BCAS Articles
January Nature Almanac: A Confusion of Warblers
Popular English collective nouns for warblers include a “bouquet,” a “fall,” or a “wrench” of warblers. Or—most apt for Colorado this past autumn—a confusion of warblers. What were those tiny bits of fluff thinking when they settled down here in November instead of migrating south?
December Nature Almanac: Muskrats Cozy up in Winter
There's a steep embankment along Clear Creek where we often see a muskrat munching on a leaf or a clump of pond weed. The muskrat seems unperturbed, nibbling away, while we sit on the opposite bank watching. Then, with hardly a sound, she eases into the water and vanishes below the surface. Her den entrance is located underwater, and she swims unseen from there up to the den floor deep within the embankment.
Winter Raptor Survey at White Rocks
Sixteen participants (9 students and 7 adults) conducted a wintering raptor survey along the White Rocks Trail.
Teen Naturalist Program Relaunches with Stargazing & Fall Colors
The Teen Naturalists have been busy this fall and have more upcoming trips planned.
November Nature Almanac: Short-eared Owls - Silent Hunters of the Marsh
Named for their small ear tufts (which are rarely visible) Short-eared Owls are medium-sized, just slightly smaller than a crow.
October Nature Almanac: Poison Ivy Can Brighten or Blighten Your Day
Poison ivy with its variegated shades of salmon, orange, red, and yellow is one of the most beautiful autumn plants in the understory.
September Nature Almanac: Caching in for a Living – Food Hoarding Behaviors of Colorado Birds
As the last few leaves fall from the trees, and snow levels begin to rise, our thoughts often turn to the wildlife outside our homes and their adaptations to survive the extremes of winter. One such adaptation involves caching, or storing, food for later use.
New North American Meadowlark Species -- Based on Research of A Teen Naturalist Alum!
The American Ornithological Society has accepted the split of Eastern Meadowlark with Chihuanuan Meadowlark that includes the “Lilian’s Meadowlark”. The proposal was written by Johanna Beam, an alum of the Teen Naturalists program.
Volunteer with BCAS: AV Coordinator during Monthly Programs
BCAS seeks a volunteer who can run our audio-visual equipment at the in-person 4th Tuesday monthly meetings. BCAS also seeks advice on the purchase of audio equipment to improve access for everyone at our meetings. Can you help us?
August Nature Almanac: What's up with our Monsoon?
When Coloradans talk about our "midsummer monsoon," visitors from India must shake their heads. After all, two or three inches of precipitation over a six-week period hardly compares to the torrents of life-sustaining rain that wash over the Indian subcontinent each summer.
July Nature Almanac: Meadowtation
Why sacrifice blood to mosquitoes who are out whining and dining in wet meadows in July? Fireflies, snipe, and bobolinks are three good reasons.
June Nature Almanac: Variegated Fritillaries Invade Foothills Grasslands
The common name variegated fritillary describes the complex pattern of orange, brown, and buff scaling on the underwings.
May Nature Almanac: Tyrannical Western Kingbirds Rule!
A gray bird with a lemon-yellow belly and lots of attitude flies out from a perch and chases off an intruder. This vocal defender of territory is a Western Kingbird.
Conservation Corner
Lights out for spring migration, Redtail Ridge vote for Louisville residents, and CU-South upcoming vote for city of Boulder voters.
April Nature Almanac: Flutist of the Prairie
The West is home of one of the best songsters in the world, yet we often take this prairie crooner for granted. Of course, we’re referring to the Western Meadowlark, the master singer of any worthy pasture, open-space parcel, or grassland along the Front Range.
March Nature Almanac: Early-Appearing Saw-whet Owls Face Deep-Freeze and Feral Cats
Standing just 5.5 inches tall and weighing less than 4 ounces, Northern Saw-whet Owls need to consume close to 20% of their body weight each winter day to keep body temperatures from plunging.
Conservation Corner: Water Worries
This edition concentrates primarily on major water issues that have reached a crisis level. The background, of course, is the major, multi-year drought affecting the southwestern U.S. We know from tree-ring studies that such droughts occur periodically in our region and sometimes last for decades. This is, of course, complicated by the addition of human-caused climate change, which is projected by experts to increase the frequency and severity of such droughts.
February Nature Almanac: Manzanitas Bloom for Christmas… and for Valentine’s Day
We think of manzanitas as being emblematic of California. However, Panchito manzanita is native to the Uncompaghre Plateau in western Colorado. It is well adapted to a dry climate and fluctuating temperatures.
President’s Message: New Year 2022
My advice for the first months of 2022 is to look for the solace and joy in nature where we can find it. Reach out to those in need in whatever manner you can. And above all, be kind.
January Nature Almanac: Red Crossbills Usher in the New Year
Hardy creatures, crossbills are able to withstand the harshest winter weather nature can bring on, as long as food remains available. A finch relative, they are found throughout the foothills and mountains of Colorado.