We lead bird walks, host public speakers, and organize birding events. All events are open and free to the public. All ages and abilities are welcome! We also host a number of citizen science programs - information on these events will be
posted here as they approach.
Please email us at laramie.audubon@gmail.com if you have questions about field trips or suggestions for future trips or evening programs.
Field Trips - Fall 2024
All are welcome, regardless of experience level or available equipment - birding in a group is a great way to learn the local birds! We try to include information regarding how strenuous/accessible the different trips are - please contact us if you have ideas regarding BIRDABILITY (i.e., making birding more accessible for all).
Please bring the following items on field trips: your binoculars (if you have them), an extra layer (perhaps two or three), sun protection, and water/snacks if you would like them. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes are recommended. Most trips will last for two to three hours, but attendees are free to leave at any time.
Anticipate slow walking for the duration of most trips. Many trips will convene at First Street Plaza, located in downtown Laramie (corner of First Street and Grand Avenue) to allow for attendees to arrange for carpools and to facilitate caravanning to the final field trip location.
September 7: Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge - Water levels at Hutton and the neighboring lakes are getting low, however, recent birding trips have yielded sightings of the usual dabbling ducks, numerous shorebirds (Western Sandpipe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs), as well as grassland songbirds and raptors. We'll meet at 7:30 a.m. at First Street Plaza and caravan to the refuge. (Brad)
September 21: Laramie Hotspots - An annual event featuring great birding locations within the city limits. We'll meet just inside the main entrance to Greenhill Cemetery at 8:00 a.m (parking should be available near the intersection of 15th and Bradley). Depending on the birding in the cemetery and interests of the group, we may then move on one or more of the following locations: LaBonte Park, the Greenbelt, and/or LaPrele Park/Spring Creek Pond. Most of these locations have smooth, flat dirt or paved paths.
October 5: Hereford Ranch - We'll meet at 7 a.m. at First Street Plaza and caravan to Cheyenne (or feel free to meet us in Cheyenne adjacent to WHR's big red barn; see directions, below). This Important Bird Area located along Crow Creek, includes a mix of riparian habitat and drier grasslands and often hosts eastern species that are less common in Laramie. Based on eBird records, October 2023 sightings included a Scarlet Tanager! (Kathy)
October 12: Laramie River Greenbelt - A perennial favorite! Meet at the West Garfield Street parking area at 8:00 a.m. We'll stroll slowly along this flat paved trailing birding the willows, cottonwood trees, and park that border the trail. (Laurel)
October 19: Wheatland & Guernsey - Land and Water Birds. Meet at the 1st Street Plaza (1st and Grand) promptly at 7:00 a.m. to car pool east. First stop will be a search for late migrant landbirds along the Platte River Trail. Depending on time and interest of the group, we may then go to the Northern Cardinal spot at Lingle. Heading back west, we will hit Gray Rocks Reservoir for diving ducks, loons, and grebes. Continuing west, we will swing into Wheatland Reservoir #1 for the chance of swans. Bring water and a sack lunch and plan on spending most of the day but back to Laramie for dinner. (Brad)
November 2: Hutton Lake & Twin Buttes - We'll visit these two lakes (and probably others) on the plains west of Laramie on a quest for late-season waterfowl and raptors. Bundle up and meet us at
8:00 a.m. at First Street Plaza (corner of 1st Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Laramie)! From there we'll caravan/rideshare to the various Plains Lakes. (Kathy)
December 15: Christmas Bird Count - Volunteers are
needed to join in this effort to count every bird in a 15-mile diameter
circle around Laramie (centered at 3rd Street and I-80)! This will be the 47th count of the Albany
County circle. All levels of bird watchers, including feeder
watchers, are welcome. Volunteers are
the backbone of the Christmas Bird Count! Some teams walk, while others
drive through the territory; some bird their section in the morning, while others bird in the afternoon (or all day!). If you are a new birder, new to Laramie, or just want to bird with new people, you can ask to be added to an existing team or paired with another volunteer. Volunteers should wear warm, layered
clothing and boots, and bring water, snacks and binoculars (if
available). The event
concludes with a evening "tally party" potluck at 5 pm in the upstairs meeting area of the Trinity Lutheran Church (107 S. 7th Street) - please bring your own place-setting (plate, fork, cup, etc.) and a dish to share. Contact Brad Andres at 720-226-7614 or baandres1@yahoo.com to
be assigned a section.
Kids and Families Programs -
Summer and Fall 2024
Outdoor events meet at 9 a.m.; Indoor events meet at 10 a.m.
July 20- Scavenger Hunt at LaBonte Park.
We will explore the park and the Feeding Laramie Valley sensory garden with all
our senses to tick off items on our list. Hint: We often find spiders and insects
here! Participants will take home a pollinator craft activity. Meet at the
picnic shelter near the FLV parking lot, at 9th and Sully.
