Basalt Mountain Ditch Trail
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Location: Basalt Mountain parking lot (or in Carbondale at 6:30 a.m.)

Trip Leaders: Mary Harris
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: This is a very fun and birdy walk through a mix of habitats. We’ll try to top our record of 35 species in 3 hours! From the large parking area, we walk mostly downhill about 2.5 miles then uphill about .5 mile on the way back. We’ll look for Western Tanagers, Dusky and Olive-sided Flycatchers, House Wrens, Cassin’s Finches, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Violet-green and Tree Swallows, MacGillivray’s and Yellow Warblers and Plumbeous Vireos. Let Mary know if you need a binocular. View Field Trip Guidelines

Spring Valley in Missouri Heights

Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Carbondale’s large dirt parking lot on Colorado Avenue between Town Hall and the Colorado Place Condos

Trip leader: Mary Harris
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: Spring Valley is one of the valley’s most important wetlands and is currently under grave threat of extinction from development. Join us to see the importance of our work to preserve this treasure. We will look for migratory and breeding birds such as a myriad of ducks, Yellow-headed, Brewer’s and Red-winged Blackbirds; Sora; Killdeer; Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers; several raptor species; Sandhill Crane; and  possibilities of Wilson’s Phalarope, Willet, White-faced Ibis and more. This trip will require carpooling with no more than 3 vehicles. We will be driving and pulling over when safe. Light walking. View Field Trip Guidelines

Windstar Ranch
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Park & Ride at the intersection of Highway 82 and Snowmass Creek Road/Capitol Creek Road (across Snowmass Creek Road from the Conoco). Google Maps; https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ke4g2Y9bCAN4FTb57.

Trip leader: Chris Daniels
Reservation: email Chris at chris.daniels@gmail.com

Description: This is a mellow hike along an old roadbed and trail at the Windstar Ranch in Snowmass. There is some up and down with about 500’ of elevation gain over our 4.5-mile loop. The varied, fantastic habitat includes juniper, oak, aspen, a riparian stream, a pond and sage meadow. Forty-five species have been documented here during a single spring outing and include Wilson’s Snipes; Plumbeous Vireos; Bushtits; Rock Wrens; Blue-gray Gnatcatchers; Brewer’s, Lark and Vesper Sparrows; Virginia’s Warblers; Bullock’s Orioles and more. View Field Trip Guidelines

Sutey Ranch
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Meet at Sutey Ranch parking area off Garfield County Road 112. Contact trip leader for detailed directions if necessary.

Trip leader: Mary Harris and George Waaler
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: Sutey Ranch is a former homestead that is now the site of a variety of habitats including open meadows, pinyon/juniper woodlands and sagebrush flats. We will follow old ranch roads and irrigation trails on a circuit of approximately 1.5 miles around the main area where we will see swallows, sparrows, jays, raptors, flycatchers and nuthatches. The walking will be fairly flat with some gentle ups and downs. The area can get quite warm, so dress accordingly and bring plenty of water! View Field Trip Guidelines

Glassier Open Space
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Parking lot at beginning of Hooks Spur Road in Basalt

Trip leader: Catherine Hagen and Mary Harris
Reservation: email Catherine at seaweedzg@hotmail.com

Description: This trip will start on the Rio Grande trail and traverse ranch meadows up to the oak scrub and pinyon/juniper woodlands at the base of The Crown. We are likely to see a variety of meadow and woodland birds including meadowlarks, swallows, buntings and raptors. Sandhill Cranes are a possible sighting. View Field Trip Guidelines

Glenwood Springs, Grizzly Creek, Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers and 3 Mile and 4 Mile to Babbish Gulch
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 7:30 a.m.

