We’ll head east today with a quick morning stop in Green Mountain Falls for a try at Band-tailed Pigeon before continuing to Colorado Springs’ famous Garden of the Gods Park. Prairie Falcon, White-throated Swift, Canyon Wren, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, and more are possible here. Our day continues with birding in shortgrass prairie and the Black Forest at Kiowa Creek, the first ranch certified by Audubon's Conservation Ranching Initiative. Amidst habitat fragmentation close by, Kiowa Creek has become an important refuge for wildlife. Grassland birds like Western Meadowlarks, Vesper Sparrows, and Lark Sparrows nest in the open prairie. Amid the ponderosa pines, forest species like Pygmy Nuthatches, Western Bluebirds, and Wild Turkeys forage for insects and seeds. Elk, deer, coyote, mountain lion, and black bear also move through the ranch. We’ll see firsthand how Kiowa Creek's conservation ranching measures benefit local flora and fauna. Early evening return to West Denver.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch