Better Birdwatching

05/27/2026

Read my late May Take a Hike article in the Pikes Peak Courier about South Colony Lakes Trail.

The South Colony basin hovers at about 12,000 feet and is surrounded by lofty peaks with sheer cliffs that dump a ton of snow into the basin over the winter. As the snow thaws and recedes the Lower and Upper lakes remain like giant puddles. Although this basin lies farther south near Westcliffe, wit...

05/26/2026

Saturday, May 30, Bird Walks at Wilkerson Pass
8:30-9:30 AM & 9:30-10:30 AM
FREE bird walks along the one mile Puma Point trail. Learn to identify birds by sight and sound while also learning about the trees and plants where birds live. Meet at Wilkerson Pass Visitor Center.

05/18/2026

Monday, May 25, Memorial Day, Green Mountain Falls
8:30-9:30 AM– FREE guided bird walk for about one mile, around Gazebo Lake, along Fountain Creek and up the start of the Red Butte Trail. Learn how to identify local birds by sight and sound, while also learning about the plants and trees where birds live. Meet at Painted Bear Store, 10550 Ute Pass Ave.

05/11/2026

Saturday, May 16, Starsmore Hummingbird Festival
10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center, 2120 S Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs
Better Birdwatching will be at the event selling and signing Mountain Birds books.
Join the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon at the Starsmore Discovery Center early May of each year. We will have a variety of fun and educational presentations for people of all ages. Please consider carpooling to the event as parking lots in North Cheyenne Cañon Park have limited space.

05/09/2026

Ready to sell some mountain birds books at the Mother’s Day makers market at the Sluice Gallery in Colorado Springs, from 9 AM to 4 PM, come on by! 

05/08/2026

Read my May Take a Hike article in the Pikes Peak Courier about the Colorado Trail - Waterton Canyon.

The CT Series is a special series of hiking articles about the Colorado Trail (CT) that runs from May through October. The CT is a unique and well maintained continuous trail, spanning 485 miles from Denver to Durango. The Colorado Mountain Club Guidebook to the Colorado Trail is an indispensable to...

05/05/2026

Saturday, May 9, Mothers Day Makers Market at the Sluice
9:00 AM-4:00 PM. 2752 W. Colorado Ave, Colorado Spring
Better Birdwatching will be at the event selling and signing Mountain Birds books. Join us for a curated market featuring local makers and designers. Find unique gifts for mom, fresh flowers, candles, jewelry,works of art, and more.

Upcoming events May 9 Mother's Day Maker's Market Saturday, May 9, 2026 9:00 AM 4:00 PM Google Calendar ICS Join us for a curated Mother’s Day market featuring 15+ local vendors with gifts perfect for the moms in your life. Browse fresh flower bouquets, handmade jewelry, cute cards, ethically ...

04/27/2026

Saturday, May 2, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
9:00-10:00 AM– Guided bird walk for about one mile through a variety of habitats like Ponderosa Pine woodland, shrubland and grassland. Learn how to identify birds by sight and sound while also learning about the trees and plants where birds live. Meet at the Visitor Center, park entrance fee $10.
More info: [email protected]

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04/25/2026

Read my late April Take a Hike article in the Pikes Peak Courier about the Greenhorn Trail in the Wet Mountains.

While the Greenhorn Trail starts out fairly easy it’s not the best fit for beginners aka “greenhorns.” After a few miles the trail enters a relentless series of switchbacks that climb about 3000 feet over the a few miles up to treeline. The route offers a great opportunity to explore the diver...

04/14/2026

Read my April Words on Birds article in the Pikes Peak Courier about the Plumbeous Vireo.

Most migrating bird species in Teller County are insect eaters that leave in the winter when their primary food source is unavailable. Vireos return to our area in early May when more insects are emerging. The plumbeous vireo prefers to hang out in forests and woodlands below 8000 feet, so while som...