Weminuche Audubon Society

Riverwalk Naturalist Tour
2021-09-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Riverwalk
Tours are free and last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. The 1.5-mile paved trail is wheelchair accessible. Please bring water, sunglasses, a hat, and your curiosity! Pets should be left at home. This conservation area is rich in natural history and full of ecological treasures. Meet your tour leader at the Habitat Hero Native Plant Garden at the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership property on the Riverwalk by the domes. The Riverwalk Naturalist Program is sponsored by the Weminuche Audubon Society, Pagosa Wetland Partners, and the Springs Resort. For more information contact: pagosawetlands@gmail.com

September Board Meeting
2021-09-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Presentation
The monthly board meeting will be held on Zoom. If you would like to join the meeting, please send a request for the link to weminuche.audubon@gmail.com

Riverwalk Naturalist Tour
2021-09-11 08:00 - 09:30, 2021-09-10 08:00 - 09:30, 2021-09-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Riverwalk
Tours are free and last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. The 1.5-mile paved trail is wheelchair accessible. Please bring water, sunglasses, a hat, and your curiosity! Pets should be left at home. This conservation area is rich in natural history and full of ecological treasures. Meet your tour leader at the Habitat Hero Native Plant Garden on the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership property on the Riverwalk by the domes. The Riverwalk Naturalist Program is sponsored by the Weminuche Audubon Society, Pagosa Wetland Partners, and the Springs Resort. For more information contact: pagosawetlands@gmail.com

Riverwalk Naturalist Tour
2021-09-04 08:00 - 09:30 | Riverwalk
Tours are free and last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. The 1.5-mile paved trail is wheelchair accessible. Please bring water, sunglasses, a hat, and your curiosity! Pets should be left at home. This conservation area is rich in natural history and full of ecological treasures. Meet your tour leader at the Habitat Hero Native Plant Garden on the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership property on the Riverwalk The Riverwalk Naturalist Program is sponsored by the Weminuche Audubon Society, Pagosa Wetland Partners, and the Springs Resort. For more information contact: pagosawetlands@gmail.com

Fourmile Ranch Cleanup
2021-08-30 09:00 - 2021-08-31 15:00 | Hershey Fourmile Ranch, Snowball Rd, Pagosa Springs, CO, 81147
Here’s an opportunity to contribute to the success of the fall program which brings elementary school students on a field trip to learn in a natural environment. We’ll be out there on 2 days. Assist with trail clearing and marking, nature center cleaning, organizing educator supplies, we can find a spot for you!! contact kbruno@audubon.org for information and to volunteer.

Birds of Chimney Rock Tour
2021-08-21 08:00 - 10:00, 2021-06-19 08:00 - 10:00
Chapter volunteers are leading birdwalks at Chimney Rock National Monument this summer and you are invited to join. Tours explore the birds of the lower level of the Monument, in the areas of the entrance road and around the cabin. This is a Chimney Rock event and a fee is charged. To register, visit their website http://chimneyrockco.org

August Chapter Meeting
2021-08-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Online Presentation
We are excited to announce a presentation by Deb Callahan, Board President of The Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges, at our August meeting on Wednesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM. The Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges formed in 1999 as an independent nonprofit organization.
Many of us make a yearly spring trip to Monte Vista to view the spectacular assemblage of sandhill cranes who stop to fuel up on their northern migration. The Friends, along with the Refuge staff, the Monte Vista Chamber, Rio Grande County, and the City of Monte Vista, plan and operate the annual Monte Vista Crane Festival which brings thousands of visitors from all over the world to the refuges. To date, the Friends have contributed to the building of the Meadow Lark Trail on the Monte Vista NWR, the Discovery Room at the Alamosa NWR, many years of Kid’s Crane Festivals, and Fishing days (alas, fish disease and drought has stopped this activity). They also assist the refuge with the yearly Friends and Neighbors Picnic that brings the neighbors of the refuge up to date on the refuge happenings. Friends members worked hard to advocate for the establishment of the Baca NWR in 2005. In 2021 the Friends received a $15,000 grant to improve a critical parking area on the Monte Vista Refuge, wildlife camera installation, and an educational kiosk.

