Field Trips
Please let us know if you are coming! You may register for all field trips at
THE BLACK CANYON AUDUBON SOCIETY TRIP/EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR 2026
Each fieldtrip participant is required to complete a participant waiver form, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Please print, fill out, and sign the form and bring to the field trip leader. This form will remain valid for all 2026 field trips.
First Tuesday Field Trips - Montrose County
Next field trip: May 5, 2026
All Montrose First Tuesday Field Trips meet at 9:00 a.m. at the public parking lot at the corner of N. 2nd Street and N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose unless noted in the trip description. Bruce Ackerman will lead the group to a nearby birding hotspot. Return should be by about noon. Bring a snack, water, binoculars, and field guides. Please RSVP for all field trips and include your name, field trip date, and contact information in case weather or illness forces a cancellation. RSVP to
Third Tuesday Field Trips - Delta County
All Delta County Third Tuesday trips will last about 2-3 hours, unless otherwise noted in the trip description. Bring a snack, water, binoculars, spotting scopes (if you have one), and field guides. Please RSVP for all field trips and include your name, field trip date, and contact information in case weather or illness forces a cancellation. RSVP for all fieldtrips at
Location: Gunnison Gorge Conservation Area
Join leader Dian Torphy to explore an area along South River Road in the Gunnison Conservation Area for two to three hours. Information on the meeting time and place will be provided at sign-up.
Location: Confluence Park, Delta
Location: Paonia River Park
Location: Grand Mesa
Other Upcoming Group Birding Opportunities
Dates: May 6-10, 2026
Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival
Not BCAS-related, but this is the only annual birding festival in southwestern Colorado. The festival offers a variety of field trips in the areas around Cortez, Colorado. The proceeds benefit the Cortez Cultural Center. See their website for more information and registration at https://utemountainmesaverdebirdingfestival.com/
Dates: Sunday and Monday, May 17-18, 2026
Time: 7:00 am in Montrose (meet at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot to carpool) or 9:00 at the Vestal House in Nucla
Location: West End of Montrose County Field Trip
Black Canyon Audubon will sponsor a field trip led by Bill Harris to Paradox Valley and other West End hot spots for a spring birding adventure. The opportunity to see over 70 species is extremely high. Expect several short walks to access bird habitat. The Paradox Valley and West End areas have a great mix of habitats ranging from desert scrub to classic alpine to riparian, allowing for a rich mix of birds during the spring migration. Expect to see a variety of waterfowl, Black-throated Sparrow, Vireos, Yellow-breasted Chat, Grace’s Warbler, Black Phoebe, and a host of migrants. We have arranged accommodation at the Vestal House, a nice B&B at 420 Main St. in Nucla.
The field trip is limited to 10 participants. Sign up at
Dates: May 22-24, 2026
Colorado Canyons Association Birding Raft Trip
Colorado Canyons Association (CCA) will do their annual birding raft trip on the Ruby/Horsethief section of the Colorado River. The combination of great birding and rafting the Colorado River makes for a fantastic experience. Check the CCA website coloradocanyonsassociation.org for details and to sign up. Bill Harris and Cary Atwood will be the bird guides.
Date: Saturday, 5/23/2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. (meet at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Location: Kinikin Road
Join Don Marsh for a trip along Kinikin Road southeast of Montrose. This section of road can be very birdy in the spring if the winter has been wet. Birds we have a good chance to see and hear are Brewer’s Sparrow, Sage Thrashers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak. Raptors are commonly seen.
Date: Friday, 6/12/26
Time: 8:00 a.m. (meet at North 2nd St. and Cascade parking lot)
Location: Billy Creek State Wildlife Area
Join trip leader Sue Riffle to learn how to use musical vocabulary to identify bird sounds on this walk. Field trip attendees must have a valid state hunting or fishing license or SWA pass.
Colorado West Land Trust Equinox Field Series
Join Colorado West Land Trust for their series of monthly field trips to conserved lands, running from the Spring Equinox to the Fall Equinox. Learn about why landowners work with CWLT to conserve their land and experience our mission up close through guided hikes, bird watching, plein air painting, and more! These events provide unique opportunities to explore Western Colorado’s stunning landscapes, discover diverse wildlife, and understand the importance of our conservation efforts. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an avid birder, or someone looking to enjoy the great outdoors, the Equinox Field Series offers something for everyone! More information on the CWLT website: https://cowestlandtrust.org/equinox-field-series/
BCAS Field Trip Guidelines
One of the fun aspects of belonging to BCAS is the field trips. The field trips visit numerous hotspots in our area and occasionally to places far afield. These trips wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the trip leaders. All BCAS trip leaders are volunteers donating their time and expertise to bring a great birding experience to participants. As a matter of keeping the experience top notch there are a few rules in place to help things run smoothly. Please keep them in mind when signing up and participating in the trips.