Meeting location: Veltus Park, Glenwood Springs

Trip leader: Kendall Christianson
Reservation: email Kendall at kjcchickadee53@gmail.com

Description: We will go to Veltus Park, Grizzly and No Name Creeks, along the river in Glenwood and lunch (BYO) at my house and then 3 Mile Road and 4 Mile Road to Babbish Gulch. View Field Trip Guidelines

Homestake Reservoir
Date: June 9 (travel) and 10, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. on June 10

Meeting location: To be determined

Trip leaders: Mary Harris and Dee Malone
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: Wilderness Workshop has facilitated a comprehensive bioblitz of this incredible wetlands for 3 years, and RFA has been a part of that process. We invite those who are curious to see why it needs protection. The trip will involve either dispersed camping with us, a nearby campground, hotel stay or a 5:00 a.m. departure from Carbondale. We will be continuing our bird, plant and fen survey to help protect this treasure from disappearing under another reservoir envisioned for expansion of nearby cities. View Field Trip Guidelines

Private Property near El Jebel
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meeting location: El Jebel, NAPA Parking Lot

Trip leaders: Catherine Hagen and George Waaler
Reservation: email Catherine at seaweedzg@hotmail.com

Description: This private property in El Jebel includes a number of ponds and a variety of shrub, forest and recently-burned habitats. We will look for a variety of waterfowl and forest and riparian species including raptors, wading birds and warblers. This trip is subject to change due to the private nature of the property. View Field Trip Guidelines

Beaver Believers Head Up Four Mile Creek Headwaters
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Carbondale’s large dirt parking lot on Colorado Avenue between Town Hall and the Colorado Place Condos or along the route if more convenient

Trip leader: Mary Harris and Brooklynn
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description:  Beaver Believers Unite! RFA is working to help reintroduce our most essential keystone species, the North American beaver; and we believe this is an ideal location with plenty of willow, aspen and, most important, a creek that needs expert habitat improvement. Brooklynn has been surveying this patch for almost one year and will be sharing her results. We will drive toward the Sunlight ski area and walk about 1 mile to the headwaters. View Field Trip Guidelines

Sweetwater
Date:  Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m.

Meeting location: Sweetwater Lake at the dock area.

Trip leaders: Dee Malone, Mary Harris and George Waaler
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: Some of us will be heading over the night before to camp at the lake in the small Forest Service campground. It is on a first come basis so you would want to get there fairly early on the 16th. Please include this information in your email to Mary.

Sweetwater Lake is one of the last best places in Colorado. A natural lake at the base of steep cliffs that are surrounded by a mosaic of aspen, Douglas fir, sage and oak shrublands create a diverse landscape for a rich community of birds. RFA has been surveying this hidden gem for more than two years. We have documented nesting Bald Eagles; Peregrine Falcons; Ospreys; White-throated Swifts; Gray Catbirds; Virginia’s and Yellow Warblers; Fox, Song and Vesper Sparrows; Violet-green Swallows; Rock Wrens; Great Blue Herons and a mix of waterfowl and shorebirds. It is also habitat for Golden Eagles; American Goshawks; and Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks. We are working with the local residents to help protect their way of life and the essential breeding habitat for many species. Unfortunately, Sweetwater Lake is threatened with development of a large campground facility that would bring hundreds of users to this now quiet refuge for wildlife, many of them boating directly under nesting Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. RFA will provide binoculars and a scope. There will be light walking, and all logistics will evolve as trip date nears. Sweetwater Lake is about 1.5 hours from Glenwood Springs. View Field Trip Guidelines

Triangle Peak Trail near Woody Creek
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: From Aspen, drive on Highway 82 towards Glenwood Springs and turn right on Gerbaz Way (4.5 miles past Brush Creek Road). Turn right onto Lower River Road. The small parking area is immediately on the left.

Trip leader: Chris Daniels and George Waaler
Reservation: email Chris at chris.daniels@gmail.com

Description: A steep hike up a trail and roadbed will lead us into excellent habitat for a variety of warblers starting with Black-throated Gray, then Virginia’s, MacGillivray’s, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned. We may also encounter Dusky Towhees, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and more. Wear sturdy shoes and warm layers, and bring water and snacks. Expect a hike climbing a steep roadbed with loose gravel for 2.5-3 miles and 2,000’ of elevation gain (for a 5- to 6-mile round trip) as we climb through different habitats listening for and spotting birds. Many people appreciate hiking poles for the way down this trail. This is a great opportunity to explore the south-facing habitats in the Roaring Fork Valley. View Field Trip Guidelines

