What Happens to Colorado Wildlife in Winter?
When winter socks into Colorado’s Mountains and plains, our wildlife undergoes some remarkable adaptations to cope with the challenges of the season… so let’s dive in and look at some of them.Â
A Non-Hunters Guide to Conservation in Colorado
When conservation issues come up very often I am reminded that hunters and fisherpersons fund the conservation in Colorado. But, Colorado’s conservation system operates through a combination of government agencies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and community initiatives and are not all funded by hunting & fishing. This is important because our lands are valued in many different ways in this state. Here’s an overview of how it works:
Bad Year for Birds at Barr Lake
In the third week of September I visited the Banding Station at Barr Lake operated by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. This is one of two sites where the BCOR bands and monitors birds migrating through the area in spring and fall. I checked in and took a seat on a shaded deck along…
Watchin’ Varmints: Yellow-Bellied Marmot Behavior
While I was up on Mount Blue Sky this summer, one of my favorite pastimes was marmot watching. And this summer I got a lot of marmot watching in. No thats not a weird euphemism! I really watched marmots this summer. But before we dig in on some fun behavior… You Might be Wondering… What…
Update on the Centennial Prairie Dogs
An adult and baby black-tailed prairie dog chase each other around their burrows. – Copyright 2021 Heather Valey Remember my summer post regarding the bulldozing of the black-tailed prairie dog colony in Centennial, Colorado? Well, here’s the latest update on the neighboring colony that managed to survive. Prairie Dog Activist Persists Centennial Prairie Dogs activist,…
More Isn’t Always Better: Reservoir Expansion Puts Bird Habitat at Risk
During the 3rd week of September an email appeared in a nature email group I follow. It sounded the alarm for birders and nature lovers in the Colorado Front Range. Important bird habitat was being destroyed to expand water capacity for Barr Lake State Park. Worry mounted that the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR), who has had a bird banding station there for 35 years, would lose their post and the habitat for the migratory song birds they study.
Greenery On Top of the World: Amazing Native Colorado Alpine Meadow Flowers
Colorado alpine flower species; American Bistort & Queens Crown glow in the afternoon light at Summit Lake, Colorado. Photo by Heather Valey copyright 2023, all rights reserved NOTE: As of September 15th, effective immediately. Mount Evans’ name has been formally changed to Mount Blue Sky! Summer on Mount Evans The summer went by quickly, quicker…
From Burrows to Bulldozers: The Plight of the Centennial Prairie Dogs
It was a cloudy morning on July 14th as Karen Carter drove to her work office in Centennial Colorado. While waiting to turn on a road near her job, she turned to look at a prairie colony in the adjacent field like she always did. She enjoyed watching their antics as they ran from burrow…
Exploring the Living River: a Tale of Hope in the Colorado River Watershed
Second Creek swells with spring runoff in the Colorado River watershed – photo by Heather Valey – copyright 2023 Where Does Your Water Come From? Where does your water come from? Many of folks might just say “the tap”. I turn the faucet on and there is water. But where does the water that flows…
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