Birding by Habitat: Airport Radar Road

This class requires advance registration. 

Join us for this special outing at Pitkin County’s Airport Ranch Open Space to explore the suite of birds that inhabit the rich patchwork of ecosystems on this landscape. We have special permission to bird in this restricted area during a time when the airport is closed and bird activity is at its peak.

The “Radar Road” will be our route into this property as we take our time ascending the shale ridge, finding a wide variety of birds in riparian willows, open meadows, aspen groves, and mountain shrublands. From the ridge, sweeping views of the Roaring Fork Valley and Owl Creek area provide context for understanding broad vegetation patterns related to soils and moisture, air currents used by birds of prey, elk migration corridors, and glacial landforms. Circling back through sagebrush and scrub oak, we will walk down a singletrack trail back to our starting point. Subtle changes as one ecosystem blends into the next offer excellent birding along the entire route during this prime season for nesting songbirds and returning migratory species. Expected bird species include Red-naped Sapsucker; Mountain Bluebird; Virginia’s, Orange-crowned, Yellow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted and Green-tailed Towhee, Fox Sparrow; Tree and Violet-Green Swallow; Red-tailed Hawk; and many more.

This outing is a hiking experience, covering about 3.5 miles with a sturdy uphill climb to the ridge. We will be hiking on rugged trails, a short section off-trail, and gravel roads. We will move at a “birding pace,” pausing frequently to listen and watch for birds. This trip meets early to accommodate quick shuttle logistics for our special access to the property.

Meet in the Buttermilk parking lot at 6:30am for a prompt departure to carpool to the airport parking lot off Owl Creek Road. Please dress in layers as temperatures will likely change during the outing; bring a rain jacket, sun hat, plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. Bring your binoculars (or borrow ours).

About the Instructor:

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.