Field Trips
Please let us know if you are coming! You may register for all field trips at
THE BLACK CANYON AUDUBON SOCIETY TRIP/EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR 2026
Each fieldtrip participant is required to complete a participant waiver form, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Please print, fill out, and sign the form and bring to the field trip leader. This form will remain valid for all 2026 field trips.
First Tuesday Field Trips - Montrose County
Next field trip: June 9, 2026 (SECOND Tuesday), 8:00 a.m.
August 4
All Montrose First Tuesday Field Trips meet at 8:00 a.m. during the summer months at the public parking lot at the corner of N. 2nd Street and N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose, unless otherwise noted in the trip description. Bruce Ackerman will lead the group to a nearby birding hotspot. Return should be by about noon. Bring a snack, water, binoculars, and field guides. Please RSVP for all field trips and include your name, field trip date, and contact information in case weather or illness forces a cancellation. RSVP to
Third Tuesday Field Trips - Delta County
All Delta County Third Tuesday trips will last about 2-3 hours, unless otherwise noted in the trip description. Bring a snack, water, binoculars, spotting scopes (if you have one), and field guides. Please RSVP for all field trips and include your name, field trip date, and contact information in case weather or illness forces a cancellation. RSVP for all fieldtrips at
Location: Confluence Park, Delta
Location: Paonia River Park
Location: Grand Mesa
Other Upcoming Group Birding Opportunities
Date: May 23, 2026
Leader: Don Marsh
Time: 8:00 am in Montrose (meet at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Location: Kinikin Road
Join Don Marsh on Saturday morning for a trip along Kinikin Road southeast of Montrose. This section of road can be very birdy in the spring if the winter has been wet. Birds we have a good chance to see and hear are Brewer’s Sparrow, Sage Thrashers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak. Raptors are commonly seen.
Date: Sunday, June 7, at 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Daniel Hagaman, Janet Panebaker
Location: Crawford State Park (Delta County)
Meet at Crawford State Park, 40468 Hwy 92, just outside of Crawford. Explore Crawford State Park’s diverse habitats in search of migratory songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and other wildlife while learning tips for bird identification, behavior, and observation in the field. Sponsored by Crawford State Park CPW Volunteer Raptor Monitor Team and Black Canyon Audubon Society.
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. (meet at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Location: Billy Creek State Wildlife Area
Join trip leader Sue Riffle to learn how to use musical vocabulary to identify bird sounds on this walk. Field trip attendees must have a valid state hunting or fishing license or SWA pass (Purchase license online for access to State Wildlife Areas or at any CPW license agent. $11.96/year for seniors!). There is a limit of 24 participants! Sign up now!
Grand Mesa and beyond. (Delta/Mesa Counties)
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. (meet in Montrose at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Leader: Bill Harris
We will bird several locations on the Grand Mesa to see the high elevation birds and then head to Mesa to view bobolinks. After we leave Montrose, we will stop at City Market in Delta at 8:45 a.m., then the food market in Cedaredge at 9 a.m. This is an ALL-DAY trip limited to 12 participants.
Bluebirds at Ridgway State Park (Ouray County)
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Leader: Bruce Ackerman
Location and Time: Meet at the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m.
We will look in a few of the Bluebird boxes at various stages of nesting and fledging. We will also look for other birds. The Park has 50 Bluebird Boxes that are monitored weekly by volunteers. Ridgway State Park in June can host a variety of migrating birds, including ducks, gulls, shorebirds, and migrant songbirds. The park charges a $10.00/car entrance fee unless you have an annual “Keep Colorado Wild” pass with your vehicle registration. We will try to carpool with annual pass holders to minimize expenses. There is no charge to go to the Visitor Center, but you must turn left before the entrance station. Bring water and lunch or snacks, and a spotting scope if you have one.
Ouray Area Birding (Ouray County)
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Don Marsh
Meet at Ridgway Visitor Center on Highway 62 near the Highway 550 intersection at 8:00 AM. We will head to Ouray and check several locations for breeding montane species, including Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes; Hammond’s, Dusky and Olive-sided Flycatchers; Pine and Evening Grosbeaks; and Western Warbling Vireos. We will return to Ridgway around noon.
Simms Mesa Interpretive Trail on Dave Wood Road (Montrose)
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. (meet in Montrose at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Leader: Don Marsh
We will walk along the trail in the ponderosa pines for a mile or two. Birds we might see or hear include Red Crossbill, Red-naped and Williamson Sapsuckers, Gray, Dusky and Olive-sided Flycatchers, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Although the trail is well maintained, we recommend good boots with ankle support. Also bring water, snacks, and binoculars. We will return to Montrose around noon.
