The Annual Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival provides a popular venue for visiting southwestern Colorado during the second weekend in May. Nestled between alpine and mesa forests and scenic desert canyons, the Four Corner’s intriguingly diverse landscapes, and mild climate, have drawn people to the region for generations. Ancestral Pueblo farmers dwelled in places now known as Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, and Canyon of the Ancients. Today’s meadows, pastures, cultivated fields, historic orchards, stock ponds and reservoirs establish habitat for a wide-spectrum of migratory and resident birds. Some species, such as Lucy’s Warbler, are found no place else in Colorado.

Hosted by the Cortez Cultural Center, the UMMV Birding Festival draws upon the expertise of regional wildlife specialists who volunteer as tour guides and guest lecturers. Each year new tours, and repeat favorites, explore an array of birding hotspots that attract avian species from loons and grebes to sparrows, grosbeaks, and finches. Overnight tours within easy driving distance offer different environs and the prospect of encountering species not found within the Cortez area.

Southwest Colorado’s first birding records date to the 1880s. Tours that combine birding with regional archaeology, ecology, and history take UMMV birders into the realms of gulls, shorebirds, waterfowl, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Bald and Golden eagles, elusive owls, woodpeckers, flycatchers and phoebes, American Dipper, towhees, crossbills, and colorful bluebirds, tanagers, and warblers. The festival’s birding tally has climbed to 180 species.

The UMMV Birding Festival designs activities and tours to fit a gamut of abilities, ages, and interests. Early evening lectures, social hours, a bird-themed art show, and banquet add to the festival’s five days of enjoyment — learning, socializing, and most importantly birding.

Schedule of Events:

FESTIVAL CHECK-IN, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Full Registration Fee & banquet $85
Daily registration fee $15
Banquet only fee  $55
Lectures included with each day’s registration,
otherwise $5 at door

TOUR #1
Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #1
Tyler Lausten, Wildlife Photographer; Carolyn Gunn, Veterinarian, Retired

2:00 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, and Barn Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.
A raptor seen during the Birding Festival
Photo courtesy of Diane Cherbak

TOUR #2
Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #2
Kurt Hillman, Geological Engineer, Retired/span>

2:15 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl and Barn Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.
Birds and Bites WELCOME RECEPTION
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
Join fellow bird enthusiasts during the UMMV Birding Festival’s Welcome Reception. Enjoy beer, wine, coffee bar, appetizers and the bird art exhibit.
 
LECTURE
"Nature’s Educators Live Raptor Presentation"

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm; $5
Join Nature’s Educators to meet and learn about 4 live native raptor ambassadors! Find out what their personal stories are, what they eat, special adaptations and identification tips, and how we can help conserve these incredible predators in the wild. Be sure to bring your inquiring mind and camera!

Click here to Register