- Please notify the trip leader of your intentions to participate in a timely manner. Contact the trip leader to sign up and be sure you get an affirmative response from the leader. To sign up for all field trips send an email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Be sure to mention which field trip you want to attend. Field trip sign ups close 48 hours before the planned trip. Be sure to leave a contact phone number in case the leader needs to contact you about changes.
- Depending on the field trip, there may be limitations on participation. These limitations are set by the trip leader and announced with the field trip information. Reasons for limitations include parking concerns, visits to private residents, safety, and a trip leader’s comfort level with participant numbers. The exceptions to participant limitations may include special events where a larger crowd in anticipated and the First Tuesday field trips. First Tuesdays are expressly focused on new/novice members and visit nearby hotspots that can accommodate a bigger group. People are still asked to sign up in advance, so no one is left behind.
- Unless otherwise noted, all trips will meet in Montrose at 8 a.m. at the public parking lot at the corner of N. 2nd Street and N. Cascade Ave.
- Each fieldtrip participant is required to complete a participant waiver form, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Please print, fill out, and sign the form and bring to the field trip leader. This form will remain valid for all 2026 field trips.
Many of BCAS field trips fill up, so signing up early increases your chances of participating. If, for some reason, you cannot attend a field trip, please notify the trip leader ASAP. Many times, the leader has a waiting list, so contacting the leader allows others to participate. Guests of members are welcome, so please let the leader know how many will be in your party.
Las Pautas para Ecursiones de BCAS
Uno de los aspectos más divertidos de pertenecer a BCAS son las excursiones. Estas excursiones visitan numerosos lugares de interés en nuestra zona y, ocasionalmente, lugares más lejanos. Estas excursiones no serían posibles sin el esfuerzo de los guías. Todos los guías de BCAS son voluntarios que donan su tiempo y experiencia para brindar una excelente experiencia de observación de aves a los participantes. Para garantizar la mejor experiencia, existen algunas reglas que facilitan el desarrollo del programa. Por favor, téngalas en cuenta al inscribirse y participar en las excursiones.
- Por favor, notifique al guía su intención de participar lo antes posible. Comuníquese con él para inscribirse y asegúrese de recibir una respuesta afirmativa. Para inscribirse en todas las excursiones, envíe un correo electrónico a black.canyon.audubon.fieldtrips. Asegúrese de mencionar a qué excursión desea asistir. Las inscripciones cierran 48 horas antes de la fecha prevista. Asegúrese de dejar un número de teléfono de contacto en caso de que el guía necesite contactarle para informarle sobre cualquier cambio.
- Dependiendo de la excursión, puede haber limitaciones de participación. Estas limitaciones las establece el guía y se anuncian junto con la información de la excursión. Las razones de las limitaciones incluyen problemas de estacionamiento, visitas a residentes particulares, seguridad y la comodidad del guía con el número de participantes. Las excepciones a las limitaciones de participación pueden incluir eventos especiales donde se anticipa una mayor afluencia de público y las excursiones del Primer Martes. El Primer Martes está especialmente dirigido a miembros nuevos o novatos y visita lugares de interés cercanos con capacidad para un grupo mayor. Se ruega a los participantes que se inscriban con antelación para que nadie se quede atrás.
- A menos que se indique lo contrario, todas las excursiones se reunirán en Montrose a las 8:00 a. m. en el estacionamiento público ubicado en la esquina de N. 2nd Street y N. Cascade Ave.
Muchas de las excursiones de BCAS se llenan, así que inscribirse con anticipación aumenta sus posibilidades de participar. Si, por alguna razón, no puede asistir a una excursión, notifique al líder de la excursión lo antes posible. Muchas veces, el líder tiene lista de espera, por lo que contactarlo permite que otros participen. Los invitados de los miembros son bienvenidos, así que informe al líder cuántos serán en su grupo.