ACES Birding by Habitat: Snowmass 08/20/25

Birds are gathering in places where food is concentrated, including any irrigated gardens, flowerbeds, landscaping, and all natural wetlands, ponds, rivers, and riparian areas. The importance of these places with water cannot be overestimated, especially with the drought conditions of this summer season. In Snowmass Village, we birded around the pond and wetland system behind the Rodeo grounds, and the area was packed with birds. Cedar waxwings were the most abundant species today, as they feasted on berries and insects. Special highlights included a rufous hummingbird that we saw at close range and identified as a sub-adult male, many coots on the pond, many warblers, barn swallows, and two western kingbirds that mixed with waxwings as they sallied out to catch airborne insects. We had textbook views of many birds, adding to the quality of the learning experience. Join us for a fall migration outing in the lower Roaring Fork Gorge on September 10th!