Teen Naturalists Winter Raptor Survey Results

Thirteen teen naturalists and 3 fellow travelers mapped perching and foraging locations of 21 wintering raptors along the White Rocks Trail on the morning of November 19, 2023. We achieved a new high for raptors on this particular survey. The trip was capped by a Ferruginous Hawk who soared in from the north and circled over the Teller Lakes North parking lot after most of our group had left. Here are the total raptors observed:

• 1 Ferruginous Hawk

• 1 American Kestrel

• 3 Northern Harriers

• 5 Bald Eagles

• 11 Red-tailed Hawks (including 1 Harlan’s variant)

We also observed non-raptors including Belted Kingfisher and Harris’s Sparrow.

First sighting locations of large raptors from White Rocks Trail, 19 November, 2023. Blue: Bald Eagle, Purple: Northern Harrier, White: Ferruginous Hawk, Red: Red-tailed Hawk.

This trip was also recorded for radio by Shelley Schlender. It will run on the KGNU morning show on Friday, December 1, around 8:10 AM.

View the gallery of selected photos by the teen naturalists from the raptor survey in the gallery below. When photographing birds and other wildlife, always keep in mind responsible nature photography ethics.

Restored gravel ponds and Long's Peak from White Rocks Trail. Photo by Lyric Haworth.

Red-tailed Hawk in shimmering light. Photo by Lyric Haworth.

Pastoral scene near White Rocks. Photo by Althea Todd.

Artful starlings. Photo by Althea Todd.

Harlan's variety of Red-tailed Hawk. Photo by Mia Hock.

Pied-billed Grebe. Photo by Mia Hock

Great Blue Heron. Photo by Mia Hock

Red-tailed Hawk surveying potential nesting territory along Boulder Creek. Photo by Althea Todd.

Bald Eagle on nest along Boulder Creek. Photo by Mia Hock.

Thank you to all the Teen Naturalists (and their parents) for the fabulous observations. Raptor survey participants included Amy, Gavin, and Maddie Bailey; Alex Betts, Lucian Gavin, Lyric Haworth, Mia Hock, Steve Jones, Elena Klaver, Althea Nelson-Todd, Kelleigh Nebergall, Aidah, Kellen, and Rowen Roberson, Owen Robertson; Ella Stephens-Green.

Teen Naturalist Program Going Strong

This was the third consecutive Teen Naturalists outing this fall with double-digit participants. We have another enthusiastic and knowledgeable group this year. Thank you all for supporting our program and spreading the word. A big thanks to Carol McCasland, Dave Sutherland, and Regner Trampedach for organizing events earlier this fall, including the September stargazing/pizza party and a behind-the-scenes tour of bird conservation areas of the Denver Zoo.

Teen Naturalists’ next outing is the Boulder Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, December 17. Steve Jones’s group is doing the Eldorado Mountain/Doudy Draw section. They will meet at the Doudy Draw parking lot along Eldorado Springs Drive at 7am and expect to be out until about 1 PM. Bring a sack lunch, lots of liquids, and dress very warmly.

The Christmas Bird Count is one of the conservation movement’s oldest traditions, having begun in 1900 to compete with traditional "Christmas bird shoots." Data from the Christmas bird counts have helped alert us to sharp declines in numbers of many species who have subsequently been saved, including Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon (both of which have seen within our count area). So it's a joy to take part in this long-standing event.

In January, the Teen Naturalists outing will be to Prospect Park, along Clear Creek in Arvada, to observe and photograph wild ducks. Species could include Northern Shovelers (often in the hundreds), Hooded Mergansers, Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads.

To learn more about these trips and all of Teen Naturalists’ activities, visit Teen Naturalists webpage.