Difficult Wetlands, Road and Campground
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Parking area at entrance to Difficult Campground on Highway 82

Trip leader: Catherine Hagen and George Waaler
Reservation: email Catherine at seaweedzg@hotmail.com

Description: Cottonwood, aspen, conifer and willow habitats attract Great Blue Herons (nesting), hawks, woodpeckers, swallows, vireos, flycatchers, thrushes, sparrows, warblers, wrens and more. View Field Trip Guidelines

Beaver Believers Head Up To Chapman, Nast and Ivanhoe
Date: June 22, 23 and 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. June 23 from Chapman Campground

Meeting location: To be determined

Trip leader: Mary Harris and Dee Malone
Reservation: email Mary smnharris@gmail.com

Description: For the true believers in how birds and other animals benefit from our keystone species, we offer an opportunity to truly tune out and meld with nature while learning about the interactions of a healthy ecosystem and the biodiversity it requires. Delia and Sheehan Meagher will educate us on all things beaver, while we all participate in the important bird survey work of pre re-introduction. We have identified two important areas: Nast and Ivanhoe. On June 23,  we will visit the Nast location between the headwaters of the Frying Pan River and walk about 3 miles on good terrain. On June 24, we will drive to Ivanhoe, where you will participate in our first bird survey of that area. Terrain is unknown, and there could be some bushwhacking. Please email for further explanations. We have reserved only two sites at Chapman Campground. If you want to camp in one of those, you will need to reserve with us ASAP. Otherwise, try to reserve on your own. There are also many dispersed camping opportunities nearby. View Field Trip Guidelines

Burlingorge Trail
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Aspen Airport Business Center. Turn north at Highway 82 light. Take immediate right turn and follow past Louis Swiss Bakery to gate across road. Park on road where permitted.

Trip leader: Catherine Hagen
Reservation: email Catherine at seaweedzg@hotmail.com

Description: This is a descent to the river through scrub oak, cottonwood, aspen, conifer and willow habitats and can attract Great Blue Herons, hawks, swallows, Western Tanagers, American Dippers, vireos, flycatchers, sparrows, warblers, wrens and more. View Field Trip Guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Maroon Lake to East Portal
Date: July 8, 2025
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Aspen Chapel, 77 Meadowood Drive (off Castle Creek Road on the way to Aspen Valley Hospital).

Trip Leader: Mary Harris
Reservation: email Mary at smnharris@gmail.com

Description: We will drive to the East Maroon Portal trailhead and shuttle to Maroon Lake. This is a 3.5-mile walk on mostly gentle downhill grade following the creek to return to East Portal. Beginning at the stunning Maroon Lake, we will walk a little uphill through spruce/fir forests, keeping an eye out for the American marten, and emerge onto boulder fields to search for the threatened American pika, all the while listening and looking for a mix of bird species as we cross avalanche fields and continue through old stands of aspen. Birds we will look for are Western Wood-Pewee; Olive-sided, Dusky, Hammond’s, and Western Flycatchers; Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds; Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets; Brown Creeper; Steller’s and Canada Jays; Violet-green and Tree Swallows; Fox and Lincoln Sparrows; American Dipper; Red-naped Sapsucker; Townsend’s Solitaire; Cedar Waxwing; Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes; Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees; and more. Wildflowers should be starting to put on a show, and we will keep an eye out for any possibilities of moose. View Field Trip Guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Independence Pass Ptarmigan
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time:  7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meeting location: Independence Pass parking lot

Trip Leader: Chris Daniels and George Waaler
Reservation: email Chris at chris.daniels@gmail.com.

Description: We will take our chances on finding White-tailed Ptarmigans at Independence Pass. White-tailed Ptarmigans are the only birds in North America that spend their entire life cycle in the alpine tundra.  They’re notoriously hard to find due to their excellent camouflage, and Independence Pass is one of the best places in Colorado to try for them.  Expect a 3- to 4-mile hike on uneven trail above tree line at high altitude (entirely above 12,000’).  Wear warm layers and sturdy shoes; and bring water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat and poles if you wish. We will stop at Difficult Campground on the return to Aspen for some different birds. View Field Trip Guidelines at the bottom of this page.