Beginner Birding in Rocky Mountain National Park

Interested in getting into birding, but feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to get started? This program is for you!

In this full day course, experienced instructor Debbie Bangs will begin with a brief talk about why birds are so specific to various habitats within Rocky Mountain National Park in late spring and early summer. The group will then head into the park to explore the breeding season bird populations found in various montane and subalpine habitats around Rocky Mountain National Park. Birding by habitat at this time of year can help beginning birders narrow down the possible species they can expect to see, simplifying the identification process. You’ll build essential skills needed to become a strong beginning birder.

Who: Participants ages 16 and up.

Program level: Easy/Moderate – This program is appropriate for most participants. Expect to travel 1-2 miles over the course of the program and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating both maintained trails and unmaintained meadows or grassy areas. Prior experience hiking or walking above 8,000 feet is recommended.

This program has a classroom session and a field session.

When: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, and travel together to various locations within RMNP in Conservancy vehicles. All required fees and permits for park entry are included in your registration.

What to Bring:

• 10 Essentials for Field Institute Courses.
• Binoculars
• Your favorite bird field guide

About Your Instructor: Debbie Bangs has spent a lifetime observing birds in Rocky Mountain National Park. Her primary mentor in her early study of birds was Dr. Richard Beidleman, with whom she spent many hours out in the field in the mid 1970’s and 1980’s. From 1982 to 1992, Debbie worked in conjunction with Dr. Ron Ryder from Colorado State University on a scientific bird census study after the Lawn Lake Flood, monitoring the damaged site from the Alluvial Fan to Horseshoe Park for Rocky Mountain National Park. In the last eight years, Debbie has participated in owl research in Rocky Mountain National Park with Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute, of which she is the secretary.

Refund Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

Conservancy members get 10% off individual registration when you use the discount code in your membership email! Limit 2 per membership.

Not a member of the Conservancy? Learn more and join here: Conservancy Membership

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at education@RMConservancy.org or by phone at 970-586-3262.