Bird Banding & Bird Walk

At the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, restoration ecologists are working to bring nature back into the landscapes where people live, work, and play. Through decades of habitat restoration, once-degraded land has been transformed into thriving native prairies, wetlands, and woodlands that support birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The center also invites the public to experience this work firsthand through its monthly research bird banding program, where trained researchers carefully capture, study, and release wild birds to collect important data on migration, health, and population trends. After the banding, visitors can join a guided walk through the restored landscapes, gaining a deeper appreciation for the native plants and ecosystems that make Northern Colorado such a special place to call home.

9AM Scott Rashid, Director of the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute, will lead a live bird-banding demonstration near the HPEC Barn. Songbirds are caught in a mist nest, and then carefully extracted, identified, weighed, measured, and banded. While we wait for the birds to land in the net Scott will entertain the audience with stories and facts from his research. Depending on the number of birds that arrive, attendees may have the opportunity to hold a bird!

10AM Sheila Webber, expert birder and board member of Northern Colorado Bird Alliance, will lead a guided bird-viewing walk around Equalizer Lake. Sheila has documented over 200 species of birds in the foothills region and loves sharing her passion with others. We recommend that you download the free eBird app to track what species you observe!

Cancellation - This is an outdoor event and will be held weather permitting. If cancelled due to weather, (snow, rain, or extreme wind/cold) registrants will be notified via Facebook and/or email. We will not have this event in January or July.

Dogs: Yes, on leash

Children: Yes

Strollers: Yes

Accessibility: Natural surface trails

Recommended gear: Binoculars, walking shoes, dress in layers, water bottle, hat, sunscreen, sun glasses

Note on the practice of bird banding: Bird banding is a national, scientific program administered jointly by the US Geological Survey and the Canadian Wildlife Service to support avian research. The information recorded at our bird banding events is sent to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel, MD to be utilized for scientific research. This field research is conducted by highly knowledgeable, trained, and license researchers. This research is vital for tracking bird populations and informing conservation efforts. We assure you that no one cares about the wellbeing of these birds more than the researchers performing the banding, and that the process does not harm or even significantly affect the birds. How do we know? The same birds return to the same banding sites to feed and nest time and again, indicating that they do not consider the environment to be unsafe.