Festival Schedule

Registration for the 2025 festival is closed and final.

To attend any festival programs, you must be registered for both the festival AND the individual program. Festival registrants may refer to their confirmation email to review their agenda and packet pickup location. If you show up without registering for both, you will be turned away.

The 2025 Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival schedule is below. You must register for both the festival and the individual activity to attend. If you show up without registering for both, you will be turned away. 

We recommend you select all of your choices on this website and then visit the registration site. We will update this page to show what is full as often as we can.

Name tags and pre-ordered T-shirts must be picked up prior to your first field trip. Pick-up this year is at either Fountain Creek Nature Center or Bear Creek Nature Center.

  • We recommend that you print out your online registration information so you can reference it during the festival. Your name will be printed the way you enter it during the registration process. Name tags and pre-ordered T-shirts must be picked up at Fountain Creek Nature Center OR Bear Creek Nature Center prior to your first field trip. Tentative pick-up times are indicated below.
    • Fountain Creek Nature Center: Wednesday – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; Thursday – 6:00 am to 4:30 pm; Friday – 6:00 am to 7:15am and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday – 6:00 am to 7:15am and 8:00 am to 4:30pm; Sunday – 6:00 am to 7:00 am.
    • Bear Creek Nature Center: Wednesday – Saturday 9:00 am-4:00 pm.
    • All items not picked up by Saturday afternoon will go the Birds, Brews, and Bites then to Fountain Creek Nurture Center.

When you register, you will be asked at which nature center you will pick up your name tag and merchandise. For more information, please coordinate with Jessica Miller, jessicamiller@elpasoco.com, to arrange when you can get your name tag and/or t-shirt.

Check your Spam folder if you haven’t heard from a trip leader before the festival begins. Quite often their emails end up there.

Field trips meet at various locations. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for an on-time departure.

View Field Trip and Activity Descriptions

Color Key:   Festival Event  Field Trip  Workshop  Seminar  VIRTUAL

Thursday, May 15

Th1      6:00a-11:00a      Rainbow Gulch, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Th2      6:00a-Noon         Chico Basin Ranch, Bird Walk/Banding Demo (15)  FULL
Sem1  6:30a-7:30a         Hummingbird Banding, Starsmore V&NC – Session #1 (12) FULL
Th3      7:00a-10:00a      Kettle Creek Lakes, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Th4      7:00a-11:00a      Aiken Canyon Preserve, Bird Hike (12) FULL
Th5      7:00a-11:00a      Kohl’s to the Mule Farm, Fountain Creek Bird Walk (15)  FULL
Th6      7:00a-2:00p         Burnt Mill Road to Pueblo Mountain Park, Birding (8)  FULL
Th7      7:30a-10:30a      Paint Mines Interpretive Park – West, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Th8      7:30a-11:00a      Mueller State Park, Bird Hike (12)  FULL
Sem2  7:45a-8:45a         Hummingbird Banding, Starsmore V&NC – Session #2 (12)  FULL
Sem3  9:15a-10:15a      “Hummingbirds,” Starsmore V&NC – Only Sem1 & Sem2 registrants (24) FULL
Sem4  2:00p-4:00p        “Birding Smarter: Unlocking the Secrets of Colorado’s Birds and Habitats,” Colorado Parks & Wildlife Classroom (40)       FULL  
Th9      2:30p-5:00p        Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15)  FULL
Th10   4:00p-6:00p        Fountain Creek Nature Center, Big Sit (15)  FULL
Th11   4:30p-6:30p        Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Sem5  6:30p-7:30p       “Extinction of the Dinosaurs and Rise of the Mammals,” Corral Bluffs Resource Center (20)  FULL
Vir1     6:30p-7:15p       “Birds of the Pikes Peak Region,” (100) – Virtual
Sem6  6:30p-8:00p       “The Art of Falconry,” Colorado Parks & Wildlife Classroom (60)

Friday, May 16

F1      6:00a-Noon         Chico Basin Ranch, Bird Walk & Bird Banding Demo (15)  FULL
F2      6:00a-1:00p         Brett Gray Ranch, Guided Bird Hike (12)  FULL
F3      7:00a-9:30a         Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, Bird Walk (20)  
F4      7:00a-10:00a      Big Johnson Res/Bluestem Prairie OS, Bird Hike (15) 
F5      7:00a-10:00a      Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15) 
F6      7:00a-10:00a      Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15)
F7      7:00a-10:30a      North Cheyenne Cañon, Bird Hike (12)  
F8      7:00a-11:00a      Bear Creek Regional Park – East, Bird Walk (15) 
F9      7:00a-11:00a      Clear Spring Ranch, Bird Walk (15)
F10   7:30a-11:00a      Aiken Canyon Preserve, Bird Hike (12)  FULL
F11   7:30a-11:00a      Kane Ranch Open Space, Bird Walk (12)  FULL
F12   7:30a-11:00a      Mueller State Park, Bird Hike (15)
F13   8:00a-10:00a      Slow Birding, Liddell residence (12)  FULL
F14   8:00a-10:00a      Garden of the Gods, Prairie Falcon Sit (40)
F15   8:00a-10:00a      Mallard Pond, Big Sit (10)
F16   8:00a-1:00p         Pikes Peak Hwy, Birding Adventure, Pikes Peak Highway (13) FULL
F17   9:00a-11:00a      Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Foothill Flowers Walk (15)
F18 10:00a-11:00a     Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, Orchard House Tour (25) 
F19   10:00a-Noon      Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bug Watching Walkabout (15) 
Sem7 11:30a-1:30p    “Prairie Ecosystems, Prairie Dogs & the Black-footed Ferret”, Fountain Creek Nature Center (20)  FULL
W1   12:00p-2:30p       Nature Journaling, Bear Creek Nature Center (5/20)
Sem8  1:00p-2:00p     “Feeding  is for the Birds,” Wild Birds Unlimited Store (20)
Vir2    1:00p-2:30p      “Beginning Birding,” (100) – Virtual
Sem9  1:00p-3:00p     “Live Birds of Prey,” Fountain Creek Nature Center (60)
W2    5:30p-7:30p        Drawing Birds with Graphite, Bear Creek Nature Center (12) FULL
W3    3:30p-4:45p        Bird Photography, Fountain Creek Nature Center (40) 
F20    5:00p-7:00p       Garden of the Gods, Bird Walk (15)  FULL
F21    5:00p-7:00p       Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15)  FULL
Sem10 6:00p-8:00p    “Where Mountain Lions Roam,” Bear Creek Nature Center. Select Sem10 during registration for talk only (50) 
Sem11 7:30p-9:30p   Bat Research Seminar & Walk, Fountain Creek Nature Center (15)  FULL
F22     8:30p-11:30p   Bear Creek Nature Center, Insect Black Lighting (15)  FULL

