Winter Waterfowl Study

In winter, waterfowl are wearing newly-molted, brilliant breeding plumage, making them one of the most special birding highlights of the season. These birds also migrate to various parts of their winter ranges, moving about based on ice cover and food availability. Early winter in the Roaring Fork Valley is an exciting time to observe a variety of duck species as they congregate on open water before it becomes ice-bound with the onset of colder mid-winter temperatures. Join us to survey the waterfowl at Old Pond Park and Lake Christine in the Basalt area, where we expect to find gadwalls, green-winged teal, buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, wigeons, and more. We will study specific plumage patterns, learning simple strategies that unlock waterfowl ID. We will also discuss winter coping mechanisms used by ducks that swim in frigid water and roost on ice and snow, and pair-bonding behaviors exhibited in winter. Side highlights may include pinyon jays, Clark's nutcrackers, eagles, grebes, woodpeckers, and other birds that use these rich habitat areas. Let's dive into winter waterfowl!

About the instructor: Rebecca Weiss is a Naturalist specializing in birding, botany, and interpretive program development. She first came to ACES as a Summer Naturalist in 1993, later directed the Naturalist Field School and worked with ACES' Naturalist Programs. She currently guides for ACES' Birding Program outings and is involved with the center's interpretive and custom programs. Rebecca is also a professional writer, developing trailside natural history interpretive signs in the Roaring Fork Valley and elsewhere in Colorado, as well as other writing projects. Rebecca is the author of Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. She holds a BS in Biology and an MA in Environmental Education, and loves exploring the natural world with her husband, Austin, and their children Anders and Elsie.