SE Colorado Birding: Bighorn sheep near Salida

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Bighorn sheep near Salida

Though bighorn sheep are not birds, I think many birders enjoy seeing them. Highway 50 from Canon City to Salida is named Bighorn Sheep Canyon due to the several herds that have historically occupied this area. In my experience they are best seen from late fall to early spring, times when the number of humans and human activity is significantly reduced.

Today I was fortunate to this large herd of 14 bighorn sheep between Howard and Salida, a few hundred feet across the Arkansas River. On my way back from Salida I saw 2 more bighorn sheep close to Texas Creek.

Why bird southeast Colorado?

From our high montane areas to the riparian areas along the Arkansas River as it exits Colorado, southeast Colorado offers birding opportunities for beginners to those serious birders who seek out the less common species. We have great shortgrass and sandsage prairie birding including public areas on the Comanche National Grasslands. We have wetlands including playa lakes (playas are important shallow, depressional wetlands that provide essential habitat for waterfowl and many other bird species). We have small lakes (such as Lake Cheraw north of La Junta)and large lakes (such as John Martin Reservoir that encompasses 35 square miles) that host an impressive diversity of bird species. And we have large expanses of pinyon-juniper woodlands with their special birding opportunities.

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SE Colorado Birding

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Bighorn sheep near Salida

Why bird southeast Colorado?

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