As part of our Birdability Week lineup, join us for a Bird Walk at Kettle Lakes at the U.S. Air Force Academy, led by Fish & Wildlife Biologist Johnny Ochs and Wild Birds Unlimited staff members Bryan Poss and Meridith Nash-Martin.

All Birdability Week events are free! We do ask that you register in advance so we know who to expect and can prepare for any accessibility needs or accommodations that will help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

This walk is designed to provide a welcoming, accessible, and relaxed birding experience for people of all abilities. You do not need to have a disability to participate. Everyone is welcome! All you need is an interest in birds, nature, and spending time outdoors together.

Event Location & Accessibility Details:

The walk will take place at Kettle Lakes at the U.S. Air Force Academy. No military ID or base access is required. Please use the South Gate entrance (Exit 150 from I-25) and turn right onto Kettle Lake Road at the entrance for the Pass & Registration Office, just before the Academy gate. Follow the road to the parking area at the end.

• The opening around the gate near the parking area is approximately 3 feet wide.
• The trail is a wide gravel surface with some slight inclines.
• Benches are available for resting around the lakes.
• A wheelchair-accessible portable restroom is available at the lakes.
• An accessible entrance is available that allows vehicles to drive directly to the ADA-accessible fishing pier at Kettle Lake 3. Please let us know when registering if you will need this option so we can make arrangements.
• Some road and aircraft noise from the Academy may be present during the outing.

Colorado weather can be unpredictable, especially in October! Please check the forecast before the event and dress in comfortable layers appropriate for the conditions. We also recommend bringing your usual outdoor essentials, including water, sun protection, and any personal items you may need to be comfortable outdoors.

What to Expect:

This will be a relaxed, easy-paced outing with plenty of time to stop, look, listen, and enjoy the birds around us. If you are new to birding, our leaders will be happy to help you identify birds and get comfortable using binoculars or a scope. More experienced birders are equally welcome to come along and enjoy exploring Kettle Lakes with us.

Kettle Lakes is a wonderful place to bird because several different habitats come together in one relatively small area. The open water attracts ducks and other waterbirds, while the shoreline, brushy areas, nearby pines, and surrounding open spaces provide habitat for songbirds and raptors.

In late October, we’ll be watching for ducks and other migrating or returning waterfowl, Belted Kingfishers, Double-crested Cormorants, Dark-eyed Juncos, chickadees, sparrows, woodpeckers, and raptors. We’ll also keep an eye out for lingering fall migrants and newly arriving winter visitors.

Of course, there are never guarantees in birding, and that’s part of the fun! We’ll take our time exploring the different habitats and see what Kettle Lakes has waiting for us that morning.

We’ll keep an eBird list during the walk and share it with participants afterward so you can see all of the species we spotted together.

Birding Equipment & Accessibility Aids:

You do not need to own any birding equipment to participate! We’ll have binoculars and a spotting scope available to borrow, along with several accessibility aids to help make birding more comfortable.

We’ll have a monopod that can support binoculars, reducing the need to hold them up for extended periods; binoculars with harness-style straps for anyone who finds a traditional neck strap uncomfortable; and Binocular Bandits, which attach to binocular eyecups to help block distracting peripheral light and make it easier to focus on the view through the binoculars.

Bryan is also an experienced wildlife photographer and will have his photography equipment available for participants to try. He’ll be happy to help you photograph some of the birds we encounter, and any photos you take are yours to keep! No photography experience or camera equipment of your own is needed.

If you have binoculars, a camera, or other equipment that works well for you, you are also welcome to bring your own.

Come spend the morning with us discovering the birds of Kettle Lakes and enjoying a welcoming morning outdoors with fellow bird lovers!

As part of our Birdability Week lineup, join us for a special Talon Talk at Wild Birds Unlimited, located at 2450 Montebello Square Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

All Birdability Week events are free! We do ask that you register in advance so we know who to expect and can prepare for any accessibility needs or accommodations that will help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

This event is designed to provide a welcoming and accessible opportunity for people of all abilities to experience the wonder of Colorado’s raptors up close. You do not need to have a disability to participate. Everyone is welcome! All you need is an interest in birds and a desire to learn more about these incredible animals.

