Bird-watching Hike on Sunday, April 18th

Welcome the annual return of Colorado’s Turkey Vulture and other migratory birds! Join Jenyva Turner, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) zookeeper and vulture enthusiast, on a bird-watching hike in Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Sunday, April 18, from 8-11am.This hike is FREE courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Quarters for Conservation program.

Hike Description: We will stroll along spring wildflowers, prairie dogs and bluebirds and gradually wind up to scrub oak where we may find towhees and jays. Our hike ends in the Douglas fir/Ponderosa pine habitat of tanagers, nuthatches, warblers and hummingbirds. Great views of the prairie below will provide excellent views of turkey vultures and other raptors. Meet at 8am in the trailhead parking lot (1st left turn after passing the Visitor Center). Total length: 3 miles. Elevation gain: About 600 feet. More details...

To sign-up for this hike please email Jenyva with your details at jturner@cmzoo.org.









Vulture Action Items:
• Get to know our local vultures! Buy some binoculars and become a bird watcher!
• Protect wildlife habitat by getting involved in your local parks, open spaces and sustainable conservation groups. Visit websites from the following groups:
Sierra Club
Trails and Open Space Coalition
Wild Connections
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Rocky Mountain Institute
Catamount Institute
•Keep garbage cleaned up to prevent vultures and other wildlife from eating non-food items.
•Report roadkill so authorities can safely remove it. This will protect scavengers, like vultures, from injury or death. Along roads in Colorado Springs call: 719-385-5934. On El Paso County roads call: 719-520-6460. On Colorado state roads call: 719-576-1868.
•Do not leave animal carcasses killed with lead shot lying around; use an alternative type of shot.
•Avoid the use of poisons to kill wildlife.
•Recycle paper and buy recycled products to reduce the need to cut down trees that vultures roost in.
•Vote with your tokens and donate your quarters to vulture conservation at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation display.