Saturday, May 17

S1      6:00a-Noon          Rainbow Gulch, Bird Hike (15) FULL
S2      6:00a-Noon          Chico Basin Ranch, Bird Walk & Bird Banding Demo (15) FULL
S3      6:00a-Noon           Horse Creek Ranch, Bird Hike (15)  
S4      6:00a-1:00p          Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Ovenbird/Hermit Thrush Hike (15) 
S5      6:00a-1:00p          Brett Gray Ranch, Bird Hike (12)  FULL
S6      6:30a-Noon          Clear Spring Ranch, Bird Walk (15)
S7      6:30a-Noon          Corral Bluffs Open Space, Bird Hike (15)   FULL
S8     7:00a-9:30a          Rock Ledge Ranch, Bird Walk (15)
S9      7:00a-11:00a       Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15)
S10   7:00a-10:00a       Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15)
S11    7:00a-10:00a      Kettle Creek Lakes, Bird Walk (15)  FULL
S12   7:00a-11:00a       Fountain Creek Nature Center, Big Sit (20)
S13   7:00a-11:00a       Kohl’s to the Mule Farm, Fountain Creek Bird Walk (15)
S14   7:30a-10:00a       The Glen, Bird Walk (15) FULL
S15   7:30a-11:00a       Monument Valley Park, Bird Walk (15)
S16   7:30a-11:30a       Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15)
S17   8:00a-11:00a       Manitou Lake Recreation Area, Bird Hike (15) 
S18   8:30a-10:30a       Garden of the Gods, Swifts, Falcons & Geology Walk (15) FULL
S19   8:30a-1:00p          Aiken Canyon Preserve, Mountain Lion Hike – Select S19 during registration and you will be automatically be added to the prerequisite, Sem10 (12) FULL
W4   12:00p-2:00p       Bluebirds – Make a Bluebird Nest Box, Bear Creek Nature Center (15) FULL
Vir3    1:00p-2:30p       “Spring ID Challenges,” (100) – Virtual
Sem12 1:30p-2:30p     “The Life of a Gray Wolf,” Fountain Creek Nature Center (30)  FULL
W5     2:30p-4:00p        “eBird – A Tool for All Birders: Tips & Tricks from Trip Reports to Vacation Planning,” Colorado Parks & Wildlife Classroom (60) 
Sem13  3:00p-4:30p    “Raptor Identification,” Fountain Creek Nature Center (60) FULL
S20   9:00a-11:00a       Paint Mines Interpretive Park, “Past & Present Tour” (15)  FULL                  

5:00pm-7:00pm            Birds, Brews & Bites – Bear Creek Regional Park Pavilions
                                                 Mile High Bug Club
                                                 PPSC Wild Things 
                                                 Festival Artwork Silent Auction
                                                 Sponsor & Partner Tables
                                                 Free Food & Drinks, Live Music
                                                 Door prizes and more!

Sunday, May 18

Su1       6:00a-1:00p       Brett Gray Ranch, Bird Hike (12) FULL
Su2       6:30a-11:00a     Aiken Canyon Preserve, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Su3       6:30a-11:00a     Clear Spring Ranch, Bird Walk (15)
Su4       6:30a-11:30a     Venetucci Farm & Pinello Ranch, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Su5      6:30a-11:30a      Hanna Ranch, Bird Hike (12)  FULL
Su6      6:30a-Noon         Pueblo County, Arkansas River, Bird Hike (15) 
Su7       6:30a-Noon        Jimmy Camp Creek Open Space, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Su8       7:00a-10:00a     Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15)
Su9       7:00a-10:00a     Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15)
Su10   7:00a-10:30a      North Cheyenne Cañon, Bird Hike (12)  FULL
Su11   7:00a-11:00a      Bear Creek Regional Park – East, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Su12   7:00a-11:00a      Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15)
Su13    7:00a-12:30p     Chico Basin Ranch – Pueblo County, Big Sit (15) 
Su14    8:00a-11:00a     Manitou Lake Recreation Area, Bird Hike (15)  FULL
Su15    9:00a-11:00a     Paint Mines Interpretive Park, “Past & Present Tour” (15)  FULL