Callahan received her bachelor’s degree and master’s in earth sciences from the University of Northern Colorado. Her master’s thesis was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey in Idaho’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Later, she combined her mapping, spatial abilities, and computer skills to learn GIS (Geographic Information Systems) working for the Bureau of Reclamation in Denver. She was fortunate to be involved in several projects involving the recovery of endangered species in New Mexico and throughout the west. She has now retired in Monte Vista and still loves camping, hiking, and skiing in the west. Taught by her parents the importance of public service, she has served on the boards of the Evergreen Parks and Recreation Board, The Evergreen Naturalists Audubon Society (10 years of Breeding Bird Surveys), Wild Connections (roadless area mapping and preservation), and now the Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges.
Use the following link to join the meeting on Zoom. Please note: If you experience a problem joining the meeting directly with this link, copy the address and paste it into your browser.
Topic: August Chapter Meeting
Time: Aug 18, 2021 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
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Plant Walk with Lake McCullough
2021-08-07 09:30 - 13:00
Weminuche Audubon is pleased to sponsor these popular walks with local herbalist, Lake McCullough. Join us for a fun and educational ramble through the forest, as we discover edible and medicinal native plants. The walks are free of charge! Call Lake at 264-0884 or stop by her great shop, Earthsense Herbals at 144 Pagosa St., to reserve a spot.
In order to handle increased popularity and demand for information about our beautiful local ecosystems, we will be conducting two back-to-back plant walks at each location. The first tour will begin at 9:30 and run until 11:15. The second tour will begin at 11:30 and go until 1:15. There is a 12-person maximum on each walk. Please call ahead to schedule and indicate which time slot you choose. Walks are about 1.5 miles roundtrip. Please be prepared for rugged trails and unpredictable weather, and leave dogs at home.
Lush Wildflowers of Wolf Creek Road
First Tour: 9:30 to 11:15
Second Tour: 11:30 to 1:15
Peak wildflower season on the Continental Divide! Meet at FS Road 725 (Wolf Creek Road). FS Road 725 is about 22 miles east of town on Highway 160, on Wolf Creek Pass. Go ¾ mile past mile marker 164, on the right-hand side of the highway. It is the first right after Falls Creek Road (FS Rd. 39), and is marked with a small brown Forest Service sign reading “Junction Rd. 725.” The road slopes sharply down to the right, after the turnoff. We will meet at the pull-out at the base of the road, and walk from there.

Riverwalk Naturalist Tour
2021-08-06 08:00 - 09:00, 2021-08-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-24 08:00 - 09:30, 2021-07-23 08:00 - 09:30, 2021-07-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-07-17 08:00 - 09:30, 2021-07-16 08:00 - 09:30 and 3 more dates | Riverwalk
Tours are free and last approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. The 1.5-mile paved trail is wheelchair accessible. Please bring water, sunglasses, a hat, and your curiosity! Pets should be left at home. This conservation area is rich in natural history and full of ecological treasures. Meet your tour leader at the Habitat Hero Native Plant Garden on the Riverwalk by the geothermal domes. The Riverwalk Naturalist Program is sponsored by the Weminuche Audubon Society, Pagosa Wetland Partners, and the Springs Resort. For more information contact: pagosawetlands@gmail.com

July Chapter Meeting
2021-07-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Online Presentation
Water, always an important topic in our area, will be the focus of this month’s meeting, on Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 PM on Zoom. We will learn about the work of the Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership, a local organization working to address the management of this precious resource. Al Pfister, on behalf of the Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership (WEP) will be presenting the results of data collected in Phase II of the WEP’s assessment of the environmental, recreational, and agricultural infrastructure needs in the Upper San Juan River. The WEP’s data collection is a part of the implementation of the Colorado Water Plan of 2015 in the development of a Stream Management Plan/Integrated Watershed Management Plan. The WEP’s data collection efforts were done to assess local environmental, recreational, and agricultural infrastructure needs in the face of a warming and drying climate.
Pfister is a semi-retired fish and wildlife biologist who has worked in 7 western US states dealing with endangered species issues trying to find a balance between conserving imperiled fish, wildlife, plants, herptiles, and invertebrates, while still allowing the various uses (development, recreation, grazing, timber harvest, energy development,etc) to coexist. In addition to his work with WEP, he serves on the board of the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership, and on the board of the San Juan Water Conservancy District. He is a past board member of the Weminuche Audubon Society.
Audubon meetings are open to the public. Use the following link to join the meeting.
Topic: July Chapter MeetingTime: Jul 21, 2021 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/81287270778?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 812 8727 0778Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532158782,,81287270778#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)+13462487799,,81287270778#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Houston)Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)Meeting ID: 812 8727 0778Passcode: [REDACTED] your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcn1K0Man7

2021 Annual Meeting
2021-06-23 17:00 - 19:00
June Chapter Meeting We’re having a Party!! June is the month for our chapter annual meeting, a time to review where we’ve been in the past year and to make plans for the future. After more than a year of meeting online, we are excited to be getting together in person this month. We have reserved the covered terrazo space at Yamaguchi Park for our meeting on June 23. As has been our tradition, this meeting will be a potluck, please bring a dish to share, plates and utensils and a folding chair. We will supply water, iced tea and lemonade.Setup will begin at 5 PM with the meeting starting at 5:30. The shortest distance access is provided by taking the gravel road which ends at the river at the south end of Yamaguchi Park.Elections to the Board of Directors will occur at this meeting. A current membership is required to vote. The board wishes to thank Suzanne Coe, who is resigning her post, for her past participation and support of our efforts. The board has made the following nominations for positions: Anne Stevens to continue as Treasurer for a 2 year term, Lisa Tedder for a new 2 year term as Secretary, and Brenda Breding for a 2 year term as director. Nominations from the floor will be accepted for any of these positions.We will be accepting dues payments for the 2021-2022 year at the meeting ($15/year).

