Pitkin County Open Space Birding | Upper Roaring Gorge

In partnership with Pitkin County Open Space & Trails

The gorge of the Roaring Fork is an oasis of native habitat on open space properties that run the length of the river as it passes Red Butte and flows downstream through the deeply cut river gorge. August brings flocks of migrating songbirds through this area where they feed in food-rich mountain shrubland and riparian habitats. We will explore a loop route that descends into the gorge, follows the river, and climbs back up on gentle switchbacks. We will focus on female and juvenile hummingbirds, warbling vireos, tanagers, various warblers and sparrows, woodpeckers, kingfishers, dippers, herons, and more!

This class requires advanced registration to ensure appropriate planning for the field experience. Participants must register by 5pm on the day prior to the outing.

Meeting location will be communicated in advance to registered participants.

 Interested in joining ACES Bird Club? Click here for more information!

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.