We are excited about the 2025 Birding Festival! Save these dates:
May 7 - May 11, 2025
For an idea of the tours, lectures and bird sightings available, take a quick tour through our 2024 events.
Events Scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Photo courtesy of Erik Hendrickson
FESTIVAL CHECK-IN, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Full Registration Fee & banquet $85
Daily registration fee $15
(no reg. fee req’d for teens)
Banquet only fee $55
Lectures included with each day’s registration,
otherwise $5 at door
All lunches provided by Once Upon a Sandwich except as noted
Only 1 Space Remaining!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
TOUR #1
Wildflower Walk at Hawkins Preserve
David Faulkner, Natural Resource Biologist, Retired
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm; $25
Walk Hawkins Preserve’s trails during peak wildflower bloom. Protected for decades, these 122 acres within Cortez’s city limits incorporate vegetation of native habitats: sagebrush, pothole-slickrock, pinyon-juniper, riparian, rim rock and more. Specific species are emphasized for value as dye plants, medicine, wildlife browse, horticulture and bird habitat. (9 bird species in 2023) Moderate, up to one-mile flat walking. Approximately 3 miles round trip.
Photo courtesy of Charles Haspels
Only 1 Space Remaining!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
TOUR #2
Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #1
Tyler Lausten, Wildlife Photographer; Carolyn Gunn, Veterinarian, Retired
2:30 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. (24 species in 2023) Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.
Photo courtesy of Diane Cherbak
Only 1 Space Remaining!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
NEWRETURNINGREVISEDEXPANDEDSOLD OUT!
TOUR #3
Falcons and Eagles and Owls…Oh My! #2
Vern Gersh, Naturalist Ranger, Bureau of Land Management, Retired; Terry McLaughlin, Naturalist, Mono Lake Committee, Retired
2:45 pm – 8:30 pm; $50
The ever-popular raptor tour within the Cortez area has expanded to incorporate early evening hours. Species could include Bald and Golden eagles, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Barn Owl and Burrowing Owl. Some of these species might be observed on or near their nests. Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk are other raptor possibilities. (24 species in 2023) Easy. Box dinner by Holly provided. Approximately 65 miles round trip.
Birds and Bites WELCOME RECEPTION
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Cortez Cultural Center Gallery
Join fellow bird enthusiasts during the UMMV Birding Festival’s Welcome Reception. Enjoy beer, wine, appetizers and the bird art exhibit.
LECTURE
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Topic and Presenter TBD, please check back for details
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Birding Festival General Information
- The Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival is the major fundraiser for the Cortez Cultural Center. All proceeds benefit the Center.
- All tours require pre-registration.
- A registration fee is required for all tours except as noted. Full registration includes keynote banquet and all lectures. Daily registration includes that day's lectures. Full registration is required in order to qualify for the free early bird t-shirt.
- Unless otherwise noted, tours will return to the Center at approximately 3:00 pm.
- Carpools/caravanning will be used for all tours. Drivers will be reimbursed for gas by passengers at the GSA rate of 66 cents per mile, divided among all participants in the vehicle.
- Tour size is generally 13 or less.
- Cancellations considered on a case-by-case basis up to 21 days prior to start of Festival. All cancellations subject to a processing fee.
- Availability of restrooms depends on the tour. Nearly all guides scout out restroom locations as well as bird species. Some tours are in parks or other facilities that have established restrooms. Some have outhouses. Others, the only option are bushes. Usually, the leader will mention the restroom plan at the beginning of the tour.
- All tours depart from and return to the Cortez Cultural Center.
- Tour times listed are the DEPARTURE time. Please arrive 15 minutes prior.
For Birding Festival information email diane.cherbak@gmail.com
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