Native Plant Garden Ribbon Cutting
2021-06-23 11:00 - 11:30 | Riverwalk
Native Plant Garden in Centennial Park
On June 23, at 11 AM, we will be hosting a ribbon cutting at our garden near the domes. Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers who have assisted with plantings and maintenance, the plants are flourishing and the garden is a showcase for the value of landscaping with plants that provide food for birds and other pollinator species.
At this time, we will be dedicating the garden to the memory of Terry Hershey. Mrs. Hershey was instrumental in the formation of our chapter and a supporter of the Audubon Rockies education program which has allowed elementary school students the opportunity to participate in an annual field trip to the Hershey Ranch on Snowball Rd.
We welcome representatives of the Hershey Foundation and Audubon Rockies along with town officials and our partners in this project, including the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership, in this celebration of our garden.
We hope to see you there.

Plant Walk with Lake McCullough
2021-06-12 09:30 - 11:30
Weminuche Audubon is pleased to sponsor these popular walks with local herbalist, Lake McCullough. Join us for a fun and educational ramble through the forest, as we discover edible and medicinal native plants. The walks are free of charge! Call Lake at 264-0884 or stop by her great shop, Earthsense Herbals at 144 Pagosa St., to reserve a spot.
In order to handle increased popularity and demand for information about our beautiful local ecosystems, we will be conducting two back-to-back plant walks at each location. The first tour will begin at 9:30 and run until 11:15. The second tour will begin at 11:30 and go until 1:15. There is a 12-person maximum on each walk. Please call ahead to schedule and indicate which time slot you choose. Walks are about 1.5 miles roundtrip. Please be prepared for rugged trails and unpredictable weather, and leave dogs at home.
Saturday June 12th
Native Plants of the Subalpine Forest
First Tour: 9:30 to 11:15
Second Tour: 11:30 to 1:15
Early Summer wildflowers and medicinal herbs growing in the mixed conifer and aspen forest of West Fork Road. A surprising diversity of plants in a small area! Meet on the far side of the first bridge on West Fork Road. From downtown Pagosa, take Highway 160 east approximately 14 miles, making a left turn at the junction of Forest Service Road 648 (West Fork Road). Follow 648 down a steep hill, and past the privately-own Bruce Spruce Ranch. The road crosses Wolf Creek shortly after, on a narrow wood-planked bridge. Park on the far side of the bridge.

Birds of Chimney Rock Tour
2021-05-22 08:00 - 10:00
Charles Martinez will lead a birdwalk at Chimney Rock National Monument. This is a Chimney Rock event and a fee is charged. Visit their website http://chimneyrockco.org to register for the tour.

May Chapter Meeting
2021-05-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Online Presentation
Learning to identify birds by their songs and calls will be the topic of the next Weminuche Audubon Chapter meeting, on Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 PM. Keith Bruno, Audubon Rockies Community Naturalist and Weminuche Board Member, will lead us in this exercise of seeing with our ears. With mating season and the arrival of our summer birds, the air is filled with birdsong. Some birds we haven’t heard for several months.
Distinguishing a bird by its unique sound is a fun challenge. Bruno will provide tips for picking apart the song we hear and aligning it with the bird singing it. Learn about the technology available to teach yourself this skill.
Chapter members are getting ready to begin our third season of surveying bird populations in areas of the San Juan National Forest. This citizen science project is designed to study the effects of different fire prevention practices employed by the USFS on bird populations. A link to reports and youtube videos on our study may be found under the Projects tab, Bird Community Monitoring, on our website, www.weminucheaudubon.org. Identifying birds by their songs is an important skill in recording birds that are difficult to see hidden in the canopy or the brush in the forest, and will add to your enjoyment of the birds at your home. All interested parties are invited to join us at our meeting on Zoom. Use the following link to join the meeting.Time: May 19, 2021 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/96682817997?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 966 8281 7997Passcode: [REDACTED] tap mobile+12532158782,,96682817997#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)+13462487799,,96682817997#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Houston)Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)Meeting ID: 966 8281 7997Passcode: [REDACTED] your local number: https://zoom.us/u/afn5Dln1

Bird Monitoring Project Orientation
2021-05-15 09:30 - 12:00
The trees are marked, the birds are out and we’re ready to begin the 3rd season of our citizen science survey on Jackson Mtn, Fawn Gulch and Turkey Springs. If you’re new to the project or want to refresh your skills, join us this Saturday, May 15 to head out into the forest and learn the protocols of the study. Meet at the Junction Restaurant Parking lot at 9:30 AM. Bring binoculars, water and a snack. There’s still time to add your name to our list of participants. Email us weminuche.audubon@gmail.com for information

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Virtual Bird Bash
2021-05-15 08:00 - 2021-05-16 16:00 | Online Presentation
Visit the Texas Gulf Coast for this free virtual event. https://www.gcbo.org/connect/virtualbirdbash/ for information.