What to Expect:

During this special program, Nature’s Educators will introduce us to four native Colorado raptors and share their incredible adaptations, behaviors, and roles in our ecosystems.

You’ll have the opportunity to see these magnificent birds up close, learn about the characteristics that make each species unique, and ask questions along the way. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience birds of prey from a perspective we rarely get in the wild.

This is a live-animal presentation, so participants should expect occasional movement and vocalizations from the birds during the program.

Location & Accessibility Details:

The Talon Talk will take place indoors at Wild Birds Unlimited, 2450 Montebello Square Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.

• The event will be held entirely indoors.
• Our store has a step-free entrance and accessible interior space.
• Seating will be available throughout the presentation.
• Participants are welcome to sit, stand, or change positions as needed during the program.
• An accessible restroom is available.
• Accessible parking spaces are available near the store entrance.
• If there is an accommodation that would make the program more comfortable or accessible for you, please let us know when you register so we can prepare ahead of time.

Come ready to learn, ask questions, and experience the power, beauty, and incredible adaptations of Colorado’s native raptors up close!

As part of our Birdability Week lineup, join us Friday evening for a Short Bird Walk & Birding Sit at Rock Ledge Ranch from 4:30–6 pm, located right at the entrance to Garden of the Gods. This outing will be led by Wild Birds Unlimited staff members Bryan Poss and Meridith Nash-Martin.

All Birdability Week events are free! We do ask that you register in advance so we know who to expect and can prepare for any accessibility needs or accommodations that will help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

This outing is designed to provide a welcoming, accessible, and relaxed birding experience for people of all abilities. You do not need to have a disability to participate. Everyone is welcome! All you need is an interest in birds, nature, and spending time outdoors together.

Event Location & Accessibility Details:

We’ll meet at Rock Ledge Ranch, located at the entrance to Garden of the Gods. Our planned route is a short loop of approximately ¼ mile total, but there is absolutely no requirement to complete the entire loop. We can walk as much or as little as the group is comfortable with before settling in for a relaxed birding sit.

• The parking area is gravel.
• Our route will include some wide, relatively flat gravel surfaces as well as paved pathways.
• The planned loop is approximately ¼ mile total.
• We can shorten the walk based on the needs and comfort of the group.
• Plenty of benches are available for resting and for our birding sit.
• Accessible indoor restrooms are available at the Ranch.
• Participants are welcome to skip the walking portion entirely and join us for the birding sit.
• Please let us know when registering if there is an accommodation that would help you participate comfortably.

Colorado weather can be unpredictable, especially in October! Please check the forecast before the event and dress in comfortable layers appropriate for the conditions. We also recommend bringing your usual outdoor essentials, including water, sun protection, and any personal items you may need to be comfortable outdoors.

What to Expect:

This will be a relaxed, easy-paced outing. We’ll begin with a short walk, stopping frequently to look and listen, and then settle in for a birding sit where we can simply let the birds come to us.

Rock Ledge Ranch and the surrounding Garden of the Gods area bring together several different habitats, making this a fun place to see what might turn up. Some birds we’ll be watching for include Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, Spotted Towhees, Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, Black-billed Magpies, Dark-eyed Juncos, and House Finches, along with any late migrants or newly arriving winter visitors that might surprise us.

There are never guarantees in birding, and that’s part of the fun! We’ll take our time watching, listening, and enjoying whatever birds choose to join us that evening.

If you are new to birding, Bryan and Meridith will be happy to help you identify birds and get comfortable using binoculars or a scope. More experienced birders are equally welcome to come along, explore, and enjoy an evening of birding together.

We’ll also keep an eBird list during the outing and share it with participants afterward so you can see all of the species we spotted together.

Birding Equipment & Accessibility Aids:

You do not need to own any birding equipment to participate! We’ll have binoculars and a spotting scope available to borrow, along with several accessibility aids to help make birding more comfortable.

We’ll have a monopod that can support binoculars, reducing the need to hold them up for extended periods; binoculars with harness-style straps for anyone who finds a traditional neck strap uncomfortable; and Binocular Bandits, which attach to binocular eyecups to help block distracting peripheral light and make it easier to focus on the view through the binoculars.

