December 2011
Naturally Yours
Winter is Eagle Time!
Eagle Watches are now happening at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space! Bald
eagles spend the winter in Fort Collins and have established roosts and
hunting areas here. Join City
of Fort Collins volunteer Master Naturalists to learn about these
majestic birds. Eagle Watches include a short walk along a paved or
gravel trail to a viewing area. Binoculars and scopes are provided. Drop-in program, free, no registration required.
You can hear a recent interview about eagles and Eagle Watches on Tri102 radio station.
- Saturday, December 10, 9-11 a.m.
- Sunday, December 11, 9-10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, December 17, 9-11 a.m.
- Sunday, December 25, 9-10:30 a.m. Christmas Day
- Friday, January 6, 3-5 p.m.
- Saturday, January 14, 9-11 a.m.
- Sunday, January 22, 9-10:30 a.m.
Seeking Volunteer Ranger Assistants
Did you hope you would grow up and be a park ranger? It’s not too late! You can become a Volunteer Ranger Assistant
and help park and natural area rangers accomplish much of their important
work. Volunteer Ranger Assistants are ambassadors for natural areas and open spaces. Applications are available now for the training which will be in late February. Learn more >>>
Upcoming Events
Lunar Eclipse Viewing, Saturday, December 10, 5-7:30 a.m. at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space.
Join members of the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society for early
morning viewing of an eclipse of the moon! Dress warmly and bring
something to sit on. Free, no registration required. For cancellation
information due to weather, visit www.ncastro.org.
Fish of Fort Collins, Friday, December 16, noon- 1 p.m. Learn about the creatures in local waterways from an expert, Sean Seal, Research Associate with CSU’s Larval Fish Lab. You’ll get tips for identifying fish and you’ll discover interesting facts too. Everyone is invited to come learn and enjoy a fun, fishy atmosphere. At the Community Room at 215 North Mason St. This is a free program and no registration is required.
Stargazing, Friday, December 30, 7-10 p.m. at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space. View the skies with telescopes provided by the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. Dress warmly and bring something to sit on. Free, no registration required. For up-to-date cancellation information due to weather, visit www.ncastro.org.
Survey Says We Like Our Natural Areas
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program asks for feedback from
visitors and residents every five years through a survey. Results from
2011 show that natural areas are popular and well-liked. Questions
focused on respondents’ familiarity with natural areas, their visitation
habits, how good/poor of a job the Natural Areas Program is doing, and
perceptions about natural areas’ contributions to the community. Read the press release summary or the
full survey report.Trails for Winter
Winter lends itself to paved trails which are nice when other trails are muddy. Cold weather may also have you seeking places to get your heart rate up (and your body warm). Check for trail conditions and closures before you go at fcgov.com/naturalareas/status.phpCathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area- a gently rolling trail that crosses the shortgrass prairie and several wetland areas. Nice foothill views. Check out the raptor observatory building, built into the hill near the Shields St. entrance for touchable interpretive signs and bird viewing. The Fossil Creek Trail now connects Cathy Fromme Prairie and Pineridge natural areas with the Spring Creek Trail.
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area has a 1/4 mile paved trail to a picnic shelter and about 10 miles of natural surface trails. A popular destination is the historic cabin (1 mile each way) or the valley loop (4 miles), both easy trails. Get your blood pumping on the Powerline Trail- it goes straight uphill! Ginny Trail and D.R. Trail also offer elevation gain and great views.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural Areas News is published on the first Tuesday of the month with occasional mid-month updates. Newsletter comments are welcome. Please contact Zoe Whyman, Natural Areas Community Relations Manager, 970-221-6311 or zwhyman@fcgov.com
