Written by Dr. Barbara Patterson

Some people think of birding as a warm-weather activity, but winter offers unique opportunities, especially in the Rocky Mountains, where both endemic species and northern migrants can be found. Winter is a great time for beginners to dive into birding. Here’s why: ducks show off their stunning winter plumage compared to the colorful songbirds that show off more in spring. With bare trees and shrubs, birds become easier to see. Birds form flocks to search for food, stay warm, and protect themselves from other hungry birds. Some species are only present in Colorado during winter as they migrate from Alaska and Canada.

Incorporating birding into winter activities like snowshoeing or skiing enhances the experience, allowing you to connect with nature differently. Plus, birding encourages mindfulness since being fully present is crucial in noticing the sights and sounds of these winter visitors. It's a beautiful way to appreciate the natural world year-round.

Mindful birding combines the calming effects of mindfulness with the joy of observing birds, creating an enriching outdoor experience. The Fort Collins Audubon Society received an Audubon In Action Grant this year to train others in hosting mindful birding experiences that welcome everyone. The health benefits of this practice include lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol (the stress hormone), increased vitamin D, and exposure to phytoncides from trees, which boost the body's NK (natural killer) cells. Best of all, the simple joy of watching birds can be experienced anywhere—from your backyard, kitchen window, or out in the field—making birding accessible to everyone, even in winter!

Last month, the Fort Collins Audubon Society, Audubon Rockies, and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies hosted the Mindful Birding Project at Barr Lake State Park in Brighton. It was a beautiful day, and bird enthusiasts from three states and various organizations, including multiple Audubon chapters, came together. One of the highlights was spotting a family of barn owls (Photo: Meg Kast). This workshop kicked off a series of six programs designed to teach participants how to lead mindful birding programs in an inclusive and accessible way. Three national online seminars will occur in January and February 2025. In-person workshops are scheduled for March 22 in San Francisco and April 19 in Philadelphia. We are excited to share this practice with others.

In February this year, I had the privilege of co-hosting a mindful birding poetry walk with Red Rock Audubon staff member Morrigan DeVito. During Poetry Month, I presented about my work with Eco Artists Dialogue.

This month, in honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage celebrations, I give a few tips for hosting a walk of your own, sharing some of what we learned at our Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve event, featuring the poetry of Du Fu.

Our planning schedule was as follows:

by Calli Mulligan

First language, first music

Our Earth ever heard

The voices of birds

Waves of sound, Carrying,

Traveling, heralding

Life's expansion of emotion

Human ancestors

Heard you, did they envy you?

Did they long for your song?

Nature's slow clock

Ticking, tinkering, misty hands

Of Evolution

A forest, rustling leaves,

Your songs, are quietude

For anxious souls

Ancient symphonies

Now overwhelmed, dissonance

Human cacophony

Our kin of the feathers

Vanishing too fast, lost voices

Distorted weather

The myth of Cassandra

Condemned to speak truth

But never to be believed

Feathers speak honestly

Prophecy, Augury

Ourselves, we deceive

Avian Synchronicity: My Life with Birds

By Calli Mulligan

Cedar Waxwing Image by Holly Merker

Image of a young White Ibis on a defoliated tree

by Robin Fidler

Read Robin Fidler’s “The Healing Power of Nature”

A blog of resiliency - of health and nature- after storms in life, and on the beautiful island of Sanibel, Florida

Red-and-green Macaw picks the flowers of a mountain immortelle to drink the water collected inside. If we were concerned about only the species or the photograph, the relationship between bird and tree would easily slip past our senses. - Faraaz Abdool

Birding and Being by Faraaz Abdool