Birding & Conversation: Birds of the Sagebrush Ecosystem

Photo: David Hollie, Macaulay Library

The high altitude sagebrush shrubland ecosystem abounds with wildlife activity at first light when the sun is still below the horizon. Early morning in this iconic landscape is a magical time to experience the dawn chorus of breeding songbirds, including the Brewer’s sparrow, whose distinctive, buzzy song carries amid the voices of other birds. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Biologist Brett Walker, joins us for this unique field trip to guide the experience and share his wealth of knowledge from his long-standing field research on Brewer’s Sparrows and other avian inhabitants of the sagebrush steppe.

We will arrive at our field trip site in time to be in sagebrush habitat before dawn so we can hear the chorus as it begins. Brett will identify bird voices and share natural history stories as increasing light brings our surroundings into view. This special experience will enhance your confidence with Brewer’s Sparrows, one of the most notorious “little brown jobs,” and other birds at our site. After this field experience, we will regroup for the conversation component over coffee, tea, and a light snack, when Brett will continue to share his extensive knowledge of the birds, ecological relationships, current research, and context for the conservation future of this key western ecosystem. You will have ample opportunity to ask questions and engage with Brett. Join us for this special opportunity!

Please dress in warm layers for the chilly morning. Bring your headlamp, travel mug, and binoculars (or borrow a pair of ACES’ binoculars). *There is no restroom at the start of this trip, but there will be one after the dawn chorus experience partway through the field trip.

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About the instructors:

Rebecca Weiss is a birding guide and naturalist with thirty years of experience in the Aspen area and Colorado’s mountain regions. She is author of the local guidebook, Birds of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley and the primary guide for ACES’ Birding Program. She is a certified interpretive guide and holds a BS in Biology and a MA in Education. Rebecca’s professional background includes bird banding, field research, and conservation writing as well as outdoor education, program administration, and guide training. Past employers and affiliations include the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Outward Bound, and the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab.

Brett Walker has been a researcher in the Avian Research section with Colorado Parks and Wildlife out of Grand Junction since 2007. His research interests include conservation, management, behavioral ecology, and population monitoring of upland gamebirds and songbirds, with a focus on sagebrush-steppe ecosystems and issues related to energy development. Brett has worked on research projects across North America since 1990. He completed his MS in Organismal Biology and Ecology in 2000 and his PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology in 2008 at the University of Montana. His work for Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Greater Sage-Grouse includes high-resolution habitat mapping and prioritization, habitat use and selection in oil and gas fields, evaluating the effectiveness of different habitat treatments as proposed mitigation, and testing the reliability of current lek-based monitoring and management strategies. Recently, he also resolved a long-standing mystery about the taxonomy, habitat use, and distribution of Brewer’s Sparrows in alpine areas of western Colorado. In his free time, he can be found flyfishing, mountain biking, fly-tying, birding, big-game hunting, and volunteering for Grand Valley Audubon and Grand Valley Anglers.

Birding and Conversation Field Trip Series

In this special series we explore compelling topics pertaining to birds, from local history, to ecology and conservation. These field trips involve a combination of birding and presentations in the field with guests whose deep expertise provides unique insights into birds and the world we share with them. Join us for these opportunities for first-hand experience and discussions that will enhance your birding and broaden your understanding of the feathered wonders and the natural world around us!

2026 guests/locations in this series include CPW Biologist Brett Walker at Wildcat Ranch (birds of the sagebrush shrubland ecosystem with a special focus on Brewer’s Sparrows, the dawn chorus, and related conservation issues), ACES Forest and Climate Director Adam McCurdy at TBD (contemplating the future of our forests and the birds that inhabit them in the face of climate change, beetles, fire, and other challenges), Wilderness Workshop Executive Director Will Roush at Toklat (exploring congressionally designated Wilderness and the meaning of these landscapes to birds), Ornithologist and Author Scott Weidensaul at special Frying Pan Valley locations (Scott’s new book and the idea that bird conservation success brings that same success to the greater planet).