The 2015 Ute Mountain/Mesa Verde Birding Festival offers two birding tours along the traces of a National Historic Trail.
The Old Spanish Trail linking Santa Fe and Los Angeles passed through mountains, canyonlands, and deserts in six states. Birders travel by van with birding expert Mark Franklin. Tours include lunch, water, snacks and rest stops.
On Thursday, May 7, the East tour visits hotspots between Cortez and Navajo Lake to observe migratory and resident species including Acorn Woodpecker, a Colorado rarity.
The May 9 West tour follows the trail from the Dolores River across the Great Sage Plain into Utah. Raptors, towhees, bluebirds, thrashers, shrikes, and sparrows prefer this open country.
On Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8, John Koshak leads an overnight birding tour to Moab.
Outings for Mother’s Day
Guides Chris Schultz and Glenn Dunmire accompany tour participants to Bradfield Bridge on May 9. On May 10, Paul Morey, leads a Mother’s Day tour to this popular birding habitat on the Dolores River. Raptors, owls, herons, waders, waterfowl, and a variety of passerine migrants and residents like buntings, flycatchers, kinglets, orioles, thrushes, vireos, and warblers give Bradfield Bridge the status of having the highest daily tallies for the Birding Festival.
Jenine Saia, a longtime birder with expertise in recognition by sounds, leads the McElmo Canyon tour on May 10 with a catered luncheon and wine tasting at the Guy Drew Vineyards. Ivan Messinger (USFS) and Mike Jensen (BLM) guide a tour to sites in the La Plata Mountains to find eagles and hawks, Hermit Thrush, Spruce Grouse, Wild Turkey, Red-naped sapsucker and other woodpeckers, flycatchers, jays, vireos, and perhaps even a Purple Martin.
Information: utemountainmesaverdebirdingfestival.com or the Cortez Cultural Center, (970) 565-1151.