August 17- Scavenger Hunt at Undine Park
with side trip to Sheila Bird Farms greenhouse.
Join us for a walk in the park to find nature items including -we hope!-
clouds, which were missing last year. We will conclude this trip with a walk
across the street to the greenhouse to pick our own flower bouquet! Meet at the
picnic shelter near the SE corner of Undine Park at 7th and Ord.
September - No Kids and Families event this month.
NEW DATE - NOVEMBER 2 October 26 - Spooky Finale Scavenger
Hunt at Washington Park. Let’s make spooky season last longer! For our final
scavenger hunt of 2024, think of what we see at Halloween- bats, black cats,
owls, witches, skeletons, spiders and more. All of these will be on our
scavenger hunt list. We will meet at the Bandshell in the SW corner
of Washington Park at 9 a.m. to learn about the items on our list, and then
will go hunting for them! All kids and families will pick a craft to assemble
at home or, if weather is good, at the Park if preferred. This year we will
make crows, bats or black cats!
SOMETHING DIFFERENT - THIS PREVIOUSLY-ANNOUNCED EVENT WILL OCCUR DURING THE WINTER - DETAILS TBD! – Our Indoor Holiday
Extravaganza. Our annual Holiday Extravaganza in coordination with Wyoming State Parks! Have you wondered... Why
do leaves change color? What is “senescence”? How do clouds change with the
seasons? Join us and find out! We will set up stations where kids and families
can roam and learn and do crafts, including making pine cone bird feeders to
help our feathered friends as the weather gets colder.
December 21 – Welcome Winter! We
will use all 5 senses to experience the first day of Winter. Will there be snow
so we can look for animal tracks? What will the sun and sky look like on the
first day of Winter? What can we see, hear and touch that tells us Winter is
here? Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking next to Snowy Range Academy. All kids
and families will bring home a “Welcome Winter” craft.
Afternoon/Evening Programs - Fall 2024
Programs are typically held on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. We are moving our programming to a new location to allow easier access and parking: Trinity Lutheran Church, 107 S
7th Street. Snacks and bird chat at 6:30.
September 25 - Dr. Jeff Beck from University of Wyoming. Dr. Beck is a professor in Ecosystem Science Policy and Management at the University of Wyoming, who specializes in studying wildlife habitat restoration. On the
25th of September he will talk to LAS about the impacts feral horses have on Sage-grouse vital rates.
October 23 - Laramie Audubon Society Bird ID refresher by Dr. Beth Wommack, the Curator of the University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates. This presentation on bird ID will help us to get us
ready for the winter months and then thinking ahead to spring!
November 20 - Birding Eastern Australia, from the Top End to Tasmania. Presentation by retired US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Heather Johnson.
************************************************************************
DIRECTIONS TO SOME FIELD TRIP LOCATIONS
(AND OTHER LOCATIONS OF INTEREST)
Hutton Lake NWR: If coming from Laramie, head south on 3rd Street/ US-287, turn right onto County Road 22 (as if entering the cement plant), then turn left onto Sand Creek Road (parallel to railroad tracks - many people have missed this turn and mistakenly entered the cement plant parking lot). Stay on Sand Creek Road for about 8 miles, then turn right at the National Wildlife Refuge sign. To reach the viewing platform, continue west from the sign for approximately 0.75 miles, and then turn left (south) and follow the two track until it ends (approximately 0.4 miles).
Wyoming Hereford Ranch: From I-80, take Exit 367 (Campstool Road) and travel south approximately 1 mile to the entrance, which will be on the left. Follow the driveway for approximately 0.25 miles and park opposite the red barn.
Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center auditorium (Room 138). This building is located on the University of Wyoming campus at 10th and Lewis Streets. Due to recent construction in the area, there is no longer a parking lot across the street from the building - parking is available on surrounding streets.
Old Happy Jack Ski Area (a.k.a. the sledding hill): From Laramie, take Interstate 80 east 9.5 miles to WY 210 (Exit 323). Turn onto Exit 323 and go left at stop sign onto WY 210/ Happy Jack Rd, then 1 mile to Happy Jack Recreation Area sign.
Tom Thorn/Beth Williams WHMA: From Laramie, head north on 3rd Street (a.k.a. US HWY 30 / US HWY 287) to the junction with WY HWY 34 (a.k.a. Sybille Canyon Road). Proceed east on HWY 34 toward Wheatland for approximately 24.6 miles to entrance (gravel road) on the left. The entrance is very easy to miss! Watch for a paved pullout on the right, followed by a small brown sign stating "The Tom Thorne/Beth Williams Wildlife Habitat Management Area" - the entrance is approximate 1/4-mile past that pullout and 700 feet past the sign.