Bryan is also an experienced wildlife photographer and will have his photography equipment available for participants to try. He’ll be happy to help you photograph some of the birds we encounter, and any photos you take are yours to keep! No photography experience or camera equipment of your own is needed.

If you have binoculars, a camera, or other equipment that works well for you, you are also welcome to bring your own.

Come walk a little, sit a while, and enjoy an easygoing evening of birds, nature, and community with us!

As part of our Birdability Week lineup, join us for a Bird Walk & Birding Sit at Nancy Lewis Park from 9:30–11 am, conveniently located in central Colorado Springs. This outing will be led by Wild Birds Unlimited staff members Bryan Poss and Meridith Nash-Martin.

All Birdability Week events are free! We do ask that you register in advance so we know who to expect and can prepare for any accessibility needs or accommodations that will help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

This outing is designed to provide a welcoming, accessible, and relaxed birding experience for people of all abilities. You do not need to have a disability to participate. Everyone is welcome! All you need is an interest in birds, nature, and spending time outdoors together.

Event Location & Accessibility Details:

Nancy Lewis Park is a neighborhood park centered around a pond and wetland area, with paved paths that make it a wonderful location for an easy-paced birding outing.

• The full loop around the park is approximately 0.6 miles.
• The walking paths around the park are paved and wide.
• The route is relatively flat, and there is no need to complete the full loop. We can walk as much or as little as the group is comfortable with.
• Numerous benches are available around the park, providing plenty of opportunities to stop, rest, and bird from a seated position.
• You are welcome to participate in the walk, enjoy a birding sit, or do a little of both.
• Street parking is available around the park.
• Restrooms at Nancy Lewis Park are seasonal and may not be available during our October event.
• Please let us know when registering if there is an accommodation that would help you participate comfortably.

Colorado weather can be unpredictable, especially in October! Please check the forecast before the event and dress in comfortable layers appropriate for the conditions. We also recommend bringing your usual outdoor essentials, including water, sun protection, and any personal items you may need to be comfortable outdoors.

What to Expect:

This will be a relaxed, easy-paced morning of birding with plenty of time to stop, look, listen, and simply enjoy what comes our way. You can walk with us around the park, settle onto a bench for a birding sit, or move between the two throughout the morning.

Nancy Lewis Park packs several useful bird habitats into a relatively small and accessible space. The pond and wetland areas are the stars of the show and give us a chance to watch for ducks, geese, and other water-associated birds. Mature trees, landscaped areas, and open lawns surrounding the pond provide additional places to look for songbirds, woodpeckers, chickadees, finches, and other familiar Colorado Springs birds.

Late October is also an exciting time of transition. We may encounter migrating birds still passing through as well as winter residents beginning to settle into the area, so we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for whatever surprises the morning brings.

There are never guarantees in birding, and that’s part of the fun! We’ll take our time exploring the different habitats and enjoy whatever birds decide to join us.

If you are new to birding, Bryan and Meridith will be happy to help you identify birds and get comfortable using binoculars or a scope. More experienced birders are equally welcome to come along and enjoy a morning of birding together.

We’ll also keep an eBird list during the outing and share it with participants afterward so you can see all of the species we spotted together.

Birding Equipment & Accessibility Aids:

You do not need to own any birding equipment to participate! We’ll have binoculars and a spotting scope available to borrow, along with several accessibility aids to help make birding more comfortable.

We’ll have a monopod that can support binoculars, reducing the need to hold them up for extended periods; binoculars with harness-style straps for anyone who finds a traditional neck strap uncomfortable; and Binocular Bandits, which attach to binocular eyecups to help block distracting peripheral light and make it easier to focus on the view through the binoculars.

Bryan is also an experienced wildlife photographer and will have his photography equipment available for participants to try. He’ll be happy to help you photograph some of the birds we encounter, and any photos you take are yours to keep! No photography experience or camera equipment of your own is needed.

If you have binoculars, a camera, or other equipment that works well for you, you are also welcome to bring your own.

Come walk a little, sit a while, watch the pond, and enjoy a relaxed morning of birds, nature, and community with us!

