Birding by Habitat Series

Join us for this special outing at Pitkin County’s Airport Ranch Open Space to explore the suite of birds that inhabit the rich patchwork of ecosystems on this landscape. We have special permission to bird in this restricted area during a time when the airport is closed and bird activity is at its peak. 

The “Radar Road” will be our route into this property as we take our time ascending the shale ridge, finding a wide variety of birds in riparian willows, open meadows, aspen groves, and mountain shrublands. From the ridge, sweeping views of the Roaring Fork Valley and Owl Creek area provide context for understanding broad vegetation patterns related to soils and moisture, air currents used by birds of prey, elk migration corridors, and glacial landforms. Circling back through sagebrush and scrub oak, we will walk down a singletrack trail back to our starting point. Subtle changes as one ecosystem blends into the next offer excellent birding along the entire route during this prime season for nesting songbirds and returning migratory species. Expected bird species include Red-naped Sapsucker; Mountain Bluebird; Virginia’s, Orange-crowned, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted and Green-tailed Towhee, Fox Sparrow; Tree and Violet-Green Swallow; Red-tailed Hawk; and many more.

This outing is a hiking experience, covering about 3.5 miles with a sturdy uphill climb to the ridge. We will be hiking on rugged trails, a short section off-trail, and gravel roads. We will move at a “birding pace,” pausing frequently to listen and watch for birds. This trip meets early to accommodate quick shuttle logistics for our special access to the property. 


*With special permission from Pitkin County's Airport and Open Space offices. Note that there are no restroom facilities at this location.


This class requires advance registration to ensure appropriate planning for the field experience. 

Meet in the Buttermilk parking lot at 6:30am for a prompt departure to carpool to the airport parking lot off Owl Creek Road. Please dress in layers as temperatures will likely change during the outing; bring a rain jacket, sun hat, plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. Bring your binoculars (or borrow ours).

This 957-acre private nature preserve is truly an ecological gem, hosting a wide array of bird species across its extensive and varied native ecosystems. This early evening outing will allow us to experience the bout of activity as birds wrap up daytime activities and the transition to dusk. Our route will take us through pinyon-juniper woodland, mountain shrubland, sagebrush, wetland, and open water habitats as we walk through a portion of the preserve. Highlight species here include: black-throated gray warbler, Bullock’s oriole, yellow-headed blackbird, Brewer’s sparrow, Wilson’s snipe, orange-crowned warbler, various swallows, and much more. 

Hiking distance is about 4 miles round trip primarily on a gravel road.

The montane lifezone is especially diverse, sandwiched between the habitats of the high mountains and the foothills. Slope aspect also plays an important role in montane ecosystems, creating rich patches of diversity on the landscape. Birds, both migratory and resident, benefit from the rich resources in this broad ecological belt, including nesting sites, forage, and migration habitat. On this field trip, we will explore the birdlife along Snowmass Village’s Nature Trail, which meanders along upper Brush Creek through aspen groves, stands of conifers, riparian willows, beaver ponds, and open meadows. Species we hope to see include Northern Yellow Warbler, Western Wood-pewee, Warbling Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Red-naped Sapsucker, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Tree Swallow, Northern House Wren, and more. Hiking distance will be about 3.5 miles.

This outing meets at the Snowmass Rec Center/ Rodeo Lot in Snowmass at 7:30am.