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.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK!

National Wildlife Week, National Wildlife Federation’s, longest running education event, is coming up March 15-21. Celebrate by making a difference in the life of a child and helping them to appreciate wildlife.

Studies show that spending time learning and playing outdoors boosts children’s health, creativity, and builds a conservation ethic. That’s why National Wildlife Week is part of National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There movement to return to children what they don’t even know they’ve lost: a connection to the natural world.

What are we doing at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?
Our largest program is our Quarters for Conservation program. It is an exciting initiative to greatly enhance our wildlife conservation work. Through the collection of quarters, we’ll provide funding for new and existing wildlife conservation projects. This program provides an opportunity to engage our staff and our community in the effort while also significantly expanding our contribution to wildlife conservation in our region and around the globe.

Working with students? Bring your class to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for a one-of-a-kind educational experience. From in-depth tours to Zookeeper interviews, and Zoo overnights to in-school programs, we have something to satisfy the learner in everyone and connect your students to the WILD. Go on a safari led by an expert docent, work with the Zoo to customize your own tour, or get some face time with a Zookeeper.

Register online to receive your custom National Wildlife Week Educator Activity Guide and Family Activity Passport downloads featuring Wildlife Watch activities for your state, and more!

Get involved with the National Wildlife Federation and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo through various opportunities, such as:
• Including a child in your spring backyard habitat gardening
• Leading a planting day for a school
• Cultivating a child’s green thumb
• Visiting Rocky Mountain Wild at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
• Learn about animal conservation and local programs at the Zoo’s Loft
• Participate in Quarters for Conservation
• Finding out more ideas to make a difference
This March, encourage children to spend more time outside and take steps to protect the environment.

Vulture Conservation

Wild African vultures are in jeopardy. They are declining due to poisoning from feeding on medicated cattle carcasses, power line collisions and loss of food and habitat. Vultures play a vital role in the environment by cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease. Quarters for Conservation supports The Vulture Programme’s field and community work to safeguard a future for Cape Griffon Vultures.

How can you help? Every time you visit the Zoo, drop your token or quarter into the vulture slot on the Quarters for Conservation kiosk located in the admissions plaza.

Here are some things that you can do to help vultures:

•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, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

•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.