Ever wonder where those happy little bluebirds land once they fly over the rainbow? You won’t have to travel to Oz to find out.
Load up the kids and learn about bluebirds and other native wildlife during today’s edition of the “Springtime Adventure” series at the Audubon Society of Greater Denver’s Audubon Center at Chatfield State Park.
The campus is located alongside the South Platte River, allowing visitors to explore critical habitat for the birds, beavers, deer and other wildlife that make their homes nearby. Through guided hikes, bird- watching and hands-on learning activities, this free weekly event is a great way for even the smallest outdoor enthusiasts to learn the importance of nature conservation firsthand.
“This is open to all age groups, from preschoolers to retired adults,” says Karl Brummert, Audubon Center director. “We’ll have naturalists available who will lead guided walks where kids can be on the lookout for birds on ponds, tracks and other animal signs and plants to identify.”
Families can set their own pace at the center; take a short stroll around the native gardens, eat lunch in the sunny, 200-seat outdoor amphitheater, or join a group for a 1- or 2-mile guided nature hike.
“We have hawks, waterfowl, songbirds, and there are also beavers that live in the area,” Brummert says. “So kids can see things like the dam in the river and look for signs of beavers cutting down trees.”
After exploring the outdoors, visitors can head inside the Nature Center — a renovated 1940s stone farmhouse — for crafts, stories and educational activities. Each week brings a new theme, such as this week’s focus on bluebirds. “Kids will have the opportunity to paint a bluebird house, and we’ll have other activities that are also centered on bluebirds,” Brummert says.
The birdhouses are small wooden boxes that will be placed around the center to serve as potential nesting sites for the Western bluebird, and the theme complements the adults-only Bluebird Open House held today at the nearby Audubon office. (Adult bird lovers interested in the Colorado Bluebird Project can call 303-973-9530 for information.)
In line with the National Audubon Society’s mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on birds and other wildlife, the Audubon Center will soon be expanding its public programs. The center opened to the public in January of this year and will soon offer expanded visitor hours, new educational programs, certification courses and a brand-new eco-friendly Visitors Center building.
Audubon project
Where: 11280 Waterton Road (intersection of S. Wadsworth Blvd. and Waterton Road)
When: Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bring: water, sunscreen, snacks or sack lunch, walking shoes
Cost: Free
More Info: Call 303-973-9530 or visit for information and directions.
