Prowling for Owls at DuPont Open Space
Do you love owls and moonlit walks? Here’s a chance to combine the two for a fun and educational evening at DuPont Open Space in Louviers on Thursday, March 5, 2014.
The Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) is hosting a unique, full moon hike in search of owl activity, beginning at 6:45 p.m. and running through 8:30 p.m.
For just a $10 donation, which will benefit the DLC, you will learn how to identify the signs of owl activity and gain knowledge about their behaviors. Among the owls that guides hope you encounter are the Great Horned Owl, the Eastern Screech-Owl, the Long-Eared Owl and the Northern Saw-Whet Owl.
The DuPont Open Space is a significant riparian habitat along Plum Creek that is great for birding. Donated by the DuPont company, this land is owned by Douglas County and protected by a conservation easement through Douglas Land Conservancy.
If you plan to attend, make sure you dress for the weather and hiking (hiking boots are recommended; snow boots are optional). You’ll also want to bring your sense of adventure, a flashlight and binoculars.
Guides will meet with participants at the DuPont parking lot, 800 Main Street in Louviers, to begin their evening excursion. Because space is limited, you are asked to RSVP to [email protected].
If you are a bird watcher and enjoy the outdoors, this will be a great outing. It will be led by the following three guides:
Tom Halverstadt, an expert when it comes to birding the Louviers/DuPont area. He has lived with his family in Louviers for many years and knows where the various species are most likely found. He is now a Douglas County Open Space volunteer, keeping an eye on the DuPont Open Space properties as he leads the Christmas Bird Count there and often takes other birders or rookies in search of elusive species throughout the year. Tom posts his findings on the CO-Birds mailing list and has birded throughout Colorado, the United States and in far corners of the world. He is the owner of Country Lane Nursery, which specializes in native plants, located north of Franktown.
Jackie Sanderson, a natural resource specialist for the Douglas County Division of Open Space and Natural Resources who lives just outside of Sedalia along Plum Creek. She contributed to the Colorado Bird Atlas while living in Steamboat Springs and working for the Routt National Forest. When serving as the Naturalist at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, she became more acquainted with Front Range birds while leading hikes and accompanying the Tuesday Birders. DuPont is her favorite Douglas County Open Space property for birding.
Sharon Hines, who began watching birds when she was too little to hold binoculars. She has been a volunteer for what was the Colorado Division of Wildlife for about 15 years as a wildlife watch instructor and has worked for a couple of tour companies as a naturalist and bird guide. After moved to Douglas County five years ago, she became a volunteer interpreter for Douglas County Open Space and has her Native Plant Master Certificate.