The 2024 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, 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 is at Fountain Creek Nature Center – Wednesday, 15 May after 12:00 pm, Thursday, 16 May from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Friday, 17 May from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Saturday, 18 May from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. Does this not work with your schedule? 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 16

Th1      6:00a-11:00a      Rainbow Gulch, Bird Hike (15) FULL
Th2      6:00a-11:00a      Chico Basin Ranch, Bird Walk/Banding Demo (13) FULL
Th3      7:00a-10:00a      Kettle Creek Lakes, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Th4      7:00a-2:00p         Burnt Mill Road to Pueblo Mountain Park, Birding (8) FULL
Th5      7:00a-11:00a      Kohl’s to the Mule Farm, Fountain Creek Bird Walk (15) FULL
Th6      7:30a-11:00a      Mueller State Park, Bird Hike (12) FULL
Th7      2:30p-5:00p        Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Th8      4:00p-6:00p        Fountain Creek Nature Center, Big Sit (15) FULL
Th9      4:30p-6:30p        Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Vir1     6:30p-7:15p       “Birds of the Pikes Peak Region,” (100) – Virtual

Friday, May 17

F1      6:00a-11:00a      Chico Basin Ranch, Bird Walk & Bird Banding Demo (13) 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 (15) FULL
F4      7:00a-10:00a      Big Johnson Res/Bluestem Prairie OS, Pronghorns & Birds (15) FULL
F5      7:00a-10:00a      Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15) FULL
F6      7:00a-10:00a      Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15) FULL
F7      7:00a-10:30a      North Cheyenne Cañon, Bird Hike (12) FULL
F8      7:00a-11:00a      Bear Creek Regional Park – East, Bird Walk (15) FULL
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) 
F12   7:30a-11:00a      Mueller State Park, Bird Hike (15) 
F13   8:00a-10:00a      Garden of the Gods, Prairie Falcon Sit (40)
F14   9:00a-11:00a      Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Foothill Flowers Walk (15)
F15 10:00a-11:00a     Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, Orchard House Tour (15/25) 
F16  10:00a-Noon       Bear Creek Nature Center, GPS/Geocaching 101, (8/15)
F17   10:00a-Noon      Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bug Watching Walkabout (15) 
F18    11:30a-1:00p    Chico Basin Ranch, Lunch w/Ranch Ecology & History (15) FULL
Sem1  1:00p-2:00p     “Feeding  is for the Birds,” Wild Birds Unlimited Store (20)
Vir2    1:00p-2:30p      “Pinyon Jay Research,” (100) – Virtual
Sem2  1:00p-3:00p      Live Birds of Prey, Fountain Creek Nature Center (60)
Vir3     3:30p-4:30p     “Home Tweet Home: Making Your Home Safe & Welcoming for Birds,” (100) – Virtual 
W1    3:30p-5:00p        Bird Photography, Fountain Creek Nature Center (40) 
F19    5:00p-7:00p       Garden of the Gods, Bird Walk (15) FULL
F20    5:00p-7:00p       Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk (15) FULL
Sem3 6:00p-8:00p      Mountain Lion Talk, Bear Creek Nature Center. Select Sem3 during registration for talk only (30) FULL
Sem4  7:30p-9:30p     Bat Research Seminar & Walk, Fountain Creek Nature Center (15) FULL
F21     8:00p-10:00p   Bear Creek Nature Center, Insect Black Lighting (15) FULL

Saturday, May 18

S1      6:00a-11:00a       Rainbow Gulch, Bird Hike (15) FULL
S2      6:00a-Noon           Horse Creek Ranch, Bird Hike (10) FULL
S3      6:00a-1:00p          Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Ovenbird/Hermit Thrush Hike (15) FULL
S4      6:00a-1:00p          Brett Gray Ranch, Bird Hike (12) FULL
Sem5 6:30a-7:30a        Hummingbird Banding, Starsmore V&NC – Session #1 (12) FULL
S5      6:30a-11:30a       Hanna 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-11:00a       Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15)
S9      7:00a-10:00a       Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (15)
S10    7:00a-10:00a      Kettle Creek Lakes, Bird Walk (15) FULL
S11   7:00a-11:00a       Fountain Creek Nature Center, Big Sit (20)
S12   7:00a-11:00a       Kohl’s to the Mule Farm, Fountain Creek Bird Walk (15) FULL
S13   7:30a-11:30a       Fountain Creek Regional Park, Bird Walk, (15)
Sem6 7:45a-8:45a        Hummingbird Banding, Starsmore V&NC – Session #2 (12) FULL
S14   8:00a-11:00a       Manitou Lake Recreation Area, Bird Hike (15) FULL
S15   8:30a-10:30a       Garden of the Gods, Swifts, Falcons & Geology Walk (15) FULL
S16   8:30a-1:00p          Aiken Canyon Preserve, Mountain Lion Hike – Select S16 during registration and you will be automatically be added to the prerequisite, Sem3 (10) FULL
Sem7  9:00a-10:00a   “Hummingbirds,” Starsmore V&NC – Only Sem5 & Sem6 registrants (24)
W2  10:00a-11:30a     “eBird – A Tool for All Birders: The Essentials”, Bear Creek Nature Center (60)
W3   12:00p-2:00p       Nature Journaling, Bear Creek Nature Center (5/20)
Vir4    Noon-2:00p       “Bird Friendly Coffee and You,” (100) – Virtual
Sem8  1:00p-2:30p     “Bighorns!” Fountain Creek Nature Center (30) FULL
W4     2:00p-3:30p       “eBird – A Tool for All Birders: Tips & Tricks from Trip Reports to Vacation Planning,” Bear Creek Nature Center (60) 
Vir5    2:30p-3:30p       “Gardening for Wildlife,” (100) – Virtual 
Sem9  3:00p-4:30p      “Raptor Identification,” Fountain Creek Nature Center (60)                                 

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

Sunday, May 19

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-Noon        Pueblo County, Arkansas River, Bird Hike (15) FULL
Su6       6:30a-Noon        Jimmy Camp Creek Open Space, Bird Hike (15) FULL
Su7       7:00a-10:00a     Adams Open Space, Bird Walk (12)
Su8       7:00a-10:00a     Fountain Valley School, Bird Walk (15)
Su9      7:00a-10:30a      North Cheyenne Cañon, Bird Hike (12) FULL
Su10   7:00a-11:00a      Bear Creek Regional Park – East, Bird Walk (15)
Su11    7:00a-11:00a     Glen Eyrie, 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 (13) FULL
Su14    8:00a-11:00a     Manitou Lake Recreation Area, Bird Hike (15) FULL
Su15    8:00a-1:00p        Pikes Peak Highway, Bird Adventure (15) 
Su16    9:00a-11:00a     Paint Mines Interpretive Park, “Past & Present Tour” (30) FULL