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Equinox Telescope Party: Galaxy Quest
March 19 / 20 / 21, 8:45 pm — until everyone gets cold and leaves
NOTE: The program will be offered once, on the night with the best weather forecast. Registered participants will get email updates about the night selected.
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is vast beyond your wildest dreams. It contains hundreds of BILLIONS of stars. Yet it is just one of countless teaming galaxies that speckle the universe like snowflakes, extending off into the unimaginable distance beyond the reach of our very best telescopes. Join community naturalist Dave Sutherland for a mind-bending journey to visit these faint, remote cities of stars. We’ll look at colliding galaxies and graceful spirals (and throw in some favorite objects too, like Jupiter and its moons, and the Orion Nebula) Be prepared to travel millions of light years. Program will be canceled if there is 50% cloud cover or more at the starting time. Bring warm clothes and gloves, and a red flashlight. This program is offered through Boulder County Audubon Society. Email Dave to sign up: dsutherland4747@gmail.com
Historic Roosa-Bock Cabin Open House!
Friday March 27, 1 - 3 -pm Drop in!
For over a century, the mysterious little stone cabin has sat near Wood’s Quarry at the base of the Third Flatiron. Who built it and why? Who lived here? What’s on the inside? Join the cabin’s owner Regina Bock, and naturalist Dave Sutherland, for an historical “Open House” to learn the answers (to the best of our knowledge) about this enigmatic little building and get a chance to see inside. No reservation necessary, just drop by between1 pm and 3 pm. The cain is right on the Mesa Trail just a bit south of its junction with the Enchanted Mesa Trail. It’s about 1.5 miles one way from Chautauqua (If you’re not sure where it is, contact Dave for a map). There is no water, electricity or toilet at the cabin.
Shared Spaces: Turn Your Yard into a Habitat Garden
Tuesday March 31, 6 - 7 pm
Want to do your part to provide native habitat for pollinators, baby birds and other critters of all sorts? Want to attract wildlife to your backyard? Join veteran Colorado-scape gardener Dave Sutherland for a slide program about his decades of experience (and making every mistake in the book) in order to maximize your garden’s beauty and benefits to the larger ecosystem. Bonus: get some free native plant seeds collected in Dave’s garden! This program is free and no reservation is needed. Meet at Front Range Birding and Optics at 2425 Canyon Boulevard Suite B, Boulder.
The Duck Walk: Waterfowl Watching
Saturday April 4, 8:30 - 10:30 am
When spring springs, thousands of water birds leave their southern homes for the breeding grounds of the north. Many stop over in Superior’s lakes and ponds. Join naturalist Dave Sutherland for this early morning hike to spy on migrating ducks, geese and shore birds. Bring gloves, binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. Birdwatchers of all abilities welcomed, but beginners are cherished. This program is offered through Environment for the Americas and is free and open to everyone. Meet at Purple Park in Superior (1310 S. Pitkin Ave.) Limit 15. Sign up with Superior Open Space here: https://secure.rec1.com/CO/superior-co/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTM5MTYyNDY=
World Migratory Bird Day of the Rockies
Saturday, May 16 8 am - 1:30 pm
Celebrate the incredible journey of migratory birds at World Migratory Bird Day of the Rockies! Join us at Walden Ponds in Boulder for a fun and educational morning celebrating birds, migration, and conservation. Dave Sutherland and other naturalists will lead guided bird walks, plus there will be youth education stations, hands-on migration games, accessible birding programs, and a live birds of prey demonstration – plus more activities for all ages and abilities. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or brand new to birding, there’s something for everyone. This event is FREE! More information and to sign up: https://environmentamericas.org/event/world-migratory-bird-day-of-the-rockies/
Dave’s Garden Tour: Native Plants for Birds & Pollinators
Sunday May 24, 10 am – noon Reservations open Tuesday May 12 at 6 pm
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a tour of a bird-friendly native habitat garden in Boulder! You can support native insects – and thereby migratory birds – right at home by growing native plants. They need virtually no water or care. 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. This program is sponsored by Environment for the Americas and is free and open to everyone. Limit: 20 participants. Follow this link to sign up: https://environmentamericas.org/events/
Jungle Birds of Superior
Saturday May 30, 8 – 11 am Reservations open Monday April 6
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a safari to find birds of the jungle. But we won’t fly to Belize or Costa Rica. Their birds will come to us! Join naturalist Dave Sutherland for an easy walk along a local birding hot-spot to search for colorful migratory songbirds newly arrived from the steamy jungles of Latin America. Bring binoculars, cameras or a spotting scope if you have one, and books, (we will use Birds of Costa Rica as our guide book in the field. - no joke!) Meet at the Coalton Trailhead in Superior. Limit: 20 people. Follow this link to sign up https://secure.rec1.com/CO/superior-co/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQxMzUwOTg=
Wildflower Bonanza on the Prairie
Saturday June 6, 9 – 11 am Reservations open Monday April 6
The Coalton Trail loops through a verdant prairie thick with wildflowers. Join a flower treasure hunt with naturalist Dave Sutherland to seek out blue penstemons, lavender lupines, yellow cinquefoils and orange wallflowers. And every wildflower has a story! Spring butterfly sightings guaranteed at no extra charge. Meet at the Coalton Trailhead. Limit: 20. Follow this link to sign up https://secure.rec1.com/CO/superior-co/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQxMzgyOTg=
Jungle Birds of Boulder
Sunday June 7, 7:30 – 10:30 am Reservations open Monday May 24
Why 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 of Latin America. Bring binoculars, cameras or a spotting scope if you have one, and books, (we will use Birds of Costa Rica as our guide book in the field. - no joke). Sign up from the Environment for the Americas web calendar here: https://environmentamericas.org/events/ Limit: 20 people.
Jewels of the Night Sky: Solstice Telescope Party
June 11 / 12 / 13 9:30 pm —until everyone gets cold and leaves
NOTE: The program will be offered once, on the night with the best weather forecast. Registered participants will get email updates about the night selected.
Join Naturalist Dave Sutherland and a large telescope for a trip through the universe! We’ll peer into the heart of our galaxy, the Milky Way, to see new stars like the Sun being born; and look at the "smoke ring" of glowing gas that forms when a star comes to the end of its life. Glittering star clusters, colliding galaxies and colorful double stars thrown in at no extra charge! Bring mosquito repellent and a jacket just in case. Meet at the Joder Ranch Trailhead 3 miles north of Boulder. Email Dave at dsutherland4747@gmail.com to get updates on the night selected. Sorry it’s so late, but it doesn’t really get dark until after 9 in June.
Gunbarrel Hill & Ground-nesting Birds
Sunday June 14, 7:30 - 9:30 am. Reservations open Monday June 1
The grasslands at Gunbarrel Hill tell an amazing story of farmland restored to prairie. After thirty years of replanting with native grasses, the land is now home to a vibrant plant and animal community, including uncommon ground-nesting songbirds whose populations are declining across North America. The nearby prairie dog colonies have supported breeding burrowing owls and foraging hawks and eagles, and the swaying grasses shelter the highest nesting concentration of rare grasshopper sparrows in Boulder County. Join community naturalist Dave Sutherland for an easy hike to explore the new Vesper Trail at this remarkable natural treasure in our backyard. We will meet at the neighborhood trail access point to the Gunbarrel Hill trails, at the corner of Boulderado Drive and Cambridge Street (map search 1000 Boulderado Drive in Boulder.) Bring binoculars and spotting scopes if you have them! Limit: 20 people. Sign up from the Environment for the Americas web calendar here: https://environmentamericas.org/events/