2026-02-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, 1805 N 30th St,, Colorado Springs,, CO, 80904, United States
This event is not affiliated with Aiken Audubon, but you may be interested in this local bird activity!
Tuesdays, February 3rd and 17th, 2:00 -3:00 p.m. at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. $5 per person. (Link to Registration & Info)
Have you ever wondered what makes falcons the fastest animals in the world? Can owls really turn their head all the way around? Birds of prey have fascinated humans for thousands of years and have been important symbols (both positive and negative) in cultures throughout the world. This program on raptors in Colorado will introduce participants to these fascinating animals by discussing their unique adaptations, their individual hunting strategies, and their conservation challenges. Please note there are no live animals in this program.

Clever Corvids with Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
2026-02-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, 1805 N 30th St,, Colorado Springs,, CO, 80904, United States
This event is not affiliated with Aiken Audubon, but you may be interested in this local bird activity!
Mondays, February 9th and 23rd, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. FREE event. (Link to Registration & Info)
Are you smarter than a crow? Come find out in this family-friendly program exploring the fascinating corvids of Colorado. Participants will have the chance to learn about the many corvids that live in the Garden, and compete against them in problem solving competitions. This indoor program meets in the Red Rock Room on the second floor. Please note there are no live animals in this program.

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

FEBRUARY MONTHLY MEETING: Grasslands to Woodlands: breeding and migration ecology of priority species at range periphery in the Great Plains.
2026-02-18 18:30 - 21:00 | Bear Creek Nature Center, 245 Bear Creek Rd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80906
Two important notes about our February meeting: Change of venue to Bear Creek Nature Center and Death by Chocolate themed snacks.

Join Aiken Audubon with Stephen Brenner presenting Grasslands to Woodlands: breeding and migration ecology of priority species at range periphery in the Great Plains.
The Great Plains of North America is home to many imperiled grassland bird species. As grassland ecosystems continue to decline across North America, information on populations of priority grassland birds in different regions is critical to develop regional and range-wide conservation plans. Additionally, the Great Plains is often described as a biological crossroads where “East-meets-West”, offering unique opportunities to study many species at range periphery. This talk will highlight some of the recent research conducted in Nebraska on a variety of different bird species during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, from nesting behavior to tracking hemispheric migrations.
Stephen Brenner is an Avian Biologist with the National Audubon Society – Great Plains region. Stephen has worked on a variety bird-related research projects across the US and internationally before settling in western Nebraska. He will be presenting his program via zoom.

This is an in-person meeting held at the Bear Creek Nature Center 245 Bear Creek Road 80906. Please note change of venue for this meeting.
6:30 p.m. – Snacks & Bird Talk (meet & mingle) Death by Chocolate – please bring your favorite chocolate snack to share for this annual favorite
7:00 p.m. – Meeting announcements
7:15 p.m. – Program Presentation
Join Zoom Meeting:
click here to join
Meeting ID: 577 018 0765
Passcode: [REDACTED]
photo credit: Steven Brenner

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

Park County with Aiken Audubon
2026-02-21 07:30 - 15:30 | CO
Park County with Aiken Audubon
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Leaders: Deb Strike & Melissa Wetzig
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Join Aiken Audubon volunteers Deb & Melissa for a special trip to Deb’s cabin in Fairplay, CO! Deb will open her home and fill her feeders, allowing us to see great birds from a comfy spot. Expect to see Pine Grosbeaks, Brown-capped Rosy Finches, Steller’s Jays, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, lots of Mountain Chickadees, Hairy Woodpeckers, and sometimes Clark’s Nutcrackers or Canada Jays. We may also see Gray-crowned and Black Rosy Finches and Red Crossbills. On the way back we will stop in Lake George for additional birding in hope of American Dippers.
We will carpool from a meeting spot along Hwy24 on the west side of Colorado Springs. Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks. Our destination is two hours away and there will be minimal walking. Dress for the Fairplay, CO and Lake George, CO weather forecasts, but prepare for snowy and icy ground, cold temperatures, and maybe windy conditions when we are out of the cars.
This trip is limited to 8 birders – sign up by emailing fieldtrips@aikenaudubon.com
Photo: Evening Grosbeak / Mark Hainen / 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.

Clever Corvids with Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
2026-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 | CO