Colorado West Land Trust Equinox Field Series
Join Colorado West Land Trust for their series of monthly field trips to conserved lands, running from the Spring Equinox to the Fall Equinox. Learn about why landowners work with CWLT to conserve their land and experience our mission up close through guided hikes, bird watching, plein air painting, and more! These events provide unique opportunities to explore Western Colorado’s stunning landscapes, discover diverse wildlife, and understand the importance of our conservation efforts. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an avid birder, or someone looking to enjoy the great outdoors, the Equinox Field Series offers something for everyone! More information on the CWLT website: https://cowestlandtrust.org/equinox-field-series/
BCAS Field Trip Guidelines
One of the fun aspects of belonging to BCAS is the field trips. The field trips visit numerous hotspots in our area and occasionally to places far afield. These trips wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the trip leaders. All BCAS trip leaders are volunteers donating their time and expertise to bring a great birding experience to participants. As a matter of keeping the experience top notch there are a few rules in place to help things run smoothly. Please keep them in mind when signing up and participating in the trips.
- Please notify the trip leader of your intentions to participate in a timely manner. Contact the trip leader to sign up and be sure you get an affirmative response from the leader. To sign up for all field trips send an email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Be sure to mention which field trip you want to attend. Field trip sign ups close 48 hours before the planned trip. Be sure to leave a contact phone number in case the leader needs to contact you about changes.
- Depending on the field trip, there may be limitations on participation. These limitations are set by the trip leader and announced with the field trip information. Reasons for limitations include parking concerns, visits to private residents, safety, and a trip leader’s comfort level with participant numbers. The exceptions to participant limitations may include special events where a larger crowd in anticipated and the First Tuesday field trips. First Tuesdays are expressly focused on new/novice members and visit nearby hotspots that can accommodate a bigger group. People are still asked to sign up in advance, so no one is left behind.
- Unless otherwise noted, all trips will meet in Montrose at 8 a.m. at the public parking lot at the corner of N. 2nd Street and N. Cascade Ave.
- Each fieldtrip participant is required to complete a participant waiver form, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Please print, fill out, and sign the form and bring to the field trip leader. This form will remain valid for all 2026 field trips.
Many of BCAS field trips fill up, so signing up early increases your chances of participating. If, for some reason, you cannot attend a field trip, please notify the trip leader ASAP. Many times, the leader has a waiting list, so contacting the leader allows others to participate. Guests of members are welcome, so please let the leader know how many will be in your party.
Las Pautas para Ecursiones de BCAS
Uno de los aspectos más divertidos de pertenecer a BCAS son las excursiones. Estas excursiones visitan numerosos lugares de interés en nuestra zona y, ocasionalmente, lugares más lejanos. Estas excursiones no serían posibles sin el esfuerzo de los guías. Todos los guías de BCAS son voluntarios que donan su tiempo y experiencia para brindar una excelente experiencia de observación de aves a los participantes. Para garantizar la mejor experiencia, existen algunas reglas que facilitan el desarrollo del programa. Por favor, téngalas en cuenta al inscribirse y participar en las excursiones.
- Por favor, notifique al guía su intención de participar lo antes posible. Comuníquese con él para inscribirse y asegúrese de recibir una respuesta afirmativa. Para inscribirse en todas las excursiones, envíe un correo electrónico a black.canyon.audubon.fieldtrips. Asegúrese de mencionar a qué excursión desea asistir. Las inscripciones cierran 48 horas antes de la fecha prevista. Asegúrese de dejar un número de teléfono de contacto en caso de que el guía necesite contactarle para informarle sobre cualquier cambio.
- Dependiendo de la excursión, puede haber limitaciones de participación. Estas limitaciones las establece el guía y se anuncian junto con la información de la excursión. Las razones de las limitaciones incluyen problemas de estacionamiento, visitas a residentes particulares, seguridad y la comodidad del guía con el número de participantes. Las excepciones a las limitaciones de participación pueden incluir eventos especiales donde se anticipa una mayor afluencia de público y las excursiones del Primer Martes. El Primer Martes está especialmente dirigido a miembros nuevos o novatos y visita lugares de interés cercanos con capacidad para un grupo mayor. Se ruega a los participantes que se inscriban con antelación para que nadie se quede atrás.
- A menos que se indique lo contrario, todas las excursiones se reunirán en Montrose a las 8:00 a. m. en el estacionamiento público ubicado en la esquina de N. 2nd Street y N. Cascade Ave.
Muchas de las excursiones de BCAS se llenan, así que inscribirse con anticipación aumenta sus posibilidades de participar. Si, por alguna razón, no puede asistir a una excursión, notifique al líder de la excursión lo antes posible. Muchas veces, el líder tiene lista de espera, por lo que contactarlo permite que otros participen. Los invitados de los miembros son bienvenidos, así que informe al líder cuántos serán en su grupo.