We'll wrap up our Birdability Week lineup on Sunday morning by exploring an unexpected Colorado Springs birding hotspot: Evergreen Cemetery! From 8:30–10 am, we’ll visit several different areas of the beautiful, historic grounds, traveling by car between sections so we can explore a variety of habitats without requiring one long walk. This outing will be led by Wild Birds Unlimited staff members Bryan Poss and Meridith Nash-Martin.

All Birdability Week events are free! We do ask that you register in advance so we know who to expect and can prepare for any accessibility needs or accommodations that will help make your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

This outing is designed to provide a welcoming, accessible, and relaxed birding experience for people of all abilities. You do not need to have a disability to participate. Everyone is welcome! All you need is an interest in birds, nature, and spending time outdoors together.

Event Location & Accessibility Details:

At approximately 220 acres, Evergreen Cemetery gives us a lot of ground to explore! Rather than trying to cover it on foot, we’ll travel by car between several birding locations throughout the cemetery. At each stop, participants can get out and wander, stay in their vehicle and bird from the car, or do a combination of both. There is no requirement to walk on this outing, and you’re welcome to participate in whatever way is most comfortable for you.

• Participants will drive or ride between birding stops within the cemetery.
• Walkie-talkies will be available for communication between vehicles, allowing our group to stay connected as we travel between sections and helping us share directions, bird sightings, and other information along the way.
• Walking at each stop will be limited, and you are welcome to stay close to or in the vehicles.
• You can participate in as much or as little walking as is comfortable for you.
• Some areas of this historic property have uneven ground, but most are paved and smooth, we’ll select our birding stops with accessibility in mind.
• Accessible parking is available near the cemetery office and main entrance.
• Restroom availability is limited and may be closed on Sunday. Please plan accordingly.
• Please let us know when registering if there is an accommodation that would help you participate comfortably.

Colorado weather can be unpredictable, especially in October! Please check the forecast before the event and dress in comfortable layers appropriate for the conditions. We also recommend bringing your usual outdoor essentials, including water, sun protection, and any personal items you may need to be comfortable outdoors.

What to Expect:

Evergreen Cemetery may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about birding, but that’s part of what makes this outing so much fun!

The cemetery’s mature trees, stands of evergreens, expansive lawns, shrubs, and open spaces create pockets of habitat throughout the grounds. By traveling between sections, we’ll have a chance to explore several of these areas and see how the birds change as the habitat changes.

Late October is an especially interesting time to explore the cemetery. We’ll be watching and listening for Dark-eyed Juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, finches, Black-billed Magpies, and other resident and wintering birds. We’ll also be checking the mature conifers carefully for one particularly exciting possibility: Red Crossbills!

There are never guarantees in birding, and that’s part of the fun. We’ll take our time at each stop, listen for activity in the trees, and see what surprises Evergreen has waiting for us.

If you are new to birding, Bryan and Meridith will be happy to help you identify birds and get comfortable using binoculars or a scope. More experienced birders are equally welcome to come along and enjoy exploring this unusual birding destination together.

We’ll also keep an eBird list during the outing and share it with participants afterward so you can see all of the species we spotted together.

Birding Equipment & Accessibility Aids:

You do not need to own any birding equipment to participate! We’ll have binoculars and a spotting scope available to borrow, along with several accessibility aids to help make birding more comfortable.

We’ll have a monopod that can support binoculars, reducing the need to hold them up for extended periods; binoculars with harness-style straps for anyone who finds a traditional neck strap uncomfortable; and Binocular Bandits, which attach to binocular eyecups to help block distracting peripheral light and make it easier to focus on the view through the binoculars.

Bryan is also an experienced wildlife photographer and will have his photography equipment available for participants to try. He’ll be happy to help you photograph some of the birds we encounter, and any photos you take are yours to keep! No photography experience or camera equipment of your own is needed.

If you have binoculars, a camera, or other equipment that works well for you, you are also welcome to bring your own.

Come discover just how much birdlife can be hiding in an unexpected place and help us wrap up Birdability Week with a relaxed morning exploring one of Colorado Springs’ most surprising birding spots!