All Dave’s hikes are free and open to everyone. Follow instructions below to sign up. Since hikes fill up quickly and often have a waiting list, please let Dave know right away if you need to cancel a reservation.

Free community Nature Hikes

World Migratory Bird Day in Broomfield
Friday May 3,    5 – 7 pm
Celebrate migratory birds with Environment for the Americas and naturalist Dave Sutherland at this public event at the Broomfield Community Center hosted by Broomfield Trails & Open Space. In May, we celebrate World Migratory Bird Day in the Northern Hemisphere as birds return to their nesting sites for the summer. Dave will be there with other Colorado organizations that work closely with bird conservation and education. Join us for free all-age activities, crafts, and a chance to meet live birds of prey! Weather permitting, we’ll have guided bird walks around Brunner Reservoir. YOU can help protect birds at home and in your community and find groups and trips where you can learn more about birdwatching. Meet in the Lakeshore Room (280 Spader Way) in Broomfield.

Lafayette First Sunday Birding: Peak Migration Day!
Sunday, May 5,    1 - 3 pm
Join bird watchers of all abilities at Waneka Lake in Lafayette for May’s First Sunday Birding! May is usually the best First Sunday of the year. If you are waiting for a good day to go birding, this is it. Community Naturalist Dave Sutherland and other local bird guides will be leading groups around the lake. The House Wrens are back. The Swainson's Wawks will be nesting. There is an active Cooper’s Hawk nest near The Shack. The resident Gray Catbirds may be hanging out, making all kinds of strange sounds. The marsh is full, with accompanying ducks, frogs, herons - and maybe the Sora Rails? Free, no need to sign up - just show up. Meet at Greenlee Preserve, on the western side of the lake, opposite the boat pavilion, by “The Shack” nature center.

World Migratory Bird Day in Lakewood
Saturday May 11, 10 am – 2 pm
Celebrate migratory birds with Environment for the Americas and naturalist Dave Sutherland at a special event in Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood. World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere as birds return to their nesting sites for the summer. Dave will be there with other Colorado organizations that work closely with bird conservation and education. Join us for free all-age activities, crafts, and some live birds! Learn how you can help protect birds at home and in your community and find groups and trips where you can learn more about birdwatching.Meet at the VC Classroom, 15600 W Morrison Road in Lakewood. More information here.

Jungle Birds of Boulder

  • Tuesday May 14, 7:30 – 10:30 am

  • Sunday May 26, 7:30 – 10:30 am

Celebrate migratory birds by searching for tropical birds right here in Boulder! You don’t need to fly to Belize or Costa Rica when their birds will come to us. Join naturalist Dave Sutherland for an easy hike into a local birding hot-spot to search for colorful migratory songbirds newly arrived from the steamy jungles south of the border. Birdwatchers of all abilities welcome. Bring binoculars, a spotting scope if you have one, and books, (we will use Birds of Costa Rica as our guidebook in the field. – no joke - see photo) and meet at the neighborhood access point to Bear Canyon trail – do a map search for 1520 Bear Mountain Drive in Boulder. Free parking along the street. Please sign up here. Limit: 15. These programs are sponsored by Environment for the Americas.

Native Gardens for Birds & Pollinators

  • Thursday May 16 10 am – noon

  • Saturday May 25 10 am – noon

Migratory Bird Day events this year celebrate the theme “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” You can support native insects – and thereby migratory birds – right at home by growing native plants. Naturalist and gardener Dave Sutherland will give you a tour of his home native xeriscape in central Boulder and share tips for creating backyard bird habitat so you can enjoy Boulder’s native ecosystem in your own yard. Be prepared to receive handouts, free native plant seeds, and a couple of transplants dug out of Dave’s garden.  Dave will share 25 years of successes and failures – and some hilarious mistakes. You can grow these plants yourself and attract migratory birds and pollinating insects to your yard. Location provided when you register. Please sign up here. Limit: 15. These programs are sponsored by Environment for the Americas.

Here is a link to my web page with great resources for growing native plants, and also a link to a photo gallery of my personal garden in central Boulder to inspire you.

World Migratory Bird Day Celebration in Boulder
Saturday May 18,   9 am - 1:30 pm
Celebrate the return of migratory birds with your family at Boulder’s annual World Migratory Bird Day event at Walden Ponds! Join Environment for the Americas and other local conservation organizations. Take a bird walk around the ponds with naturalist Dave Sutherland and other entertaining guides.  We’ll have bird identification games, educational activities, a live bird of prey showcase, and more. Our theme for this year is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” We want to highlight the important role that insects play in the World Migratory Bird Day campaign. There will be groups helping you grow a native plant yard to attract the insects that attract the birds. Free, no need to sign up - just show up. Follow this link for more info.

Wildflower Bonanza on Shanahan Ridge
Wednesday May 22, 9 am – 12 pm  
The Shanahan Ridge trails loop through one of the most beautiful parts of Open Space. The pine forests and lush, wet meadows are thick with wildflowers and a haven for wildlife. Join a flower treasure hunt with naturalist Dave Sutherland to seek out blue penstemons, lavender iris, yellow cinquefoils and orange wallflowers – plus butterfly sightings guaranteed at no extra charge!  We may also meet some of the cattle grazing the property to control invasive plants and protect the flowers. We will meet at 1903 Leigh Street in Boulder; free parking is available along neighborhood streets. Limit: 15. This is an easy 2 mile hike, mostly flat. This hike is sponsored by the City of Boulder’s Cool Boulder initiative. Please sign up on Eventbrite, here.

Native Garden Tour and Plant Share
Saturday June 15
My home garden will be featured on the Colorado Native Plant Society garden tour in Boulder! This is a fund-raising tour for CONPS, which asks for a donation to attend the featured gardens. The funds are used for education and restoration projects in the state. This year, CONPS is working with nursery partners and volunteers in every chapter to sell or give away native plants. I will be giving away free seeds and letting people dig up transplants from my garden. Registered participants will get directions to all the showcase gardens on the tour, and will have a chance to meet with and ask questions of the gardeners. Please register on the CONPS website: https://conps.org/home-2/events/event-calendar-2

Here is a link to my web page with great resources for growing native plants, and also a link to a photo gallery of my personal garden in central Boulder to inspire you.