Upcoming trip: Snow Tracking

Photo by Per.

Join us Saturday, February 4, for our annual snow tracking field trip on cross-country skis or snowshoes. Gary Beauvais, Director of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, will lead us on a snow tracking trip to look for tracks made by mammals and birds. Dr. Beauvais will teach us how to identify what made the tracks while we learn about the behaviors of mammals during cold winter months.

Bring snow-shoes or cross-country skis, whichever you prefer.


Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Coal Creek Coffee, downtown Laramie, 110 Grand Ave., to caffeinate and carpool to Chimney Park Trailhead near Fox Park on Hwy 230. Chimney Park is a fee area so bring $5 per carload or US Forest Service pass to park.

This trip lasts several hours so bring plenty of water and snacks and warm outdoor clothes. You may leave at any time if you have your own vehicle. Otherwise, we should be back in Laramie by 1:00 pm.

Back-up date for this trip is February 11, if the weather is too harsh.

Audubon Crane Festival

The Audubon Crane Festival, hosted by Audubon Nebraska, will occur March 16 - 19 this year. If you would like to attend the festival, Laramie Audubon is facilitating ridesharing and coordinating roommates. On-line registration for the festival itself has begun--see the link above.

For information on crane-watching, the Crane Festival, and facilities in Kearney, contact Tim Banks. To find others who plan on attending, contact Lindsey Sanders. We recommend that you arrange lodgings as soon as possible.

Upcoming talk: Mindy Meade

Chestnut-collared Longspur. Photo (c) Shawn Billerman

Join us this Wednesday, January 25 for our first evening program of the spring season.

Mindy Meade, federal biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, will provide a brief overview of the Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program which relies on voluntary habitat conservation on privately-owned land. She will take us on a photographic tour of her latest projects within Albany and Carbon counties. Presentation emphasis will focus on benefits to migratory birds and declining fish and wildlife species.

As usual, we will meet in the Berry Center auditorium. Parking adjacent to the building is free after 5 pm. Bird chat and refreshments begin at 6:30 pm, and the talk will begin at 7:00 pm.