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From the Missouri to the Mountains
Birding on the Platte
The Platte River is the heart of the western plains, described by earlier pioneers as a mile wide and a foot deep. It was a main component of the Oregon and California trails, and its life-giving water is just as key to wildlife today. We will follow the Platte from its confluence with the Missouri to its headwaters high in the Rocky Mountains, seeing how it impacts in excess of 9 different habitats.
The trip is eleven days in length, and is designed as a camping trip. The fee for the trip is $275.00 and includes a $75.00 donation to your local Audubon society. The fee covers the opening meal, admission to all parks, guide services, and other handouts. Transportation and other meals are on your own. If you wish to stay in motels, motels are available along the entire route close to our camping areas with the exception of Briggsdale, CO, where, to the best of my knowledge, the nearest motel is 40 miles away.
The trip will originate in Lincoln, NE and terminate in the mountains west of Colorado Springs, CO. If you wish to car pool, I will do my best to arrange for car pools leaving from Lincoln and Prescott. As I will be continuing from Lincolnon to Arizona, I will be unable to assist with transportation.
To make a reservation, send $50.00 to Russell Duerksen at either P.O. Box 1620, Chino Valley, AZ, or P.O. Box 153, Bennet, NE 68317. The trip is limited to 14 participants, with a second guide added after the 8th participant.
A basic itinerary follows:
Afternoon will be spent doing lake birding at Wagon Train SRA, birding the tallgrass prairie at Unadilla, followed by a welcome supper and organizational meeting at our residence on Little Nemaha River. Up to 50 species possible. Night in Lincoln. Campsites available at Wagon Train SRA, motels in Lincoln
A full day birding along the Mississippi/Missouri woodlands along the lower Platte river. River Confluence, Platte River SP, Schramm SP. Fontinelle Forest. Night in Lincoln (Wagon Train). 50+ species possible, such as Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Cerulean and Parula Warblers and other migrant warblers
The morning will be spent in remnants of the tall-grass prairie, along tributaries of the Platte. Our main stop will be at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. We will look for Grasshopper and Henslow’s sparrows, Greater Prairie Chickens, and Upland Sandpipers among others. In the afternoon, we will look a several large lakes for water birds. Night in Lincoln (Wagon Train).
5:30 am departure to reach the mixed grass prairie habitats of Mormon Island (near Grand Island NE) by mid-morning. We will look specifically for Least Tern, Bobolink, and Sedge Wren, leaving the area shortly after noon. We will follow the North Platte, arriving at Lake McConneghy in mid-afternoon, make camp at the recreation area, and then bird the lake in the evening. Motels at Ogalla, camping at Lake McConneghy
We will bird the lake in the morning, breaking camp and departing for the South-Platte mid-morning. We will bird throughout the shortgrass prairie at various small lakes and South Platte overlooks arriving at Briggsdale, CO, at Crow Creek Park (on a tributary of the south Platte) in mid afternoon. After making camp, we will explore the prairie looking for Chestnut-collared and McCowns Longspurs, Mountain Plover, and Prairie falcon, among others. Camping at Crow Creek park t in Briggsdale. Closest motel is Greeley.
The morning is spent birding the Grassland, and then we follow Crow Creek to the S. Platte at Greeley, birding at a variety of lakes and river overlooks as we find our way to the base on the Rockies at a Campground at Boyd Lake State Park near Loveland. Motels are in Loveland, and we will be there four nights.
The day is spent on the Cache La Poudre river, a tributary of the Platte, from the grasslands, to foothills, transition forest, and then to boreal forest. I got my life Boreal Owl on this road. Other birds of interest are Dipper, Blue Grouse, Grey Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Clark’s Nutcracker, Williamsen’s Sapsucker, Three-toed Woodpecker and other mountain birds. Night in Loveland/Boyd Lake.
Free morning, afternoon spent birding at lakes along S. Platte in foothills.
Full day on the Big Thompsen river, a tributary of the. Platte. Same habitats as Friday, plus tundra. Birds of tundra are Rosy Finch and White-tailed Ptarmigan. Night in Loveland/Boyd Lake.
June 3
Break Camp, then visit Chatfield Reservoir before following S. Platte into mountains, with same habitats as Fri and Sun. Stop at Florissant Fossil Beds, then camp at 11-mile reservoir. Motels at Florissant/Lake George
June 4
Follow Platte to its headwaters near Hoosier Pass. Boreal and tundra habitats. Trip officially over at noon. However, I will be continuing on to Gunnison for a try for Gunnison’s Sage Grouse on the Morning of the 5th. You are welcome to join me on this trip if you wish.