Paul Andersen is a renowned local author and journalist who has researched and written extensively about local history and natural topics in the Roaring Fork Valley. Paul provided perspective on conservation of public lands and history of the Frying Pan Valley, including the Colorado Midland Railroad and the carriage roads that were once important transportation routes in this valley. Our field trip began in Paul’s backyard at the base of the Seven Castles, a series of massive sandstone cliffs of the State Bridge Formation that tower above pinyon juniper woodlands and meadows of sagebrush and wildflowers. Paul took us on a walk along part of the historic carriage road, bringing us to a meadow at the base of a canyon between two of the Seven Castles cliffs where we discussed the values of public lands for many reasons, including habitats for birds and other wildlife. Paul shared stories of the Utes and how they lived in this landscape as well as his personal stories of exploring the area and discovering its wildlife and geological wonders. The Seven Castles area receives the highest possible rating for its wilderness values by the White River National Forest.

Continuing on our hike, we observed the nesting colonies of white-throated swifts and violet-green swallows that make their nests in rock crevices in the cliff faces of the Seven Castles formations. Impressive flocks of these birds swirled overhead, at times only being visible with the magnification of binoculars. We heard their scratchy, descending flight calls and saw their visual field marks when they flew low at times. It was good practice to differentiate the swifts and swallows, and understand that they are similar due to convergent evolution rather than being closely related. We also pondered the lifestyles of swifts, birds that live nearly all of their life in the air, eating, mating, drinking, preening, and sleeping on the wing. As we reached Seven Castles Creek, we hiked up the creek bed, stepping over the creek many times as it meandered back and forth in the narrow canyon. Sandstone walls and Douglas fir trees towered above us, seeps dripped water that fed hanging gardens of columbine and monkey flowers, and the air was cool in the shade of the canyon. When we reached the waterfall, it was the perfect spot for lunch and time to listen to the tranquil sounds of cascading water. Additional bird highlights on this hike included black-throated gray warbler, Virginia’s warbler, broad-tailed and black-chinned hummingbirds, green-tailed towhee, mountain chickadee, western flycatcher, mountain bluebird, and canyon wren. Conversation on the return hike circled back to the values of public lands and the importance of continued protection of our natural heritage. Join us for our next Birding and Conversation field trip next Friday: Adam McCurdy and Rebecca Weiss will discuss wildfire, forests, and birds on Basalt Mountain.