To promote the enjoyment,
conservation and understanding of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through birding, education, advocacy and fellowship.

Newsletter, May - August 2009, Vol 12, No. 10

 

May 16 - Spring Bird Count - This annual event is done by Audubon to support International Migratory Bird Day.  Teams fan out through the Roaring Fork Valley and tally both resident and migrant birds.  The data collected gives participants and scientists a snapshot of bird numbers and arrival dates of species in many locations, here  and across the country.  Teams will depart from Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and other locations.  Contact Dave Clark or Tom McConnell

May 19 - The Dirt on Colorado Flora with Nicola Ripley -

In a colorful slide presentation, Nicola Ripley,  Director of Horticulture and Research from the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (BFAG) in Vail, the preeminent botanical garden of the Western Slope, will introduce the audience to the wonders of a public alpine garden. “Walking” through the BFAG garden, she will focus on the native plant collections and the increased need for botanical gardens to play a role in conserving rare plants and habitats. She will discuss the garden’s current projects in plant conservation, especially ongoing work on two rare plants on the Roan Plateau in Garfield County.

Nicola will then bring the audience up to speed on current statewide initiatives to conserve Colorado’s rare flora. Included in her discussion is the relatively small amount of protection rare plants are afforded compared with animals and how Colorado compares with other states in plant protection.

Nicola is nationally recognized for her work in public and alpine gardens. She is vice-president of the American Public Gardens Association.

Join Roaring Fork Audubon for Nicola’s inspiring commentary and introduction to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

Jun 6 - Prince Creek / Dinkle Lake / Thompson Creek- Join us for a day of birding in the mid-valley.  These areas have diverse habitats and will allow us to explore some places that we haven’t birded often but we always see good birds. This will be a trip through mid-afternoon so please bring a lunch, we’ll bird as long as the birding is good, perhaps all day. Some birds species that we’ll try to see would be Townsend Solitaire,  Red-napped Sapsucker and Purple Martins. Bring a lunch, water and snacks and be prepared for any kind of weather.  Contact Linda Vidal